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Tsai: Chu’s economic plans unsubstantial

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-08
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday criticized her

Tsai: Chu’s economic plans unsubstantial. Central News Agency

Tsai: Chu’s economic plans unsubstantial. Central News Agency

opponent’s economic plans for not being substantial and well-planned.

On Monday KMT presidential candidate Eric Chu proposed the“Three Bows and Four Arrows”economic plans to “fire Taiwan’s industrial engine.” Chu proposed that Taiwan should safeguard its supply chain and can work with China to expand markets.

Tsai said that Chu’s proposals mostly follow the unpractical policies of the current government, urging him to spend more time to study Taiwan’s current industrial situations and come up with plans that can meet demands of the next generation.     [FULL  STORY]

Groups urge better policies to deal with rising dementia population

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/08
By: Lung Pei-ning and Christie Chen

Taipei, Dec. 8 (CNA) Several dementia groups in Taiwan on Tuesday called for better government policies to tackle the challenge of a growing dementia population.

The number of people with dementia in Taiwan is expected to almost quadruple in 46 years, increasing from 240,000 at present to 930,000 in 2061, Lai Te-jen (賴德仁), president of the Taiwan Alzheimer Disease Association, said at a press conference held by dementia groups to give policy advice to Taiwan’s presidential candidates.

The dozen or so groups demanded that the new government next year establish a working group for dementia care and prevention, increase the budget for dementia research and establish a national dementia research center.

They also urged the candidates who are elected to office next year to promote a dementia-friendly society and strengthen dementia care training for healthcare staff and long-term caregivers.

The Dementia Care Association, Taiwan, Republic of China, and Zeelandia Dementia Association were also among the groups making the call.     [FULL  STORY]

Dioxin poisoning victims win case against CPDC, MOEA

Taiwan Today
Date: December 8, 2015

Tainan District Court ruled Dec. 7 in favor of 312 residents who suffered dioxin poisoning

Anshun dioxin victims celebrate their victory in a dioxin poisoning suit Dec. 7 in Tainan City. (UDN)

Anshun dioxin victims celebrate their victory in a dioxin poisoning suit Dec. 7 in Tainan City. (UDN)

caused by a chemical plant in Annan District, awarding them NT$168.17 million (US$5.11 million) in damages.

The class action suit, which was brought against plant operator Taipei City-based China Petrochemical Development Corp. and its regulator the Ministry of Economic Affairs, sought more than NT$350 million in damages, medical care expenses and mental distress.

According to the court, farmland and water surrounding the facility, known as Anshun plant, were contaminated by discharged dioxins and mercury. CPDC’s failure to address this issue resulted in individual contamination levels of 300 to 900 picogram/gram dioxin. The normal level is an average 20 pg/g.

Individual settlements are estimated at NT$365,000 to NT$4.9 million, depending on dioxin levels and health issues. The award does not affect arrangements for providing medical care to the affected by central and local government agencies until 2024.     [FULL  STORY]

Bird sighting in Taitung a ‘once in 100 years’ event

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 09, 2015
By: Hsieh Chieh-yu and Jonathan Chin  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

Unusually high numbers the rare black-chinned fruit doves have been spotted at Siaobantien

A black-chinned fruit dove rests on a Formosan firethorn branch at the Siaobantien Recreational Farm in Taitung County’s Lugu Township in an undated photograph. Photo: Courtesy of Nantou County Councilor Hsu Su-hsia

A black-chinned fruit dove rests on a Formosan firethorn branch at the Siaobantien Recreational Farm in Taitung County’s Lugu Township in an undated photograph. Photo: Courtesy of Nantou County Councilor Hsu Su-hsia

Recreational Farm in Taitung County’s Lugu Township (鹿谷), birdwatchers said.

The black-chinned fruit dove (Ptilinopus leclancheri) is a colorful and small bird so rare that one birdwatcher described the sightings as an event that could happen “once in 100 years,” attracting many enthusiasts and photographers to the farm.

According to the Council of Agriculture’s Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute, an adult black-chinned fruit dove can reach a length of 28cm, with white feathers on its head and neck, green feathers on its torso and wings, and a characteristic black streak on its chin.

A reclusive bird that usually stays away even from its own kind, the black-chinned fruit dove is rarely observed out of its habitats, which are the middle and low-altitude forests south of Chiayi, and had never been seen at Siaobantien Recreational Farm, the institute said.

The sightings in Taitung are made all the rarer by the fact that in the past 30 years, the number of documented sightings of the bird is estimated at about a dozen, it said.    [FULL  STORY]

Defense of Taiwan is US’ biggest challenge: analyst

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 08, 2015
By: William Lowther  /  Staff reporter in WASHINGTON

The defense of Taiwan is probably the most critical and enduring strategic challenge facing US security professionals today, Project 2049 Institute research fellow Ian Easton said on Saturday.

“No other flashpoint is as likely to see the world’s two strongest nations go to war,” Easton told the annual banquet meeting of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs.

Easton said that China was building up for the day when it could project “overwhelming violence” across the Taiwan Strait.

“The Chinese military’s No. 1 mission is the invasion of Taiwan — including a pre-emptive attack on US forces that would come to Taiwan’s aid,” he said.

Chinese military planners want to use Taiwan as a military base to threaten Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, he said.

Easton criticized Washington for only offering arms sales designed to avoid provoking Beijing.     [FULL  STORY]

New Taipei City sees biggest hike in lung cancer cases

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 07, 2015
By Kelly Tang / Staff reporter

New Taipei City had the highest growth rate of lung cancer cases in the nation between 2006 and 2011, as well as the highest female lung cancer incidence rate and growth rate, with Taipei coming second in terms of the lung cancer growth rate among women, which doctors said is associated with urban air pollution.

Changhua Medical Alliance standing director and rehabilitation physician Lee Wu-po (李武波) said that according to Health Promotion Administration statistics, lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths in Taiwan for five consecutive years, and among the 9,167 people who died of lung cancer last year, 5,893 were men and 3,274 were women.

Taiwan’s population has increased by 28 percent over the past 30 years, but the growth rate of lung cancer cases is 131 percent, almost five times more than the population growth rate, Lee said.

According to the latest data released by the administration, New Taipei City led the nation in the growth of lung cancer cases from 2006 to 2011, with a 16 percent growth rate — almost twice the nation’s average growth rate at 9 percent — while the number of the city’s residents developing lung cancer increased from 34 to 39 per 100,000 people every year, Lee said.     [FULL  STORY]

Flights to be affected by aviation tests at Taoyuan airport

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/06
By: Wang Shu-fen and Lauren Hung

Taipei, Dec. 6 (CNA) Aviation tests will be conducted for 10 days starting Monday at Taiwan Taoyuan 201512060015t0001International Airport, and some flights will be affected during that time, the airport’s operator Taoyuan International Airport Corporation (TIAC) said Sunday.

Flight tests will be conducted between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily from Dec. 7-11 and Dec. 14-18, while landings and take-offs will be suspended for one hour from 6:30- 7:30 a.m. on those days, TIAC said.

Ground tests at the north runway, which has been under repair since March 8, were completed on Dec. 5, and flight tests will begin on Dec. 7, according to TIAC.

The flight suspensions were announced in late October to reduce the inconvenience to passengers following talks with airlines and civil aviation authorities, the TIAC said.     [FULL  STORY]

Employers required to report migrant workers’ residence changes

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/06
By: T.K. Yeh and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Dec. 6 (CNA) Employers who hire migrant workers are required to report any changes of residence 201512060013t0001of the workers to relevant authorities or face fines and have their right to employ the workers revoked, the Yunlin County government said Sunday.

The head of Yunlin’s Labor Affairs Department, Chang Che-cheng (張哲誠), said an employer’s failure to report a change in residence of a foreign worker could draw a fine ranging from NT$60,000- NT$300,000 (US$1,837-US$9,185).

The employer could also have its permit for foreign worker recruitment and employment revoked, according to the amended Employment Service Act promulgated in March 2010.

Employers must report a change of residence within seven days after it occurs to local authorities responsible for overseeing the workplaces and residences of foreign workers.     [FULL  STORY]

Soong vows to tackle nation’s 22k issue if elected

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-06
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

People First Party (PFP) presidential candidate James Soong vowed to tackle the meager wage issue by

Soong vows to tackle nation's 22k issue. Central News Agency

Soong vows to tackle nation’s 22k issue. Central News Agency

promulgating an industry transition in Taiwan, reports said Sunday.

“The only way to break the 22k barrier is by proposing an industrial upgrading and transitioning program to aid domestic traditional industries to become economically sustainable,” Soong said during the televised debate regarding issues on the nation’s youth, education and social welfare.

While Taiwan has always been adept in sectors involving information and communications technologies (ICT), paving the way for green, carbon-free industries will help promote value-added services which in turn could help spur new IT jobs and promising pay increases.

In wrapping up Sunday’s debate with a speech outlining the party’s vision for the nation, Soong promised to deliver hope and a brighter future to the people.     [FULL  STORY]

Chu advises caution in blasting real estate speculation

Taiwan News
Date; 2015-12-06
By:  George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Reporter

KMT presidential candidate Eric Chu advised caution in the government’s effort to strike at real estate

speculation in Taiwan during “a talk with the youth,” which brought 2016 presidential candidates to meet with student representatives on Sunday.

The meeting with the youth was hailed as an advance presidential debate before the real ones come. The meeting, attended by KMT presidential candidate Eric Chu, Democratic Progressive Party vice presidential candidate Chen Chien-jen and People First Party presidential candidate James Soong, was organized by 7 universities in Taiwan and took place in NTU Sports Center.

Taking about the issue of high housing prices, Chu said the government can build social housing, but finding spaces would be a problem, particularly in the Greater Taipei area.

Instead, he said that it is more practical to release the 360,000 empty apartments in the Greater Taipei area to young people, and to accomplish this objective, tax reform would be very important. The government would provide young people with rent subsidies at first for renting houses, and after 5 years the government would instead offer interest subsidies on housing loans to help them buy homes.     [FULL  STORY]