Focus Taiwan
Date: 11/18/2020
By: Chen Yun-yu, Chen Chun-hua and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Nov. 18 (CNA) The disappearance of an F-16 fighter from radar screens Tuesday night was mostly likely the result of spatial disorientation on the part of the pilot, Air Force Commander Hsiung Hou-chi (熊厚基) said Wednesday.

Citing an initial investigation, Hsiung said at a press briefing that data showed the single-seat F-16 jet, piloted by Colonel Chiang Cheng-chih (蔣正志), dropping 7,000 feet in 20 seconds, about 1 minute after it took off from Hualien Air Base at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday.

The 7,000-foot drop may have occurred because the pilot suffered spatial disorientation after entering the cloud layer, and he lost his sense of direction, Hsiung said.

In aviation, spatial disorientation is defined as the inability of a pilot to correctly interpret aircraft attitude, altitude or airspeed in relation to the Earth or other points of reference.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 17 November, 2020
By: Paula Chao

National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin says Taiwan is willing to help APEC member countries with disease prevention and other health issues. Kung was speaking Monday night at the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) via videoconference.

Kung said the government has been able to keep the COVID-19 pandemic at bay because of its health care services and the use of information and communication technology. Kung said the COVID-19 outbreak has underlined the importance of using digital technology to help contain the outbreak.    [FULL  STORY]

The National Interest
Date: November 17, 2020
By: Kris Osborn

Putting hypersonic missiles in these kinds of strategic positions may simply be geopolitical posturing, in part designed to test the waters and see what kind of rhetoric emerges from the U.S. regarding a possible response to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Here's What You Need to Remember: One possible interpretation of China’s posturing and potential preparations is that Chinese military leaders may believe they currently have an advantage over U.S. forces, something they might want to exploit before it erodes.

China is moving hypersonic missiles to its Southern coast as part of a visible move to demonstrate resolve to potentially invade Taiwan, a prospect increasingly becoming more realistic by virtue of stepped-up exercises, bomber patrols, war games and accelerated modernization. 

China’s most advanced hypersonic missile, the DF-17, is reported by the South China Morning Post to be deployed along the Southeastern coastline of China in what could be a signal or preparation for an attempt to reunite with Taiwan by force.     [FULL  STORY]

Former defense minister believes mixed recruitment process necessary for Taiwan to enhance combat capabilities

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/11/17
By: Ching-Tse Cheng, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Defense Minister Michael Tsai (蔡明憲) on Tuesday (Nov. 17) advised the Taiwanese military to mix conscription and volunteering in its recruitment process to maximize the country's combat capabilities against Chinese attacks.

Speaking at a press conference at the Legislative Yuan, Tsai pointed out that the Taiwanese government should expand its military size by including both volunteers and conscripted soldiers in its armed forces. He said tensions have intensified between both sides of the Taiwan Strait and that the Taiwanese military should be prepared for any invasion attempts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Tsai emphasized that the CCP has continued to harass Taiwan by regularly sending military aircraft into its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and interfering with its internal affairs through online trolls and misinformation. He said it is necessary for Taiwan to develop a national defense strategy that can effectively warn Beijing against its malicious actions.

Tsai explained that a mixed recruitment program will allow the military to have proper troop numbers to defend the nation and unite the entire Taiwanese population. He added that continued partnerships between Taiwan, the U.S., and Japan are equally important in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 11/17/2020
By: Chen Chun-hua and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) Despite having just been naturalized under the government's dual nationality program for high-level foreign professionals, Vietnamese language teacher Trần Thi Hoàng Phượng (陳凰鳳) said that citizenship status aside, she has long considered herself Taiwanese.

Trần was among seven people approved by the Ministry of the Interior last month to receive Republic of China (Taiwan) citizenship without relinquishing their original nationality, as part of the government's efforts to attract and retain top talent from around the world.

Since Taiwan amended its Nationality Act in 2016, a total of 164 foreign nationals from a range of professional backgrounds have been naturalized under the program.

In a recent interview with CNA, Trần, now a lecturer at National Chengchi University's (NCCU) Foreign Language Center, explained how her own experience in Taiwan motivated her to use language instruction as a tool for promoting cultural awareness and ethnic cohesion.
[FULL  STORY]

TAPPING THE MARKET: Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung said that a ‘blue ocean’ of potential UAV uses exists in the public and private sectors

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 18, 2020
By: Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) is launching a national uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) contest as part of the nation’s strategy of tapping into the drone market as the technology is applied in new ways in an increasing number of fields worldwide.

Drone use has plenty of room to grow with 5G, the Internet of Things and big data, Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) told a news conference in Taipei yesterday.

A “blue ocean” of potential UAV applications exists in the public and private sectors, Lin said, adding that the government has allocated NT$4.2 billion (US$145.76 million) from a smart transportation system project to fund drone applications.

Teams can compete in the national drone contest under the university student category or the business category, the ministry said.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 11/14/2020
By: Pan Tzu-yu and Kay Liu

Taipei, Nov. 14 (CNA) Personnel in Taiwan working on the current national population and housing census have been encountering some difficulties, due in part to people's mistrust of strangers seeking personal information, according to government officials.

Even as the government sought to make the process easier and more convenient for some households, the decennial census got off to a rocky start on Nov. 1, when a newly introduced site for online surveys crashed due to unexpectedly heavy traffic, according to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).

Meanwhile, 1.2 million of Taiwan's 8.83 million households have been selected for in-person surveys, which are being conducted by some 16,000 census workers, according to the DGBAS.

On that front, the challenge lies in getting people to give their personal and household information, in an age when there is so much distrust and fear of scammers, the DGBAS said.
[FULL  STORY]

Yahoo News
Date: November 9, 2020
By: AFP

Taiwan on Monday said Chinese "obstruction" had prevented it from attending a key World Health Organization meeting focused on the coronavirus, accusing the global body of prioritising politics over health.

The self-ruled island of 23 million has seen remarkable success in combating the pandemic — with only seven deaths and fewer than 600 confirmed cases — as many parts of the world report surging numbers of infections and deaths.

But it is frozen out of the WHO by Beijing, which regards Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to take it by force if necessary.

The UN agency's decision not to invite Taiwan to its annual assembly — which resumed virtually on Monday after being cut short by the pandemic in May — was a result of "political considerations", Taipei's foreign ministry said Monday.    [FULL  STORY]