Pfizer-BioNTech doses arrive, more batches due
Pfizer-BioNTech doses arrive, more batches dueStaff writer, with CNATaiwan yesterday received its sixth shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, while another shipment of the vaccines, as well as a batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, are scheduled to arrive today, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said. Yesterday’s shipment of 889,200 doses arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on a China Airlines flight at 5:34am. It is part of 15 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses ordered by three private entities — the Hon Hai Precision Industries Co-affiliated Yonglin Foundation, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, and the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation — and donated to the government for distribution among the public. Photo courtesy of the CECCAs of yesterday, Taiwan had received more than 4.2 million doses of the vaccine. Meanwhile, the CECC yesterday reported four new imported COVID- 19 cases, but no domestic infections or deaths.
Source:Taipei Times
October 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Taiwan has chance to lead region in security
Taiwan has chance to lead region in securityBy Yao Chung-yuan 姚中原The discussions referred to as the “2+2 talks” are usually meetings between two military allies or countries with similar political philosophies, each sending foreign affairs and defense ministers to address cooperation in areas of mutual interest. At the US-Korea 2+2 talks in Seoul on March 18, Blinken publicly condemned China’s provocative actions in the Indo-Pacific region and said that the US would increase countermeasures against China. For example, on April 13, Germany and Japan held their first 2+2 talks via videoconference. Additionally, Taiwan can take the initiative to set up direct communication channels with countries around the world to reinforce regional military and security cooperation. Taiwan should promote talks on strategic cooperation that contribute to regional stability and security, and enhance international visibility of its issues.
Source:Taipei Times
October 07, 2021 15:56 UTC
Red Sox book series against the Rays
The Red Sox were ready. “Now we go to the next one, and we’ve just got to be ready to face a great baseball team,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. Photo: EPA-EFEAnd the Red Sox beat them in the post-season for the third straight try. “You thrive for that, and Red Sox nation brought it tonight. The Red Sox poured out of their dugout and bullpen to celebrate at the pitcher’s mound as Dirty Water played on the speakers.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
US seeks comments on China tariffs
US seeks comments on China tariffsAFP, WASHINGTONThe US would take public comments regarding exclusions from its tariffs on China, the White House announced on Tuesday, as the administration of US President Joe Biden grapples with what it views as Beijing’s failure to honor a trade deal. On Monday, US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai (戴琪) announced that Washington would seek “frank conversations” with China over its adherence to an agreement made last year that was meant to cool commercial tensions between the two economic powers. That deal came after Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, imposed tariffs on US$370 billion of Chinese products in 2018, citing trade practices Washington deemed “unfair.”US Trade Representative Katherine Tai speaks at a meeting at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Monday. Photo: BloombergHowever, many US firms have criticized the levies, saying that they drive up costs, as importers bear their brunt. “The focus of the evaluation will be whether ... the particular product remains available only from China,” it said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Group calls for stricter cross-strait travel curbs
The light sentences relative to their crimes exposes a need for not only judicial reform, but also changes to the law restricting travel by sensitive personnel, Hsu said. The latest proposed amendment seeks to expand the list to include those involved in key technologies, but Chiou said it would not be enough. For a start, he suggested expanding its scope to include personnel working at research institutes in “national key areas,” as well as those who play critical roles in the nation’s infrastructure. As nearly all previous cases involved contact with a Chinese agent in other countries, “only restricting travel to China is not enough,” he added. Such personnel should be required to file detailed reports of their interactions with sensitive contacts from China, Hong Kong or Macau, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Senior EU official is to speak at investment forum
Senior EU official is to speak at investment forumStaff writer, with CNAThe head of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade is to be the keynote speaker at the EU Investment Forum, which is to be held virtually on Thursday next week, the EU’s top representative to Taiwan said yesterday. European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan Director Filip Grzegorzewski, center, speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Grzegorzewski said that last year’s event helped boost Taiwanese investment in the EU, which rose 122 percent from 2019. The EU remains Taiwan’s largest foreign investor, with 38.8 percent of the nation’s inward foreign direct investment last year coming from EU member countries, he said. Those interested in joining the forum can find the Web page to log on to the event and register at https://www.ebrctw.org/chi/index.aspx.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
KMT accuses government of not protecting TSMC
KMT accuses government of not protecting TSMCBy Lin Liang-sheng and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday accused President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of caving in to the US’ demand that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) hand over confidential information. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Alex Fei, left, and KMT Legislator Lin Wei-chou hold a news conference at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday, accusing the government of not supporting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co against US pressure. The Tsai administration and Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) are willing to sacrifice TSMC’s interests to comply with the US’ wishes, the KMT caucus told a news conference in Taipei. The government should get tough with the US, as Washington’s actions contravene Article 2 of the Trade Secrets Act (營業秘密法), KMT Legislator William Tseng (曾銘宗) said. Taipei should follow Seoul’s example and not leave TSMC to fight Washington alone, Lin said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Japan to sell 27 percent of Japan Post
Japan to sell 27 percent of Japan PostReuters, TOKYOJapan this month is to sell up to 1.03 billion Japan Post Holdings Co shares, which based on yesterday’s closing would be worth ￥952 billion (US$8.53 billion), a filing showed, to help with rebuilding areas hit by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. In previous sales, the government raised ￥3.05 trillion from selling down shares of the formerly state-owned Japan Post and its affiliates. A Japan Post mailbox is pictured in Osaka, Japan, on Oct. 27, 2017. In 2015, Japan Post Holdings, Japan Post Insurance Co and Japan Post Bank Co listed at the same time in what was the nation’s biggest privatization in about three decades. The shares are to begin trading four business days after the final price is set and Japan Post Holdings is to buy back up to ￥100 billion, or 3.5 percent, of its own shares.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
‘To soon’ to predict reshoring wave from China: Wang
‘To soon’ to predict reshoring wave from China: WangBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterIt is “still too soon to tell” whether power shortages in China would lead to a wave of reshoring by Taiwanese manufacturers, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said yesterday. “All this just happened and manufacturers are dealing with it by switching production to existing manufacturing facilities outside of China,” Wang said. About 70 percent of Taiwan’s liquefied natural gas and 75 percent of its coal come from long-term supply agreements, she said. “You can describe the responses to Taiwan’s application as encouraging,” Deng told political commentator Frances Huang (黃光芹) in an interview. “A lot of countries were taken by surprise by China’s bid,” Deng said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Machine tool makers eye CPTPP boost
Machine tool makers eye CPTPP boostSEEKING CHANCE: The sector’s strong recovery from a COVID-19 slump came despite Asian competitors having the advantage of tariff-free trade, a trade group head saidBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterTaiwan’s machine tool exports are expected to get a “transformational boost” should Taiwan join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Taiwan Machine Tool and Accessory Builders’ Association said yesterday. Speaking at the release of the association’s first white paper, Goodway Machine Corp (程泰機械) chairman Edward Yang (楊德華), the association’s founding chairman, said that Taiwan’s machine tool industry is experiencing a year of robust orders, but it also faces headwinds. Vice Premier Shen Jong-chin, left, and Taiwan Machine Tool and Accessory Builders’ Association chairman Habor Hsu hold up a copy of the 2021 Machine Tool Industry White Paper at the document’s release event in Taipei yesterday. “The CPTPP is our chance to turn it around.”Association chairman Habor Hsu (許文憲) said that despite negative factors, this year has been a return to form for the local machine tool industry. “The machine tool industry is the mother industry that all other industries, including semiconductors, green energy and consumer electronics, rely on,” Hsu said.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
COVID-19: CECC says 11th vaccination round to begin
COVID-19: CECC says 11th vaccination round to beginBOOKING DETAILS: The center said a first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can be booked from Monday, while a second dose of AstraZeneca can be booked from TuesdayBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday announced that those eligible for the 11th round of COVID-19 vaccinations would begin to book appointments on two separate days. A reminder text message is to be sent to those eligible from 2pm on the day before they can book an appointment, he said. Medical workers in Taoyuan yesterday give people aged 70 or older and Aborigines aged 60 or older their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said that the pilot lives in Taipei. CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞), deputy head of the CECC’s medical response division, said that AstraZeneca was the vaccine used in the three previous cases of breakthrough infections involving Taiwan-based airline pilots, while this pilot had received Moderna Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
New Zealand lifts interest rates
New Zealand lifts interest ratesCITING INFLATION: The move followed South Korea, while the US Federal Reserve maintained its monetary policy amid market expectations of a change by year-endAFP, WELLINGTONNew Zealand yesterday became one of the first developed economies to raise interest rates since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the central bank bids to rein in rising inflation. The US Federal Reserve has so far maintained its monetary policy stimulus, although markets expect a change before the end of the year. The RBNZ cited a recovering global economy and increased international mobility caused by rising COVID-19 vaccination rates in making its decision. The bank said New Zealand’s inflation rate was set to rise above 4 percent in the medium term, exceeding its 1 to 3 percent target range. The virus has since been contained to Auckland and the bank signaled “further removal of monetary policy stimulus is expected over time.”Kiwibank Ltd chief economist Jarrod Kerr said New Zealand monetary policy had entered its first tightening cycle in seven years.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Fire in bottles
COVID-19: CECC to offer BioNTech in next vaccination roundSYSTEM BUG: Forty-two THSRC workers allegedly used a loophole in a hospital’s vaccination booking system to get their second COVID-19 shot early, media reported The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is to be offered in the 10th round of vaccinations, which start on Wednesday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday, as it reported 10 imported cases and no local infections or deaths. The center last week said that second doses of the AstraZeneca and Medigen vaccines would be offered in the 10th round of vaccinations, but on Friday evening announced that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would also be offered as a first dose. People aged 64 or older (born on or before Dec. 31, 1957); people aged 18 to 63 who are also listed in the ninthBy Lee I-chia
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 15:56 UTC
Regulators mull safeguards for stablecoin payments
Regulators mull safeguards for stablecoin paymentsReuters, LONDONStablecoins would have to comply with the same safeguards as their more traditional competitors in payments, regulators said yesterday, as authorities get to grips with a rapidly evolving sector. Facebook Inc’s move in 2019 to introduce its own stablecoin — diem, then known as libra — raised concerns among governments and central banks that a major payments competitor could emerge overnight with little regulation. Since then, diem has radically scaled back its ambitions and plans to launch a US dollar stablecoin. Tether, the largest stablecoin, has a market capitalization of about US$68 billion versus just US$15 billion a year ago. The value of circulating USD coin, another major stablecoin, has also jumped dramatically to more than US$30 billion from just US$2.7 billion a year ago, CoinMarketCap data showed.
Source:Taipei Times
October 06, 2021 06:56 UTC
COVID-19 antibody tests to assess prevalence: CECC
COVID-19 antibody tests to assess prevalence: CECCBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday said it plans to conduct antibody tests using blood donated from April to July to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in the nation, with donors having the choice to opt out before Oct. 18. To prevent the spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the CECC on Aug. 23 introduced five enhanced COVID-19 monitoring measures, including a large-scale antibody study to understand the prevalence of COVID-19, the SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence achieved by vaccination or natural infection, and their geographical distribution and trends in Taiwan. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center, speaks about the center’s mask policy on Saturday. The CECC yesterday also reported no new local COVID-19 infections or deaths, but seven imported cases from Malaysia, Vietnam and the US. Chen also reported that 208,307 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered on Monday, bringing the nation’s first-dose vaccination coverage to 57.67 percent, or 71.72 doses administered per 100 people.
Source:Taipei Times
October 05, 2021 15:56 UTC