Page Two

DPP avoids vote on Chen Shui-bian

SECOND RUN:At its National Congress in Taipei yesterday, the party voted in favor of a special article that allows for its alliance with Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je to be renewed

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 25, 2017
By Chen Wei-han  /  Staff reporter

A motion urging President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to pardon former president Chen

From left, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Kaohsiung city councilors Cheng Hsin-chu and Hsiao Yung-ta, and DPP Taipei City Councilor Chiang Chih-ming discuss a motion urging a pardon for former president Chen Shui-bian before the start of the party’s National Congress in Taipei yesterday.  Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times

Shui-bian (陳水扁) prepared by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) representatives yesterday was not addressed at the party’s National Congress after they failed to reach the quorum needed.

More than 500 party representatives had endorsed the motion ahead of the congress.

Chen served more than six years of a 20-year sentence for corruption before being released on medical parole in 2015, but he still faces other criminal charges.

The opening of yesterday’s congress was attended by 366 party representatives, who reviewed five proposals before taking a short break.    [FULL  STORY]

Current, former officials speak at event on Taiwanese democracy

Radio Tiwan Internatioal
Date: 2017-09-23

A number of current and former officials are set to speak at a two-day academic conference celebrating Taiwanese democracy.

The event is being held by the Taiwan Research Fund at the National Central Library. It looks back at Taiwan’s democracy since the first direct presidential election was held in 1996. To date, Taiwan has held six direct elections for president. The presidency has transferred between political parties three times.

Speakers at the event, which begins Saturday, include several former premiers. Meanwhile, the acting mayors of Taipei and Taichung are set to be among the hosts. However, one of the key figures set to speak, former President Lee Teng-hui, has cancelled his appearance due to illness. Lee was president from 1988 to 2000, and was the victor of the first direct election in 1996.

The National Central Library says that 700 people have signed up to hear the talks.
[FULL  STORY]

What’s new: ‘Voice of the Saints in Taiwan’ a history of the LDS Church in the small island nation

Deseret News
Date: Sept. 23, 2017
By: Megan Jensen

In their book, “Voice of the Saints in Taiwan,” Po Nien “Felipe” Chou and Petra Chou

Po Nien “Felipe” Chou and Petra Mei Wah Sin Chou are the authors of “Voice of the Saints in Taiwan.”

tell the stories of the first LDS members in Taiwan, and the ways in which these pioneers helped establish The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a well-looked-upon part of the Taiwanese community.

When the first missionaries arrived in Taiwan in 1956, they were welcomed by LDS American servicemen and their families, who were stationed on the island. There were no Taiwanese members, and only a small American branch in Taipei.

While missionaries and American servicemen acted as leaders initially (including one of the first missionaries, Elder Melvin C. Fish, who was called as the first Relief Society president in Taiwan), baptism of faithful members soon made possible the calling of Taiwanese leaders who would continue the work of strengthening the members within their own country.    [FULL  STORY]

Take a dip in Jinshan’s ‘golden hot spring’

Taiwan now has a rival to Japan’s Arima Onsen with Jinshan’s own ‘Golden Pool’

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/09/24
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan now has a rival to the famous Japanese hot spring

Golden hot springs. (New Taipei City Government)

Arima Onsen’s “Golden Pool” with its newly revamped hot spring in New Taipei City’s Jinshan (金山), which itself means “Golden Mountain,” announced the New Taipei City Government on Wednesday.

After an improvement project was carried out on the Huanggang Community public hot springs, a miraculous thing happened, the water started turning a golden hue. Hot spring experts say that the reason why the water, which is colorless when it first comes out, changes color to become the “Golden Pool” or “Golden Spring” is due to the oxidation of the iron and salt in the water.

The Jinshan District Chief Chen Kuo-chin (陳國欽) said that after the community hot springs underwent an improvement project in June, the water starting turning brown, and members of the public mistook it for mud and were afraid to soak in it.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan seeks exchanges with renewable energy developers in Europe

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/23
By: Tang Pei-chun and Ko Lin

Brussels, Sept. 23 (CNA) In an effort to expand Taiwan’s renewable energy

CNA file photo

development, a team of experts headed by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Su Fong-chin (蘇芳慶) recently left for Europe to seek exchanges with a number of renowned European renewable energy developers.

According to the technology ministry, the team comprised of academics and industry players from Taiwan already toured the city of Genk in Belgium, home of EnergyVille, a renowned sustainable energy research institute.

During the visit, Belgian researchers were briefed on green energy development in Taiwan in recent years, including the planned construction of a solar energy, wind power and a green energy-oriented science-based town in Shalun, Tainan.
[FULL  STORY]

Speakers talk presidential elections

OPPOSING EFFECTS:China and the US both influence Taiwanese elections, but to opposite ends, a speaker said, citing the effects of Chinese criticism on the first election

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 24, 2017
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter

Speakers yesterday reviewed the six direct presidential elections Taiwan has held, touching on a range of issues including the idiosyncrasies of Taiwanese elections and the negative effects of the prolonged waiting period before a presidential handover.

Taiwan-Japan Relations Association President Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), who was the campaign chief executive officer for former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), said that scandals have often changed the landscape of elections, citing the smear campaign the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) launched against then-independent candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) surrounding securities he held that were issued by Chung Hsing Bills Finance Co.

The scandal took away the advantage that Soong, who had been leading in the polls by a wide margin, had over Chen and the KMT’s Lien Chan (連戰), and was a major factor behind Soong’s defeat, he said.

Another example regarded the embezzlement charges against Chen, which he said had negatively affected the campaigns of former premiers Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) in 2008, because even though the Chen family has claimed innocence to this day, the majority of Taiwanese believe he is guilty, he said.
[FULL  STORY]

Five more allies offer support at UN

INCLUSIVITY:As of Friday, 12 out of the 16 allies that have taken the stage have voiced support for Taiwan’s inclusion as a member or in some alternative capacity

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 24, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA, New York

Five more of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies on Friday spoke up in support of the nation

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare pushes for the UN to recognize Taiwan as a member in his address to the UN General Assembly on Friday. Photo: CNA

being recognized as a UN member at the organization’s General Assembly.

As the general debate at the assembly continues, leaders from five more of the nation’s diplomatic allies — Kiribati, Saint Lucia, the Solomon Islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Belize — took turns calling for Taiwan’s inclusion as a member of the UN.

Kiribati President Taneti Maamau said that if the UN is incomplete, discussions regarding the promotion of human welfare cannot take place.

Although the UN preaches inclusivity and unity every year at the general assembly, “we have chosen to ignore Taiwan’s 23 million people, depriving them of their right to be a part of this global family and to participate and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs],” he said.    [FULL  STORY]

Three more Taiwanese confirmed dead in Mexico quake

Radio Taiwan Interational
Date: 2017-09-22

Three Taiwanese nationals missing after Tuesday’s earthquake in Mexico are confirmed to have died. One further Taiwanese national had already been confirmed dead, while one more remains missing. That was according to Taiwan’s representative office in Mexico on Friday.

The death toll from the 7.1-magnitude quake that struck Mexico City on Tuesday has reached 274 and is expected to rise. The quake brought down at least 44 buildings, including homes, schools and office buildings.

Soon after the quake, one Taiwanese national was confirmed dead and four others reported missing. Officials from Taiwan’s representative office in Mexico arrived on site and stayed during the 72 hours after the quake. That is the period considered most critical for finding survivors.

The Mexican government has called on more volunteers to join the rescue effort as they are experiencing a severe shortage in manpower.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan animal expert praises hygiene practices at Vietnamese hog farms

Taiwanese researcher emphasizes the maintenance of low waste at hog farms is the most effective way to prevent illness

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/09/22
By: Taiwan News

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Taiwanese researcher said he was impressed by the

(By Wikimedia Commons)

Vietnamese hog-farming industry for its adoption of good hygiene practices, saying its low-waste hog farms can effectively prevent hog diseases and is what the Taiwanese sector can learn from.

Animal expert Chen Chi-ming (陳啟銘) shared his observations at a forum hosted by the New Taipei City Government Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office (AHIQO) on Thursday, and introduced the methods and facilities to prevent hog diseases. He also proclaimed that Vietnamese farms’ maintenance of low waste is an effective way to avoid any outbreak of a disease in livestock, as reported by China Times.

With 21 years of experience in farming and agriculture, Chen went to Vietnam last year to check some piggeries when there was an outbreak of diseases. After the investigation, he concluded that problems prevailed in the processing of vaccines.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan to ban all trade with North Korea: Executive Yuan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/22
By: Elaine Hou and Kuan-lin Liu

Taipei, Sept. 22 (CNA) Taiwan is banning all trade with North Korea starting next

Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇)/CNA file photo

week, according to a statement issued by the Executive Yuan on Friday.

Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) is invoking Article 5 of the Foreign Trade Act to ban all trading activities with North Korea, Cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) was cited as saying in the statement.

North Korea’s continued missile tests have threatened global security and global order, and as a member of the international community, Taiwan is complying with international actions to impose sanctions against the country, Hsu said.

In practice, the ban will have little bite because of the limited amount of trade between the two countries.    [FULL  STORY]