Taiwan Today
Date: November 20, 2015

Taiwan’s participation in the just-concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

summit in Manila was a great success, with the member economy continuing to garner appreciation for its contributions to the organization, according to former Vice President Vincent C. Siew Nov. 19.

“Given the successful implementation of many APEC initiatives proposed by Taiwan, we should take an even more active role in regional economic integration,” Siew said at a news conference in Manila.

“APEC is the most important venue for Taiwan to express its commitment to joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Cooperative Economic Partnership,” he said, adding that the two trade pacts are the cornerstones of the more ambitious Free Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific.

Serving as President Ma Ying-jeou’s special envoy to the summit for the third time, Siew said he took the opportunity to call on participating leaders to expand the role of small and medium enterprises in regional integration.     [FULL  STORY]

RATIONAL DISCUSSION:In an interview reflecting on his leadership term, President Ma Ying-jeou has said the public does not know about all the government’s policies — Bloomberg

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 21, 2015

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), reflecting on his tenure that ends in May next

year, said he believes history would view his administration more favorably than his low approval ratings that have been reflected in polling.

In an interview at his offices in Taipei on Thursday, Ma said if he had worried too much about his poll numbers, he would not have been able to push forward the policies he believes Taiwan needs.

The most contentious among those has been his embrace of economic ties with China, which has sparked protests including a three-week occupation of Taiwan’s legislature by students opposed to a services trade pact.

“Taiwan is a society where political opposition is very intense,” Ma said. “Sometimes, no matter what I say or how nice I make it sound, I can’t obtain support, but it is because I know this that I’m not afraid to do what I should.”     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/11/20
By: Christie Chen

Taipei, Nov. 20 (CNA) Chinese family saga “Mountains May Depart” (山河故人) was named the audience’s favorite film Friday on the eve of the 52nd Golden Horse Awards, one of the most prestigious awards for Chinese-language films.

“Mountains May Depart,” by director Jia Zhangke (賈樟柯), snatched the non-competition Golden Horse Audience Award for Best Picture at a ceremony in Taipei. The film has received seven nominations for the actual Golden Horse Awards ceremony, which will be held Saturday in Taipei, with 39 films competing for top honors in 22 categories.

“Mountains May Depart” examines the life of a woman called Tao Er and those around her as China undergoes rapid changes. The film shows three different time periods of Tao Er’s life: 1999, when she is being courted by two suitors in her hometown in China; 2014, when she is divorced and her son and ex-husband move to Australia; and 2025, when her teenage son hardly remembers her.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/11/17
By: Bien Ching-feng and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) Taiwan’s aviation police said Tuesday they are looking for

the suspects who broadcast pornography on TV monitors in a passenger lounge at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Monday.

The police said they suspected misbehaving passengers were behind the embarrassing incident at the country’s main international gateway and pulled off the prank by using their own devices to run a porn film on one of the TVs on the lounge’s television wall.

Airport officials said they have since shut down televisions equipped with external controls and data sharing functions in its waiting rooms to prevent passenger access.

The incident occurred on Monday night, when passengers in airport lounge C8, known for showcasing Taiwanese movies on its many TVs, were treated to a porn film on one of the lounge’s TV sets.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: November 19, 2015

An indigenous craft art festival is to kick off Nov. 21 at an industrial development

center in Pingtung County’s Rinari community, showcasing the burgeoning artistic talent of people forced to relocate after Typhoon Morakot in 2009.

Situated near Beidawu Mountain in the Central Mountain Range, Rinari was established in December 2010 to accommodate displaced victims, mostly of the Paiwan and Rukai groups originally from Pingtung’s Dashe, Haocha and Majia Villages in Sandimen, Wutai and Majia Townships, respectively.

“We hope the event will boost the spirits of those who have suffered, further enhancing collaboration with them to create greater prosperity for all,” an official of the county government’s Department of Indigenous Peoples said. “Art is an effective outlet through which we can strengthen our resolve toward realizing this goal.”

Themed Kacalisian, meaning the people living on hill slopes in the Paiwan language, the first-ever festival features 10 art forms including embroidery, painting, sculpture, stone and iron carving, as well as house murals by artists from the Paiwan and Rukai groups.     [FULL STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-11-18
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The topic on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) will not be

discussed during the summit, Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Vice Chairperson Shih Hui-fen said Wednesday.

China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Chairman Chen Deming will arrive in Taipei on November 30 for a seven-day visit, where both parties are expected to review the agreements already signed by two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The third review meeting will be headed by Shih on the government team and ARATS Vice President Zheng Lizhong leading the Chinese delegation.

“The discussion will include a review of the 20 agreements signed to fill in any missing bits and pieces,” Shih said.     [FULL  STORY]