Page Three

Former government leaders to attend Lee Kuan Yew’s state funeral

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/03/24
By: Lu Hsin-hui, Claudia Liu and Scully Hsiao

Taipei, March 24 (CNA) Former Vice President Lien Chan and former Premier Hau Pei-tsun will 201503240036t0001head to Singapore to pay their last respects to late Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at a state funeral set for March 29.

Lien has been invited as a long-time friend of Lee’s to attend the ceremony, which is set to be held at the National University of Singapore, according to Ting Yuan-chao, head of Lien’s office.

Former Premier Hau Pei-tsun has also been invited to attend the state funeral as a friend of Lee, who was the first prime minister of the city-state and retained his grip on power for over 31 years, a friend of Hau told CNA.     [FULL  STORY]

Tainan City Government honors late residents

Taiwan Today
Date：03/24/2015

The former homes of three late Tainan residents were adorned March 22 with plaques

Tainan City Mayor William Lai (third left) is joined by relatives of late resident Wu San-lian and special guests as he inaugurates a commemorative plaque at the politician and activist’s former residence. (Courtesy of Tainan City Government)

Tainan City Mayor William Lai (third left) is joined by relatives of late resident Wu San-lian and special guests as he inaugurates a commemorative plaque at the politician and activist’s former residence. (Courtesy of Tainan City Government)

commemorating the individuals’ contributions to the southern Taiwan city and the nation.

Brothers Wu Hsiu-chi and Wu Tsun-hsien were honored for spurring national economic development, while Wu San-lian—unrelated—was recognized for his achievements in the political field.

Tainan City Mayor William Lai said at the plaque ceremony that it is crucial to acknowledge the commitment of those who have given so much to enhancing society. “We owe the robust development of our city and country to the diligence and efforts of these previously unsung heroes.”     [FULL  STORY]

President to make unexpected visit to Singapore: local media (update)

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/03/24

Taipei, March 24 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou is on his way to Singapore to pay his last respects to Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of the city state who died early Monday, according to local media reports.

Ma and his small entourage will stay in Singapore for up to four hours on Tuesday before returning to Taiwan later in the day, according to online news outlet storm.mg and the mass-circulation newspaper Apple Daily.     [FULL  STORY]

Activist who defended Sunflower protesters dies at 76

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Chou Jung-tsung, seated, on April 1 last year accuses police officers of assault for their actions against Executive Yuan protesters. Photo: Chang Wen-chuan, Taipei Times

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 24, 2015
By: Lii Wen  /  Staff reporter

Pro-independence activist Chou Jung-tsung (周榮宗), 76, died from cirrhosis on Saturday, two days before the one-year anniversary of the March 23 Executive Yuan occupation last year.

Chou, a long-term supporter of Taiwanese independence and social movements, participated in the Sunflower movement protests in March and early April last year, in which tens of thousands of protesters laid siege to the Legislative Yuan compound and surrounding streets to voice their opposition to a proposed trade pact with China.     [FULL  STORY]

Importer busted for selling counterfeit red wines in Taiwan

Want China Times
Date: 2015-03-24
By: CNA

A major wine importer based in New Taipei was busted for selling counterfeit French red wine that netted the company a profit estimated at NT$100 million (US$3.2 million) over the past five years, Taiwan’s Investigation Bureau said Monday.

The bureau said it received a tip recently that Tequila Development, a well-known wine importer in Taishan, was importing large quantities of cheap red wines from Spain and Chile and passing it off as French.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan has lost direction, says professor in meandering ramble

Want China Times
Date: 2015-03-23
By: Chang Ya-chung and Staff Reporter

Taiwan’s government has lost its direction ever since the Democratic Progressive Party took

Chang Ya-chung gives a speech on his North America tour in August last year. (Photo/Lin Rui-yi)

Chang Ya-chung gives a speech on his North America tour in August last year. (Photo/Lin Rui-yi)

the reins of the country in 2000 and the Kuomintang is not doing a better job at leading the country either, says Chang Ya-chung, a political science professor at National Taiwan University in Taipei.

In a piece published in our Chinese-language sister paper China Times on March 17, Chang said Taiwan’s lack of direction has arisen because the country retreated into an imaginary world instead of living in the real world. Chang said the DPP advocates separating the history of Taiwan and China but never bothered to educate its supporters that the US still maintains a “One China” policy.     [FULL  STORY]