The RCEP is mainly composed of ASEAN member countries with the main goal of reducing tariffs and eliminating trade barriers. The Washington-led regional economic initiative was formally established in Tokyo in May last year, an indication that the US wants to deepen its integration with the Indo-Pacific region by collaborating with its democratic partners. The Cabinet’s Office of Trade Negotiations views the initial trade agreement between Taiwan and the US as the first fruit of the most wide-ranging and comprehensive trade negotiations conducted by Taipei and Washington since 1979. It would also provide Taiwan with more opportunities to take part in regional trade blocs, including the CPTPP, the office said. The government could also use the initiative as a stepping stone toward signing bilateral trade agreements with other countries, and therefore avoid marginalization.

The incident highlighted that China considers the Taiwan Strait a domestic waterway, and it was an attempt to demonstrate its military hegemony, they said. Crew on the Canadian vessel contacted the Chung-Hoon after seeing the Chinese vessel alter its course and told the US ship to move to avoid a collision, Global News said. The US destroyer responded by asking the Chinese warship to steer clear of the ship, but it ultimately needed to change course and decelerate, it said. The 1972 International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea stipulate that the Chinese frigate should have yielded and avoided the US vessel, he said. Should the situation permit it, the ship should avoid crossing the bow of the other ship, the regulations say.

Presidential Election: Ko Wen-je visits officials in JapanStaff writer, with CNATaiwan People’s Party (TPP) founder and Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday departed for Japan, where he said he wants to gain a better understanding of the country. Japan is Taiwan’s most important partner in Asia, and the two sides have maintained close trade and economic ties and interactions, said Ko, who is also the TPP’s presidential candidate. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je, left, and his wife, Peggy Chen, wave to reporters at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday. Photo: Tony Yao, Taipei TimesHe would visit the parliament, administrative agencies and think tanks, as well as meet with Taiwanese expatriates and students in Japan, Ko said. He would also meet other Japanese lawmakers and visit Japanese think tanks in the diplomatic and defense areas, including the Japan Institute of International Affairs, before returning to Taiwan on Thursday.

Qualcomm says AI needs more power than the cloudBIG MARKET: As growth in the number of devices and data traffic accelerates, it will not be possible to send everything to the cloud, a Qualcomm executive said Qualcomm Inc is betting the future of artificial intelligence (AI) will require more computing power than what the cloud alone can provide. The world’s largest maker of smartphone processors is transitioning from a communications company into an “intelligent edge computing” firm, Qualcomm senior vice president Alex Katouzian said. The edge in question is the mobile device that a user taps to access a network or service, and Katouzian used his time headlining one of the major keynote events at the Computex show in Taipei to make the case for how big a market that would be. The US company’s chips help smartphones harness

KMT to probe sex assault claim against its legislatorStaff writer, with CNAThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) on Saturday pledged to investigate an accusation that former Hualien County commissioner and KMT Legislator Fu Kun-chi sexually harassed a reporter in 2014. The KMT in a statement said that “there is no room for ambiguity” and that it would immediately launch an internal investigation into the accusation. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Fu Kun-chi is pictured in an undated photograph. He said that he fully respects gender equality, and urged Tung to file a lawsuit if she believes she was sexually harassed by him. DPP Legislator Fan Yun (范雲), former DPP legislator Yu Mei-nu (尤美女) and members of gender equity groups in a joint statement expressed support for victims of sexual harassment.

Taima Star ferry stranded at sea for hoursStaff Writer, with CNAA vessel ferrying passengers from Taiwan to the Matsu Islands drifted at sea for several hours yesterday because of power troubles, leaving 389 passengers stuck at sea, according to the Maritime and Port Bureau. A push boat tows the Taima Star ferry yesterday. After it contacted the ferry’s operator, the bureau learned that the ferry suddenly had problems supplying power to its engines. The push boat and Taima Star finally arrived at the destination just before 3 pm yesterday. Upon arrival, Lienchiang County, which administers the Matsu Islands, gave the passengers food and NT$600 (US $19.56) in compensation.

Drua secure spot in playoffs with win over RedsAP, WELLINGTONThe Fijian Drua yesterday made history by beating the Queensland Reds 34-17 in Suva to qualify for the quarter-finals of Super Rugby Pacific for the first time. “Obviously it was a real tough second half,” Reds captain Tate McDermott said. The Reds responded immediately with a try to Ryan Smith, but the Drua went ahead again with a try to Kelaveti Ravouvou. The second half belonged to the Drua, who added tries to Misake Doge and Tevita Ikanivere as the Reds lost discipline and McReight went to the sin bin. The Drua win moved them up to seventh, but a Western Force win over the Waikato Chiefs — the game was to finish after press time last night — would have put the Fijian side eighth.

Images from the crash site near Balasore, in the eastern state of Odisha, showed smashed train compartments torn open with blood-stained holes. Rescuers yesterday work at the site of passenger trains that derailed in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. Photo: APAs dawn broke yesterday, rescue workers could see the full extent of the carnage. Authorities had sent “75 ambulances to the site and had also deployed many buses” to transport injured passengers, Panda added. At Bhadrak District Hospital in Odisha, ambulances brought in injured people, with bloodied and shocked survivors receiving treatment in crowded wards.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia CommonsA total of 730,351 calls were made to China that year, with 767,606 received calls. It was the same with phone calls, which were routed via the US, Japan and Singapore. CALLING ABOUT TIANANMENMuch of the news regarding the phone calls revolved around Tiananmen. “It appears that China regrets its prior eagerness to open up direct links with Taiwan … These calls from Taiwan to China are now exposing the truth and creating a huge headache for the CCP,” the United Daily News stated. “I started calling around 11am and got through to a relative serving in a government agency on my fifth attempt,” one reader told the China Times.

Militarization promotes violenceBy David PenderyThere is a worrisome trend toward militarization I observe in Taiwanese society, that I do not think has been commented on. I see a vast militarization taking place in Taiwan, with all the negatives that can come with that. Militarization can infuse itself into all levels of society, and become a dominant outlook that excludes more humane, benevolent and even civilized attitudes. This might undermine my claim here, and it might be that militarization and war readiness is simply a reality in modern world affairs. Militarization often promotes philosophies of innate violence and the legitimacy and inevitability of military conflict, in an attempt to acclimatize people to militarism and war.

Southbound policy needs tweakingBy Fang Tien-sze 方天賜Ahead of May 20, the anniversary of the presidential inauguration, the performance of the New Southbound Policy has again come under scrutiny. In fairness, the New Southbound Policy is not without merit. Some administrative details also show that the government does not attach as much importance to the New Southbound Policy as before. After that, New Southbound Policy was never included in the list, which is regrettable. To put it bluntly, the New Southbound Policy is Taiwan’s risk-avoidance strategy.

Lai said he deeply regrets the situation and apologized to the victims, while also praising them for having the courage to come forward. People would remain anonymous as an investigation is conducted, and the party would provide legal assistance and counseling for victims who press charges, Lai said. Top officials of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have also been accused of negligence when responding to sexual harassment allegations. Separately, DPP New Taipei City Councilor Chang Chin-hao (張錦豪) said that a female employee at the New Taipei City Government committed suicide in 2020 after allegedly being sexually abused by a superior in a case investigated by the Control Yuan. Chang accused New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) of concealing information about the case.

EDITORIAL: China reshaping global narrativeA Beijing-based think tank last week published a poll showing that the majority of Chinese consider “international military intervention in Taiwan” one of the top threats facing China. A poll conducted in China, where freedom of speech is curtailed, cannot accurately reflect public opinion. Direct elections are held only at the local level in China, where nominees are controlled and vetted by the CCP. That the South China Morning Post also reported on the poll suggests that the CCP intends to use it as propaganda in Hong Kong. Schools should also teach children about disinformation and other threats from China, and conduct audits to limit the impact of China-friendly educators.

Qualcomm says AI needs more power than the cloudBIG MARKET: As growth in the number of devices and data traffic accelerates, it will not be possible to send everything to the cloud, a Qualcomm executive said Qualcomm Inc is betting the future of artificial intelligence (AI) will require more computing power than what the cloud alone can provide. The world’s largest maker of smartphone processors is transitioning from a communications company into an “intelligent edge computing” firm, Qualcomm senior vice president Alex Katouzian said. The edge in question is the mobile device that a user taps to access a network or service, and Katouzian used his time headlining one of the major keynote events at the Computex show in Taipei to make the case for how big a market that would be. The US company’s chips help smartphones harness

Whatever it is, run after it. Run, don’t walk. Remember, either you’re running for food, or you are running from becoming food. Huang was one of several tech executives addressing graduating students at Taiwanese universities. National Chengchi University held two ceremonies, with alumnus Patrick Pan (潘先國), who is head of TaiwanBy Rachel Lin and Jake Chung