Radio Taiwan Internatinal
Date: 25 July, 2019
By: John Van Trieste

The Presidential Office says a recent smuggling scandal involving National Security Bureau agents is not an isolated case.

The scandal broke Monday upon President Tsai Ing-wen’s return from a state visit to the Caribbean. Security agents were caught attempting to use rapid customs clearance procedures for members of Tsai’s entourage to bring cigarettes into Taiwan illegally. Customs officials acting on a tip-off seized over 9000 cartons from official vehicles at the airport.

On Wednesday, Presidential Office spokesperson Ting Yun-kung said that the case is not the first of its kind. Ting said initial findings since the scandal broke show that there has been a long-standing practice of smuggling under the cover of presidential trips abroad.    [FULL  STORY]

Navy Times
Date: July 25, 2019
By: The Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan said Thursday the U.S. Navy is free to sail through its strait after an American warship did so soon after Beijing warned against foreign interference in its relationship with the island.

The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser Antietam sailed northward through the Taiwan Strait, said a statement from Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.

Taiwan’s joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance task force said nothing “unusual” took place during its journey, the statement said.

Cmdr. Clay Doss, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, said the Antietam conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Wednesday to Thursday "in accordance with international law."
[FULL  STORY]

Escalation of China-backed violence in Hong Kong parallels gang violence in Taiwan in recent years

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/25
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is raising the alarm over the increasing violence in Hong Kong and the likely coordination between the CCP and pro-china gangs in the city.

In a Facebook post Thursday (July 25), AIT shared a Washington Post article discussing the links between Hong Kong’s triad gangs and agents of the Chinese Communist Party. The article notes the increasing worry of Hong Kong residents and activists that fear things may be moving towards a more violent confrontation that the ones seen this past weekend.

This week China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) released a White Paper which insists that Beijing is prepared to use violence to quell dissent in Hong Kong and that the CCP is also willing to attack to Taiwan to defeat “separatist” elements. The military spokesman, Wu Qian (吳謙), also indicated that the PLA garrison in Hong Kong is ready to move on protestors if the city government requests their assistance.

There is already speculation that some PLA troops disguised as triad thugs may already be preparing to coordinate offensive attacks on pro-democracy protestors in the city in the coming days or weeks.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/25
By: Huang Chiao-wen and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, July 25 (CNA) The Chinese Taipei Skating Union (CTSU) on Thursday rejected a suggestion from the International Skating Union (ISU) a day earlier that it voluntarily gave up its right to host an international figure skating event, marking the latest twist in the ongoing drama.

Taiwan was originally set to host the 2019 Asian Open Figure Skating Classic Oct. 30-Nov. 3 at Taipei Arena.

However, CTSU announced late Tuesday it had received an emergency notification from the ISU the day before indicating that its right to host the event had been revoked, without giving an explanation.

In response to the CTSU statement, the international governing body for competitive ice skating said Wednesday that Taiwan's skating union agreed to give up the right in May.   [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 24 July, 2019
By: John Van Trieste

A smuggling scandal involving members of President Tsai Ing-wen’s security detail has rattled Taiwan’s national security establishment. The scandal has led to the resignation of the National Security Bureau’s head as well as the demotion of the president’s chief aide-de-camp.

But one lawmaker says that this is not enough. He says that Taiwanese carrier China Airlines is also complicit.

A cigarette-smuggling operation busted on Monday has led to the arrest of two National Security Bureau agents. But NPP lawmaker Huang Kuo-chang says he believes the agents were not acting alone.

The scandal broke Monday upon President Tsai Ing-wen’s return from a state visit to the Caribbean. Security agents were caught attempting to use rapid customs clearance procedures for members of Tsai’s entourage to bring cigarettes into Taiwan illegally. Customs officials acting on a tip-off seized over 9000 cartons from official vehicles at the airport.    [FULL  STORY]

CNN
Date: July 24, 2019
By: Steven Jiang and Ben Westcott, CNN

Beijing (CNN)China has warned against what it describes as a growing threat from "separatists" in Taiwan, and said it would not rule out using force against the self-governed island Beijing regards as part of its territory.

In a national defense white paper released Wednesday, China took aim at what it considers pro-independence or separatist forces in the far western region of Xinjiang, Tibet and Taiwan, claiming they were a threat to national security and social stability.

In particular, the paper accused Taiwan's democratically-elected government of "pursuing a path of separatism" by pushing for "gradual independence," warning that China "must and will be reunited."

Taiwan has been governed separately from mainland China since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, when the defeated Nationalist government fled to the island. Beijing has repeatedly called for "reunification" with Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]

Itinerant Kaohsiung mayor climbs tree to find mosquitoes, spawns memes

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/24
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In a bizarre attempt to show that he is doing something to tackle the dangerous dengue fever outbreak in Kaohsiung, the city's itinerant mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) suddenly scampered up a tall banyan tree today (July 24).

There are 44 confirmed cases of dengue fever in urban areas of Kaohsiung, including two cases in Qianzhen District's Xishanli area. While visiting the area this morning with members of the press in tow, Han suddenly scurried up a banyan tree and shouted out with glee, "this tree has a hole with water in it where mosquitoes could breed!" reported Liberty Times.

Han then called on epidemic prevention personnel to climb up on their own and have others fill up the hole. Pan Chao-ying (潘炤穎), the head of the Kaohsiung health department's disease control division, then accompanied Han on inspecting a nearby tunnel.

When Han looked at the drainage ditch, he said, "The water is flowing so it's relatively safe," according to the report. He then went to the park behind the Fuxing Road Police Station, and workers already filling the hole in the banyan tree.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/24
By: Tyson Lu and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, July 24 (CNA) The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) will soon conduct a live-fire missile drill from its coastal base in Pingtung County and send missiles toward waters off the coast of Yilan County.

The missile test will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Jiupeng Base, and the projectiles fired are expected to travel 290 kilometers at altitudes of up to 15,000 feet, according to the NCSIST, the main research and development unit of Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense.

Maritime and air vehicles have been warned of the drill, which will affect waters and airspace off the coast of eastern Taiwan.

Daily Air, which operates flight services between Taitung and the offshore island of Lanyu, has canceled flights scheduled during the missile test period.    [FULL  STORY]

EFFICIENCY: The NSPO had to ask US universities to conduct radiation testing on Taiwan’s satellites, which took time and cost hundreds of thousands of NT dollars

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 24, 2019
By: Lin Chia-nan  /  Staff reporter

The National Space Organization (NSPO) yesterday signed memorandums of agreement with

Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University to boost the nation’s capabilities in radiation testing of satellite components and space industry development.

The documents were signed by NSPO Director-General Lin Chun-liang (林俊良), the hospital’s Proton and Radiation Therapy Center convener Hung Ji-hong (洪志宏) and the university’s Institute for Radiological Research dean Tung Chuan-jong (董傳中).

Electronic components used in satellites have to be resistant to space radiation, which can disrupt electronic signals or cause systems to work incorrectly or even break down, the NSPO said.

The hospital in November 2015 set a milestone in cancer treatment by putting four proton radiotherapy devices — the world’s most advanced — into clinical service, the organization said.
[FULL  STORY]