China has no jurisdiction over Taiwanese: MOFAPOLITICAL TOOL: The ministry shared three rules it follows when Taiwanese are arrested overseas, after a report was released on deportations to ChinaBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporter, with AFPTaiwan and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and the Chinese government has no jurisdiction over Taiwanese nationals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday. The ministry was responding to a report by rights group Safeguard Defenders on Tuesday that said Beijing has pressured foreign governments to deport hundreds of Taiwanese to China. More than 600 Taiwanese were extradited from numerous countries to China between 2016 and 2019 in an effort to “undermine Taiwanese sovereignty,” the report said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo is pictured at the ministry in Taipei in an undated photograph. Photo: Lu Yi-hsuan, Taipei TimesThe ministry yesterday listed three rules when handling Taiwanese allegedly involved in telecommunications fraud in other nations.

Heritage expert Rabindra Puri gestures during an interview in June at his house, in Bhaktapur some 12km east of Kathmandu. Her Kathmandu temple is only open to the public one day a year, but officials removed the work for safekeeping in the 1970s — after which it disappeared. “Our art for us is not just art, they are gods to us,” said heritage expert Rabindra Puri, who campaigns to repatriate stolen Nepali heritage and has assembled a collection of replicas for a planned museum on the issue. In March, the Dallas Art Museum and the FBI returned to Nepal a stolen 12th to 15th-century androgynous stone sculpture of Hindu deities Laxmi-Narayan. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art handed over a 10th-century stone sculpture of the Hindu god Shiva in September, the third item it has repatriated to Nepal since 2018.

Local biogas industry to benefit from Danes’ tipsBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterMuch more than pig waste can be turned into biogas and Taiwan can learn from Denmark, which is a world leader in biogas technology, Council of Agriculture (COA) Deputy Minister Huang Chin-cheng (黃金城) told a Denmark-Taiwan Net Zero Agriculture 2050 forum in Tainan on Monday. “Taiwan has been promoting biogas production from pig manure since 2017, but pig manure alone is not efficient,” Huang said. Biogas is also a great way to optimize the use of organic waste from agriculture, livestock farms, households and industry, Monsted added. By 2030, the Danish Biogas Association aims to replace natural gas in Denmark with biogas or biomethane. The Circular Taiwan Network estimates that the local biogas industry has the potential of generating NT$10 billion (US$359.58 million) per year, while creating 4,500 job opportunities.

Moderna warns against Omicron vaccine struggleAFP and AP, LONDON and NEW YORKExisting COVID-19 vaccines will struggle against the fast-spreading Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the head of vaccine manufacturer Moderna said yesterday. Pfizer, another US drug maker, on Monday said that it began on Friday testing its current COVID-19 vaccine against the Omicron variant. However, the testing could show that existing shots “protect less,” which would mean “that we need to create a new vaccine,” he said. “Friday we made our first DNA template, which is the first possible inflection of the development process of a new vaccine,” he said. Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday broadened its recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots for all adults as the new Omicron variant is identified in more countries.

Loan-to-deposit ratios at domestic banks hit new low of 69.93 percent in OctoberBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterDomestic banks’ overall loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) hit a new low of 69.93 percent at the end of October, from 70.07 percent in September, as deposits at the banks exceeded their lending, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) reported yesterday. Combined deposits increased by NT$355 billion (US$12.77 billion) from September to NT$47.65 trillion, while total loans increased by NT$179 billion to NT$33.32 trillion, commission data showed. In October, the gap between deposits and loans increased to NT$14.33 trillion, the data showed. Profit from banks’ domestic operations increased 17 percent annually to NT$191 billion, while profit from their overseas branches increased 48 percent to NT$26 billion, the data showed. However, profit from their Chinese operations declined 33 percent to NT$3.1 billion, due to lower investment returns and higher loan-loss provisions, the commission data showed.

Extraditions of Taiwanese to China a concern: groupBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterAbout 610 Taiwanese nationals accused of crimes in other countries were extradited to China from 2016 to 2019, international non-governmental organization (NGO) Safeguard Defenders said yesterday, calling on the international community to intervene in the practice. About 610 Taiwanese nationals accused of crimes in other countries were extradited to China from 2016 to 2019. But one group that has received far less attention to date: hundreds of Taiwanese nationals have been detained and forcibly extradited to mainland China from around the world,” the group said in a news release yesterday. In 2014, China began pressuring Kenya over a group of more than 70 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals wanted for suspected telecommunications fraud, and in 2016 Kenya agreed to transfer some of them to China, it said. “At least two of the Taiwanese nationals were later shown delivering televised forced confessions in China,” it said.

Taiwan, South Korea ink deal to prevent double taxationBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterTaiwan and South Korea have signed an agreement to prevent double taxation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday, adding that the government is also seeking trade pacts with Australia and India. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral trade revenue last year reached a new high of US$35.74 billion, Chow said, adding that Taiwan and South Korea are each other’s fifth-largest trading partners. Asked if there is any progress negotiating a Taiwan-India free-trade agreement, Chow said that the government continues to push for a deal. In the post-pandemic era, many countries are rebuilding resilient supply chains based on shared values, Chow said, adding that Taiwan and Australia are reliable partners. Taiwan is Australia’s 10th-largest trade partner and one of Canberra’s few main partners that have not signed a bilateral trade agreement with it, Chow said.

Indonesian president reassures firms after court rules against investment lawReuters, JAKARTAIndonesian President Joko Widodo yesterday said that his government would ensure legal certainty for investors, offering continuity guarantees amid jitters and confusion over last week’s court ruling against a controversial job creation law. The Indonesian Constitutional Court, ruling on Thursday a case brought by labor unions, said there were procedural flaws in the formation of the legislation passed last year, which the government had touted as potential a game-changer in luring foreign investment to Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. The “omnibus” law saw the revision of more than 70 existing laws, in an effort to reduce red tape and streamline new business permitting. The president said that the court had ruled that the law would remain in effect pending the changes, which his Cabinet would address as quickly as possible. Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto yesterday said operations of the Indonesia Investment Authority, its sovereign wealth fund, would remain unchanged, despite the ruling.

Baltic delegation shows solidarity with TaiwaneseStaff writer, with CNAThe head of the Lithuanian parliament’s Taiwan friendship group yesterday said he and other lawmakers from Baltic states are visiting Taiwan to show their support for the country amid Chinese threats. “We are here to express solidarity with you,” Lithuanian Member of Parliament Matas Maldeikis told President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) during a visit yesterday morning. Lithuanian Member of Parliament Matas Maldeikis, left, bumps elbows with Premier Su Tseng-chang, who met a delegation of lawmakers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania yesterday in Taipei. Their visit marks the first time lawmakers from all three Baltic states have sent a joint delegation to Taiwan, Tsai said. “Taiwan and the Baltic nations share similar experiences of breaking free from authoritarian rule and fighting for freedom,” she said.

Taiwan scrambles to see off 27-plane Chinese incursionMONITORED BY JETS: Chinese aircraft included Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft, suggesting that China refueled its short-range jets during flightBy Ben Blanchard / Reuters, TAIPEIThe air force scrambled again yesterday to warn away 27 Chinese aircraft that entered its air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the Ministry of National Defense said, the latest increase in tensions across the sensitive Taiwan Strait. Taiwan has complained for a year or more of repeated missions by China’s air force near the nation, often in the southwestern part of its ADIZ, close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島). A Chinese Y-20 aircraft performs maneuvers during the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China, on Nov. 12, 2014. Photo: BloombergThe latest Chinese mission included 18 fighter jets plus five nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, as well as, unusually, a Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft, the ministry said. Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them, the ministry said.

Indian anti-money laundering agency summons Amazon: ‘Economic Times’BloombergAn Indian government agency has summoned Amazon.com Inc’s top management in the country, along with officials from Future Coupons Pvt Ltd (FCPL), to question them about a botched deal, the Economic Times reported. “We are in receipt of summons issued by the ED in connection with the Future Group,” an Amazon spokesperson told the newspaper. “As we have just received the summons, we are examining it and will respond within the given time frame.”The Future Group did not respond to a request by the Economic Times for comment. The Indian government has asked Starlink Internet Services of Elon Musk’s rocket maker Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) to comply with the country’s regulatory framework before offering its satellite-based Internet services. “The same is also evident from the Web site of Starlink (www.starlink.com), wherein satellite-based Internet services can be booked by users in the Indian territory,” it said.

Lithuanian delegation lands in Taiwan‘BADGE OF HONOR’: Lithuanian lawmaker Dovile Sakaliene, who is on China’s travel ban list, said delegation members joked that they would be joining her on it soonStaff writer, with CNAA delegation led by the chairman of the Lithuanian Parliamentary Group for Relations with Taiwan yesterday arrived in Taipei to participate in a conference on democracy later this week. The group, led by Matas Maldeikis, a Lithuanian lawmaker and an outspoken critic of China, touched down at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 6:18am yesterday. A delegation of Lithuanian lawmakers led by Lithuanian Parliamentary Group for Relations with Taiwan chairman Matas Maldeikis, fifth right, are welcomed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials after touching down at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday morning. Another member of the delegation, Lithuanian lawmaker Dovile Sakaliene, said she expected the Taiwan trip to be “inspiring,” as Lithuania knows how it feels to be next to the neighbor of “a large authoritarian regime.”The Baltic state is near Russia, while Taiwan is just across the Strait from China. You yesterday welcomed the delegation upon their arrival, saying that Taiwan opens its arms to all partners who love freedom and democracy.

Italy, Portugal drawn in same bracketAP, GENEVA, SwitzerlandNext year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar is sure to be without either Italy or Portugal after the current and previous European champions were drawn into the same qualifying playoff bracket on Friday, meaning that at least one will fail to qualify for the tournament. At a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, on Friday, Italy are drawn for their spot in the European playoffs for next year’s FIFA World Cup. At a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, on Friday, Portugal are drawn for their spot in the European playoffs for next year’s FIFA World Cup. Photo: ReutersCristiano Ronaldo has led Portugal to every World Cup since 2006 and this might be his last attempt at winning international soccer’s biggest trophy. “It’s not worth thinking about” Italy, Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.

European shares see worst fall in a year on virus woesReutersEuropean stocks posted their worst session in more than year on Friday, as reports of a newly identified and possibly vaccine-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variant stoked fears of a fresh hit to global economy and drove investors out of riskier assets. Cyclical-heavy European stock markets have already been under stress this week as a resurgence in COVID-19 cases prompted new restrictions in several countries. Oil and gas producers dropped 4.3 percent, while miners tumbled 3.5 percent as oil and metal prices lost ground as reports of the new virus variant fueled economic slowdown worries. The virus scare prompted eurozone money markets to scale back bets of a rate hike from the European Central Bank next year. Odds of a 10 basis point rate hike in December next year almost halved from a full 100 percent earlier this week.

Nation’s first photography book in Hailu dialect chronicles the history of JhudongBy Liao Hsu-ju and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerLee Tseng-chang (李增昌), a 95-year-old photographer and chronicler of the history of Hsinchu County’s Jhudong Township (竹東), is soon to publish the country’s first photography book in the Hailu (海陸) dialect of the Hakka language. The book titled Child Laborer, Hsinchu Glass Co., Jhudong, and Lee Tseng-chang (少年工．新玻．竹東．李增昌), consists of 400 images taken by Lee, as well as essays on the history of the township’s Hakka community, Lee’s coauthor, Ku Shao-chi (古少騏), said on Friday. The book received funding under the Ministry of Culture’s program to promote books written in local languages spoken in Taiwan that are not Mandarin. Hakka photographer Lee Tseng-chang, left, and writer Ku Shao-chi stand together in Hsinchu County on Friday holding copies of a book they coauthored. To ensure the accuracy of the text, Ku cross-referenced Lee’s photographs and verbal accounts with historical documents and interviews with living witnesses, she said.