Washington Examiner
Date: November 05, 2020
By: Elisha Maldonado

In 1997, the British ceded administrative control of Hong Kong to the Chinese under the “one country, two systems” stipulation that the defiantly democratic region would maintain most of its independence until 2047. Yet in violation of this pact, and after years of pressure by the Chinese Communist Party to prevent international recognition and support for Hong Kong, this June, the party forced Hong Kong to pass an extradition bill that represents the end of the semiautonomous territory’s independence. The national security law ensures that Hong Kong, which was one of the freest and most prosperous regions in the Far East, is subject to the same authoritarian restrictions on speech and commerce as the communist mainland. Now, Taiwan fears it could be next, and it is speaking out in an effort not to go so gently into that good night.

A Sept. 18 headline for an editorial run by the Global Times, a propaganda newspaper run by the Chinese Communist Party, is terrifying: “PLA Friday drills not warning, but rehearsal for Taiwan takeover.” The People’s Liberation Army is China’s military and has with increasing frequency been running what the paper calls “real-combat military exercises near the Taiwan Straits."
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwanese military tracked all three planes as they entered identification zone

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/11/06
By: Eric Chang, Taiwan News, Contributing Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Three Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 5), marking the 35th such disturbance into the zone by People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) planes since Sept. 16.

One Shaanxi Y-9 electronic warfare plane, one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft, and one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine airplane intruded into the southwest section of the ADIZ, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND). Fighters were scrambled, radio warnings were broadcast, and air defense missile systems were deployed to track the three PLAAF planes.

China’s recent military posturing in the Taiwan Strait began on Sept. 16 when two Shaanxi Y-8s entered the southwest corner of the ADIZ. On Sept. 18, Beijing sent 18 military planes — including H-6 bombers and J-10, J-11, and J-16 fighters jets split into five groups — to carry out flights to the northwest of Taiwan and in the southwest portion of its ADIZ, with some crossing over the median line in the strait.

The following day (Sept. 19), an additional 19 planes, including Chinese bombers, fighter jets, and patrol planes, flew six different sorties between an area northwest of Taiwan and the southwest portion of the ADIZ, with some again flying over the median line. Between one and three Chinese warplanes also entered the ADIZ on Sept. 21, 22, 23, 24, and 29; Oct. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31; Nov. 1, 4, and 5.   [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 11/05/2020
By: Chang Ming-hsuan and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Nov. 5 (CNA) An Indonesian migrant worker who received a stem cell transplant in Taiwan in June thanked the nation on Thursday for expediting her treatment by lifting travel restrictions for her family amid COVID-19 thereby facilitating the operation that saved her life.

At a press conference that day to celebrate being discharged from hospital, 23-year-old Nina Herlina thanked Taiwan for giving her a new lease of life and said her treatment was a testament to Taiwan's healthcare capabilities.

In November last year, Nina began suffering from bouts of menorrhagia that lasted for about 20 days and came with symptoms that included dizziness, tiredness and fever.

In February, she turned to the Taiwan International Workers' Association (TIWA), a local NGO that promotes migrant workers' rights when she was fired, shortly after a doctor diagnosed her as suffering from aplastic anemia, an autoimmune disease in which the bone marrow stops making new blood cells.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan Internartional,                 
Date: 04 November, 2020
By: Natalie Tso

Taiwan is holding routine military exercises this week. But while routine, the exercises happen to come at a time of increased tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Chinese war planes have entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone or crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait 33 times since September 16.  

Elementary schools have decided that the exercises are a good opportunity to have children show support for the nation’s military.  

Children in Pingtung County gather in front of their school waving the national flag to show their support for the nation’s troops. This is the first time they have gotten to see military tanks up close.

He said it was good to see and tanks are really big!     [FULL  STORY]

Democratic Progressive Party maintains close links with both major American parties: Tsai

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/11/04
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As ballot counting in the United States' presidential election seemed to be stalling Wednesday (Nov. 4), President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) emphasized that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) bears the responsibility of deepening cooperation with whoever wins.

Tsai was speaking at the weekly leadership meeting of the party she chairs following allegations by the opposition that her government had leaned too far in the direction of President Donald Trump. She denied the accusations, saying her government maintains a neutral stance and that Taiwan-U.S. relations will not change no matter who wins the U.S. election.

Whether in government or in opposition, the DPP has experience dealing with both major American parties as well as with Congress and think tanks, the Liberty Times cited Tsai as saying. In addition, mainstream public opinion in the U.S. is stable in its support for Taiwan, she said.

Tsai emphasized that contacts between the DPP and the U.S. do not follow party lines and that numerous recent acts benefiting Taiwan have been passed by a bipartisan consensus in Congress.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 11/04/2020 10:16 PM
By: Yeh Chen and Joseph Yeh

Taoyuan, Nov. 4 (CNA) An Italian priest who served for 46 years in indigenous communities in Taiwan died last week in his home country at the age of 85, the Taiwan embassy in the Vatican said Wednesday.

Father Alberto Papa passed away Oct. 31 in his hometown of Bari, and a funeral service was held for him on Nov. 3, the embassy said in a Facebook post.

The priest first came to Taiwan in 1963, when he was 27, and was based in the mountainous Fuxing District in Taoyuan, which is home to the indigenous Ataya tribe.

During his service in the area, which was formerly called Fuxing Township, he became proficient not only in Mandarin but also in the Atayal language.    [FULL  STORY]

INGREDIENTS: The draft revisions call for the use of locally produced meat and eggs, and increase the penalty points for vendors that breach their contracts

Taipei Times
Date:  Nov 05, 20201
By: Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporter

The Ministry of Education yesterday released draft revisions to a contract template for the procurement of meals by schools from outside vendors to fulfill its policy that all schools use domestic pork and beef in the meals they provide.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Aug. 28 announced that Taiwan would ease restrictions on imports of US pork containing traces of the animal feed additive ractopamine, as well as beef from cattle aged 30 months or older. The policy is to take effect on Jan. 1.

That same day, the ministry issued a statement saying that schools should give priority to the use of local, quality agricultural products certified by the central competent agricultural authority in the meals that they provide, in accordance with Article 23 of the School Health Act (學校衛生法).

The statement asked schools at all levels to use quality domestic pork and beef.   
[FULL  STORY]

Raduio Taiwan International6
Date: 03 November, 20200001
By: Shirley Lin

A report by the UK Conservative Party says the British government should inform China that it will impose severe consequences on Beijing if it were to invade Taiwan. The report published on Monday was written by former British diplomat Charles Parton.

Parton said that the UK should take on a different strategy towards China in the face of its increased threat to global security. He said the UK and like minded countries should work together to warn China of the consequences of taking over Taiwan by force.    [FULL  STORY]