Page Three

Taiwan Election: Tsai promises reform and cooperation

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-16
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Democratic Progressive Party presidential 6729244candidate Tsai Ing-wen promised reform, cooperation and stability as she was elected Taiwan’s first woman president Saturday with the highest percentage any candidate ever had.
At the same time, she can also look forward to the first-ever absolute majority the DPP has ever held at the 113-seat Legislative Yuan. While final results will still need some time to calculate, the DPP could hold a total of 68 seats.

According to official results, Tsai had won about 6.87 million votes or 56.15 percent, Kuomintang Chairman Eric Liluan Chu received 3.79 million votes or 31.01 percent, and People First Party Chairman James Soong 1.57 million votes or 12.82 percent of the vote.

At her international news conference Saturday evening, she emphasized the common values of democracy. “In 2016, through democratic elections, we showed the whole world that we are proud of being a democratic country.” The president-elect said she would work on a framework to discuss national issues with other parties.     [FULL  STORY]

Turnout in presidential race lowest in history

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/17
By: Tai Ya-chen, Chen Chun-hua and Frances Huang

Taipei, Jan. 17 (CNA) The turnout in Taiwan’s presidential election was the lowest ever in the six direct presidential elections the country has held since 1996, according to data compiled by the Central Election Committee (CEC).

The CEC said turnout in Saturday’s presidential vote was 66.27 percent, compared with 76.04 percent in 1996, 82.7 percent in 2000, 80.28 percent in 2004, 76.33 percent in 2008, and 74.38 percent in 2012.

The turnout figures were part of the CEC’s formal announcement late Saturday that Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the chairwoman and candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) was elected president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the vote held the same day.

CEC Chairman Liu Yi-chou (劉義周) said Tsai and her running mate — Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) — won 6.89 million votes or 56.12 percent of the total valid votes cast.

It was a victory that had been widely anticipated for months, which may have been one of the factors contributing to the low turnout.     [FULL  STORY]

ELECTIONS: Soong concedes third defeat, congratulates Tsai

MIXED FEELINGS:PFP supporters appeared ambivalent, with some speaking of their disappointment with Taiwanese politics and others saying that they still have hopes for the future of the nation

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 17, 2016
By: Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

People First Party (PFP) presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜)

People First Party presidential candidate James Soong casts a ballot yesterday in New Taipei City’s Linkou District. Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times

People First Party presidential candidate James Soong casts a ballot yesterday in New Taipei City’s Linkou District. Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times

yesterday thanked supporters as he conceded defeat and congratulated the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on her victory.

Asked if the PFP would work with other parties in the legislature, Soong said that it had not ruled out the possibility, but it is not likely to form a partnership with either the DPP or the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

“The party will focus on the welfare of the people rather than concentrate on forming an alliance with any party,” he said.

“I have to reiterate here that we will not make the orange [the PFP’s color] green again and nor would we work with a party espousing rotten policies,” he added.
Yesterday’s loss was Soong’s third defeat in a presidential election. He first ran as an independent in 2000 after failing to obtain the KMT’s nomination.     [FULL  STORY]

Ma drums up support for Chu

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-15
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – At the Kuomintang’s final campaign rally Friday 6728908evening, President Ma Ying-jeou asked supporters to vote for presidential candidate Eric Liluan Chu in the January 16 elections.

Campaigning for Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections should not go beyond 10 p.m. according to official regulations. All three major candidates have scheduled large-scale final events, with Chu staging his in Banqiao, the district where he usually goes to work as mayor of New Taipei City.

Chu himself spent Friday traveling in a motorcade with his wife through the streets of Taipei City before venturing down to Taichung in Central Taiwan, a key battle area between the Democratic Progressive Party-oriented South and the usually pro-KMT North.     [FULL  STORY]

Jailed ex-transportation minister to be released on medical parole

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/15
By Paige Tsai and Y.F. Low

Taipei, Jan. 15 (CNA) The Ministry of Justice on Friday approved a request for medical parole by former Minister of Transportation and Communications Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪), who is serving an eight-year sentence for corruption.

The decision was made in consideration of Yao’s bout with cancer and need to receive chemotherapy, the Agency of Corrections under the ministry said.

Kuo was convicted Dec. 5, 2013 for accepting US$20,000 in bribe money from a contractor of the Taipei Main Station project when she was serving as minister of transportation and communications in 2006.

Kuo began her eight-year sentence at Taoyuan Women’s Prison in January 2014.

Pingxi lantern festival praised by National Geographic

Taiwan Today
Date: January 15, 2016

The annual sky lantern festival in New Taipei City’s Pingxi District is No. 3

Large crowds gather each year to release sky lanterns at the first full moon of the Lunar New Year in Pingxi District of New Taipei City. (CNA)

Large crowds gather each year to release sky lanterns at the first full moon of the Lunar New Year in Pingxi District of New Taipei City. (CNA)

on National Geographic magazine’s list of 10 best winter trips worldwide for 2016.

Staged at the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, the event attracts thousands to the mountainous region in northern Taiwan. An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 of the orange glowing rice paper lanterns carrying written blessings and wishes are released into the night sky.

The other trips making up the list are, in ascending order, Vilnius, Lithuania; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Hluluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa; Dublin, Ireland; Al Ain, Abu Dhabi; Santa Barbara, the U.S.; Merida, Mexico; Chiloe Island, Chile; and Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Launched in 1999, Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has been gaining fame in the global tourism sector on the strength of its combined aspects of tradition and cultural creativity, according to NTC Government’s Tourism and Travel Department.

“Hailed by Discovery Channel as the second largest carnival in the world, the event has garnered accolades over the years, including selection as one of the 52 things to do in 2013 by CNN Travel and one of the world’s 14 must-see festivals by travel guide publisher Fodor’s,” a department official said.     [FULL  STORY]

ELECTIONS: Reconciliation a must for social harmony, Ko says

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 16, 2016
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter

One of the most urgent tasks the nation must attend to after today’s elections is the promotion of “political reconciliation” to bring about social harmony, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said yesterday.

Ko made the remark in response to media queries about how he plans to prioritize between two of his feuding allies, Sunflower Movement activist Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Hsinchu legislative candidate Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), for whom Ko had supported for several months.

The Chinese-language China Times on Thursday reported that Ker vented his anger over Lin campaigning for his rival, New Power Party Hsinchu legislative candidate Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智), who had criticized Ker as being “only good at dealmaking.”

Ker cited the help DPP offered Lin and Sunflower movement activists during their occupation of the Legislative Yuan’s main chamber and his role as a mediator that helped resolve the standoff between the protestors and President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration by subjecting the controversial cross-strait service trade agreement to a review.     [FULL  STORY]

Tsai campaigns the streets of Tainan, Chiayi amid a cheerful crowd

Taiwan News
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
Date: 2016-01-14

Tsai’s campaign reaches Tainan, Chiayi

The streets of Chiayi and Tainan were filled with exuberant supporters as 6728633they cheered for the arrival of Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday.

An avid follower even hailed a sign saying: “I can get married only if Tsai is elected!”

Tsai’s campaign trail has since switched to full gear with the approach of the election day on Saturday.

The presidential hopeful campaigned in Chiayi in the afternoon alongside DPP legislative candidates Chen Ming-wen, who is vying for a legislative seat representing Chiayi’s Jhongpu Township.

Earlier in the day, Tsai was warmly received by a cheerful crowd as her motorcade passed through the streets of Tainan, whose mayor William Lai also joined Tsai during the morning rally.    [FULL  STORY]

Yushan sees lowest temperature this winter

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/14
By: Wang Shu-fen and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Jan. 14 (CNA) Under a cold air mass, Yushan on Thursday recorded

Yushan sees snowfall Wednesday morning, but not Thursday. (Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Bureau)

Yushan sees snowfall Wednesday morning, but not Thursday. (Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Bureau)

the lowest temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius below zero since the start of winter, but did not get any snow because the cold air mass failed to bring sufficient moisture, the Central Weather Bureau said.

Since cold air masses are expected to approach Taiwan one after another over the next few days and create moisture in the air, Yushan could see snow at any time. The first snow of this winter fell on Jan. 3, according to the bureau.

The current cold air mass sent temperatures across Taiwan lower early Thursday morning, with the temperature recorded in Tamsui in northern Taiwan at 12.1 degrees, the lowest of the day in low-lying areas around the island.     [FULL  STORY]

Exhibition spotlights 20th century life in Taiwan

Taiwan Today
Date: January 14, 2016

Exhibition-goers cast a close eye over 20th century toys displayed as part

Exhibition spotlights 20th century life in Taiwan

Exhibition spotlights 20th century life in Taiwan

of Exhibition of Donated Collection running Jan. 13 to Oct. 23 at National Museum of Taiwan History in Tainan City. (Courtesy of NMTH)
An exhibition documenting the lives of ROC nationals in Taiwan during the 20th century opened Jan. 13 at National Museum of Taiwan History in Tainan City.

Running until Oct. 23, Exhibition of Donated Collection features more than 400 items from the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945) and after World War II gifted by 300 patrons. These include books, cameras, diaries, dresses, industrial equipment, maps, photos, ritual utensils, scripts, toys and videos.

NMTH Director Lu Li-cheng said the event represents five years of public donations and is testament to the joys and trial and tribulations of everyday people during a period of great change.     [FULL  STORY]