Too early to weigh in on Chen Chien-jen, Ko saysTOUGH YEAR AHEAD: As premier, Chen would have to immediately deal with a tax rebate, global economic issues and high tensions with China, a legislator saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporter, with CNAIt is uncertain whether Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) would perform well as premier, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said yesterday, as politicians weighed in after the Presidential Office confirmed that the former vice president would succeed Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌). The report came after Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on Thursday last week announced that he and his Cabinet had submitted their resignation to Tsai. Photo: CNANoting that Chen’s nomination must be approved by the legislature, Ko said that Chen has a good relationship with people and is polite. Regarding whether Chen would do a better job than Su as premier, Ko said that whether Chen can do the job well is yet to be seen, and it is too early to evaluate him. He also said that he hopes Chen could appoint his Cabinet heads according to their expertise and based on the principle of meritocracy.

War with China not an option, Tsai tells pope‘PATIENCE’: Continued dialogue with Beijing is the guiding principle to his efforts to safeguard the church’s followers in China, Pope Francis saidBloomberg and APPresident Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told Pope Francis that war with China was “not an option,” reaffirming her desire to avoid a conflict that could drag in the US. In the letter, which was released on Monday, Tsai expressed her support for the Vatican’s positions on Russia’s war against Ukraine and restated her stance on maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait. Pope Francis holds a child during the weekly general audience at the Vatican yesterday. Photo: Vatican Media / Reuters“Preserving regional security has become a key consensus shared by national leaders,” Tsai wrote. The pope sidestepped a question about how the Vatican’s relationship with Taiwan affects the dialogue.

US funding Taiwan military trainingJOINT OPERATIONS: Participating in the IMET program, which offers professional training and education to military personnel, would boost Taiwan’s defense capabilitiesBy Lu Yi-hsuan / Staff reporterThe US government is appropriating funding to help Taiwan participate in its International Military Education & Training (IMET) program to enhance interoperability and capabilities for joint operations of the Taiwanse and US militaries. The funding for Taiwan’s participation in the program is mentioned in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, a US$1.7 trillion spending bill funding the US federal government for the fiscal year 2023. It covers funding for military support for Ukraine, defense spending and regions affected by natural disasters. While the act does not reveal details on how Taiwan would participate in the IMET program, diplomatic observers said that it might refer to the military training partnership between Taiwanese armed forces and the US National Guard. Taiwan’s All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency was reported to have a liaison officer in Washington as part of the Taiwan Military Advisory Group in the US to coordinate related affairs.

Empoli surprise 10-man Inter at the San SiroReutersA second-half goal by midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi on Monday earned Empoli a surprise 1-0 win over 10-man Inter in Serie A, ending Simone Inzaghi side’s seven-match unbeaten streak in all competitions. Empoli, whose previous victory against the Nerazzurri was in April 2006, moved up to ninth place on 25 points from 19 games. Inter remained third on 37 points, one point behind second-placed AC Milan, who were to travel to SS Lazio yesterday. “Winning at the San Siro is a dream and my players managed to make it come true.”Empoli’s Tommaso Baldanzi celebrates after scoring against Inter in their Serie A match at the San Siro in Milan, Italy, on Monday. Empoli forward Nicolo Cambiaghi was close to causing an early surprise at the San Siro when he received a lofted pass on the edge of Inter’s penalty area and struck from close range, but was denied by goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Man apologizes for hotel no-showHOT-SPRING RETREAT: A hotel in Japan incurred a loss of about US$1,846 after a Taiwanese man failed to show up for his reservation due to a misunderstood message A Taiwanese man who failed to show up for a hotel reservation in Japan has apologized and offered compensation, the hotel said yesterday. The man, surnamed Lee (李), reserved a room at the Yufuin Tsubaki hot-spring hotel in Oita for the Lunar New Year holiday, but failed to show up on Friday. Lee yesterday called the hotel to apologize and offered to compensate the losses caused by his failure to show up, a hotel employee surnamed Yashiro said. Lee’s wife also called on Sunday to apologize, she said. Lee had booked a two-night stay with upscale seafood and beef meals, the hotel said.

Napoli see off local rivals Salernitana to go 12 points clear at top of Serie AAFP, MILAN, ItalySSC Napoli on Saturday further extended their grip on the Serie A title race by beating local rivals US Salernitana 1919 2-0 to temporarily move 12 points ahead of the chasing pack. Goals from Giovanni di Lorenzo and Victor Osimhen immediately either side of halftime made sure that Napoli would be at least nine points clear at the halfway point of the season after a straight-forward win in soaking Salerno. SSC Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, top, controls the ball against US Salernitana 1919 in their Serie A match in Salerno, Italy, on Saturday. Inter are a further point behind their city rivals and would move provisionally into second place if they beat Empoli today. “We know we have a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we need to work with that in mind,” Spalletti said.

Probe seeks to review rules on water leisure activitiesBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNAControl Yuan members Fan Sun-lu (笵巽綠) and Su Li-chiung (蘇麗瓊) on Tuesday said that they are petitioning to investigate if strict regulations on activities near water are infringing on the public’s right to recreational activities. Photo: Cheng Ming-hsiang, Taipei TimesRegulations in Taiwan seem to stand in the way of popularizing recreational water activities, they said. Competent authorities and local city governments have differing regulations on open water activities, making it difficult for practitioners to follow the law, Fan and Su said. The pair said they would determine whether the Taipei City Government’s decision observes the principle of proportionality and whether its standards are appropriate. Definition of open water areas and what locations fit these criteria should be inventoried and local regulations reviewed to encourage the public to take part in aquatic activities, they said.

Travelers crowd the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday, the second day of the 10-day Lunar New Year holiday. Photo: Tony Yao, Taipei TimesAcetaminophen (Panadol, Tylenol and other brands) is commonly used to treat fever and pain, he said. Antihistamines are often used to relieve a runny nose, sneezing, or skin allergies, especially in the winter, when many symptoms of allergies worsen, he said. In other news, the Central Epidemic Command Center yesterday reported 20,773 new local COVID-19 cases, 305 imported cases and 33 deaths from the disease. The total number of cases rose 3.1 percent from the same day a week earlier, it said.

Indian wrestlers call off their protestAFP, NEW DELHIIndia’s top wrestlers called off a protest after the head of the sport’s national federation reportedly agreed to step aside until claims of sexual harassment against him are investigated. Dozens of male and female wrestlers, including Olympic and Commonwealth medalists, had announced a boycott of all competitions until Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was removed. Wrestlers protest against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in New Delhi, India, on Friday. Photo: APWrestler Bajrang Punia announced the decision to call off the protest on Friday after talks with Indian Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur. India’s #MeToo movement gathered momentum in 2018 after a Bollywood actress accused a senior actor of sexual harassment.

AcBel Polytech to buy ABB power conversion unitBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterPower management solutions provider AcBel Polytech Inc (康舒科技) announced on Friday that it would acquire a 100 percent stake in ABB Ltd’s power conversion division for US$505 million in cash. The Taiwanese firm said the Swiss engineering group’s power conversion division is a leading provider of power products, systems and services. Kinpo Group chairman Rock Hsu, left, and AcBel Polytech Inc chairman Jerry Hsu pose for a photograph in Taipei in an undated photograph. “By integrating ABB power conversion’s cutting-edge technologies and development expertise in system solutions, AcBel will accelerate its progress of expanding into an integrated solutions provider,” the filing said. The Tamsui District (淡水), New Taipei City-based AcBel offers power solutions for a wide range of applications including PCs, smart home appliances, smartphones, servers, networking equipment, sustainable energy devices and electric vehicle-related products.

The TPP on Jan. 8 also established the affiliated Taiwan New Homeland Think Tank Association, as well as an internal policy think tank to establish policy suggestions on foreign, defense and internal administration affairs. The think tank is to present a “third force” in Taiwanese politics during the election by consolidating views from different parties and experts, Shu said. The proposals put forward by the think tank are to reflect major national policies and issues of concern to the people, he said. Ko is to serve as chairman of the New Homeland think tank, with TPP Legislator Jang Chyi-lu (張其祿) and former party secretary-general Hsieh Li-kung (謝立功) serving as vice chairmen. The think tank includes many former heads of departments under the Taipei City Government and members of other political parties, Hsieh said.

Regular format resumes on Monday, Jan. 30. To our readers:Because of the Lunar New Year holiday, from Saturday, Jan. 21, through Sunday, Jan. 29, the Taipei Times will have a reduced format without our regular editorials and opinion pieces. From Saturday to Tuesday it will not be delivered to subscribers, but will be available for purchase at convenience stores. Subscribers will receive the editions they missed once normal distribution resumes on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The paper returns to its usual format on Monday, Jan. 30, when our regular editorials and opinion pieces will also be resumed.

Apple’s Chinese suppliers receive clearance in IndiaRELOCATION BOOST: The move signals that India is allowing more Chinese firms to enhance its tech sector, even as political tensions between the two have intensifiedBloombergMore than a dozen of Apple Inc’s Chinese suppliers are receiving initial clearance from India to expand in the country, helping the tech giant’s efforts to diversify its assembly network beyond China. The clearances signal that India is allowing more Chinese companies to build out its tech manufacturing sector, even as political tensions between the Asian neighbors have intensified. About 14 suppliers are receiving a green light from India after Apple named them as companies whose services it needs to increase its presence in the country, they said. India largely cut off Chinese companies from its tech economy after the countries’ troops clashed violently on their long-disputed border in 2020, leading to at least 20 deaths on the Indian side. While India is now approving several Chinese suppliers’ expansion in the country, some are still being rejected, the people said.

Mightier Japan to make Asia saferBy Brahma ChellaneyJapan has for decades based its international clout on economic competitiveness, not military might. Last month, Japan unveiled a bold new national security strategy, which includes a plan to double defense expenditure within five years. On Abe’s watch, Japan increased defense spending by about 10 percent. In 2013, the year Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) took office, Japan’s national security strategy called China a strategic partner. The UK has already surpassed the 2 percent of GDP level, yet it aims to double its defense spending by 2030.

NCC approves mergers of telecom firmsMIXED REACTIONS: Taiwan Mobile complained about the timeline for integration with Taiwan Star, while Far EasTone thanked the NCC for giving it the green lightBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday approved mergers between Taiwan Mobile and Taiwan Star, and between Far EasTone Telecommunications and Asia Pacific Telecom (APT) after a nearly one-year review, provided Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone dispose of excess bandwidth acquired through the mergers by the end of June next year. Following its merger with Taiwan Star, Taiwan Mobile would own 60 megahertz (MHz) of bandwidth at frequency bands below 1 gigahertz (GHz), which exceeds one-third — or 50MHz — of the total auctioned spectrum of 150MHz. Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone have agreed to the other conditions set by the commission for the mergers, NCC Deputy Chairman Wong Po-tsung (翁柏宗) said. Taiwan Mobile said that the commission’s ruling is “regrettable,” as it cannot possibly integrate networks with Taiwan Star in 18 months. “We respect the NCC’s ruling, and will submit an application for a merger with the Fair Trade Commission,” Far EasTone said.