Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/19
By: Chen Chun-hua and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Feb. 19 (CNA) Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assessing a

possible overseas visit by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), which would not involve any “additional pledges” on cooperation projects with allies, Foreign Minister David Lin (林永樂) said Friday.

Lin was responding to questions by Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡) at a legislative hearing on who would be responsible for delivering on promises made by the president during the trip.

Wu said Ma will step down on May 20 and would not be in a position to fulfill any pledges he might make.

Ma, who will soon complete his second four-year term in office, will be succeeded by DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who won the Jan. 16 presidential election.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: February 19, 2016

The increasing popularity of smart cars is opening a window of opportunity for

Taiwan’s small and medium enterprises seeking to join the global supply chain.

One of these hidden champions is Taoyuan City-based Tung Thih Electronic Co. Ltd., a leading supplier in Asia of automotive electronics like cameras, parking aids and radio systems.

In 2014 the company won a 10-year contract to ship 70 million parking sensors to 25 assembly plants of General Motor Co. in 18 countries and territories.

Tung Thih CEO Scott Chen said the company beat out Robert Bosch GmbH from Germany and Valeo from France on the strength of its consistently high yield rates and design compatibility with industry heavyweights. To date, the firm has partnered with 24 leading carmakers and jointly developed more than 1,000 tailor-made devices.

“Our goal is to deliver products that set the standard for the international smart car industry,” Chen said.     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 20, 2016
By: Loa Iok-sin / Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators yesterday rebutted

allegations from Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) that DPP legislation on the transition of presidential power is unconstitutional, adding that recent frequent shifts in government positions show that such a law is necessary.

Lai said that legislation to regulate what an outgoing president may do, which items should be transferred to the incoming president and the legal status of the incoming president might be unconstitutional, since it would put restrictions on the presidential power granted by the Constitution.

DPP legislators Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) and Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) yesterday disagreed.

“The reason why we need such legislation is that, after democratization, rotation of power has become usual, yet how the transition of power should proceed and what the outgoing president may or may not do are not regulated by any law,” Lee said. “In 2008, the KMT also proposed similar legislation, which would freeze the outgoing president’s power to sign treaties and agreements, as well as appointing officials.”     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-02-18
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

(COA) to stand up for the rights of Taiwanese fisherpeople in a coming fishery meeting between Taiwan and Japan in March amid media reports that Japan will try to restrict Taiwanese fishing vessels from entering a sea area to operate agreed by both sides in the last meeting.

According to media reports, it is rumored that a Japanese civil sector has suggested a possible change to the fishing areas stipulated in the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement made between the two sides more than two years ago. Reports said the Japanese intend to restrict Taiwanese fishing vessels from entering waters north of the Yaeyama Islands, which are located south of the contested Diaoyutai Islands.

The Diaoyutai Islands are simultaneously claimed by Taiwan, Japan and China.

The Suao Fishermen’s Association and local fishery groups in Yilan County have protested since hearing the news recently and asked the government to protect their fishing rights, vowing to engage in self-salvation by calling fisherpeople to surround the Diaoyutai Islands if otherwise, reports said.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/18
By: Wang Shu-fen and Y.F. Low

Taipei, Feb. 18 (CNA) The weather around Taiwan will gradually warm up

before the next cold front arrives late Friday, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Thursday.

Although temperatures will remain low at night and during the early morning hours, daytime temperatures will rise Thursday and Friday, the CWB said.

On Thursday, daytime highs of 19-21 degrees Celsius are expected in northern Taiwan, Yilan and Hualien, and 23-26 degrees in central and southern Taiwan and Taitung, the bureau said, adding that temperatures will climb even a bit higher during the day on Friday.

On Friday night, however, a cold air mass will move across Taiwan, bringing temperatures down again, the bureau said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 19, 2016
By: Loa Iok-sin / Staff reporter

Widely speculated as the possible next premier, former minister of finance Lin

Chuan (林全) yesterday said that president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) should find someone better.

“Whether or not to accept [the appointment] is not an issue, because there has been no such offer, [Tsai] has not yet made a decision,” Lin said in response to reporters’ questions on the sidelines of a conference for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers in Taipei before the new legislative session starts today.

“As far as my personal opinion is concerned, I would prefer that she asks someone else,” Lin said.

Asked if he would accept the appointment if Tsai asked him, Lin said Tsai has made it very clear that she would only think about it in April.

“So let’s not ask hypothetical questions before April, but if you must ask the question, I would say that there are a lot of people who are more capable than me for the position and I believe that Tsai will find the most ideal candidate,” Lin said.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/02/17
By: Bien Chin-fen and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Feb. 17 (CNA) Taiwan customs officers confiscated the equivalent of roughly US$33,500 from a South Korean woman who was departing the country Wednesday with a large amount of undeclared cash, according to the Aviation Police Bureau (APB).

The APB said the woman Lee Mi Young was carrying an undeclared sum of 5 million Japanese yen (US$43,500) in her hand luggage, and customs officers at Taoyuan International Airport seized 3.82 million yen (US$33,500), in accordance with Taiwan law.

The law requires passengers and transportation service personnel traveling in and out of the country to declare foreign currency valued at more than US$10,000, or if they are carrying more than 20,000 Chinese yuan.

Under the law, Lee was left with the equivalent of US$10,000, while the remaining sum was confiscated.     [FULL  STORY]