Shephard Media
Date: 27th June 2016
By: Charles Au in Taipei

The Republic of China Navy (ROCN) Program Office recently announced in Taipei a major indigenous development programme spanning ten vessel types. It represents a desire for Taiwan to be less dependent on the US for naval requirements.

Indigenous production calls for spending of US$14.7 billion over a 23-year period out to 2040, including submarines, destroyers, guided missile frigates, landing platform docks (LPD), 2,500t multipurpose transports, additional catamaran-hulled Tuo Jiang-class corvettes, rescue vessel, ocean surveillance ship, minelayers and tugboats.

Interestingly, an ROCN press release a day earlier included a landing helicopter dock (LHD), but it disappeared at the official briefing without explanation. A hospital ship proposed by President Tsai Ing-wen did not appear on the list either.     [FULL  STORY]

The News Lens
Date: 2016/06/27
By: Shuhei Omi

Taiwan’s state-run power company says it is experiencing an energy crisis due to extremely high temperatures. But some say it’s a sham.

Taiwan’s state-owned energy company Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) on Sunday announced it was expecting only 4% operating energy reserves in early July, at least 6% below the operating reserves usually required to ensure energy security.

Taipower blames extraordinarily high temperatures for the recent spike in power usage. In the past 118 years, only nine days registered temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius; this June alone, seven days exceed 37 degrees, Central News Agency reports.

Last year’s peak energy demand occurred on July 2 with 35.39 million kilowatts. On June 23 this year — the peak so far — demand was 35.2 million kilowatts, which Taipower said was “worrying.”     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/06/27
By: Huang Chiao-wen and S.C. Chang

Taipei, June 27 (CNA) Taiwan’s electricity consumption peaked Monday at 35,049.3 megawatts

at 1:47 p.m., and if high temperatures continue as forecast, a single-month record for power use could be set in June, state-run utility Taiwan Power Company said.

Monday’s peak was the fifth highest on record in Taiwan, and with the second to fourth highest power consumption peaks also experienced this month, June could set a new historical high for electricity usage, Taipower said.

The record — at 35,385 MW — was set on July 2 last year, when high school graduates were taking a university entrance exam.

Temperatures on Monday rose as high as 37.1 degrees Celsius at 12:06 p.m., the eighth time the mercury has risen above 37 degrees this month.     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 28, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter

Amid renewed debates over the so-called “1992 consensus,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC)

Minister Katharine Chang (張小月) yesterday reiterated that President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) administration respects the historical fact of the 1992 cross-strait talks.

Chang made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee, which was reviewing proposed amendments to Article 17 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例).

“President Tsai has stated on multiple occasions our opinions on the ‘1992’ [consensus], which is that we respect the historical fact of the 1992 [talks], with the key being seeking common ground, while reserving differences,” Chang said.

Chang said that over the past two decades, both sides of the Taiwan Strait have made several achievements though communication and interaction.     [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: June 28, 2016
By: Joseph Yeh

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s military on Monday apologized and imposed punishments on a

group of soldiers after a viral video footage showed that they had allegedly tortured a dog to death.

In an emergency press conference held on Monday night, Navy Command Headquarters Commander Adm. Huang Shu-kuang (黃曙光) issued the apology, saying that he accepted full responsibility for the incident that marred the military’s image.

Huang said that the three soldiers, who have all admitted that they were responsible for the killing of the dog, will be sent to legal authorities to be punished in accordance with the Animal Protection Act (動物保護法).

Administrative punishments were also handed out to the three as well as their supervisors, Huang said.

As an animal lover, Huang said he felt “deeply ashamed” of the “unacceptable” behavior of these soldiers.

But he stressed that their inappropriate behavior reflected only the actions of individuals.  [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: June 27, 2016
By: Dimitri Bruyas

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Have you ever imagined tasting exclusive Imperial Chinese cuisine that was

presented to the Qing emperors centuries ago? Originally created as a collaboration menu for the National Palace Museum’s exhibition “The Qing’s Golden Age,” Silks Palace launched the “Qing Dynasty Feast” in October 2015, which includes signature dishes favored by Giuseppe Castiglione, the renowned missionary and court painter of the early Qing period. The dishes are also from the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong rule, where the emperors brought an era of peace and prosperity to the land. Enjoy these exquisite savory dishes that once belonged to history!

Commonly known as Lang Shining, Giuseppe Castiglione was a legendary Italian missionary and court painter from the Qing Dynasty. Originally coming to China as a Jesuit, Lang’s painting talent was soon discovered by Kangxi and presented to the court. He then served the emperors for more than half a century. With a unique blend of European and Chinese compositional sensibility, technique and themes, Lang’s paintings are epoch-marking and leave a great influence to successive court painters. The Eight Prized Steeds painting that vividly depicts the gestures and postures of horses is considered to be his most praised artwork.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/06/26
By: Wu Hsin-yun and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, June 26 (CNA) Berg Wu (吳則霖) won the World Barista Championship (WBC) in Dublin,

Ireland, on Saturday, the first Taiwanese and only the second Asian to win the honor since the competition started in 2000.

The competition pitted national champions from more than 50 countries against each other in four days of competition at the World of Coffee Show in the Irish capital.

The competitors each had to prepare four espressos, four cappuccinos, and four original signature drinks to exacting standards in a 15-minute performance set to music.

Top 12 competitors advanced to the semifinal, and then six advanced to the finals.     [FULL  STORY]