A flash mob of electric scooters set a new Guinness World Records for the largest electric scooter procession ever

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/29
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A flash mob of electric scooters set a new Guinness World Records on Sunday (Sept. 29) for the largest electric scooter procession after crossing Taipei Bridge, which links Taipei and New Taipei, according to a CNA news report.

Inspired by the daily "motorbike waterfall” of commuting motorbike riders across Taipei Bridge, which has become international news, Taiwan’s electric scooter brand Gogoro started a flash mob activity in 2016. This year marks the fourth edition of the annual event, the report said.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/29
By: Emerson Lim

Taipei, Sept. 29 (CNA) Tens of thousands of Taiwanese and Hong Kong people braved heavy rain in Taipei Sunday to support the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, emphasizing that Taiwan and Hong Kong are in the same boat amid China's threat to democracy.

The demonstration, dubbed "9/29 Taiwan Stands With Hong Kong," was initiated by the Taiwan Citizen Front, the Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy, the National Students' Union of Taiwan and the Hong Kong Outlanders. It was supported by nearly 200 other civil groups and youth organizations.

The demonstrators, many of them clad in black, began their march from the Legislative Yuan, chanting "liberate Hong Kong" as they passed through busy districts in downtown Taipei.

"The rain is nothing compared to the storm experienced by the Hong Kong people," a marcher surnamed Tsai (蔡) told CNA, referring to the political turmoil brought by the Hong Kong government's suppression of the pro-democracy movement there.    [FULL  STORY]

Two of Taiwan's allies have severed diplomatic ties with Taipei in the past few days. Amid concerns that China is trying to isolate Taiwan, experts say there are still ways with which it can maintain international clout.

Deutsche Welle
Date: 27.09.2019
By: William Yang (Taipei)    

Taiwan suffered a diplomatic setback last week with two of its former allies – Solomon Islands and Kiribati – choosing to sever ties with Taipei. This leaves only 15 countries in the world that recognize its sovereignty. Since 2016, Taiwan has lost five allies to China.

China's aggressive diplomatic efforts to isolate Taiwan have alarmed the authorities in Taipei, as they feel they are being systematically cornered.

Since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016, China has piled more pressure on Taiwan. China has also been blocking Taiwanese representatives from attending international conferences as observers.

"Beijing's main objective has always been to use this strategy as a psychological weapon against Taiwan," Jonathan Sullivan, director of the China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham, told DW.    [FULL  STORY]

Immigration looking for masks, pepper spray, helmets

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/28
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Immigration at Hong Kong International Airport has started conducting thorough luggage checks for passengers arriving from Taiwan, looking for materials related to the anti-extradition bill protests in the territory, reports said Saturday (September 28).

Taiwanese travelers found in possession of such materials might be refused entry to Hong Kong in future, the Central News Agency reported.

Since the protests against the extradition bill and against growing Chinese influence emerged last June, support in Taiwan has also expanded, with groups sending over items like gas masks and helmets to be used by protesters to protect themselves against police violence.

Hong Kong’s Chinese-language Ming Pao newspaper reported that senior immigration officials had ordered staff at the airport to look out for such items, with special attention to be paid to all passengers arriving from Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/28
By: Chen Chi-fong and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Sept. 28 (CNA) A Chinese family is under investigation for allegedly vandalizing a wall on the

National Sun Yat-sen University campus in Kaohsiung on which messages supporting Hong Kong's democratic movement are posted, police said Saturday.

The police said they found the Chinese couple and their young child in Kenting, southern Taiwan.

They were found a day earlier at the university ripping down notes carrying messages in support of Hong Kong's ongoing protests, which began in late June in opposition to a proposed bill that would have allowed the extradition of criminal suspects to China for trial, the police said.

Although they were told by students to stop, they continued, an action described by the university as constituting vandalism.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/28
By: Elaine Hou and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Sept. 28 (CNA) Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) expressed gratitude Saturday to the

presidents of Nauru and Palau — two of Taiwan's diplomatic allies — during flight transits in Taiwan, for speaking up for the country at the 74th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

Wu welcomed Nauru President Lionel Aingimea and Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. at the airport and thanked them for supporting Taiwan's international inclusion, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Aingimea urged the U.N. Sept. 26 to accept Taiwan as a "willing and capable partner" that he said can help achieve sustainable development goals.

Aingimea, who took office in August, made the call when addressing the U.N. General Assembly's annual general debate, following the release of an official statement pledging continued support for Taiwan that same day.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 29, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA

The Confucius Temple in southern Tainan, Taiwan’s first temple dedicated to Confucius, held a

ceremony to celebrate the birthday of the Chinese politician and philosopher yesterday, which was Teacher’s Day in Taiwan.

The ceremony, which began at 5am and is held every year, marked the birth of Confucius 2,569 years ago and followed an ancient tradition that has remained unchanged for more than 2,000 years, the temple’s cultural foundation said.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) presided over the ritual while hundreds of people looked on.

One of the rites was a formation dance in which 36 children lined up in six rows and six columns to pay respect to Confucius.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 28, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Scientists at Academia Sinica say that they are optimistic about a study they are conducting, which

could one day lead to a “cure” for diet-induced obesity, a serious health and social issue in many parts of the world.

Experiments on mice show that the removal of a specific gene can contribute to better metabolic function, Academia Sinica bioscientist Juan Li-jung (阮麗蓉) said.

A team at the institute has found that the amount of gene N-alpha-acetyltransferase 10 protein (Naa10p) positively correlates with obesity in mice, Juan said.

If the findings could be applied to humans, it would mean a “cure” for diet-induced obesity, she said.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 27 September, 2019
By: Leslie Liao

Premier Su Tseng-chang says the people of Taiwan should stand together in the face of threats from

China. Su was speaking at the Legislature on Friday.

Su told lawmakers that the African swine fever epidemic sweeping China is symbolic of the threats China poses to Taiwan. The disease does not affect humans, but is fatal to pigs. Taiwan has adopted strict measures in an effort to prevent the disease from crossing the Taiwan Strait and devastating the local pork industry.    [FULL  STORY]