Quartz
Date: April 15, 2020
By: Isabella Steger, Asia deputy editor

When a plane delivering millions of medical face masks landed in Luxembourg on April 9, the livery depicted a plum blossom against a lilac background, and the name “China Airlines.”

The shipment didn’t come from China, however. It came from Taiwan. Though the nation is commonly known as Taiwan, its flag carrier’s name is derived from Taiwan’s official name, which is the Republic of China—the name of the government that once controlled China before it fled to modern-day Taiwan after its defeat in the Chinese Civil War. The People’s Republic of China’s flag carrier is, confusingly, Air China.

As Taiwan steps up its medical diplomacy during the coronavirus pandemic, some Taiwanese officials, and citizens, worry the airline’s ambiguous name could undermine its efforts to assert itself in the international arena. In recent weeks Taiwan has worked to leverage its success in battling coronavirus as well as the world’s growing frustration with China. It has donated millions of face masks to Europe, the US, and its diplomatic allies, while a global campaign to garner support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Organization (WHO) is gaining unprecedented levels of attention and support.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport saw record low of 669 passengers Tuesday April 14

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/04/15
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Only 669 people passed through Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Tuesday April 14  (CNA photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Not a single person arrived from overseas at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal One Tuesday (April 14), while the overall number of travelers passing through the airport plunged to a new low of 669.

Like many other countries facing the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Taiwan has imposed restrictions on international travel, with most foreign citizens being barred from arriving on the island.

The total number of passengers arriving and departing at the airport’s two terminals first fell to 883 on Monday (April 13) before plummeting to a new record low of 669, according to data presented by the National Immigration Agency (NIA). Of those, 316 were leaving Taiwan while 353 were arriving, all of the latter at Terminal Two.

Terminal One was mainly used by airlines operating regional flights, most of which had been canceled or suspended for an indefinite time, CNA reported. Nearly the only people still present at the terminal were NIA agents and staff at the duty-free stores. In addition, the authorities also transferred some flights to Terminal Two in order to save manpower.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 04/15/2020
By: Chang Ming-hsuan and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, April 15 (CNA) Although the COVID-19 coronavirus is currently at a "controllable" level in Taiwan, precluding the need for universal testing, the government is considering mandating tests for all travelers returning from certain high risk locations overseas, Deputy Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) said Wednesday.

During a hearing at the Legislative Yuan, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧) asked Hsueh why the government did not take advantage of the recent lull in new cases to begin testing for the virus on a larger scale in Taiwan.

In response, Hsueh said universal testing, which he likened to "fishing with a net," is usually only necessary when a virus is spreading uncontrollably through communities.

Another disadvantage of universal testing is that it causes people to let their guard down, which, in cases where tests show "false negative" results, can create the risk of community transmission, Hsueh said.    [FULL  STORY]

LEGISLATIVE QUESTIONS: Lin Chia-lung was set to discuss relief plans for airlines, travel agencies and other firms hurt by the pandemic, but lawmakers raised other issues

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 16, 2020 page
By: Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

The cost of renaming China Airlines (CAL) was the subject of heated debate between Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and several lawmakers at a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee in Taipei yesterday.

Lawmakers opposed to the idea said that the name change would cost the nation approximately NT$1.1 billion (US$36.63 million), as well as the reputation the airline has built over the years.

Lin, who has said he was open to the change, was scheduled to brief lawmakers about the government’s bailout plans for airlines, transportation companies and tourism agencies hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, but lawmakers’ questions focused on the renewed calls in the past few days to change CAL’s name.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷) asked Lin if any countries had actually mistaken Taiwan for China when they saw the banners that China Airlines hung on containers of mask donations sent by the government.    [FULL  STORY]

The Edge Markets
Date: April 12, 2020
By: 0Ahmad Naqib Idris

KUALA LUMPUR (April 12): The Ministry of Health (MoH) said the rapid test kits from the US are currently being evaluated but noted that there are some issues in terms of production, as it requires materials from Taiwan.

Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the test kits can be manufactured locally, but the reagent required has to be imported from Taiwan.

“We will need to get in touch with Taiwan to obtain the reagent as well as the US’ approval,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said Malaysia has yet to find a reliable test kit, adding that several test kits from South Korea are still being evaluated.    [FULL  STORY]

The Los Angelese Times
Date: April 12, 2020
By: Jen Yamatostaff

Over Skype on a recent afternoon as Tzi Ma was discussing “Tigertail,” his first major leading role, the actor couldn’t help but veer into the proud paternal mode he’s embraced as Hollywood’s favorite Asian Dad. True to that title, he showered praise upon his many movie daughters, his eyes lighting up.

There was Awkwafina from last year’s “The Farewell,” who won the Golden Globe for her dramatic debut in a story based on filmmaker Lulu Wang‘s life. Yifei Liu, who anchors Disney’s upcoming live-action epic “Mulan,” in which Ma plays the legendary warrior’s doting father. Christine Ko of “Tigertail,” in which Ma stars as a Taiwanese immigrant wrestling with the ghosts of his own American dream, and many, many more.

Unlike most of the characters he’s played onscreen, Ma is effusive with his affection. “They’re so talented!” he marveled. “I wish more opportunities would come their way so audiences would discover how amazingly talented these women are.”

He even reached back to 1998’s “Rush Hour,” the moment he figures this run of movie dads began, when he played the consul whose precocious Mariah Carey-singing daughter is kidnapped. The real breakout star? Ma says it was 11-year-old Julia Hsu. “Forget Chris Tucker. Forget Jackie Chan. Forget everybody else,” he said with a grin. “Julia Hsu, I’m telling you!”    [FULL  STORY]

Eliot Engel bashes WHO head for ‘baseless claims’ that Taiwan is fueling racist attacks against him

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/04/12
By: Ching-Tse Cheng, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel (D-NY), on Saturday (April 11) voiced his support for President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) after she rebuffed accusations by the World Health Organization (WHO) head Tedros Adhanom that Taiwan is responsible for launching a racist campaign against individuals of African descent.

In a retweet of Tsai's protest against the director-general's racism charge, Engel applauded the Taiwanese government's handling of the situation and condemned Tedros for his "baseless claims." He urged the WHO official to put aside his political agenda and learn from Taiwan's success in containing the spread of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Engel stressed that Tedros should "check out Taiwan's record" of coronavirus prevention, which he said would advance the WHO's international efforts.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 04/12/2020
By: Chen Yun-yu and Emerson Lim

Taipei, April 12 (CNA) Media visibility and direct messaging could be the motives behind the frequent appearances of Chinese and American military assets near Taiwan, especially as they are both struggling with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, according to analysts in Taiwan.

Between January 23 and April 10, Chinese military aircraft were spotted at least six times flying near Taiwan's airspace, according to the records of Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) and military air movement tracker Aircraft Spots.

On Sunday morning, Chinese aircraft carrier the Liaoning passed the Miyako Strait south of Japan and was about to sail into waters east of Taiwan on its way to the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, since March 25, U.S. military aircraft and vessels have been seen at least nine times near Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]