New Taiwan-HK office to run HK aid project: MAC
New Taiwan-HK office to run HK aid project: MACBy Jake Chung and Dennis Xie / Staff writers, with CNAThe government’s Hong Kong Humanitarian Aid project is to be implemented through a Taiwan-Hong Kong Interaction Office, which is to begin operations on July 1, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) said yesterday. The aid plan has been anticipated since China’s National People’s Congress last month endorsed national security legislation for Hong Kong, despite Beijing’s past promise that the territory would remain autonomous until 2047. The office is to render humanitarian aid to Hong Kongers, while complying with Taiwan’s laws and upholding national security, he said. The project’s implementation fully embodies the government’s support of Hong Kongers’ efforts to uphold human rights and defend the values of democracy, and its goodwill toward them, he said. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday also reaffirmed her commitment to support Hong Kongers.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
Former aides suspected of espionage
Former legislative assistant Lee Yi-hsien, center, walks into the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday. Photo: Chen Wei-tzu, Taipei TimesThe trio allegedly passed material to Chinese Ministry of State Security officials while working as aides to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers between 2014 and 2018. Lee worked for then-KMT legislator Chang Li-shan (張麗善), who is now Yunlin County commissioner, while Chen and Lin worked for then-KMT legislator Chen Shu-huey (陳淑慧), who is now Chiayi deputy mayor. Former legislative assistant Lin Yung-ta walks past a security checkpoint at the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday. Photo: Chen Wei-tzu, Taipei TimesLin had also worked for then-legislator Chen Chin-ting (陳進丁) from 1999 to 2008.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
Premier Su sends off Chen Chi-mai on his last day
Premier Su sends off Chen Chi-mai on his last dayBy Sean Lin / Staff reporterPremier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday thanked former vice premier Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), a physician, for his contributions to the nation’s fight against COVID-19, during Chen’s last Cabinet meeting in the position. Former vice premier Chen Chi-mai waves goodbye to reporters at the Executive Yuan in Taipei yesterday. During his stint as vice premier, Chen, as chief information security officer, also led the Cabinet’s information technology team in pushing for 5G development and upholding information security, Su said. Chen’s use of big data in contact tracing has significantly helped the nation’s disease prevention efforts, he said. Chen became vice premier when Su became the premier for a second time on Jan. 14 last year.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: CECC reports one new imported case
446 arrived in Taiwan on Saturday last week on a transfer flight from Malaysia, the center told a news conference. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taichung City Councilor Lee Li-hua speaks at Taichung City Council yesterday, while holding signs urging the government to fine a Taiwanese and Bangladeshi couple for breaching COVID-19 regulations. 446 is being isolated at a hospital, Chuang said, adding that the possibility he had contracted the virus in Bangladesh was high. The man had been working in Bangladesh since January and the woman since March before returning to Taiwan, the center said. The woman tested negative only once, on June 2, but the hospital said it had too many patients and allowed her to leave, Chuang said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
Chen Chu to be Control Yuan head
Chen Chu to be Control Yuan headDIVERSE EXPERTISE: President Tsai Ing-wen’s list of nominees for the National Human Rights Commission covers various areas to handle a variety of rights issues, sources saidBy Dennis Xie / Staff writer, with CNAFormer Presidential Office secretary-general Chen Chu (陳菊) is to be appointed as Control Yuan president today, while doubling as head of the nation’s newly established National Human Rights Commission. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has drawn up a list of seven other people to serve on the commission, in line with the Organic Act of the Control Yuan National Human Rights Commission (監察院國家人權委員會組織法), which was passed by the Legislative Yuan in December last year and promulgated in January. Under the act, the 10-member commission is to be headed by the Control Yuan president and composed of seven Control Yuan members, with its other two members to be selected from candidates nominated by the commission members and replaced annually. Former Presidential Office secretary-general Chen Chu attends an event in Kaohsiung on May 26. The new Control Yuan members are to assume their duties from Aug. 1.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
Overcrowding might mean highest 5G prices: telecom
Overcrowding might mean highest 5G prices: telecomBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterTaiwan’s telecom market is overcrowded, which might make prices for 5G services the lowest in the world, given the intense competition, Taiwan Mobile Co (台灣大哥大) said yesterday. It is difficult to calculate a reasonable monthly fee for 5G services, as Taiwan Mobile might continue to invest in 5G bandwidth, he said. Taiwan Mobile would need more bandwidth when 5G technology becomes mainstream, along with new equipment and applications, Tsai said. Taiwan Mobile called on the nation’s biggest telecom operator, Chungwa Telecom, to set a model for peers and maintain disciplined pricing. Meanwhile, Taiwan Mobile shareholders have approved a proposed cash dividend of NT$4.75 per common share.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
‘Chu’s Initiatives’ launched in bid to reform KMT
‘Chu’s Initiatives’ launched in bid to reform KMTRECLAIMING ROC IDENTITY: On the Web site, Eric Chu wrote that the KMT should look back to former president Chiang Ching-kuo as a model for reshaping the partyBy Shih Hsiao-kuang / Staff reporterFormer Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday launched an online policy platform called “Chu’s Initiatives” in a bid to reform the party by fostering dialogue on Hong Kong, constitutional amendments, the economy, disease prevention and other issues. Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Eric Chu speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday. Chu’s move shows his concern for party reform, Chu aide Ling Tao (凌濤) said, adding that opinions gathered on the platform would serve as a think tank for the pan-blue camp. Under ROC identity, Chu has posted articles about reaffirming the party’s commitment to democracy, freedom and cross-strait peace. Writing that he and Chu share many similar views on party reform, he expressed the hope that Chu would lend greater support to the party’s reform committee.
Source:Taipei Times
June 18, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: CECC announces foreign arrival rules
About 1,100 Chinese students enrolled at National Tsing Hua University and Shih Hsin University earlier this month launched an online petition to the Minsitry of Education to allow them to resume their studies in the nation. Those from low-risk countries would be allowed to leave quarantine after five days, while those from medium-low infection risk countries would be quarantined for seven days. The low infection risk countries or areas include New Zealand, Australia, Macau, Palau, Fiji, Brunei, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand, Mongolia and Bhutan. The medium-low infection risk countries include South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, Chen said. However, the government should allow Chinese students to return based on the COVID-19 situation in different Chinese provinces, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 17, 2020 15:56 UTC
No rule against Taiwan on name cards, MOFA says
No rule against Taiwan on name cards, MOFA saysBy Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday denied media reports that it required embassies not to use “Taiwan” on staff name cards, saying the redesign of the cards has not been finalized. Photo: Lu Yi-hsuan, Taipei TimesThe move raised questions about whether the ministry was trying to force those who had added “Taiwan” to their cards to remove it, the paper reported. The ministry has not required overseas officials to “correct” or not to use “Taiwan” on their cards, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said yesterday. The nation’s formal documents for other countries — those with formal ties and some without — used “Republic of China (Taiwan)” as the nation’s name, she said. The ministry should allow foreigners to differentiate between Taiwan and China and clearly embody the nation with a population of nearly 23.6 million people.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
Ministry plans NT$1tn loan program
The government is mobilizing resources to help local firms recover from the virus shock and grow stronger on the world stage, Su said. Minister of Finance Su Jain-rong speaks at a media briefing in Taipei yesterday. The ministry would lend support to the campaign by providing tax credits, lower tax refund thresholds, friendly tariffs and other incentives, Su said. The virus outbreak and US-China trade tensions make global supply chain realignment necessary and local firms are weighing upgrade and transformation options to stay in business, he said. The ministry would continue to assist Taiwanese firms returning from overseas markets and provide incentives for capital repatriation, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
Hualien asks diners to go plastic-free
Hualien asks diners to go plastic-freeBy Wang Chun-chi / Staff reporterThe Hualien County Environmental Protection Bureau is encouraging restaurants to join its plastic-free initiative, saying that it has already certified 22 establishments as environmentally friendly. A sign designed by the Hualien County Environmental Protection Bureau encouraging local restaurants to join a plastic-free initiative is pictured on Sunday in the county. Photo: Wang Chun-chi, Taipei TimesThis year, it is urging businesses to join its plastic-free restaurant initiative, it said on Sunday. The bureau encourages stores to go plastic-free or reduce their use of plastic items by certifying businesses as environmentally friendly, Jao said. As many consumers value the environment, some might dine at restaurants that have the “plastic-free” certification, which could indirectly increase sales, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
HTC unveils the first 5G phone made in Taiwan
HTC unveils the first 5G phone made in TaiwanBy Natasha Li / Staff reporterHTC Corp (宏達電) yesterday unveiled the first made-in-Taiwan 5G smartphone and is to begin taking preorders on July 1. The new HTC U20 5G, powered by Qualcomm Inc’s Snapdragon 765G processor and equipped with five camera lenses, is priced at NT$18,990. Models hold up HTC Corp’s new U20 5G and Desire 20 Pro smartphones at a product launch in Taipei yesterday. Maitre refrained from providing a sales target for the HTC U20 5G. Priced at NT$8,990, the new HTC Desire 20 Pro is a more affordable option than the HTC U20 5G.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
Virus Outbreak: CECC’s Chen elaborates on travel rules
Chen, who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), was speaking at a seminar hosted by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Mark Ho (何志偉). The center is considering shortening the quarantine time for business travelers — including trade, technology and healthcare professionals — from 14 days to between five and 10 days, Chen said. To regulate the activities of business travelers within the nation, Chen said that local sponsors must ensure that their guests make reservations at certified disease prevention hotels in advance. They must present a disease prevention plan stating whether their guests would travel to specific locations or engage in restricted activities in non-specific locations, he said, adding that the plan should also list transportation arrangements the sponsors make for their guests. However, the outbreak could further postpone the reopening of the borders to Chinese tourists, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2020 15:56 UTC
IKala creates commerce division to meet demand
The company is tapping into rapid-growing AI-powered social commerce — where people use social networks to sell and buy goods — in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, iKala said. Chien also serves as board director of another AI company, Appier Inc (沛星互動科技). The new division, iKala Commerce, uses AI technology to help customers — mostly e-commerce retailers — gather personal data and access customer information to provide personalized services and customized content by recording customers’ behavior, the company said. Cheng said that the company expects the new social commerce business to become one of its revenue contributors. Next year, the social commerce business is expected to make up 50 percent of the company’s revenue, Cheng said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2020 15:56 UTC
Vouchers should cover workshops: groups
Vouchers should cover workshops: groupsBy Yang Mien-chieh and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writerSocial welfare groups for mentally challenged people on Sunday urged the government to include sheltered workshops in the Triple Stimulus Voucher program, citing a 50 to 70 percent decrease of sales amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some baking workshops run by the foundation only sell products via online shopping platforms and have no physical stores, so the foundation hopes that the government can allow people to use the vouchers on its e-commerce platforms, she said. Premier Su Tseng-chang promotes the government’s Triple Stimulus Voucher program at a news conference in Taipei on June 2. However, the vouchers cannot be used on e-commerce platforms, except on platforms that sell tourism products, as well as tickets for sports or art and culture events. Syin-lu Social Welfare Foundation business development director Wen Te-feng (溫德風) said that revenue generated from sales of goods produced by foundation members have dropped from about NT$50 million to about NT$20 million in the first half of this year.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2020 15:56 UTC