'Life for a life': Taiwanese parents of alleged murderer of Malaysian student demand death penalty for their son

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/11/03
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The parents of a man suspected of raping and murdering a Malaysian student in southern Taiwan on Tuesday (Nov. 3) expressed their hope that their son would be given the death penalty to provide justice for the family of the slain student.

A 24-year-old Malaysian surnamed Chung (鍾) who was studying at Chang Jung Christian University in Tainan went missing on the evening of Oct. 28. An initial police investigation determined that she had been abducted, and the next day, police apprehended a 28-year-old suspect surnamed Liang (梁), who confessed to sexually assaulting and killing Chung before discarding her body.

Liang's parents initially offered to directly meet with Chung's parents to offer an apology for their son's actions. However, the Chung family, who are currently in Taiwan to grieve for their daughter, reportedly refused to meet with them face-to-face.

On Tuesday morning, Liang's parents issued a formal statement through their borough chief (里長) apologizing on behalf of their son. In the statement, they expressed the wish for a swift trial and that their son would pay for his crimes by giving "a life for a life," reported CNA.
[FULL  STORY

Focus Taiwan
Date: 11/03/2020
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Nov. 3 (CNA) Members of the African Formosa Club expressed their support for Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO) during its virtual founding ceremony on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

It means the Formosa Club — an inter-parliamentary platform that will seek to promote exchanges between foreign nations and Taiwan — now has a branch in Africa, after similar groups were established in Europe last year and in Latin America earlier this year.

The Formosa Club is founded on the recognition of our shared values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and the protection of human rights, said Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) in a congratulatory video.

Wu thanked the 181 parliamentarians from 29 African countries who founded the club for their support, vowing to further strengthen ties between the two sides.    [FULL  STORY]

‘DERELICTION’? The KMT cultural and communications committee deputy director-general asked the premier how many meetings were not held that should have been

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 04, 2020
By: Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporter

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) should apologize to the nation for his “dereliction” in

supervising public safety, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) said yesterday.

Regulations stipulate that the Executive Yuan should hold an interagency public safety meeting every two months, but the last one was held a year ago, KMT Culture and Communications Committee director-general Alicia Wang (王育敏) said.

Public safety should be the premier’s “top priority,” Wang said, urging Su to immediately call an interagency meeting to discuss which municipalities and counties need public safety improvements.

Regarding the personal safety of women, President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration has been “seriously negligent,” Wang added.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 02 November, 2020
By: Leslie Liao

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu says China is still the main obstacle to Taiwan’s participation in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA). His remarks came during a report at the legislature on Monday morning. 

The WHA is set to reconvene on November 9. Taiwan has been blocked from participating in the WHA, due to opposition from China.     [FULL  STORY]

Republic of China Air Force F-16s in flight in 2017. 總統府 / OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF TAIWAN

Once, they might have tilted the military balance. Now they just destabilize the region.

Defense One
Date: November 2, 2020
By: A. Trevor Thrall and Jordan Chen

COMMENTARY 

Even if Joe Biden wins the election, don’t expect the U.S. to stop selling arms to Taiwan anytime soon. For its part, the Trump administration has gone all in on arming the self-governing island. On Oct. 26, the Trump administration notified Congress of plans for a $2.37 billion sale of Harpoon missiles to Taiwan, which followed an August sale of 66 F-16 fighter jets and U.S. approval to pursue purchases of missiles, rocket artillery, and aerial reconnaissance sensors worth some $1.8 billion. And these are just the latest in a longer trend. Before this year, the Trump administration previously notified Congress of over $12 billion in weapons deals that will  eventually deliver those F-16s plus Stinger missiles and 108 M1A2 Abrams tanks to Taiwan.

On the surface, selling arms to Taiwan makes sense. Taipei has been an American ally for many decades and the United States has promised to help the island defend itself against China. Advocates of the most recent deal argue that the Harpoon missiles will improve Taiwan’s ability to defend itself from a Chinese attack without direct U.S. involvement. 

The reality, however, is that there is no way for Taiwan to defend itself against a concerted assault by China without American assistance. A few more missiles or fighter jets won’t move the needle much. Given this, arms sales to Taiwan increase tensions with Beijing and generate additional risk without providing any significant benefits to the United States. Unfortunately, given Biden’s recent statements, there is little reason to expect a change of course even if the White House changes hands.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan says US$2.37 billion worth of Harpoon missiles would enable it to obliterate half of Chinese invasion armada

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/11/024
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's military on Oct. 27 stated that the potential sale of US$2.37 billion worth of Harpoon anti-ship missiles will within five years help enable its defenders to wipe out "half of any" People's Liberation Army (PLA) invasion force.

On Oct. 26, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) issued a press release announcing that the U.S. State Department has given the green light to the sale of 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems (HCDS) and associated equipment for approximately US$2.37 billion. Specifically, the sale would include 100 HCDS launcher transporter units, 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Surface Launched Missiles, four RTM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Exercise Missiles, 411 containers, 25 radar trucks, spare and repair parts, and support and test equipment, among other items.

The weapons sale marked the second within a week and the ninth overall to Taiwan by the Trump administration. On Oct. 21, the DSCA announced a US$1.8 billion deal that includes 11 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) M142 Launchers, 135 AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) Missiles and related equipment, and six MS-110 Recce external sensor pods made by Collins Aerospace for jets.

In response to an announcement by the U.S. about the potential sale, the South China Morning Post cited Taiwan's Vice Defense Minister Chang Che-ping (張哲平) as saying at a press conference on Oct. 27 that the deal would help the country " achieve its goal of being able to destroy half of any enemy force by 2025." He added that in the meantime, "We hope to increase the number [of missiles] so that we can build up our combat power before then.”
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 11/02/2020
By: Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) Aircraft from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) entered Taiwan's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) Monday on eight separate occasions, the 32nd day such incursions have occurred since mid-September, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The ministry said the Chinese aircraft involved were one Y-8 anti-submarine plane, one Y-8 tactical reconnaissance aircraft, two Su-30 jets, two J-16 fighters and two J-10 jets.

Taiwan's Air Force responded by scrambling planes to monitor the Chinese aircraft, issuing radio warnings and mobilizing air defense assets before they left the nation's ADIZ, the ministry said.
[FULL  STORY]

ABC Pacific Beat
Date: 2 Nov 2020
By:  Evan Wasuka on Pacific Beat

The family of a fisheries observer who died onboard a Taiwanese ship earlier this year are demanding answers from authorities after the ship and its crew were released, and the cause of death changed from blunt force trauma to complications from hypertension.

His sister Nikora Kaierua said they were shocked when the vessel Win Far 636 was released in mid-October and when they followed up learnt his death had been attributed to natural causes.

"There was a change in the report, that he had died of hypertension. How could they come up with such conclusion without physically examining the body? We're not happy," she said.

Kiribati Police Commissioner Iore Tokantetaake told the ABC in an email despite the vessel being free to leave the country, investigations would continue.    [FULL  STORY]

Another joyous win for the LGBTQ+ community of Taiwan!

Gay Times
BY: Jordan Robledo

Taiwan gloriously celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Over 130,000 people took to the streets of Taipei in rainbow apparel to celebrate the monumental achievements.

34-year-old and resident of Taipei, Eve Teo opened up about the event, stating: “I feel that Taiwan has really set an example.

They continued: “To be able to have a normal life and also to continue with this Pride event even though the world is not able to come this year.”    [FULL  STORY]