EU slams China’s moves in Taiwan office dispute
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel vowed to “push back” against “threats, political pressure and coercive measures” aimed at any of the bloc’s member states. Beijing had objected to Lithuania allowing the office to use the name “Taiwanese Representative Office,” rather than a name using “Taipei,” as is common for Taiwan’s representative offices abroad. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, looks on as European Council President Charles Michel speaks during a news conference in Brussels on Friday last week. Von der Leyen and Michel’s letter came in response to a letter from the Formosa Club, a group of cross-party EU and Canadian legislators seeking to promote closer ties with Taiwan. The group’s letter, sent two months ago, called for “a far stronger response” from the EU to the Lithuania-China rift.
Source:Taipei Times
October 29, 2021 18:59 UTC
Snakes, spiders and storms
STAGE TWOA green tree viper on a log at Miantianping. From there on to Miantianping (面天坪) where it climbs up to Datun Mountain West Peak (大屯山西峰). Then on to Datun Mountain Main Peak (大屯山) and back down the north side of the mountain. A big-eyed rat snake on Datun Mountain. A baby japalura on Datun Mountain.
Source:Taipei Times
October 29, 2021 17:40 UTC
Presales, new houses rise 38%: poll
Developers and builders launched NT$339.2 billion (US$12.19 billion) of presale and newly completed houses on the market in the July-to-September quarter, the survey found. The recovery in confidence was particularly evident in Kaohsiung, where presale projects and new houses grew 90.6 percent, followed by 83.5 percent in Taichung, 69.5 percent in New Taipei City and 57.2 percent in Taipei, it said. Potential closing home prices averaged NT$319,600 per ping (3.3m2) across the nation, climbing 4.05 percent from three months earlier, the survey showed. The figures in Taipei rose 3.16 percent to NT$938,000 per ping, and edged up 1.1 percent in New Taipei City to NT$409,400 per ping. The market could receive continued support from ample liquidity and low borrowing costs, but the central bank could weigh in to prevent overheating, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 29, 2021 03:55 UTC
‘Taiwan unites us all’: Pavilionis
‘Taiwan unites us all’: PavilionisDEMOCRACIES: Taiwan’s status is an issue that unites freedom-loving nations to fight for a common cause, Lithuanian parliamentarian Zygimantas Pavilionis saidStaff writer, with CNA, WashingtonTaiwan’s lack of recognition as a country unites nations that support freedom and could serve as an inspiration to democracies around the world, Lithuanian Member of Parliament Zygimantas Pavilionis said on Wednesday. Pavilionis said that it was difficult to find another issue that united Europeans, Americans and people of “all other freedom-loving nations all around the world.”“Taiwan unites us all,” he added. Asked about China’s threats of economic retaliation against Lithuania because of warming ties with Taiwan, Pavilionis said that China does not understand the economy of Lithuania, nor the psyche of its people. While dependency on autocratic countries limits one’s freedom of speech and freedom of choice, bolstering relations with democracies empowers them, Pavilionis said. A third way is to have democratic societies use transparency on products’ origins to support countries that are being pressured by autocratic nations, Hsiao said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 28, 2021 22:00 UTC
Minister Wu touts links with Prague
Minister Wu touts links with Prague‘UNITED WE STAND’: The foreign minister urged Taiwan and the Czech Republic ‘to work with and support each other’ in the face of worldwide threats to democracyBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterTaiwan and the Czech Republic share the determination to defend democracy and freedom, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) told a forum in Prague yesterday, calling on democratic countries to unite against authoritarianism. Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu, right, receives a silver medal for international guests from Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil at the senate in Prague yesterday. Wu is part of a delegation to Europe that has since Sunday been visiting Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Moreover, a 66-person trade and investment delegation is visiting Lithuania, after leaving the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Taiwan and Lithuania have agreed to establish representative offices in each other’s capitals, despite pressure from the Chinese government.
Source:Taipei Times
October 28, 2021 04:11 UTC
SinoPac granted patents for image recognition system
SinoPac granted patents for image recognition systemBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterSinoPac Holdings Co (永豐金控) has gained patents for its artificial-intelligence (AI) image recognition technology, which could help its banking unit save at least 1,000 hours per year in examining credit documents, it said yesterday. The company in July applied for 10 patents for its AI image recognition system and the Intellectual Property Office approved them on Thursday last week. Bank SinoPac (永豐銀行) has connected the AI image recognition system to its core information system to identify credit documents provided by its debtors, the bank said in a statement. The time-consuming inspection used to be done manually, but the AI system is expected to help the bank save at least 1,000 hours a year, it added. “The system’s accuracy rate could be as high as 95 percent and it can identify checks in multiple formats adopted by 20 local banks,” Bank SinoPac said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 28, 2021 03:59 UTC
Bottled water, vaccines and electric vehicles propel China’s biggest earners
Bottled water, vaccines and electric vehicles propel China’s biggest earnersCHANGING FORTUNES: Former No. 5, while Hoshine Silicon CEO Luo Liguo jumped from 220th to the 21st spot on the Hurun China Rich ListReuters, HONG KONGBottled water, vaccine development, short-video platform TikTok and electric vehicle technology propelled the big earners on China’s rich list this year, as embattled property moguls and others facing regulatory scrutiny slipped down the rankings. The biggest mover in the top 100 was Luo Liguo (羅立國), chief executive of solar product firm Hoshine Silicon Industry Co (合盛矽業), who multiplied his net worth 6.5 times, vaulting from 220th to 21st spot. 1 spot next year, particularly if persistent rumors about the owner of short-video platform TikTok listing are realized, the Hurun Report said. Zhang “is a likely candidate to become the next Number One in China, especially if he gets to list ByteDance,” Hurun Report chairman Rupert Hoogewerf said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 28, 2021 02:30 UTC
CECC reports eight imported cases as more vaccine lands
CECC reports eight imported cases as more vaccine landsStaff writer, with CNAThe Central Epidemic Command Center yesterday reported eight new COVID-19 cases, all contracted overseas, but no deaths from the disease. Since Aug. 15, the daily number of domestic cases has fallen to mostly single digits. The total number of domestic cases since Aug. 15 is 122, center data showed. Meanwhile, a sixth shipment of COVID-19 vaccines donated by Japan, consisting of 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, arrived in Taiwan yesterday. Yesterday’s donation brings the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by Tokyo to 4.2 million, the most doses donated to Taiwan by any nation.
Source:Taipei Times
October 27, 2021 22:12 UTC
Medigen not acceptable for US travel
The new international air travel policy, which is to take effect on Nov. 8, requires all non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before flying to the US. Photo: EPA-EFEVaccines accepted under the travel policy are those approved or authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and vaccines that have been approved for emergency use by the WHO. Some travelers are exempt from the new policy, including children younger than 18 years old and certain COVID-19 vaccine trial participants. Meanwhile, the WHO yesteday announced the launch of the cosponsored Solidarity Trial Vaccines with the ministries of health of Colombia, Mali and the Philippines. Medigen is among the candidate vaccines in the trial, the WHO said in a statement.
Source:Taipei Times
October 27, 2021 04:09 UTC
Taiwan, Slovakia to gain from enhanced cooperation: Wu
Taiwan, Slovakia to gain from enhanced cooperation: WuBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterTaiwan and Slovakia have much to gain from enhanced cooperation on trade, investment and industry, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said in Bratislava yesterday. Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu speaks at a Taiwan Forum hosted by Slovak think tank GLOBSEC in Bratislava yesterday. The pandemic has brought Taiwan and Slovakia closer, Wu said, underscoring the two countries’ democratic transformations. The ministry’s Taiwan-Europe Connectivity Scholarship is to be extended to Slovak students interested in pursuing degrees in key industries, Wu added. And democracy will not be defeated.”Taiwan and Slovakia have signed several agreements, including on preventing double taxation, exchange of drivers’ licenses, working holidays and economic cooperation, the ministry said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 27, 2021 02:27 UTC
Military unveils locally developed exoskeleton suit
Military unveils locally developed exoskeleton suitStaff writer, with CNAThe military yesterday unveiled a locally made powered exoskeleton suit, a mechanized wearable system designed to be used in wartime or during post-disaster rescue and relief missions. A soldier models a new powered exoskeleton suit unveiled by the military in Taipei yesterday. According to a budget proposal issued by the Ministry of National Defense, the military-use powered exoskeleton suit is part of a four-year NT$158 million (US$5.67 million) project running from last year to 2023. A source said the military is hoping the high-tech suits can be used during wartime and in post-disaster rescue and relief missions. The project has learned from the US military’s experience in developing its own powered exoskeleton suit, the source said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 26, 2021 22:11 UTC
Chiu denies military morale is low
Chiu denies military morale is lowBy Chen Yun and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerMinister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) yesterday denied a report published by the Wall Street Journal on Monday that suggested that Taiwan’s military would be no match for China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Photo: Mandy Cheng, AFPThe report cited the officials as saying they believed morale was low in Taiwan’s military and that its preparations for a Chinese attack were inadequate. The military would continuously aim to strengthen its combat abilities, he said, adding that military preparedness was an ongoing task. The quality of Taiwan’s professional military training, the integration of branches of the military and its use of technology far exceed that of the PLA, he said. “If you want to talk about morale, the family members of Taiwan’s military personnel live here in Taiwan.
Source:Taipei Times
October 26, 2021 22:10 UTC
Legislature confirms six nominees for election body
Legislature confirms six nominees for election bodyROUGH SAILING: The KMT boycotted the vote, while the two smaller parties voted against the confirmation of the election commission head for another termStaff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan yesterday confirmed the Executive Yuan’s nominations of Lee Chin-yung (李進勇) and Chen Chao-chien (陳朝建) for another four-year term as chairman and vice chairman respectively of the Central Election Commission (CEC). The four-year terms of six incumbent commission members are set to expire on Wednesday next week, and the Cabinet submitted a list of six nominees to fill those positions. Of the nominees, who were initially approved by legislative committees on Sept. 29, four are incumbents — including the CEC chairman and vice chairman — and two are new members. Staff at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei tally counts on a whiteboard yesterday after lawmakers voted to confirm the Executive Yuan’s six nominees for Central Election Commission members, including the chairman and vice chairman. The six confirmed members are to serve from Thursday next week to Nov. 3, 2025.
Source:Taipei Times
October 26, 2021 21:59 UTC
Australia would follow US lead on Taiwan: minister
Australia would follow US lead on Taiwan: ministerBy William Hetherington / Staff writer, with CNAAustralia would act according to the US response in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan, Australian Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said in an interview with Sky News yesterday. Equally, the United States has been clear about their intention toward Taiwan,” Dutton said. A file photo of Peter Dutton. China’s actions have been a concern and Australia wants its neighbors to be free of coercion, interference or bullying, he said. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between the US, India, Japan and Australia, and ASEAN are also important for stability, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 26, 2021 01:05 UTC
KMT would safeguard peace: Chu
For 100 years, Taiwan’s history has been inextricably tied to the ROC, Chu said. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu, right, looks on as Taiwan Republic Office director Chilly Chen is removed during a speech at Taipei’s Zhongshan Hall yesterday marking the 76th anniversary of Retrocession Day. It was the hard work of the KMT that led to the protection, strengthening and democratization of Taiwan,” he said. Chu said that Taiwan had been a part of the ROC since 1945 when the Japanese surrendered the island and relinquished control. Explaining his “four safeguards,” Chu said the KMT would “safeguard the Constitution; safeguard the democracy and freedom that comprised the spirit behind the nation’s founding; safeguard the safety, peace and prosperity of the 23 million Taiwanese; and safeguard the dignity of the ROC and the facts regarding its history.”Chu said that if the KMT returns to power, he would make Taiwan Retrocession Day a national holiday.
Source:Taipei Times
October 25, 2021 22:00 UTC