The speech was light on inflammatory rhetoric and heavy on paeans to the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ model.

The News Lens
Date: 2019/01/02
By: mNick Aspinwall

Xi Jinping reiterated warnings that Taiwan independence was a “dead end” in a speech delivered on Wednesday, Jan. 2, but struck a conciliatory tone in the wake of regional elections which saw the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lose power across the country.

The Chinese President called for “peaceful reunification” between China and Taiwan – which is claimed by the governing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) although that government has never ruled over Taiwan – saying Taiwan “must and will be” reunited with China.

While Xi reiterated the possibility of using force to unify Taiwan and China, he stuck to far softer rhetoric than his March 2018 speech in which he said any attempts to “split” China would be “punished by history.”

Instead, Xi leaned heavily on references to the “One Country, Two Systems” model under which Hong Kong and Macau have transitioned to purportedly autonomous regions under Chinese rule, saying its principles have historically been implemented to “accommodate Taiwan’s reality and safeguard the interests and benefits of Taiwan compatriots.”    [FULL  STORY]

Each traveler had to pay NT$200,000

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/01/02
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Chinese and a Taiwanese citizen were the latest to be fined NT$200,000 (US$6,489) each for trying to smuggle meat products into the country at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Wednesday.

A Chinese national named Huang (黃) arrived at Taoyuan on a Xiamen Airlines flight from Xiamen Wednesday morning carrying 935.5 grams of pork sausages and 1.2465 kilogram of mixed chicken and pork ham sausages, the Central News Agency reported.

Earlier in the morning, a Taiwanese citizen also named Huang who had arrived on an EVA flight from Hong Kong had his luggage searched, resulting in the find of an 800-gram pie which included both pork and chicken.

Each men was fined NT$200,000, since last month the new fine for trying to smuggle banned meat products into Taiwan from areas affected by the African swine fever, with repeat offenders facing a NT$1 million fine. More than 20 Chinese cities and provinces have reported outbreaks of the disease, causing fears that Taiwan’s prominent hog sector could soon face a disaster of massive proportions.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/01/02
By: Miao Chung-hen and Flor Wang

Taipei, Jan. 2 (CNA) The two major political parties in Taiwan responded negatively

Wednesday to a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) earlier in the day, saying Beijing should recognize Taiwan’s existence and abandon its “one country, two systems” unification scheme.

Ho Meng-hua (何孟樺), spokesperson for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said Beijing’s construal of the “1992 consensus” leaves no room for “free interpretation by both sides of the Taiwan Strait” as the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) claims.

The aim of the “1992 consensus” is to wipe out the Republic of China (Taiwan) and bring it under China’s control using the “one country, two systems” model, and that it is why Xi is seeking to talk with political parties in Taiwan on condition that they accept Beijing’s “one China principle,” Ho said.

With that goal in mind, she said, China is attempting to bypass Taiwan’s central government and establish direct links with groups and political parties, which is one way of ignoring Taiwan’s existence as a country.    [FULL  STORY]

EYES IN THE SKY: A minor planet named ‘Taipei’ is to be at its closest to the Earth tonight, but it can only be seen through a telescope, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 02, 2019
By: Shelley Shan  /  Staff reporter

Skywatchers have a lot to look forward to this year, as a series of astronomical

events are to take place.

The Quadrantid meteor shower is expected on Friday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said.

The Quadrantids — one of the three annual major meteor showers — have a zenithal hourly rate of 120 meteors, the museum said.

Friday night would be perfect to observe the Quadrantids, as there would be no moon, it said.    [FULL  STORY]

Island attracts more visitors from countries targeted by regional drive
Authorities to tighten entry for people from six Asian nations after more than 150 Vietnamese tourists go missing

South China Morning Post 
Date: 31 December, 2018
By: Lawrence Chung

Taiwan welcomed its 11 millionth visitor of the year on Sunday, a record for the self-ruled island as tourists from across Asia made up for a sharp fall in arrivals from mainland China.

But Taipei also said it would review a scheme to increase visitors from Southeast Asia after more than 150 Vietnamese went missing on a tour of the island earlier this month.

According to data released by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, the mainland remained the top source of tourists by the end of November, with 2.46 million people making the trip across the Taiwan Strait.

That was almost half the 4.1 million visitors from the mainland in 2015 under the Beijing-friendly administration of president Ma Ying-jeou but the island’s tourist numbers were bolstered by a sharp increase in visitors from countries targeted by the “New Southbound Policy” adopted by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 31 December, 2018
By: Paula Chao

The government is seeking feedback on its plans for transforming the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. That’s the word from Cabinet spokesperson Kolas Yotaka on Monday.

The culture ministry has already submitted to the Cabinet two proposals for transforming the memorial hall, which is considered a symbol of Taiwan’s totalitarian past.

Chiang Kai-shek is the former president of the Republic of China. Under his rule, authorities persecuted dissidents, curbed the freedom of speech, and violated human rights.

Yotaka said the Cabinet fully respects the culture ministry’s suggestions. She said the government will hold an interagency meeting after the New Year holiday to discuss the plans.    [FULL  STORY]

New koala to support breeding program in Taiwan

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/12/31
By: Scott Morgan, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taipei Zoo’s newest koala named Wolverine was introduced to the public on Dec. 31.

The new koala will strengthen the genetic diversity of the species in Taiwan, and will help contribute to future breeding programs.

Wolverine was sourced from the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland, Australia, after a four-year negotiation and waiting process. The koala was transferred to Taipei Zoo on Nov. 29.

Taipei Zoo described Wolverine as having a gentle personality with a charming smile, and as distinctly different to the zoo’s other koala.

The zoo will give Wolverine space to adapt to its new environment, and time to acclimatize itself with the other koala in the enclosure.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/12/31
By Fan Chin-yi and Ko Lin

Hanoi, Dec. 31 (CNA) The number of travelers allowed to visit Taiwan will likely be reduced following the country’s suspension of visas for groups of Vietnamese tourists, Ho Chi Minh City-based tour operators said over the weekend.

Bui Luu Thu Mai, who manages Blue Sky Travel, said Saturday that not only will the number of travelers wishing to visit Taiwan be affected, travel companies that sell tours to the country will be affected.

Prior to the visa program, Vietnamese have been put off from visiting the country because of problems obtaining a Taiwan visa, she said.

Another travel agency representative, meanwhile, said the program helped Vietnamese traveling to Taiwan because it simplified the visa application process.
[FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 01, 2019
By: Chen Chien-chih and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

Shingles, a condition common among elderly people, is becoming more common

among young people, Asia University Hospital said, with doctors attributing the trend to irregular sleep schedules and stress.

The hospital treated a 21-year-old female university student surnamed Wu (吳), who complained of rashes across her face, chest, and neck, Department of Infectious Diseases attending physician Chang Wei-shuo (張為碩) said.

Wu began following a routine of sleeping late, as her club was practicing for a year-end performance, Chang said.

After several days, she began to experience pain as if being burned or shocked on her left cheek, her chest and the left side of her neck, with a rash developing in those areas, Chang said, adding that she complained that painkillers had no effect.

Chang diagnosed Wu with shingles and after two weeks of treatment, the symptoms eased, he said.    [FULL  STORY]