AIT celebrates Taiwan-US ties with concertENCORE: The concert to celebrate the anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act embodies the spirit of friendship that defines Taiwan-US ties, the AIT saidBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporterThe American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday celebrated ties between the US and Taiwan through musical performances, with Director Sandra Oudkirk calling the partnership “rock solid.”The AIT held the “AIT@45 Music Exchange Encore!” concert at the Eslite Performance Hall in Taipei to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the promulgation of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, when the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan was founded. American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Sandra Oudkirk, fifth right, poses with performers at the “AIT@45 Music Exchange Encore!” concert in Taipei yesterday. Celebrating “45 years of the rock-solid partnership” between the US and Taiwan through music symbolized the profound effect cultural exchanges can have on people-to-people ties, she said. As part of that effort, the AIT has worked with the State Department to organize cultural exchange programs, including the Youth Leadership Exchange Program, OneBeat, the International Visitor Leadership Program and Center Stage, she said. The AIT named the concert “encore” to show its commitment to promoting cultural exchanges and “the deepening of international friendships,” she said.

Groups urge China to put an end to state-run schools in TibetStaff writer, with CNACivic groups commemorating the 1959 Tibetan uprising in Taipei yesterday called for an end to China’s use of state-run residential schools to “exterminate” Tibet’s culture and language. Participants at a rally commemorating the 65th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising yesterday kowtow to pay tribute to those who died in the uprising. Tibetans in Taiwan and their supporters march with Tibetan flags and a portrait of the Dalai Lama during a rally commemorating the 65th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei TimesSince the Tibetan uprising against Chinese communist rule on March 10, 1959, Tibetans have had no freedom and no human rights, Lhakpa said. “The Chinese communists claim Tibet has become more open these past decades, and that Tibetans are living a great life.

Labor rights groups rally over Indian worker dealDETAILS UNDISCLOSED: Taiwan should establish a government-to-government recruitment system and renounce the labor brokerage system, a legislator saidStaff writer, with CNAA coalition of labor rights advocacy groups on Friday rallied outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, demanding a substantive review of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on sending Indian workers to Taiwan. After Bloomberg last year reported that Taiwan could recruit up to 100,000 Indian workers, there was a backlash, indicating differing opinions on the matter, which would impact local and migrant workers, Taiwan International Workers’ Association member Hsu Wei-tung (許惟棟) said at the rally. Labor rights groups hold a demonstration outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on Friday. Hsu urged the government to adopt South Korea’s recruitment model, which enables migrant workers’ home countries to share information on migrant workers with overseas offices set up by the South Korean government. The ministry said Taiwan’s existing recruitment channels include a G2G model, and the specifics about the recruitment of Indian workers would be ironed out with the Indian government, local Chinese-language media reported.

That is helping South Korean suppliers, including Hanwha Aerospace Co, which makes land-based artillery for a growing list of European customers. Illustration: Constance ChouRomania, shaken by Russia’s attack on its northern neighbor, might be next in line to buy artillery from South Korea. Its backlog of export orders jumped 10-fold from 1.7 trillion won in 2021 to 20 trillion won at the end of last year, a February financial presentation showed. South Korean law prohibits arms sales to a conflict zone. Yet a global shortage of ammunition-production capacity, and no sign of a let-up in the Ukraine war, makes it likely South Korea would be called upon to help meet demand.

Taiwan’s Wang stuns world No. 1IF AT FIRST: Wang Tzu-wei was grateful to have finally defeated Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen after losing to him all six times the two had previously played each otherStaff writer, with CNATaiwan’s Wang Tzu-wei on Thursday upset world No. Taiwan’s Wang Tzu-wei returns to fellow countryman Lin Chun-yi in their Taipei Open men’s singles match at the Tianmu Arena on June 23 last year. The Thai won last year’s BWF World Championships in Copenhagen and has won all five of his career matches against Wang. Aside from Wang, Taiwanese ace Tai Tzu-ying and the men’s doubles duo Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan also advanced to the quarter-finals.

Groups show support for medical fee cap removalSELF-REGULATED: While five medical groups touted the decision to remove a cap on registration fees at medical institutions, some civil groups criticized itBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNAFive major medical groups on Thursday supported the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s decision on Monday to repeal government-imposed limits on medical institutions’ registration fees, and urged etablishments to maintain self-discipline. The groups’ support came following public concern that seeing doctors would be more expensive if medical institutions jointly raise registration fees. Removing the limits would encourage the dynamic development of the medical industry and enhance competitiveness by allowing the market to determine prices, the Taiwan Medical Association said. Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei TimesReference rates for registration fees were not adjusted for inflation, it said. Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation secretary-general Lin Ya-hui (林雅惠) said the foundation opposed the outright removal of registration fee ceilings.

The company, which was founded in China and sells clothing manufactured there, is now the top fast fashion retailer in the US. But the de minimis rule also has powerful defenders. EXPORTSChina’s exports grew only 0.6 percent last year, but the bright spot was cross-border e-commerce, which includes but is not limited to the de minimis packages. It is unclear how much fentanyl and other illicit drugs might be slipping undetected into the country in small packages. On a recent Friday morning at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, small parcels that had arrived by mail from overseas were on conveyor belts going through X-ray machines for inspection.

Insect farming could be the future of the meat industryInsects offer farmers an appetizing, cheaper alternative for their animals to traditional animal feedBy David Fickling / Bloomberg OpinionNo dystopian picture of a climate-ruined planet is complete until you have been put off your lunch. It Is hardly surprising, then, if we are regularly promised a future of Blade Runner-style protein farms, where insect larvae are bred en masse for human consumption. If anything, the most likely future for insect farming is one where it accelerates humanity’s growing appetite for poultry and mammal flesh, rather than reducing it. Indeed, insect farming would be having a much easier time of things right now if previous attempts to solve the protein deficit had not led to disaster. Horrible food is such a sci-fi staple because people are fussy eaters — one reason that insect farming so far is mostly serving the needs of grub-eating pets, as Bloomberg News reported last month.

People protest against EU climate measures and Ukrainian imports in Warsaw on Wednesday. Photo: AFPFarmers are angry over EU climate policies and food imports from Ukraine that they say threaten their livelihoods. Farmers on tractors blocked highways leading into Warsaw while thousands of people gathered in front of the prime minister’s office before marching to the parliament. Polish farmers in tractors block a road near Warsaw on Wednesday. The protesters also want the border with Ukraine closed to stop the imports of Ukrainian food products, which farmers say drive down market prices and put Poland’s agricultural sector in jeopardy.

TPP and the era of ‘influencer-politicians’By Chang Yueh-han 張約翰Nearly two months have passed since the presidential and legislative elections. Viewers’ attention has shifted away from more traditional media like newspapers and television to social media platforms. In the early days of the social media, given their lack of experience in politics, these “influencer-politicians” seem to project a “fresh” image, attracting Internet traffic. What I am saying is that the two groups share similar temperaments, capabilities and methods for attracting Internet traffic. Some want to turn traffic into profit, while others want to impart knowledge or raise awareness.

KMT says penalties for contempt of the legislature neededBy Lin Hsin-han, Hsieh Chun-lin and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writersContempt of legislature and giving false testimony during a legislative inquiry should be punishable offenses, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) said on Monday. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators attend a news conference at the legislature in Taipei on Monday. False statements and other actions would be deemed to be contempt of the Legislative Yuan, the proposed amendments say. New presidents should deliver a report within two weeks of their inauguration and appear before the Legislative Yuan within a month, it said. Reforms should not expand legislative power, as the public would not stand for it, Wu said.

Lithuania a national security exampleBy Chen Yung-chang 陳永昌Late last year it came to light that two of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich’s children have Lithuanian citizenship, which could allow him to use their status to transfer assets and evade international sanctions. In prioritizing its national security, Lithuania has demonstrated its determination to maintain strict controls. Abramovich’s paternal grandparents were Belarusian Jews who moved to Lithuania, but were forcibly transferred to Siberia in 1940, during World War II. That Abramovich’s children hold Lithuanian passports amounts to a loophole in the economic sanctions against him. By staunchly defending its national security and interests and strictly controlling its system of naturalization and residence, Lithuania has set a good example for other countries.

Second, in addition to passing the Basic Space Act in 2008, Japan has also passed the Space Activities Act and the Satellite Telemetry Act since 2016. Japan passed the Space Resources Act in 2021, allowing private-sector entities to participate in space exploration and obtain corporate development rights. Given the vast resources in space, Japan has begun to release some of its government-owned technologies and licenses to create business opportunities through public-private cooperation. The systemic changes would give Japan a more flexible approach to pursue national interests and stimulate the private sector to develop space industries, which can be a reference for Taiwan’s space development. Taipei can also extend exchanges with Japan through “space diplomacy” — increasing dialogue on the economy, trade, security and technology.

Bafang Yunji backtracks on denial of tainted chili powderStaff writerThe Kaohsiung Department of Health on Tuesday said it ordered the dumpling chain Bafang Yunji (八方雲集) to recall all chili powder, after it was found to be a recipient of spices potentially tainted with the carcinogenic dye Sudan III. As explanation, it said it uses coarse chili powder, which is different from the fine chili powder tested by the department. Chili powder with the label “not up to standard” is pictured on Tuesday. Afterward, Bafang Yunji in a statement said it would cooperate with the investigation and stop using any ingredients purchased from the importers. The chili powder it uses is all tested by SGS for traces of Sudan III and other banned chemicals before it is shipped to factories, the company added.

Four Filipinos injured in China, Philippine S China Sea standoffAP, MANILAChinese and Philippine coast guard vessels yesterday collided in the disputed South China Sea and four Filipino crewmembers were injured in high-seas confrontations. The BRP Sindangan of the Philippine Coast Guard had minor structural damage from the collision that happened shortly after dawn. Over an hour later, another Chinese coast guard ship first blocked then collided with a supply boat the Philippine coast guard was escorting, the Philippine officials said. Photo: AFP / Philippine Coast GuardThe supply boat, crewed by Filipino navy personnel, was later hit by water cannon blasts from two Chinese coast guard ships. A Chinese coast guard spokesperson said a Philippine ship deliberately rammed a Chinese coast guard vessel, causing a minor scratch.