Full marks for low infection rate, limited impact on economy: NLI Research Institute

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/07/22
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Out of 49 countries ranked for their handling of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Taiwan came in first, a Japanese survey concluded Wednesday (July 22).

The NLI Research Institute found that in both the domain of healthcare and the economy, Taiwan’s response to the outbreak has been exemplary, Liberty Times reported.

The study gave points to the countries surveyed according to the rates of infection, expansion of infection and death, as well as the pandemic’s impact on the economy, with the highest number of points going to the best performers. Taiwan ended up at the top, with 180 points out of the possible maximum of 200.

The island nation received the maximum of 10 points for its infection rate of 0.2 per 10,000 residents, for its infection expansion rate, and for its success in limiting the impact of the pandemic on its Gross Domestic Product.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 07/22/2020
By: Chen Chi-chung,
Cheng Chao-fu and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, July 22 (CNA) The graduate thesis of Li Mei-jhen (李眉蓁), the opposition Kuomintang's (KMT's) candidate in the upcoming mayoral by-election in Kaohsiung, is being examined, amid allegations that she plagiarized most of the content, her alma mater National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) said Wednesday.

The investigation is being conducted by an impartial entity, the university said, citing the Degree Conferral Act.

If it found that Li violated academic ethics, as alleged, her master's degree from NSYSU Institute of Mainland China Studies will be revoked, the school said.

According to a report in Mirror Media magazine, approximately 96 percent of Li's thesis on trade relations between Taiwan and China was copied from the work of another student and that of Tung Chen-yuan (童振源), head of the Overseas Community Affairs Council.   [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 22, 2020
By: Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporter

The Ministry of Culture yesterday held a draw for its “Arts FUN Go” (藝FUN券) program, selecting more than 2 million winners for sets of vouchers worth NT$600.

Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te (李永得) and Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang (唐鳳) performed the draw at about noon in a live-streamed event hosted by entertainer Mickey Huang (黃子佼).

From Saturday to Monday, about 3.03 million people registered through the program’s mobile app and were qualified to enter the draw, the ministry said.

Nearly 2.11 million people won vouchers, the ministry said, adding that the winners were selected based on the final digit of their national identification card or resident certificate card.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 21 July, 2020
By: Paula Chao

Paraguay has refused to bow to China’s pressure to switch its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. That’s the word from Paraguay’s ambassador to Taiwan, Marcial Bobadilla Guillen, on Tuesday.

Guillen was speaking at the opening of a congressional friendship group organized by lawmakers on both sides.

Ambassador  Guillen said Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez has rejected China’s offer categorically and has emphasized that ties between Taipei and Asuncion are firm. That’s despite the fact that Paraguay has been under tremendous pressure from China, and from its own private sector as well.    [FULL  STORY]

Sputnik News
Date:  21.07.2020

China previously threatened to impose sanctions on US manufacturer Lockheed Martin over the latest US arms sale deal with Taiwan. The United States has approved a $620-million recertification package to Taiwan for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 air defence missiles.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper has said that Washington will continue arms sales to Taiwan despite China's opposition and "aggravation" of the situation with what Beijing sees as a breakaway province.

Esper added that he hoped to visit the People's Republic of China (PRC) by the end of the year in order to boost bilateral cooperation.

"I personally spoke to my PRC counterpart on multiple occasions and before the year is out I hope to visit the PRC for the first time as secretary, in order to enhance cooperation on areas of common interest, establish the systems necessary for crisis communications, and reinforce our intentions to openly compete in the international system", Esper said at a special presentation for the International Institute for Strategic Studies.    [FULL  STORY]

Travel platform says outdoor booking activities in June have tripled compared to same period last year

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/07/21
By: Eric Chang, Taiwan News, Contributing Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As the pandemic continues to spiral out of control abroad, Taiwanese looking to get away for the summer are increasingly turning to the outdoors.

According to statistics from travel platform Klook, the number of outdoor activity bookings in Taiwan at the end of June increased threefold compared with the same period last year, CNA reported. Water sports, ecological experiences, and hiking are the most popular, while paragliding and light aircraft trips have also seen increased interest.

Klook said that water skiing has seen a rise in popularity in recent years in places like Penghu. Another popular activity has been river tracing — also known as canyoning — where people hike, climb, swim, or abseil along canyons or gorges which are located all around the country.

Taiwan is also home to some of the best coastal rock climbing cliffs, Klook pointed out. Longdong (龍洞), located in the northeast has attracted climbers from all over the world.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 07/21/2020
By: Flor Wang and Wang Chao-yu

Taipei, July 21 (CNA) Thirteen old unexploded bombs were discovered by a Taiwan bomb squad in waters off the northeastern coast of the country on Tuesday, after a diver reported spotting some suspicious objects a day earlier.

Based on the information provided by the diver, a bomb disposal team comprising seven Navy and Coast Guard personnel embarked Monday on an underwater search in Maoao Bay, New Taipei, authorities said.

During the four-hour search on Tuesday, the bomb disposal squad found 13 rusty unexploded bombs about 100 meters off the city's Gongliao District, authorities said.    [FULL  STORY]

TOO MUCH TOURISM: Daily passenger traffic at Penghu Airport set a record on Sunday, while locals complained of low water pressure and a shortage of rental vehicles

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 22, 2020
By: Liu Yu-ching / Staff reporter

With the nation’s borders remaining virtually closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and amid an increasing number of local travelers, passenger traffic at Penghu Airport in the outlying Penghu County hit 16,686 on Sunday, a 40 percent spike from a year earlier, airport statistics showed.

It was also the highest number of passengers served in a single day since the airport opened 43 years ago, the data showed.

Local environmental groups have said that the surge in tourists has exceeded the island’s estimated environmental carrying capacity of 15,000 people.

Prior to the launch of the second phase of domestic “disease prevention tours” on July 1, the airport drew up plans to ensure that it operates smoothly amid the expected surge in flights, including separating the foot traffic of arriving and departing passengers, and having three security check lines for departing passengers, it said.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 20 July, 2020
By: Katherine Wei

Justice Minister Hsu Tzong-li says a plan to have citizens participate in criminal trials is a system that matches most people’s expectations. Hsu was speaking on Monday following the release of a new survey in which 80% of respondents approved  of having citizen participation in the form of “lay judges” in criminal courts.. 

The use of “lay judges”  in criminal courts is one of the Justice Ministry’s main judicial reforms. The legislature began discussing the ministry-drafted bill on Monday, while civic groups opposing the bill protested outside. 

The ministry commissioned the survey, which found over 80% support for having judges participate in discussions about court cases. Over 86% want civilian  participants to be able to vote on the ultimate verdict along with the presiding judge.    [FULL  STORY]