Corruption of secretary-general undermines entire Ma administration: opposition

By Tsuei Hsiao-hu / The Wild East / Politics Tuesday, 3 July, 2012 With his face covered by a gauze mask, an expressionless Lin Yi-shih (林益世) was spirited by cover of night into the back seat of an unmarked police vehicle among a crowd of outraged onlookers. Members of the

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Taiwan Crime Watch – Rate this cool new column!

By Tsuei Hsiao-hu / The Wild East These stories are just from a twelve-hour period from midnight to lunchtime, on Tuesday, July 3 and Wed., July 4, 2012. There is a LOT of material. What kinds of crime in Taiwan are you interested in reading about? Please leave your comments/suggestions

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‘Sleepwalking’ mansion burglar charged after trying to beguile police

By Tsuei Shiao-hu The Wild East crime desk – TAIPEI A mysterious mansion burglar was brought to justice in Jiayi recently after engaging local police in an earnest battle of wits. Police in Jiayi City (aka “Chiayi”, 嘉義市) said Tuesday they’ve pressed charges of breaking and entering against a man

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Hospital head calls for ‘total revamp’ of Taiwan medical system

By Tsuei Shiao-hu. political editor / The Wild East 24 June, 2012, TAIPEI Taipei Veterans’ General Hospital Director Lin Fang-yu (林芳郁) joined in the chorus of medical leaders sounding the horn for federal intervention Sunday, claiming the country’s entire medical institution has five years before it collapses. Lin, who is

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U.S. says visa-exempt agreement with Taiwan just around the bend

June 14, 2012 – TAIPEI, by Tsuei Shiao-hu, Wild East Politics Editor The U.S. has added Taiwan to its upcoming Visa Waiver Program, although at a curious time for Taipei lawmakers. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Thomas Nides expressed his excitement Thursday over the visa-exempt pact,

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A Blessing for the Start of Work on the Chingchuan Community Center

Last year a group of foreigners organized the Wufeng Project, working with aboriginal kids in Wufeng and Chingchuan, Hsinchu County. They gave the kids cameras and their photography was then sold at auction, raising over NT$2 million to renovate a desperately needed community center in Chingchuan. This is the blessing

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Tutu discusses ‘echoes’ in Taiwan’s truth movement

By Trista di Genova / Originally published in The China Post in April 2007 [Ed. This is being republished because Desmond Tutu’s 2007 visit to Taiwan was such a momentous occasion, and this article was the only coverage to quote him at length; the lessons therein still ring true.] Celebrated

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A Chance to Meet Congressman Honda in Taiwan

The Wild East / news staff A good congressman is rare. It’s also exceedingly rare for US Congressmen to visit Taiwan. And it almost never happens that ordinary people can meet good congressmen in Taiwan. But there will be a confluence of these factors on Sunday April 8, when Democrats

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Why is the US twisting arms over beef imports to Taiwan?

This is a question on everyone’s mind these days: Why is the US so seemingly desperate to dump its offal onto Taiwan consumers, with or without the ‘leanness’ (growth hormone) drug, ractopamine? It would seem that substantial U.S. economic interests as well as the Taiwan government’s attempts to safeguard future

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‘Horse eats Grass’ (馬吃蔡): Ma gets re-elected

POLITICS / The Wild East As W.E. predicted, KMT President Ma Ying-jeou won a fairly close election against DPP challenger Tsai Ing-wen. With a 74% turnout rate, Ma won with about 780,000 votes, or 4-5 percent over Tsai, 51.5% to her 45.6%. In Tsai’s concession speech, she resigned as DPP

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