Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/07/03
By: Kelvin Huang and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, July 3 (CNA) Taiwan began to mothball its controversial fourth nuclear power

plant on July 1, a process that will allow it to be activated at any time in the future, President Ma Ying-jeou said in an interview that was aired Friday.

The nuclear power plant, situated along Taiwan’s northeastern coast in Gongliao District in New Taipei, could be reopened after a few adjustments are made if it was decided to operate the facility in the future, Ma said in response to questions on nuclear energy.

In the interview with Taipei-based Chinese Television System that was taped Thursday, Ma explained that the plant was being mothballed because of the strong wave of anti-nuclear voices. “No words related to nuclear energy can win support,” he said.

Ma said he was convinced, however, that the public would gradually discover that nuclear energy cannot be quickly replaced by renewable energy.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-07-03
By: CNA

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) offered condolences Thursday to the victims and

families affected by a recent colored powder explosion at a water park in New Taipei, northern Taiwan, which has left hundreds injured and two dead.

“Before we begin our celebration today, I want to take a moment to express the American Institute in Taiwan’s heartfelt condolences to the victims and families affected by the tragic incident at the Formosa Fun Coast water park last week,” AIT acting director Brent Christensen said at an event to celebrate the 239th birthday of the United States.

AIT represents US interests in Taiwan in the absence of bilateral diplomatic ties.

While Thursday’s event was a happy occasion, “we want the people of Taiwan to know that we stand with them at this time of sorrow,” he told hundreds of attendees at the reception.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/07/02
By: H. Kuo Wang and Lillian Lin

Taipei, July 2 (CNA) New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) said Thursday that donations

thus far to provide medical care for the injured in last Saturday’s water park dust explosion already exceed NT$500 million (US$16.18), and the city government has begun distributing subsidies to families of victims.

The New Taipei City government opened a bank account Monday for donations to the blast victims.

Pledging that every penny of the donations will be used to help the fire victims, Chu said that the city government has decided to allocate a certain amount from the special fund to provide immediate subsidies to the families of the burn patients.

In response to requests from patient families for subsidies to help them sustain the long period of medical treatment for their loved ones, the city government has decided that families of patients staying in general wards for moderate burns will receive NT$100,000 each, and those under intensive care will receive NT$200,000 each.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-07-02
By: CNA

A well-noted waste disposal enterprise in Taiwan announced Wednesday that it had

built the world’s largest vertical garden in Kaoshiung’s Gangshan district.

The vertical garden, which forms part of the fence of Cleanaway, measures 2,594 square meters, surpassing the former world record set by the green wall of Singapore’s CDL Tree House by some 300 square meters.

Yang Ching-hsiang, board chairman of Cleanaway, said that the construction of his company’s green wall took about two months, using more than 100,000 plants of different varieties to form a sunset portrait.

Yang said that he decided to establish the large green wall with an aim of promoting environmental protection, hoping to improve the general public’s impression about waste treatment enterprises.     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 03, 2015
By: Loa Iok-sin  /  Staff reporter

Japanese Representative Mikio Numata yesterday confirmed that he would not attend a

military display tomorrow celebrating the Republic of China’s (ROC) victory over Japan in World War II.

“Saturday? This coming Saturday? I have other things to do,” Numata told reporters as he was leaving a reception marking the US Independence Day holiday in Taipei yesterday.

Asked if he received an official invitation to tomorrow’s event, Numata said he had not so far, but a colleague of his had received one.

Having answered the questions in Chinese, when asked how he felt about extended celebrations in Taiwan for the 70th anniversary of the victory over Japan, Numata switched to English.

“No comment,” he said, and quickly walked away.     [FULL STORY]

Focus Taiwan
2015/07/02
By: Cheng Chi-feng and S.C. Chang

Kaohsiung, July 2 (CNA) A group of Chinese exchange students donated NT$10,000 (US$323.7) to a public fund Thursday for helping victims suffering from burns sustained from a color powder blast last weekend in northern Taiwan.

The students from Fujian Normal University cut back on their budget for a dinner party meant to thank the faculty members of Fortune Institute of Technology in Kaohsiung for making the year-long exchange program a success.

Instead of holding the party at a luxury restaurant, it was moved to a less expensive one at Liuho Night Market, saving NT$10,000 to make the donation.

Wei Chunhui (魏春輝), a junior of Funjian Normal U., said they decided to show their sympathy through the donation because most of the fire victims were young people about their age.    [FULL  STORY]