Taiwan News
Date: 2016-06-29
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Economic Affairs was likely to name Wang Mei-hua, the director general of its Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, as the new vice minister in an effort to prepare for Trans-Pacific Partnership status, reports said Wednesday.

Wang is also known as the wife of Democratic Progressive Party legislator Wellington Koo, a prominent attorney who worked on many high-profile causes, including the corruption trials of ex-President Chen Shui-bian.

While Koo said he had heard of reports about his wife’s likely promotion, Economics Minister Lee Chih-kung said a name list had been passed on to the Executive Yuan, but a decision had not yet been announced.

Taiwan has expressed a high interest in joining TPP, and as intellectual copyright issues could play an important role, Wang’s choice could help with the country’s bid, reports said.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: June 29, 2016

The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced June 28 the launch of its website Contact Taiwan

(www.contacttaiwan.tw), the newest component of the government’s effort to attract highly skilled foreign talent to Taiwan and a demonstration of the country’s resolve to upgrade its industries and add momentum to bolster its economic development.

“If Taiwan’s economy is to move forward, we need high-end talent from abroad to assist our industries in technical upgrades and business model reforms,” MOEA Minister Lee Chih-kung said at the event. “[These foreign professionals] can help train local talent and improve Taiwan’s overall wage levels.”

According to Kung Ming-hsin, deputy minister of the National Development Council, “Large enterprises hire head-hunting firms to scout for overseas professionals, but small and medium-sized companies can’t afford such services, further highlighting the significance of Contact Taiwan.” Government statistics show SMEs account for 97.7 percent of all companies in Taiwan.

The new website has both Chinese and English versions and prospective job seekers can access not only opportunities with firms in Taiwan, but also information relating to visa applications, taxation and the general living environment. In addition, the site features testimonials from foreign workers explaining why they chose to find employment in Taiwan, introductions to local industries, as well as the nation’s impressive international rankings in areas such as ease of doing business and global competitiveness.     [FULL  STORY]

DAY OFF?Business leaders say the government proposal would increase labor costs, while workers’ rights advocates say it would compel employees to do more overtime

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 30, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday cast doubt on the credibility of a poll that the

Ministry of Labor said indicated a high level of public support for its proposed “one fixed day off with one flexible rest day” (一例一休) policy, alleging that the survey was conducted by a peripheral agency of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

KMT Culture and Communications Committee deputy director-general Hu Wen-chi (胡文琦) told a news conference at party headquarters yesterday morning in Taipei that he suspected that half of the respondents in the poll were not private-sector employees, but rather DPP staffers.

“The survey cited by the ministry was conducted by Master Survey and Research Co (精湛民調), whose chairman, Cheng Chun-sheng (鄭俊昇), and supervisor, Lee Kuan-fang (李寬芳), formerly worked for the DPP’s poll center,” Hu said.

Hu said that after netizens drew attention to the association between Master Survey and Research and the DPP, the company removed all background information about its staff members on Tuesday.     [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: June 30, 2016
By: Joseph Yeh

TAIPEI, Taiwan — President Tsai Ing-wen, who is currently visiting Paraguay, made a surprise

appearance at an American Independence Day reception in Taipei on Wednesday, congratulating the U.S. on its 240th birthday in a pre-recorded video clip.

In a ceremony organized by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and hosted by AIT head Kin Moy, Tsai expressed her good wishes to all American friends on their national day and spoke warmly of Taiwan’s cordial relationship with the U.S.

“I would like to wish all our American friends a very happy Fourth of July and thank each of you for all that you do to advance the Taiwan-U.S. relationship,” Tsai said in the short film.

She concluded her remarks by giving a thumbs-up while saying “Taiwan-U.S. relations — Yes! (讚).”

Echoing Tsai’s comments, Moy in his address pointed out that the present day was “the best time in history to work on U.S.-Taiwan relations.”     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-06-28
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taipei citizens keeping cats in the house as pets without registration can face a fine ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$50,000 from July 1 when the city’s new pet registration regulations take effect.

The Taipei City Animal Protection Office said that pet (dog or cat) keepers can register their pets at local authorities or at a private institution authorized by the government as a pet registration station.

A pet registration station will issue the pet owner a pet identity registration certificate and a rabies vaccination certificate after completing related procedures, which include vaccinating the pet, registering the pet online, and implanting a chip in the pet.      [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/06/28
By: Kang Shih-jen and CNA intern Lauren Hung

New Dehli, June 28 (CNA) A group of Bollywood stars from India was deeply impressed with

beauty of Taiwan during a recent 12-day visit to the island at the invitation of Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau.

The six movie and television actors arrived in Taiwan June 12 to shoot a TV travel program promoting Taiwan as a tourist destination for Indians, according to a senior bureau official.

The visitors completed their working schedule June 23, filming in various tourist attractions around Taiwan, including Zi Nan Temple, Sun Moon Lake, and the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village in central Nantou County, Taroko National Park and Farglory Ocean Park in eastern Hualien County, the Bunun tribe in southeastern Taitung County, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, and Kenting National Park in southern Pingtung County, E-DA World in Kaohsiung, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei City Mall and the Guang Hua Digital Plaza in Taipei, and Pingxi District in New Taipei.

The program is scheduled to be released first on Youtube in mid-July and will be aired thereafter by the top 3 TV stations in India, including the TV Today Group, said Hsieh Chang-ming (謝長明), director of the bureau’s Singapore Office.      [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: June 28, 2016

President Tsai Ing-wen arrived June 28 in Paraguayan capital Asuncion on the second leg of her

nine-day official visit to Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies Panama and Paraguay.

Undertaking her first trip abroad since assuming office in May, Tsai was welcomed at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport by Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga and ROC Ambassador to Paraguay Alexander Tah-ray Yui, before proceeding through a military honor guard to greet hundreds of cheering Taiwan expatriates.

During her three-day stay in Paraguay, Tsai will hold discussions with President Horacio Cartes, address the South American nation’s congress and meet with Mario Abdo Benitez, president of the Paraguayan senate. Her itinerary also includes attending the opening of the new ROC embassy, reviewing progress of joint cooperation projects and taking part in a dinner banquet with Taiwan expatriates.

Prior to touching down in Paraguay, Tsai held talks June 27 with Panama President Juan Carlos Varela at the presidential palace in Panama City, capital of the Central American country. They discussed opportunities for enhancing bilateral relations across such areas as agriculture, crime-fighting, education, health care and technology.     [FULL  STORY]

DEEPER BLUE?New Power Party Legislator Hsu Yung-ming said the decision to axe Yang Wei-chung shows that the KMT has become intolerant to any differing opinions

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 29, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter

The Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) decision yesterday to axe the party’s outspoken former

spokesman Yang Wei-chung (楊偉中) has drawn ire, with some interpreting the move as the beginning of the party’s shift toward a deep-blue ideology.

At its second meeting held to deliberate Yang’s case, the KMT’s Evaluation and Discipline Committee reached a consensus yesterday morning to accept a suggestion submitted by the local branch in Chiayi County to expel Yang from the party.

The decision is set to be referred to the KMT’s Central Standing Committee for final approval today.

Due to the political sensitivity of the case, the disciplinary committee decided to convene a second meeting after spending two-and-a-half hours discussing whether Yang should be expelled over his frequent critical remarks about the KMT during its first meeting on Friday last week.

Yang was initially invited by the disciplinary committee to defend himself in person at the second meeting, but he was unable to attend due to a prearranged plan to participate in summer camps held by the Taiwanese Association in the US. He is scheduled to return to Taiwan on July 11.     [FULL  STORY]