Page Two

Tsai to RNC co-chair: Taiwan a reliable security partner

Radio Taiwan International
2017-05-23

President Tsai Ing-wen says Taiwan is a reliable partner for the United States in upholding regional security. Tsai was speaking Tuesday while meeting a delegation led by Bob Paduchik, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

“America’s continued support and assistance plays an irreplaceable role in helping Taiwan expand its international space. I would like to state again that Taiwan will continue to be a reliable partner for the United States in regional security, to strive for peace and prosperity in the region, and be a responsible member of the international community. Taiwan has a great deal of willingness and ability to make a greater contribution to international society,” Tsai said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei 101 the top landmark in Taiwan

Taipei 101 has been tapped as the top landmark of Taiwan for three years in a row

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/05/23
By: Maggie Huang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei 101 has been picked as the top landmark of Taiwan, followed by Lungshan Temple, and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

TripAdvisor announces World’s Top Landmarks with Travelers’ Choice Awards Tuesday, while Taipei 101 has been tapped as the top landmark of Taiwan for three years in a row.

Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.

Kaohsiung Main Public Library, The Dome of Lights in Kaohsiung metro station, and Anping Tree House in Tainan are among the top 10 landmarks for the first time.
[FULL  STORY]

Over US$78,000 in cash confiscated from Japanese man at airport

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/23
By: Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, May 23 (CNA) A Japanese man carrying a large sum of undeclared cash in US

From the Customs Administration website

dollars, Japanese yen and Singapore dollars, worth more than US$88,000, had 88 percent of the cash he was carrying confiscated by customs officers at Taipei Songshan Airport last Saturday.

The man, who was about to board a flight to Japan, was found to be carrying US$16,400, 4.3 million Japanese yen (US$38,702) and 46,890 Singapore dollars (US$33,795) in his suitcase, according to a press release from the Customs Administration under the Ministry of Finance on Monday.

The officers allowed the man to leave with US$10,000 but confiscated the remaining cash.    [FULL  STORY]

More junior military officers urged

AMENDMENTS:The Act of Military Service for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces is a major cause of the lack of junior officers, three DPP lawmakers said

Taipei Times
Date: May 24, 2017
By: Jason Pan / Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday proposed amendments to the Act of Military Service for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces (陸海空軍軍士官服役條例) to provide better salary packages for junior officers and to extend their service terms to 20 years to address the shortage of junior officers.

“A strong military to defend our nation is more than just about having weapons. It matters more that there are competent soldiers and officers who have the necessary training and are capable of doing their jobs well,” DPP Legislator Wang Ding-yu (王定宇) said.

Wang, along with colleagues Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政) and Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應), said the shortage of first and second lieutenants in the army and their equivalent ranks in the air force and the navy challenges the effectiveness of the nation’s armed forces.

“Junior officers in the army, and those in other military branches are the most important leaders in the basic units of the armed forces. However, there is an insufficient number of these officers and this has undermined the combat strength of our nation’s military,” Wang said.    [FULL  STORY]

Weather to turn showery following thundershowers Tuesday afternoon

The China Post
Date: May 23, 2017
By: CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The weather would be mostly cloudy or sunny around the country

(CNA)

Tuesday but the Central Weather Bureau warned of thundershowers in the afternoon, particularly in northern, northeastern Taiwan and mountainous areas in central and southern Taiwan.

Once the thundershowers began, there could be relatively heavy downpours so people in the mountainous areas should take extra care, the bureau said.

A weather front is expected to come close to Taiwan, bringing occasional brief showers to the western half of the country and the northwestern islands of Matsu, it said.
[FULL  STORY]

China’s boycott of Taiwan at WHA causes antipathy: Official

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-05-22

A presidential office spokesperson said Monday that China’s political maneuvering

(CNA)

to prevent Taiwan from participating in this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) will result in antipathy among the Taiwanese people.

Presidential Office spokesperson Alex Huang explains the stance of Taiwan’s government, which uses the official name: the Republic of China.

“The Republic of China is a sovereign nation. Taiwan is not a province governed by the People’s Republic of China,” said Huang. “We do not recognize China’s continued attempts to exclude 23 million people from the global health body, nor do we find them acceptable. These unjust attempts will lose support from the international community and will cause an excess of antipathy among all of the Taiwanese people.”

Huang said that when it comes to health there are no boundaries because it is a universal human right. He said the WHA is dedicated to public health and is a non-political body.    [FULL  STORY]

Hakka Cultural Park: English guide training program launched

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/05/22
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–Taipei Hakka Affairs Commission (HAC) has launched the 2017 English Guide Training Program for Taipei City Hakka Cultural Park as part of Taipei City’s effort to introduce Hakka origins and customs to international visitors.

Youths aged 18 or over with foreign language skills, like Hakka culture, interested in guide service, are welcome to sign up for the program.

The program encompasses classes including Hakka knowledge, foreign language guide service, global etiquette, oral expression, the ability to improvise, and how to address people. Participants will be able to receive on-site training and practice in guided tours.

With the Summer Universiade approaching, Taipei is expected to host nearly 10,000 athletes this August. Taipei City Hakka Cultural Park will seize the opportunity to market the island’s Hakka culture, greeting international visitors with the unique Hakka-style warmth and friendliness.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan’s health minister says WHO needs Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/22
By: Tang Pei-chun, Tai Ya-chen, Chen Wei-ting and Lilian Wu

Geneva, May 22 (CNA) Taiwan’s top health official said Taiwan is important to the

Chen Shih-chung (陳時中, front)

World Health Assembly (WHA) and described it as unjust for Taiwan to be excluded from the annual conference of the WHA, which opened in Geneva on Monday.

Speaking at an international press conference to call attention to Taiwan’s exclusion, Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said Taiwan wanted to share its health care experience at the annual meeting but was unfairly excluded because of China’s obstruction.

He argued that the aim of the United Nations was to change the world and enhance the welfare of all people, and no one should be excluded.    [FULL STORY]

Patience will be required on reforms, president says

Taipei Times
Date: May 23, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that the government’s reform program cannot be completed within a year and great patience would be needed to introduce all the planned reforms.

Tsai made the statement during a meeting with a delegation from a Taiwanese association from Thailand.

Noting that the government has just marked its first anniversary in office, Tsai said that despite strong resistance from the opposition, her administration would push ahead with the reforms, including to the pension system, and projects aimed at upgrading the nation’s economy and infrastructure.

There will inevitably be difficulties as the government pushes on with the reforms, she added.

Tsai said that after one year, pension reform is now entering its final phase, adding that she believes the legislature would soon pass legislation to reform the pension system.    [FULL  STORY]

Penalties for filming children engaged in obscene acts to increase

The China Post
Date: May 22, 2017
By: CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The punishment for filming or photographing children and adolescents engaged in sexual intercourse or obscene acts is to be increased if an amended bill covering such offenses passes its third reading in the Legislature.
The bill which seeks to update the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act passed a review by the legislative Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee on Monday.

According to the proposed amendment, the punishment for filming, producing photographs, film, videotape, compact disks, electronic files or other medium that show adolescents engaged in sexual intercourse or obscene acts will be increased from up to five years to seven years in prison.

The fine will also be doubled to a maximum of NT$1 million (US$33,300), according to the amendment.    [SOURCE]