The News Lens
Date: 2018/11/13
By: Philip Hsu
Credit: Depositphotos, Asia Dialogue

Israel and Taiwan share considerable commonalities, giving Taiwan’s developing cybersecurity industry ample learning opportunities.

In late 2016, the Taiwanese technology magazine iThome ran a series of articles extolling the virtues of Israel’s cyber security industry and suggesting lessons for developing a homegrown cyber industry that could be applied to Taiwan. In particular, the articles honed in on the importance of the Israeli Defense Force’s Unit 8200 signal intelligence unit as a cyber vanguard, a start-up incubator nurturing new generations of cyber companies and hackers in addition to fulfilling its role as an elite military unit.

This sentiment proved prescient, as just half a year later the Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) government inaugurated Taiwan’s “Cyber Fourth Service,” with President Tsai herself “bestowing a mission” on the new cyber corps to become a “vanguard” of the government’s cybersecurity efforts and drive domestic cyber research, academic, and industry activity.

The commonalities between Israel and Taiwan’s cyber polices don’t end there: Both governments have opted to develop “clusters” of cybersecurity companies in their own way, Israel through developing the Beersheba cybersecurity industrial cluster, and Taiwan in consolidating its support of its cyber sector through its new Cybersecurity Management Law and both military and non-military spending.    [FULL  STORY]

MOFA signed MOU in Papua New Guinea Tuesday

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/11/13
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) signed an

agreement with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum Tuesday to donate US$700,000 (NT$21.6 million) to the organization’s foundation, according to a report in the Apple Daily.

Taiwan will be represented at the November 17-18 APEC summit in the Papua New Guinean capital of Port Moresby by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. founder Morris Chang (張忠謀).    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 12 November, 2018
By: Natalie Tso

Taiwan’s APEC envoy, TSMC founder Morris Chang, said that “Taiwan,

Chinese Taipei” is the country’s official name at APEC. He was speaking at a press conference on Monday at the Presidential Office in Taipei before departing for the APEC Summit.

This year’s summit will take place from November 12-18 in Papua New Guinea, with the theme of “Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future.”

Chang said that “Chinese Taipei” plays a key role the APEC supply chain. He’s hoping to resolve issues such as tariffs during bilateral and multilateral talks at the summit. That’s because key innovators and players in the supply chain will all be at the summit.

He also said he’s looking to interact with world leaders at this year’s leader’s summit, which begins on Monday. Chang was speaking at a press conference at the Presidential Office in Taipei earlier in the day, prior to his departure.    [FULL  STORY]

The US leverages the Taiwan-China situation to keep a firm grip on states in its own backyard.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/11/12
By: By Colin Alexander, Asia Dialogue

A curious incident occurred on Aug. 23, 2018 amidst El Salvador’s announcement that it was breaking diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (ROC, hereafter referred to as Taiwan) in favor of relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC, hereafter referred to as China).

Commenting on the issue, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders stated that the decision “[…] will result in the re-evaluation of our relationship with El Salvador.” Sanders statement, while somewhat vague, included words like “implications,” and condemned China for its ‘interference’ in the Americas, letting the reader know in no uncertain terms that the U.S. thought that El Salvador ought to be put on the diplomatic equivalent of the naughty step.

US White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders had choice words for El Salvador after it switched recognition from the ROC to the PRC. Never mind that the US has not recognized the ROC since 1979.
She continued: “Countries seeking to establish or expand relations with China in order to attract state-directed investment that will stimulate short-term economic growth and infrastructure development may be disappointed over the long run. Around the world, governments are waking up to the fact that China’s economic inducements facilitate economic dependency and domination, not partnership.”    [FULL  STORY]

The temples have become the 99th and 100th heritage sites to be added to the government list

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/11/12
By: Alicia Nguyen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Longshan Temple and Dalongdong Baoan Temple were officially added to the list of Taiwan’s national monuments today by the Ministry of Culture (MOC).

A ceremony celebrating the addition of the two temples, now Taiwan’s 99th and 100th national monuments, was held on Nov. 12. MOC Minister Cheng Li-Chun (鄭麗君) attended the event.

Cheng commented that the temples have a 300-year history and are iconic representations of Taiwanese temple architecture. They are two important historical sites of the Greater Taipei area, he added.

In addition to issuing monument certifications, Cheng expressed gratitude towards the temple management teams for their great efforts in maintaining and restoring the two heritage sites. He reiterated that the government continues to support the preservation of significant cultural grounds.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/11/12
By: Shih Hsiu-chuan

Taipei, Nov. 12 (CNA) Taiwan will propose initiating bilateral or multilateral

talks under the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) framework to address digital challenges, Morris Chang (張忠謀), founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., said Monday.

While a digital economy holds much promise for the future, the “digital presence” is characterized by “clear and present dangers” that will widen income inequality and result in mass unemployment, said Chang, who will represent Taiwan at this year’s APEC summit.

The problems that have arisen in the digital age, such as lack of respect for intellectual property, high tariffs and lack of protection for privacy, need to be dealt with under the aegis of APEC, Chang said at a press conference.
[FULL  STORY]

DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED: US Democrats are talking about blocking Trump’s policies, but should remain warm toward Taiwan, the deputy minister of foreign affairs said

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 13, 2018
By: Staff writer, with CNA

A Democrat-controlled US House of Representatives following the US’

midterm elections would not affect the Taiwan-friendly sentiment of the US Congress, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kelly Hsieh (謝武樵) said yesterday.

The US Democratic Party took control of the House in the midterm elections last week, dealing a blow to US President Donald Trump, as the Democratic majority in the lower chamber, the first in eight years, would be in a position to restrict his ability to steer policies through Congress, foreign media reports said.

Meanwhile, the US Republican Party consolidated its grip on the US Senate, ensuring that Trump can still make key appointments, the reports said.    [FULL  STORY]

Myanmar Times
Date: 12 NOV 2018
By: Myat Moe Aung

Myanmar’s garden and floral design capabilities are attracting admirers in the ongoing Taichung World Flora Expo 2018 in Taiwan.
Named “The Promised Land”, Myanmar’s exhibits shows its national characteristics with the flower design matching the Myanmar flag.

The white pentagram presents the permanence of Myanmar, the yellow, green and red plants lay out the colour of the flag: yellow to represent unity, lush green for peace and tranquility, and red for courage and determination. The design was created by the I Love Myanmar organisation.

I Love Myanmar has been participating in Taiwan’s World Flora Expo since 2016,  said Levi Sap Nei Thang, Director of I Love Myanmar.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan military still exploring suitability of the autonomous helicopter

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/11/11
By: Scott Morgan,Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan’s armed forces have reportedly cooled their interest in acquiring U.S.-made Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned autonomous helicopters in recent days, after learning of the list price.

An unnamed official told Liberty Times that Taiwan’s armed forces have asked for the list price of the helicopters, and the price given exceeded their initial expectations.

Head of the Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) Department of Strategic Planning Wu Pao-kun (吳寶琨) told the Legislative Yuan on Nov. 5 that the military is mulling over a potential purchase of a number of MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned autonomous helicopters and MK62 Quickstrike mines from the U.S.

The Taiwan Navy Command said today that deliberation of the potential acquisition is in its infancy, with careful evaluation to take place.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/11/11
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Nov. 11 (CNA) Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said Sunday that

many of his policies over the past four years have proved effective, mainly because he is not affiliated with any political party, and he promised to build on that success if he is reelected on Nov. 24 for a second term.

In a live television presentation by four of the five Taipei mayoral candidates, Ko said he has changed the city’s political culture since he was elected mayor in 2014 as an independent candidate.

For example, he said, he has been able to recruit talent across party lines and implement reforms that could not be carried by previous mayors of either the Kuomintang (KMT) or Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) because of political party considerations.

In his presentation of his policy proposals for the next four years, Ko did not go in detail, except to say that he will continue to build on his successes if he is reelected.    [FULL  STORY]