President Tsai reaffirms commitment to regional peace, stability
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Aug. 4 that the government is committed to working with like-minded partners worldwide to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific. China’s live-fire exercises near Taiwan represent a heightened military threat to the country and international community, Tsai said. Beijing is urged to act with reason and exercise restraint, she added. Tsai made the remarks during a video address from the Presidential Office in Taipei City. China’s military activity undermines the Taiwan Strait status quo and encroaches on Taiwan’s sovereignty, Tsai said. It also creates high tensions in the Indo-Pacific, affecting air and maritime transportation safety, as well as the normal operation of international trade, she added. Taiwan will neither escalate conflict nor instigate disputes, Tsai said, adding that the government is determined to defend the country’s freedom and democracy in the face of authoritarian aggression.
Tsai pledges to deepen Taiwan-Japan ties, safeguard Indo-Pacific peace, stability
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said July 31 that the government is committed to strengthening Taiwan-Japan relations while working with the like-minded partner to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan is willing and able to deepen economic and trade cooperation with Japan, Tsai said. The public and private sectors are working with counterparts in Japan to create a more secure supply chain, as evidenced by a factory slated for construction in Kumamoto Prefecture by Hsinchu City-headquartered Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation, she added. The two sides are each other’s third-largest trade partner, Tsai said, adding that the country stands ready to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Tsai made the remarks while delivering an address during an academic forum co-staged by the Lee Teng-hui Foundation and Taiwan Thinktank in Taipei City. The event involved discussions on topics spanning the economy, diplomacy, history and trade of the two countries.
MOFA welcomes EP report supporting Taiwan’s multilateral participation
A European Parliament report backing Taiwan’s involvement in international organizations is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said July 6. Adopted the same day following a 454-73 vote with 112 abstentions, the report on the EU and the defense of multilateralism supports initiatives calling for Taiwan’s meaningful participation as an observer in the meetings, mechanisms and activities of bodies such as the World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization, Interpol and U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. It comes in the run-up to the 41st ICAO Assembly, the decision-making body of the U.N. specialized agency, running Sept. 27 to Oct. 7 in Montreal, Canada. According to the MOFA, the report is the seventh time the EP has shown legislative support for Taiwan this year and follows one passed the day before on Indo-Pacific strategy for trade and investment.
US House Speaker Pelosi awarded state honor by President Tsai
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) awarded Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon Aug. 3 for advancing Taiwan-U.S. relations. Pelosi is one of Taiwan’s most devoted friends who has deep and longstanding ties with the country, Tsai said. This is illustrated by her visit to Taiwan in 1999, as well as continuous attention to the country’s democratic developments over the past two decades and support for its international participation, she added. Tsai made the remarks while receiving Pelosi and her congressional delegation at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. Tsai also took the opportunity to thank Pelosi and the delegation for taking concrete action to show support for Taiwan at this critical moment, as well as stating consistent U.S. policy support for the country’s self-defense. The visit further demonstrates the rock-solid congressional backing for Taiwan, she said.
2022 Ketagalan Forum opens in Taipei City
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) opened the Ketagalan Forum—2022 Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue July 26 from Taipei City, with the physical and virtual event reaffirming the government’s commitment to working with like-minded partners to advance regional peace and stability. Authoritarian regimes pose threats to regional and international security, as evidenced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Tsai said. As a front-line state facing such expansionism, Taiwan is a crucial stronghold for democracy and plays a key counter-intrusion role in alliances, she added. Tsai said democracies worldwide have acknowledged the stakes involved in the Indo-Pacific, as demonstrated by the founding of AUKUS and new initiatives launched by the EU and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue last year. The statement and communique respectively concluded by the NATO summit and the G-7 leaders’ meeting last month also addressed challenges posed by China and underscored the importance of cross-strait peace and stability, she said. Taiwan is committed to defending the country, its democratic way of life and regional security, Tsai said, adding that the government has accelerated the country’s progress towards self-sufficiency in national defense through domestic development of naval vessels, bolstering reserve forces and enhancing asymmetric warfare capabilities.
Taiwan celebrates 30th anniversary of CABEI inclusion
A ceremony was staged Aug. 3 in Taipei City to mark the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s inclusion in the Central American Bank for Economic Integration and the first anniversary of the entity’s office in Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Organized by CABEI’s local office, the event was attended by officials including MOFA Secretary-general Lily L.W. Hsu (徐儷文), Minister of Finance Su Jain-rong (蘇建榮), Central Bank of Taiwan Gov. Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) and CABEI Executive President Dante Mossi. In her welcoming address, Hsu said since joining Honduras-headquartered CABEI in 1992 as an extra-regional member, Taiwan has been an active participant in CABEI programs aimed at promoting development in the region. The country is now the entity’s largest shareholder after making a substantial capital subscription in 2020, she added. In response, Mossi thanked Taiwan for supporting economic, environmental and social development in Central America over the past 30 years.
Taiwan, Eswatini stage virtual economic, technical meeting
The annual economic and technical cooperation meeting between Taiwan and the Kingdom of Eswatini was recently staged via videoconference, underscoring the shared commitment of the allies to bolstering mutually beneficial business and people-to-people exchanges. Led by Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) and Minister of Economic Planning and Development Thambo Gina, the 24th edition of the talks touched on issues spanning core fields like investment, laws and regulations, technical assistance, and trade. Wang said during her opening remarks that Taiwan is committed to working with Eswatini in overcoming challenges resulting from the pandemic, adding that no stone will be left unturned in supporting the African ally’s economic bounceback. In response, Gina thanked Taiwan for cooperating across an array of potential-laden projects delivering real benefits for the people in areas such as information and communication technology and rural water supply.
Taiwan hits record high exports to ASEAN member states
Taiwan’s exports to Association of Southeast Asian Nations totaled US$70.24 billion in 2021, up 32 percent over the same period in 2020 and the highest on record, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said July 5. Further analysis of the data shows that Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines accounted for 98.5 percent of Taiwan’s total outgoing shipments to the region, with the major export items being electronic components and parts and integrated and printed circuits. In particular, Taiwan-produced integrated circuits accounted for 39.8 percent of the six ASEAN member states’ imports, followed by South Korea, 19.4 percent, and China, 14.2 percent, the ministry said, adding that the country holds the highest market share in these products and it continues to rise.
High-level Taiwan-Lithuania agricultural dialogue concludes in Taipei
A high-level agricultural dialogue was staged by Taiwan and Lithuania June 23 in Taipei City, underscoring the commitment of the two like-minded partners to expanding cooperation while deepening bilateral trade, according to the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture. Held by COA Deputy Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) and Lithuanian Vice Minister of Agriculture Egidijus Giedraitis, the event involved exchanges of experience in areas ranging from food security to climate change, as well as discussions on strengthening partnership via a memorandum of understanding on agricultural collaboration and tie-ups between agri-food companies to boost mutual trade and business opportunities. According to the COA, the meeting follows a virtual involving COA Minister Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) and Lithuania’s Minister of Agriculture Kestutis Navickas March 3 in which they agreed to establish a related dialogue mechanism. Under the mechanism, the two sides will discuss issues spanning investment, market access, policy and industry development, science and technology, and regular public-private collaboration, the council said.
Inaugural meeting of 21st-century trade initiative held by Taiwan, US
The inaugural meeting of the Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st-Century Trade wrapped up June 27 in Washington, underscoring the commitment of the like-minded partners to continued expansion of economic and trade ties. Staged both in-person and virtually under the auspices of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. and American Institute in Taiwan, the event was led by Minister without Portfolio John C. C. Deng (鄧振中); Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), head of TECRO in the U.S.; and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi. The roundtable conversations centered on ways Taiwan and the U.S. can jointly advance trade policies that benefit both workers and businesses. They further discussed how to implement measures that are conducive to inclusive, fair and responsible growth in both economies.
International review of Taiwan’s 2nd national CRPD report wraps up
An international review of Taiwan’s second national report on the implementation of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities wrapped up Aug. 3 in Taipei City, underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding human rights. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the three-day event involved experts, officials and representatives of civil organizations from home and abroad, including participants from Australia, Canada, Japan and the U.K. In his opening remarks, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said Taiwan works hard to promote human rights in line with the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights passed in 1948. The country has codified five out of nine U.N. human rights conventions into domestic law, completed amendments for 449 regulations in accordance with CRPD and designated Taiwan Sign Language as a national language, he added.
Taiwan retains US Tier 1 anti-human trafficking status
Taiwan maintained Tier 1 status for the 13th consecutive year in the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report released July 19 by the U.S. Department of State. Taiwan is one of only four Tier 1 countries listed in the Asia-Pacific alongside Australia, the Philippines and Singapore. Regional neighbors Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and China are listed as Tier 2, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watch List and Tier 3, respectively. According to the report, authorities in Taiwan continued to demonstrate serious and sustained action during the reporting period, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Taiwan thus fully meets the minimum standards for elimination of human trafficking. Implementation of government policy to strengthen protection and prevent trafficking were highlighted in the report. These include convicting significantly more traffickers and referring more victims to protection services; improving victim-centered shelter intake procedures for foreign survivors; and penalizing a significantly higher number of recruitment brokers for abusive practices.
8th Trending Taiwan Short Film Competition launched by MOFA
The Trending Taiwan Short Film Competition opened July 19 as part of government efforts to raise the country’s profile on the global stage, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Organized by the MOFA’s Department of International Information Services, the eighth edition of the annual event is accepting global submissions of three minutes or less that capture the cultural ambiance unique to Taiwan and feature inspiring local stories or the country’s ephemeral moments of beauty until Oct. 23. The Special Student Award has additionally been launched this year to encourage more participation by young creative minds. Entries will be assessed by a five-member panel on the basis of narrative technique, script creativity, technical proficiency and theme appeal. A total of 30 submissions will be shortlisted in the first round, with final selections honored during a ceremony Nov. 16 in Taipei City.
InterNations survey ranks Taiwan in top 3
Taiwan is named the third best destination in the world for expatriates, according to the Expat Insider 2022 Survey released July 15 by Munich-based InterNations, the largest global network for people living abroad. Close to 12,000 respondents representing 177 nationalities living in 181 countries and territories took part in the survey. Among the 52 destinations evaluated, Mexico and Indonesia came first and second, while Kuwait, New Zealand and Hong Kong placed at the bottom of the list. Respondents’ levels of satisfaction were gauged across five indices: ease of settling in, expat essentials, personal finance, quality of life and working abroad. Taiwan scored second in quality of life due to strong showings in the subcategories of health and well-being, where it topped the list, and travel and transit, where it claimed seventh place.
Taipei ranked 10th most livable city in 2022 by Monocle
Taipei is ranked the 10th most livable city in the annual quality of life survey published by U.K.-based fashion magazine Monocle in its July/August issue. Describing the city as a hidden Asian gem, the survey said the quality of life in Taipei is high while the costs are relatively affordable, citing the low crime rate, world-class public health care system and an average monthly rent of NT$23,000 (US$775) for a studio apartment. The survey praised Taipei’s convenient public transport as an urban planner’s dream, with more than 1,000 shared bike stations, buses and trains that run regularly and an MRT system that continues to develop and expand. It also highlighted the city’s walkable streets, tempting food stalls that cook around the clock, hiking trails and nearby Yangmingshan National Park, with its lush greenery, beautiful scenery and hot springs.
Taiwan rated among the world’s best Muslim-friendly travel destinations
Taiwan is named the most inclusive destination for a non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation country at the inaugural Halal in Travel Awards presented by CrescentRating earlier this month in Singapore, according to the Tourism Bureau. Taiwan also retained its second-place ranking among non-OIC destinations in Mastercard-CresentRating’s Global Muslim Travel Index 2022, the TB said. The country trailed only Singapore and led the U.K. and Thailand in the annual report that surveyed 138 countries and territories around the world. According to the survey, Taiwan stands out among non-OIC destinations for its integration of Muslim travel resources and people’s friendliness and respect towards all cultures and religions. The country performed particularly well in the areas of destination marketing, faith restrictions, safety and transportation infrastructure.
Taiwan graces the silver screen at Venice International Film Festival
Five films and projects have been selected for three competitive categories at the 79th Venice International Film Festival from Aug. 31 to Sept. 10 in Italy, according to the Ministry of Culture’s Taiwan Creative Content Agency. Among these, “For My Country” and “The Last Queen” have been nominated for the Horizon and Venice Days competitions, respectively, while “All That Remains,” “The Man Who Couldn’t Leave” and “Red Tail” are short-listed for the Venice Immersive Competition. Remastered in HD, “A Confucian Confusion,” a 1994 satirical comedy film by late director Edward Yang (楊德昌) that was nominated for the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, will premiere at Venice Classics. For the first time since participating, the TAICCA will set up a Taiwan Pavilion at the Venice Immersive Market to showcase projects from the country and facilitate networking with international industry representatives, the agency said.
Seven Taiwan films screen at New York Asian Film Festival
Six locally produced features and one Taiwan-U.S. short are showing July 15-23 in Film at Lincoln Center and Asia Society as part of the New York Asian Film Festival, according to the Ministry of Culture July 14. Among the lineup, “Life for Sale” is a thriller about a failing salesman who is inspired by Yukio Mishima’s novel “Life For Sale” to offer his own on the internet; “Mama Boy” is a comedy-romance about a young man who falls for an older woman; and “Reclaim” is a quiet family drama that follows an art teacher who has given up her dreams to become a good wife, mother and daughter. The Taiwan-U.S. co-production “Tank Fairy” is a musical that encourages fearless personal expression. The short will be part of the NYAFF’s Narrative Shorts Showcase and is directed by Erich Rettstadt, a queer American filmmaker based in Taipei.
Tsai attends exhibition honoring late glove puppetry master
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) attended a memorial exhibition in honor of the late glove puppetry master Huang Wen-tse (黃文擇) at the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute July 5 in New Taipei City, vowing to continue promoting and preserving the folk art for the generations to come. Glove puppetry takes a prominent place in the collective memory of the Taiwan people, the president said, adding that it was a favorite pastime of hers during childhood. Thanks to the creativity and innovation of pioneers like Huang, the traditional art has been keeping pace with time, she said. Born into a family of glove puppetry masters, Huang voiced over 4,000 characters during his career and is credited for further popularizing the art through the Pili TV series he created in 1984. He died in June from illness at the age of 66.
Taiwan short wins acclaim at San Francisco LGBTQ+ film festival
“Tank Fairy,” a co-production between Taiwan and U.S. filmmakers, won the Best Narrative Short Award at this year’s Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival June 26 in the U.S. city, according to the Ministry of Culture. Directed by Taiwan-based American filmmaker Erich Rettstadt, the movie depicts how Jojo, a lonely 10-year-old boy who dreams of dancing and dressing in drag, is inspired to embrace his authentic self by a drag queen who delivers gas tanks to his family’s apartment. Since premiering at the Kaohsiung Film Festival in Taiwan in October 2021, the short has collected numerous awards at various international film festivals, including an Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival, a Special Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Martin Contreras and Keith Orr\aut\ Film Award at the Ann Arbor Film Festival.
4th World Congress of Taiwan Studies kicks off in US
The fourth World Congress of Taiwan Studies kicked off June 27 in the U.S. city of Seattle, spotlighting government efforts to enhance the visibility of the field while raising the country’s profile in the global community. Co-hosted by Academia Sinica—Taiwan’s foremost research institution—and the University of Washington, the three-day event involved 88 presenters from countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Singapore, the Czech Republic, the U.K. and the U.S. Topics spanned economics, history, literature, religion, democracy and politics, environmental change, gender issues, indigenous studies, visual arts, and trending issues such as disinformation and the country’s response to COVID-19. According to AS, this year’s edition is the first WCTS to be held in the U.S. The event provides a platform for scholars to share research on Taiwan and aims to further enhance international and interdisciplinary collaboration in related fields, the research institution added.
Photos: Academia Sinica, Central News Agency, Chin Hung-hao, Executive Yuan, Manbo Key, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Office, Taiwan Creative Content Agency, Tourism Bureau, United Daily News andU.S. Department of State