The New York Times
Date: Nov. 4, 2017
By Steven Lee Myers and Chris Horton

ZUOYING NAVAL BASE, Taiwan — The Hai Pao, one of Taiwan’s four navy submarines,

The Hai Pao, a World War II-era vessel that represents a quarter of Taiwan’s submarine fleet, at anchor at Zuoying Naval Base in southern Taiwan in October. CreditBryan Denton for The New York Times

began its service as the Tusk, an American vessel launched in August 1945 at the end of World War II. Its sister submarine, the Hai Shih, is a year older. Neither can fire torpedoes today, though they can still lay mines.

The submarines, said Feng Shih-kuan, Taiwan’s minister of national defense, “belong in a museum.”

The Hai Pao — with its paint-encrusted pipes, antiquated engines and a brass dial with a needle to measure speed in knots — will instead remain in service past its 80th birthday, a relic of a military that once was one of Asia’s most formidable. Taiwan’s aging submarine fleet is but one measure of how far the military balance across the Taiwan Strait has tilted in favor of the island’s rival, mainland China.  [FULL STORY]

American aerialist is in dire need of a medical evacuation after shattering her neck from a 13-foot fall on concrete stage in Bali

Taiwan News 
Date: 2017/11/04
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An American aerialist is in dire need of a swift medical

The moment Lee’s head impacted on the concrete stage.

evacuation to Taipei after plummeting 13 feet and shattering her neck in multiple places while performing aerial hoop on stage in Bali, Indonesia.

On Oct. 26, Samantha Lee, 28, who goes by the stage name “Sam Panda,” was in the midst of a performance of aerial hoop in front of an audience at Finn’s Beach Club in Canggu, Bali when the cable supporting her apparatus suddenly and inexplicably released, causing her to hurtle straight for the hard, concrete stage. As she was in an inverted position at the moment the cable gave way, she landed head first, causing multiple injuries to her neck.

When she arrived at the hospital, doctors discovered that she suffered a broken C5 vertebrae, as well as two burst discs between C5 and C6 and C6 and C7. She also has spinal cord damage and a shard of bone lodged in her spinal cord which is preventing her from walking. She also received eight stitches on her head for lacerations to her scalp.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/11/04
By: Wu Jui-chi and Kuan-lin Liu 

Taipei, Nov. 4 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has called her eight-day Pacific tour a success in achieving the goals set prior to her departure on Oct. 28.

Speaking after arriving at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday, Tsai said she set two goals for the trip — to promote Taiwan’s ability to contribute to international causes and to check up on fellow nationals living or working abroad — and both were achieved.

She thanked everyone involved for the success of the trip, which not only helped inform her of the realities on the ground but also allowed her to see how medical and technical missions representing Taiwan are making a difference in allied countries.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan has the sixth highest average work hours in the world, yet revisions to the Labor Standards Act suggested this week by the government roll back hard-fought victories for labor rights secured last year, and leave the door open for employers to exploit workers unprotected by unions.

The News Lens
Date: 2017/11/03
By: Stellina Chen 

Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor drew fire from labor rights groups and opposition legislators this week after the release of draft amendments to Taiwan’s Labor Standards Act.

The draft, submitted for public input on Oct. 31, was criticized for kowtowing to employers and leaving workers vulnerable to being overworked.

A key revision states that employees are able to work for 12 days straight before taking a day off, rather than the current rule introduced last year, which stipulates one mandatory day off per week plus one flexible day of rest.

At a question and answer session following the release of the revised Act, lawmakers including Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Chiang Yung-chang (江永昌) expressed dismay at the government’s stance given that the law had only been amended 11 months previously in order to protect workers’ rights.    [FULL  STORY]

Here are a few suggestions on where to enjoy Autumn in Taiwan

Taiwan News 
Date: 2017/11/03
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan) – For most city dwellers in Taiwan, Autumn often passes by without too

Wuling Farm in Autumn

much notice. Usually it just seems like a few weeks of cool, comfortable weather following the humid summers, just before the slight chill of the wet Taiwan winter sets in.

But don’t be fooled, Autumn in Taiwan does in fact exist. It also happens to be an excellent time to get out of the city and appreciate the island’s amazing natural environment.

Here are five suggestions from Taiwan News on some excellent spots to enjoy the season.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/11/03
By: Miao Zong-han and Flor Wang

Taipei, Nov. 3 (CNA) A Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official expressed reservations

Mainland Affairs Council deputy chief Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正)/CNA file photo

on Friday about New Taipei’s desire to open an office in China to serve its residents there, saying the issue must be handled by the MAC in accordance with the law.

Citing the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, MAC deputy chief Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said the issue falls under the jurisdiction of the MAC, which is responsible in Taiwan for cross-Taiwan Strait affairs.

“It is a complex issue as it involves an extension of government authority in mainland China,” Chiu explained.    [FULL  STORY]