Focus Taiwan
2017/03/30
By: Lu Hsin-hui and S.C. Chang

Taipei, March 30 (CNA) There are enough communications channels between Taiwan

and its most important ally the United States to ensure a “zero surprise” situation in the run up to a critical meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a Presidential Office spokesman said Thursday.

Lin Ho-ming (林鶴明) was responding reporters’ questions on whether the U.S. will brief Taiwan on the main content of the talks between the two leaders after their April 6-7 meeting in Florida.

Lin said, however, that he could not divulge the details of the contact between Taiwan and U.S. to ensure no surprises on either side. “We will be watching how things progress,” Lin said.    [FULL  STORY]

MISSING:Beijing has yet to clarify where rights campaigner Lee Ming-che is being detained, what laws he has broken, and to arrange for his family and lawyer to visit

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 31, 2017
By: Alison Hsiao and Lu Yi-hsuan / Staff reporters

The government is also calling on Beijing to immediately arrange for Lee’s family and

lawyer to visit him, Hsu said.

In response to media reports that the government has been keeping a low-profile over the case, Hsu said the administration is keenly aware of Lee’s disappearance and has continuously and actively been trying to contact Chinese authorities through various channels.

The DPP likewise said that it has been paying close attention to Lee’s case and reiterated the demands calling for Lee’s family and lawyer to visit China to protect Lee’s rights and personal safety.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: March 31, 2017
By: Hsuan Chung-wen Special to The China Post

Prominent local and international law professors gathered in Taipei last week to

participate in the Chinese Culture University Law School’s International Enterprise and Management Law Conference at Chinese Culture University.

Law School dean Ho Yao-chen (何曜琛) praised the law professors, lawyers and judges who participated in the international conference for providing so many tangible suggestions for the government during the March 23 and 24 event.

Criminal law expert Dr. Chen You-feng (陳友鋒) said it was necessary to revise some articles of the local Criminal Law in order to reflect modern values and ensure appropriate punishments for specific crimes.

While some articles need to be revised, others should be repealed, Chen said.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/03/29
By: Emerson Lin and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, March 29 (CNA) Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos arrived in Taiwan

Wednesday on a four-day visit to promote exchanges between the two countries.

During his visit, Ramos will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and several friends in the political and business circles to explore mutually beneficial opportunities within the Taiwan government’s New Southbound Policy, according to Chen Wen-ju (陳文儒), the founding chairman of the Taiwanese Chamber of the South Philippines, which helped to organize the trip.

Ramos, 89, and four of his family members are traveling with a trade delegation comprising 31 members of the Taiwanese chamber, Chen said.    [FULL  STORY]

HATE SPEECH:Lin Kuo-chun, an elected official, denied that he referred to ‘President Tsai’ directly when he spoke of killing, nor did he say that he would kill her

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 30, 2017
By: Aaron Tu and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Retired police officers and firefighters protested outside Martyrs’ Shrine in Taipei

yesterday, with some reportedly calling for President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to “lose her head” for living off the misery of the people.

“Is it right that Tsai should live a life of ease at the expense of the police and firefighters? Should [she] not be killed?” Lin Kuo-chun (林國春), who is president of the New Taipei City Retired Police Association and a New Taipei City Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) councilor was quoted as saying, adding that in a past era she would have lost her head.

The protest targeted the governments pension reforms, saying the plans trampled the rights of retired police officers and firefighters.

Lin said that if the group’s rights were to suffer, the amenities and preferential treatment given the president should also be slashed.

Lin said Tsai was living “a pampered life,” as she did not have to stand in the sun during ceremonies, while chefs cook for her and chauffeurs drive her in cars worth NT$20 million (US$660,393).

“No other nation treats its police officers and firefighters so poorly,” Lin said.
[FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: March 30, 2017
By: Joseph Yeh

Three pilots are currently training to become the first female jet fighter pilots to fly a

second-generation fighter of the R.O.C., the Air Force announced on Wednesday.

Lt. Chiang Ching-hua (蔣青樺), Lt. Chiang Hui-yu (蔣惠宇) and Lt. Fan Yi-ling (范宜鈴) are currently training to become pilots of Mirage-2000, F-16 and IDF fighters, respectively, the Air Force said on its Facebook page. The three types of second-generation fighter are among Taiwan’s main combat aircraft.

All three female lieutenants are in their 20s and graduated from the R.O.C. Air Force Academy in 2014, it stated.

They have previously completed training in the flying of T-34 and AT-3 trainers as well as F-5E fighters, qualifying them to fly the more advanced fighter jets, it added.

“No women have qualified to fly these advanced fighter jets before, it will be a huge physical challenge for them,” the Air Force said in the post.

It encouraged the trio to complete the unprecedented accomplishment by completing the required nine-month training.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: March 29, 2017
By: The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Terminally ill entertainment legend Chu Ke-liang (豬哥亮) and his

daughter, the singer Jeannie Hsieh (謝金燕), released a joint statement Tuesday revealing that the duo had reconciled following years of estrangement.

While Hsieh’s initial foray into the entertainment industry was supported by her father, Chu reportedly abandoned Hsieh after both she and her sister suffered severe injuries in a near-fatal car accident.

Hsieh severed ties completely with her father after Chu went into hiding in the mid 90s over gambling debts.

Their relationship was still strained after Chu returned to the public eye in 2009. Chu repeatedly used media appearances to request a public reconciliation with his daughter.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-03-28

The government is planning ways to allow illegal drug users to reintegrate into society,

while punishing those who make, traffic and sell drugs. That was the word from Premier Lin Chuan on Tuesday.

Lin was answering questions at the Legislature. DPP lawmaker Yeh Yi-jin said judges often hand out light punishments for drug offenders, which does little to prevent drug-related crimes. Lin said in response that punishing users too severely is not the best way to help them reintegrate into society.

Lin said, “I have also considered [the situation], and I think light punishment and proper guidance are the best ways to rehabilitate an offender. Such a user may already be estranged from their family. Harsher punishment might make it even more difficult for them to reintegrate into society. It is therefore our policy to give severe sentences to those who produce and traffic drugs, but [give lighter punishment] to drug users in the hope they may be rehabilitated.”    [FULL  STORY]