President Tsai departs on state visit to allies Guatemala, Belize
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) departed March 29 on a 10-day state visit to allies Guatemala and Belize, reaffirming the government’s commitment to fostering exchange and cooperation for global peace, stability and prosperity with diplomatic partners. The trip conveys the message that Taiwan stands firm in defending the values of freedom and democracy, Tsai said, adding that the country will continue to act as a force for good in the world while strengthening democratic resilience. According to the president, the government will conduct more extensive and frequent exchanges with its allies and like-minded countries in areas spanning agricultural technology, digital economy, supply chain security, women’s empowerment, medicine and public health. The tour marks Tsai’s eighth official trip abroad since taking office in 2016, with delegation members including Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Presidential Office Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), Minister of Overseas Community Affairs Council Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) and Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi (陳正祺).
Official visit deepens ties with allies
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said April 6 that Taiwan is committed to deepening partnerships built upon mutual support and shared values with its diplomatic allies. Tsai made the remarks at a meeting with domestic media outlets in Los Angeles at the close of her 10-day state trip to Guatemala and Belize. The visit helped the people of Taiwan gain a better understanding of cooperative programs and relationships between the country and its Central American allies, Tsai said. The president cited strong support from Guatemalan President Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla in the international arena, as well as health care and prosperity ventures like the Taiwan-Guatemala co-built National Hospital of Chimaltenango and the sheep and goat breeding project implemented by Taiwan’s technical mission in Belize.
Two-way ties are focus of US House speaker meeting
President Tsai Ing-wen said (蔡英文) April 5 that Taiwan is committed to being a force for good in the world as it strengthens its partnership with the U.S. Tsai made the remarks after a historic meeting with Kevin McCarthy, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. She and McCarthy were joined by 18 other members of Congress, whose bipartisan presence Tsai acknowledged was reassurance that the people of Taiwan are neither isolated nor alone. The president expressed appreciation to late U.S. President Reagan, whose Six Assurances in 1982 built upon the landmark Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to lay the foundation for the rock-solid Taiwan-U.S. relationship that has stood for over four decades. Tsai also took the opportunity to thank U.S. lawmakers for proposing initiatives enhancing Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, boosting robust bilateral economic ties and supporting the country’s meaningful participation in the international community.
Summit for Democracy 2023 highlights Taiwan’s accomplishments
Control Yuan President Chen Chu (陳菊), Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang (唐鳳) and Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States head Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) highlighted Taiwan’s commitment to enhancing global democratic resilience during the Summit for Democracy 2023 March 28-30. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chen shared Taiwan’s pertinent accomplishments over the past year, while Tang discussed the interplay between democracy, emerging technologies and human rights, and Hsiao illustrated Taiwan’s determination to uphold democratic values and counter authoritarian expansion. As a front-line state in the fight against totalitarianism, Taiwan will not be intimidated by diplomatic pressure, economic coercion or military threats, the MOFA said, adding that the country will continue to work with like-minded nations to enhance democracy, human rights and good governance in the international community.
Taiwan, Czechia hold business council meeting, sign cooperative MOU
The 18th session of the Taiwan-Czech Joint Business Council Meeting was staged March 27 in Taipei City, underscoring the two sides’ shared commitment to deepening partnership across the board, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The event focused on the aerospace, electric vehicle, energy and innovative industries, with over 250 people in attendance. In her opening remarks, MOEA Minister Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said that Taiwan’s electric vehicle component producers have leveraged the country’s strengths in information and communications technology and semiconductors to become integral to global supply chains. Echoing Wang’s remarks, the Czech Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marketa Pekarova Adamova said Taiwan is one of the Central European country’s crucial partners in Asia. Following the meeting, the two sides inked five memorandums of understanding on cooperation in areas such as lithium battery recycling, medical equipment and precision machinery, the ministry said.
Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee meeting wraps up in Tokyo
The ninth meeting of the Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee was held March 13-15 in Tokyo, highlighting the commitment of both sides to strengthening ties and seeking opportunities to work together in areas of mutual concern. The event was held in accordance with the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement signed in 2013, which aimed to solve disputes over rights and interests in contested fishing areas using peaceful negotiation. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials held in-depth discussions on topics spanning operational regulations in the inverted triangular maritime area north of the Yaeyama Islands and the special cooperation zone designated by the 2013 agreement. Participants from Taiwan also requested a start to negotiations on fishing operations in overlapping exclusive economic zones that fall outside the area.
Exports to India hit another record high in 2022
Taiwan exports to India amounted to US$5.32 billion in 2022, up 17.6 percent year on year to the best-ever result after hitting a record high of US$4.52 billion in 2021, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs March 15. The MOEA attributed the strong showing to local firms’ constant efforts to expand their presence in the New Southbound Policy target country and improved global economic conditions despite the negative impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. MOEA statistics show that exports to India rose another 43.5 percent during the first two months of 2023. In comparison, Taiwan’s total exports went up 7.4 percent in 2022 and dropped 19.2 percent in January and February.
Taiwan, Austria hold economic dialogue, sign MOU on innovation cooperation
The sixth Taiwan-Austria Economic Dialogue was staged March 14 in Taipei City, underscoring the two sides’ shared commitment to deepening partnership. The event focused on customs regulations, digital and innovation cooperation, and the shift to Industry 4.0. In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi (陳正祺) said the MOEA is committed to fostering startups while promoting industrial upgrades and digital transformation of small- and medium-sized enterprises. Echoing Chen’s remarks, Franz Wessig, head of the Directorate Foreign Economic Relations under Austria’s Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy, said Taiwan and Austria are innovative and open economies that play a key role in the global supply chain. According to the MOEA, the two sides inked a memorandum of understanding to boost ties between their respective innovation industries, facilitating substantial investment and cooperation opportunities.
Taipower remains 2nd in Smart Grid Index by Singapore’s SP Group
State-run utility Taiwan Power Co. has retained its second-place ranking among 94 utility providers across 39 countries in the 2022 Smart Grid Index released by Singapore’s SP Group, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Scoring 94.6 out of 100, Taipower finished behind only France-based Enedis, 98.2. The local company tied with UK Power Networks and led Japan’s Chubu Electric Power Co. and Tokyo Electric Power Co., both at 80.4; as well as Korea Electric Power Corp., 73.2. According to Taipower, the company has partnered with research units since 2007 to establish a smart grid task force integrating power generation, transmission and distribution, as well as communication and information capabilities. The electricity provider is also working hand in hand with the government to accelerate industry transformation in smart distribution and generation, power grid management, energy storage systems, demand management, information and communications infrastructure, and laws and regulations, the company said.
Taiwan achieves best-ever score in Index of Economic Freedom
Taiwan ranked fourth in the 2023 Index of Economic Freedom released Feb. 28 by Washington-headquartered think tank The Heritage Foundation, achieving its best-ever score. With a total of 80.7 out of 100, Taiwan finished second among 39 economies in the Asia-Pacific. It beat out South Korea, 73.7; Japan, 69.3; Malaysia, 67.3; Indonesia, 63.5; and China, 48.3. Taiwan was classified as “free” along with Singapore, Switzerland and Ireland, in that order. According to the index, Taiwan improved in seven out of 12 benchmarks used to compile the rankings. The biggest gains were in fiscal health and government integrity, which rose seven points and 2.5 points year on year to 93.6 and 76.3, respectively. According to the Cabinet-level National Development Council, the two outstanding performances can be attributed to the drop in the government debt-to-GDP ratio, which went from 33.7 percent in 2022 to 28.4 percent in 2023, as well as regulatory reforms such as amendments to the Act on Property-Declaration by Public Servants.
Latest OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index places Taiwan in top 5
Taiwan ranks in the top five in the latest Social Institutions and Gender Index compiled by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Executive Yuan announced March 21. With higher values indicating greater discrimination, Taiwan’s score of 9.5 puts it above fellow Asian countries like Mongolia, 15.3; South Korea, 20; Vietnam, 24.7; China, 27.6; and Japan, 28.2. Globally, only the following four nations outranked Taiwan: Belgium, 7.7; Spain and Sweden, 9.2; and Italy, 9.4. According to the EY, the country’s outstanding performance beats the averages of OECD member countries,16.5; the world, 30; and Asia, 37.6. The achievement can be attributed to public-private collaboration, the EY said, adding that Taiwan will work to influence regional neighbors.
Freedom House rates Taiwan “free” for the 25th consecutive year
Taiwan has achieved a quarter of a century of freedom, according to its “free” rating in the latest Freedom in the World report released March 9 by U.S.-based nongovernmental organization Freedom House. With its overall score remaining 94 out of 100, Taiwan placed second in Asia. Japan scored the highest at 96, while South Korea was rated “free” at 83; Singapore “partly free” at 47; and Hong Kong “partly free” at 42. Finland, Norway and Sweden tied for first place with perfect scores of 100. Freedom House cited Taiwan’s free and independent media, as well as individual freedoms to assemble, express personal views and practice religious faith in public as examples of categories in which the country scored highly.
World Baseball Classic kicks off in Taichung
The World Baseball Classic got underway March 8 at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in central Taiwan after a two-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament made its return to Taichung after 10 years away. This year, the city hosted Pool A games, which involved teams hailing from Taiwan, Cuba, Italy, Panama and the Netherlands competing to advance past the first round of the WBC. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) delivered a recorded message at the opening ceremony to root for Team Taiwan and praise its fighting spirit, while Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) joined more than 20,000 baseball fans at the stadium.
Outstanding women in science honored in Taipei
The 2023 Taiwan Outstanding Women in Science winners were honored March 4 in Taipei City, highlighting achievements by the country’s female scientists. Chen Yu-ju (陳玉如), a distinguished research fellow at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Chemistry, won the outstanding researcher award for her work in proteomics and mass spectrometry. She is recognized as being the first scientist in the world to develop nanoprobe-based mass spectrometry and leads Taiwan’s participation in the U.S.-launched Cancer Moonshot project. Other honorees this year were Lin Li-hwai (林俐暉), research fellow at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Astronomy, and Vita Pi-ho Hu (胡璧合), associate professor at National Taiwan University’s Department of Electrical Engineering, both of whom received young scientist of excellence awards. Astrophysicist Lin was recognized for her research on the evolution of galaxy properties and the formation of large-scale structures, while Hu was lauded for her work on materials-based nanoelectronics as well as memory and circuits.
Hualien ranked second in Booking.com’s top 10 most welcoming cities on Earth list
Eastern Taiwan’s Hualien City features in Booking.com’s top 10 most welcoming cities on Earth list for 2023. Compiled by the Netherlands-headquartered travel site, Hualien placed second out of 10 locations on the list, behind Italy’s Polignano a Mare in first place and just ahead of Spain’s San Sebastian, Germany’s Dresden and Lithuania’s Klaipeda. According to the platform, the city has an easy-going atmosphere, with many beautiful green spaces like Meilun Mountain Park to stroll in. It is also home to Dong Da Men Night Market, which the site called a great destination for travelers to taste local specialties. Chan Ya-yu (詹雅伃), manager of the platform’s Taiwan branch, said tourists seek unique and memorable experiences, but are also concerned about the effects of travel on the environment and want to respect local development during their visit. There are many attractions in Taiwan that align with such demands, and the platform will continue to broadcast the country’s beauty to the world, she added.
Indigenous documentaries set to screen in New York
A total of 16 Taiwan Indigenous documentaries are screening March 10-14 at Anthology Film Archives in New York, according to the Ministry of Culture. Co-presented by the AFA, Taipei Cultural Center in New York, and Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, the series titled “Indigenous with a Capital ‘I’: Taiwanese Indigenous Documentaries from 1994-2000” incorporates works by Indigenous filmmakers who studied in film academies, worked as journalists or attended local training camps on cultural or historical documentary production. According to the series’ head programmer Wood Lin (林木材), the documentaries center on issues spanning class differences among ethnic groups, culture and land loss, identity crisis, and clashes between tradition and modernity. Productions from this era are part of Taiwan’s first wave of Indigenous cinema, the MOC said, adding that the films preserve invaluable historical records that help people get a better understanding of the country’s ethnic makeup and social evolution.
Taiwan puppetry troupe shines at Canadian festival
Jin Kwei Lo Puppetry Company is showcasing its well-known production “The Potion of Reincarnation” March 3 and 4 at the 2023 Festival de Casteliers in Canada, spotlighting the vibrancy of Taiwan’s performing arts sector, according to the Ministry of Culture. The show weaves together the stories of three classic female characters from traditional Chinese opera—Bai Su-zhen (白素貞), Pan Jin-lian (潘金蓮) and Wang Bao-chuan (王寶釧)—and their encounters with Lady Meng (孟婆), a figure from Chinese mythology who ensures souls’ readiness for reincarnation by inducing them to forget their previous lives. The company also co-hosted a workshop with the Quebec Association of Puppeteers for local theater actors, puppeteers, teachers and puppet makers, the MOC said, adding that the event is expected to facilitate relevant cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Canada.
Taiwan movie classics to screen at Cinemateca Portuguesa
A total of 11 classic movies from Taiwan will screen at Lisbon-based museum Cinemateca Portuguesa as part of ongoing government efforts to showcase the country’s cultural impact in Europe, the Ministry of Culture said. According to the MOC, the featured “Dragon Inn,” directed by King Hu (胡金銓) in 1967, is credited with initiating the martial arts genre that swept Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Southeast Asia during the 1960s and 1970s. The museum described the movie as a milestone in Hu’s starred career. Since this is the first collaboration between the two institutions, the MOC has arranged two seminars introducing the development of the cinematic genre to the local audience. Chen Ru-shou (陳儒修), a professor from the College of Communication at National Chengchi University, is set to host the educational sessions at the museum.
Queer Screen’s Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney awards Taiwan short
“Tank Fairy,” a co-production between Taiwan and U.S. filmmakers, won the Asia-Pacific Queer Film Festival Award at Queer Screen’s Mardi Gras Film Festival held in Sydney, Australia, according to the Ministry of Culture Feb. 21. Directed by Taiwan-based American director Erich Rettstadt, the movie follows a boy who dreams of dancing in drag and depicts how he embraces his authentic self when inspired by the gas tank delivery man, who is a drag queen. The musical extravaganza encourages people to unapologetically express themselves, the ministry said. The film was selected from among Australian, Japanese, Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan productions all contending for the top honor at the 30th edition of the event. According to the MOC, the short previously won the Best Narrative Short Award at 2022 Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival in the U.S. city.
Artists ready to shine at 2023 Taiwan Art Week in Madrid
Taiwan artists Chang Teng-yuan (張騰遠), Chen Szu-ying (陳思穎), Hsieh Jung-wei (謝榕蔚) and Wu Wei-ting (吳瑋庭) are scheduled to showcase their work at Art Madrid and Hybrid Art Fair during the 2023 Taiwan Art Week in Madrid, according to the Ministry of Culture Feb. 16. Chang, Hsieh, and Wu are featuring at Art Madrid, while Chen is holding a solo exhibition at Hybrid Art Fair running Feb. 24-26. According to the MOC, Chang is attending Art Madrid for the second time to share his new series “Earth Beta.” Hsieh often compares himself to a farmer on paper and hopes his pieces are perceived as a warm response to the Madrid spring breeze, the ministry said. Inspired by scent, Wu chose to infuse ocean stones with the smells of citrus, a famed Spanish product. In this way, his work for Art Madrid bridges the distance between Taiwan and Spain, the MOC said. Chen, who is participating at Hybrid Art for the first time, will be presenting “Marginalia,” which combines Eastern and Western elements as well as myth and reality, the ministry added.
Photos: Central News Agency, Freedom House, Hualien City Government, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Presidential Office and The Heritage Foundation