CTFA bullish as TFPL viewing figures increaseBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterGlobal interest in the Taiwan Football Premier League (TFPL) amid global COVID-19 lockdowns that have left soccer fans bereft of live action is good news for the league and Taiwanese players, CTFA general secretary Fang Ching-jen says. Because of these effective policies and actions, it was possible for Taiwan’s top soccer leagues, both men’s and women’s, to start the season on time. We are delighted that the international community is taking more of an interest in Taiwan, and also in our soccer leagues,” Fang said. “This will have a positive effect, as Taiwanese players in the TFPL have a higher global exposure. We want to thank the fans in these nations for their support and continued interest in Taiwanese soccer,” he said.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, center, speaks to reporters after attending yesterday’s presidential inauguration ceremony in Taipei. Chen said yesterday was the 38th consecutive day without a domestic case of COVID-19. The number of COVID-19 tests per confirmed case in Taiwan is 158.3, meaning that on average one case is detected per 158.3 tests, he said. In New Zealand, the number of COVID-19 tests per confirmed case is about 203, and about 153 tests were conducted to detect a case in Australia, Chen added. The United States also urges the WHO to systematically engage with Taiwan health experts on COVID-19 and beyond,” Chen read.

Export orders rise on ICT, electronicsMILESTONES: In addition to unexpected growth, orders for ICT products surged to a record-high US$12.49 billion, as did combined orders from the US and EuropeBy Natasha Li / Staff reporterExport orders last month again defied expectations by increasing 2.3 percent year-on-year to US$38.53 billion amid robust demand for information and communications technology (ICT) products and electronics, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday. The ministry in March had forecast a 6.37 to 10.34 percent annual decline in export orders for last month. Demand due to teleworking and distance learning last month continued to buoy orders for ICT products, while orders for electronics rose at a similar pace, increasing 16.2 percent to US$11.29 billion, the data showed. Export orders for traditional goods last month also plummeted, with orders for chemical products; rubber and plastic products; base metal products; and machinery equipment recording double-digit percentage declines from a year earlier, the data showed. Based on the ministry’s latest survey of local firms, export orders this month are expected to either decline 1.9 percent year-on-year or increase 2 percent to between US$38 billion and US$39.5 billion.

Presidential Inauguration: Ko congratulates, criticizes Tsai on her second termBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe administration of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has done well in disease prevention, but has vacillated on its cross-strait policies, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said yesterday. On the first day of Tsai’s second term as president, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) extends its congratulations and hopes that the nation can continue improving, said Ko, who is chairman of the party. Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, third right, chairman of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), and party members hold hands at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Tsai has a duty to deal with these issues in her second term, he said. “Through the election, Taiwanese gave President Tsai another chance to lead, so the TPP hopes that she will not let the people down,” Ko said.

Presidential Inauguration: Coalition calls for drafting new constitutionBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterA coalition of civic groups yesterday called for the drafting of a new constitution to reflect the current political reality, as President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) held a low-key inauguration ceremony to mark the start of her second term in office. “We need to draft a new constitution, and through the process, Taiwanese can create a new republic,” Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強) told a media briefing in Taipei. Members of several civic groups hold signs at a news conference in Taipei yesterday as they urged the government to draft a new constitution for the nation. Its constitutional framework was based on China’s overall population and territories, which consisted of 35 provinces at the time. Also joining the call for a new consitution were the Taiwan Citizen Front Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy; the Taiwan Association of University Professors; the National Students’ Union of Taiwan; Taiwan Democracy Watch; Citizen of the Earth, Taiwan, Taiwan; the Association for Human Rights; and the Taiwan Labor Front.

Pompeo slams exclusion from WHAIN PROTEST: The US’ top diplomat said the WHA had been deprived of Taiwan’s scientific expertise, while Tsai said political factors should not be put above healthBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterUS Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Monday condemned Taiwan’s exclusion from the World Health Assembly (WHA), while President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday lodged a strong protest against the WHO for not inviting Taiwan. Pompeo, who on May 6 urged WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to invite Taiwan to the WHA, condemned the WHO for excluding Taiwan under pressure from Beijing. Yet, he instead chose not to invite Taiwan under pressure from the People’s Republic of China [PRC],” Pompeo said. Taiwan is very willing to share its disease prevention experience with the world, so excluding Taiwan from the WHA is against global common interests, she said. That Tedros invited Xi to give a speech at the opening of the assembly demonstrated their close relationship, Ou said.

Virus Outbreak: No new cases for 12th day, CECC saysBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday announced no new cases of COVID-19, adding that a ban on mask exports would be lifted soon under three conditions. Yesterday was the 12th consecutive day that no new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Taiwan, and the 37th day of no new domestic cases. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, center, who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), and top health officials cheer for Taiwan’s medical workers after President Tsai Ing-wen visited the CECC in Taipei yesterday. Meanwhile, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) visited the CECC yesterday morning to invite officials to her inauguration ceremony today. She also gave CECC officials “hero noodles” provided by Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲), saying that they are all “heroes” to the public.

Tsai should push for constitutional reform, NPP saysBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterPresident Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) should launch a series of reforms during her second term, focusing on amending the Constitution and housing issues, the New Power Party (NPP) said yesterday. As Tsai is set to be sworn in this morning for her second term, the party and several experts have made policy proposals on constitutional amendments, judicial reforms, housing issues, the media and technology, NPP members said at a news conference in Taipei. The reforms it is proposing are the promises that Tsai had made before starting her first term, so she should fulfill those promises in her second term, NPP Chairman Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明) said. New Power Party Chairman Hsu Yung-ming, second left, legislator Chiu Hsien-chih, second right, and others take part in a news conference at the Legislative Yuan yesterday on suggested proposals for President Tsai Ing-wen. Housing right advocate Peng Yang-kae (彭揚凱) said Tsai was heading in the right direction when she proposed housing reforms four years ago, but she did not deliver.

Presidential Office interfering with press freedom: KMTBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Presidential Office is interfering with press freedom by asking the media not to cite information from files after a suspected cyberattack on the office, Institute of Revolutionary Practice director Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said yesterday. At a news conference at the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) headquarters in Taipei, Lo, who served as deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office during former president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration, and other KMT members accused the office of trying to suppress the media. “When did the Presidential Office become the media’s superior agency, with the ability to order the media to use or not to use [a document]?” Lo asked. Former Presidential Office deputy secretaries-general Lo Chih-chiang, left, and Hsiao Hsu-tsen, of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), yesterday discuss a suspected cyberattack on the Presidential Office at a news conference at the party’s headquarters in Taipei. That night, the Presidential Office said the documents had been doctored, and asked the media not to quote their contents.

Proposed sitting ban splits opinionBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterA proposal by the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) to permanently ban sitting in Taipei Railway Station’s main hall has received a mixed reaction online, with some social media users vowing to launch a sit-in at the station. A Facebook user organizing the sit-in said that the hall is a public space and there is no legitimate reason to ban sitting on the floor. One social media user, Huang Yi-chung (黃益中), said that he has fond memories of sitting in the station’s main hall. Another social media user, Chen Yen-shuo (陳延碩), said the issue is that there is not much seating within the station. Anyone sitting in the hall would be asked to leave, he said.

Holdovers means new Cabinet looks much like old oneBy Sean Lin / Staff reporterThe new Cabinet lineup announced by the Executive Yuan yesterday features many familiar faces from Premier Su Tseng-chang’s (蘇貞昌) Cabinet that resigned on Thursday last week. Former Hakka Affairs Council minister Lee Yung-de (李永得) has been given the culture portfolio, while his former deputy minister, Yang Chang-chen (楊長鎮), is to take the top council post, he said. Former representative to Thailand Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) has been named Overseas Community Affairs Council minister, and former Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) deputy minister Huang Tien-mu (黃天牧) is to head the commission, Ting said. Former Executive Yuan senior secretary Huang Chih-ta (黃致達) has been appointed minister without portfolio, he added. The importance that the Executive Yuan attaches to gender equality is not only reflected in the Cabinet, but by its introduction of bills to address the issue, he said.

Groups rally to urge government subsidy for disabled peopleBy Dennis Xie / Staff writer, with CNARights groups yesterday rallied in front of the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, urging the government to issue a monthly subsidy of NT$10,000 to each person with a disability so that they could maintain a normal life amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “The 1.18 million people with disabilities are among the most disadvantaged groups in Taiwan, but are also the most ignored,” said Cheng Long-shui (鄭龍水), a blind rights advocate who was a New Party legislator from 1996 to 2002. Cheng, convener of the Save the Disabled and Disadvantaged in Taiwan Action Coalition, led nearly 50 people with disabilities in the rally. Members of a Taiwanese action alliance for the disabled and disadvantaged petition the Legislative Yuan yesterday, calling on the government to offer a NT$10,000 monthly grant for vulnerable people affected by the COVIT-19 crisis. When the jobs of people with disabilities are affected, their family’s lives would also be affected, Lin said, adding that the demographic should be prioritized in the relief schemes.

Han apologizes for taking months off to campaign‘CROCODILE TEARS’: The Taiwan Statebuilding Party said the Kaohsiung mayor was only apologizing after a poll revealed that 45% of the city’s residents favored a recallBy Ko Yu-hao and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerKaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) at a city council session yesterday apologized for taking three months off last year to campaign for January’s presidential election. Han said that he was now prioritizing municipal affairs and was focused primarily on preventing the spread of COVID-19. Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, front row left, speaks at a Kaohsiung City Council question-and-answer session yesterday. At yesterday’s session, Han said the Kaohsiung City Government would be injecting NT$50 million (US$1.67 million) into the city’s economy to revitalize it, and that a cross-departmental team had been formed to handle the city’s response measures. With regards to the economy, Han reiterated his proposed “Love Ferris wheel” and shopping mall project, and said that it was “regrettable” that the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, which controls the site proposed for the project, had not yet given its approval.

Poll finds major lack of knowledge about ConstitutionWHO KNEW? The poll found that 73.6 percent of respondents felt that international confusion over Taiwan’s relationship with China had become a “serious problem,” the group said. Asked whether they were aware that the Constitution called for eventual unification with China, 60.5 percent said no, while 38.2 percent said yes. From left, Trend Survey & Research Co director Wu Shih-chang, Taiwan New Constitution Foundation opinion poll committee convener Li Ming-juinn, foundation executive director Lin Yi-cheng and foundation founder Koo Kwang-ming hold a news conference in Taipei yesterday. If the “status quo” could not be maintained, 76.2 percent said Taiwan should formally declare independence, while 10.9 percent said it should unify with China.

FSC, central bank agree on OBU ruleCURRENCY BENEFITS: Commission chairman Wellington Koo said that as Taiwanese firms’ registrations might not be approved abroad, they could open accounts hereBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterThe Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) and the central bank reached an agreement allowing local companies to open offshore banking unit (OBU) accounts at domestic banks to borrow foreign currency funds, FSC Chairman Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said yesterday. Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Wellington Koo speaks to reporters after attending a meeting at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. “Given that Taiwanese companies’ registrations might not be approved abroad, why do we not let them return and open accounts under our supervision?” he said. “Local companies wanted to open OBU accounts to borrow US dollars, as they face many restrictions when applying for US dollar-denominated loans domestically,” the manager said. It would be much more convenient if local companies could directly borrow US dollars through OBU accounts, he said, adding that there would be no foreign exchange risks if companies receive US dollars from foreign clients.