Taipei exhibition features Aboriginal culture, artistsBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterA special exhibition aimed at highlighting the diversity of Aboriginal cultures yesterday opened at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei to mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day. ), is curated by Masao Aki and organized by the Ministry of Culture, it said. A statue, titled Wings of the Aborigines, is pictured in the “Ita/kita” exhibition at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chuang Shih-hsien, Taipei TimesAruwai Kaumakan, Alik Studio, Siki Sufin, Eval Malinjinnan, Tafong Kati and Ruby Swana are among the participating artists, the ministry said. Everyone should cherish and recognize Aboriginal culture as an indispensable part of what defines Taiwan, Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te (李永得) said at the exhibition’s opening reception on Saturday.

Heavy rain triggers floods, landslidesSOAKED: Although rain in central and southern Taiwan is to ease today, chances of heavy or extremely heavy rain would be high in the morning, a CWB forecaster saidBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterExtreme torrential rain brought by a southwesterly jet stream yesterday wreaked havoc in central and southern Taiwan, causing flash floods and triggering mudflows and landslides in mountainous areas. Although the rains in central and southern Taiwan would gradually ease, as the southwest jet stream turned south last night, chances of heavy or extremely heavy rain remain high this morning, Liu said. Southwesterly winds would remain strong and continue to affect the nation this week, he said, adding that people should beware of disasters caused by heavy or extremely heavy rain. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall has been forecast in mountainous areas today and tomorrow. The warm and humid air rises after encountering the Central Mountain Range and dumps rain in central and southern Taiwan.

It also suggested that the government respond prudently to Chinese attempts to harm the nation’s diplomatic relations through the distribution of vaccines. Once Taiwan’s vaccine needs are met, it should consider donating domestically produced vaccines to friendly nations in a demonstration of Taiwan’s “spirit of humane diplomacy,” it said. It must additionally offer needed support to overseas officials who are continuing the nation’s diplomatic work, even while facing the threat of the pandemic, the committee added. The report came shortly after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday last week confirmed plans to donate doses of Medigen Vaccine Biologics’ COVID-19 vaccine to help allies that have struggled to procure vaccines. The ministry at the time cited Chinese “diplomatic extortion” and said it would only consider making donations once domestic demand has been met.

In April, the Mingde (明德), Baihe (白河), Jingmian (鏡面), Chengcing Lake (澄清湖) and Fengshan (鳳山) reservoirs were the five category-one reservoirs with the most eutrophication, the report said. The Feitsui Reservoir (翡翠水庫), which provides water for the Taipei metropolitan area, has the best water quality, and is also considered oligotrophic, the report said. Mesotrophic water contains a moderate amount of nutrients, encouraging the growth of submerged aquatic plants, while oligotrophic water is clear and of higher quality. Speaking about the report on Friday, Hou Chia-hung (侯嘉洪), a professor at National Taiwan University’s (NTU) Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, said that precipitation levels can affect the water quality of reservoirs. Hou said that changing how the land around the reservoirs is used is key to stabilizing reservoir water supply.

While some TSMC production lines in Tainan’s Southern Taiwan Science Park received gas supplies that were found to be substandard, the chipmaker continued production using gas from other sources, the company said. The logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is pictured at its facility at the Southern Taiwan Science Park in Tainan on Thursday last week. Stringent follow-up measures have been implemented to monitor and trace the contamination, TSMC said, adding that this would not significantly affect operations at the site. Moreover, torrential rains that yesterday caused flooding in Shanhua District (善化) did not affect operation at the nearby Fab 18 or at other facilities at the Southern Taiwan Science Park, the park operator said. TSMC is developing 2- and 3-nanometer processes, with the latter to start production in the second half of next year.

Council celebrates Aboriginal athletes‘HARD-WON ACHIEVEMENTS’: In addition to the medals Aboriginal athletes won at the Olympics, Aborigines have contributed greatly to Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen saidBy Lo Chi and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Council of Indigenous Peoples yesterday celebrated Aboriginal Olympic athletes at an event to mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day. “These accomplishments should all be recognized and valued.”Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Icyang Parod speaks about the history of Aboriginal rights in Taiwan at a forum marking Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times“The recognition put an end to 400 years of discriminatory terms used to refer to Taiwan’s indigenous peoples,” Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Icyang Parod said. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said in a statement that Aboriginal athletes’ Olympic wins have made Taiwan’s Aboriginal communities proud, and have brought a shared sense of glory and honor to all Taiwanese. The governments of former presidents Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) sent bills on Aboriginal rights to the legislature during their terms, Chiang said.

Justices nix tests for street performersBy Wu Cheng-feng and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerOrdinances that require performers to pass tests before they can receive permits are unconstitutional, the Council of Grand Justices said yesterday in Constitutional Interpretation No. A street performer surnamed Chen (陳) in 2014 was issued five demerit points and banned from reapplying for a performers’ permit for a year after the Taipei City Government ruled that the number of people watching a performance of his had exceeded the maximum for the area he had applied to use, a breach of the now-defunct Regulations for Taipei Street Performers’ Performances. Photo: Wu Cheng-feng, Taipei TimesPeople are at liberty to choose their own profession and express themselves artistically, which has been infringed upon by city and county government demands that street performers pass a test before they obtain performance permits, Constitutional Interpretation No. While local governments should not be allowed to review the content of a street performer’s act, they can review the time, location, methods and other aspects apart from the performance, the council said. A local government must tender a draft ordinance that is approved by its council if it wishes to regulate performance times and locations, the Council of Grand Justices said.

AU Optronics expects growth in H2UPBEAT OUTLOOK: With more companies investing heavily in information technology and demand for high-end TVs growing, the company said it expects prices to increaseBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterAU Optronics Corp (AUO, 友達光電) expects growth momentum to extend into the second half of this year on strong demand for commercial laptops and premium TVs, after yesterday posting 65 percent sequential growth in net profit last quarter. Net profit expanded to NT$19.53 billion (US$698.87 million) in the second quarter, compared with NT$11.83 billion in the previous quarter and losses of NT$2.96 billion in the second quarter of last year. The company attributed the growth to quarter-on-quarter price increases of 16 percent last quarter. AUO expects panel supply and demand to reach a balance, as a key components shortage would cap the growth of new production. Shipments of the company’s 85-inch panels are to grow by a double-digit percentage year-on-year this quarter, after surging 50 percent annually last quarter, AUO forecast.

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Taiwanese flyweight Huang winsStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese boxer Huang Hsiao-wen yesterday won her opening bout in the women’s 48-51kg flyweight category at the Tokyo Olympics, earning a spot in the quarter-finals. Taiwan’s Huang Hsiao-wen, right, and Italy’s Giordana Sorrentino trade blows in their women’s flyweight round-of-16 bout at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday. Taiwan’s Lin Yun-ju, left, and Fan Zhendong of China compete in their men’s singles table tennis semi-final at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday. Taiwan’s Lin Chia-en looses an arrow during the individual eliminations at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday. Huang Yi-ting of Taiwan rows in her women’s single sculls semi-final at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday.

CECC says 30.97% of Taiwan’s population vaccinatedGAINING SPEED: On 1922.gov.tw, 5.52% have opted to get the AstraZeneca shot, 39.11% Moderna and 1.3% Medigen, the Central Epidemic Command Center saidBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported 16 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections and no deaths, while saying that 30.97 percent of the population has been vaccinated. As of Wednesday, 7,588,692 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in the nation — 7,273,091 first doses and 315,601 second doses, CECC data showed. Of the population, 30.97 percent have been vaccinated, or 32.31 doses administered per 100 people, Chen said. Another 39.11 percent had opted to receive the Moderna vaccine, while 1.3 percent had opted to receive the Medigen vaccine, the center said. On Tuesday, the Medigen COVID-19 vaccine was added on the site as an option for people aged 20 or older.

ASE eyes revenue growth of 20 percent for this yearBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterASE Technology Holding Co (ASE, 日月光投控), the world’s biggest chip assembler and tester, yesterday issued an optimistic outlook in expectation that its core business revenue would grow more than 20 percent this year on stronger customer demand and limited capacity. Earlier this year, ASE projected that revenue from its chip assembly and testing services would this year be double the estimated revenue growth of the semiconductor industry. “We are seeing stronger assembly and testing manufacturing demand than our previous target,” ASE chief operating officer Tien Wu (吳田玉) told an online investors’ conference. In this quarter, ASE expects assembly and testing manufacturing shipments to expand 12 percent from the second quarter, while average selling prices are to hold steady at last quarter’s level, it said. ASE yesterday posted 49 percent annual growth in net profit to NT$10.34 billion (US$370 million) during the second quarter, compared with NT$6.94 billion.

Next stimulus round should be digital: DPPBy Chien Hui-ju and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Executive Yuan should prepare digital stimulus vouchers and earmark funding for a stimulus program that should start once the COVID-19 situation has eased, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators told an online news conference yesterday. DPP Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) said that issuing vouchers would be an effective means for the government to stimulate a post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chung Chia-pin, left, participates with fellow DPP legislators in an online news conference yesterday urging the government to use digital vouchers for its proposed stimulus program. Digital vouchers would also push the development of a “green” financial system and the local fintech industry, she said. Hsu said he believed that more people would opt for digital vouchers this time, compared with just 13 percent when the Triple Stimulus Vouchers were issued.

Kee Tai to auction off complex near Taipei Railway Station in OctoberBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterKee Tai Properties Co (基泰建設) is in October to auction off its mixed-use complex near Taipei Railway Station for what many believe would be the biggest deal this year. The exterior of Kee Tai Properties Co’s mixed-use building, second right, on Zhongxiao W Road in Taipei is pictured on Wednesday. Photo: Hsu Yi-ping, Taipei TimesBuilt in 2019, the complex has occupants on 16 floors. Kee Tai said it is willing to sell or lease unsold houses from previous projects in Taipei to take a profit. The complex near Taipei Railway Station could generate NT$12 billion to US$15 billion (US$429.41 million to US$536.77 million) in revenue, real-estate brokers said.

Ministry rejects China’s claims on status of TaiwanBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday rejected the claim Beijing has been making about Taiwan’s status, while thanking US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman for raising concerns about Taiwan during her meeting with Chinese officials. Sherman met with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) on a visit to Tianjin on Sunday and Monday, with Wang urging Washington not to infringe on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the US for voicing its concerns about Taiwan. Taiwan and the US have maintained close communications regarding Sherman’s visit to China, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said in a statement yesterday. The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a democratic nation with independent sovereignty, with the sovereignty belonging to its 23.5 million people, she said.

The Hsinchu-based chip designer had three months earlier projected a 40 percent growth from NT$322.16 billion (US$11.48 billion) last year. MediaTek expects next year to be another growth year, with a higher 5G penetration rate and accelerating digital transformation during the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Photo: Vanessa Cho, Taipei TimesWith growth momentum continuing to build up, MediaTek expects revenue to reach US$20 billion within two years, double last year’s figure. “We already have enough growth upsides from our current four major business groups to achieve revenue of US$20 billion,” MediaTek chief executive officer Rick Tsai (蔡力行) told an online investors’ conference yesterday. MediaTek said revenue growth was across the board, with robust demand also from Wi-Fi chips, TV chips and chips used in tablets, Internet of Things devices and power management chips.