What you need to know
Your daily bulletin of Taiwan news, courtesy of ICRT.
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) has said he believes Taiwan and Japan need to conduct more security information exchanges as they both face similar military threats.
According to Wu, the growing number of Chinese military drills in the region means that Beijing is now regularly sending military aircraft or warships through the Miyako Strait to threaten Taiwan and through the Bashi Channel to threaten Japan.
Wu said such threats suggest there should be more exchanges of information between Taiwan and Japan.
The statement comes after members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party began promoting a Japanese version of the Taiwan Relations Act.
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Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez has arrived in Taiwan for six-day stay state visit during which he will attend Wednesday's National Day celebrations in Taipei.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is scheduled to welcome Abdo and his wife with full military honors later today.
Officials said Tsai and Abdo will then hold a meeting and sign a joint statement before heading to a state banquet.
Tsai will confer the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon on Abdo in gratitude for his contributions to deepening relations between Taiwan and Paraguay.
Abdo will also receive an honorary doctorate degree from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, host an investment fair and visit the National Palace Museum during his stay.
Tsai attended Abdo's inauguration in August, when he invited him to visit Taiwan for National Day celebrations.
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The prime minister of Saint Lucia has arrived in Taiwan to attend this Wednesday's National Day celebrations.
It is Allen Michael Chastanet's third visit to Taiwan since he become prime minister in June 2016.
Chastanet will receive a grand welcoming ceremony with military honors and a national banquet to be hosted by President Tsai during his four-day visit.
Chastanet will also hold talks with top officials, including Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全), National Security Council Secretary-General David Lee (李大維), and Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu.
Credit: Reuters / TPG
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The acting head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong has said the Tsai administration's attitude towards cross-Strait ties is to maintain its goodwill and commitment but not give in under pressure or return to confrontation.
Speaking at a Double Ten Day event, Kao Ming-tsun (高銘村) said the government is committed to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and seek common ground while avoiding differences.
According to Kao, the Tsai administration puts a priority on the well-being of people on both sides and hopes to use positive interaction through pragmatic conversation to resolve confrontation and differences and create regional peace.
Kao went on to say that Taiwan has become highly recognized internationally as a model of democracy in Chinese communities and around the world.
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Medical resources and relief supplies from Taiwan are helping residents of earthquake and tsunami hit Palu on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Taiwan is among the 25 countries and four international organizations providing help to survivors of the natural disasters.
The Indonesian office of Taiwan-based Tzu Chi Foundation has set up a shelter for survivors at a local temple, and is providing urgently needed water, food, medical care and other emergency supplies.
The government last week announced plans to donate US$1 million to support relief efforts in Sulawesi.
And the Ministry of Health has opened two special bank accounts to collect donations to help victims of the earthquake.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said Taiwanese expats and embassy staff in Haiti are all safe following a magnitude-5.9 earthquake that struck the Caribbean country early Sunday.
Ministry spokesman Andrew Lee (李憲章) said the embassy will continue to monitor the safety of Taiwanese nationals in Haiti and will offer any assistance necessary.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was centered about 20 kilometers west-northwest of port town Port-de-Paix at a depth of 11.7 kilometers.
Reports say at least 12 were killed dead and 188 others injured during the earthquake.
Credit: AP / TNG
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The Taipei Medical University is helping the Kingdom of eSwatini with a cancer program to help it improve its ability to treat cancer patients and offer them proper healthcare.
According to the hospital, more than 1,000 people in eSwatini are diagnosed with cancer each year, with most suffering from cervical, prostate, bladder and breast cancer.
South Africa stopped accepting cancer patients from the landlocked monarchy in the second half of 2017 because it was unable to collect payment from eSwatini for the medical bills.
And the Taipei Medical University says it is now training physicians, healthcare personnel, radiation specialists and medical technologists in eSwantini to treat cancer patients.
The first batch of trainees completed their courses over the summer and returned to eSwatini earlier this month.
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Electric scooter riders in Taiwan have set a new Guinness world record, when they staged a "quiet" flash mob on the Taipei Bridge.
Some 1,303 Gogoro owners gathered at a park in New Taipei's Sanchong District before riding across the bridge.
They then headed down Minquan West and Minquan East roads in Taipei to highlight "zero emissions" and "low noise."
The event was organized by owners of Gogoro electric scooters through social media.
Some 500 Gogoro owners held a similar event last year.
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Taiwan's Youth Olympic Games team has participated in opening ceremony of the 2018 Youth Olympic Game in Buenos Aires.
The event was held at the iconic Obelisk and it was the first opening ceremony to have taken place outside the stadium and was open to the public.
The Obelisk of Buenos Aires is a national historic monument.
It is located in the middle of the city's 140-meter-wide July 9 Avenue, which is the world's widest avenue.
The 12-day games feature 4,000 athletes aged from between 15 and 18 from 206 countries.
They will be competing in 32 sports events.
Taiwan's team is composed of 59 athletes and they will participate in 19 events.
Read Next: Inside Taiwan's Indie Music Scene: Is It Truly 'Independent'?
Taiwan won three gold, five silver and three bronze medals at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.
This news bulletin was provided courtesy of International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT), Taiwan’s leading English-language broadcaster.
Editor: David Green (@DavidPeterGreen)
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