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DPP presidential win could have negative impact: Chinese scholar

Want China Times
Date: 2015-08-14
By: Zhang Jian

Tsai Ing-wen, the leader of Taiwan’s main opposition Democratic Progressive Party,

Tsai Ing-wen surrounded by supporters at an event in Taipei, Aug. 2. (Photo/Huang Shih-chi)

Tsai Ing-wen surrounded by supporters at an event in Taipei, Aug. 2. (Photo/Huang Shih-chi)

stands a good chance of winning the presidency in early 2016. However, the DPP’s return to power could have a negative impact on Taiwan’s relations with China and the United States.

First, it would affect the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Over the past eight years of the Kuomintang administration, the two sides’ adherence to the 1992 Consensus as a political foundation for cross-strait exchanges has helped maintain peaceful development of cross-strait ties.

The DPP meanwhile has not revised the Taiwan independence clause in its party charter and does not recognize the 1992 Consensus. After floating the concept of a “Taiwan consensus” in 2012, Tsai has recently proposed “maintaining the status quo” in cross-strait relations as the party’s basis for its dealings with China. But if the DPP is still unwilling to officially relinquish the Taiwan independence platform, this will significantly affect cross-strait relations if Tsai becomes president.     [FULL  STORY]

Four officers detained in airport smuggling case

ALL IN THE FAMILY:The aviation police allegedly used relatives and friends to smuggle cigarettes and alcohol by escorting them past customs without being checked

Taipei Times
Date:  Aug 15, 2015
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

Four aviation police officers have been arrested and detained after authorities cracked a smuggling ring that reportedly brought in undeclared cigarettes and alcohol through inbound flight baggage at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

Taoyuan district prosecutors and agents of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau carried out the raids on Thursday.

At press time last night, the four remained in detention and were held incommunicado after being questioned, as prosecutors continued the investigation to find out if higher-ranking officials were involved.

The four Aviation Police Bureau officers are: Criminal Investigation Brigade vice captain Su Sheng-li (蘇勝利), two Security Patrol Brigade junior captains Wu Hou-chien (吳候潛) and Lin Chien-ching (林建清), and an officer named Liao Chih-chiang (廖志強).     [FULL  STORY]

Kaohsiung vetoes Double Ten fireworks

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-08-14
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Kaohsiung has turned down the staging of fireworks on the Double Ten National Day following last June’s deadly color dust blast at a water park, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng said Friday.

Earlier this week, the explosion at the Formosa Fun Coast amusement park in New Taipei City, which injured about 500 people, recorded its 11th fatal victim.

National Day celebrations on October 10 are usually marked by colorful fireworks, an official banquet and parades. This year, the southern port city of Kaohsiung was scheduled to host the extravaganza.

However, Wang, who chairs the organizing committee, said the city’s government had safety concerns and suggested not to hold the fireworks part of the event. Wang said he agreed, even though it would be the first time in history that fireworks would be absent from Double Ten day. It would have been the first time in 15 years that Kaohsiung would play host to the event.

The final decision would be made at a meeting of the organizing committee scheduled for September 10, Wang told reporters at the Legislative Yuan Friday.    [FULL  STORY]

Tang Prize winner honored by Chinese American academic society

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/08/14
By: Lilian Wu

Taipei, Aug. 14 (CNA) The prestigious Chinese American Academic and Professional 201508140037t0001Society (美東華人學術聯誼會) will bestow a lifetime achievement award upon Chinese American historian Yu Ying-shih (余英時) in recognition of his outstanding achievements in Sinology during its annual conference in New York Aug. 14-15.

Yu, a Princeton University emeritus professor, is regarded by his peers as the greatest Chinese intellectual historian of his generation.

The 85-year-old won the U.S. Library of Congress’ John W. Kluge Prize in 2006 for his lifetime achievements in the study of humanity, becoming the first Chinese scholar to win the honor.

In 2014, he was also awarded the Tang Prize in Sinology for his original research and insight into the intellectual history of China.     [FULL  STORY]

UMC honorary vice chairman joins Republic Party

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 14, 2015
By: Abraham Gerber  /  Staff reporter, with CNA

The Republic Party yesterday announced that United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) honorary deputy chairman John Hsuan (宣明智) has joined the party, sparking speculation whether he would represent the party in the Jan. 16 elections.

Hsuan was a cofounder of the company — the nation’s first semiconductor manufacturing firm — and had served as its chief executive officer.

“I have joined the Republic Party,” Hsuan said in a press release by the party, adding he hoped could “add to the party’s voice.”

Since the party’s founding in March, it has already attracted 100,000 members, Hsuan said, bolstering his confidence that it is a party worthy of trust and able to get things done.     [FULL  STORY]

Weather bureau issues heavy rain warning

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-08-13
By: By Lee Hsin-Yin, Central News Agency

Taipei, Aug. 13 (CNA) The Central Weather Bureau issued a heavy rain warning for Thursday due to a strong convective system above Taiwan, warning against inclement weather in mainly northern and eastern Taiwan.

Downpours, lightning and gusty wind could affect eastern and northeastern Taiwan, the greater Taipei area and coastal areas of northern Taiwan, as well as mountainous areas across the country, forecasters said.

President Ma receives visiting U.S. senator

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/08/13
By: Hsieh Chia-chen and Romulo Huang

Taipei, Aug. 13 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou received visiting United States Senator Tom 201508130034t0001Cotton at the Presidential Office Thursday, when they exchanged views on the promotion of bilateral ties between the two nations, as well as regional peace.

Citing remarks made previously by former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton, incumbent Secretary of State John Kerry and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan A. Thornton, Ma reaffirmed that Taiwan-U.S. relations have reached the best conditions of the past 36 years since the two nations suspended their diplomatic relations in 1979.

Citing the fact that the U.S. government had authorized arms sales of more than US$18.3 billion to Taiwan over the past seven years as an example, Ma said that Taiwan has been an important security and trade partner of the U.S.     [FULL  STORY]

Chen Chu named head of DPP presidential campaign HQ

Want China Times
Date: 2015-08-13
By: CNA and Staff Reporter

The leader and presidential candidate of Taiwan’s main opposition Democratic

Chen Chu. (Photo/Wang Ying-hao)

Chen Chu. (Photo/Wang Ying-hao)

Progressive Party, Tsai Ing-wen, announced Wednesday that the DPP Central Standing Committee has designated Chen Chu, the incumbent mayor of Kaohsiung, as chair of the party’s presidential campaign headquarters.

Hailing Chen’s vital role in the party and her impressive performance as Kaohsiung mayor since 2006, Tsai said Chen has participated in all the critical events in Taiwan’s journey to democracy. She said she expects that the DPP presidential campaign will be well integrated under Chen’s leadership.

The 65-year-old Chen is in her third term as Kaohsiung mayor, having won re-election in November last year. Enjoying high popularity, especially among DPP party members, she is deemed to have the best performance record among the heads of Taiwan’s six special municipalities, according to a survey released May 28 by local magazine Global Views Monthly.     [FULL  STORY]

Tsai still front-runner in TVBS’ presidential survey

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 14, 2015
By Tseng Wei-chen and Jonathan Chin  /  Staff reporter, and staff writer

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday continued to lead in the latest survey of presidential candidates by a media outlet, with People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) second.

The survey, conducted by the TVBS poll center, showed Tsai commanding 38 percent, while Soong had 20 percent and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) had 17 percent.

Compared with TVBS’ July 19 poll, support for Tsai climbed by 4 percentage points, while Soong’s edged up 1 percentage point. Hung was the only candidate to see her support drop, falling sharply by 8 percentage points from 25 percent last month.     [FULL  STORY]

Irregularities found in procurement of military equipment

Taipei Times
Date:  Aug 13, 2015
By: Chung Li-hua and Jason Pan  /  Staff reporters

The National Audit Office has reported procurement irregularities and possible graft involving the Army Command Headquarters procurement program, with discrepancies found in the quantity of tactical gear purchased for soldiers and items not meeting the required specifications.

According to the results of an investigation released this week, protective vests purchased did not have the anti-infrared functions that were stipulated in the procurement tender.

The anti-infrared feature of the vests helps soldiers conduct nighttime stealth missions by enabling to them avoid detection by infrared cameras and thermal imaging devices.     [FULL  STORY]