Radio Taiwan International
Date: 08 July, 2019
By: Natalie Tso

Taiwan’s legislature has passed the Political Archives Act. This means that government agencies will

begin declassifying major controversial cases from the White Terror Era when many victims were oppressed and mistreated by the authoritarian government. These are part of President Tsai Ing-wen’s efforts to enact transitional justice in Taiwan.

Government agencies will be given a list of over 30,000 politically sensitive names and phrases and must report an inventory on those files within six months. Political parties and related organizations must also hand over relevant documents to the National Archives.

The National Archives Administration will review and declassify the files so they are available to the public. If the organization believes a file should remain classified, it must show the legal basis for that decision.    [FULL  STORY]

The island is not recognized by its most important ally, faces an existential threat from territory it claims as its own and its sovereign status is being gradually erased by companies seeking to preserve access to the world’s largest market.

The Atlantic
Date: July 8, 2019
By: Chris Horton

TAIPEI—After nine years of construction, more than 400 American diplomats and staff have moved into new offices here, a $250 million compound built into a lush hill with security provided by marines. Employees will offer American citizens in Taiwan consular services and help Taiwanese obtain visas to visit the United States, just as they would anywhere else in the world.

Yet this is not an embassy, or a consulate—at least officially. Instead it is the American Institute in Taiwan, a name that suggests a research center rather than a diplomatic mission, the result of a geopolitical compromise that, while far from the biggest of Taiwan’s problems, illustrates the ludicrous situation the island finds itself in. It is not recognized as a country by its most important ally, the U.S.; it faces an existential threat from territory it claims as its own, China; and its sovereign status is being gradually erased by companies seeking to preserve access to the Chinese market. As tensions worsen between Washington and Beijing—and with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen due to visit the U.S. this week—understanding Taiwan’s bizarre situation becomes ever more important.

Officially, 17 countries recognize Taiwan’s democratic government, which is known as the Republic of China, but the United Nations regards the People’s Republic of China government in Beijing, which has never controlled Taiwan, as speaking for the island. This leads to one of the many absurdities that affect Taiwan: Its 23 million citizens can travel the world on Taiwanese passports—emblazoned with Republic of China (Taiwan)—which are among the most widely accepted documents on the planet, but they cannot enter UN buildings with them. (This is despite the fact that in 1942, the Republic of China was among the first countries to sign the United Nations Declaration.) Washington does not recognize the Republic of China, yet Taiwan is the U.S.’s 11th-largest trading partner, the world’s 22nd-largest economy, and a crucial link in Silicon Valley’s supply chain.
[FULL  STORY]

Sharing his knowledge of smart city governance is a highlight of the trip

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/08
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) embarked on a 12-day trip to the United States on Saturday (July 6), during which he will visit five cities and attend the GCTC Expo 2019.

The itinerary for the delegation includes the cities of Houston, Dallas, Washington D.C., New York, and Seattle. The officials are scheduled to return on July 17, according to the city government.

Cheng will deliver a keynote speech at the plenary session of the GCTC (Global City Teams Challenge) Expo 2019, which focuses on cybersecurity and privacy. The event is jointly-organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security and National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

According to Taoyuan City Government, Taoyuan has recently been recognized as the 2019 Intelligent Community of the Year, by the Intelligent Community Forum, at its Global Summit in New York. Cheng will share his experience of smart governance at the event.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/08
By: Wei Shu and Frances Huang

Taipei, July 8 (CNA) A ruling finding that Formosa Plastics Corp.'s subsidiary in the U.S. state of Texas violated the Clean Water Act, which could result in a fine of up to US$162 million, is not yet final, the company said Monday.

Formosa Plastics, the flagship entity of the Taiwan-based conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group, gave the update on the case in a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange, but said it would not make any other comment because the case is still ongoing.

The Texas Tribune reported on June 28 that U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt found Formosa Plastics in "enormous" violation of state-issued permits and the federal Clean Water Act for discharging more plastic pellets into bays and creeks than the amount it was allowed to release from its plant in Point Comfort.

The judge sided with Texas's environmental groups and residents in the Port Lavaca area who have charged for a decade that Formosa Plastics was polluting the Lavaca Bay and nearby waterways.    [FULL  STORY]

ACHIEVING NORMALCY: Given the number of dropped flights, EVA Airways said it estimates its transport capacity would not be fully restored until the end of this month

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 08, 2019
By: Shelley Shan  /  Staff reporter

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) yesterday said it would supervise EVA Airways Corp until the airline returns to full transport capacity, after a labor strike organized by the airline’s flight attendants ended on Saturday.

Despite the signing of a collective agreement between the union and management on Saturday, the airline has already announced that some flights would be canceled until July 21.

Given the number of dropped flights, the airline estimates that its transport capacity would not be fully restored until the end of this month or the beginning of next month, which means that air travelers would still feel the repercussions of the strike, the ministry said.

“The Civil Aeronautics Administration and the Tourism Bureau will continue to oversee EVA Airways as it watches out for travelers and travel agents and helps travelers switch to other carriers until the airline’s transport capacity is fully restored,” it said.    [FULL  STORY]

Defense Blog
Date: Jul 7, 2019

in Maritime Security, News

A nuclear-powered submarine of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, suspected Shang-class nuclear attack submarine, has been spotted by the Taima Star ferry during a routine passage from the Matsu Islands to Keelung.

Passengers and crew of the Taima Star ferry said the submarine rose to the surface, and that it was moving north toward China.

The submarine was seen at around 1:15 p.m. on Thursday (July 4). The first sailor onboard the Taima Star ferry to catch a glimpse of the sub said he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, reports the Liberty Times (LTN).

The nationality of the submarine was not clearly marked, but it was later confirmed as being of Chinese origin. It was moving in a northeasterly direction, heading toward China’s Zhejiang Province, says the news agency.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan’s visa-free program has extended for another year—you know what to do

Manila Bulletin
Date: July 7, 2019
By: Kaye Estoista-Koo

Taiwan is becoming a visa-free destination of choice for Pinoy travelers, with reports from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau showing a jump of over 44 percent from 290,784 in 2017 to 419,105 arrivals in 2018. This 2019, they are targeting 500,000 Philippine arrivals, making Taiwan a perfect weekend getaway. Taoyuan International Airport, the one closest to Taipei, is just two hours away.

Beyond the stinky tofu, F4, Meteor Garden locations, and milk tea, Taiwan offers much more—all it takes is one very fast, comfortable, high-speed rail. Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) connects Taipei in the Northwest to Kaohsiung in the South. It’s like Japan’s Shinkansen and has 12 stops. For just 1500TWD, you’re in Kaohsiung in less than two hours.

Acquaint yourself with the unique charm of South Taiwan via cities like Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Alishan. Taipei has its personality and quirks but for a plot twist to your travel, go South. No regrets, guaranteed.

Sacred is 1,000 and up in Alishan

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area in Chiayi is home to sacred trees—sacred because they are at minimum a thousand years old. The most majestic one, Xianglin Sacred Tree, is 2,300 years old.
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Boat riders will be able to admire the scenery along the reservoir, such as Longzhu Bay, Amuping ecological park, and Ginger Island

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/07
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taoyuan City’s Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched the season-limited “blue highway" package tour for tourists who wish to take a boat ride from the wharf at Shihmen Dam to the new Sikou suspension bridge (新溪口吊橋), providing a waterway alternative for visiting the suspension bridge that is free from road congestion, the department said on July 5.

As the Dahan River course near the Sikou Plateau (溪口台地) has silted up, the water level of the reservoir has to reach 240m in order for boats to be able to sail from the wharf at the dam (大壩碼頭) or Amuping Wharf (阿姆坪碼頭) to the new Sikou suspension bridge (新溪口吊橋), the DOT said.

Due to abundant rain this year, the department has activated the blue highway to enable tourists to take such boat excursions. The fare for a roundtrip boat excursion from the wharf at the dam to the suspension bridge is NT$400 (about US$13), and the roundtrip fare from Amuping Wharf is NT$300 (original price: NT$400), according to the department.

Boat riders will be able to admire the scenery along the reservoir, including Longzhu Bay (龍珠灣), the Amuping ecological park (阿姆坪生態園區), and Ginger Island (薑母島).
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/07
By: Stacy Hsu

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) administration and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) defended Sunday their latest revision of the Referendum Act, as the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) mobilized tens of thousands to rally in the streets of Taipei to protest against what they called an "iron cage" amendment.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony in Taipei to mark the exoneration of more than 3,000 political victims of the White Terror era, Tsai said the amendment will better guarantee the right of the public to exercise direct democracy via referendum.

"We hope that by setting a fixed date for future referendums, the public will be more likely to focus on the issues to be voted on and be given more time to engage in extensive communications and discussions," Tsai said.

Asked about her views on the KMT rally, she said the event "looks more like political mobilization for (the party's presidential) primary."    [FULL  STORY]