May 27, 1939 ~ November 28, 2015
Mr Rong San Lin (林榮三), founder of the Taipei Times and its sister newspaper the Liberty Times, passed away at 2:30pm yesterday as a result of a tumor in combination with heart and lung failure. Following treatment by a team of doctors at National Taiwan University Hospital, Mr Lin passed away peacefully in his home with his children and family by his side. Mr Lin was 76 years old.
With immense sadness, the Liberty Times Group and Union Group acknowledge this difficult loss. In recognition of Mr Lin’s pragmatic spirit, diligence and self-motivation in everything he did, all employees will double their efforts and unite in an effort to continue their passionate service to society.
Photo: Taipei Times
“It is with the utmost gratitude that the family thanks those who have expressed their concern, and we ask for your forgiveness and understanding for not being able to thank everyone individually,” the Lin family said.
Mr Lin was an honorary doctor of law at Fu Jen Catholic University, founder of the Liberty Times Group, the Union Group and the Rong San Lin Foundation of Culture and Social Welfare. He served as a legislator, member of the Control Yuan, national policy adviser to the president and senior adviser to the president. He had a longstanding concern for freedom of expression and democratic development in Taiwan. In 2000 he was awarded the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon by then-president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and in 2008 he was awarded the Order of Propitious Clouds with Grand Cordon by then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in recognition of his contributions.
CIVIL DEFENSE: More reservists in alternative service would help establish a sound civil defense system for use in wartime and during natural disasters, Kuma Academy’s CEO said While a total of 120,000 reservists are expected to be called up for alternative reserve drills this year, compared with the 6,505 drilled last year, the number has been revised to 58,000 due to a postponed training date, Deputy Minster of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan (馬士元) said. In principle, the ministry still aims to call up 120,000 reservists for alternative reserve drills next year, he said, but the actual number would not be decided later until after this year’s evaluation. The increase follows a Legislative Yuan request that the Ministry of the Interior address low recruitment rates, which it made while reviewing
DETERRENCE: Along with US$500 million in military aid and up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees, the bill would allocate US$400 million to countering PRC influence The US House of Representatives on Friday approved an appropriations bill for fiscal year 2025 that includes US$500 million in military aid for Taiwan. The legislation, which authorizes funding for the US Department of State, US foreign operations and related programs for next year, passed 212-200 in the Republican-led House. The bill stipulates that the US would provide no less than US$500 million in foreign military financing for Taiwan to enhance deterrence across the Taiwan Strait, and offer Taipei up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees for the same purpose. The funding would be made available under the US’ Foreign Military
WARNING: China has stepped up harassment of foreign vessels after its new regulation took effect last month, an official said, citing an incident in the Diaoyutai Islands The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday linked China’s seizure of a Taiwanese fishing vessel illegally operating in its territorial waters to Beijing’s new regulation authorizing the China Coast Guard to seize boats in waters it claims. Chinese officials boarded and then seized a Taiwanese fishing vessel operating near China’s coast close to Kinmen County late on Tuesday and took it to a Chinese port, the CGA said. The Penghu-registered squid fishing vessel Da Jin Man No. 88 (大進滿88) was boarded and seized by China Coast Guard east-northeast of Liaoluo Bay (料羅灣), 17.5 nautical miles (32.4km) from Taiwan’s restricted waters off Kinmen,
As eight basketball-playing international students appealed to the Taiwanese basketball industry after they were excluded from the draft of an upcoming new league merging the P.League+ and the T1 League, the new league’s preparatory committee spokesperson Chang Shu-jen (張樹人) yesterday said the committee would tomorrow discuss the supplementary measures and whether the international students can join the draft. The students on Tuesday called for support on their right to play in the upcoming new league, after a merger involving the two leagues impacted their eligibility for the draft. The international players from the University Basketball Association (UBA), led by first pick prospect