Taiwan Today
Date: December 18, 2015

Amendments to the ROC Criminal Code were passed Dec. 17 by the

Legislature, expanding the scope of confiscation orders pertaining to gains through criminal acts or means.

The bill authorizes the court to seize illicit profits, including any purchases made using interest from illegally obtained income by natural or juridical persons like corporations. Presently, the penalty can only be enforced on the former.

In addition, the confiscation penalty takes on an independent legal capacity as opposed to its previous status as supplementary punishment. This enables the court to recover ill-gotten income without a principal penalty sentence in place.

Vice Minister of Justice Chen Ming-tang said the revisions also remove previous restrictions preventing the judiciary from chasing dirty money. “Under the new framework, prosecutors can file an independent appeal to seize illicit gains from those convicted of crimes or their estates.     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date:  Dec 19, 2015
By: Chen Hui-ping, Tseng Wei-chen and Gavin Meakin  /  Staff reporters, with staff writer

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday said that it

suspects the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is trying to sell its party assets before an anticipated Presidential Office handover to the DPP next year.

The DPP caucus told a news conference in Taipei that the Chinese-language Commercial Times has been publishing advertisements calling for buyers for 26 plots owned by the KMT — three in Taipei, six in Taichung and 17 in Changhua — and for 80 percent of the shares of a hotel in Palau.

“The contact address for all of these advertisements points to the KMT headquarters on Bade Road in Taipei,” DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) said.

Lee questioned whether the KMT is trying to sell out its party assets in different batches in order to avoid possible calls for the recovery of funds following the potential change to the nation’s governing party next year.     [FULL  STORY]

City to implement ‘low emission zones’ next year

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-17
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The city government’s Department of Environmental Protection plans to ban

the circulation of two-stroke scooters in Taipei by 2019 and to implement a “low emission zone” next year whereby old rusty vehicles that spew black exhaust fumes will be forbidden in certain designated roads, reports said Thursday.

“Stiffer regulations will be carried out as part of our efforts to lower air pollution levels in Taipei,” department commissioner Liou Ming-lone said, adding that it will also work with governments in Keelung, New Taipei and Taoyuan for a joint effort to improve air quality.

The plan is to reduce PM2.5 pollutants to 15 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) by 2020, and eventually achieve the 12µg/m3 by 2023 as imposed in the United States, Liou said.

“The low emission zone will also encompass bus lanes.”

Taiwan Today
Date: December 17, 2015

This year’s winners of the National Award for Arts, the highest honor

afforded to artists in Taiwan, were named Dec. 15 by the National Culture and Arts Foundation.

The recipients are Beiguan musician Chuang Chin-tsai, dancer Ho Hsiao-mei, novelist Li Yong-ping, architect Joshua Jih Pan and contemporary installation artist Wu Ma-li. Each will receive a medal and cash prize of NT$1 million (US$30,349) at a presentation ceremony next year.

“All of the winners are a credit to Taiwan’s artistic community,” an NCAF official said. “We are proud to add their names to a storied list of past recipients and further enhance the nation’s rich cultural tapestry.”

Chuang, founder of the Hanyan Beiguan Troupe, is the oldest honoree this year. Mastering the traditional music and Taiwanese opera genres, the 81-year-old musician has worked tirelessly to pass the torch to the younger generation over the past 20 years.

Equally deserving is Ho, who follows in the footsteps of Sheu Fang-yi—winner of the award in 2007 and former principal dancer for Martha Graham Dance Company. Her headline piece “My Dear” with paper-cut artist Jam Wu examines interpersonal relationships and harnesses multimedia effects to deliver fresh onstage experiences.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-16
By: Chia Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

According to Google’s list of this year’s most-searched, which was revealed

on Wednesday morning, the word “typhoon” leads the chart of the top trending keywords.

This year, weather-related issues have garnered the most online interests as the word “typhoon” snagged the number one spot in Taiwan as the most-searched topic, the search engine giant said on Wednesday.

Each year, Google identifies the top trends and consolidates them into an annual list meant to capture the most popular topic of the year.

In addition, the movie “Our Times,” the TV show “The Empress of China,” and Singer Jody Chiang also grabbed a spot on the list.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: December 16, 2015

Taiwan is one of 12 emerging destinations travelers must visit in 2016,

according to a recent article published by Business Insider U.K., a leading financial, media and technology news website.

Wilderness, wildlife and culture are the main travel themes of the year ahead, the report said, adding that Taiwan’s No. 6 spot on the list confirms an abundance of cultural treasures promising special experiences for those venturing to one of the less-visited parts of Asia.

“With a dazzling display of spring cherry blossoms, the best food in Asia and lush mountainous island setting, Taiwan is Asia’s best-kept secret.”

Describing Taiwan as a clean, green and peaceful island, the piece also lauded it as forward-thinking, progressive and a safe place where cultures and beliefs seamlessly co-exist.     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date:  Dec 17, 2015
By: Loa Iok-sin  /  Staff reporter

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday called on Chinese

Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫) to publicize his finances and explain an increase in personal assets.

The past week has seen the KMT repeatedly question DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) finances, accusing her of engaging in land speculation. The DPP has responded by publicizing Tsai’s personal assets, and yesterday challenged Chu to do the same.

“Chu should follow Tsai’s example and make public his campaign finances, as well as explain changes in his personal property declarations,” DPP spokesperson Ruan Jhao-syong (阮昭雄) told a news conference at party headquarters. “Chu should not dodge this question.”

Ruan said that from 1999 to 2000, after factoring in Chu’s salary as a lawmaker, as well as revenue from stocks and securities that he had declared, “there is still as much as NT$17.39 million [US$527,769] in unexplained income.”     [FULL  STORY]