Loan to Ortega government withheld for months, Taiwan banks reportedly hesitant to be involved

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/05/26
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – In February, the governments of Taiwan and its Central American ally, Nicaragua, agreed to a US$100 million loan from Taipei to the faltering government of Daniel Ortega, a move which was widely condemned by critics of Ortega’s increasingly authoritarian socialist government.

However, local media in Nicaragua reports that Taiwan has been reluctant to deliver the funds, suggesting that Taiwan’s government may consider rescinding the financial support for the Ortega administration.

According to Today Nicaragua, the primary reason is a fear of penalties that might result from future U.S. sanctions targeting the country. Despite the fact that no such sanctions have been declared by Washington, and Taipei has legal authority, and some might argue the obligation, to deliver the funds, Taiwanese banks reportedly want nothing to do with the transfer of the US$100 million.

As a result, the transaction has stalled.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/05/26
By: Chang Min-hsuan and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, May 26 (CNA) Taiwan will ban the importation and manufacture of powdered medical gloves, with effect from 2021, because the powder can cause adverse health effects, the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Sunday.

Exposure to powdered gloves may cause allergic reactions, wound inflammation, adhesions, and increased risk of infection, said Wu Cheng-ning (吳正寧), a section chief at Taiwan’s FDA, citing a ban that was issued in 2017 by the United States FDA.

Germany prohibited the use of powdered medical gloves as early as 1998, while Japan and the Philippines implemented a ban at the beginning of this year, Wu said, adding that the problem is the cornstarch content, which serves as a carrier of allergens.

Following a meeting of experts that was convened by Taiwan’s FDA in 2017, it was concluded that the risks outweighed the benefits associated with the use of powdered gloves, Wu said.    [FULL  STORY]

• Self-ruled island cannot match Beijing’s spending, but innovation can help it succeed in a one-sided military conflict, observers say
• First of Tuo Jiang-class stealth warships expected to be ready by 2021

South China Morning Post
Date: 25 May, 2019
By: Lawrence Chung   

Taiwan has begun mass production of its home-grown Tuo Jiang-class missile corvettes and high-speed minelayers as it seeks to shore up its naval forces amid rising hostility from Beijing.

Dubbed the “aircraft carrier killer”, the small but powerful corvette, which has a displacement of 680 tonnes and a top speed of 45 knots, is a state-of-the-art stealth warship built by Lung Teh Shipbuilding.

A total of three corvettes would be built under the NT$31.6 billion (US$1 billion) Hsun Hai project, the self-ruled island’s navy said.

The warship would be equipped with one of the world’s most technologically advanced computer systems and built partly with high-entropy metal alloys for extra strength and durability, it said. Its stealth technology and low radar cross section makes the ship virtually invisible at sea and even more difficult to detect when operating close to the coast.    [FULL  STORY]

John Bolton and David Lee met during the latter’s recent U.S. trip

Taiwan News..
Date: 2019/05/25
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – For the first time since Taiwan and the United States ended

formal diplomatic relations in 1979, the two countries’ national security chiefs, David Lee (李大維) and John Bolton, met each other, reports said Saturday (May 25).

The meeting occurred during National Security Council Secretary General Lee’s May 13-31 visit to the U.S., the Central News Agency reported. Apart from National Security Adviser Bolton, Lee also exchanged views with experts at various prominent think tanks and universities.

During meetings with U.S. officials, representatives of Taiwanese diplomatic allies were also present to hear Lee confirm the island nation’s support for a free Indo-Pacific, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Media reports speculated that the representatives hailed from Palau and the Marshall Islands, two island nations in the Pacific, where China has been trying to expand its influence at Taiwan’s expense.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/05/25.
By: Chi Jo-yao 

Taipei, May 25 (CNA) The idea of Taiwan as a country is taking shape but there is no agreement on the cultural and political identities of the people, according to a recent study conducted by National Chengchi University.

The findings of the qualitative study on how Taiwanese identify themselves culturally and politically and on the changes over the years were released Saturday by Cheng Su-feng (鄭夙芬), a research fellow at the university’s Election Study Center.

Based on 113 interview transcripts from eight previous studies between 2000 and 2016, Cheng said, it is clear that a national identity is emerging in Taiwan.

The majority of people in Taiwan define being Taiwanese as having a sense of belonging, which is a key indicator of identity formation, the study shows.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 23 May, 2019
By: Paula Chao

Taiwanese freelance smartphone photographer Erica Wu has won an iPhone Photograph Award (IPPAWARDS) for a third year in a row. Wu received her first prize in 2016. Since then, she has taken photos all over the world and even published a photography book. The book features only photos taken with her cellphone.

Erica Wu loves photography. But unlike professional photographers that carry tripods and a Single Lens Reflex camera, Wu just uses her iPhone.

For three years in a row, Wu has won the iPhone Photography Awards.

In 2016, her photo won the top prize in the animal photos category.  In 2017, she won an honorable mention in the current affairs category with a photo of fireworks.  And last year, Wu’s “Smiling Fox” won third place in the animal category.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: May 23, 2019

MOHW Minister Chen Shih-chung (left) and Francois Chappuis, chief of the Tropical and

Humanitarian Medicine Division at HUG, display the Memorandum of Understanding on Disaster and Emergency Medical Collaboration May 22 in Geneva. (Courtesy of MOHW)
The Memorandum of Understanding on Disaster and Emergency Medical Collaboration was signed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) May 22 in the Swiss city.

Under the agreement, the two sides will deepen cooperation on disaster response models and training for Emergency Medical Teams, groups of health professionals that provide aid during sudden onset crises.

According to the MOHW, the pact is expected to strengthen domestic preparedness measures and further bolster Taiwan’s capabilities in providing international humanitarian assistance.

The agreement was signed by MOHW Minister Chen Shih-chung and Francois Chappuis, chief of the Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine Division at HUG. Chen is leading a delegation to the World Health Assembly in Geneva to protest Taiwan’s exclusion from the gathering and boost awareness of the nation’s commitment and contributions to global health security.    [FULL  STORY]

The pen was given to Chi Chia-wei for his contributions to marriage equality, with a note saying, ‘May love unite all who call this land home’

Taiwan News 
Date: 2019/05/23
By: Judy Lo, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) gave the pen that she signed the same-sex marriage bill into law on Wednesday (May 22) to Taiwan’s gay rights pioneer Chi Chia-wei (祈家威), according to Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBT) Hotline Association.

The association posted a photograph on its Facebook page on Thursday (May 23) showing the pen. Along with the photo of the gift pen was a note written by Tsai, thanking Chi for his contribution to gay rights and marriage equality in Taiwan.

Chi, 60 years old, is a high-profile gay rights activist in Taiwan. He attempted but failed to apply for marriage registration in 1986, which marked the beginning of his efforts in the fight for marriage equality.

His hard work finally bore fruit in 2017, when the Constitutional Court ruled it was a constitutional right to equality, and freedom of marriage guaranteed same-sex couples the right to marry.    [FULL  STORY]