Hon Hai, US state in EV car talksTO BE FINALIZED: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co said it has engaged the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp to discuss its plans for EV manufacturing thereStaff writer, with CNA and BloombergHon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), known internationally as Foxconn Technology Group (富士康科技集團), on Friday announced that it had been holding talks on building electric vehicles (EVs) in Wisconsin, but said that plans had yet to be finalized. “Foxconn has engaged the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp (WEDC) to discuss the company’s plans for electric vehicle manufacturing,” the company said in a statement. The frame of an electric vehicle based on Hon Hai Precision Industry Co’s MIH Open Platform is displayed in Taipei on Oct. 16 last year. Many have speculated that the project would be based in Wisconsin, where Hon Hai had previously planned a US$10 billion factory to make flat panels, before massively scaling it back earlier this year. The spokesperson added that “core stakeholder” FAW and “partner” Foxconn would collaborate in sending executives to Byton to support production and operations.

The company’s investment is also a demonstration of the robust demand for semiconductors in the post-COVID-19 era, the ministry said in a statement. Realtek, founded in 1987 at the Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區), is a fabless semiconductor firm that focuses on chips used in products for communication networks, computer peripherals, and devices for multimedia and ultra-wideband communications. Realtek Semiconductor Corp’s logo is displayed outside its headquarters at the Hsinchu Science Park in an undated photograph. Photo: Grace Hung, Taipei TimesThe company plans to build a new office building at the Hsinchu Science Park and another at the Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park (新竹生醫園區) in Hsinchu County’s Jhubei City (竹北) to accommodate IC designers, software and hardware researchers, laboratories and small-scale trial production bases, the ministry said. Last month, memorychip packaging and testing service provider Powertech Technology Inc (力成科技) said it would invest NT$20 billion in a second production facility at the Hsinchu Science Park.

COVID-19: Taichung friends form group to disinfect districtBy Chang Jui-chen and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerStaff reporter, with staff writerFour volunteers in Taichung’s Nantun District (南屯) have helped disinfect half the district in less than a month. From left, disinfection volunteers Hung Hsin-jen, Chiang Ming-che, Chen Chun-hua and Huang Mao-chieh pose with spray equipment in Taichung’s Nantun District in an undated photo. Volunteers disinfect a statue in a garden in Taichung’s Nantun District in an undated photo. Photo copied by Chang Jui-chen, Taipei TimesHung, 33, who works in the automotive industry, said on Wednesday that encouragement from community residents helped fuel their motivation. The group said they hope to disinfect the rest of the district by the end of this month, before disinfecting nearby tourist spots.

COVID-19: Tzu Chi takes next step to buy vaccinesPRIVATE AID: Tzu Chi joins Yonglin and TSMC in working to purchase vaccines for the government, although the Executive Yuan had initially not approved the dealsBy Lee Hsin-fangand Wang Chun-chi / Staff reportersThe Executive Yuan yesterday confirmed that it had given the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation the necessary documents for it to procure 5 million doses of the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The confirmation came after the foundation earlier said in a news release that it had signed documents with the government on Friday. The foundation also thanked the government for its help, allowing it to hasten the process of acquiring vaccines and donating them back to the government. Protest organizers urged the government to import more vaccines instead of waiting for locally developed shots to become available. Tzu Chi on June 23 submitted its vaccine purchase plan to the Food and Drug Administration, but Executive Yuan spokesman Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) said the following day that it would not approve it.

Adimmune signs an MOU with an eye on IndonesiaBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterAdimmune Corp (國光生技) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Indonesia-based industrial-estate developer PT Berkah Kawasan Manyar Sejahtera (BKMS) as it eyes a new factory in Indonesia. BKMS, a subsidiary of AKR Corporindo Tbk PT, helps foreign companies invest in Java Integrated Industrial Ports and Estate, which has been designated a special economic zone, Adimmune said. “The zone is a strong candidate for overseas expansion, due to its infrastructure and advantageous policies, in addition to the large consumer base in Indonesia,” Pan said. It would focus on contract development and manufacturing to help clients develop their own vaccines, Pan said. Adimmune has conducted phase 1 trials in Taiwan and is considering phase 2 human trials in Indonesia, Pan said, adding that talks are ongoing with Indonesian regulators.

COVID-19: Tainan only city to allow dining in as regulations easeBy Cheng Ming-hsiang, Ho Yu-hua and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writerTainan is the only city that will conditionally allow dining at restaurants, while other local governments yesterday said that dine-in restrictions would remain in place, despite a relaxation of a nationwide ban announced by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Thursday. Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Keelung, Hsinchu City, and Yilan, Hsinchu and Miaoli counties are not to repeal dine-in bans. The Taipei City Government yesterday said it would continue to allow only takeouts at restaurants as long as the city is under the level 3 alert. A worker walks past empty tables in a Taipei department store food court yesterday after the city government said it would extend a ban on dining in. The Tainan City Government said that it would from Tuesday allow dining at restaurants, making Tainan the only one among the six special municipalities to lift the ban.

Housing insanity needs attentionBy James Lee 李牮斯“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”This popular quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein. To get to the root of the problem, we must ask what drives the insatiable demand for properties. “Owning property is saving wealth” would be a more accurate translation for most Taiwanese house seekers. When people purchase properties to save wealth (not to speculate), they typically do not intend to sell in the foreseeable future. Ordinary Taiwanese need policy guidance to channel their life savings into existing pure-use SoVs that have few real-world applications, such as gold and bitcoin.

Failing to purchase vaccines today would be tomorrow’s regret, he added. Chinese Nationalist Party Chairman Johnny Chiang speaks at a virtual news conference held by the party’s Youth Department in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Shih Hsiao-kuang, Taipei TimesIn addition, Chiang raised concerns about rising joblessness and limited stimulus for younger age groups. Meanwhile, the Economic Democracy Union yesterday released a statement urging the private sector not to cross the “red line” dividing generosity and collusion when procuring vaccines on behalf of the government. To ensure vaccine quality and prevent China from taking the opportunity to belittle Taiwan, the union recommended four additional requirements.

COVID-19: I-Mei to send Lithuania snacks in thanks for vaccinesStaff writer, with CNASnack packages that I-Mei Foods is planning to send to Lithuania to express Taiwan’s gratitude for the donation of COVID-19 vaccines are to have a special design incorporating the national flags of the two countries, the food manufacturer told the Central News Agency on Monday. Boxes of I-Mei Foods’ Puffs with packaging specially designed to show gratitude for Lithuania’s pledged donation of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan are shown in an undated photograph. On June 23, one day after Lithuania announced the donation, I-Mei said it would send 21,600 boxes of puffs in a 20-foot container to the Baltic country as a gift. Krizinio Nestumo Centras acting head Simona Nevieriene said that it was the first time since the charity’s foundation in 2013 that it received donations from Taiwan. RUTA Taiwan, which sells chocolate made in Lithuania, said it had to temporarily suspend online orders due to high demand.

Alert extended, some restrictions easedSANCTIONED ACTIVITIES: Officials said libraries would open, some exercise activities would be allowed at schools and film crews could work, with some provisosBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday extended a nationwide level 3 COVID-19 alert to July 26, although some measures are to be relaxed on Tuesday next week. The alert was first issued on May 15 in Taipei and New Taipei City, before being expanded nationwide four days later. It was to expire on Monday next week, but was extended for a fourth time yesterday. Although the alert would remain in effect, restrictions are to be eased moderately and on a conditional basis, he said. The goal is to lower the COVID-19 alert level after July 26, he said, urging the nation to work together to achieve the goal.

Daily local COVID-19 count drops to 18, three deathsBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterEighteen domestic cases of COVID-19 were confirmed yesterday, a new low since a local outbreak began in May, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday. Twelve of the cases were reported in Taipei and six in New Taipei City, it said. They had been confirmed with COVID-19 between May 28 and June 17, the center said. As of yesterday, Taiwan had reported 15,149 confirmed COVID-19 cases — including 1,193 imported and 13,903 domestic cases — with 718 deaths, CECC data showed. As of Wednesday, 2,899,997 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered — 2,847,653 first doses and 52,344 second doses, CECC data showed.

First in Asia: CTBC reveals financed emissions using PCAF methodologyStaff writerCTBC Financial Holding Co (中信金控) has disclosed its financed emissions after completing an inventory using the industry-leading Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) methodology, becoming the first company in Asia to do so. “Financial institutions like us need to use our influence to make this low-carbon transition happen,” he added. The company will continue to track the GHG emissions of each financial business line and conduct more comprehensive assessments and disclosures, it said. In November last year, PCAF published the first edition of The Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard for the Financial Industry. To date, 138 financial institutions worldwide with assets totaling more than US$42 trillion have joined PCAF.

Lithuanian minister eyes Taiwan office opening this yearStaff writer, with CNALithuanian Minister of the Economy and Innovation Ausrine Armonaite hopes to open a trade office in Taiwan this year, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported yesterday. Armonaite said that opening representative offices in new markets is part of her mission as minister, because Lithuania is an export-driven economy, Deutsche Welle reported. On issues relating to China, Armonaite told Deutsche Welle that it is important to pay attention to what is happening in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet and other places. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Joanne Ou (歐江安) said that the ministry welcomes Lithuania’s intention to expand cooperation with Taiwan, including its plan to set up a trade office in Taiwan and to amend laws to pave the way for that to happen. Ou thanked Lithuania for its pledge on June 22 to donate 20,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan.

COVID-19: Timeline proves mayor not ‘set up,’ CECC saysRUNNING IN 2024? Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, left, accompanied by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je at the Huannan Market in Taipei on July 2, outlines measures to control a cluster of COVID-19 cases. At 9:45am, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, called Taipei Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) about the event, it said. After Chen Chi-chung invited Huang to attend, she said Ko would also be attending, the CECC said. The news conference was held to explain response measures to market vendors, workers and residents, not to “set a trap,” it said.

Chip shortage to last until 2023, UMC president saysHUGE DEMAND: UMC’s revenue grew 26 percent last year, while operating income surged to NT$22.01bn, reflecting solid utilization rates across all its facilitiesStaff writer, with CNAThe global semiconductor shortage is expected to last until 2023 as the COVID-19 pandemic boosts demand for chips for automobiles and smart home devices, United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電) copresident Chien Shan-chieh (簡山傑) said yesterday. Chip supply would fall short of demand and only worsen in the short term, with a shortage of 8-inch and 12-inch wafers set to be the most severe, Chien said. Photo: Grace Hung, Taipei TimesAs demand continues to soar, the global chip shortage is likely to last beyond next year until 2023, he said. Shareholders of UMC, the world’s third-largest contract chipmaker, yesterday during the online meeting approved a plan to distribute a NT$1.6 cash dividend. The company last year posted consolidated revenue of NT$176.82 billion, or earnings per share of NT$2.42, up 19.3 percent year-on-year.