Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-02
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Chairman Chen Deming

was met with strong protest in Taipei as he arrived for negotiations on a trade in goods agreement with local businesses, reports said Wednesday.

Representatives from the Economic Democracy Union, Taiwan March and other groups gathered outside the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCMBE) in Taipei to protest Beijing’s takeover of the island’s economy.

“Get out of Taiwan!” they shouted. “Go back to China!”

The morning rife garnered over 200 police officers who rushed to the scene to disperse the angry crowd.

Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang denounced China’s move to buyout Taiwan’s supply chains involving machine tools, cars, and electronics. “Their motives are clear, they are trying to engulf us with Chinese investments,” he said.      [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/02
By: Emmanuelle Tzeng and Kuo Chung-han

Paris, Dec. 1 (CNA) The Tang Prize Foundation is honored to participate in an exhibition and take advantage of the COP 21 to promote sustainable development, foundation CEO Chern Jenn-chuan (陳振川) said on Tuesday.

The exhibition, on the theme of “sustainable development for the next generation,” was launched Tuesday in conjunction with the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Le Bourget in suburban Paris.

After the foundation awarded the inaugural Tang Prize for sustainable development in 2014 to former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, many people agreed with the decision and praised the Tang Prize’s initiatives for environmental protection, social justice and technological development, Chern said.

Brundtland, hailed as the “godmother of sustainable development,” will appear at the foundation’s booth at the exhibition on Dec. 7, Chern said.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: December 2, 2015

Three new Taiwan High Speed Rail stations began operations Dec. 1 in the counties of

Miaoli, Changhua and Yunlin, underscoring government efforts to enhance the nation’s transportation services and promote regional growth.

At an inauguration ceremony held in Yunlin, President Ma Ying-jeou said the new facilities marked a major milestone in the development of the nation’s transportation infrastructure.

Two similar events were held simultaneously in Changhua and Miaoli, and were presided over by Premier Mao Chi-kuo and Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Jian-yu, respectively.

“Rail services are an essential plank of the 12 i-Taiwan construction projects that I outlined in my campaign promises in 2008, as they offer convenient public transportation and produce 80 percent less carbon emissions than road transport,” the president said.

Given the THSR’s improving operations over the years, “it is hoped that the company’s successful business model and close relationships with its Japanese partners will help transform Taiwan into a global turnkey solution provider in public transportation services,” he added.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-01
By: Chia Lee , Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng posted on Facebook that he is willing to invite

DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, KMT chairman Eric Chu, and NPP chairman Huang Kuo-chang for public talks, calling for their participation in immediate legislative reform.
Wang expressed his approval on Facebook for NPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang and legislative candidate Chiu Hsian-chih’s statement, which calls for the support from DPP and KMT for the reform.

“A responsible party should make it known to public their reform proposition, before everyone decides which party to cast their vote for,” Wang said.     [FULL STORY]

Focus Taiwan
2015/12/01
By: Elaine Hou

Taipei, Dec. 1 (CNA) Taiwanese passport holders can now obtain visa waivers, landing visas or e-visas to 158 countries and territories after five more countries recently granted Taiwan such privileges, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

Ethiopia and Mauritania in Africa, and Lebanon in Western Asia granted Taiwan landing visa treatment, while Zambia in Africa and the United Arab Emirates in the Arabian Peninsula included Taiwan in their e-visa systems, the ministry said in a statement.

The 158 countries and territories that have given Taiwan visa privileges include the United States, Japan and all 28 European Union member states. It covers most of the areas frequented by Taiwanese travelers, according to the ministry.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: December 1, 2015

The recent release of two Taiwanese and one mainland Chinese intelligence agents

underscores the enhanced mutual trust between Taipei and Beijing, according to the Presidential Office.

In a written statement issued Nov. 30, Presidential Office spokesman Charles Chen confirmed that Col. Chu Kung-hsun and Col. Hsu Chang-kuo of the Military Intelligence Bureau under the Ministry of National Defense had been released by Beijing.

“President Ma Ying-jeou was very pleased with the development, and expects to see such demonstrations of goodwill continue for the benefit of the two sides,” Chen added.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Chu and Hsu were captured by mainland Chinese authorities in May 2006 in northern Vietnam and transported to Guangxi province in southwestern mainland China.

The two were first given life in prison, but later had their sentences commuted to 20-year terms. They are believed to be the highest-ranking Taiwanese officers imprisoned by Beijing for espionage.

The sources said the two men were released Oct. 13 and flew back to Taiwan the same day. Meanwhile, Li Zhihao, who was sentenced to life in prison in Taiwan after being convicted of spying for Beijing, was released on parole the previous day after serving 16 years.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-11-30
By: Editorial Staff, Taiwan News, Newspaper

On behalf of the editorial staff at Taiwan News, we would like to extend our sincere

condolences to Lin Jung-san, founder of the Liberty Times group.

Lin, who had devoted his entire life to promoting Taiwan’s democracy and freedom of the press, passed away at the age of 76 due to tumor-induced cardiopulmonary failure.

He will be remembered fondly by those closest to him. R.I.P.

[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/11/30
By: Milly Lin, Bernie Chiu and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Nov. 30 (CNA) Taipei 101 has finally found a sponsor for its 2016 New Year’s fireworks show after a long search, but the company’s name will not be announced until Tuesday, Michael Liu (劉家豪), spokesman of the landmark building, said Monday.

Liu said the sponsor is a Taiwanese enterprise that identifies with this year’s theme of “Nature is Future” and will provide the NT$45 million (US$1.38 million) the show will cost.

Taipei 101 started its annual fireworks show in 2004 and will be staging the spectacular extravaganza for the 11th time this year.

The rising cost of the fireworks display and the sluggish economy this year had made it difficult to find a sponsor, Liu said.     [FULL  STORY]