‘UP TO CHINA’:Taiwan is at a ‘distinct’ disadvantage when it comes to competing with Beijing over the retention of its diplomatic allies, Hsu Hsin-liang said

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 23, 2016
By: Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA

Having small nations as diplomatic allies is a burden for Taiwan, Foundation on Asia-Pacific Peace

Studies chairman Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良) said yesterday.

Hsu’s remark came after Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday announced that it is cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Hsu, a former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was speaking at a seminar hosted by the foundation regarding questions over whether the Sao Tomean government’s actions will cause a cascade of diplomatic allies severing ties with Taiwan.

Any competition with China over diplomatic allies is at a distinct disadvantage, and in the end, it is up to China how many diplomatic allies we can keep, Hsu said.

We cannot do anything about it if China makes such a decision, but “the nation would very much welcome it if China attempted to take away all of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies,” Hsu said, but added that Beijing would not do such a thing.

Hsu said that having small nations as diplomatic allies is not a good thing, as they impose too much of a burden, adding that losing them “is not really important.”    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: December 23, 2016
By: CNA

TAIPEI — To commemorate 104 years of history, the Alishan Forest Railway will run retro-style cypress

carriages from Chiayi to Beimen Station this weekend, the Alishan Forest Railway Branch (AFRB) said on Thursday.

When the line was opened in 1912, the Alishan Forest Railway initially ran from Chiayi to Erwanping, but was extended to Alishan Station two years later on December 25, 1914, hence the announcement of the special anniversary, the AFRB said.

Although originally constructed for logging, the railway is today primarily a tourist attraction, with unique Z-shaped switchbacks, tunnels and wooden bridges. The Alishan Forest railway can climb to an elevation of 2,200 meters above sea level, making it the one and only rail service of its kind in Taiwan.

According to the railway branch, the cypress carriages will depart Chiayi Station for Beimen on December 24 at 1:30 p.m, 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are NT$38 (US$1.18) for adults and NT$19 for minors.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2016-12-21

The severing of diplomatic ties with Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday has drawn attention to President Tsai Ing-wen’s trip to visit four Latin American allies scheduled for January.

The presidential office said President Tsai’s itinerary has not been affected by the recent news. Presidential Office Spokesperson Alex Huang also said the incident shows the importance of foreign diplomacy and presidential visits to strengthen ties with allies.

Tsai’s trip is scheduled for January 7 to 15. She will visit Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. In Nicaragua, she will attend the inauguration of President Daniel Ortega to his third consecutive term.    [FULL  STORY]

Following Sao Tome and Principe, the Central American nation of Nicaragua might be the next ally to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/12/21
By: Wendy Lee , Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Following Sao Tome and Principe, the Central American

nation of Nicaragua might be the next ally to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan, according to sources.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed and announced Wednesday that the small west African country of Sao Tome has made an announcement to end diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Foreign Minister David Lee said Taiwan was unable to satisfy the west African nation’s huge financial shortages.

Taiwan now has diplomatic relationships with only 21 countries.   [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/12/21
By: Yu Hsiao-han and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, Dec. 21 (CNA) The Presidential Office promulgated on Wednesday an amendment to the Labor Standards Act that was passed on Dec. 6.

The main part of the amendment, which introduces a five-day work week with one compulsory rest day and one flexible day off, will become effective Dec. 23, according to the Ministry of Labor (MOL).

Another revision that reduces the number of national holidays from 19 to 12 per year and slightly increases paid annual vacation leave will become effective Jan. 1 next year, the ministry said.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: December 22, 2016
By: The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Global warming naysayers will have a hard time explaining the heat

that Taiwan experienced this winter solstice.

According to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB), Wednesday’s temperature in Taipei City peaked at 30.5 degrees Celsius at 2:01 p.m. This marks the hottest winter solstice for the city in 67 years and the third hottest winter in Taipei City history.

The two other instances occurred in the early half of the 1900s, with a temperature of 31.5 degrees Celsius in 1934 and 30.7 degrees Celsius in 1948.

This kind of heat was prevalent not only in Taipei City but throughout the entire Greater Taipei region and the rest of the country.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: December 20, 2016

A delegation organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs concluded a three-day visit

to Indonesia Dec. 17, forging stronger business and trade ties between Taiwan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member state.

Led by MOEA Vice Minister Wang Mei-hua, the group comprised officials from the Office of Trade Negotiations under the Executive Yuan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health and Welfare, as well as representatives from the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and state-backed Taiyen Biotech Co.

The delegation held discussions with key officials, business leaders and Jakarta-based Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to bring them up to speed on government measures under the New Southbound Policy.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/12/20
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The Ministry of Labor (MOL) said Tuesday that the Constitution Day on Dec 25 is a

still a national holiday for private sector workers, which means it is a paid holiday, according to the current regulations of the Labor Standards Act.

Since Dec 25 falls on Sunday this year, and if Sunday is a regular holiday or rest day for employees, as it is in most cases, employees are entitled to choose a working day as a compensatory holiday and still get paid for that day, the MOL said.

In case employees agree to work on their national holidays or rest days at the request of their employers, they must be paid at an overtime rate as stipulated in the regulations, the ministry added.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/12/20
By: Sophia Yeh and Y.F. Low

Taipei, Dec. 20 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has a full grasp of

China’s military activity, has made proper preparations, and has complete response measures in place, a Presidential Office spokesman said Tuesday.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is also fully aware of the situation, according to office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺).

However, Huang declined to disclose details of the president’s weekly meetings with top defense and security officials.

He was responding to a media report that the military conducted a joint air defense drill Dec. 10, immediately after Chinese military aircraft were detected near Taiwan’s air defense identification zone that day, for the second time in two weeks.   [FULL  STORY]