EDITORIAL: Ko and his tone-deaf ‘white’ partyJust when you thought that former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and his Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) could not be any more tone deaf, they leave everyone dumbstruck with another inexplicable exploit. As the commenters pointed out, the phrase would immediately be understood as supportive of far-right white supremacist politics, which is not what the party intended. As some commenters said, not even Trump would dare mouth such a blatantly white supremacist slogan. In its defense, it said Taiwan does not have the concept of white supremacy, and that the implication was unintended. Putting aside that the tendrils of white supremacy reach everywhere, manifesting most commonly in Taiwan as white privilege, this incident reflects extremely poorly on the TPP for multiple reasons.

US act: Taiwan belongs to the worldBy Su Wei-cheng 蘇緯政On Tuesday last week, the US House of Representatives passed the Taiwan International Solidarity Act, which is to proceed to the US Senate for a review. The law is of great significance to Taiwan’s international participation. Taiwan belongs to the world, not exclusively to China. Even if China continues to threaten and oppress Taiwan, this would not shake our determination to walk toward the world. Meanwhile, with the international community’s firm support for the country, Taiwan is to definitely become a key force for peace, prosperity and sustainable development in the region and the world.

EDITORIAL: Taiwan economy growing confidentlyThe Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DBGAS) on Friday lowered its GDP growth estimate for the April-to-June quarter to 1.48 percent on an annual basis, down from the 1.82 percent expansion it predicted in May, as two major GDP components — net exports and gross capital formation — continued to contract. Moreover, the latest data indicated the economy also rebounded from a technical recession in the previous two quarters, underlining recovering growth momentum in the economy, albeit weaker than expected. The central bank last month trimmed its projection for Taiwan’s GDP growth for this year from 2.21 percent to 1.72 percent. The stronger-than-expected domestic demand came as the economy continued to add jobs, services demand recovered further and the tourism sector remained vibrant. It is unusual that domestic demand in Taiwan could help offset the negative effects of slowing external demand so strongly, as seen in the second quarter.

Gasoline prices to rise NT$0.5; diesel down NT$0.1By Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterGasoline prices are to increase by NT$0.5 per liter this week as global crude oil prices moved higher last week, CPC Corp, Taiwan (CPC, 台灣中油) and Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化) said in separate statements yesterday. Crude oil prices rose last week after Goldman Sachs Group Inc predicted the oil market would be in short supply in the second half of the year, CPC said. Based on CPC’s floating oil price formula, the cost of crude oil increased 4.13 percent from a week earlier, it said. Gasoline prices at CPC and Formosa stations are today to increase to NT$30.3, NT$31.8 and NT$33.8 per liter for 92, 95 and 98-octane unleaded gasoline respectively, the companies said. However, the price of premium diesel is to drop NT$0.1 per liter to NT$28.0 at CPC stations and to NT$27.8 at Formosa pumps after the companies factored in their oil price formulas, domestic market competition and global market trends, they said.

Wushu athlete wins gold for Taiwan in ChengduStaff writer, with CNAWushu athlete Sun Chia-hung yesterday won Taiwan’s first gold at the FISU World University Games in Chengdu, China. Sun won silver in the taijijian on Saturday. Taiwan’s Sun Chia-hung competes in the ISU World University Games men’s taijiquan event in Chengdu, China, yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Chinese Taipei University Sports Federation via CNAMeanwhile, Taiwanese archers won a silver and two bronzes. Photo courtesy of Chinese Taipei University Sports Federation“[I’m] very happy to win the team event’s silver medal with the seniors.

Mayor Chiang’s forum of ironiesBy Huang Wei-ping 黃惟冰The 2023 Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum is scheduled for next month in Shanghai. It will be the 14th forum since it was launched in 2010, and also the first in which Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) participates as Taipei mayor. It is unclear exactly how beneficial the twin-city forum has been to the residents of Taipei over the course of the past decade or so. By all appearances, it has become little more than a stage for the Taipei mayor to build personal relations with the other side of the Taiwan Strait. If the twin-city forum was really for the city’s and its residents’ benefit, would the council have opposed it?

Niger general declares himself leaderRESPONSE: While the US pledged ‘unflagging’ support for the detained president, the head of Wagner hailed the coup and offered his fighters’ services to help bring orderAFP, NIAMEYThe Niger general who staged a coup on Friday declared himself the new leader of the African nation and said that any foreign military intervention would lead to chaos. Nigerien General Abdourahamane Tchiani speaks on national television in a screen grab from national broadcaster ORTN Tele Sahel on Friday. West African leaders are today to meet in the capital, Abuja, to discuss the coup, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said. “ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] and the international community would do everything to defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the region,” Tinubu, who is also the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc, said in a statement. “What happened in Niger is nothing other than the struggle of the people of Niger with their colonizers.

CDC urges the public to clean up waterBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterAs Typhoon Doksuri brought heavy rains and floods to eastern and southern Taiwan, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday urged people to remove any standing water on their property for dengue fever prevention, avoid cleaning up the environment while barefooted or wearing sandals, and disinfect the flooded homes to prevent illnesses. People should clean up their homes and the surrounding environment, especially in flood-affected areas, to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, as the risk of local dengue outbreaks continues to grow with case numbers having exceeded the same periods in the past decade, the CDC said. A Tainan resident removes water from pots after rainfall in an undated photograph. If people experience dengue symptoms, including a fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle or joint soreness, and rashes, they should seek immediate medical attention and tell the medical staff about their recent activities to assist the diagnosis and faster reporting of dengue cases. The centers also urged people not to clean the environment while barefooted or wearing sandals, but instead wear rain boots or knee-high waterproof boots, as they might get injured by rusty objects and get infected with leptospirosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei or tetanus from contaminated water.

The White House’s announcement said the package would include defense, education and training for Taiwanese. Flags of Taiwan and the US are displayed on a table for a meeting in Taipei on March 27, 2018. Photo: Tyrone Siu, ReutersUS lawmakers have been pressuring the Pentagon and the White House to speed weapons to Taiwan. It said that similar to arms sales, the Presidential Drawdown Authority is crucial to bolstering Taiwan’s self-defense. The package is in addition to nearly US$19 billion in military sales of F-16s and other major weapons systems that the US has approved for Taiwan.

Trade deepens links to TaiwanBy Hong Tsun-ming 康駿銘The US Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation affirming its support for the initial trade agreement reached under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade. It also aims to improve collaboration through annual trade talks, tackle barriers to trade and promote UK expertise, and in this way taking advantage of increasing commercial opportunities with the deepening of the UK-Taiwan relationship. Since the UK has become a member of the CPTPP, the trade talks between the two can also give Taiwan an edge in joining the CPTPP. The US’ and the UK’s increasing cooperation with Taiwan on trade is not only benefiting all parties economically, but, more importantly, it catalyzes Taiwan to establish closer ties with the global community. However, China, which continues to claim sovereignty over Taiwan, expressed anger about the initiatives that could bring Taiwan substantial benefits, stating that: “Under the disguise of trade cooperation, the so-called ‘Initiative’ is just a US tool to rip Taiwan off.

Manufacturing data contract for fourth consecutive monthStaff writer, with CNAThe local manufacturing sector stayed in contraction mode for the fourth consecutive month last month amid continued weakness in global demand, the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER, 台經院) said yesterday. Data compiled by TIER showed the composite index, which measures the fundamentals of the manufacturing sector, rose 0.36 points from a month earlier to 10.17 last month, but its business climate monitor remained “blue,” indicating contraction, because it was below the 10.5-point cutoff. Last month, the sub-indexes on costs and demand also moved lower by 0.02 and 0.01 from May, while the sub-index on the general business climate bucked the downturn, rising 0.47 from a month earlier. As inflationary pressure remained and interest rates stayed high in the US and European markets, the local manufacturing sector remained under pressure, showing no immediate signs of recovery, the think tank said. Due to weakening pricing power among steelmakers, the base metals industry remained “blue” for the 13th straight month last month, while solid demand for military products boosted prospects for the general business climate of the machinery industry, which was “green” for the third straight month last month.

TSP calls for more meaningful Wanan air defense drillsBy Huang Hao-chen and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP) yesterday slammed the annual Wanan air defense exercise as “just for show,” saying that only meaningful exercises would help increase the public’s survivability against the threat posed by China. A police officer keeps watch during a Wanan air defense exercise in Taipei on Monday. Photo: CNAThe government claims that there are more than 100,000 air raid shelters nationwide, but most of them are inaccessible, she said. How organizations with first aid, gas masks and other materials should mobilize, as well as civil defense groups, were also not touched upon, he added. Wang also cited civilian defense classes held by the Kuma Academy, a non-profit organization focused on civil defense topics such as first aid and media literacy, which have been fully booked with a significant waiting list.

A landslide blocks part of the Southern Cross-island Highway in Taitung County yesterday. The Siouguluan River swells to nearly the height of Yuli Bridge in Hualien County yesterday due to rain from Typhoon Doksuri. The storm yesterday brought 350mm of rain to Hualien, Taitung and Pingtung, bureau forecaster Chu Mei-lin (朱美霖) said. Winds would begin to die down in Taiwan proper with the departure of the typhoon today, Chu said. Meanwhile, bureau forecaster Huang En-hong (黃恩鴻) said that a tropical depression off Guam was expected to become Typhoon Khanun.

Thousands attend Comic ExhibitionStaff writer, with CNAThousands of manga and anime fans yesterday braved the rain brought by Typhoon Doksuri as they eagerly converged on this year’s Comic Exhibition at the World Trade Center in Taipei on the first day of the event. Cosplayers wait in line to enter the Comic Exhibition on its opening day at the World Trade Center in Taipei yesterday. Travis Japan from the well-known Japanese talent agency Jonny & Associates, Inc, performed at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. Anime and manga fans attend the opening day of the Comic Exhibition at the World Trade Center in Taipei yesterday. The Comic Exhibition runs until Monday next week at Exhibition Hall 1 of the World Trade Center.

Of gray rhinos and black swansBy Roger Wu 吳哲文Next month, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) is scheduled to visit Paraguay to attend the inauguration of its president-elect Santiago Pena. China, when seen through such speech and behavior, is the gray rhino in the world. If China’s moves would not lead the international community to consider it as one, who would it consider the gray rhino to be? China is not merely a gray rhino. China’s economic recession is a black swan that would influence the world, and we do not know when the black swan would come crashing to the ground.