Page Two

Hung Hsiu-chu to throw hat into KMT chairperson ring

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/19
By: Lee Shu-hua and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱)

CNA file photo

CNA file photo

will announce her bid to enter the race for the Kuomintang (KMT) chair post, her aides said late Tuesday.

Other names being raised who are likely to run for the post include Vice President Wu Den-yih (吳敦義); Jason Hu (胡志強), campaign manager for the failed Eric Chu (朱立倫) campaign; and former Taipei Mayor and former KMT Vice Chairman Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌).

The ruling KMT plans to hold a by-election in late February to produce a new leader following the resignation of Chu, who led the party to a major defeat in weekend general elections.

Chu officially stepped down earlier Monday to assume responsibility for the party’s crushing defeat in Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections.     [FULL  STORY]

MOF commits to Taiwan’s AIIB bid

Taiwan Today
Date: January 19, 2016

Securing Taiwan’s membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Taiwan’s capabilities in implementing large-scale projects such as its high-speed railway can be better shared throughout the region via the AIIB platform. (Courtesy of Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp.)

Taiwan’s capabilities in implementing large-scale projects such as its high-speed railway can be better shared throughout the region via the AIIB platform. (Courtesy of Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp.)

and playing a bigger role in regional development remain a priority for the ROC government, according to the Ministry of Finance Jan. 18.

“In accordance with the consensus reached in April 2015 among Taiwan’s political parties, the ministry is approaching the issue under the principle of dignity and reciprocity in promoting national interests,” an MOF official said. The statement follows the AIIB formally opening for business Jan. 16 in Beijing.

According to the official, as an Asian Development Bank member, Taiwan can apply to join the AIIB pursuant to the latter’s charters. As such, the Mainland Affairs Council sent a letter of intent to the bank in March 2015 expressing the nation’s interest in taking part.

“Given our abundant capital, talent and technical know-how in implementing infrastructure projects, there is no doubt we can play a valuable role in AIIB,” the official said. “Membership would also provide tremendous business opportunities for local firms while underscoring the bank’s inclusiveness and openness.     [FULL  STORY]

Ko denies that Ma probe is politically motivated

‘TEST FOR MINISTRY’:One committee member dared the MOJ to continue ‘protecting’ Ma, while Charles Chen said Ko was trying to evade legal liability for ‘false accusations’

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 20, 2016
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter

A request to investigate alleged violations by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je laughs at an event in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chien Jung-feng, Taipei Times

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je laughs at an event in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chien Jung-feng, Taipei Times

九) during his time as Taipei mayor in the Taipei Dome case was made in accordance with legal procedures, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said yesterday, adding that the Presidential Office’s allegation that the move was politically motivated was false.

The Taipei Clean Government Committee on Monday said it would forward the case to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and request it to investigate Ma’s and former Taipei Department of Finance commissioner Lee Such-der’s (李述德) alleged corruption and the illegal gains made by Taipei Dome contractor Farglory Group.

“Let us see if you dare protect [Ma] after the elections. This is a test for the ministry,” committee member Cheng Wen-long (鄭文龍) said.     [FULL  STORY]

Mayors in Taichung, Tainan call for relocation of government branches

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-18
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Mayors in Taichung and Tainan are calling for the relocation of government 6729580offices to their respective cities, suggesting that not all branches of the government need to be seated in Taipei, reports said Monday.

Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung said he proposed moving the Legislative Yuan to his governing city, adding that he hopes the new government will help expedite the feasibility once the transition of political power is completed.

“Relocating the legislature will help save the central government from spending a huge lump of money each year, whereas in Taichung land values are cheaper,” Lin said during a council meeting in the morning.

The legislative building is currently on lease from the Taipei City government, which costs more than NT$100 million (US$3.38 million) in annual rent, he said.     [FULL  STORY]

Timeline of the Chou Tzu-yu flag controversy

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/18
By: Christie Chen

●Jan. 8

In a series of posts on his Sina Weibo microblog, Huang An (黃安), a 53-year-old singer born in Taiwan and based in China, accuses 16-year-old Chou Tzu-yu (周子瑜), better known as Tzuyu, the only Taiwanese member of the popular South Korean girl group Twice, of supporting Taiwan independence.

Huang mentions Chou’s waving of the Republic of China’s (Taiwan) national flag on a South Korean TV show last year, and accuses her of working with the independence-leaning Taiwanese media outlet Sanlih E-Television, which he says has been promoting her as “the pride of Taiwan independence celebrities” and the “pride of Taiwan” without offering any proof.

Prior to this, Huang had been calling out Taiwanese celebrities he suspected were pro-Taiwan independence on his microblog — a pattern of behavior that has drawn widespread criticism in Taiwan. Some of these celebrities have had their shows in China canceled as a result, and Huang seems to be trying to prevent Twice from appearing on Chinese New Year variety shows.

Taiwanese media begins reporting on the incident.

Taiwan, Canada ink double taxation avoidance pact

Taiwan Today
Date: January 18, 2016

A double taxation avoidance agreement between Taiwan and Canada was

Taiwan-Canada ties are marching forward on the strength of expanded cooperation in such areas as people-to-people exchanges and the recently signed double taxation avoidance agreement. (CNA)

Taiwan-Canada ties are marching forward on the strength of expanded cooperation in such areas as people-to-people exchanges and the recently signed double taxation avoidance agreement. (CNA)

concluded Jan. 15 in Taipei City, paving the way for expanded exchanges in clean energy, health care, sustainable development, services and technology.

Set to take effect Jan. 1, 2017, the pact prevents the levying of tax by both sides on the same asset, income or financial transaction. It also includes a dispute resolution mechanism, according to the ROC Ministry of Finance.

“This is the first comprehensive taxation treaty reached by Taiwan in North America,” an MOF official said. “It also builds on the foundation of increased direct flights, visa-free privileges and working holiday programs starting in 2010.”

Exchanges between Taiwan and Canada have been on a steady growth track in recent years, with two-way trade reaching US$3.4 billion for the first 11 months of last year. This makes Taiwan Canada’s 12th largest trading partner and Canada the nation’s 17th largest export market.     [FULL  STORY]

Eric Chu appoints Huang Min-hui as interim KMT chair

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 19, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter

Outgoing Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫)

Outgoing Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice chairman Han Lung-bin, left and chairman Eric Chu, second left, bows at an extraordinary meeting of the party’s Central Standing Committee in Taipei yesterday afternoon. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

Outgoing Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice chairman Han Lung-bin, left and chairman Eric Chu, second left, bows at an extraordinary meeting of the party’s Central Standing Committee in Taipei yesterday afternoon. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

yesterday appointed KMT vice chairperson Huang Min-hui (黃敏惠) as the party’s interim chairperson, with Chu saying that he would never forget that the party lost the elections under his leadership.

Chu made the remarks before the KMT’s Central Standing Committee (CSC) was set to approve his resignation as party chairman at an extraordinary meeting in Taipei yesterday afternoon.

“I pledged to step down [as KMT chairman] should I be defeated in the elections… The KMT has an established tradition in which its leader takes full responsibility for the party’s loss or victory,” Chu said.

Chu said he would take the largest share of responsibility for the party’s landslide defeat and planned to engage in some serious self-reflection, while apologizing to supporters and all his comrades in the party for letting them down.     [FULL  STORY]

Governing train to leave station in 3 days: Tsai

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-01-17
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

PEI (Taiwan News) – At her first appearance since election day, President-6729500elect Tsai Ing-wen said Sunday that the “government train” would leave the station three days from now because her party workers needed a break first.

The Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman not only received more than 56 percent of the vote Saturday, but her party also for the first time won an absolute majority of seats at the Legislative Yuan, which is expected to make governing much easier for her after she is sworn in on May 20.

Tsai attended a private lunch in Taipei City Sunday, where she reportedly said that she was giving her campaign and party headquarters employees three days off to recover from the ordeal. After three days, the train preparing for government would start moving out of the station, Tsai reportedly said.

The lunch was reportedly attended by a number of Taiwanese who had returned from the United States to vote. Two of her sisters who reportedly live in the US were also present, as were former Alaska Republican Senator Frank Murkowski and banker Wu Li-pei.     [FULL  STORY]

Cold, wet weather forecast for coming week

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/17
By: Chen Wei-ting and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Jan. 17 (CNA) Cold and wet weather is in store for Taiwan for the 10391157coming week due to an approaching cold air mass and abundant moisture, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Sunday.

Having issued a heavy rain warning for Kaohsiung and Pingtung in the south under the current frontal system, the CWB said rainy weather is likely to persist into next week, although of lesser intensity.

A cold air mass is also expected to reach Taiwan Monday, sending lows to 13 degrees Celsius in northern parts of the country, the bureau warned.

With heavy moisture remaining, the perceived air temperature could drop to 10 degrees in those areas, according to the bureau.     [FULL  STORY]

Voter turnout was lowest since 1996

SUBSIDIES:Five parties passed the 3.5 percentage-point threshold and stand to receive NT$50 per vote annually over the next four years, the electoral commission said

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 18, 2016
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Voter turnout for Saturday’s presidential election was the lowest of the six

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Hsinchu City Councilor and legislative candidate Cheng Cheng-chien, center, waves from a car during a motorcade yesterday to thank voters after he lost his election bid. Photo: CNA

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Hsinchu City Councilor and legislative candidate Cheng Cheng-chien, center, waves from a car during a motorcade yesterday to thank voters after he lost his election bid. Photo: CNA

direct presidential elections since 1996, data compiled by the Central Election Commission showed.

Voter turnout in the election was 66.27 percent, compared with 76.04 percent in 1996, 82.7 percent in 2000, 80.28 percent in 2004, 76.33 percent in 2008 and 74.38 percent in 2012, the commission said.

The figures were released alongside the commission’s announcement late on Saturday that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) had won the election.

Tsai and her running mate, Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), received 6.89 million votes, or 56.12 percent of total valid votes, commission Chairman Liu Yi-chou (劉義周) said.

Tsai defeated Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫), who garnered 31.04 percent of the total vote, and People First Party (PFP) candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜), who received 12.84 percent of the vote.     [FULL  STORY]