FSC forecasts non-cash payment to rise to NT$6tn in 2023
FSC forecasts non-cash payment to rise to NT$6tn in 2023By Kao Shih-ching / Staff reporterThe total of non-cash payments for private consumption might rise to NT$6 trillion (US$212.2 billion) in Taiwan in 2023, up from NT$3.85 trillion last year, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) said on Thursday. The FSC has previously recorded payments by credit cards, stored-value cards such as EasyCard and iPass card, as well as electronic payment services Jkopay and Line Pay Money as non-cash payments, the commission said. If these transfers were considered in last year’s data, non-cash payment for private consumption would be NT$4.95 trillion, or 51.5 percent of total payments, he said. As more people prefer electronic payment tools and credit cards, non-cash payments might rise to NT$6 trillion in 2023, Lin said. More non-cash payments would benefit the economy in multiple aspects, as non-cash tools are more transparent and efficient, and the cost of producing coins and paper money would drop, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Water levels in south remain low
Water levels in south remain lowStaff writer, with CNAWater levels in many of the nation’s reservoirs remain low, despite a weather system dumping significant rain in northern Taiwan last week. Several major reservoirs in central and southern Taiwan, where the water shortage has been the most serious, were still at low capacity yesterday, Water Resources Agency (WRA) data showed. As of 10am, the Baoshan Second Reservoir (寶二水庫), which provides water for the Hsinchu Science Park, was at 12 percent capacity. Taoist priests and worshipers pray to the sea goddess Matsu for rain at Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung’s Dajia District yesterday. To cope with the drought, tap water pressure in Hsinchu County, Miaoli and Taichung has been lowered, and water would be trucked from Taoyuan to Hsinchu, the agency said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
The KMT, food and trade agreements
The KMT, food and trade agreementsThe main opposition party has consistently used food and trade to sour Taiwan’s relations with the US and Japan in favor of ChinaBy Michael Turton / Contributing reporterIn September last year the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) launched its campaign for a public referendum to ban the importation of pork products containing ractopamine. The KMT was ostensibly responding to President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) decision to open Taiwan’s markets to US pork products containing ractopamine. Legislators from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in November last year dump pig guts on the floor of the legislature. IMPORTS FROM FUKUSHIMAChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) then-chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu, front third right, attends a demonstration along Taipei’s Ketagalan Boulevard in December 2016 against the proposed lifting of a ban on food imports from five Japanese prefectures. Photo: CNAThis is not the first time that the KMT has drummed up a campaign against food imports in the midst of trade talks.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Hon Hai records its best sales figure for February
Hon Hai records its best sales figure for FebruaryStaff writer, with CNAHon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), a key supplier to Apple Inc, on Thursday said its sales last month soared 84.81 percent annually to NT$401.89 billion (US$14.21 billion), its highest-ever figure for February. A Foxconn Technology Group logo is pictured at the ceremonial opening of the Hon Hai Research Institute in Taipei on Jan. 4. Photo: Chen Rou-chen, Taipei TimesHowever, as last month had fewer working days than January, Hon Hai’s consolidated sales dropped 19.66 percent from NT$500.22 billion a month earlier. Hon Hai said its consumer electronics division was the best performer on a month-on-month basis, followed by its cloud technology-based device division, computers and related devices division, and its electronic components division. Compared with a year earlier, its consumer electronics operations was the best performer last month, ahead of the electronic components operations, computer and related operations, and cloud technology-based operations, Hon Hai said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Demonstrators remember 1959 Tibetan uprising
Demonstrators remember 1959 Tibetan uprisingANNUAL RALLY: Politicians urged Taiwanese to support Tibetans, and to never stop pursuing democracy and freedom in the face of the Chinese Communist PartyBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterMore than 100 demonstrators yesterday marched in Taipei ahead of the 62nd anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising, with several politicians calling on Taiwanese to show support for Tibetans. Demonstrators carried the Tibetan flag and held signs reading: “Tibet belongs to Tibetans,” “Free Tibet” and “Stop killing in Tibet.”Yesterday’s Tibetan Uprising Day rally was the 18th to be held in Taiwan, organizers said. Members of the Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association and other groups in Taipei yesterday hold flags during a rally commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Protesters hold flags, banners and a picture of the Dalai Lama at a parade in Taipei yesterday commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Protesters prostrate themselves in a traditional Tibetan act of worship at a protest in Taipei yesterday commemorating the victims of the 1959 Tibetan uprising.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Japanese unveil plaque in memory of disaster aid
Japanese unveil plaque in memory of disaster aidStaff writer, with CNAA group of Japanese residents yesterday unveiled a stone plaque in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水) in commemoration of Taiwan’s assistance following an earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. The plaque, funded by Japanese residents in Taiwan, is inscribed with Japanese and Chinese text that memorializes the “unprecedented” Great East Japan Earthquake and Taiwan’s aid in its aftermath. Photo: Chen Hsin-yu, Taipei TimesThe plaque was put up on Tamsui Old Street (淡水老街), a popular tourist area lined with eateries and shops. A commemorative ceremony was held by a group of Japanese residents to mark the 10th anniversary of the disaster. Each year since 2011, a group of Japanese and Taiwanese university students in Taiwan, called Arigatou Taiwan, has been holding an event in commemoration of the disaster.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Johnny Chiang marks first year as chairman
Johnny Chiang marks first year as chairmanREFLECTING ON SERVICE: Over the past year, the KMT has worked to rebuild public trust, while reflecting on past setbacks and working to break down prejudices, he saidBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) yesterday stressed unity in a message on Facebook to mark one year since he was elected chairman. Chiang defeated former KMT vice chairman Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) on March 7 last year in a by-election to replace former KMT chairman Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), who stepped down from the position following the party’s losses in last year’s Jan. 11 presidential and legislative elections. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang, center, poses at the leadership handover ceremony of the KMT Department of Youth Affairs in Nantou County on Saturday. Photo: Liu Pin-chuan, Taipei TimesChiang, who served his mandatory military service in Kinmen County, wrote on Facebook that he often recalled watching the waves off the coast of Kinmen over his past year as KMT chairman. Chiang, who has been a legislator since 2012, on Feb. 20 announced he would seek re-election in this year’s KMT chairperson election.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Acer given ‘stable’ credit outlook
Acer given ‘stable’ credit outlook‘FASTER GROWTH’: Acer, which has a 6.9 percent share of the global PC market, could take advantage of the growing Chromebook demand to retain its placeBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterTaiwan Ratings Corp (中華信評) on Thursday affirmed its long-term “twA” and short-term “twA-1”’ credit ratings for Acer Inc (宏碁), with a stable credit outlook for the PC vendor. The credit rating of a corporation is a financial indicator to potential investors of debt securities such as bonds. “However, Acer could take advantage of fast-growing gaming PC and Chromebook demand to sustain its market share with moderately strengthening profitability over the next two years,” it added. Acer secured a 6.9 percent share of the global PC market last year, up from 6.4 percent in 2019, International Data Corp has said. Acer remains positive for the global PC market this year, as PC demand is still far greater than supply, chairman Jason Chen (陳俊聖) said on Wednesday, local Chinese-language media reported.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Meeting over algal reef canceled
Meeting over algal reef canceledBy Tung Chen-kuo and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerA meeting planned for today between Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) and an environmental group campaigning for a referendum against a planned liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal has been canceled, the organization said yesterday. The Rescue Datan’s Algal Reefs Alliance launched the campaign last year in response to the planned LNG terminal to be built off the coast of Datan Borough (大潭) in Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音). Artist Chu Hann-yi, center, in Taoyuan yesterday presents a painting of his to Rescue Datan’s Algal Reefs Alliance convener Pan Chong-cheng, third left, to thank Pan and other volunteers for their efforts toward preserving the reefs. In another statement issued later, the alliance said it would consider a meeting with Chen “at an appropriate time,” as the planned meeting was hastily put together, leaving members little time to hold internal discussions. The idea of promoting a referendum to save the algal reefs, as well as meeting with Chen to discuss it, were both his own ideas, Ho said, adding that he was saddened to see the alliance cancel the meeting.
Source:Taipei Times
March 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Pompeo calls for US to boycott Beijing Games
Pompeo calls for US to boycott Beijing GamesAFP, WASHINGTONFormer US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Friday backed calls for the US to boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing next year, saying that China’s “nasty” activity made it an inappropriate host. “I hope that our athletes get a chance to participate in the Olympics,” Pompeo told radio host Hugh Hewitt. Separately, Qatar was still committed to bidding for the 2032 Summer Olympics, despite the IOC heading into exclusive talks with top choice, Brisbane. The Qatar Olympic Committee on Friday “reiterated its total commitment to maintaining continuous dialogue” with an IOC-appointed panel, which can have ongoing talks — and even approach — likely candidates for any future Games. Doha applied to enter two previous Summer Games bidding contests, but did not progress to be accepted on the IOC’s list of candidates.
Source:Taipei Times
March 06, 2021 16:07 UTC
Taiwan in Time: Unfortunate but strong: The widows of 228
She wasn’t the only one; for decades few dared to speak of the 228 Incident of 1947, an anti-government uprising that was violently suppressed. As wife of the famous painter Chen Cheng-po (陳澄波), Chang is one of the better known widows of the 228 Incident, and not just because of her husband’s name. Hsu Chiang-chun, seated left, attends a 228 Incident event in 2004. There’s no use being angry, but I just can’t forget.”Chen Cheng-po painted My Family 16 years before he was killed in the weeks following the 228 Incident. TRAGEDY STRIKESShen first noticed the lack of female voices regarding the 228 Incident around 1991 while collecting and editing oral histories in Yilan County.
Source:Taipei Times
March 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
CECC reports nation’s 10th virus death
CECC reports nation’s 10th virus deathSOLEMN MILESTONE: The Taiwanese man, in his 60s, had a history of diabetes and hypertension, and had developed severe pneumonia from COVID-19, officials saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported seven imported cases of COVID-19 and the death of a person who had the virus, bringing the nation’s toll from the disease to 10. 935, a Taiwanese man in his 60s, who had a history of diabetes and hypertension, died on Friday, said Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center. Central Epidemic Command Center specialist advisory panel convener Chang Shan-chwen in Taipei yesterday explains details of the nation’s COVID-19 case No. 935, a Taiwanese man in his 60s who died of COVID-19 on Friday. The CECC would still conduct contact tracing on the new case, and four close contacts have already been identified, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
March 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Irrigation agencies appeal to Matsu for rain in Taichung
Irrigation agencies appeal to Matsu for rain in TaichungStaff writer, with CNALocal irrigation agencies plan to turn to sea goddess Matsu (媽祖) for help resolving a drought, in a collaboration with one of Taiwan’s largest Matsu temples, Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung’s Dajia District (大甲), the Council of Agriculture’s Irrigation Agency said yesterday. The temple is to hold a ceremony with the agencies today, and Matsu would hopefully hear people’s prayers for rain, as many believe that she has the ability to send rain after long droughts, the temple said. The ceremony would only be the fourth rain prayer ceremony held at the temple since its founding in 1730, it said. About one hour after the 1963 ceremony, rain started to fall, and it is hopeful that Matsu would also help reserve this year’s drought, it said. The belief in Matsu as benevolent protector of all people was brought to Taiwan by Ming Dynasty settlers.
Source:Taipei Times
March 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Guam starts new group to focus on Taiwanese tourism
Guam starts new group to focus on Taiwanese tourismStaff writer, with CNAThe Guam Visitors Bureau is to decouple its Taiwan business from China, by establishing a Taiwan marketing committee, with its budget for targeting Taiwanese tourists expected to double, Representative to Guam Felix Yen (嚴樹芬) said yesterday. Previously, the bureau grouped Taiwan, China and Hong Kong together under its “greater China” marketing committee, but a new committee is to manage business with Taiwan independently. The committee’s establishment is aimed at deepening bilateral relations in tourism, including medical tourism, as well as economic, cultural, educational and cultural exchanges, Yen said. In Guam, the number of Taiwanese tourists ranks No. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam was reopened in July last year after its operation was suspended in 2017 due to budgetary and personnel assignment issues.
Source:Taipei Times
March 05, 2021 15:56 UTC
Legislative hearing looks at unlicensed camp sites
Legislative hearing looks at unlicensed camp sitesUNTANGLED: Camp sites, which fall under the jurisdiction of several government agencies, should be governed by the education and transport ministries, attendants agreedBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterEnforcement of new camping measures and a need to clarify overlapping governmental jurisdictions were among the recommendations made by tour operators and lawmakers on Thursday at a public hearing on domestic tourism at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. There are 1,985 camp sites nationwide, but only 166, or less than 10 percent, have been granted operating licenses by a local government agency, officials said, citing Ministry of Transportation and Communications data. Noting the rising popularity of mountain climbing and hiking amid the COVID-19 pandemic, DPP Legislator Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) said that the ministry has the responsibility to regulate camp sites. It was agreed at the hearing that the ministry, which oversees the Tourism Bureau, should have jurisdiction over all camp sites, except for those designated for educational uses, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. Chen Ying-jung (陳盈蓉), head of the Executive Yuan’s Department of Transportation, the Environment and Natural Resources, said that a report on regulating the nation’s camp sites would be presented to Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and other Cabinet members, who would convene to draft policies to address the issue of unlicensed camp sites.
Source:Taipei Times
March 05, 2021 15:56 UTC