Page Three

China’s policy toward Taiwan has not changed: Chinese state media

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 25 May, 2020
By: Natalie Tso

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at China’s National People’s Congress on Friday (photo: CCTV)

A commentary in Chinese state media is saying that China’s policy toward Taiwan has not changed and that its aim has always been “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan. 

There had been speculation that China’s policy toward Taiwan had shifted after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang changed the wording of Beijing’s Taiwan policy at the National People’s Congress on Friday. Li did not mention “peaceful” when he referred to “reunification with Taiwan”. 

Taiwan has been governed by the Republic of China government for more than 70 years, and has never been governed by the Beijing-based People’s Republic of China. 

A news app for Chinese state media CCTV featured an editorial on Sunday commenting on the government’s report on Taiwan. The editorial offered an explanation for why the report omitted the word  “peaceful” before its mention of “reunification” . The report also  failed to mention the “1992 Consensus” or the “one China principle”.      [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan targets truth not justice as it investigates darker times

Justice commission modelled on bodies in South Africa and South America probes killings during years of martial law.

Al Jazeera
Date: May 25, 2020
By: Violet Law

Justice commission modelled on bodies in South Africa and South America probes killings during years of martial law.

Soldiers perform the changing of the guard ceremony in front of the statue of founding President Chiang Kai-shek. The Transitional Justice Commission aims to redress some of the wrongs committed during Taiwan's nearly 40 years of martial law [File: David Chang/EPA]

Taipei, Taiwan – In 1981, the body of Chen Wen-chen, a rising-star of mathematics on a visit home from the United States, was found on the campus of National Taiwan University the day after he had returned from overnight interrogation at the police headquarters.

Only this month did his family get official word that Chen had probably been killed by the secret police. Suspected deaths like Chen's that took place in Taiwan during the island's nearly 40 years of martial law would have been consigned to the dustbin of history – but not for an investigatory body tasked with ferreting out the facts.

Modelled after truth and reconciliation commissions in Africa and South America, the Transitional Justice Commission was established in 2018 to redress human rights abuses and other atrocities before Taiwan became a democracy.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan’s Green Island to go ‘bottled water’ free

Government teams up with accommodation businesses to cut island’s plastic waste

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/05/25
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

A hot spring on Green Island (Taitung County Government photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Green Island is seeking to become an island free of bottled water in a project that will see 33 places offering free drinking water.

In a partnership with accommodation businesses, the Taitung County Government is implementing a project for waste reduction on the volcanic island off the eastern coast of Taiwan. The offshore island, administered as Lyudao Township, is a tourist attraction reachable by plane or ferry.

Travelers will be able to access free potable water at 33 locations, information for which is available on the website https://reurl.cc/MvR0oL. The measure aims to cut down on the use of plastic bottles while raising public awareness on the importance of environmental protection.    [FULL  STORY]

New front forecast to bring torrential rain Tuesday to Thursday

Focus Taiwan
Date: 05/25/2020
By:  Wang Shu-fen and Joseph Yeh

CNA file photo

Taipei, May 25 (CNA) A plum rain front currently lingering over southern Taiwan is expected to bring afternoon thundershowers Monday and torrential rain over the next three days as it moves northward, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).

On Monday, eastern parts of the country, the greater Taipei area and mountainous areas islandwide will see afternoon thundershowers, the CWB said.

Starting Tuesday, the plum rain front will move northward, lingering over Taiwan until Thursday and causing unstable weather throughout most of the country, the CWB said.
[FULL  STORY]

China tightening grip on Hong Kong: But is Beijing giving up on Taiwan in the process? 

The Times of India
Date: May 23, 2020
By: Rudroneel Ghosh in Talking Turkey

In a significant move in relation to Hong Kong, the ongoing session of China’s National People’s Congress is considering national security laws specific to the special administrative region. The law, when it is passed, will proscribe secessionist and subversive activities, external interference in Hong Kong and terrorism. But coming against the backdrop of the massive Hong Kong protests last year, the move is being seen as diluting the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ formula that governs the special administrative region. After all, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution or Basic Law entails Article 23 which says that the city must enact national security laws. But this has never been implemented due to fears that the autonomy Hong Kong enjoys will be eroded. Now, Beijing is taking matters into its own hands and bypassing Hong Kong’s legislature to enact the national security law itself. 

So can Beijing do this? Of course, it can. After all, Hong Kong is part of China. There is no dispute on this. Therefore, a law can be enacted by the central government that pertains to a particular region of China. This principle holds true in all countries. Just like Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are India’s states and the Indian parliament can enact special laws with respect to them, China can do the same for Hong Kong. But on the point of democracy, it is now clear that Beijing believes Hong Kong has too much freedom. The massive protests last year that resulted in much chaos have strengthened this belief. Plus, Hong Kong had been for long China’s economic dynamo. However, with other cities in China like Shanghai and Shenzhen witnessing meteoric growth over the last decade-and-a-half, the importance of Hong Kong in China’s economic calculations has reduced. 

What is really interesting is the timing of Beijing’s move. The Hong Kong protest movement had temporarily halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Beijing clearly saw an opening here. But it is also possible that Xi Jinping and the top Chinese leadership is under pressure due to its handling of the pandemic. Questions are being raised, even within China, if the government there did not move quickly enough to contain the pandemic. Clearly, authorities in Wuhan had tried to downplay the threat of the disease and the central leadership had taken some time to decisively act — as I have mentioned in a previous article, Beijing had taken this time to figure out a strategy to insulate Xi against any Covid-related criticism. Yet, the spread of Covid in China and the heavy social and economic costs it has inflicted have been subjects of criticism.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan offers coronavirus tests to citizens traveling or studying overseas

Despite worldwide level-3 travel warning, applicants can pay for coronavirus test before going abroad

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/05/23
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taiwan expands testing possibilities (CNA, ITRI photo) 

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese who want to travel or study overseas will be allowed to pay for coronavirus tests even if they plan to visit countries outside of Southeast Asia, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Saturday (May 23).

The idea of paying for virus testing was introduced in April, but restricted to a limited number of countries, such as China and Southeast Asian nations, and to people with serious medical conditions, CNA reported.

Since the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic threat is receding in Taiwan and the ability to conduct tests has improved, the time has come to reduce restrictions, officials said. At the same time, other countries are introducing requirements for health certificates and testing.

The maximum number of tests would be set at once every three months. At present, there are 18 hospitals across the nation qualified to test for coronavirus, CNA reported.
[FULL  STORY]

CORONAVIRUS/Taiwan relaxes rules on self-paid COVID-19 tests

Focus Taiwan
Date: 05/23/2020
By: Chang Ming-hsuan and Frances Huang

File photo courtesy of Chi Mei Medical Center

Taipei, May 23 (CNA) Taiwan has relaxed its rules on self-paid tests for the COVID-19 coronavirus at a time when infections have shown signs of easing in the country, leaving its testing capacity adequate, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Saturday.

The CECC said that as many countries that have imposed travel bans to contain the virus spread still need testing results before allowing foreign nationals to enter, Taiwan has decided to expand the coverage of self-paid testing for Taiwanese citie9s who plan to go overseas.

Previously, Taiwan had only allowed Taiwanese citizens to take self-paid COVID-19 tests if they wanted to travel to countries in Southeast Asia, China and Macau to visit relatives residing overseas for reasons including accidents, serious illness or other urgent situations.

The CECC said self-paid tests now are available to local people who can go anywhere for work or to pursue higher education, while their spouses and other family members who travel with them can also take the tests at their own expense.    [FULL  STORY]

High school seeks new principal after candidates shunned

Taipei Times
Date: May 24, 2020
By: Huang Chung-shan and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writer

A Taichung school is calling for applications for the post of school principal after all the candidates for the position were rejected by its teachers.

The Taichung Education Bureau announced the call for submissions after a majority of members at Taichung Municipal Taichung First Senior High School’s teachers’ association were found to be “unsupportive” of the two candidates.

The Taichung Municipal High School Principals Selection Committee on Friday said that the candidates — Taichung Municipal Home Economics and Commercial High School Principal Lin Yi-huei (林怡慧), and Taichung Municipal Wufeng Agricultural and Industrial High School Principal Chiang Yao-tsung (江耀宗) — were rejected in a vote held on Friday last week among association members to gauge their opinion of them.

The committee would open a second round of principal selection, which would begin on June 25, it said.    [FULL  STORY]

President wishes Eid Mubarak to Muslims in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 05/23/2020
By: Wen Kuei-hsiang and Ko Lin

Taipei Grand Mosque, which is closed to worshipers due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. / CNA file photo

Taipei, May 23 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) wished Muslims in Taiwan and around the world Eid Mubarak on Saturday, a traditional Muslim greeting reserved for use on the festival of Ei d al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

"This is a time to gather with family and friends and I hope everyone will enjoy the festival and celebrate in safety," Tsai tweeted.

I want to wish our Muslim friends in #Taiwan and around the world #EidMubarak. This is a time to gather with family & friends, & I hope everyone will enjoy the festival & celebrate in safety.

Taiwan is a society that appreciates multiculturalism and freedom of religion, she also wrote on her Facebook page.

Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, places that normally organize activities to celebrate Eid al-Fitr have been greatly reduced in Taiwan this year, the president noted, expressing hope that the pandemic will soon go away so that everyone can return to their normal lives.
[FULL  STORY]

COVID-19: Taiwan goes 40 days without new cases of domestic transmission

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 22 May, 2020
By: Shirley Lin

No new local COVID-19 cases on Friday. (Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare)

Taiwan has reached 40 consecutive days without any new domestically transmitted cases of COVID-19.

The Central Epidemic Command Center said on Friday that Taiwan’s total number of cases so far remains at 441 confirmed infections, with seven fatalities. 408 COVID-19 patients have been released from quarantine while the rest of them remain hospitalized in isolation wards.    [FULL  STORY]