Groups mark massacre with warningTIANANMEN SQUARE: Taiwan should let the perpetrators of the massacre know that it remembers, as Hong Kong’s annual vigil has been banned, the DPP’s Fan Yun saidBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterHuman rights advocates yesterday cautioned the global community against China’s expanding totalitarianism in Hong Kong and elsewhere, as they marked the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The New School for Democracy held a forum attended by lawmakers, academics and human rights advocates. Remembering the massacre in Taiwan is meaningful, as it protects Taiwan’s democracy and resists China’s expanding totalitarianism, he said. While Beijing hopes that people will forget the atrocity, Taiwanese should continue to remind people that tanks ran over democracy activists, students and citizens in the massacre, Chen said. The Chinese Communist Party is now extending its violence to Hong Kong, he said, adding that this could also happen in other parts of the world.

For a golden decade, cut PRC tiesBy Huang Tien-lin 黃天麟I would really rather not use the expression “golden decade,” because it has been sullied by former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who said that with the signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with China, Taiwan would experience a golden decade, but reality proved that to be a matter of political trickery. In the end, I still decided to use this expression here, because looking at the global economy today, Taiwan has a good chance of experiencing a golden decade in the next 20 years. They are opposed to distancing Taiwanese from the Chinese economy and are doing all they can to persuade the government to improve cross-strait relations. Taiwan has never been so close to a golden decade as it is today, but this opportunity could disappear in the blink of an eye. If the officials in charge of the economy continue to muddle along, led by the nose by China-based businesspeople trying to integrate Taiwan’s economy with China’s, there will be no golden decade.

The France-based hypermarket chain reached an agreement with Hong Kong-based Dairy Farm International Holdings (牛奶國際控股), the pan-Asian retailer that launched Wellcome Taiwan in 1987. People enter a Wellcome supermarket in Taipei yesterday. The quality, prices and service offered to Taiwanese consumers would thus be improved,” Carrefour Taiwan said in a statement. Carrefour Taiwan posted net sales of 1,968 million euros, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of 209 million euros and recurring operating income of 83 million euros, it said. The transaction is expected to close by the end of this year, and Carrefour Taiwan plans to apply to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) for approval soon, it said.

Sanatorium residents protest overpassBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterResidents of New Taipei City’s Losheng (Happy Life) Sanatorium yesterday protested outside the Executive Yuan in Taipei, demanding that the construction of an overpass near the entrance of the site’s original grounds be halted. However, the government did not engage in any real communication with sanatorium residents when planning the project, it said. The ramp, which would twist through 630 degrees, would be inaccessible by sanatorium residents, most of whom have disabilities, it said. Chang Yun-ming (張雲明), deputy chairwoman of the self-help association, said that in addition to the lack of an environmental impact assessment report, construction on the overpass began without the residents’ knowledge. Moving forward with the development plan for the sanatorium without going through proper environmental impact assessment procedures and addressing safety concerns could pose a risk to the residents and other structures in the area, she added.

Aimed at boosting domestic spending, the coupons worth NT$3,000 (US$100.04) are to cost NT$1,000. Premier Su Tseng-chang, left, and Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang point out elements of the Cabinet’s stimulus coupon program at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Premier Su Tseng-chang introduces the Cabinet’s stimulus coupon program at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. At NT$1,000 per unit, the coupons are to contain four coupons worth NT$500 each and five coupons worth NT$200 each. For businesses and shops that would accept the coupons, Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津) said that those equipped with government Uniform Invoice numbers could cash in the coupons at post offices and banks nationwide.

Virus Outbreak: Immigration agency lists visa extension conditionsBy Huang Hsin-po and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe National Immigration Agency yesterday announced conditions that foreign nationals in Taiwan must meet to apply for a special visa extension after reaching the maximum stay of 180 days on various visas. As part of tightened border controls to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 21 granted an automatic 30-day visa extension for foreigners who entered Taiwan on or before that date with a visa waiver, visitor’s visa or landing visa. The logo of the National Immigration Agency is pictured in an undated photograph. Foreign nationals in situations where it is necessary for them to stay could qualify after a review by authorities, it added. Foreign nationals who wish to apply should prepare the relevant paperwork and file their application at the agency’s service stations nationwide, the agency said.

Taiwan, Japan, US seek to step up cooperationBy Lu Yi-hsuan / Staff reporterTaiwan, the US and Japan yesterday issued a joint statement announcing that they would seek greater cooperation under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) as they marked its fifth anniversary. Izumi said that Japan, Taiwan and the US share the values of freedom, democracy and human rights. Japan joined the GCTF as a partner last year. Taiwan has received international praise for its fight against the novel coronavirus and made a greater contribution to international society, he said. Japan would not, and cannot, leave Taiwan, he said, adding that Japan and Taiwan must act together.

Taiwanese do not consume enough dairy, HPA saysBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterMore than 80 percent of Taiwanese consume less than half of the recommended daily intake of dairy products, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said yesterday. To mark World Milk Day yesterday, the HPA and the Council of Agriculture invited baseball star Lin Chih-sheng (林智勝) to promote the health benefits of milk and dairy products, and together they demonstrated how to make a nut and papaya milk smoothie. HPA Director-General Wang Ying-wei (王英偉) said that milk is one of the best sources of calcium, as it also contains many other nutrients, and the administration recommends that people drink a cup (240ml) of milk every morning and evening, or consume other dairy products to ensure they consume enough calcium. Citing a national HPA health and nutrition survey from 2013 to 2016, HPA Community Health Division head Lo Su-ying (羅素英) said that more than 80 percent of Taiwanese consume less than one serving of dairy foods per day, while the recommended daily intake is at least two servings. Lo said that people who are lactose sensitive can choose dairy products low in lactose, such as yogurt or cheese, and vegans or people who are lactose intolerant should consume more nuts, leafy green vegetables or tofu.

Virus Outbreak: Professor calls for Taiwan to start antibody testingBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterTony Chen (陳秀熙), a professor and vice dean of National Taiwan University’s (NTU) College of Public Health, yesterday said that Taiwan should start conducting antibody testing to discover the prevalence of COVID-19 in the nation. A scientist conducts antibody testing at a laboratory in Taiwan in an undated photograph. Photo: Chang Tsung-chiu, Taipei TimesCountries with the lowest index scores include Iceland at 0.01, New Zealand at 0.03 and Taiwan at 0.06, Chen said. Changhua County Public Health Bureau Director Yeh Yen-po (葉彥伯) said that the county plans to cooperate with the NTU College of Public Health and conduct antibody testing on confirmed cases, their close contacts, healthcare practitioners and people who are at higher risk of contracting the virus. The NHRI said that it has transferred the test technology to five domestic manufacturers, which would develop the test so that they can mass produce it.

Ex-teacher hopes to save language with new bookBy Lo Hsin-chen / Staff reporterA retired teacher in Pingtung County has published teaching material for the Rukai Aboriginal language, hoping to save her community’s language, which is spoken by only about 500 people. Tu Fu-chu (杜富菊), a former elementary-school teacher based in Wutai Township’s (霧台) Dawu Community (大武部落), said the book is aimed at preschoolers, regular students and adult beginners. Seeing the language spoken by ever fewer people as many community elders pass away, Tu on Saturday said that she hoped to preserve the language by turning her decade-long research on the language into teaching material. The book is a rich compilation of language and cultural knowledge, Aboriginal Language Research and Development Foundation executive director Lowking Nowbucyang said. Tu Fu-chu also expressed the hope that her book would encourage more community members to create similar language teaching materials.

Special meeting reinstates former D-Link chairmanBy Natasha Li / Staff reporterFormer D-Link Corp (友訊科技) chairman John Lee (李中旺) is to resume his post at the company, replacing Lori Hu (胡雪), after a special shareholders’ meeting in Taipei yesterday voted to reinstate him. New D-Link chairman John Lee, second left, and independent directors Chung Shyang-fong and Fong Chung-peng, fourth and fifth left, talk with former chairman Lori Hu’s son, Howard Kao, third left, at the company’s headquarters in Taipei yesterday. The developments followed reports of a management crisis at D-Link, with company executives and board members forming two opposing camps. Lee was last month dismissed from his chairman position at Alpha Networks and his vice chairman position at D-Link. Taiwan Steel has obtained a power of attorney by shareholders in its bid for control of D-Link with the support of Lee and other company executives.

KMT makes last push for cash handoutsBy Dennis Xie / Staff writer, with CNAThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday made a last-ditch effort to persuade the Executive Yuan to distribute NT$6,000 in cash per person instead of stimulus coupons as part of a government plan to revive the virus-hit economy. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Lin Wei-chou, second left, holds a news conference with other KMT lawmakers at the legislature in Taipei yesterday. If the Executive Yuan accepts the proposal, the KMT would fully support relevant budget plans in the legislature, he added. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who was then the DPP chairperson, opposed the policy, saying that cash was better, Lin Yi-hua said. The government should be open-minded and listen more to the public, who want cash, Yang added.

Opened on Jan. 31, the Taipei MRT’s Circular Line, or Yellow Line, made life in the nation’s capital even more convenient. The Jingmei White Terror Memorial Park was once a detention center for political prisoners during the Martial Law era. The area leading up to Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park, with its MRT depot, car repair shops and recycling centers, is quite desolate. However, while these places are among the top attractions of their cities, the Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park doesn’t see many visitors even when there isn’t a pandemic. >> Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park is located at 131 Fusing Rd, Sindian District, New Taipei City (新北市新店區復興路131號).

Anger, rage over police killings shatters the USAP, MINNEAPOLIS, MinnesotaAmericans awoke yesterday to charred and glass-strewn streets in dozens of cities after another night of unrest fueled by rage over the mistreatment of African Americans at the hands of police, who responded to the violence with tear gas and rubber bullets. Police knock back protesters as they detain one at a rally on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Monday last week. Los Angeles Police Department Commander Cory Palka stands among several destroyed police cars during a protest on Saturday over the death of George Floyd. People take part in a protest in London’s Trafalgar Square yesterday over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Monday last week. Photo: ReutersFormer US vice president Joe Biden condemned the violence as he continued to express common cause with those demonstrating.

The poll showed that 68 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with Tsai’s performance, down 8.9 percentage points from last month, while 21 percent said they disapproved of her performance. Her approval among respondents aged 20 to 29 fell 14.7 percentage points, the largest decrease when compared with other age groups. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei TimesSu’s approval rating slid 7.9 percentage points to 65 percent, and 25 percent said they were dissatisfied with his performance. Similarly, his approval rate fell the most among respondents aged 20 to 29, dropping 22 percentage points, the poll showed. It collected 811 valid samples, and has a margin of error of 3.44 percentage points.