Headline News
European Parliament supports detained Taiwanese activist
The Presidential Office expressed its gratitude for the support from the European Parliament for the release of Taiwanese human rights activist Lee Ming-che.
Lee is detained in mainland China on charges of “undermining state power” since entering the mainland on March 19. The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on Beijing to release Lee. Taiwan has repeatedly called in vain for the release of Lee. Local and international human rights groups have also called for his release.
“We are very grateful for all the international assistance on the case,” said Presidential Office spokesman Sidney Lin in a response.
The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances said that the case of Lee will be discussed at its next session in September in Geneva.
In May, Lee’s wife, Lee Ching-yu, pleaded for US assistance in this case at the House of Representatives committee hearing in Washington.
Taiwan cooperates with CARE International
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Taiwan will donate US$100,000 to the non-government organization CARE International for relief aid to women in war zones in Congo and Iraq. CARE also announced the donation on its website labelling Taiwan a “New Emergency Partner” and said that the donation will benefit tens of thousands of women and children suffering amid fighting in
Iraq and in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
YMFU Secretary General Alison Lee awarded for protecting foreign fishermen’s rights
Alison Lee, secretary general of the Yilan Migrant Fisherman Union (YMFU), is the first Taiwanese to receive the “Hero Acting to End Modern Slavery Award” from the United States Department of State.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson handed Lee the award in recognition of her unwavering efforts for protection of the rights of foreign fishermen.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with the release of the 2017 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, during which it was announced that Taiwan was promoted to a Tier 1, the highest ranking in the report.
Economics
Taiwan-EU bilateral trade at a record high
Taiwan-EU bilateral trade broke a record in 2016. EU’s exports to Taiwan amounted to €19.6 billion, while total goods trade grew by 3.9% to a record of €45.7 billion. EU’s imports from Taiwan also reached an all-time high since 2006 amounting to €26.1 billion. Taiwan is the EU’s 13th largest importer and 23rd largest exporter. Ministry of Economic Affairs statistics also show that the EU is the largest investor in Taiwan.
Furthermore, bilateral cooperation and exchanges in various fields strengthened in 2016, including research and innovation, education and culture, human rights and climate change.
Travel & Sports
Portable power banks most frequently confiscated at the airport
About 70 percent of items confiscated at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first three months of this year were portable power banks. A total of 14,226 portable power banks (70%) were found and removed from checked luggage, followed by lighters (16%) and lead-acid or lithium batteries (12%) for the fire hazard they pose in the cargo hold during a flight. The airport urged travelers not to place these items in checked baggage but in carry-on luggage.
EVA Air ranks 6th in World Best Airlines Award 2017
Taiwan’s EVA Air is ranked 6th in the SKYTRAX 2017 World Airline Awards, labelled as the Oscars of the aviation industry, resulting from a rating of 325 airlines by travelers across the globe.
EVA Air also ranks first in the World’s Cleanest Aircraft Cabins 2017.
Taiwan wins World Port Tournament Baseball in Rotterdam
Taiwan won the 2017 World Port Baseball Tournament in Rotterdam after defeating Japan 3-2 in the finals. Taiwan’s team made it to the final three times and won the World Port Tournament for the first time in 2011 after it defeated Cuba in the final.
