The Liberty Times Editorial: Bilingualism needs broad effort
The Liberty Times Editorial: Bilingualism needs broad effortThe COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of people all over the world, bringing great changes in many sectors. Making Taiwan bilingual Chinese and English is essential to build and maintain an open economy and society. Speaking English is an indispensable asset, enabling people to broaden their horizons, find a job, get promoted, absorb new knowledge and communicate internationally. The push for Taiwan to become a bilingual nation is driven by forward-looking economic and social actors. Improving English teaching in schools is the starting point for creating a bilingual nation, but it also involves many other social sectors.
Source:Taipei Times
March 11, 2021 16:07 UTC
‘Financial Times’ defamation case dropped
‘Financial Times’ defamation case droppedBy Chien Li-chung and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday announced that it has dropped defamation cases against the Financial Times, Central News Agency (CNA) president Chang Jui-chang (張瑞昌) and others after Want Want China Times Media Group (旺旺中時集團) suddenly rescinded its lawsuits. The group in 2019 filed a lawsuit against the London-based newspaper, the state-run news agency and two others over a July 17, 2019, report by Financial Times reporter Kathrin Hille. China Times president Wang Feng, second left, speaks to reporters in Taipei on July 19, 2019, criticizing the Financial Times for saying that the China Times was pro-China media. Earlier this year while the office was investigating the case, Want Want abruptly rescinded its lawsuits, the office said. Since defamation suits in Taiwan require a complaint by a victim, investigators decided to end their probe, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 11, 2021 16:00 UTC
Taipei exhibit celebrates Taiwan-Japan friendship
Taipei exhibit celebrates Taiwan-Japan friendshipStaff writer, with CNATaiwan and Japan yesterday celebrated their friendship at the opening ceremony of Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara’s solo exhibition in Taipei, with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) expressing hope that the two sides could join hands to face global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. A sculpture by Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara is pictured at Taipei National University of the Arts’ Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts in an undated photograph. Photo: Ling Mei-hsueh, Taipei TimesTsai also thanked Nara, with whom she had breakfast earlier this week, for the painting Hazy Humid Day, which he dedicated to Taiwan. He thanked Taiwan for lending a helping hand after the earthquake and tsunami, and expressed hope that there can be long-lasting bilateral friendship. Giving a review of the exhibition, Nara said: “This is the best work I, at this stage, have created.
Source:Taipei Times
March 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
US could label Taiwan manipulator
“It is possible that Taiwan might be listed as a manipulator,” Yang told lawmakers in Taipei as he delivered a report. However, Yang said that the US’ criteria for labeling another economy a currency manipulator are no longer suitable, as the global economy has changed over the past year. “If they want to reduce our trade surplus with them, then we could just stop selling them our chips,” he told lawmakers. Taiwan was added to the currency watch list in the latest US report in December last year, but was not listed a currency manipulator. Being designated a currency manipulator requires the US to engage with the perceived offender to address the imbalance.
Source:Taipei Times
March 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
NPA head vows to uphold public safety
NPA head vows to uphold public safetyCRACKDOWN: Major crime sweeps over the week to Wednesday resulted in the seizure of 26 firearms and the arrests of 823 suspected gang members, the police chief saidBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterThe National Police Agency (NPA) yesterday vowed to continue to carry out crime sweeps and enhance public safety following a number of shootings and other violent incidents in the past few weeks. However, all these are separate, unrelated incidents, so it is wrong to say that Taiwan has a serious crime problem. That would be unfair to all the hard work by our police officers,” Chen told reporters after the meeting. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times“Public safety is good [in Taiwan], and it is an accumulation of the endeavors and support of everyone in society. The police will take extra efforts to protect the public,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Executive Yuan approves changes to museum bills
Executive Yuan approves changes to museum billsBy Lee Hsin-fang and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Executive Yuan yesterday approved proposed amendments to the Organization Act of the National Taiwan Museum (國立臺灣博物館組織法) and the National Museum of History Organization Act (國立歷史博物館組織法) that would upgrade the administrative level of the National Museum of Taiwan Literature and the National Museum of Taiwan History. An exhibition at the National Museum of Taiwan History in Tainan is pictured on Jan. 4. The Executive Yuan urged all legislative caucuses to work with the Ministry of Culture to expedite their passage, he said. The National Museum of Taiwan History and the National Museum of Taiwan Literature are the only national-level museums dedicated to Taiwanese history and literature, it said. The research, education and promotion of Taiwanese history and literature are crucial tasks for the development of soft power, the ministry said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
SinoPac targets growth from overseas, looks to Vietnam, Singapore branches
SinoPac targets growth from overseas, looks to Vietnam, Singapore branchesBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterSinoPac Financial Holdings Co (永豐金控) aims to generate 30 percent of its profits from overseas operations this year, as well as expand its operations in Vietnam and open a Singapore branch, SinoPac Financial president Stanley Chu (朱士廷) said yesterday. The bank would start with personal loans in Vietnam, as it expects the nation’s rapid economic growth and rising middle class to boost the growth of consumer loans, Hsu said. From left, SinoPac Securities Co president Chiang Wei-yuan, Bank SinoPac president Eric Chuang, SinoPac Financial Holdings Co president Stanley Chu and SinoPac Financial spokeswoman Kerry Hsu attend an investors’ conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Kelson Wang, Taipei TimesThe Financial Supervisory Commission last year approved the bank’s plan to establish a Singapore branch, he said. The bank expects to receive regulatory approval in Singapore this year to open the branch, which would be its fourth overseas market, after China, the US and Vietnam, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Hitting it off
TSMC denies any 3-nm production plan for HsinchuMEETING DEMAND: TSMC’s Tainan plant is scheduled to begin 3-nanometer process production on a trial basis this year, before commercial production begins next year Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday said that its soon-to-be-opened research and development (R&D) center in Hsinchu County’s Baoshan Township (寶山) would be involved in its ongoing efforts to develop a 3-nanometer (nm) process. The company made the statement following media reports that the world’s largest contract chipmaker is planning to expand its proposed 3-nanometer production at the South Taiwan Science Park (南部科學園區) to the new Hsinchu facility to meet strong global demand. The reports said that the expansion was being undertaken to compete for orders from US clients such as Apple Inc. TSMC said that the R&D center is the first
Source:Taipei Times
March 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Hua Nan Financial cautiously upbeat
Hua Nan Financial cautiously upbeatUNCERTAINTY: The financial holding firm is targeting 5% earnings growth this year as the global economy recovers, but added that the pandemic remains a riskBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterState-run Hua Nan Financial Holding Co (華南金控) aims to grow its earnings this year at a pace in line with the nation’s GDP growth, although the COVID-19 pandemic and low interest rates would continue to weigh on its performance, senior officials told a virtual investors’ conference yesterday. The Hua Nan Financial Holding Co logo is pictured at a fintech exhibition in Taipei on Dec. 7, 2018. Consequently, net interest margin, a critical profitability gauge for financial institutions, shrank to 1.21 percent for foreign-currency operations and 0.83 percent for local currency loans, she said. Hua Nan Financial said that it is looking at a flat loanbook this year, while seeking to expand its interest and fee income by growing loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, and in overseas markets, as such businesses generate higher margins. Asked about its dividend payout plan, Hua Nan Financial said that its net income slumped 48.85 percent to NT$8.66 billion (US$305.73 million) last year, or earnings per share of NT$0.67, down from NT$1.31 a year earlier.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2021 15:56 UTC
Lifting food ban up to Taiwanese: Japanese envoy
Lifting food ban up to Taiwanese: Japanese envoyBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterWhether the ban on certain Japanese food products is lifted depends on Taiwanese, Japanese Representative to Taiwan Hiroyasu Izumi said yesterday, while praising the taste of Taiwanese pineapples. Nonetheless, scientific evidence, including data collected by Taiwanese researchers, shows that food products produced in the five prefectures are safe, he added. Asked he has supported Taiwanese pineapples, as many Japanese have done after China’s ban on imports of the fruit from Monday last week, Izumi said that Taiwanese pineapples are delicious. Among the more than 20 cultivars of Taiwanese pineapples, he particularly likes the No. Many Japanese are willing to pay a bit more to buy Taiwanese pineapples in Japan, as they want to show support for Taiwan, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2021 15:56 UTC
Domestic airlines’ revenue falling, but at slower pace
Domestic airlines’ revenue falling, but at slower paceBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterMajor airlines’ revenue growth remained in negative territory last month, but declined at a slower pace due to last year’s lower comparison base, companies’ data showed. EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) saw its revenue slide 34.44 percent to NT$5.8 billion last month, compared with a fall of 54 percent in January, its data showed. Photo: Liu Yu-ching, Taipei TimesBoth airlines’ revenue began to drop considerably in February last year due to COVID-19. EVA’s cargo operations made up 80 percent of its total revenue last month, compared with just 14 percent a year earlier, while CAL saw revenue from its cargo service account for 89 percent of its total revenue, compared with 24 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic, data showed. In the first two months, CAL’s cumulative revenue declined 27.97 percent annually to NT$17.36 billion and EVA’s revenue halved to NT$12.5 billion, while Tigerair reported a 97.9 percent fall in revenue to NT$30 million, data showed.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2021 15:56 UTC
Ride to the clouds
Taking the above into account I was surprised to learn that, as of January, the Danda Forest Road (丹大林道) was open to both hikers and cyclists. This is a tough ride with only the central and southern cross-island highways coming close in terms of extreme ascent. Higher up on Danda Forest Trail you ride through magnificent forest. DAY TWOFour riders traveling up the Danda Forest Road with bikes fully loaded with camping. Police permits are legally required for trips along the Danda Forest Road.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2021 15:56 UTC
T3EX planning record cash dividend after profit surge
T3EX planning record cash dividend after profit surgeBy Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterT3EX Global Holdings Corp’s (台驊) board of directors has approved a proposal to distribute a record cash dividend of NT$3.2 per share after the company’s net profit surged 117 percent to NT$541 million (US$19.1 million) last year. Given that our earnings per share hit a new high last year, we decided to boost the cash dividends,” T3EX told the Taipei Times by telephone. Rising air cargo rates raised its margin from air cargo forwarding service by 33 percent to NT$706 million, it added. T3EX forecast that shipping and air cargo rates would remain high until the end of June, as it would not be easy for shippers and airlines to boost their capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. We are optimistic about business growth in Southeast Asia, as exports are expected to remain high this year,” the company said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2021 15:56 UTC
Asustek brings ‘hardcore’ gaming to Android with new ROG smartphone
Asustek brings ‘hardcore’ gaming to Android with new ROG smartphoneBloombergAsustek Computer Inc (華碩) has launched the latest in its Republic of Gamers (ROG) smartphone line targeting Android gamers in markets like China. Asustek Computer Inc’s new gaming smartphone, the ROG Phone 5, is pictured during a product launch in Taipei yesterday. The leading duo of Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co consistently tout their devices’ gaming capabilities, pushing brands like Asustek to focus on hardcore gaming fans. “Gaming performance is their top-selling point and hence the target audience has to be both hardcore gamers and professional gamers,” Liao said. Asustek has seen “big growth” in sales between each successive ROG Phone generation, the company said, and it appears committed to the niche it has carved out.
Source:Taipei Times
March 10, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: Most Taiwanese opposed to Chinese shots
COVID-19: Most Taiwanese opposed to Chinese shotsStaff writer, with CNAThe majority of Taiwanese, or 76.1 percent, are unwilling to receive COVID-19 vaccines developed by Chinese firms, while 61.6 percent said the government should not import Chinese vaccines, a survey released yesterday by the Association of Chinese Elite Leadership showed as the nation reported one new imported case of COVID-19. According to the survey, 19 percent of respondents were willing to receive a Chinese vaccine and 24.9 percent were open to the idea of importing Chinese vaccines. Of the respondents, 28.5 percent identified themselves as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters and 18.6 percent as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) supporters. The Association of Chinese Elite Leadership announces the results of a survey at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. However, some KMT members, including former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), have called on the DPP government to accept Chinese vaccinations.
Source:Taipei Times
March 09, 2021 16:06 UTC