Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/01/13
By: Sophia Yeh and Elaine Hou

Guatemala City, Jan. 12 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) delivered a speech to the Congress of Guatemala Thursday, during which she reaffirmed the value of the long-standing relations between Taiwan and the Central American country and her administration’s commitment to “steadfast diplomacy.”

Although Taiwan is geographically far from Guatemala, the two countries have maintained a friendship for more than 80 years and they share common values such as democracy, she said.

Tsai’s speech was broadcast live on Guatemala’s congressional TV channel, which was set up with Taiwan’s assistance, and marked the launch of the system.

Since she took office in May 2016, Tsai said, her administration has been promoting relations with other countries based on “steadfast diplomacy,” which seeks mutually beneficial cooperation.  [FULL  STORY]

‘TSAI-XI CONSENSUS’:The so-called ‘1992 consensus’ should be upgraded to a new understanding between the leaders of Taiwan and China, a former security chief said

Taipei Times
Date: Sat, Jan 14, 2017
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff reporter

The government should conduct a “global check” to see whether Taiwan’s representative offices in

nations that it has no official ties with are affected by the Nigerian government’s demand that Taiwan move its representative office from the capital, former representative to the US Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡) said yesterday.

The Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) National Policy Foundation held a forum on US president-elect Donald Trump’s Asia-Pacific strategies and their possible effect on Taiwan in Taipei yesterday, during which the relationship between Taiwan, the US and China was also discussed.

Shen said that the Nigerian government’s announcement, made at a joint news conference with visiting Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅), demanding Taiwan move its trade office from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, is “serious, as it might indicate that Beijing has now started to exert pressure not only on Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and its participation in the international organizations, but also on nations that Taiwan does not have official diplomatic relations with.”

The former diplomat said it might be possible that Beijing has increased its efforts in reaction to President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) telephone call with Trump last month.   [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: January 14, 2017
By: The China Post news staff

The 2017 National Conference for College and University Presidents was held Thursday and Friday at

Kaohsiung’s National Chi Nan University.

Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) attended the event on behalf of President Tsai Ing-wen, who was on a tour of Central American allies.

Chen said that while the president was out of the country, she had been asking for daily updates and briefings over the phone. Chen also said that the president has designated him to attend the conference because she saw the annual event as a critical one, and apologized for her absence.

The vice president went on to say that presidents of the nation’s higher education institutes served as important pillars in the country, and he encouraged them to continue their excellent work in nurturing the minds of Taiwan’s future.

Around 250 educators from the 158 college and universities attended the two-day conference.  [FULL  STORY]

Taiwanese police have arrested 13 for attacks on pro-democracy leaders, while HK cops have only arrested 2

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/01/12
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taipei (Taiwan News) Among the 13 people arrested on suspicion of attacking Hong Kong pro-

democracy activist Joshua Wong and lawmaker Nathan Law while they attended a political forum in Taiwan, includes a member of Taiwan’s notorious Four Seas Gang.

When Wong, Law, and other representatives from Hong Kong arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Saturday morning on their way to a seminar hosted by the New Power Party, several men in black outfits with black masks broke through the police cordon, ran toward them, shook their fists and shouted: “Get the hell out Hong Kong independence supporters!” However, police managed to shield the Hong Kong men from bodily harm.

Apple Daily reports that police identified one of the suspects as the 28-year-old Chen Tzu-chun (陳子俊), a known member of the infamous Four Seas Gang (四海幫), a Taiwanese Triad, and a head of one of the local chapters. As Chen was spotted leaving a massage parlor, he was arrested on multiple charges for crimes he was suspected of committing previously and is now under investigation for having taken part at the attempted attack at the airport.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/01/12
By: Ta Ya-chen, Kuo Chu-chen, Liu Chien-pang and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Jan. 12 (CNA) Taiwan reiterated Thursday that its fishermen have the right to enter and fish in

waters near the Japan-held Okinotori atoll in the western Pacific, and said the relevant government agency had dealt with the matter of five fishing boats being chased by Japanese patrol ships the previous day.

Taiwan maintains that the waters around the atoll are contested areas and that any disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said.

“Until the legal status of the waters around Okinotori is decided, Japan should respect our ships’ right of free navigation and operation on the open sea near the atoll,” the foreign ministry said.

It said it will continue to seek to resolve fishery disputes with Japan through dialogue and consultation.
[FULL  STORY]

GOU FOR PRESIDENT?The KMT vice president said that Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou had the best chance of being president in 2020 because of pan-blue support

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 13, 2017
By: Shih Hsiao-kuang, Chien Hui-ju and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writer

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday said his bid for KMT

chairperson would gain support from local and waishengren (外省人) factions, allowing him to unite the party, as he is less inclined to take part in politicking.
Waishengren refers to people who fled to Taiwan with the KMT in 1949 after its defeat in the Chinese Civil War.

He had intended to step down as vice party chairman to run in the May 20 race, but was convinced by fellow KMT Vice Chairman Jason Hu (胡志強) not to, Hau said in a radio interview, adding that part of his bid is to show that candidates could run for party chairperson and maintain cordial relations with other KMT members.

The campaign has just started and everything is up in the air, Hau said, adding that should he find his bid failing, he would resign as vice chairman

Hau said his campaign would be better than his rivals’.

KMT Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) “should fare worse than I” in the campaign, Hau said, adding that Hung could improve her party administration capabilities.

He said that former vice president Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) had party administration experience, as well as governmental administrative experience, but the 68-year-old’s age was not in his favor and he lacked support from the Huang Fu-hsing (黃復興) military veterans’ branch.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: January 13, 2017
By: James Lo

Surrounding himself with a mountain of cabbages, Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Co. (TAPMC)

Chairman Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) confirmed rumors Thursday that he would be throwing his hat into the ring for the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) leadership.

Han, speaking at a press conference, said he had organized the meet to clarify his position regarding his TAPMC resignation, and to officially declare his candidacy for the election.

Much like his public persona that catapulted him to recent fame, Han conducted the press conference with his usual flair and articulation, providing media with a colorful statement that explained his reasons for running.

Elections were like catwalks, Han said, “where the more models there are, the easier it is for people to see who truly has what it takes.”    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/01/11
By: Maggie Huang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Taipei City Office of Commerce (TCOOC) is holding a tour to help acquaint foreigners with one of the most famous New Year Street Bazaar.

The tours titled “Dadaocheng New Year Style Micro Trip” will be held on January 14, 17 and 25, with foreign guiding services provided in English, Japanese, and Korean, respectively.

Local experts and students from Blessed Imelda´s School will serve as tour guides, besides giving the tour of the bazaar, they will also introduce visitors to the significance of Chinese New Year holiday to Chinese people as a time of reunion.

TCOOC Director Tsai Tsung-hsiung noted that the program allows foreign visitors to have a great opportunity to learn about the development of Dadaocheng as well as the religious center of Xia Hai City God Temple from local perspectives.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: January 11, 2017

Taipei City Hospital’s Renai Branch recently revealed plans to open Taiwan’s first integrated sports

medicine clinic dedicated to performance enhancement as well as the treatment of athletic injuries.

Slated to begin operations in March this year, the clinic will take a holistic approach that incorporates physiotherapy, orthopedics, family medicine, dietetics, nursing and several other medical disciplines to offer patients more complete treatment. TCH noted the clinic’s services have been approved by the Department of Health under the Taipei City Government.

According to TCH, the nation has seen a sharp increase in the number of health-conscious individuals, many of whom have taken up activities such as jogging and triathlon. The new facility, therefore, will cater to local residents in addition to professional athletes.    [FULL  STORY]