Ministry touts ties with AUKUS
“The endeavor we launch today will help sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” they said. The ministry yesterday reiterated its shared values with like-minded partners. Taiwan is in a pivotal position in the first island chain, and has long shared the benefits of regional peace and stability with Australia, the UK, the US and other like-minded states, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said in a statement. The emergence of AUKUS shows that China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy is not accepted by the international community, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said separately. Countries have to bear China’s dumping practices even as it boosts its military expansionism through economic growth, Tsai said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
DPP seeks action on trade pact before 2022
DPP seeks action on trade pact before 2022By Chien Hui-ju and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaiwan should join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) before China becomes a member of the trade group, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers said yesterday. Taiwan would lose its shot at joining if China joins the pact, DPP Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) told a news conference at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei TimesChinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in November last year told an APEC summit that Beijing wants to join the pact. Singapore is to chair the trade pact next year, with Singaporean Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan tapped to take the post, he said, adding that Balakrishnan has voiced support for a Chinese bid. Taiwan must prepare a bid by amending laws, mustering public support and lobbying foreign governments, Chiu said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
Party urges Sports Administration to act on name issue
Party urges Sports Administration to act on name issueBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterSubsidies were provided for an international basketball event in Taiwan, but the nation’s involvement was under the degrading “China, Taipei” label, the Taiwan Statebuilding Party said yesterday, urging the Sports Administration to address the issue. Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei, left, and party secretary-general Wang Hsing-huan speak at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei TimesThe “China Taipei” designation is degrading for the nation, Wang told a news conference in Taipei accompanied by Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟). “The games in Taiwan are organized by Forebest, which received financial assistance from the Sports Administration,” Wang said. “The Sports Administration has a responsibility to safeguard the dignity of Taiwanese and must demand that Forebest rectify the nation’s designation,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
European vehicle sales fall further amid chip crunch
European vehicle sales fall further amid chip crunchBloombergAuto sales are deteriorating in Europe, with months of meek recovery giving way to deliveries that no longer even measure up to last year’s pandemic-depressed results. New vehicle registrations fell 18 percent last month and 24 percent in July from a year earlier, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said yesterday. “The chip shortage is causing production losses, and demand that’s actually high can’t be met,” EY said in a note. The declines were broad-based, with Europe’s biggest auto markets — Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Spain — all seeing double-digit drops each month. Among the largest automakers, European sales fell 14 percent for Volkswagen Group, 29 percent for Stellantis NV and 23 percent for Renault SA last month.
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
Security pact exposes New Zealand’s nuclear divide
Security pact exposes New Zealand’s nuclear divideThe Guardian, CHRISTCHURCH, New ZealandNew Zealand is not part of a new security pact between Australia, the UK and the US, in what experts say is an illustration of the distance between the country and its traditional allies. On Wednesday, Australia, the UK and the US announced a security partnership, AUKUS, aimed at confronting China, which is to include helping Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. New Zealand’s longstanding nuclear-free policy also means that Australian submarines developed under the deal are banned from New Zealand waters. “New Zealand’s position in relation to the prohibition of nuclear-powered vessels in our waters remains unchanged,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday. The new agreement “in no way changes our security and intelligence ties with these three countries, as well as Canada,” Ardern said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
Silenced by food law?
Experts comment on US mulling ‘Taiwan office’TESTING THE WATERS: Making the considerations public a day after a Biden-Xi phone call indicates that the US is testing China’s reaction, a think tank head said A Financial Times report that the US is considering allowing Taiwan to change the name of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington to feature the name “Taiwan” highlighted Washington’s “two-pronged” approach to China, a researcher said yesterday. The report on Friday said that Washington might allow the nation to change the office’s name to “Taiwan Representative Office.” The report came after US President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) by telephone for the first time since February. A White House readout of the call said that “the two leaders discussed the responsibility of bothBy Wu Su-wei and William Hetherington
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
Google to grow local staff with recruitment drive
Google to grow local staff with recruitment driveBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterAs Google expands its footprint in Taiwan, it plans to recruit software and hardware talent for its Google Nest smart device team, a chip development team, and teams to support its Pixel and Chromebook products, Google Taiwan said yesterday. “There will always be openings for software engineers, hardware engineers and project managers,” Google Taiwan human resources head Vanessa Lu (呂亞樵) said. The Google logo is displayed at the Google Taiwan office’s entrance in New Taipei City’s Banciao District on Jan. 27. Lu also doused some “urban myths” about how Taiwanese candidates can boost their chances of landing a coveted job at Google. These false beliefs include: “Google’s Taiwanese staff are paid less” and “Goggle is only looking for graduates from top schools who speak fluent English,” she said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: CECC reports one local infection
COVID-19: CECC reports one local infectionCAUTIOUS START: As the COVID-19 outbreak appears to be stabilizing, New Taipei City’s mayor said that starting today, restaurants in the city can resume dine-in servicesStaff writer, with CNAThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported one local and four imported COVID-19 cases and no deaths. The local case is a woman who cleans airplane cabins at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and has been confirmed to have the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the CECC said. She tested positive for COVID-19 two days later as part of routine testing of airport staff, the center said. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung gives the daily update on Taiwan’s COVID-19 situation at a news conference at the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) in Taipei yesterday. In other developments, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) yesterday said that starting today, restaurants in the city can resume dine-in services.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: Government should press US on vaccine supply: KMT
COVID-19: Government should press US on vaccine supply: KMTBy Wu Su-wei and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus will tomorrow table a resolution asking the government to urge the US to send more Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to give elderly Taiwanese their second shot, KMT Legislator Jessica Chen (陳玉珍) said yesterday. From left, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Lin Yi-hua, Jessica Chen and Sandy Yeh speak to reporters in Taipei yesterday, calling on the government to do more to secure supplies of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Adding in the 1.5 million doses donated by the US and the Czech Republic, Taiwan has so far received 4.03 million doses of Moderna. Central Epidemic Command Center statistics showed that as of Thursday last week, 3.43 million Taiwanese had received at least one shot of Moderna, and 330,000 had received two shots of the vaccine. Given that Taiwan-US relations are at a historic high, it should not be a problem to press the US about receiving more Moderna doses soon, KMT Legislator Sandy Yeh (葉毓蘭) said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Quintuple Stimulus Voucher bookings to begin on Oct. 4
Quintuple Stimulus Voucher bookings to begin on Oct. 4Staff writer, with CNAPeople would be able to make reservations to receive printed versions of the Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers, valued at NT$5,000, from Oct. 4 to 30, Chunghwa Post said yesterday. Premier Su Tseng-chang presents samples of the Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers at a news conference in Taipei on Thursday last week. Chunghwa Post said post offices would likely be busiest during the first two or three weeks after the voucher program is launched, when it expects about 500,000 pickups per day. To meet demand, all 1,269 post offices nationwide are to extend their opening hours on two Saturdays, Oct. 16 and 23, it said. Those who opt for digital vouchers can apply for them using digital payment services from Wednesday next week, with the vouchers valid from Oct. 8, it has said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
KMT committee rescinds decision to refer Chang
KMT committee rescinds decision to refer Chang‘VERBAL ATTACKS’: Chang Ya-chung yesterday said that the controversy had caused people to question the neutrality of the party’s election officialsBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) election supervisory body yesterday revoked a controversial decision to refer KMT chair candidate Chang Ya-chung (張亞中) to the party’s disciplinary committee. The election committee also said that it would postpone a series of regional platform presentations for the candidates until after the disciplinary committee had ruled on the matter. New Taipei City Councilor Chen Ming-yi (陳明義), who represents Chiang on the election committee, was not at the meeting when the decision was made, Chiang said. Chu later on Monday said that he hoped the disciplinary committee would not penalize Chang, and called on Chiang and the KMT Central Standing Committee to “revoke the order” to refer Chang to the disciplinary committee. The election committee met yesterday and approved a proposal from Chen to rescind both the decision to refer Chang to the disciplinary committee and to postpone the regional platform presentations, the KMT said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Macau casinos see US$18bn wipeout amid crackdown
Macau casinos see US$18bn wipeout amid crackdownBloombergMacau’s top gaming stocks yesterday lost a record US$18.4 billion in combined market value after officials said that they would change casino regulations to tighten restrictions on operators, including appointing government representatives to “supervise” companies in the world’s biggest gaming hub. The Bloomberg Intelligence index of the six big casino operators fell a record 23 percent. US operators registered the worst sell-offs, with Sands China Ltd (金沙中國) sinking as much as 33 percent, while Wynn Macau Ltd (永利澳門) plunged 34 percent, both the steepest declines ever. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which links the two territories and mainland China, is pictured from Hong Kong with view on Macau on June 14. A note due 2028 from Wynn Macau sunk 9 cents on the US dollar to US$0.914, according to Bloomberg-compiled prices, set for its biggest-ever decline.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Express firm workers protest wage freeze
Express firm workers protest wage freezeSTRUGGLING TO SURVIVE: Chunghwa Express workers called for a 5 percent increase in pay, which has been stagnant for 17 years, or they might go on strikeBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterMembers of the Chunghwa Express Union yesterday held a protest in front of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications building, saying that the express delivery firm has not adjusted workers’ salaries for 17 years. The protesters said they would not rule out going on strike at the end of this month if Chunghwa Express’ board refuses to approve a raise. Chunghwa Express workers protest outside the Ministry of Transportation and Communications building yesterday, threatening to go on strike if they are not given a pay raise. Meanwhile, the basic monthly salary for an entry-level Chunghwa Express employee was less than NT$25,000, the union said. Chunghwa Post holds a significant stake in Chunghwa Express and should quickly establish a salary-adjustment mechanism to retain experienced workers and maintain service quality, the union said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Fitch Ratings warns of Evergrande default
Regulators have warned of broader risks to the country’s financial system if the company’s US$305 billion of liabilities are not contained. “We believe a default would reinforce credit polarization among homebuilders and could result in headwinds for some smaller banks,” Fitch said. The rating agency on Tuesday last week downgraded Evergrande to “CC” from “CCC+,” indicating that it viewed a default of some kind as probable. “Smaller banks with higher exposure to Evergrande or to other vulnerable developers could face significant increases in non-performing loans (NPLs), depending on how any credit event involving Evergrande develops,” Fitch said. This followed chaotic scenes at the headquarters two days earlier, as disgruntled investors crowded its lobby to demand repayment of loans and financial products.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Burundi’s Niyonsaba smashes record for women’s 2,000m
Burundi’s Niyonsaba smashes record for women’s 2,000mReutersBurundi’s Francine Niyonsaba on Tuesday capped off her season by breaking the 2,000m world record, finishing with a time of 5 minutes, 21.56 seconds at a Continental Tour event in Zagreb, Croatia. The 28-year-old, who last week won the 5,000m Diamond League title in Zurich, Switzerland, shaved nearly four seconds off the outdoor record and more than two seconds off the indoor mark. The previous indoor record was set by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in 2017, while Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan had held the outdoor record since 1994. Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, front, competes in the Weltklasse IAAF Diamond League women’s 5,000m in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sept. 8. She moved up to 5,000m at this year’s Tokyo Games, but was disqualified for a lane infringement in her heat, while she finished fifth in the 10,000m event.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC