Want China Times
Date: 2015-04-08
By: CNA

An Army pilot will be forced to retire after he gave a local TV personality access to Taiwan’s

most advanced helicopter, the AH-64E Apache, and wore a helmet-mounted display used with the chopper to a private party, defense officials said Tuesday.

That was the conclusion of a Ministry of National Defense investigation into incidents involving Lt Col Lao Nai-cheng, the former deputy head of a helicopter squadron in Taoyuan under the Army Special Forces Command, following an initial inquiry by the Army last week.

At a press conference Tuesday to announce the results of the investigation, the ministry said it found that Lao brought a group of people, including TV hostess Janet Lee and her family and friends, to see the Apaches at their base in Longtan on March 29 without approval from his superiors.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/04/08
By: Tang Pei-chun and Maubo Chang

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday protested against Japan’s territorial claim to the Diaoyutai Islands, saying it is not based on fact.

The ministry said the Diaoyutai Islands are part of the territory of the Republic of China and do not belong to Japan as claimed in that country’s 2015 Diplomatic Blue Paper, which was published Tuesday.

The Republic of China will firmly defend its claim to the Diaoyutais — known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan — and any foreign attempts to change the facts of the territorial rights will be declared null and void, the ministry said.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/04/07
By: Chiu Chun-chin and Scully Hsiao

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Hotels in Taoyuan have introduced various measures to cope with

upcoming water supply cuts, including discounts for visitors who conserve water during their stays, as the nation’s worst drought for decades persists.

The Orchard Park Hotel has closed its swimming pool and spa services in the face of water rationing measures set to begin Wednesday. The measures will affect parts of New Taipei, neighboring Taoyuan and Hsinchu County on a rotational basis.

The hotel is offering discounts for guests prepared to stay in rooms without bathtubs and disposable toiletries and who do not use the hotel’s fitness center. Charges for such guests staying in a two-person room have been reduced to NT$2,900 (US$92.8) from NT$3,500 per night.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/04/07
By: Yang Ming-chu and Elizabeth Hsu

Tokyo, April 7 (CNA) Taiwan’s Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) called during a visit to Japanese politicians Tuesday for Japanese support for Taiwan’s bids for access to two proposed regional economic blocs — the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Wang also voiced hope that an economic partnership agreement between Taiwan and Japan can be signed as soon as possible, saying that all these measures will help boost trade between the two countries.

Fair treatment for Taiwan in international society will not just help Taiwan’s economic development but will also benefit trade between Taiwan and Japan, which will indirectly boost Japan’s trade and economic growth, Wang said while addressing a luncheon hosted by Tadashi Imai, president of the Interchange Association.     [FULL  STORY]

OUTSPOKEN:On April 7, 1989, Deng Nan-jung set himself on fire rather than be arrested another time for antigovernment materials he published in his magazine

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 08, 2015
By: Alison Hsiao  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Pasuya Yao (姚文智) yesterday called on the

government to establish April 7 as a national holiday to celebrate freedom of speech and commemorate Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕), who self-immolated 26 years ago to protest against the then-authoritarian Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime.

“Freedom of speech is a natural right and should be protected by the state. The First Amendment of the United States constitution prohibits the making of any law depriving people of freedom of speech; our Constitution also stipulates that people shall have freedom of speech, teaching, writing and publication,” said Yao, who proposed an extemporaneous motion in the legislature in Taipei, calling for a “Freedom of Speech Day” to be established on April 7.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/04/06
By: Chen Tzu-ling, Yang Shu-min and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, April 6 (CNA) A cold front with northeastern seasonal winds will bring mercury down by more than 10 degrees Celsius and showers in northern Taiwan Tuesday, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said Monday.

The daytime temperature will be 18-23 degrees in northern Taiwan and nighttime 14-20 degrees. Central Taiwan may experience 22-28 degrees in the daytime and 16-18 degrees at night. In southern Taiwan, the daytime temperature will be 23-30 degrees and nighttime temperature 18-20 degrees, according to the CWB forecast.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-04-06
By: CNA

Party lovers flocked to Kenting in Taiwan’s southern Pingtung county Sunday for a series of outdoor music festivals that have drawn about 150,000 people since April 3, local police said Sunday.

The events, claimed to be the largest international music festival in Taiwan, will last until April 6.

Although many northbound vehicles were visible on the streets of Kenting early Sunday as people left, hotels saw an increase in room reservations for Sunday night compared with Friday night.

In related news, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urged partygoers to abstain from using drugs during the events.     [FULL  STORY]