Silenced by food law?
Experts comment on US mulling ‘Taiwan office’TESTING THE WATERS: Making the considerations public a day after a Biden-Xi phone call indicates that the US is testing China’s reaction, a think tank head said A Financial Times report that the US is considering allowing Taiwan to change the name of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington to feature the name “Taiwan” highlighted Washington’s “two-pronged” approach to China, a researcher said yesterday. The report on Friday said that Washington might allow the nation to change the office’s name to “Taiwan Representative Office.” The report came after US President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) by telephone for the first time since February. A White House readout of the call said that “the two leaders discussed the responsibility of bothBy Wu Su-wei and William Hetherington
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
Security pact exposes New Zealand’s nuclear divide
Security pact exposes New Zealand’s nuclear divideThe Guardian, CHRISTCHURCH, New ZealandNew Zealand is not part of a new security pact between Australia, the UK and the US, in what experts say is an illustration of the distance between the country and its traditional allies. On Wednesday, Australia, the UK and the US announced a security partnership, AUKUS, aimed at confronting China, which is to include helping Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. New Zealand’s longstanding nuclear-free policy also means that Australian submarines developed under the deal are banned from New Zealand waters. “New Zealand’s position in relation to the prohibition of nuclear-powered vessels in our waters remains unchanged,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday. The new agreement “in no way changes our security and intelligence ties with these three countries, as well as Canada,” Ardern said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
Google to grow local staff with recruitment drive
Google to grow local staff with recruitment driveBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterAs Google expands its footprint in Taiwan, it plans to recruit software and hardware talent for its Google Nest smart device team, a chip development team, and teams to support its Pixel and Chromebook products, Google Taiwan said yesterday. “There will always be openings for software engineers, hardware engineers and project managers,” Google Taiwan human resources head Vanessa Lu (呂亞樵) said. The Google logo is displayed at the Google Taiwan office’s entrance in New Taipei City’s Banciao District on Jan. 27. Lu also doused some “urban myths” about how Taiwanese candidates can boost their chances of landing a coveted job at Google. These false beliefs include: “Google’s Taiwanese staff are paid less” and “Goggle is only looking for graduates from top schools who speak fluent English,” she said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 16, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: CECC reports one local infection
COVID-19: CECC reports one local infectionCAUTIOUS START: As the COVID-19 outbreak appears to be stabilizing, New Taipei City’s mayor said that starting today, restaurants in the city can resume dine-in servicesStaff writer, with CNAThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported one local and four imported COVID-19 cases and no deaths. The local case is a woman who cleans airplane cabins at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and has been confirmed to have the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the CECC said. She tested positive for COVID-19 two days later as part of routine testing of airport staff, the center said. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung gives the daily update on Taiwan’s COVID-19 situation at a news conference at the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) in Taipei yesterday. In other developments, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) yesterday said that starting today, restaurants in the city can resume dine-in services.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: Government should press US on vaccine supply: KMT
COVID-19: Government should press US on vaccine supply: KMTBy Wu Su-wei and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus will tomorrow table a resolution asking the government to urge the US to send more Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to give elderly Taiwanese their second shot, KMT Legislator Jessica Chen (陳玉珍) said yesterday. From left, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Lin Yi-hua, Jessica Chen and Sandy Yeh speak to reporters in Taipei yesterday, calling on the government to do more to secure supplies of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Adding in the 1.5 million doses donated by the US and the Czech Republic, Taiwan has so far received 4.03 million doses of Moderna. Central Epidemic Command Center statistics showed that as of Thursday last week, 3.43 million Taiwanese had received at least one shot of Moderna, and 330,000 had received two shots of the vaccine. Given that Taiwan-US relations are at a historic high, it should not be a problem to press the US about receiving more Moderna doses soon, KMT Legislator Sandy Yeh (葉毓蘭) said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Quintuple Stimulus Voucher bookings to begin on Oct. 4
Quintuple Stimulus Voucher bookings to begin on Oct. 4Staff writer, with CNAPeople would be able to make reservations to receive printed versions of the Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers, valued at NT$5,000, from Oct. 4 to 30, Chunghwa Post said yesterday. Premier Su Tseng-chang presents samples of the Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers at a news conference in Taipei on Thursday last week. Chunghwa Post said post offices would likely be busiest during the first two or three weeks after the voucher program is launched, when it expects about 500,000 pickups per day. To meet demand, all 1,269 post offices nationwide are to extend their opening hours on two Saturdays, Oct. 16 and 23, it said. Those who opt for digital vouchers can apply for them using digital payment services from Wednesday next week, with the vouchers valid from Oct. 8, it has said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
KMT committee rescinds decision to refer Chang
KMT committee rescinds decision to refer Chang‘VERBAL ATTACKS’: Chang Ya-chung yesterday said that the controversy had caused people to question the neutrality of the party’s election officialsBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterThe Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) election supervisory body yesterday revoked a controversial decision to refer KMT chair candidate Chang Ya-chung (張亞中) to the party’s disciplinary committee. The election committee also said that it would postpone a series of regional platform presentations for the candidates until after the disciplinary committee had ruled on the matter. New Taipei City Councilor Chen Ming-yi (陳明義), who represents Chiang on the election committee, was not at the meeting when the decision was made, Chiang said. Chu later on Monday said that he hoped the disciplinary committee would not penalize Chang, and called on Chiang and the KMT Central Standing Committee to “revoke the order” to refer Chang to the disciplinary committee. The election committee met yesterday and approved a proposal from Chen to rescind both the decision to refer Chang to the disciplinary committee and to postpone the regional platform presentations, the KMT said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Macau casinos see US$18bn wipeout amid crackdown
Macau casinos see US$18bn wipeout amid crackdownBloombergMacau’s top gaming stocks yesterday lost a record US$18.4 billion in combined market value after officials said that they would change casino regulations to tighten restrictions on operators, including appointing government representatives to “supervise” companies in the world’s biggest gaming hub. The Bloomberg Intelligence index of the six big casino operators fell a record 23 percent. US operators registered the worst sell-offs, with Sands China Ltd (金沙中國) sinking as much as 33 percent, while Wynn Macau Ltd (永利澳門) plunged 34 percent, both the steepest declines ever. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which links the two territories and mainland China, is pictured from Hong Kong with view on Macau on June 14. A note due 2028 from Wynn Macau sunk 9 cents on the US dollar to US$0.914, according to Bloomberg-compiled prices, set for its biggest-ever decline.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Express firm workers protest wage freeze
Express firm workers protest wage freezeSTRUGGLING TO SURVIVE: Chunghwa Express workers called for a 5 percent increase in pay, which has been stagnant for 17 years, or they might go on strikeBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterMembers of the Chunghwa Express Union yesterday held a protest in front of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications building, saying that the express delivery firm has not adjusted workers’ salaries for 17 years. The protesters said they would not rule out going on strike at the end of this month if Chunghwa Express’ board refuses to approve a raise. Chunghwa Express workers protest outside the Ministry of Transportation and Communications building yesterday, threatening to go on strike if they are not given a pay raise. Meanwhile, the basic monthly salary for an entry-level Chunghwa Express employee was less than NT$25,000, the union said. Chunghwa Post holds a significant stake in Chunghwa Express and should quickly establish a salary-adjustment mechanism to retain experienced workers and maintain service quality, the union said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Fitch Ratings warns of Evergrande default
Regulators have warned of broader risks to the country’s financial system if the company’s US$305 billion of liabilities are not contained. “We believe a default would reinforce credit polarization among homebuilders and could result in headwinds for some smaller banks,” Fitch said. The rating agency on Tuesday last week downgraded Evergrande to “CC” from “CCC+,” indicating that it viewed a default of some kind as probable. “Smaller banks with higher exposure to Evergrande or to other vulnerable developers could face significant increases in non-performing loans (NPLs), depending on how any credit event involving Evergrande develops,” Fitch said. This followed chaotic scenes at the headquarters two days earlier, as disgruntled investors crowded its lobby to demand repayment of loans and financial products.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Hon Hai’s EV venture with Byton on hold: report
Hon Hai’s EV venture with Byton on hold: reportReutersHon Hai Precision Industry Co’s (鴻海精密) electric vehicle (EV) project with Byton Ltd (拜騰) has been put on hold due to the Chinese start-up’s worsening financial situation, the Nikkei Asia reported yesterday, citing unidentified sources with knowledge of the matter. An chassis of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co’s MIH Open Platform electric vehicle project is pictured in Taipei on Feb. 7. Some higher-level personnel involved in the project has even left Hon Hai, the report added. Hon Hai declined to comment, while Byton did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hon Hai said that the EV joint venture’s production site might be built in the Eastern Economic Corridor special development zone in Thailand.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Burundi’s Niyonsaba smashes record for women’s 2,000m
Burundi’s Niyonsaba smashes record for women’s 2,000mReutersBurundi’s Francine Niyonsaba on Tuesday capped off her season by breaking the 2,000m world record, finishing with a time of 5 minutes, 21.56 seconds at a Continental Tour event in Zagreb, Croatia. The 28-year-old, who last week won the 5,000m Diamond League title in Zurich, Switzerland, shaved nearly four seconds off the outdoor record and more than two seconds off the indoor mark. The previous indoor record was set by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in 2017, while Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan had held the outdoor record since 1994. Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, front, competes in the Weltklasse IAAF Diamond League women’s 5,000m in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sept. 8. She moved up to 5,000m at this year’s Tokyo Games, but was disqualified for a lane infringement in her heat, while she finished fifth in the 10,000m event.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Vote on Taiwan-related bill in US expected
Vote on Taiwan-related bill in US expectedBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNAThe US House of Representatives is next week expected to vote on the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which includes a provision recommending Taiwan’s inclusion in next year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC). It has now been sent to the full House, which is to debate and vote on the bill next week. The 1,362-page bill includes three major provisions on Taiwan under sections 1243, 1247 and 1248. This includes military articles, training, joint exercises and exchanges between officials “at the strategic, policy and functional levels,” the bill says. The US Senate’s version of the bill was approved by its Armed Services Committee on July 23.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
China Steel lifts prices 1.32% next month, in Q4
China Steel lifts prices 1.32% next month, in Q4By Angelica Oung / Staff reporterChina Steel Corp (CSC, 中鋼) yesterday said it would raise prices for domestic deliveries by 1.32 percent next month and for next quarter to reflect higher manufacturing costs and rising steel demand. “We are heading into the fourth quarter, traditionally the strong quarter for steel demand,” the company said in a statement. Prices of steel plates, hot-rolled steel, hot-rolled steel rolls, electroplated steel rolls and automotive steel would increase by NT$1,500 per tonne, while rod material prices would rise by NT$1,000 per tonne, it said. US steel prices keep breaking records, with hot-rolled steel priced at US$2,100 per tonne and cold-rolled steel nearing US$2,400 per tonne, it said. “The overall cost of raw materials remains high, which will support international steel prices,” the company said.
Source:Taipei Times
September 15, 2021 15:56 UTC
Protesters target Chinese property firm
Protesters target Chinese property firmEVERGRANDE WOES: The Chinese company issued a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange, saying it was exploring ’all feasible solutions’ for a cash crunchAFP, BEIJINGDozens of people yesterday protested outside the headquarters of Chinese property giant Evergrande Group (恆大集團) after the debt-laden firm said that it was under “tremendous pressure” and might not be able to meet its repayments. Photo: AFPAn estimated 60 to 70 people gathered outside Evergrande’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China, jostling with police and demanding answers. There’s no clear explanation right now ... they should have paid the money when it was due.”Evergrande’s plight has raised fears of a contagion across the debt-mired Chinese property sector — which accounts for more than one-quarter of the world’s second-largest economy — with a knock-on effect on banks and investors. However, it issued another statement yesterday to the Hong Kong stock exchange, saying it had hired financial advisers to explore “all feasible solutions” to ease its cash crunch. It is also struggling to sell its Hong Kong headquarters, even at a loss.
Source:Taipei Times
September 14, 2021 15:56 UTC