Channel News Asia
Date: 19 Jan 2018
By: AFP/STR

TAIPEI: Taiwan has blocked nearly 200 flights by Chinese airlines over the strait that

separates the two rivals due to the carriers’ use of controversial new travel routes introduced by China.

Taipei has repeatedly called for four new flight paths to be cancelled since China launched them earlier in January, but their complaints have fallen on deaf ears on the mainland.

Authorities on the island said they had not been consulted over the routes and described their introduction as “reckless”, endangering flight safety, and politically motivated.

China Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Air have since requested to operate 176 additional flights between Taiwan and China during the Chinese New Year period in mid-February.
[FULL  STORY]

Su’ao – Dong’ao section of the Suhua Highway will open before Lunar New Year

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/01/19
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The first section of the improved Suhua Highway (蘇花公路台)

is expected to open before Lunar New Year, cutting down travel time by up to 20 minutes, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).

The new 9.7-kilometer section of the Suhua Highway set to open runs from Suao (蘇澳) in Yilan County to Dongao (東澳) in Hualien County and is known as the Su’ao – Dong’ao section.

The second new section of the highway will run from Nanao (南澳) and Heping (和平) townships of Yilan County. While third section will run between Heping and Dacingshuei (大清水) in Hualien County.

The remaining two sections are slated to be completed by the end of next year (2019) and the target for the official opening is set for just before the Lunar New Year of 2020. Once all three sections are completed, the combined new stretch of highway will be 38.8 kilometers in length.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/01/19
By: Chen Wei-ting and Kuan-lin Liu

Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) Stores across Taiwan have removed all milk products from

French dairy giant Lactalis after a worldwide recall by the company Jan. 14 on concerns of salmonella contamination, Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday.

Immediately after Taiwan received the recall notice on Jan. 15, the FDA said, it issued an order for all milk formula from Lactalis’ factory in Craon to be removed from store shelves across the country, regardless of the date of manufacture, and the process was completed by the next day.

Lactalis has recalled some 12 million boxes of milk formula in more than 80 countries, citing fears of salmonella contamination after a reported outbreak of the bacteria at its Celia-Laiterie de Craon factory last year.    [FULL  STORY]

The Legend can carry a crew of 19 and 24 researchers

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/01/18
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan’s largest oceanic research vessel, the Legend (勵進號),

arrived in Tainan Thursday after its maiden voyage from a wharf in Vietnam.

The ship was ordered by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs, 科技部國研院) and took two years to build at the Saigon Shipyard in Ho Chi Minh City, the Liberty Times reported.

The authorities emphasized the safety of the ship, with the presence of sufficient lifeboats to transport four times the number of usual passengers. The hull had also been fortified with the latest safety techniques and the whole vessel would be subject to strict international safety certification, reports said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: January 18, 2018

Beijing should adopt a new approach to cross-strait relations that respects Taiwan’s

dignity and the rights of the people, faces the reality that the two sides are under separate rule, and supports cross-strait dialogue without preconditions, according to the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council Jan. 17.

The increased mainland Chinese military threat and continued efforts to suppress Taiwan’s international space jeopardize regional peace and stability, the MAC said, adding that these provocative actions endanger cross-strait security and infringe on the rights of the people on both sides to foster peaceful interactions.

Taiwan has consistently demonstrated its flexibility and goodwill, and remains committed to maintaining peace and stability. Attempts by Beijing to set political conditions for cross-strait communication have resulted in lost opportunities, the MAC said.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/01/18
By: Huang Ya-chuan, William Yen and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Jan. 18 (CNA) A new tax reform bill passed on Thursday raises the personal

standard deduction of comprehensive tax and the corporate income tax rate for companies, decreasing contributions from individuals but requiring businesses to make up the shortfall, said Lai Cheng-i (賴正鎰), head of the General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China, who suggested the move is intended win votes at the ballot box.

Lai made his remarks following the passing by the Legislative Yuan on Thursday of a tax reform bill that increases the corporate income tax rate from 17 percent to 20 percent. In addition, the rate for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with taxable income less of than NT$500,000 will be raised to 18 percent, 19 percent and 20 percent over the next three years.

Other measures increase dividend income tax from 26 percent to 28 percent, while retained earnings will be taxed at five percent and the personal standard deduction of comprehensive tax will be raised from NT$90,000 to NT$120,000    [FULL  STORY]