TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwan-India labor cooperation memorandum of understanding has been approved by the Cabinet and will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for further review.
Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) said the agreement would be reviewed by both the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee and the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee. The agreement was signed virtually between Taiwan Representative to India Baushuan Ger (葛葆萱) and India Representative to Taiwan Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav on Feb. 16. The deal is expected to deepen the Taiwan-India bilateral partnership and “help ease the impact of Taiwan’s aging population and declining birth rate on the country’s workforce,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. The types of occupation and quotas will be determined by Taiwan. Both sides agreed to promote a direct hiring program and streamline the hiring process. During an online interview in February, Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春) drew widespread criticism by saying Taiwan may first recruit migrant workers from India's northeast region because "their skin color and eating habits are similar to ours." Most of them are Christian and are skilled in manufacturing, construction and agriculture, she added. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately apologized and said, “Taiwan will welcome any Indian worker who meets conditions for recruitment and satisfies industry demand, regardless of their ethnic background.” It added that “qualified workers would be treated fairly and accorded due protection under Taiwanese law.”
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TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The representative office in Guam helped clean beaches as a way of thanking the United States territory for its support of Taiwan’s bid to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA), reports said Saturday (April 20).
The WHA meets in Geneva, Switzerland, each year in May, but Taiwan has been prevented from attending for many years due to interference by China. The Legislature of Guam voted four years in a row to support Taiwan’s bid. The Taiwan office on the island joined the local tourism service to clean up Ypao Beach Saturday. While the event was also used to mark Earth Day, which falls on April 22, participants showed Taiwan’s flag and a banner with the phrase “Let Taiwan Help.” More than 300 people joined the event, including politicians, business people, scholars, teachers, and Taiwanese residents in Guam. The representative office said it would continue to deepen cooperation with the Pacific island territory in all domains, while thanking its Legislature for its unanimous passage of the WHA motion. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese and Tibetan students on Saturday (April 20) protested against China's U.S. ambassador during a Harvard University speech.
During the opening ceremony of the Harvard Kennedy School China Conference 2024, Chinese ambassador Xie Feng (謝峰) gave a speech entitled “Chinese Modernization, a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind, and China-U.S. Relations." Students from the Coalition of Students Resisting the CCP and Students for a Free Tibet protested four times during his speech, delaying it for 45 minutes. A female Taiwanese American surnamed Wu (吳) enrolled at Harvard told reporters that, including herself, two Taiwanese American and two Tibetan students criticized China for depriving Hong Kong of democratic freedoms, committing genocide against Tibetans and Uyghurs, and using aggressive tactics against Taiwan, and said Xie was unqualified to speak at the university. In a video posted to X by Students for a Free Tibet, Wu held up a sign that read “China lies.” She shouted, “Xie Feng, you come to paint your delusion of a ‘prosperous China’ when your hands are painted with blood. You robbed the Hong Kongers of fundamental freedoms and devastated their democracy. Now in my country, Taiwan, you seek to do the same.” Before Wu could finish her protest, a man in a suit grabbed Wu by the arm and pulled her away from the venue, and a security guard later came to assist the man. As she was forced from the room, she shouted “China lies!” A female Tibetan student then stood up with a sign that read “People Die.” The woman shouted, “China lies, people die. Eighty percent of Tibetan children are forced into larger colonial-style boarding schools which are aimed at destroying my Tibetan people’s existence. Shame on Xie Feng. Free Tibet. Free East Turkestan. You have blood on your hands. Guilty of genocide. Shame on Xie Feng.” A security guard approached the woman and led her away from the scene. In a second Students for a Free Tibet video, a male Tibetan student identified as Topjor held up the Tibetan flag and shouted, "Free Tibet. How can you be here when the Chinese government is in direct contravention of every human rights law in the world? You are a representative of a government that advocates for genocide. The genocide of the Tibetan people, of the Uyghur people, the occupation of Hong Kong. You are a travesty. You do not deserve to be here. This is a free country. You cannot project your transnational repression in this country, in this continent. You are a shame, a stain on this institution. Shame on you Xie Feng. Shame on China.” A security guard also led Topjor away. At the end of the video, an event spokesperson said, “Let me just remind everyone that the reason we have this forum is to encourage discussion, fruitful discussion where people can actually exchange ideas. And I want to remind everyone again that anyone who disrupts this event will be subject to…,” before the video cuts off. Wu, who is the co-chair of the Coalition of Students Resisting the CCP, said to reporters that in 2019, Hong Kong's protests against China's tightening control were suppressed by Beijing. The following year, China implemented the National Security Law in Hong Kong. Xie was then the special envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stationed in Hong Kong, directly responsible for supervising the Chinese Communist Party's repressive policies in Hong Kong, which undermined Hong Kong's democracy, said Wu. Wu said that, like many Taiwanese, she is deeply concerned about how China is undermining Hong Kong's free society because Beijing could potentially do the same to Taiwan. Xie had previously made threatening remarks toward Taiwan after Nancy Pelosi's visit to the country and, “As a Taiwanese, I have an obligation to speak out,” said Wu. Wu said that she opposes Xie speaking at Harvard. "We cannot allow someone who represents the Chinese Communist Party, defends a government that perpetrates genocide, and personally deprives Hong Kong of freedom to come to our campus because this goes against our values, and the values of Harvard, entirely. His propaganda has no place at Harvard." TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The captain of a ship who went to catch shellfish and crabs five days ago was found dead at sea near Yilan County, reports said Saturday (April 20).
Chang (張), 76, left port on a 1.1-ton fishing trawler on Monday (April 15), per the Liberty Times. When he failed to return home that evening his relatives raised the alarm. They sailed another ship out to an area where they knew he often went fishing. They found his vessel anchored off Beifang’ao port with his fishing gear left on a reef. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) launched a search operation, mobilizing a patrol vessel, officers on land, beach buggies, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, a fishing trawler reported a body floating in the ocean near the port of Chaoyang in Su’ao. The CGA took the body ashore and alerted Chang’s relatives as the dead man found at sea was wearing clothes fitting the description given by the family. They later confirmed his identity, while prosecutors will try to determine the cause of death. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A passenger on the Taipei MRT accidentally caused panic on Saturday (April 20) when their mobile power bank overheated and filled a train carriage with smoke.
The incident occurred as a train was approaching Songjiang-Nanjing Station on the Orange Line. Approximately 750 people were asked to rapidly exit the train as it pulled into the station just before 5:30 p.m. on a train bound for Huilong Station. One person took a picture of the smoke-filled car and posted the image online, per reports. Witnesses said the mobile power bank also caused flames to ignite. Passengers were worried that a fire or explosive caused the smoke, but a quick investigation by MRT staff discovered that a defective power bank was the cause. Reports indicate that other passengers on the MRT quickly responded with appropriate action by grabbing a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames as the train came to a stop. The situation was dealt with in less than four minutes. After passengers boarded the subsequent trains, things were operating smoothly with no major disruptions. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomenas was awarded the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy by Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) in recognition of his contributions to expanding Taiwan-Lithuania relations.
In a speech, Wu praised Adomenas as a true friend of Taiwan. During the height of the pandemic, the deputy foreign minister coordinated Lithuanian government agencies to donate more than 250,000 COVID vaccines to Taiwan, making the Baltic nation the first EU member to gift vaccines to Taiwan, per a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) press release. Adomenas was the major driving force behind the establishment of Taiwan's representative office in Lithuania in 2021, Wu said. He has consistently supported Taiwan's participation in international organizations, demonstrating his commitment to defending democracy and freedom, Wu said. Adomenas said that Lithuania and Taiwan are like-minded partners. He said he was deeply moved by the conferral of the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy. During a banquet later that day, Wu and Adomenas discussed the economy and trade, the Russia-Ukraine war and the situation in Europe, the expansion of authoritarian regimes, and the development of tourism around the Baltic Sea. Both Taiwan and Lithuania cherish democracy and freedom, MOFA said. Bilateral cooperation in technology, economy, assistance to Ukraine, and other fields are growing and serve as a model for like-minded countries to assist each other, it added. On April 12, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it would donate NT$1.7 million (US$52,463) to assist Taiwan with its reconstruction efforts in Hualien after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on April 3. In a Lithuanian foreign ministry press release, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis said: "Our financial support for Taiwan's reconstruction works is a sign of solidarity with the people of Taiwan." TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A training accident involving a Taiwan Air Force P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft was reported at a base in Pingtung County on Thursday (April 18).
While the aircraft was in flight, a dummy AGM-65 Maverick missile detached and fell into the ocean. Reports indicate the missile was not loaded with any explosive material, and it landed in the ocean, so no one was harmed. The incident was reported and the P-3C Orion returned to base for inspection. Ground crews could find nothing wrong with the aircraft or controls in the cockpit, suggesting the training missile may not have been secured properly. The training missiles used in the exercise did not have a rocket propulsion system or any explosive load. The missile had a camera connected to an electronic targeting system, which the pilots use to practice identifying and locking onto targets from above. The Air Force will investigate the incident to avoid similar incidents when the aircraft is equipped with a live missile. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Taipei District Court on Thursday (April 18) indicted a foster care nanny and her sister for torturing a child resulting in death.
The elder sister, Liu Cai-xuan (劉彩萱), and her younger sister Liu Ruo-lin (劉若琳), appeared in court where Taipei prosecutors described the abuse they inflicted on the 20-month-old child. The child was nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴) and the abuse took place over three months, resulting in the child’s death in late December. A social worker surnamed Chen (陳) involved in the case was charged with neglecting to perform regular checks to ensure proper care of the child, contributing to wrongful death. Chen was given an option of providing NT$300,000 (US$9,250) in bail money but is also being investigated for other crimes, per reports. Additionally, four relatives of the Liu sisters have been indicted on charges relating to tampering with evidence, and making false statements to police to cover up crimes of the sisters. The arrest of the Liu sisters in March shocked Taiwan with reports of torture inflicted on a 20-month-old child, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), who had been placed in the older sister’s care through Taipei City’s foster care program while the child’s parents were both serving jail sentences. Reporters reported the Liu sisters entered into a foster care agreement with Kai Kai’s mother and the Taipei City government in mid-August 2023, in which Liu would receive NT$1,000 per day to take care of the toddler. The foster care period began on Sept. 1, almost three months before Kai Kai was admitted to a Taipei hospital, where he died on Dec. 23. The elder Liu was said to be responsible for horrific acts of abuse, but denied the charges against her in court. Prosecutors used statements from her sister’s interrogation as proof that both women were responsible for intentionally harming the child in their care. The sisters would reportedly tie the child to furniture in the home, and put him in a small bucket for long periods. The child was either starved, or fed cold leftover scraps in used paper cups, which contributed to malnutrition, organ failure, and the loss of teeth. Earlier reports indicate the child’s bone structure was deformed as a result of the sisters tying his arms and legs and that he was often left unclothed despite the cold winter weather. Some of his fingernails had reportedly been pulled off, and he also had burns to his genitals. Both sisters will remain in custody until their trial, without the option of bail or visitation. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A gas explosion outside a residence at noon on Friday (April 19) killed one person and injured seven.
The blast occurred outside the first floor of a building in Kaohsiung's Sanmin District. Flames and smoke could reportedly be seen billowing from the first floor and soon spread to the second and third floors. The blast and flames damaged three households. The fire department dispatched 26 vehicles and 68 firefighters. One resident died on the second floor and seven people were hospitalized. Among the injured was a 50-year-old man surnamed Chiu (邱) who had burns to 90% of his body and was rushed to the hospital. A preliminary investigation suggests that he may have triggered the explosion by igniting a propane cylinder. The six others injured were struck by flying glass shards. Police suspect that Chiu deliberately triggered the disaster by igniting a gas cylinder at his doorstep. Neighbors described him as a “troublemaker”who was often drunk and caused disturbances. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Ten suspects including three Taiwanese and seven Burmese have been indicted for smuggling NT$3.5 billion (US$108 million) of marijuana into Taiwan.
Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office directed a Coast Guard Administration task force to intercept a Taiwan-registered commercial raft and an unmanned lifeboat in waters northwest of Kaohsiung on Dec. 10. They found 1,381 kilograms of marijuana, reported Liberty Times. It was determined that a foreign oil tanker in southwestern waters was the mother ship for the drug trafficking operation. Therefore, Coast Guard boats were dispatched to intercept and investigate. Arrests were made, including the Taiwanese captain of the raft, surnamed Huang (黃), and the Burmese captain of the tanker. The investigation found that after loading marijuana in Southeast Asian waters, the Burmese captain and crew of six headed to Taiwan to await transfer. Upon arrival in the designated area, the captain told the crew to prepare the bales of marijuana and throw them into the sea. Huang would then navigate the raft towards the packages and his crew would retrieve and take them to shore for distribution. All detainees were put in custody following the prosecutor's detention request, as ruled by the court. After the prosecutor's investigation, all 10 defendants were indicted for trafficking Category 2 narcotics. The seized drugs were packaged in plastic bags, each weighing about 500 grams, with labels indicating the name and composition of the marijuana. The vessel involved has been auctioned off, with Ciaotou District Prosecutors' Office completing the necessary procedures and receiving NT$1.44 million. |
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