Tourists visit the Great Buddha in Changhua County on Sunday. A couple in traditional Indonesian wedding clothes have photographs taken with the Great Buddha in Changhua County on Sunday. The newlyweds made their way from the archway near the visitors’ center to Nine Dragon Pond, stopping to take photos and receive good wishes from passersby, the Great Buddha omnipresent behind them. To them, the Great Buddha represents Changhua, so they decided it would be the perfect spot to take wedding photos, they added. “So many people come to take wedding photos,” Baguashan Great Buddha Scenic Association chairman Chang Shih-liang (張世良) said.

KMT slams DPP policy fora as ‘internal propaganda’By Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterPlans by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to hold a series of nationwide forums on government policies was “internal propaganda” to rally DPP supporters against a referendum on the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal off Taoyuan, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Culture and Communications Committee director-general Alicia Wang (王育敏) told a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Pan and his alliance yesterday delivered more than 700,000 signatures supporting the referendum proposal to the Central Election Commission. Wang made the remark in response to a statement by Tsai at a DPP meeting on local politics in Taipei. “If President Tsai does not want to unite Taiwan, she should not tear Taiwan apart,” the KMT said. Tsai was only catering to the DPP’s interests, the KMT said, adding that she should stop accusing it of being a “red party” to distract from her policy being challenged in several referendums.

Next Bank general manager steps downBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterNext Bank (將來銀行) general manager Liu I-cheng (劉奕成) unexpectedly resigned yesterday, casting a shadow over the Web-only bank, which has yet to obtain an operating license from the nation’s regulator. “Liu served as chief executive officer of the preparations office of Next Bank in November 2018 and he has been the bank’s general manager since January last year. From left, Next Bank deputy general manager Jacob Mei, chairman Chung Fu-kuei and general manager Liu I-cheng pose for a photograph at a news conference in Taipei on Aug. 1, 2019. Prior to joining Next Bank, Liu served as head of the preparations office of Line Bank. The commission yesterday said that it expected Next Bank to appoint a new general manager soon and that it would review the qualifications of the new general manager.

As of 5pm yesterday, the reservoir, which provides water for the Hsinchu Science Park, was at 9.9 percent of capacity, a record low. Photo: Liao Hsueh-ju, Taipei Times“Our goal is to preserve the maximum amount of water without affecting industrial production,” Wang said. The ministry also plans to increase the supply of water from alternative sources to the affected area, including the Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區), Wang said. As of 5pm yesterday, the Baoshan Second Reservoir (寶二水庫), which supplies water to the Hsinchu Science Park, had fallen to 9.9 percent of capacity, a record low. “We pray to the skies for rain, but the government must drill emergency wells and everybody must conserve water.”

Seeking capacity, E Ink to double capital spendingBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterE Ink Holdings Inc (元太科技), the world’s sole supplier of e-paper displays, yesterday said that it plans to double its capital expenditure to NT$1.6 billion (US$56.53 million) to expand capacity and catch up with customer demand. Photo: Chen Mei-ying, Taipei TimesThe Hsinchu-based company last year spent between NT$750 million and NT$800 million on new facilities and manufacturing equipment. For the whole of this year, we can grow our revenue,” company chief financial officer Lloyd Chen (陳樂群) told a virtual investors’ conference yesterday. However, revenue growth is contingent on the speed of the company’s capacity expansion and the availability of key components, such as display drive ICs, Chen said. Last year’s operating profit approached royalty income (NT$1.89 billion), indicating that E Ink no longer needs to depend on royalties for growth.

Dozens change name to ‘salmon’By Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with CNAHousehold registration offices nationwide have since Tuesday been flooded with people applying to change their name to “salmon” (guiyu, 鮭魚), after Japanese sushi restaurant chain Akindo Sushiro promised free meals for anyone with the name. Twenty-eight people had claimed free meals as of 3pm yesterday, while at least 1,000 people had participated in the promotion, Akindo Sushiro said. A student surnamed Lee, bottom, applies to change her name to Lee Yuwang Tachan Kuiyuwang — “Lee Fish King Challenges Salmon King” — in Kaohsiung yesterday. In Taichung, a college student surnamed Kuo (郭) changed her name to Kuo “Salmon Rice Bowl” (郭鮭魚丼飯) to treat her friends, but told reporters that she plans to change it back tomorrow. “Each person has three chances to change their name,” the ministry wrote on Facebook.

Although gambling is forbidden in Taiwan, online platforms such as YouTube are allowed to air commercials that encourage people to bet on sports games, Lin said. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Chun-hsien speaks at a news conference in Taipei on Jan. 7. Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times“These commercials are designed to attract people to join sports-betting clubs. Such commercials have become a major source of consumer complaints, but the government has not done anything about it, he said. The commission had drafted a digital communications act, which could have been used to deal with problematic content on online platforms, Lin said.

Sino Horizon to invest in Taiwan development sitesBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterSino Horizon Holdings Ltd (鼎固開發) on Tuesday said that it has put together a team to scout suitable properties for development in Taiwan. Sino Horizon is mainly engaged in developing and managing commercial and residential properties in Shanghai, Chongqing and other first-tier cities in China. Sino Horizon Holdings Ltd on Tuesday said that it has put together a team to scout suitable properties for development in Taiwan. Sino Horizon said that it prefers to buy idle land that could be turned into affordable residential complexes. Sino Horizon said it has proposed distributing a cash dividend of NT$1.2 per share, suggesting a payout ratio of 176.47 percent.

Egis outlook downbeat due to poor smartphone salesBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterFingerprint sensor supplier Egis Technology Inc (神盾) expects revenue this quarter to continue declining quarter-on-quarter, as stagnant smartphone sales are still curbing demand for chips, a company executive said yesterday. “The [COVID-19] pandemic has significantly affected the company,” Egis chief financial officer George Chang (張家麒) told a videoconference. To regain revenue growth, Egis is expanding its product portfolio to supply versatile chips used in smartphones, including lower-priced chips, Chang said. Egis hopes to capture early business opportunities from Android smartphone makers, who are likely to follow Apple Inc in using TOF technology. Egis is also developing new chips used in “true wireless” earphones, Lo said.

Taoyuan LNG terminal ‘key to energy plan’REFERENDUM RISK: The minister of economic affairs said that there is no plan B for the proposed third LNG terminal if Taipei wants to phase out nuclear power by 2025By Angelica Oung / Staff reporterThe government’s energy transition plan depends on the construction of the proposed third liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal off the coast of Datan Borough (大潭) in Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音) to increase LNG power generation, Minister of Economic Affairs (MOEA) Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said yesterday. The two existing LNG receiving terminals are already running at full capacity, necessitating the third LNG terminal, Wang said. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) asked Wang whether the ministry has a backup plan if a referendum to block the terminal plan prevails. “The MOEA calls for the swift construction of the third LNG terminal to reduce the amount of coal burned.”“Gas from the third LNG terminal would fulfill the power needs of 10 million Taiwanese and close the power gap in the north of Taiwan,” Wang said. “This would allow us to generate power where it is used, lowering systemic risk.”LNG power generation releases approximately 50 percent less greenhouse gas than coal-fired power generation, and much fewer pollutants.

Government must clarify stance on energy, KMT saysENERGY COMPOSITION: The government should define ratios for different sources of energy instead of asking local authorities to do it, the KMT saidBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday called on the government to draw up a clearer energy policy. KMT spokeswoman Chiang I-chen (江怡臻) wrote on Facebook that Taiwan faces a choice of whether it is to rely mainly on nuclear energy, or energy generation from coal or natural gas, and the government should offer a clear solution. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should define reasonable ratios for different sources of energy, instead of leaving the problem to local governments, she said. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spokeswoman Chiang I-chen speaks at a news conference on July 7 last year. As an opposition party, the KMT would respect the will of Taiwanese concerning the fate of the power plant when they cast their vote on Aug. 28, he said.

Water surcharges no solution: group‘BETTER OPTIONS’: The chairman of the Third Wednesday Club said the measure would add to manufacturers’ costs, contrary to the government’s aim of attracting investmentBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterA major trade group yesterday called on the government to use water surcharges only as a last resort to encourage water conservation, saying that the measure would not resolve ongoing water shortages and would increase corporate operating costs. As Taiwan faces its worst shortage in 56 years, government officials have revived talks about imposing water surcharges on heavy water users — namely manufacturers of electronics, and steel and textile products, as well as dyeing and finishing service providers. 2 contract laptop maker, said that electronics firms, especially semiconductor makers, are heavy water users and are concerned that the shortage might affect their production. Water surcharges would not help increase the nation’s water supply, but would add to manufacturers’ production costs, running contrary to the government’s efforts to attract investment, he said. The trade group also said that it wants to visit Japan and China toward the end of this year.

Xinhua news agency reported that China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) unveiled a policy package to incentivize Taiwanese to invest in Chinese agriculture. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian speaks during a broadcast on Chinese television yesterday. While other government agencies have referred numerous alleged infringements to the council, Chen said that “sufficient evidence” had not been presented for the council to take action. Council personnel and academics participating in the research and development of crucial agricultural technologies must obtain a permit to visit China, he said. The Mainland Affairs Council said that the incentives package was part of China’s “united front” efforts aimed at coercing Taiwan into unifying with China.

People like these are seen to exemplify the emotional connection and the contributions that overseas Taiwanese have made to their birthplace. Tim Wu is equally at home in academia and the real world. In 2014, Tim Wu ran as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of New York, receiving 40 percent of the popular vote. Tim Wu has said that he inherited his father’s anti-authoritarian ways, and these have greatly informed his connection with politics. In Tim Wu, Taiwanese see an exemplary second-generation Taiwanese who has not forgotten his roots.

Photo: Wang Chu-hsiu, Taipei TimesThe Japanese introduced the practice of eating beef to Taiwan after they took over in 1895. On Lunar New Year’s Day worshippers come to the Water Buffalo General Temple to rub the temple’s wooden effigy for good luck. Visitors generally offer water, fruit, flowers, sugarcane and grass for the divine bovine. It typically involves whipping an effigy of an ox or water buffalo to symbolize getting ready for the planting season after a winter of idleness. Yilan City’s Wugu Temple (五穀廟) even brings in a live water buffalo for people to rub while reciting similar sayings as Chiayi’s event.