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CNN 10
Tensions Between China and Taiwan; New York County Bans Unvaccinated Children From Public Spaces; History of April Fools Day
Aired April 02, 2019 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN 10 ANCHOR: Once again the nation of China factors in to today`s first story but this time we`re visiting the island of Taiwan. I`m
Carl Azuz for CNN 10. Thank you for watching. Taiwan is located about 100 miles off the eastern coast of China. Both the island and the mainland
consider Taiwan to be a province of China but they both have their own governments and those governments both consider themselves to be the
legitimate rulers over all of China and that`s a major issue between them. On Sunday morning, Taiwan says two Chinese air force jets crossed a
maritime border that separates the island from mainland China.
Taiwan scrambled fighter planes in response and accused China of a reckless and provocative action. China hasn`t intentionally done this in years and
it hasn`t responded to the accusations that it violated Taiwanese air space but China has increased its military exercises around Taiwan recently. And
in January, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Taiwan independence was a dead end. The U.S. may play a part in this too. Taiwanese President Tsai
Ing-wen says her country wants to buy new fighter jets and tanks from America saying this would greatly enhance Taiwan`s defense capabilities,
but China`s government said last week that possible U.S. arms sales to Taiwan were dangerous. The flare up here is just the latest of a back and
forth struggle between Taiwan and China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This island of 23 million people is a vibrant democracy that sits just across the sea from the worlds largest one
party state. I`m Matt Rivers in Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China.
STEVEN JONG (PH), CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I`m Steven Jong (ph) in Beijing, the council the forts (ph) officially known as the Peoples Republic of
China. This name has existed since 1949 when the communists won a brutal civil war and forced the previous government to flee to Taiwan.
RIVERS: Both sides set up their own governments. Each claiming to be the only legitimate ruler of the entire Chinese territory and decades of
hostility ensued. There was no travel, trade or communications between both sides and the threat of military action was a constant presence. But
tensions began to ease in the 1990`s when Beijing and Taipai authorities began a series of meetings and correspondence that deliberately put aside
the issue of sovereignty in favor of resolving practical matters.
JONG (PH): These dialogues paved the way for economic and cultural cooperation. Businesses from Taiwan have invested billions of dollars here
on the mainland the worlds most populous country and second largest economy. And millions of mainland tourists have flocked to Taiwan after
direct flights resumed. But still China insists Taiwan is a break away province that must be reunited with the mainland by force if necessary.
RIVERS: Since Taiwan became a democracy in the late 1990s`, cross trade relations have fluctuated depending on which of the two main political
parties is in power on the island. Bilateral ties warm up when the Kuamintang, the party that favors closer ties with China rules Taiwan and
relations deteriorate when Taiwan`s leader is from the democratic progressive party which traditionally supports Taiwan independence.
JONG (PH): Tensions have been climbing since 2016 when the pro- independence party`s nominee Tsai Ing-wen was elected president. Chinese President Xi Jinping has hardened his rhetoric and policies towards Taiwan.
RIVERS: With analysts seeing increased Chinese military drills near Taiwan, many people are wary of the growing strength and ambitions of their
massive neighbor just across the sea. Fearful that their unique way of life cultivated over the last seven decades may be under rising threat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: 10 Second Trivia. Rubella or Rubeola is another term for what? Red gems, measles, Martian soil, or clay. This is another term for measles. A
contagious virus that`s characterized by a skin rash.
Other symptoms of measles include a high fever and a cough and large outbreaks are happening right now in the nations of Israel, Philippines and
Ukraine. Over each of the past 10 years, the United States has averaged anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred measles cases. This year
America has had its second greatest number of diagnosis since the year 2000. So far there`ve been 387 cases of measles confirmed across 15
states. The Centers for Disease Control says measles can be serious leading to the hospitalization of about 25 percent of those who get the
disease.
But it`s not usually deadly, there`s one death for every 1,000 cases on average. The CDC says the only way to protect against measles is to get
vaccinated and in the current U.S. outbreaks most of the children who`ve contracted the disease were not vaccinated. Though a few were and caught
the measles anyway. No deaths have been reported. The vaccine offered in the U.S. is called MMR which stands for Measles, Mumps and Rubella.
Doctors say it`s more than 90 percent effective at preventing measles if someone who`s had MMR is exposed to the virus but the CDC also says there`s
a remote chance that the vaccine can cause side effects and serious injuries. And that`s why some parents are hesitant to allow it for their
children.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Health officials in New York State are scrambling to contain a measles outbreak which is now the longest in the United States
since before the disease was eliminated in 2000. Six months into the outbreak officials in Rockland County just north of New York City have
taken the extremely, unusual step of banning unvaccinated children under the age of 18 from public spaces. Under the ban, unvaccinated children
should not go to restaurants, schools, places of worship and any public bus. About 85 percent of confirmed cases in Rockland were 18 or younger.
The 30 day emergency order has sparked outrage from some critics.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s a misplaced priority and it`s a violation of the Constitutional right to lock people in their home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But officials caution this is about educating the community and encouraging vaccination.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don`t want to fine anyone. We don`t want to put anyone in jail. We just want people to comply with the order. We want
them to get vaccinated.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The law does not apply to people older than 18 because the county quote "did not want to prevent anyone from going to work" though
they`re still encouraged to get vaccinated. There are at least 370 cases linked to this outbreak including cases in the New York City boroughs of
Brooklyn and Queens. But according to the New York City`s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, most cases are effected members of the Orthodox
Jewish community.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m from the Orthodox community and all my friends, all of us we do what we have to do. I`m - - I`m quite shocked at what`s
going on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Officials say the initial case was an unvaccinated child who contracted the virus during a visit to Israel, a country fighting
a measles outbreak of its own.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the Liberty Bell has been bought by Taco Bell. They`re selling gorditas under the clapper. Across Australia,
McDonalds has added a new kind of burger called the McPickle. This is not real news. These are April Fools jokes, an April 1st tradition that
apparently dates back hundreds of years. So now that you`ve made it through another annual foolin`, take a look at some of the history of the
foolish tradition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In ancient cultures, New Years Day was celebrated on April 1st but in 1582 Pope Gregory the XIII moved the holiday to January
1st. Not everybody got the message. Those that continue to celebrate on April 1st were called April fools. Funny, right? Much of Britain didn`t
adopt the new calendar until 1752 but they were celebrating April Fools Day long before that. In Scotland it`s a two day affair, if you`ve ever had a
"Kick Me" sign taped to your back, you might blame the Scots.
April Fools Day is also been linked to the vernal equinox and the start of spring. That`s when the ancient Romans had their hilarious Festival of
Hilaria. Hindu`s have Holi and Purim is celebrated in Judaism. Some of the biggest April Fools Day pranks are courtesy of corporations and the media.
In 1940 a press release from the Franklin Institute, a science museum in Philadelphia, declared the world would end the following day. They were
seeking publicity for a lecture series and a local radio station reported on it. In 1957, the BBC falsely reported a bumper crop of spaghetti trees
in Switzerland.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Another reason why this may be a bumper year lies in the virtual disappearance of the spaghetti weevil.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And in 1998, Burger King announced the left handed Whopper specifically designed for the 2 million left handed Americans
including myself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: "Where`s the beef" in that? After all it`s a "handburger". It`s a left handed compliment that someone might want it. They should do a taste
test and see "sandwhich" is better. Sure one is "all right" but another option could give some people a "left" even if they had to charge a "high
five" or more. They deserve a hand for not letting anyone, not even an April fool feel "left" out. I`m Carl Azuz on the loose for CNN.
END
