Radio Taiwan International
Date: 15 June, 2020
By: Leslie Liao

Taiwan’s largest annual religious pilgrimage has been simplified this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials have taken steps to make sure disease prevention is a priority, but organizers are finding it hard to enforce the rules as the Goddess of the Sea passes through. 

The Mazu Pilgrimage is a nine day, eight night religious procession that takes place every year. An idol of the sea goddess Mazu is transported on a palanquin from Zhenlan Temple in Central Taiwan to Fengtian Temple in the South and back again. This year, organizers delayed and then streamlined the pilgrimage in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

One of the silver linings to the downsized festival is that Mazu is getting where she needs to go much faster. The procession arrived at its first stop three hours ahead of schedule. This tunnel, which is usually packed to the gills, took just three minutes to traverse. 
[FULL  STORY]

Maritime Bulletin
Date: June 15, 2020
By: Mikhail Voytenko News

Fire engulfed several ocean-going fishing vessels, longliner type, at Yanpu Fishing Port, Pingtung County, southwest Taiwan, in the afternoon Jun 15. Witnesses said they’ve heard at least two explosions prior to fire. A thick black smoke is billowing from harbor towards town, scaring locals off. Firefighters are fighting the fire, including firefighting boats and tugs with water cannons. No news on casualties or injured people.    [FULL  STORY]

'Country' wins out over 'state' during internal Wikipedia debate over Taiwan's status

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/06/15
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The editors of Wikipedia last month finally came to a consensus that Taiwan is indeed a country instead of a "state."

Over the years, the Wikipedia entry for Taiwan has frequently been a target of vandalism by Chinese nationalists and China apologists seeking to demote Taiwan's status as a sovereign, independent country. In a request for comments (RFC) page created to debate the proper status of Taiwan in its Wikipedia entry, editors in May fiercely debated the merits of referring to Taiwan as a "state" or a "country."

The debate boiled down to a battle over "state" versus "country" as the best term to provide a more neutral point of view (NPOV) for Taiwan. The criteria the editors decided to base their decision on was "what is commonly used?" and "what is the most accurate?"

Those arguing for the term "state" claimed that because many global organizations do not recognize Taiwan to be an independent country, the term "state" would be more accurate. Pro-"state" editors also alleged that the term was more commonly used by the media.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 06/15/2020
By: Emerson Lim

Taipei, June 15 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) assured Taiwanese fishermen on Monday that their rights to fish in waters surrounding the disputed Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea will be protected.

The assurance was made in response to the concerns of local fishermen that their rights to fish in waters around the disputed islands will be affected, after Japanese media revealed a plan by a Japanese locality to change the islands' administrative designation to highlight its sovereignty over them.

MOFA reiterated that it has expressed "serious concerns" to the Japanese side over the plan.

"The government is trying its best to deal with the issue in the hope that it will be resolved soon and that the fishing rights of our fishermen will be protected," MOFA said. 
[FULL  STORY]

MISLEADING: Hand sanitizers for general use are deemed regular products and cannot claim medical efficacy, such as the ability to sterilize, the Consumers’ Foundation said

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 16, 2020
By: Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporter

The Consumers’ Foundation yesterday urged consumers to select antibacterial hand sanitizers that have been approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, saying that claims of antibacterial benefits made by some products online might be in contravention of labeling or permit requirements.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, advertisements promoting products claimed to have “antibacterial” or “sterilizing” effects have become commonplace, the foundation said.

However, not only could hand sanitizing products making such claims potentially be in contravention of regulations on the advertising of medical efficacy, but whether they can really kill bacteria is also questionable, it said.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hand sanitizers containing alcohol that are used for medical purposes, such as disinfection before surgery, are regulated as drugs, while those used for general cleaning of the hands or skin are regarded as regular products and cannot claim medical efficacy, such as the ability to sterilize or disinfect, the foundation said.    [FULL  STORY]

TIME
Date: 12 JUNE 2020
By: Ian Brtemmer

It's June, and the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic has now shifted to the Americas, according to the World Health Organization. As the world transitions into the next stage of the global pandemic, now is the time to reflect on which countries handled the initial outbreak response better than others—both as an example for other countries to follow and to gauge which countries have best positioned themselves for whatever comes next. In that spirit, the team at Eurasia Group developed a methodology to assess key country* responses across three areas: healthcare management, political response, and financial policy response. These are the standouts … with an honorable mention thrown in as well.

Neighbors and front-line states: Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea    [FULL  STORY]

The Taiwanese dumpling chain said the closure was 'a result of the current economic climate'

The National
Date: June 14, 2020
By:} Emma Day

Hungry diners in Arcadia, California, will have to find somewhere new for distinctly-Taiwanese rich soup dumplings and spicy chilli noodles.

Din Tai Fung, the popular Taiwanese restaurant with more than 150 branches around the world, has announced the closure of its original eatery in the US.

The restaurant in Arcadia, which is in the Los Angeles County, shut shop on Thursday, June 11, after 20 years in business.

"As a result of the current economic climate, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our first US location," a statement on Din Tai Fung's US Instagram page said.    [FULL  STORY]

Former Taipei University of Science and Technology professor calls for President Tsai's death

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/06/14
By: Kelvin Chen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A retired professor from the Taipei University of Science and Technology threatened President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Saturday (June 13) at a Taipei demonstration against former Mayor Han Kuo-yu's (韓國瑜) recall vote.

The protest, organized by the Democratic Oversight Alliance, was held on Saturday, Alliance Chairman Huang Cheng-chung (黃正忠) stated. He added that the organization had been expecting a large crowd.

However, there were so few people at the event that even the famous pro-Han live streamer Kao Chun-chun (高鈞鈞) was dumbfounded, saying "There are not many people here."

Protesters gathered at Taipei's Ketagalan Boulevard at 2:30 p.m. and dispersed at approximately 10:00 p.m., according to paperwork filed by the Democratic Oversight Alliance.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 06/14/2020
By: Yu Hsiao-mei and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, June 14 (CNA) The weather will be hot and humid with temperatures to rise above 36 degrees Celsius in parts of Taiwan and possible afternoon thundershowers on Sunday, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) forecast.

As tropical storm Nuri moves towards waters off eastern China's Guangdong Province, the winds have turned moderate and southerly toward Taiwan, the CWB said.

However, because the peripheral clouds of the storm have brought warm moisture, they could cause strong convection over Taiwan.

As a result, all areas of the country were expected to receive afternoon thundershowers on Sunday, or sporadic heavy rain, the weather bureau said.    [FULL  STORY]

‘FULL-ON CLASH’: ‘KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang asked us not to initiate revenge recalls, but that is exactly what we are going to do,’ retired teacher Chou Ming-tai said

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 14, 2020
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter

About 500 protesters demonstrated on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei yesterday, vowing to recall President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and lawmakers in the pan-green camp.

The protesters rallied around several themes, accusing Tsai of rigging the Jan. 11 presidential election, that she “bought” her doctorate at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and that Tsai and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers who pander to her should be recalled.

Democracy Watch Alliance convener Huang Cheng-chung (黃正忠) said that if the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) does not take action on the death of KMT Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Hsu Kun-yuan (許崑源), he would quit the party.

Hsu, who strongly supported Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), was found dead after falling from his 17th-floor apartment in Kaohsiung on the night of June 6, several hours after the city’s voters cast their ballots in favor of recalling Han.    [FULL  STORY]