Manchester United slide out of UEFA Champions League
Manchester United slide out of UEFA Champions LeagueAFP, MANCHESTER, EnglandManchester United on Tuesday bowed out of Europe with a whimper as a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich rounded off a miserable UEFA Champions League campaign that has put Erik ten Hag’s future as manager in doubt. United have lost 12 of their opening 24 games of the season — a run that has also ended their defense of the League Cup and sees them languishing sixth in the Premier League. They finished bottom of the Champions League’s Group A as FC Copenhagen took the second qualifying spot behind Bayern following their 1-0 win over Galatasaray SK. Manchester United’s Dutch manager Erik ten Hag watches their UEFA Champions League Group A match against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on Tuesday. In contrast to the gloom in Manchester, there was joy in the Danish capital, as Copenhagen qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League for just the second time in their history.
Source:Taipei Times
December 13, 2023 18:33 UTC
Many drums beating in Indo-Pacific
Many drums beating in Indo-PacificBy Gurjit SinghChina-ASEAN relations have acquired a tenuous stability and economic engagement continues unabated. Despite Indonesia’s proactive leadership of ASEAN negotiations with China regarding the code of conduct in the South China Sea, differences remain. This is unacceptable to other nations, notably Quad members, which resist giving China control of the South China Sea. Indonesia held the first ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum in September. There are many drummers beating around the Indo-Pacific region, and the Chinese drumming is not the only beat that is being heard.
Source:Taipei Times
December 13, 2023 17:09 UTC
Ko lays out transportation policies
Ko lays out transportation policiesBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe law should be amended if most people are against allowing heavy motorcycles on freeways, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said yesterday, going back on his previous policy proposal while sharing his vision for improving transportation in the nation. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je presents his transportation policy at his campaign headquarters in New Taipei City’s Sinjhuang District yesterday. They also include fragmented information hindering overall development, and the slow upgrade of international airports and harbors, he said. Other solutions include leaving the evaluation of major transportation infrastructure to professionals with expertise; facing public opinion honestly; accelerating transit-oriented development; perfecting the aerial and maritime transportation network; enhancing data analysis; greening airports and harbors; cultivating professional airport and harbor personnel; integrating national data; developing intelligent transportation systems; and launching a national traffic app. The feasibility of transportation development plans must be assessed before allocating budgets, or else election promises are empty, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 13, 2023 05:17 UTC
Taiwan’s economy might expand 3.1%, bank says
Taiwan’s economy might expand 3.1%, bank saysBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterTaiwan’s economy might expand 3.1 percent next year, faster than the 1.1 percent growth estimated for this year, as inventory adjustments would end this quarter, allowing restocking demand to increase, Standard Chartered Bank Taiwan said yesterday. Taiwan’s economy might expand 3.1 percent next year, Standard Chartered Bank Taiwan said yesterday. Chinese tourists would contribute to Taiwan’s tourism sector if the two sides allow greater civilian exchanges after Taiwan’s presidential election next month, he said. The domestic property market would also come out of the woods next year after dodging a hard landing this year, Phoo said. The property market’s resilience has much to do with relatively low borrowing costs and prudent financial planning by homebuyers, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 13, 2023 03:30 UTC
2024 Elections: Lai observes Formosa Incident memory at rally
Lai was marking the 44th anniversary of the Formosa Incident, also known as the Kaohsiung Incident. The Formosa Incident was a pro-democracy demonstration organized by Formosa Magazine employees on Dec. 10, 1979 — Human Rights Day. “We must not forget the pioneers of the Taiwan democracy movement. “We must again march shoulder to shoulder and united together as one to safeguard our democracy,” he said. “If we accept such policies, that state that Taiwan belongs to China, then Taiwanese sovereignty would no longer exist,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 10, 2023 20:06 UTC
2024 Elections: With nod to Tsai’s US, defense policies, Ko vows moderate local, China approach
2024 Elections: With nod to Tsai’s US, defense policies, Ko vows moderate local, China approachBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterTaiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday said that while he would reference President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) US and national defense policies, his policies on domestic affairs and cross-strait relations would be more moderate and rational if elected. After Ko on Wednesday said during an interview that he would pursue Tsai’s national defense and foreign policies, a number of people have questioned why they should not just vote for Vice President William Lai (賴清德), the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate who has pledged to follow Tsai’s direction for his foreign policies. Tsai has been devoted to improving relationships with allies and bolstering Taiwan’s military self-reliance, which he recognizes and would continue to seek, but the deadlock in cross-strait relations should be re-examined, he said. Ko said if Lai is no longer a pragmatic political worker for Taiwanese independence due to pressure from the US, then he thinks that Lai is essentially a “Taiwanese independence liar” that has used the claim to deceive supporters and garner votes. Ko said he would reference Tsai’s US and national defense policies, heading toward Taiwan’s autonomy, but seek a moderate and rational path for internal affairs and cross-strait relations, resuming communication with the other side of the Taiwan Strait and establishing a trustworthy dialogue system between the two countries if elected.
Source:Taipei Times
December 10, 2023 20:06 UTC
The red-light elephant in the room
The red-light elephant in the roomBy Shiao Fu-song 蕭福松The Chiayi City Council passed a motion to assess the possibility of establishing a regulated red-light district in the city. However, the truth is that the sex industry has existed for a long time in society. In Europe, red-light districts have been established in cities including Germany’s Hamburg and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. In Taiwan, the issue of establishing regulated red-light districts has been discussed for years. The issue of setting up red-light districts must be discussed and considered in a rational and constructive manner.
Source:Taipei Times
December 10, 2023 03:41 UTC
Chu hid KMT assets: Ko
Chu hid KMT assets: KoBy Lee I-chia, Lin Che-yuan and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporters, with staff writerTaiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday accused Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) of using NT$180 million (US$5.4 million) of hidden ill-gotten party assets as an election war chest. In 2015, Chu liquidated KMT assets and transferred it to privately owned foundations out of fear that the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee would seize wealth it acquired during the Martial Law era, Ko said. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, center, speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday. In an open letter to TPP members on Friday, Ko said that the KMT presidential campaign was rapidly heading down a pro-China path and had no chance of winning in January. He said the reason why the DPP and KMT have abandoned their beliefs is because their supporters are too kind and believe them too easily.
Source:Taipei Times
December 09, 2023 17:09 UTC
Nothing is deep-green about Ko
Nothing is deep-green about KoBy Lai Yen-cheng 賴彥丞Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) recently reiterated that he is “deep-green at heart,” a remark that pro-Taiwan supporters found dubious or even held in disdain. The “deep green” faction is a pro-indigenous force that promotes Taiwanese sovereignty by putting Taiwan’s interests first. There is no way Ko is “deep green” at heart, and his comments are no more than a ploy to save his flagging polling numbers and campaign. If Ko considers himself “deep green,” why would he vow to transcend the KMT and DPP, establish the Taiwan People’s Party and run for president in the first place? By messing up the “blue-white alliance,” Ko is now reverting back to “deep green” supporters to make up for his lost support from the pan-blue camp.
Source:Taipei Times
December 09, 2023 16:57 UTC
EDITORIAL: Countering CCP cognitive warfare
EDITORIAL: Countering CCP cognitive warfareMinister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) on Tuesday called on democracies to cooperate on countering China’s cognitive warfare efforts. Cognitive warfare was one of the items discussed in the meeting. “Unlike US defense documents and strategic thinkers, the People’s Liberation Army puts cognitive warfare on par with the other domains of warfare like air, sea and space, and believes it key to victory — particularly victory without war,” he wrote. Wu described Taiwan as “a testing ground for China’s cognitive warfare,” and for this reason, Taiwan would ideally serve as a base of operations for joint efforts to counter Chinese interference and aggression. The government should hold talks with senior representatives of other democracies on the possibility of an alliance to combat Chinese cognitive warfare and espionage.
Source:Taipei Times
December 09, 2023 03:39 UTC
Denmark criminalizes burning Koran
Denmark and Sweden experienced a series of public protests this year where anti-Islam activists burned or otherwise damaged copies of the Koran, triggering demands that the Nordic governments ban the practice. More than 500 demonstrations that included burnings of the Koran or flags were registered since July, Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said. Domestic critics in Sweden and Denmark have argued that any limitations on criticizing religion, including by burning Korans, undermine hard-fought liberal freedoms in the region. “History will judge us harshly for this, and with good reason,” said Inger Stojberg, leader of the anti-immigration Denmark Democrats party. Sweden is also considering how to prevent burning of the Koran, but is looking at whether police should factor in national security when deciding on protest applications rather than a ban.
Source:Taipei Times
December 09, 2023 03:37 UTC
US, UK envoys reaffirm commitments to peace
The US and the UK are aligned on key challenges they face in the Indo-Pacific region, including “ensuring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Blinken told a news conference after he met with Cameron in Washington. Countering “Chinese cyberattacks and other hostile acts” are crucial for the UK and the US, Cameron said, while calling for closer cooperation between allies to deal with Beijing. The UK not only has to protect itself and its systems against cybercrime and other threats posed by China, but also “align better with our allies,” he said. “The EU reaffirmed its consistent one China policy and expressed concerns about increased tensions in the Taiwan Strait,” the European Council said in a press release after the meetings. Regional and global prosperity and security are threatened by increased instability in the East and South China seas, the press release said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 08, 2023 17:12 UTC
KMT turns away from the youth
Consequently, elections are the best showcase for observing politicians and parties as they try to make the best possible impression. Biden, who succeeded in preventing Trump from getting re-elected, won a slim majority of young people’s votes — 55 percent, according to polls. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) leaders might not agree with this phenomenon of the party going back to its origins. These wishful calculations do not take into account the problem that the KMT and the TPP are by no means alike. Can the members of today’s KMT get their act together and make up for the failings of their forebears?
Source:Taipei Times
December 08, 2023 17:11 UTC
TPP’s Wu working to fix disclosures
Wu’s office spokesman, Chen Yu-cheng (陳宥丞), said the candidate encountered unforeseen difficulties disclosing her husband’s finances due to being suddenly thrust into the campaign. She is also the first vice presidential nominee to have a foreign spouse, complicating the reporting of her family’s properties, Chen said, adding that Wu’s attorneys are working closely with the CEC to resolve the situation. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator and vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu hosts a meeting at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on Monday. Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times“We emphasize that the offices of Wu and [TPP Chairman and presidential candidate] Ko [Wen-je (柯文哲)] will handle the matter according to law,” he said. Ko owns nine plots of land and six properties in Taipei, Hsinchu City and Penghu County, bank deposits totaling NT$24.6 million, NT$950,000 in fund benefit certificates and seven life insurance savings policies.
Source:Taipei Times
December 06, 2023 17:09 UTC
Ko slammed for misleading comments
Ko slammed for misleading commentsBy Chen Yu-fu and Jonathan ChinStaff reporters, with staff writerPan-green politicians yesterday slammed Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) misleading comments about COP28, after the former Taipei mayor claimed that tripling nuclear power was a consensus reached at the climate conference. “The most important conclusion in the past few days [at COP28] is that nuclear energy should be increased three times by 2050, using 2020 as a baseline,” Ko wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hung Sun-han is pictured in an undated photograph. These countries pledged to triple nuclear power to attract international bank loans, which Ko untruthfully construed as a COP28 mandate to build nuclear plants, he said. Ko’s comments are irresponsible as the view that nuclear energy is a form of green energy remains disputed, said Lim Hak-yan (林學淵), the deputy secretary-general of Taiwan Environmental Protection Union.
Source:Taipei Times
December 06, 2023 16:32 UTC