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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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In New Year's speech, Taiwan president again reaches out to China

In the New Year’s speech, President Tsai Ing-wen said that Taiwan was ready to have “meaningful” talks with China given that China was willing to put aside confrontation.

Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has come under increasing pressure from Beijing

China said ramping up military activity near the island responded to “collusion” between Washington and Taipei. Beijing views this a precursor to Taiwan declaring formal independence, a red line for China.

China, which stopped a formal talks mechanism in 2016 since Tsai won office, repeatedly rejected Tsai’s advances unless she accepts Taiwan is part of China, something Tsai has refused to do.

Source: Reuters #Jan01

https://www.reuters.com/article/newyear-taiwan/in-new-years-speech-taiwan-president-again-reaches-out-to-china-idUKKBN2961YH?edition-redirect=uk

#Taiwan #TsaiIngWen #China
US cancels its United Nations envoy's visit to Taiwan, having video conference instead, and reiterate support for Taiwan’s participation in international affairs

The US State Department said that it has decided to cancel all foreign visits prior to the president’s inauguration for a smooth transition, that the US ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft's visit to Taiwan has to be cancelled. However, Taiwan's presidential office said that, after arrangement were made through diplomatic channels, President Tsai Ing-wen had a video conference with Craft at her office. Craft indicated that US would support Taiwan’s international participation, while Tsai express her appreciation to Craft and US government.

The Taiwan presidential office added that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Feith, National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo (Koo Li-Hsiung), Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu were also participated in the video conference. Both sides engaged in an extensive discussion about Taiwan's international participation, strengthening of Taiwan-US cooperation, the shared democratic values, opportunities to exchange educational resources and other related topics.

Source: Stand News #Jan14

https://bit.ly/3vjDjum

#Taiwan #UnitedStates #UnitedNations #InternationalAffairs #DemocraticValues #Education #TsaiIngWen
The Canadian House of Commons approved forum awards to Tsai Ing-wen; Trudeau denied that he had pressured to withdraw the sponsorship

House of Representatives of Canada unanimously pass a motion on Wednesday (14April), which support Halifax International Security Forum award John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service to Tsai Ing-wen.

The Conservative Party member Michael Chong who initiated discussion, described “President Tsai Ing-wen is a well-respected international leader, female president of Taiwan and a strong global advocate for democracy”. The non-binding motion the award to Tsai Ing-wen, it also calls on the Canada government to maintains its funding on the forum. Canada is the main funding source of the forum.

It was reported earlier that Canada opposed the award to Tsai Ing-wen, in fear of angering Beijing. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced questions from members of House of Commons in the past few days, he responded to Michael Chong and replies, “the government has supported and provided funding to the Halifax Security Forum throughout our time in office, and the minister has participated every year and will continue to”. He continued by saying that he always supported Taiwan's “meaningful participation in multilateral international forums”, and continues to have strong and growing trade relations with Taiwan.

Source: Stand News #Apr15

https://bit.ly/3dQyguW

#Canada #Beijing #Taiwan #Trudeau #TsaiIngWen #MichaelChong #HalifaxInternationalSecurityForum #JohnMcCainPrizeForLeadershipInPublicService #Democracy
Japan donates another 1.13 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan
Tsai Ing-wen thanks: A vaccine of friendship


Japan Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi announced this morning (6 July) that Japan will provide an additional 1.13 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan on Thursday (8 July). This is the second batch of vaccines offered, following 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine provided to Taiwan last month at no cost. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen thanked Japan for the donating the vaccine, supporting Taiwan in a prevention effort to fight against the disease, and described it as a "friendship vaccines".

According to Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan received promptly support from Taiwan after the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011. Mutual support and assistance have been under way in various fields such as humanitarian and interpersonal exchanges. As Taiwan needs assistance, Japan will lend a helping hand. Japan is very pleased to be the first to provide Taiwan vaccine assistance.

Source: Stand News #Jul06

https://bit.ly/3iJ8z1J

#Taiwan #Japan #TsaiIngwen #TaiwanPresident #ToshimitsuMotegi #JapaneseForeignMinister #TaiwaneseJapaneseRelation #COVID19vaccine #AstraZeneca
#Censorship #RedLine
Hong Kong Film Censorship Authorities reject two student movies citing national security violations


Two movie screenings in the 4th Ground Up Student Film Festival have been cancelled after the films failed to obtain a Certificate of Approval from Hong Kong’s Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (#OFNAA).

The news came shortly after the amended Film Censorship Ordinance came into effect on 5 November 2021. The amended ordinance sets out the need to put an end to acts and activities that may endanger national security and it also allows the Chief Secretary of Administration to withdraw already-issued screening permits.

On November 19, 2021, Hong Kong Film Censorship Authority first turned down approval for #TheCage, a short film directed by Hong Kong Baptist University (#HKBU) graduate Tsoi Wing-chau. The film depicts totalitarian rule, capitalism, freedom and resistance.

Two days later, another film Piglet Piglet that sets around Taiwan's Presidential election also failed to obtain an approval certificate. The screening of #PigletPiglet was cancelled just over five hours before it was set to be held.

Director of the film, Lin Tsung-yen, wrote on his Facebook page, saying that “local authorities expressed disapproval. They asked me to cut all scenes and information linked to Taiwanese Presidential election and Tsai Ing-wen.”

#GroundUp #FilmFestival #FilmCensorshipAmendment #NationalSecurityLaw #TsaiIngWen #Cinema

Source: Stand News, #Nov21
https://thestandnews.page.link/CgCJg1s5p4D1XvFF8
PRC’s Taiwan Affairs Office accused Tsai Ing-wen for spreading Taiwan Independence; Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council: Defaming Taiwan’s Democracy

On 28 October 2021, the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of the State Council responded to the CNN interview of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, accusing her and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of spreading “Taiwan Independence” on various international arenas, once again exposing their stubborn attempts on “Taiwan Independence”. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council responded with a stern statement, saying that TAO is inciting confrontation by maliciously twisting the facts and defaming Taiwan’s freedom and democratic development.

The spokesperson of TAO Ma Xiaoguang criticized Tsai and DPP stubbornly promoting "Taiwan Independence”, deceiving international public opinion and covering “Taiwan Independence” under “Democracy and Freedom”. He further said ever since the DPP came to power, their incompetence in governance caused grievances among the general public, creating conflicts among ethics groups, deceiving the public and dividing Taiwan society, severely dividing the bloodline connection between Taiwanese, Chinese culture and Chinese, “seriously harming” the fundamental interest of all Taiwanese.

Source: Stand News #Oct29

https://bit.ly/3pDtIwC

#mainland #taiwan #tsaiingwen #Diplomacy #TaiwanAffairsOffice #MainlandAffairsCouncil #MaXiaoguang #TaiwanIndependence
American Institute in Taiwan: Deep Concern on China Damaging Taiwan Strait's Stability

#SandraOudkirk, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, hosted her first press conference in #Taiwan on Oct 29.

She indicated that the current peace and stability around the #IndoPacific region and the #TaiwanStrait align with the interest of the #US. But she expressed deep concern about #China's act of destabilising the Taiwan Strait. Therefore, the US will work hard to help Taiwan in maintaining sufficient self-defence capabilities.

Oudkirk did not comment on #TsaiIngwen's first confirmation on the #USmilitary training in Taiwan but reiterated that the US's support to Taiwan is rock-solid. She also did not respond on whether to increase the amount of United States Marine Corps at the #AmericanInstituteinTaiwan.

She did not make a remark on the staff number of the institute and their original groups, only saying that the organisation team is outstanding.

Source: Stand News #Oct29
https://bit.ly/3oM8nlh

#ChinaTaiwan #CrossStrait #ChinaUS
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen urges Beijing not to misjudge the situation in New Year speech

In Taipei, President Tsai Ing-wen delivered a New Year's speech in which she reiterated her concern about the situation in Hong Kong and stressed that the military was not an option for resolving cross-strait differences, urging Beijing not to misjudge the situation.

In her 2022 New Year's speech at the presidential palace, Tsai Ing-wen set out the four main plans for her administration this year, including continuation on global engagement, maintaining the economic momentum, strengthening the social security network, and safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty.

She said that the interference in the election of the Hong Kong Legislative Council and the arrest of media personnel had raised concerns about human rights and freedom of speech in Hong Kong.

"The pursuit of democracy and freedom is not a crime, and Taiwan's position in support of Hong Kong will not change. Aside from showing our concern, we will cherish our own hard-earned freedom and democracy even more deeply", Tsai said.

Source: Now News #Jan01

https://news.now.com/home/international/player?newsId=461848&refer=Share

#Taiwan #TsaiIngWen #LegislativeCouncil #Election #TheStandNews #Arrest #PressFreedom

[Translator note: Some wordings are following the report from Focus Taiwan, a CNA English News agency]
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#ProtestFilm #Interview
#KiwiChow, Director of #RevolutionOfOurTimes: "This film is for everyone"

Directed by Hong Kong director Kiwi Chow, "Revolution Of Our Times" is an award-winning documentary capturing the pro-democracy demonstrations that erupted in Hong Kong in 2019.

Just within the 14 days of its release in Taiwan, the film has set a box office record for an overseas Chinese-language documentary.

Even #TsaiIngWen, the president of Taiwan, watched it and endorsed the film.

Taking to Twitter, President Tsai stated, 'Hong Kong people's courage and commitment to democracy are an inspiration to us all, as we work to preserve our own freedoms and way of life.'

In an interview, director #KiwiChow thanked Tsai Ing-wen for supporting the documentary openly on social media and calling on people across the political spectrum to watch it.

#RevolutionOfOurTimes #NeverForget #HongKongFilm #Taiwan

Source: PSHK
https://fb.watch/bP5U8NMXmv/
Pompeo Awarded Medal in Visit to Taiwan, Beijing Cries “Shameless and Futile”

Former #US state secretary #MikePompeo was received by President #TsaiIngwen at her office on 3 March during his visit to #Taiwan.

In her meeting with the visitors, who came wearing a mask emblazoned with US and Taiwan flags, and Chinese words ‘firm as a rock’, Tsai thanked Pompeo on behalf of the Taiwan people for his contribution to multiple breakthroughs in #TaiwanUSRelations and supported Taiwan’s participation in the international community during his tenure as the US secretary of state. She also awarded him the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon, Taiwan's top honours, for his efforts to elevate Taiwan-US relations, which includes lifting US restrictions on official interactions with Taiwan, regularising arms sales to Taiwan, and raising the level of mutual visits by senior officials between Taiwan and the US.

In #Beijing, spokesperson for the foreign ministry #WangWenbin called Pompeo’s visit “shameless” and “futile”.

Source: Hong Kong Economic Journal #Mar04

https://bit.ly/3CnfxS9