My artist friend had spent time here through the Tree Tree Tree Person Residency Project (森人藝駐計劃) and we were invited up to celebrate Christmas — a week early since the actual festivities are held in Tmbarah. “Christmas to Truku people is like the Lunar New Year [for Han-Taiwanese],” says Hayu Yudau, pastor of the Skadang Church in Tmbarah. Photo: Han Cheung, Taipei TimesSTUNNING VIEWSThe Japanese forcefully relocated most Truku off the mountains to better “govern” them in 1933. More songs are sung — usually three verses in Truku and one in Mandarin, and prayers are made in both languages. After breakfast, Hayu and the Tree Tree Tree Person crew head down a steep and slippery overgrown path for about 30 minutes until they reach the foundations of the ruined original Skadang church.

Hong Kong entertainment tycoon Charles Heung, center, and his wife, Tiffany Chan, left, attend an exhibition in Kaohsiung on July 12 last year. Photo: Chang Chung-yi, Taipei TimesHowever, national security officials believe that Heung is a potential security risk, the source said. When China’s National People’s Congress promulgated the National Security Law in Hong Kong, Heung was one of 3,000 celebrities to sign a public statement supporting the controversial legislation, the source said. Being eligible for residency does not mean the application will be granted, the source said, adding that the evaluation process protects national security and the interests of Taiwanese. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Fan Yun (范雲) said that Taiwan must look to its national security as the nation extends its friendship to Hong Kong.

HTC to roll out more 5G smartphones, VR devices: WangBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterHTC Corp (宏達電) chairwoman and CEO Cher Wang (王雪紅) yesterday said that the company is planning to roll out more 5G mobile phones and virtual-reality (VR) devices next year. “Prepare to be amazed,” Wang told reporters, referring to the upcoming VR product releases. HTC launched its first 5G smartphone, code-named HTC U20 5G, in September, giving a boost to its revenue. “The advancement of 5G would be beneficial to HTC, and we have leveled up our VR technology,” she said. HTC and VIA Technologies have suspended their year-end parties after Taiwan on Tuesday reported its first domestic COVID-19 transmission since April.

Property market needs broad fixBy Chang Chin-oh 張金鶚On Dec. 7, and without prior warning, the central bank proposed four targeted financial control measures that went into effect the next day. However, can these measures achieve the result of curbing property speculation and fixing the housing market? We are now being told that house-hoarding tax reform needs to be discussed for another two years. The only way to thoroughly correct the housing market is by establishing a long-term system of laws and regulations. Hopefully, the government’s plan for improving the housing market can make it more rational and give young people hope for their future housing needs.

Tatung appoints new chairmanSTRATEGY: Lu Ming-kuang, who last worked for the firm in 1972, said that he aims to pay shareholders a dividend next year and have revenues total NT$100bn in five yearsBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterTatung Co (大同) yesterday appointed Lu Ming-kuang (盧明光), former chairman of Sino-American Silicon Products Inc (中美晶), as its new chairman, following the surprise dismissal of outgoing chairman Lin Wen-yuan (林文淵) on Tuesday. New Tatung Co chairman Lu Ming-kuang, center, speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday, as Wang Kuang-hsiang, the company’s major shareholder, left, and new president Chung Yi-wen look on. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei TimesLu, dubbed the “King of Acquisitions,” last worked at Tatung in 1972 as a purchasing head. For years the company was embroiled in boardroom drama as the “company faction” led by former chairwoman Lin Kuo Wen-yen (林郭文艷) wrestled with the “market faction” led by Shanyuan Group (三圓建設) chairman Wang Kuang-hsiang (王光祥). “There are many business practices at Hon Hai that helped us reward high-performing employees and are worthy of consideration, but I am not turning Tatung into Hon Hai, I’m going to optimize Tatung,” he said.

Centers for Disease Control Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Guo Hung-wei reports on an imported case of Lyme disease in Taipei on Tuesday. He tested negative for COVID-19, but positive for Lyme disease, Guo said, adding that his symptoms have since been relieved, while his family did not show any symptoms. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans by infected ticks that had bitten infected animals, but it cannot be transmitted through human-to-human contact, CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said. Ticks that transmit Lyme disease are mainly found in the temperate climate zone, such as in the US, especially in the northeast, Canada, Europe, Russia, South America, Japan, South Korea and China, he said. There have been 17 imported cases of Lyme disease in Taiwan since the disease was designated as a category 4 notifiable communicable disease in 2007, he added.

EDITORIAL: Hiking education is crucialDue to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on global travel, Taiwanese have been flocking to domestic attractions “with a vengeance,” a term that entered the Taiwanese lexicon shortly after local restrictions were lifted. Is the proliferation of hiking incidents just growing pains exacerbated by the pandemic, or is there really a serious problem that needs additional measures? That is hard to say, but at least hiking experts agree that much more public education needs to be done. “One must understand the mountain first before tackling it, instead of following the trends and being a mountain tourist,” Wu wrote. The government could also work more with mountaineering experts to improve education — there is a lot more that can and should be done so that Taiwan’s hiking scene gets through its growing pains quickly.

Federation to publish first report on Taiwan’s birdsMILESTONE: The report highlights threats such as the degradation of wetlands, and compiles long-term data gathered by researchers, citizen scientists and birdersBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe Taiwan Wild Bird Federation yesterday said that it would publish the nation’s first comprehensive report on the 674 wild bird species documented in Taiwan and the threats facing them, hailing it as a milestone for the nation’s biodiversity conservation efforts. The State of Taiwan’s Birds 2020 report compiles long-term observation data collected by researchers, citizen scientists and birders, with the earliest data sets dating to 1972, federation secretary-general Allen Lyu (呂翊維) said. Of the 674 wild bird species documented in Taiwan, 52 are threatened, while the populations of 29 breeding birds and 15 migratory waterbirds are declining, Lyu said. The report highlights threats faced by the birds, including climate change, invasive bird species, loss and degradation of wetlands, poisoning, the wild bird trade and seabird bycatch, he said. Migratory birds that winter in Taiwan come from northern countries, so Taiwan’s data are helpful for other countries, he said.

Tatung chairman exits after 50 daysEXECUTIVES CLASH: Lin Wen-yuan said that he had ‘minor differences of opinion’ with Shanyuan Group chairman Wang Kuang-hsiang, Tatung Co’s leading investorBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterAfter just 50 days on the job, Tatung Co (大同) chairman Lin Wen-yuan (林文淵) has been dismissed. Lin said that he had “minor differences of opinion” with Tatung’s leading investor, Shanyuan Group (三圓建設) chairman Wang Kuang-hsiang (王光祥), who informed Lin on Monday last week that he would be replaced. Tatung Co chairman Lin Wen-yuan speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. When asked to name a point of friction with Wang, Lin said that Wang wants to be Tatung vice chairman. “It is not as bad as that, but it might be difficult for us to work together in the future,” Lin Wen-yuan said.

Cathay Financial’s previous projections were 1.7 percent for this year and 2.9 percent for next year. Despite the expected improvement, Cathay Financial — the nation’s largest financial institution by market value — agreed with international research bodies that the global economy needs more time to recover to pre-pandemic levels, citing economic reports for this and next year. National Central University professor of economics Hsu Chih-chiang, who heads a research team commissioned by Cathay Financial Holding Co, speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Allen Wu, Taipei Times“That view accounted for our relatively conservative forecast,” said National Central University professor of economics Hsu Chih-chiang (徐之強), who heads a research team commissioned by Cathay Financial. The situation is favorable for global trade flows, allowing exports and imports next year to expand 4.33 percent and 4.4 percent respectively, Hsu said.

Minister faces ire over Chinese firm’s stake in oil fieldBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterCPC Corp, Taiwan’s (CPC, 台灣中油) sale of a 35 percent interest in its Chad oil field to a Chinese company sparked harsh questioning of Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) in the Legislative Yuan on Monday. Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua attends a meeting of the legislature’s Economics Committee in Taipei on Monday. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times“Shouldn’t the ministry form a committee to get to the bottom of this issue?” Yang asked. At the time, Paul Chen (陳綠蔚) was CPC president and Lin Sheng-chung (林聖忠) was chairman, but both have since retired. The Oryx Oilfield is CPC’s first successful attempt to independently prospect and develop an oil field overseas.

Ministry confirms it held talks with US lawmakers on renaming TECROStaff writer, with CNAThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday confirmed that it had held talks with members of the US Congress on changing the name of its office in Washington to the “Taiwan Representative Office,” but said that there was no “definite timeline” for a change. In the letter, the lawmakers said that referring to Taiwan as “Taipei” contradicts language used in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act and by the US Department of State, and fails to accurately reflect the strong ties between the US and Taiwan. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Tseng speaks at a news conference in Taipei on Nov. 26. Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times‘SENSITIVE’ ISSUEAsked about the letter at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on Monday, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Tseng (曾厚仁) said that the ministry had been pushing for the office’s name to be changed. The issue is “sensitive” and must wait until the “time is right,” Tseng added.

Fubon Financial rejects rumors on Jih Sun dealSPECULATION: Fubon Financial said if it wanted to help Tomorrow Holding dispose of its assets, it would have acquired it directly, instead of going through Jih SunStaff writer, with CNAFubon Financial Holding Co (富邦金控) yesterday dismissed speculation that its bid to acquire smaller rival Jih Sun Financial Holding Co (日盛金控) is aimed at helping a Chinese shareholder dispose of his assets for cash. The Fubon Financial Holding Co headquarters is pictured in Taipei on Dec. 20, 2011. Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei TimesThe financial terms of the acquisition deal are fair to all Jih Sun shareholders, no matter whether they are majority or minority shareholders, Fubon Financial said, assuring that the acquisition process would be transparent. Kao said that as Fubon Financial has considerable investments in China, the company would have no choice but to yield to pressure from China. Under the tender offer, Fubon Financial would acquire a 50.01 percent stake in Jih Sun for NT$24.53 billion (US$860 million), or NT$13 per share.

Taiwan put on US’ currency watchlistWARNING NOTICE: A US Treasury report cited the nation’s ‘persistently’ large current account surplus and its foreign-exchange intervention in March as reasons for the move The US Department of the Treasury on Wednesday added Taiwan to a list of countries being monitored for currency manipulation, the first time the nation has made the list since 2017. The department issued its semiannual report to the US Congress on the policies of the US’ top 20 trading partners, which said that Vietnam and Switzerland had met the criteria for being labeled currency manipulators. The manipulator designation has no specific or immediate consequence, beyond short-term market impacts, but US law requires the government to engage with the listed nations to address the perceived exchange-rate imbalance. Penalties, including exclusion from US

Tsai envisions a people-centric ‘smart society’By Yang Mien-chieh and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerScientific and technological development over the next decade would strive to create a people-centered “smart society” that improves quality of life for all, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said at the opening of the 11th quadrennial National Science and Technology Conference yesterday. In their opening remarks, Tsai and Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) shared their vision for “innovative, inclusive and sustainable” technological development. President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech at the 11th quadrennial National Science and Technology Conference in Taipei yesterday. It is the government’s responsibility to create a suitable environment for scientific and technological innovation, she added. Technological development has a strong bearing on quality of life, as well as overall economic development, he said.