Taiwan News  
Date: 2018/06/21
By:  Central News Agency

TAIPEI (CNA) – A plan for Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chen Ming-tong

(陳明通) to visit Washington in July is currently being scheduled and the MAC is working to fill two vice ministerial vacancies at the Cabinet-level body, MAC Vice Minister and spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said Thursday.

Chiu was responding to a Liberty Times report that cited a Washington source indicating Chen is set to visit Washington July 17-19, during which time he will deliver a speech at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, hold talks with senior White House officials and the Department of State and call on think tanks, U.S. senators and representatives.

When asked about Chen’s planned U.S. visit, Chiu said at a regular press conference the MAC is working with a Washington-based think tank to hold an international seminar, but the details of the trip have not yet been finalized.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/06/21
By: Wang Yang-yu and Shih Hsiu-chuan

Taipei, June 21 (CNA) Kuo Tzu-hsing (郭自行), chairman of Daily Air Corporation, a

domestic airline, was detained and held incommunicado Thursday for allegedly filing bogus company financial statements to fraudulently obtain government funding, Taipei prosecutors said Thursday.

According to Taipei District Prosecutors Office, the company has received up to NT$100 million (about US$3.3 million) since 2005, based on false accounting that took advantage of government subsidies paid to airlines flying between Taiwan proper and outlying islands.

Prosecutors said airline staff are suspected of using fake invoices and vouchers to boost the company’s losses and thereby enable it to claim more in subsidies from the government.    [FULL  STORY]

DEEP RED? After its merger with Chinese firm JD United, Roo Hsing became controlled by people with Chinese Communist Party connections, an NPP candidate said

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 22, 2018
By: Ann Maxon  /  Staff reporter

The National Development Fund (NDF) might have been used to help Chinese state-

owned companies infiltrate Taiwanese businesses, the New Power Party (NPP) said yesterday.

The National Development Council in June last year announced that it would invest NT$1.4 billion (US$46.2 million at the current exchange rate) in Taiwanese jeans manufacturer Roo Hsing Co to help the company improve its automated manufacturing system, NPP Hsinchu city councilor candidate Peng Sheng-shao (彭盛韶) told a news conference at the party’s caucus office in Taipei.

As the council confirmed, the investment was meant to enable Roo Hsing to acquire Chinese clothing manufacturer JD United Holdings, Peng said.

“Many have questioned the government’s decision and suspected that the merger was a reverse takeover that would allow the Chinese company to receive funding from the Taiwanese government,” he said.    [FULL  STORY]

Your daily bulletin of Taiwan news, courtesy of ICRT.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/06/20
By: International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the government is considering litigation to stop international airlines from changing Taiwan’s designation on their websites and listing the island as being part of China.

According to foreign office spokesman Andrew Lee (李憲章), legal action will only be taken after the government has exhausted all other avenues in talks with countries whose airlines have bowed to pressure from China to re-designate the island’s status.

Lee also said his office is currently collecting evidence of wrongdoing by the airlines in order to ensure that any such lawsuit will be beneficial for Taiwan.

The statements come after Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways became the latest carriers to change the designation “Taiwan” to “China, Taiwan” on their Chinese-language websites.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/06/20
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)—The 2018 Shihmen Reservoir Hot Air Balloon Carnival, which

runs from June 23 through July 1 at Nanyuan Eco Park, will not only provide the service of hot air balloon rides but will also feature the flight of a flying ship and other interesting activities, Taoyuan City Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan said on Wednesday during a press conference to promote the festival, according to media reports.

Entering its third year, this year’s Shihmen Reservoir Hot Air Balloon Carnival will introduce a flying ship that is set to fly for the first time in northern Taiwan during the festival period, the mayor said, adding that the 41m x18m x 13m flying ship will take off from Nanyuan (南苑), fly over the rear pond of the reservoir, and land at Beiyuan (北苑), according to the reports.      [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/06/20
By: Su Mu-chun and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, June 20 (CNA) Microsoft Taiwan, in conjunction with Taichung-based Asia

University, Taiwan, launched a project Wednesday to cultivate talent for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

As part of the project, a facility for people to experience Microsoft’s latest AI technologies will be established. Courses will also be offered to help train professionals in the development of AI apps for medical and health care, reading and controlling systems.

In February, Asia University, Taiwan gained approval from the Ministry of Education to set up an AI academy and to open AI classes, according to Jeffrey Tsai (蔡進發), president of the university.

Currently, an AI center, digital center, a 3D printing center and a center for the prevention of Internet addiction have been established at the university, Tsai said.
[FULL  STORY]

POLITICAL MANEUVER: KMT Taipei mayoral candidate Ting Shou-chung’s call for free World Cup broadcasts is just a ploy to criticize the government, several netizens said

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 21, 2018
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

Netizens yesterday accused Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei mayoral

candidate Ting Shou-chung (丁守中) of political expediency with his call for the government to intervene in the way the World Cup is broadcast so that Taiwanese fans can watch the games on television for free.

“The government should look into this matter, because most people can only view this year’s World Cup matches on their cellphones and computers, but not on TV,” Ting said while attending a KMT event in Keelung yesterday.

ELTA TV, which has purchased the broadcast rights to the World Cup, has been airing the group-stage games, while state-owned Chinese Television System (CTS) is to start its broadcast for the knockout rounds.

“In the past, people could view the games on the big screen when they were broadcast on TV [for free], but this time, most Taiwanese fans can only watch the games on their cellphones or computers. It is like torture to fans,” said Ting, who was a former chairman of the governing body in charge of Taiwanese basketball.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan’s desire to abandon nuclear and cultivate renewables demands a dedicated body, according to AmCham Taipei.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/06/19
By: Ben Parker

In the energy section of the 2018 Taiwan White Paper recently released by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, the Chamber’s Energy Committee calls for the appointment of an “energy czar” to oversee the government’s efforts to redirect Taiwan’s electrical power generation away from reliance on nuclear and fossil fuels.

By 2025, according to the goals set by the Taiwan government, the island’s power grid is to be fueled 50 percent by liquefied natural gas (LNG), 30 percent by coal, and 20 percent by renewable resources such as wind and solar.

The Energy Committee recommends that a panel of outside experts be gathered to create a “National Energy Plan,” similar to the Quadrennial Energy Review undertaken by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Committee suggests the panel be responsible for such tasks as:

Assessing the risk of relying so heavily on imported LNG, since factors such as bad weather and military blockades could interfere with incoming shipments.
Ensuring Taiwan has adequate energy reserves in the event of shortages caused by natural fluctuation in the renewable energy sector.
Addressing air pollution concerns resulting from fossil-fuel generated power.
[FULL  STORY]