Warm welcome
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang clarifies ‘country’ remarkNvidia Corp cofounder and chief executive officer Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) yesterday said that he was not making a geopolitical comment after a Chinese state-backed online media firm criticized him for calling Taiwan a country. Since Huang arrived in Taiwan on May 26, the Tainan native has been surrounded by fans and media whenever he has been in public. Reuters reported that some Taiwanese have begun referring to his popularity as “Jensanity.” At a night market on May 29, Huang told reporters that “Taiwan is one of the most important countries in the world. It is at the center of the electronics industry.
Source:Taipei Times
June 12, 2024 17:16 UTC
Save our seas
Volvo shifts EV lines to EU from ChinaDISAGREEMENT: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken out against the tariffs, as it would affect his country’s auto industry, which benefits from business in China Volvo Car AB has started to shift manufacturing of Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) to Belgium as the EU prepares to impose tariffs on China-made EVs, the Times reported. On top of transferring production of Volvo’s EX30 and EX90 models to Belgium, the automaker might also move assembly of some Volvo models bound for the UK, the report said, citing unidentified people. Volvo, which is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co (吉利控股集團), is seen as the most exposed among western automakers to the potential tariffs, the Times said. Trade frictions between the EU and China have led to a barrage of anti-dumping probes
Source:Taipei Times
June 11, 2024 18:42 UTC
Intel suspends expansion of factory plan in Israel
Intel suspends expansion of factory plan in IsraelAFP, NEW YORKIntel Corp is halting the expansion of a major factory project in Israel, which was going to pump an extra US$15 billion into a chip plant. The chip giant in December last year said it was going to expand a US$10 billion plan at the Kiryat Gat site, in the south of the country, which is currently under construction. Intel on Monday gave no reason for the pause and made no link to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The semiconductor giant has had a presence in Israel for 50 years, since the opening of a research center in Haifa. Intel floated part of Mobileye’s capital on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2022, but retains control of the company.
Source:Taipei Times
June 11, 2024 18:40 UTC
Indian prime minister to unveil coalition government
Indian prime minister to unveil coalition governmentAFP, NEW DELHIIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday readied to unveil his coalition government after a surprise election setback lost his Hindu-nationalist party an overall majority. Modi’s decade as prime minister has seen him cultivate an image as an aggressive champion of the nation’s majority Hindu faith, worrying minorities, including the country’s 200-million-plus Muslim community. Indian Prime Minister India Narendra Modi, center, stands with the president, vice president and Cabinet ministers after Modi’s inauguration ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi on Sunday. Two-thirds of India’s 1.4 billion people draw their livelihood from agriculture, which accounts for nearly one-fifth of the nation’s GDP. Two posts were handed to each of the largest coalition members, the Telugu Desam Party, from Andhra Pradesh, and the Janata Dal (United) party of Bihar.
Source:Taipei Times
June 10, 2024 20:10 UTC
The Liberty Times Editorial: KMT, TPP test limits of democracy
The Liberty Times Editorial: KMT, TPP test limits of democracyA bill forced through the Legislative Yuan on May 28 by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers to expand the legislature’s power is procedurally unjust. The chaos in the Legislative Yuan, instigated by the KMT and TPP, is challenging the public’s bottom line for democracy. The Control Yuan’s statement infuriated the KMT and TPP legislative caucus conveners, who responded by calling for the body to be abolished. Instead the opposition parties have joined hands to enrich themselves and unduly expand their power, which is harming democracy and Taiwan. The legislature, which should embody pluralistic democracy, has become an anti-democratic entity monopolized by the opposition parties.
Source:Taipei Times
June 10, 2024 17:10 UTC
DPP, KMT to discuss bills with public
DPP, KMT to discuss bills with publicDELIBERATION: While the DPP and the KMT planned events to engage with the public, a TPP legislator said he has been livestreaming all along to communicate with peopleBy Chen Cheng-yu and Lin Hsin-han / Staff reportersThe governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) are slated to organize town hall meetings across Taiwan “to engage people directly” and explain their stance regarding the legislative reform bills that passed on May 28. Many Hualien County residents would also like to better understand the bills and related issues, he said. KMT lawmakers are to speak at the event to explain to the public why they think the amendments are necessary. KMT Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) said the DPP is trying to vilify the bills passage. The party has been engaging with the public on the matter, TPP caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 09, 2024 21:41 UTC
Indian politicians, academics back Taiwan, criticize China’s attitude
Indian politicians, academics back Taiwan, criticize China’s attitudeStaff writer, with CNAPoliticians and academics in India have expressed support for closer Taiwan-India ties on the social media platform X, after Beijing issued a strongly worded public statement on the servicec against exchanges between President William Lai (賴清德) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “My sincere congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his election victory,” Lai wrote. “India has made a serious political commitment toward the ‘one China Policy.’ [India] is supposed to resist Taiwan’s political ploys. While the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has yet to respond to Beijing’s statement, Indian academics and politicians expressed support over Taiwan and India’s relationship on X, while criticizing China. Taiwan is committed to building partnerships with India “underpinned by mutual benefit and shared values,” it said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 09, 2024 21:37 UTC
Group joins war games in India
Group joins war games in IndiaTABLETOP EXERCISES: In the final discussion of the war games, participants were asked to mull the perspective, policy and interests of the state they were simulatingBy Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, CNATaiwanese and Indian think tanks last month held a tabletop exercise in India simulating the potential effect of tensions in the Taiwan Strait on the Sino-Indian border, the Institute for National Defense and Security Research said on Friday. The institute and the New Delhi-based United Service Institution of India, with the assistance of US academics, conducted a war game called the Taiwan, US and India Trilateral Joint Military Simulation Workshop, it said. Strings of the flags of Taiwan and India are pictured at a school in New Delhi in an undated photograph. The exercise differed from US-held war games, as it focused more on actors other than the major powers and the diplomatic reaction from third parties, Shen said yesterday. The joint war games have the potential to be a template for more exercises, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 09, 2024 00:39 UTC
The hospitality of the Taiwanese
The hospitality of the TaiwaneseBy Lise TournierLast year, I took the plunge and chose Taiwan as my study destination, much to the confusion of many who could not quite place it on the map, often mistaking it for Thailand. The majority of travelers would tell you that one of the most notable aspects of Taiwan is Taiwanese hospitality. Taiwanese are renowned for their warmth and hospitality, and this extends to interactions with foreigners. Just when I thought I could not sink any lower, a chorus of kindness emerged from the crowd. And let me tell you, navigating the bus system was like trying to crack the Da Vinci Code.
Source:Taipei Times
June 08, 2024 21:45 UTC
Samsung union goes on first-ever strike over wages
Samsung union goes on first-ever strike over wagesBloombergThe largest union at Samsung Electronics Co went on a strike for the first time in the company’s 55-year history, with the standoff over pay so entrenched that the two sides have stopped all discussions. The National Samsung Electronics Union, the largest of the tech giant’s several unions with about 28,400 workers, encouraged members to take a single day off yesterday, which fell between a Thursday public holiday and the weekend. We are not ruling out an all-out general strike.”Samsung Electronics’ union members hold placards during a rally outside a company building in Seoul yesterday. They fear they might not get bonuses again this year even if the division returns to profit, said union leader Son Woo-mok. Historically, bonuses make up a significant portion of a worker’s pay, so missing out on such money can mean a meaningful reduction in compensation.
Source:Taipei Times
June 08, 2024 02:13 UTC
Indian elections boost democracy
Indian elections boost democracyBy Gurjit SinghThe largest election in the world in India covering an electorate of 968 million people from April 19 to Saturday has been completed. The BJP had 303 seats previously and had won handsomely in 2014 and 2019 under the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The relationships with Japan and others in the Indo-Pacific region are strategically important for expanded economic engagement. Chinese assessments see the results of the elections as weakening India, but they strengthen Indian democracy. A closer engagement with Taiwan and ASEAN, as well as challenging Chinese hegemonic designs in the Indian Ocean is probable.
Source:Taipei Times
June 07, 2024 18:53 UTC
Reflections on China’s Tiananmen tragedy
Reflections on China’s Tiananmen tragedyBy Lee min-yung 李敏勇The events that unfolded in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, have become a historical footnote. These Western nations were under the misguided impression that aiding China’s economic development could help it progress toward social and political liberalization. The reality is that this help grew out of cheap self-serving interest in China’s rock-bottom prices, mass labor, factories and markets. Tiananmen was China’s opportunity to democratize, yet the protests are little more than a footnote in history. The Tiananmen Massacre is a stain on history China can never erase.
Source:Taipei Times
June 06, 2024 16:50 UTC
Another lost decade looms for Europe
Another lost decade looms for EuropeEurope’s model is worth defending, and its problems are fixable, but time is running outBy Lionel Laurent / Bloomberg OpinionIn the summer of 2020, European leaders convened marathon talks over how to rescue a continent battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a lost decade of economic stagnation. The risk of another lost decade is high if the EU spends the next few years bickering internally instead of lifting barriers to investment, innovation and regional security. Former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi, credited with saving the euro a decade ago as Greece teetered, is set to publish a report on improving EU competitiveness. The next time crisis leads to a four-day negotiating summit in Brussels, the outcome could be more stumble than leap. With assistance from Elaine HeLionel Laurent is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist writing about the future of money and the future of Europe.
Source:Taipei Times
June 06, 2024 16:50 UTC
What India’s election result means
What India’s election result meansBy manoj kumar panigrahiAfter seven long electoral phases that took place across India, the mother of elections in the world’s largest democracy ended on Sunday, with the results being declared on Tuesday. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and its coalition partners, the National Democratic Alliance, secured 292 seats, whereas the Indian National Congress and its multi-party Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance secured 234. In August 2022, when China launched military exercises around Taiwan, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi expressed concerns about the unilateral attempt to change the “status quo” in the region. In the past, Taiwanese manufacturers have raised concerns about complicated rules in India, which present challenges to Taiwanese investment. As Taiwan faces power crises each year, its inclusion in the grouping can lead to a free exchange of ideas and technology.
Source:Taipei Times
June 06, 2024 16:05 UTC
EDITORIAL: China’s Shangri-La diatribe
EDITORIAL: China’s Shangri-La diatribeThe speeches at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum in Singapore from Friday last week to Monday predominantly focused on maintaining peace, prosperity and international law, but it was difficult to ignore the underlying sense of frustration and menace. Regional players such as the US, Indonesia, the Philippines and China presented their viewpoints. It was unfortunate that there were no representatives from Taiwan given a chance to speak or even attend. Austin did not mention China as the sole driver behind the “new convergence” approach; Marcos did not refer to China in the context of the South China Sea maritime disputes. More importantly, it is time to include Taiwan in forums on regional peace and security.
Source:Taipei Times
June 05, 2024 18:31 UTC