The figures show the role the new MRT line plays as an important transportation link between the metropolitan areas and the airport is evident, the TMC said.

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/03/05
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–The Taoyuan Metro Corporation (TMC) said on Sunday that its

employees were thrilled to learn that the number of rides on the entire Taiwan Taoyuan Airport MRT (AMRT) line on Saturday, the third day after the AMRT began official operation, broke the 100,000 mark.

The TMC said that a total of 52,000 rides were counted by the AMRT on the first day of its operation, with Taipei Main Station (A1) accounting for 15,000 rides, the most of all stations on the line.

Passengers took a total of more than 100,000 rides on Saturday, with Taipei Main Station accounting for 27,000, Linkou Station (A9) accounting for 12,000 and Taoyuan HSR Station (A18) accounting for 8,000 being the top three stations, the TMC said.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/03/05
By: Ku Chuan and Ko Lin

Taipei, March 5 (CNA) A Taiwanese man suspected of drug dealing in Indonesia was

shot dead by local authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Sunday.

The man, known by his last name as Kao, was shot dead by the Indonesian police after trying to resist arrest. Another accomplice surnamed Liu, who was also seen on the scene of the crime, was arrested on suspicion of drug dealing.

The foreign ministry confirmed the incident after receiving sources of the information from Taiwan’s representative office in Indonesia.

As of press time, further details about the death and arrest of the Taiwanese have yet established.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 06, 2017

Minister of National Defense Feng Shih-kuan said in an interview with ‘Liberty Times’

(sister newspaper of the ‘Taipei Times’) staff reporter Tzou Jiing-wen that the ministry must make up for its ‘lost decade’ in developing locally made advanced training aircraft, adding that Taiwan’s greatest contribution to maintaining peace in the region would be to demonstrate to the world its willingness to defend itself

Liberty Times (LT): Why do you feel confident about your ability to implement the program to build indigenous advanced trainer jets?

Feng Shih-kuan (馮世寬): I should explain this by telling you about my tenure at Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC, 漢翔航空工業).

I was the deputy chief of general staff and events developed normally, leading to my becoming AIDC chairman while holding my post at the general staff.   [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: March 6, 2017
By: Stephanie Chao

TAIPEI, Taiwan — President Tsai Ing-wen administration’s efforts to carry out pension

reform, after beginning in the steamy summer of 2016, have weathered challenges big and small, from angry committee members nearly coming to blows in meetings to heated protests on the street after the government’s regional forums.

Opposition to the so-called second stage of pension reform seemed to reach its peak on Jan. 22, when a national conference on reform issues convened at the Presidential Office.

But for the Tsai administration to meet its self-imposed deadline of this summer for completing pension reform, it must overcome two more hurdles: the Examination Yuan and Legislative Yuan.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-03-04

The transportation ministry says it will step up efforts to ensure the safety of tour buses.

The ministry says it has conducted a comprehensive review of tour bus safety and will work to weed out unsafe tours and tour operators. At the same time, the transport ministry says it will work with the labor ministry on measures to improve safety. The safety of Taiwan’s tour buses has become a matter of concern after an accident last month that killed 33.

Transportation Minister Ho Chen Tan is set to deliver a report to the Legislature on Monday. According to the report, the Directorate General of Highways will continue to subsidize traffic safety features that warn drivers when they drift from their lane and help with emergency stops.
[FULL  STORY]

The special modification even amazes professional scooter fans

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/03/04
By: Rana Yeh, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taipei (Taiwan News) — A netizen posted a photo of a modified scooter on the social

networking website Dcard. Spotted in Xinyi District, Taipei, this original two-seat scooter was modified into a ‘stretched limo deluxe’. The passenger capacity is almost the same as a van.

In fact, the scooter was modified by a Taiwanese film crew to shoot the Taiwanese musical film “52 Hz, I Love You,” directed by Wei Te-sheng (魏德聖). After shooting wrapped, the film crew displayed the modified scooter on the Taipei streets as a promotion for the movie.

Many people have seen the unsual scooter in Taipei and left surprising comments about it such as “Is this real?”, “This can still be ridden on the street?”, “Looks like a hearse!”
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/03/04
By: Yu Hsiao-han and Y.F. Low

Taipei, March 4 (CNA) The government will continue to improve labor conditions, occupational safety and human rights of workers in Taiwan, the Ministry of Labor said Saturday, in response to Human Rights Reports for 2016 released by the U.S. Department of State.

The reports, published Friday, identified several human rights problems occurred in Taiwan last year, such as violations of legal working hours and exploitation of foreign workers, including foreign crewmembers on long-haul fishing vessels and household caregivers.

In response, the ministry said it will work to improve the problem in which workers work overly long hours.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 05, 2017
By: Cheng Shu-ting and Tseng Wei-chen / Staff reporters

Prosecutors on Friday concluded an investigation into a violent incident that took place

at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in January following the arrival of Joshua Wong (黃之鋒) and other Hong Kong democracy advocates, charging Chang Wei (張瑋) and three other fellow members of the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) with obstructing police officers in the discharge of their duties.

The indictments, issued by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office, carry a maximum jail term of three years or a maximum fine of NT$300.

Prosecutors said Chang, 40, was the leader of the group which confronted and allegedly tried to assault Wong and the other Hong Kong visitors as they walked through the exit area of the airport on Jan. 7.    [FULL  STORY]