Page Two

Boat Burning Festival underway in Donggang

Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 2018-10-30 
By：RTI Editor

One of Taiwan’s most spectacular religious festivals is underway in Pingtung County’s Donggang Township.

Over the coming days, the town will be filled with worshippers welcoming a group of gods visiting the earth. There will also be many tourists come to witness the gods’ fiery sendoff back to heaven at the end.

Every three years, Donggang Township in southern Taiwan welcomes the Wang Ye, a group of gods thought to expel sickness and evil. This year, the gods have returned to this seaside town. As always, they arrive from the sea, and are greeted by a welcome party on the shore.

Over 10,000 worshippers showed up to welcome the Wang Ye gods this year, and many will stay for the rest of the eight-day, seven-night festival.    [FULL  STORY]

What a US free and open Pacific policy means for Taiwan

Asia Times
Date: October 30, 2018
By: Gary Sands

As Washington pursues a “free and open Indo-Pacific” foreign policy under the Trump administration, many onlookers have struggled to define exactly what that policy will mean for those in the Indo-Pacific region. Among those onlookers anxiously awaiting details of the US strategy are the Taiwanese, who since 1979 have come under the security blanket of the US Taiwan Relations Act.

While not equivalent to the mutual defense treaty in place from 1955 until 1979, the act does seek “to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character; and to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.”

Yet in recent months, as Beijing ramps up pressure on Taiwan, some analysts are again questioning the strength of that commitment, as an “America first” US president confronts Beijing over trade, and an independent-minded Taiwanese president faces rising threats from “China’s aggressive maritime strategy.” Others fear the deal-making US president will sacrifice Taiwan as a “pawn” to gain more important pieces, such as Iran or North Korea, on the geopolitical chessboard.

While the term “free and open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) has been used in the past by Australia, India, Japan and others, the US latched on to the concept last November, during President Donald Trump’s speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEOs Summit in Danang, Vietnam.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan releases new aerial documentary promoting Taichung

The film features natural wonders and cultural landscapes of the city in middle Taiwan

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/10/30
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

A scene above Dajia River (Photo/Taichung City Government)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A film titled “Our Taichung” (咱的台中) debuted Oct. 30, providing a peek into the beauty of the city in middle Taiwan from a bird’s eye view, as part of Taichung City Government’s effort to promote tourism.

A collaboration between the city government and Taiwan Aerial Imaging, the aerial documentary was directed by Chi Yi (齊怡), who was shortlisted in the 53th Golden Bell Awards, and narrated by Wu Nien-jen (吳念真), a reputed Taiwanese director and scriptwriter, said the Information Bureau of Taichung in a press release.

Lasting eight minutes, the film brings the audience on a journey to discover the natural scenery, cultural landscape, and a selection of architectural landmarks found in Taichung.

Highlights include Gaomei Wetlands (高美濕地), Taichung Park (台中公園), Huludun Park (葫蘆墩公園), the Green Line of Taichung metro network, the old and new Taichung Train Stations, National Taichung Theater (台中國家歌劇院),  Luce Memorial Chapel (路思義教堂), and Taichung Software Park (台中軟體園區).    [FULL  STORY]

Taichung reports 12 new dengue fever cases: CDC

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/10/30
By: Chen Wei-ting and Ko Lin 

Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) Taichung in central Taiwan reported 12 new cases of indigenous dengue fever last week, bringing the total number in the municipality so far this year to 101, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed Tuesday.

The patients are between the ages of 10 and 80, among whom seven were from the city’s Taiping District, two in Beitun, with one each in Dali, Wufeng and Xitun, according to the CDC.

Five of the patients are currently being treated at local hospitals, while seven have since returned home, CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said.

According to the disease center, the new incidences were not part of a cluster infection.
[FULL  STORY]

Premier urged to fire transport minister

RAILWAY RUCKUS:NPP  Legislator Huang Kuo-chang said ATPs were the TRA’s most problematic component, as on average there are 133 malfunctions per month

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 31, 2018
By: Sean Lin  /  Staff reporter

New Power Party (NPP) Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday asked Premier

Premier William Lai, left, and Minister of Transportation and Communications Wu Hong-mo take part in a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday.  Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

William Lai (賴清德) to remove Minister of Transportation and Communications Wu Hong-mo (吳宏謀) from his post, after Wu was stumped by some elementary questions regarding the Puyuma Express train derailment on Oct. 21.

Wu on Monday also passed on erroneous information regarding the Puyuma Express’ automatic train protection (ATP) device to the media.

During a question-and-answer session with Lai and Wu at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, Huang asked Wu to clarify remarks he made on Monday at a news conference that it would be time-consuming to send the ATP device back to Japan to be checked and that the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) would instead ask the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology to improve on the exisiting ATP.

Wu initially told Huang that the ministry would investigate whether the derailed train had been equipped with an ATP and if it had, whether the device was functioning properly.
[FULL  STORY]

Trains around Taiwan sound horns to honor crash victims

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-10-29

This past weekend marked the one-week anniversary of a fatal train crash that killed 18, injured 190, and shocked the people of Taiwan. It was the first fatal accident on the Puyuma Express line, and the worst train accident in Taiwan in 37 years.

On Saturday at 4:50pm, the time of the crash, trains all over Taiwan used a special way of remembering the victims.

The sound of a train’s horn rings out into the late afternoon in memory of the victims of the October 21st train crash in northeastern Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News: Pride Parade Draws Thousands, TRA Says Puyuma Trains Safe

Your daily bulletin of Taiwan news, courtesy of ICRT.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/10/29
By: International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT)

Credit: Reuters / Tyrone Siu

The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) said it has completed safety checks on all of its 18 Puyuma Express trains and found no defects that could impact the service’s safety.

The rail network began carrying out the safety checks following last Sunday’s derailment. TRA officials said each Puyuma Express underwent testing for faults in its running gear, transmission devices, pantograph apparatus, power systems, protection systems, connectors, high-voltage insulators, and auxiliary parts.

The findings will now be presented to a Cabinet task force investigating the Oct. 21 derailment in Yilan.    [FULL  STORY]

China gets ants in pants as Brazil elects Taiwan-friendly president

Bolsonaro’s election could have broad ramifications in Brazil-China ties

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/10/29
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The victory of the far-right Brazilian politician Jair Bolsonaro in a

Jair Bolsonaro (Photo/AP)

presidential election has put a spotlight on the bilateral relations between the largest South American country and Taiwan as the president-elect is known to have friendly leanings toward the island country.

In February, Bolsonaro became the first presidential candidate to visit Taiwan since Brazil established diplomatic ties with Beijing in 1974. The trip drew ire of China, which denounced it as an “affront to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China,” reported Reuters.

In a video published on Youtube by Bolsonaro this March, the politician was seen touring a number of public institutions and companies boasting virtual reality technologies in Taiwan. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Brazilian delegation was in Taiwan to learn more about local development and explore collaborative opportunities, reported Liberty Times.    [FULL  STORY]

73 cases of meat products smuggling discovered in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/10/29
By: Yang Su-min and William Ye

Taipei, Oct. 29 (CNA) During a period of 11 days, 73 cases of attempted smuggling of

Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ)

meat products into Taiwan from areas affected by a highly contagious livestock disease were discovered, according to the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) on Monday.

In an effort to strengthen the prevention of livestock diseases, since Oct. 18, the BAPHIQ has been issuing a maximum fine of NT$15,000 (US$485) against travelers attempting to bring meat products into the country from areas affected by the African swine fever or hoof-and-mouth disease.

According to BAPHIQ statistics, the 73 cases of fined meat items discovered from Oct. 18-28, included cured meats, beef, sausages and hot dogs, of which 43 came from China, 21 from Vietnam, five from the Philippines, and two from both South Korea and Thailand.    [FULL  STORY]

Second arms deal with US likely before year’s end

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 30, 2018
By: Staff writer, with CNA, ANNAPOLIS, Maryland

The US should approve another round of arms sales to Taiwan by the end of the year,

US-Taiwan Business Council president Rupert Hammond-Chambers speaks in Annapolis, Maryland, on Sunday.  Photo: CNA

following a US$330 million deal last month, US-Taiwan Business Council president Rupert Hammond-Chambers said.

“It’s reasonable to argue that there will be another congressional notification before the end of this year,” Hammond-Chambers said at a news conference before the opening of the US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference in Annapolis, Maryland, on Sunday.

He declined to speculate on what arms the US would make available, saying only that the value of the package would be significant.

On Sept. 24, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced a proposed arms sale that included standard spare parts and other maintenance supplies for Taiwan’s F-16s, C-130s, F-5s, Indigenous Defense Fighters and other aircraft.    [FULL  STORY]