Tsai lauds robust ROC-Swaziland relations
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) lauded the strength of relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Swaziland while receiving a delegation from the diplomatic ally led by Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini at the Office of the President March 27 in Taipei City. The ROC looks forward to working with Swaziland on further developing this valuable relationship in line with the government’s steadfast diplomacy approach of mutual assistance for mutual benefits, Tsai said. Diplomatic relations between the ROC and Swaziland were established in September 1968. Over the years, the public and private sectors in Taiwan have implemented a raft of agriculture, education, health care, technology and transportation projects in the landlocked southern African nation.
Former US Defense Secretary Perry visits Taiwan
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William J. Perry recently visited Taiwan on a four-day trip as part of a personal campaign to enhance awareness of the threat posed by nuclear Armageddon and the need to maintain open channels of communication between nations. In a speech “My Journey at the Nuclear Brink” delivered March 24 in Taipei City, Perry drew on his personal experiences serving the U.S. government in various posts. He also reminded the audience how close the world came to an atomic exchange between the U.S. and former Soviet Union during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 at the height of the Cold War. Perry lauded Taiwan as a technologically advanced country with a formidable conventional military force, stating that the application of technology to military systems provides an effective offset strategy when it comes to national defense.
President Tsai named 8th in Fortune’s top 50 leaders
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) ranks eighth in Fortune’s 2017 World’s Greatest Leaders for her efforts to pursue economic reforms, bolster tourism from Southeast Asia and steer the nation’s diplomacy, according to the U.S.-based magazine March 23. Tsai appears in the list of 50 leaders from the fields of art, business, government and philanthropy.
MOI releases dual citizenship rules for foreign talents
Select high-level foreign professionals can obtain Republic of China (Taiwan) citizenship without relinquishing their original nationality under regulations promulgated March 24 by the Ministry of the Interior. The new rules, which underscore ongoing government efforts to foster the recruitment and retention of top talents from around the world, apply to foreign nationals who have resided in Taiwan for at least five years and possess specified qualifications in areas including arts and culture, economics, education, science and technology, and sports.
ROC, El Salvador forge closer parliamentary ties
A memorandum of understanding on strengthening parliamentary cooperation was inked by Legislative Yuan President Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) and his Salvadoran counterpart Guillermo Antonio Gallegos Navarrete March 21 in Taipei City, paving the way for expanded, regular exchanges on issues of mutual concern between the lawmaking bodies of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its Central American diplomatic ally El Salvador. The ROC and El Salvador established diplomatic relations 76 years ago and in 2008, the two nations concluded a free trade agreement under which bilateral trade grew to nearly US$144 million last year.
Milestone indigenous submarine pact inked in Kaohsiung
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) oversaw the signing of an agreement to develop Taiwan’s first indigenous submarines at a ceremony March 21 in the southern port city of Kaohsiung. The pact was concluded by the Ministry of National Defense, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and local shipbuilder CSBC Corporation, Taiwan. Under the agreement, the first domestically built submarine is expected to be completed within eight years and commissioned within a decade. The event coincided with the departure of the rapid combat support vessel Panshi on overseas training exercises and port calls as part of the Republic of China (Taiwan) navy’s Dunmu Fleet.
Central Election Commission enters AAEA Executive Board
The Republic of China (Taiwan) Central Election Commission (CEC) was made a member of the Executive Board of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) during the 2017 AAEA General Assembly held March 20-21 in the Philippines. According to the CEC, executive board membership will help spotlight Taiwan’s successful experiences in organizing open elections, especially when it comes to promoting the participation of women. A founding member of the AAEA, the CEC was elected to chair the triennial gathering in March 2005 and July 2008, hosted the annual Executive Board Meeting in August 2003, September 2006 and December 2009, and organized the International Seminar on Absentee Voting in December 2010.
Quality, technology give Taiwan lead in global bike industry
Taiwan is maintaining leadership of the global bicycle industry on the strength of its high-quality bikes and components employing the latest advances in such fields as electric, green and smart technologies. Evidence of this dominance was on full display at Taipei International Cycle Show (TICS) March 22-25 at Taipei World Trade Center’s Nangang Exhibition Hall and Exhibition Hall No. 1. Nearly 41,900 visitors, including 8,672 overseas buyers, got up close and personal with some of the latest and greatest Taiwan-made bikes and components at 3,340 booths operated by 1,115 firms. TICS organizer Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) said the secret of the local industry’s global success lies in pursuing value-added technologies delivering greener, smarter and more user-friendly interfaces. Taiwan exported bicycles and parts to 105 countries worldwide in 2015 and is the No. 1 supplier of bicycle products in 15 of these destinations.
Premier Lin touts multibillion-dollar stimulus program
The government’s newly introduced Forward-looking Infrastructure Program (FIP) will revive the economy by way of expansionary expenditure, with every dollar spent dedicated to boosting domestic demand and upgrading national competitiveness, Premier Lin Chuan (林全) said March 23. Covering digital infrastructure, railways, renewable energy, urban-rural development and water resource projects, the FIP is budgeted at around NT$880 billion (US$28.4 billion) and seeks to address Taiwan’s infrastructure needs for the next 30 years. According to Lin, the FIP is expected to create up to 50,000 jobs, attract around NT$1.78 trillion (US$57.4 billion) in investments from state-run and private enterprises and add at least NT$975.9 billion (US$31.5 billion) to Taiwan’s real gross domestic product in eight years.
Science parks post record revenues in 2016
Taiwan’s three science parks posted a record high combined revenue of NT$2.38 trillion (US$76.8 billion) in 2016, up 2.94 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) March 21. Hsinchu Science Park in northern Taiwan led the way with NT$1.04 trillion (US$33.5 billion), down 5.61 percent from the previous year. It was followed by Southern Taiwan Science Park in Kaohsiung and Tainan cities at NT$829.6 billion (US$26.8 billion), up 16 percent and an all-time high, and Central Taiwan Science Park in Taichung City at NT$507.4 billion (US$16.4 billion), up 3.1 percent. With economic conditions continuing to stabilize at home and abroad, and local integrated circuit firms maintaining their global competitive edge in advanced processing technologies, the MOST said it expects revenues at the three facilities to grow 3.58 percent in 2017.
Taiwan ranks No. 2 for global fabless IC market share
Taiwan firms accounted for the second largest market share in the worldwide fabless integrated circuit (IC) sector at 18 percent in 2016, according to the latest survey released by U.S.-based market research firm IC Insights. Top local IC design houses include Himax Technologies Inc., MediaTek Inc., Novatek Microelectronics Corp., Realtek Semiconductor Corp. and Richtek Technology Corp. In addition, the nation remains the leader in global IC production capacity at 21.3 percent, down from 21.7 percent the year before when it first moved into No. 1. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and United Microelectronics Corp., both headquartered in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu City, held 73 percent of the country’s overall capacity last year.
Survey pegs Taiwan 22nd richest country
Taiwan was ranked as the world’s 22nd wealthiest country in 2016 by U.S. monthly magazine Global Finance. The survey of 189 countries and territories seeks to capture an accurate picture of living conditions worldwide by using gross domestic product (GDP) per capita figures adjusted for purchasing power parity, which takes into account factors such as consumer prices, exchange rates and inflation. According to the rankings, Taiwan possesses a higher GDP derived from purchasing power parity per capita, at 47,790 international dollars, than major economies such as Canada, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea and the U.K.
WTO trade facilitation pact welcomed by Taiwan
Implementation of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement was welcomed Feb. 23 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which described the landmark pact as instrumental in Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with other WTO members while assisting developing and least-developed countries achieve greater economic growth. The ministry’s remarks follow implementation of the WTO’s first multilateral trade agreement the day before. Under the pact, which has been ratified by 112 of the organization’s 164 members, cross-border movement, release and clearance of goods are to be expedited, with developing and least-developed countries set to benefit the most.
MOTC delivers 2016 transportation report card
Taiwan experienced significant growth in transportation and tourism in 2016, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Feb. 21. Passenger numbers on national and municipal rail services rose 2.5 percent to a record 2.98 million per day, while daily traffic on the Taiwan High Speed Rail reached a record average of 155,000 passengers, up 11.6 percent from the previous year. The number of travelers passing through the country’s major sea ports was 1.23 million in 2016, with those taking part in international services increasing 10.5 percent to a record high 737,000. With regard to air transport, 63.25 million people utilized the country’s airports last year, rising 8.8 percent to reach a new high. In addition, 10.69 million visitors traveled to Taiwan in 2016, up 2.4 percent for a best-ever result.
Civic groups take aim at food waste during Universiade
A coalition of around 20 locally headquartered civic groups recently launched a major food waste campaign aimed at ensuring the Aug. 19-30 Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade, the largest global sporting event ever staged in Taiwan, is the leanest and greenest in the history of the 58-year games. The Save Food, Save Life for You, for Youth campaign will monitor food use at the Universiade athletes’ village in Linkou District of neighboring New Taipei City and use this data to make daily inventory adjustment recommendations, as well as set a carbon emissions target for the catering company. In addition, surplus food is to be made available for economically disadvantaged residents of local communities. The Universiade is an international sporting and cultural festival staged every two years in a different city worldwide. The 29th edition of the games in Taipei involves 7,700-plus student athletes from 150 countries contesting 21 sports at 38 competition venues around northern Taiwan.
Medical team gives hope to craniofacial patients in Vietnam
A Taiwan medical team recently performed pro bono surgeries on 35 small children, teenagers and youths with orofacial clefts in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as part of the country’s ongoing mission to provide humanitarian health assistance around the globe, according to Taipei City-based Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation (NCF) March 30. Jointly organized by the NCF and Taiwan International Health Action, the team carried out the operations March 22-25 in conjunction with surgeons at Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Hospital.
Taiwan clinches best-ever result in World Happiness Report
Taiwan moved up two places to rank 33rd globally and third in Asia in the latest edition of the World Happiness Report released March 20 by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network, marking the nation’s highest-ever position in the survey. The 2017 report assessed happiness in 155 countries by asking roughly 1,000 citizens annually from 2014-2016 to rate their life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10.
PhDs power Taiwan’s cross-border talent flows
Nearly one-third of doctorate holders in Taiwan are interested in working overseas in the next five years, with 77 percent intending to return home within 10 years, according to a survey released March 14 by National Applied Research Laboratories (NARL) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Conducted for the first time by NARL, the survey of 5,196 individuals reveals the top two destinations as the U.S. and mainland China. A total 50.2 percent of under-35s are eyeing opportunities abroad, followed by 41.1 percent for the 35-40 age group and 36.1 percent for the 40-45 age group.
More local hotels, restaurants gain halal certification
The number of halal-certified establishments in Taiwan recently surpassed 100, highlighting the progress of government efforts to transform the nation into a Muslim-friendly destination, according to the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. A total 104 centralized kitchens, guesthouses, hotels, leisure farms, restaurants and theme parks have been granted halal status by Taipei City-based Chinese Muslim Association (CMA). Going forward, the bureau and CMA hope to take this number to 200 on the back of joint efforts to attract additional Muslim visitors to Taiwan.
President Tsai honors outstanding young women
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) honored the winners of the 2017 Ten Outstanding Young Women Awards March 8 in Taipei City. She praised them for their contributions to society and vowed to eliminate gender bias and create gender-friendly workplaces. This year’s recipients include representatives from the fields of academic research, entrepreneurship, firefighting, justice, medicine, the military, nursing, the performing arts, sports and technology. Launched in 1966, the biennial event is held as part of celebrations for International Women’s Day.
EVA Airways earns global recognition for service quality
Taiwan’s EVA Airways Corp. recently won two honors for its business class wine services in this year’s Cellars in the Sky Awards organized by London-based Business Traveller magazine. EVA, headquartered in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City, claimed the gold medal in the Best Business Class Cellar category for the second year in a row, while also earning gold in Best Business Class Sparkling. A total of 33 carriers from 28 countries participated in the competition, which recognizes airlines for their wine offerings in business and first class.
Taiwan ranked 11th for mobile data speed
Taiwan ranks 11th globally in mobile data speed, highlighting the nation’s advanced wireless internet infrastructure, according to the latest Global State of Mobile Networks report compiled by U.K.-based analysis firm OpenSignal. In the survey, Taiwan recorded an average download speed of 20.49 megabits per second. This placed it fourth in Asia behind South Korea, Singapore and Japan in that order.
Tour de Taiwan races to a close into Pingtung
The Tour de Taiwan wrapped up March 30 in the southern county of Pingtung, with Spain’s Benjamin Prades claiming first place in the Union Cycliste Internationale Asia Tour event. Racing for Team Ukyo of Japan, Prades took home the yellow jersey as winner of the General classification with an overall time of 16:05:19. He also claimed the polka dot jersey as the best rider in the Mountains classification. Participating in the race for the second time, Colombian sprinter Edwin Avila of U.S.-based Team Illuminate topped the rankings in the Points classification to win the green jersey. In the General Team classification, Cibel-Cebon of Belgium emerged victorious with a combined time of 48:18:04. Taiwan’s Chen Chien-liang (陳建良) of local outfit Action Cycling Team earned the blue jersey for best Asian rider. While he tied with Tomohiro Hayakawa of the Asian Racing Team in the final classifications, Chen was awarded the crown after outperforming the Japanese competitor in the last stage. A total of 105 cyclists from 30 countries representing 21 teams—including five Taiwan challengers racing for two local outfits—battled it out over the 682-kilometer competition spanning urban and scenic routes in the northern cities of Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan, and the central county of Nantou before concluding in Pingtung.
Mazu pilgrimages showcase Taiwan’s rich cultural tapestry
Taiwan’s rich cultural traditions took center stage recently in Taichung City with the launch of two large-scale pilgrimages celebrating the upcoming birthday of one of the country’s most revered deities Mazu, the goddess of the sea. Designated on the 23rd day of the third month on the lunar calendar, which falls April 19 this year, Mazu’s birthday is a widely anticipated event. The first of the two, Hanxi Mazu Pilgrimage, got underway early March 28 at Leh Cherng Temple on Hanxi Street in East District of the central Taiwan metropolis. The second, Dajia Mazu Holy Pilgrimage, kicked off late in the evening of March 24 at Jennlann Temple on Shuntian Road in Daija District. Taiwan is believed to be home to more than 10 million Mazu devotees. The Mazu ritual originates among fishermen in the coastal provinces of mainland China and took root in Taiwan in the 1730s. The deity is enshrined at 510 temples around the island.
Record black-faced spoonbill population reported in Taiwan
A total of 2,601 black-faced spoonbills, or some 66 percent of the global population of 3,941, were sighted in Taiwan this winter, up 541 from the same period last year to the highest number on record, according to a survey released March 28 by the Forestry Bureau under the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture. Statistics compiled by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society show that the year-on-year increase accounts for 92.5 percent of worldwide population gains during the period. Black-faced spoonbills, which winter in Taiwan between October and April after migrating from northern mainland China and the Korean Peninsula, have been declared a globally endangered species by Switzerland-headquartered International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Old Xinbeitou train station reopens in Taipei
The recently renovated old Xinbeitou train station in Taipei City’s Beitou District reopened April 1, giving visitors a taste of the past and a chance to explore local culture and history, according to the Taipei City Government. Built in 1916 during Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945), the wooden station opened as the terminus of the local railway system and was expanded in 1937. Following discontinuation of train services in the area, the building was dismantled in 1988 to make way for the Taipei metro’s Tamsui Line. The station lies in the heart of one of Taipei’s premier tourism destinations, which is renowned for its abundant hot spring resources, distinctive resort hotels and the Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch—Taiwan’s first green library building.
National Palace Museum launches promotion plan
Taipei City-based National Palace Museum (NPM) unveiled March 8 a promotion plan aimed at boosting the facility’s international competitiveness and bolstering local recognition of its resources. NPM will strengthen exchanges with prominent museums around the world by integrating resources from various government agencies. It will also promote local culture and heritage abroad by creating a new cooperation mechanism, forging partnerships with overseas institutions and pursuing the signing of memorandums of understanding. In terms of boosting local recognition, NPM will stage more exhibitions in conjunction with foreign institutions. It also intends to springboard off recent projects using multimedia technologies to strengthen public engagement. Established in 1965, NPM is home to the world’s largest collection of Chinese imperial art spanning 7,000 years from the prehistoric Neolithic period to the end of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). In 2015, the institution opened a second branch in southern Taiwan’s Chiayi County showcasing artifacts from diverse Asian civilizations.
Lighthouse museum spotlights Taiwan’s maritime history
Taiwan’s first lighthouse museum opened March 1 in the northern port city of Keelung, offering visitors the opportunity to learn more about one of the most important aspects of the island’s maritime history dating back 200 years. The facility features an initial display of 60-plus lamps and optical systems, with more equipment and items of interest expected to be added by June. Taiwan is a paradise of sorts for lighthouse lovers, with its 36 operational beacons possessing distinct architectural styles and fascinating histories. According to the Maritime and Port Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Taiwan’s lighthouses welcome 1.2 million visitors annually and plans are in the pipeline to open more of them to the public.
Taiwan documentary wins US film award
A documentary chronicling the history of logging and reforestation efforts in eastern Taiwan’s Hualien County won a Sierra Nevada Award in February at the 2017 Mountain Film Festival in the U.S. Commissioned by the Hualien Forest District Office under the Forestry Bureau of the Council of Agriculture, “Treasure in the Clouds—Remembering Halun” was selected on the strength of its in-depth exploration of Taiwan’s forestry development and effectiveness in spurring debate and discussion about the future of local forestry efforts. Principal photography took 18 months, requiring the crew to hike 2,000 meters above sea level. Though primarily focusing on the logging industry and its effects in and around Mugua Mountain in Hualien’s Halun area, it also featured scenes in Taipei City and several townships in the county.
Photos: Central News Agency, Chin Hung-hao, Chinese Taipei Cycling Association, EVA Airways, Huang Chung-hsin, Liberty Times, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Office of the President, United Daily News and Wang Cheng-chi