• Wealthier parts of Asia have long relied on foreign workers, but Vietnamese man’s death highlights how vulnerable they are to exploitation and abuse
• Police officer shot runaway migrant nine times during confrontation, but was given a suspended jail term on the grounds of his inexperience

South China Morning Post
Date: 29 Aug, 2019
By: Kyodo  

In July a Taiwanese court found 22-year-old police officer Chen Chong-wen guilty of negligent manslaughter over the fatal shooting of a runaway Vietnamese migrant worker.

The death of Nguyen Quoc Phi, 27, who was shot nine times, is one of many tragedies in Taiwan and other wealthy parts of Asia that for decades have imported foreign workers to meet their domestic labour needs.

On August 31, 2017, Chen and a community watch officer encountered Nguyen in a remote area of northwestern Taiwan ,where they had been called to investigate the suspected theft of a car. As it turned out, the vehicle was not stolen, and Nguyen had gone there to swim in a river.

Unable to understand Chinese and afraid Chen would discover that he was working illegally, Nguyen ran, only to be caught and pepper sprayed by the community watch officer, who was slightly injured in the altercation.    [FULL  STORY]

16-year-old student could not afford funeral arrangements for deceased father

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/08/29
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A teenage girl living in Taiwan’s eastern county of Hualien wrote a letter to thank a local police officer for securing an emergency fund from a charity to help bury her father, who died of an illness a few days ago, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported on Thursday (Aug. 29).

The girl, surnamed Peng (彭), lived in Fuli Township with her father. Mr. Peng died a few days ago, leaving behind his only daughter, who is still a student, according to CNA.

The family was in a tight financial spot, as Mr. Peng had been bedridden and without income for quite some time, and his 16-year-old daughter could not afford to arrange a funeral for him. After Yuli Precinct officer Tang Yi-shuo (湯奕碩), who is familiar with the family’s situation, learned of Mr. Peng’s death, he helped Miss Peng apply to a charity for an emergency fund.

Tang said that during a routine household visit, he learned Mr. Peng had been divorced from his wife for many years and lived with his only daughter. As Mr. Peng had been out of work long term due to his condition, the family has long been financially strapped, the officer said, adding that the situation has worsened with Mr. Peng's death.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/08/29
By: Wen Kuei-hsiang and Chi Jo-yao

Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) posted a message on her Facebook page

Thursday indicating she will sue all those who have publicly suggested her academic credentials are fake, following a number of recent accusations.

Tsai said she will take legal action against anyone who falsely claims she did not write her doctoral degree or earn a law degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

The president also included a picture of her LSE degree certificate in the post, saying that her PhD dissertation titled "Unfair Trade Practices and Safeguard Actions" can be found in LSE's library.

Prior to Tsai's statement, presidential spokesman Chang Chun-han (張惇涵) said at a press conference on Thursday that Tsai received her degree in 1984 and is listed as a "LSE alumna" on the school's website, in response to an accusation by National Taiwan University law professor emeritus Ho Te-fen (賀德芬).

Ho, who held a press briefing on the same day, claimed it is "reasonable to suspect" that Tsai has been faking her doctoral degree for 35 years.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 27 August, 2019
By: Paula Chao

President Tsai Ing-wen is calling for closer cooperation with Mississippi in the areas of agriculture and energy. Tsai was speaking Tuesday while meeting with Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and his delegation.

Taiwan and Mississippi have maintained close ties over the past few decades. The two sides signed a sisterhood agreement back in 1983. In the same year, Taiwan’s southwestern Chiayi City also forged sister city ties with Jackson City.    [FULL  STORY]

The News Lens
Date: 2019/08/27
By: Sydney Ko and Milo Hsieh

The Trump administration has approved a series of arms sales to Taiwan, indicating closer U.S.-Taiwan relations as well as a tougher attitude towards China.

Reporting by Sydney Ko and Milo Hsieh

The United States recently approved weapon sales to Taiwan including M1A1 Abrams tanks, Stinger missiles, and US$8 billion worth of F-16V fighter jets, boosting Taiwan’s military strength.

Lt. Gen. Wallace Gregson, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affair, said the arms sales outline a major shift of U.S. attitude towards China. It insinuates the Trump administration’s willingness to challenge China’s increasingly aggressive show of power over maritime and air space in the Taiwan strait.

During last week’s lecture hosted jointly by the Institute of National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) and American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Gregson pointed to the 2019 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report released by the U.S. Department of Defense as a change of U.S. attitude towards China's aggression. The report referred to Taiwan as the "natural partners" of the U.S. like Singapore and New Zealand and reiterated the U.S. commitment to ensuring Taiwan remains secure and free from coercion.

“While the Chinese people aspire to free markets, justice, and the rule of law, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), undermines the international system from within by exploiting its benefits while simultaneously eroding the values and principles of the rules-based order,” the report stated.    [FULL  STORY]

Last legal bordello in Yilan, Taiwan shutters after owner dies

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/08/27
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The last legal brothel in northeastern Taiwan's Yilan County has closed its doors after its owner died and the police revoked its license.

Pine Moon House (松月屋), which is located in Kangle Lane in Yilan County's Luodong Township, was the last legal bordello in the county. After the owner, surnamed Changliu (張柳) died, the bureau revoked the brothel's license to operate legally.

CNA cited Hsieh Chin-hsien謝進賢, head of Yilan County Police, as saying at a County Council meeting today that the Luodong Police Bureau had revoked the license for the brothel on Jan. 1 of this year. The reason given was that the person in charge of the sexual service establishment had passed away in October of last year, reported Liberty Times.

Today (Aug. 27), the Yilan County government has requested the repeal of the "Yilan County Sex Trade Service Providers and Site Management Autonomous Ordinance," reported CNA. Hsieh pointed out that the police department has also applied for the scrapping of the regulations in accordance with Article 23 of the ordinance, which stipulates that "these autonomous regulations shall come into force on the day of promulgation, and shall be abolished upon the closure of all existing sex trade establishments in the county."    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/08/27
By: Chen Wei-ting and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) A migrant worker on the crew of a fishing vessel in northern Taiwan was recently diagnosed with hantavirus hemorrhagic fever, which was the first confirmed case in the country this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.

CDC doctor Su Chia-pin (蘇家彬) said the patient, in his 20s, sought medical attention after developing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue on Aug. 3.

The medication the man received did not alleviate his symptoms and he was admitted to hospital on Aug. 5, where his kidney and liver function tests were found to be abnormal, Su said.

Subsequent tests confirmed that the man had hantavirus hemorrhagic fever, Su said, adding that patient has since been treated and discharged.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 26 August, 2019
By: Paula Chao

Yunglo community in central Changhua county is home to over 30 traditional Taiwanese-style courtyard houses. Though some are 70 years old or older, many of the buildings are still livable and in pretty good shape.

In recent years, Yunglo community has become a popular spot for photo shoots.

It seems like time stood still when one visits a courtyard house at Yunglo community in Changhua County. With their tiled roofs and beams decorated with auspicious animals and flowers, the traditional Taiwanese architecture brings a sense of nostalgia.

Yunglo community is a typical agricultural village. One resident says the large courtyard is mainly used for drying rice husks. Farmers also use the place to dry other produce such as beans, peanuts and green onions.    [FULL  STORY]