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Chimei Museum the top Facebook check-in location in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/10
By: Jeffrey Wu and Elaine Hou

Taipei, Dec. 10 (CNA) Chimei Museum in the southern city of Tainan has been listed as the most popular check-in location for Facebook users in Taiwan this year, according to data released Thursday by the social networking site.

Spread over an area of about 10 hectares at the Metropolitan Park in Tainan, the museum displays a rich collection of Western paintings and sculptures, musical instruments, ancient weapons and animal fossils.

The building is an eye-catching structure that features a European-style design, while the forecourt is dominated by a replica of the Fountain of Apollo, which depicts the Greek sun god Apollo rising from the sea at daybreak in his four-horse chariot.

It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tainan, drawing large numbers of people who pose in front of the building for photos, especially on holidays. [FULL STORY]

Taiwan’s China Airlines named best in North Asia

Taiwan Today
Date: December 10, 2015

Taiwan’s China Airlines was named Best Airline in North Asia for the third

China Airlines Vice President for the Americas Simon Lee (center) and Global Traveler CEO Francis X. Gallagher are all smiles at the publication’s awards ceremony Dec. 8 in Los Angeles. (Courtesy of China Airlines)

straight year Dec. 8 in the annual Tested Reader Survey Awards by U.S.-based Global Traveler magazine.

The Taoyuan City-based carrier bagged Best Business-Class Seat Design and Best Flight Attendant Uniforms as part of the honor, underscoring the effectiveness of the firm’s commitment to offering premium flight services and rebranding.

Carrier Vice President Simon Lee said it is a great privilege for the airline to garner continued support from customers and readers of the publication. “From the cabin of our new Boeing 777-300ER fleet to the next-generation uniform design unveiled in June, we have demonstrated unique Eastern aesthetics blending traditional elements with modern technology.

“We will continue furthering the pursuit of innovation, and strive to provide the best possible aviation experience to our valued travelers.” [FULL STORY]

Tsai slams KMT speculation figures

UNCHANGED:On the same day that Eric Chu pledged to maintain a positive campaign rhetoric, the KMT has made accusations against Tsai Ing-wen that hark back to 2012

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 11, 2015
By: Loa Iok-sin / Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Wang Ming-sheng, left, yesterday in Taipei disputes the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus’ claim that DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen has been involved in real-estate speculation. cPhoto: Chen Hui-ping, Taipei Times

文) yesterday rebutted the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) accusations that she was involved in real-estate speculation, saying that the figures the KMT cited were inaccurate.

“I know that the KMT is attacking me because it is eager to end the controversy over military housing, however, all the numbers they cited today [yesterday] are all wrong,” Tsai said. “Attacking with false figures is no different from smearing. The transaction involved no privilege, no speculation, and no extortionate profit,” she said.

Tsai made the remarks after KMT Legislator Alex Tsai (蔡正元) and former KMT legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) alleged that Tsai in 1988 purchased 15 plots of land in Neihu District (內湖), Taipei, totaling 895.8m2 and then sold them all in one day in 1997 with what the lawmaker claimed was a net profit of at least NT$180 million (US$5.5 million).

Tsai Ing-wen said that as it has been almost 20 years since she sold the land and she could not remember exactly how much she had made from the transaction. [FULL STORY]

Taiwan, Canada to sign agreements for double taxation avoidance

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-09
By: Chia Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taiwan and Canada have finished negotiations on the Agreements for the Avoidance of

Taiwan, Canada to sign agreements for double taxation avoidance. Central News Agency (2015-12-09 18:18:03)

Double Taxation, and are expected to sign the agreements soon.
President Ma Ying-jeou said on Wednesday that Taiwan and Canada have finished negotiations on the Agreements for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, and are expected to sign the agreements soon.

President Ma met with Canada’s representative to Taiwan, Mario Ste-Marie, in the afternoon to talk about bilateral economic cooperation.

Taiwan and Canada have maintained cordial relations, as the two sides have signed the Youth Working Holiday Program and Visa Waiver Program in 2010.

Regarding the bilateral economic interactions, Ma added, Taiwan is the 12th largest global trade partner of Canada, and the fifth largest in Asia. The bilateral trade reached US$55 billion last year. [FULL STORY]

Foundation calls for citizen participation in Ting Hsin trial

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/09
By: Tsai Pei-chi and Lee Mei-yu

Taipei, Dec. 9 (CNA)Taiwan’s Consumers’ Foundation staged a protest outside the Judicial Yuan Wednesday, advocating people’s participation in a trial involving Ting Hsin International Group (頂新集團), which has been accused of using substandard ingredients in its oil products.

The foundation’s chairman, Lu Yun (陸雲), also called on the public to boycott any adulterated food products originating from Ting Hsin.

At the protest, the Consumers’ Foundation said the Judicial Yuan should revise the process of selecting judges, allow citizen participation in cases like Ting Hsin’s and take greater steps to ensure food safety.

Last month, the Changhua District Court acquitted Ting Hsin of charges related to violations of the country’s food safety law, sparking a widespread outcry in Taiwan. [FULL STORY]

DPP approves list of candidates outside the party to support

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 10, 2015
By: Loa Iok-sin / Staff reporter, in Taoyuan

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Central Standing Committee yesterday

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Central Standing Committee yesterday passes a motion to support a list of 11 non-DPP legislative candidates, pictured in a composite photograph, in the Jan. 16 elections. Photo: Taipei Times

passed a list of non-DPP legislative candidates to support, with an eye on uniting their efforts to defeat Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) nominees.

“Considering the overall situation heading into the legislative elections, the Campaign Strategy Committee suggested that the DPP support legislative candidates in constituencies where it is expected to be difficult for the party to win,” Campaign Strategy Committee convener Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) said at a meeting in Taoyuan. “We seek to cooperate with them as allies, with victory in the elections our ultimate goal.”

The “allies” chosen by the Campaign Strategy Committee include New Power Party legislative nominees Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) in New Taipei City’s 12th electoral district, Freddy Lim (林昶佐) in Taipei’s fifth electoral district, Hung Tzu-yung (洪慈庸) in Taichung’s third electoral district, as well as People First Party candidate Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) in Taipei’s fourth electoral district, Green Party-Social Democratic Party candidate Fan Yun (范雲) in Taipei’s sixth electoral district and Taiwan Solidarity Union nominee Liu Kuo-lung (劉國隆) in Taichung’s fifth electoral district.

Also among the allies are independent candidates Lee Hsing-chang (李幸長) in New Taipei City’s ninth electoral district, and in Taipei: Billy Pan (潘建志) in the third electoral district, Yang Shih-chiu (楊實秋) in the seventh, Lee Ching-yuan (李慶元) in the eighth, as well as Chao Cheng-yu (趙正宇) in Taoyuan’s sixth electoral district. [FULL STORY]

MOFA strives to deepen relations in Africa

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-09
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin pointed out that the government of the Republic of

MOFA strives to deepen relations in Africa. Taiwan News

China will not compete with Beijing on the so-called “checkbook diplomacy” in Africa, reports said Wednesday.

Amid China’s growing presence, the R.O.C. government has always been striving to strengthen the relations with its African allies, Lin said during an exhibition in Taipei to commemorate Yang Hsi-kun, who was known as Mr. Africa, for his contribution to the country’s diplomacy.

Commenting on whether the upcoming January elections would pose an influence on its future diplomacy, the minister however said its commitment will remain unchanged.

Taiwan current remaining allies in Africa include Burkina Faso, Sao Tome and Principe, and the Kingdom of Swaziland.

Despite the absence of diplomatic relations with South Africa, bilateral trade between the two countries continues to remains strong, Lin said. [FULL STORY]

MOL introduces vocational training for people on unpaid leave

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-08
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The Workforce Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor (MOL) announced

MOL tackles rising unpaid leave. Central News Agency

Tuesday its plans to introduce 102 vocational training courses to offset the rising number of unpaid leaves this year, reports said Tuesday.

The MOL has allocated a special fund of NT$20 billion (around US$600 million) to help those currently on leave without pay, who are eligible to apply for training courses through the agency’s Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli regional branch.

“The agency also provides an hourly stipend of NT$120 for applicants interested in signing up for our courses,” Ting Yu-jen said, director of the regional branch.

Each applicant can apply for a maximum of 100 hours of training per month, with NT$12,000 of allowance, she said. [FULL STORY\

US ‘inviting war’ without focus on Taiwan: expert

‘REVERSE DUNKIRK‘:IASC senior fellow Richard Fisher said that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could reflect the World War II evacuation from France by the Allies

The Taipei Times
Date: Dec 09, 2015
By: William Lowther / Staff reporter in WASHINGTON

If the US does not pay more attention to the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait, it will be “inviting a war,” an expert on Asian military affairs said on Monday.

“One side is already preparing for such a war,” International Assessment and Strategy Center (IASC) senior fellow Richard Fisher said.

He was addressing a Capitol Hill forum — attended by US Congressional staffers — on growing Chinese military threats to Taiwan.

Fisher said that a central part of the “China dream” was to become the world’s dominant military power.

He said that for Taiwan to deter a Chinese attack on the nation, the US would have to do much more than it is.

A new generation of capability has to be made available, Fisher said. [FULL STORY]

Poll puts Tsai over 50%

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-08
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) –Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen

Poll puts Tsai over 50%. Central News Agency

received more than 50 percent of the vote in an opinion poll Tuesday.

Tsai has been running far ahead of her challengers in the January 16 election for months, but in most recent polls, she received about 45 percent of the vote.

The poll commissioned by the Taiwan Cross-Straits Policy Association and released Tuesday gave Tsai and her running mate Chen Chien-jen 52.6 percent, the Kuomintang ticket of Eric Liluan Chu and Jennifer Wang 20.1 percent, and the combination of People First Party Chairman James Soong with Minkuotang Chairwoman Hsu Hsin-ying 9.2 percent.

Tsai’s support level had gradually risen over the past few months, reports said. A TWCSPA poll conducted in October, when the KMT nominated Chu to replace Hung Hsiu-chu as its candidate, gave Tsai 45.2 percent, while she received 48.6 percent about a month later, as President Ma Ying-jeou met Chinese leader Xi Jinping at an unprecedented summit in Singapore. [FULL STORY]

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