Page Two

Legislative Yuan protests travel pass

OCCUPATION:A policy address by Premier Mao Chi-kuo was delayed due to three Taiwan Solidarity Union lawmakers occupying the legislative speaker’s podium

Taipei Times
Date:  Sep 26, 2015
By: Alison Hsiao  /  Staff reporter

The Legislative Yuan yesterday afternoon issued a statement protesting China’s

From left, Taiwan Solidarity Union legislators Yeh Chin-ling, Lai Chen-chang and Chou Ni-an hold up signs protesting against China over its new smartcard-like “Taiwan compatriot travel document” at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

From left, Taiwan Solidarity Union legislators Yeh Chin-ling, Lai Chen-chang and Chou Ni-an hold up signs protesting against China over its new smartcard-like “Taiwan compatriot travel document” at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

introduction of a new travel pass for Taiwanese, following a delay to Premier Mao Chi-kuo’s (毛治國) policy address due to Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmakers occupying the legislative speaker’s podium in the morning.

The three TSU lawmakers occupied the podium and held up signs accusing China’s unilateral launch of the new smartcard-like “Taiwan compatriot travel document” (台胞證) as a unilateral change to the “status quo,” saying that cross-strait exchanges should be halted.

A cross-party negotiation was held, presided over by Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), resulting in a joint statement requiring Mao to present a special report on the issue, alongside his policy report.

“Also, based on the principle of reciprocal respect and equal footing, [we] demand that [Beijing] conduct sufficient communication and negotiation with [Taiwan] on issues concerning the rights of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait in cross-strait exchanges. The executive branch should make sure that it [adheres to this directive] and protests to [China] in order to sternly express our stance and maintain the dignity of the nation’s sovereignty,” the statement said.     [FULL  STORY]

Hou Hsiao-hsien’s The Assassin premieres in Vietnam

Want China Times
Date: 2015-09-24
By: CNA and Staff Reporter

Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien’s martial arts movie The Assassin premiered in

A scene from the movie. (File photo)

A scene from the movie. (File photo)

Vietnam on Tuesday, drawing an enthusiastic response from the audience.

The screening of the film was jointly organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hanoi and Vietnam and local distributor Green Media, which will show the film across Vietnam from Sept. 25.

Huang Chih-peng, Taiwan’s representative to Vietnam, said at the premiere that he hopes the film screening will promote Taiwan’s soft power and deepen cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Vietnam. He expressed hope of seeing more co-productions between Taiwan and Vietnam in the future.

Set in ninth-century China, the film tells the story a general’s daughter named Nie Yinniang (the film’s Chinese title), who was trained by a nun from the age of 10 to become a lethal assassin.     [FULL  STORY]

Poll: 64.97% say Taiwan is independent

KMT-DPP ANALYSIS:Among KMT supporters, 44.1% told the survey both sides of the Taiwan Strait are ‘independent, sovereign nations that do not belong to each other’

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 25, 2015
By: Chung Li-hua and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

Nearly 65 percent of respondents in a poll by the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) said that both sides of the Taiwan Strait are “independent, sovereign nations that do not belong to each other.”

According to the poll, 64.97 percent said that both sides of the strait are sovereign entities, while 18 percent said that both sides are “two political entities that belong to one China.”

Just more than 17 percent said they had no clear response to the issue.

Regarding the cross-strait policies of presidential candidates, the poll showed that 13.67 percent of respondents supported Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Hung Hsiu-chu’s (洪秀柱) “one China, common interpretation,” while 59.48 percent said they do not support it.     [FULL  STORY]

Hung heads to Changhua to garner young supporters

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-09-24
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Kuomintang presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu arrived in Changhua County Thursday

Hung in Changhua to garner young supporters. Central News Agency

Hung in Changhua to garner young supporters. Central News Agency

as part of her election campaign to woo young supporters in central Taiwan.

This was Hung’s second trip to the city as she is expected to give a speech on vocational training at the Dayeh University, where she will also interact with its students to exchange ideas and opinions on topics such as career developments.

Later in the evening, the presidential contender will hold an event to garner support from the public as well as from within the KMT’s local councilors in a bid to expand her campaign efforts in central and southern Taiwan.

When asked about the speculation that over a dozen KMT legislators have drawn up a petition to have her removed from candidacy, Hung told reporters not to take the rumor “too seriously.”     [FULL  STORY]

US will not accede to China’s demands lightly: Taiwanese scholar

Want China Times
Date: 2015-09-24
By: CNA and Staff Reporter

A senior US official’s remarks on cross-Taiwan Strait issues ahead of a meeting between

Barack Obama speaks at the White House in Washington DC, Aug. 3. (File photo/CNS)

Barack Obama speaks at the White House in Washington DC, Aug. 3. (File photo/CNS)

leaders of the US and China suggest that Washington will not give in to Beijing’s demands easily, a Taiwanese scholar said Tuesday.

Chen Yi-hsin, a professor at Tamkang University in New Taipei, stated that the US national security adviser, Susan Rice, said earlier that day that the longstanding US position remains unchanged.

“We remain committed to our ‘one China’ policy based on the three joint communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act,” Rice said.

“Our fundamental interest is in peaceful and stable cross-strait relations and we oppose unilateral changes to the status quo by either side,” she added.

According to Chen, Rice’s remarks ahead of the US-China leaders’ meeting mean that the US will not work with the demands of China, including not forcing Tsai Ing-wen, the leader and presidential candidate of Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party, to accept the 1992 Consensus.    [FULL  STORY]

Movie review: Wawa No Cidal

This heartfelt drama illuminates many of the complex issues faced by Taiwan’s Aboriginal communities

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 25, 2015
By: Ho Yi  /  Staff reporter

There is nothing fancy about Wawa No Cidal (太陽的孩子). It tells the straightforward story

Wawa No Cidal features a cast of mostly amateur actors who pull off genuine performances. Photo courtesy of Activator Marketing

Wawa No Cidal features a cast of mostly amateur actors who pull off genuine performances. Photo courtesy of Activator Marketing

of an Amis woman trying to re-cultivate the farmland in her ancestral village. As simple as the production is, the film is also one of the most genuine and sincere works of filmmaking that have come out this year. Directing duo Cheng Yu-chieh (鄭有傑) and Lekal Sumi turn their lens to an Amis village on Taiwan’s east coast, creating a heartfelt human drama tackling the issues that are very close to the heart of anyone who is concerned with what has happened to the country’s indigenous communities.

The film begins with Panay, played by Amis musician and TV host Ado Kaliting Pacidal, returning home to the Amis community Makutaay in Hualien County. Like most villagers, Panay works in the city, leaving her daughter Nakaw (Dongi Kacaw) and son Sera (Rahic Gulas) in the care of her father, played by village elder Kaco Lekal.

Her father’s recently diagnosed cancer, however, forces Panay to rethink her priorities. She quits her job and moves back to the village to care for her family. But she soon finds out that her home is not what it used to be.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan to equip Marines with new bulletproof vests

Asia One
Date: Sep 23, 2015

The Defence Ministry yesterday said that newly acquired bulletproof vests will be distributed to the R.O.C. Marine Corps later this year amid recent criticism raised by a Marine who said that those in use are “poor in quality.”

Speaking during a press event, military spokesman Luo Shao-ho said the Marine Corps had already acquired a total of 6,000 new vests, which are scheduled to be given to all Marines this December.

According to the Marine Corps headquarters, the latest bulletproof vest is the same model worn by a Marine Corps lieutenant colonel surnamed Hsu as shown in his recent photos.

Hsu has recently been receiving media attention after posting photos of himself wearing self-bought military equipment and gadgets rather than standardized gear after criticising the military equipment in use for being outdated and poor in quality.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan may counter Beijing with e-card for Chinese visitors

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-09-23
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Minister of the Interior Chen Wei-zen pointed out that it would study the feasibility of

Taiwan may issue e-card for Chinese visitors. Central News Agency

Taiwan may issue e-card for Chinese visitors. Central News Agency

issuing new electronic cards for Chinese visitors, reports said Wednesday.

Chen was responding to a question posed by Kuomintang Legislator Wu Yu-sheng during legislative hearing on a planned electronic identification (e-ID) card for Taiwanese nationals by 2018.

The e-ID will reportedly serve multiple purposes, including a driver’s license, National Health Insurance card, MRT pass, registration to vote, and even for filing taxes, according to the local media.

However, the minister said the card would not be able to fill so many roles, adding that he has already asked for suggestions from Vice Premier Simon Chang about the details of the e-ID card.

When asked if the government could also issue new electronic cards for Chinese visitors to counter Beijing’s implementation of its new e-card scheme to Taiwanese visitors earlier this week, Chen said from a technical point of view, there shouldn’t be a problem.     [FULL  STORY]

Tsai stresses aid for refugees in new ‘southward policy’

Want China Times
Date: 2015-09-23
By: CNA

Tsai Ing-wen, the leader and presidential candidate of Taiwan’s major opposition

Tsai Ing-wen speaks on the party's new policy, Sept 2. (Photo/CNA).

Tsai Ing-wen speaks on the party’s new policy, Sept 2. (Photo/CNA).

Democratic Progressive Party, said Tuesday that her party will promote a “new southward policy” to strengthen relations with Southeast Asian countries and India.

Tsai said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India will soon become major economies in the world and that “it is a natural choice for us to step up overall relations with ASEAN and India” as Taiwan seeks to diversify its trade.

“In the future, we will establish a task force to actively execute the goals of the policy,” she said.

Tsai, the frontrunner in the Jan. 16, 2016 presidential election, made the remarks at a cocktail party for foreign envoys in Taiwan as the DPP celebrated the 29th anniversary of its founding.     [FULL  STORY]

Cross-strait affairs key issue in elections: King

‘1992 CONSENSUS’:The so-called agreement has kept cross-strait relations stable, and Taiwan should not think it can do whatever it wants, King Pu-tsung said

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 24, 2015
By: Wang Yu-chung  /  Staff reporter

Cross-strait affairs will remain a core issue in the presidential election next year, and

Senior presidential adviser King Pu-tsung, left, speaks to program host Tang Hsiang-lung during an interview with UFO Radio yesterday in Taipei. Photo: CNA

Senior presidential adviser King Pu-tsung, left, speaks to program host Tang Hsiang-lung during an interview with UFO Radio yesterday in Taipei. Photo: CNA

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) is shooting herself in the foot by denying the so-called “1992 consensus,” senior presidential adviser King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) said yesterday.

The pan-green camp clearly thinks it has the upper hand and hopes that there will be no unexpected changes in the campaign, King said in a UFO Radio interview.

“As the opposition party, they [the pan-greens] have aggressively attacked the ruling party. Now they hail tolerance and reconciliation, because they do not want any surprises,” King told radio show host Tang Hsiang-lung (唐湘龍).

“By contrast, the pan-blue camp is in a disadvantageous position, and it needs an ‘unexpected variable’ to have a chance to turn the tide and win,” he said.     [FULL  STORY]