Model of excellence
Taiwan top semiconductor spender in Q1: SEMISOLID SPENDING: The emergence of new applications such as artificial intelligence has paved the way for long-term growth of the integrated circuit industry, SEMI said Taiwan was the top spender on semiconductor equipment in the first quarter of this year, global semiconductor trade association SEMI said on Wednesday. Taiwan spent US$6.93 billion on semiconductor equipment during the period, up 42 percent from a year earlier, but down 13 percent from the previous quarter, SEMI data showed. The association represents companies in the electronic manufacturing and design supply chain. China was the second-biggest spender with US$5.86 billion, down 23 percent from a year earlier and 8 percent from last quarter, the data showed. South Korea came in third with US$5.62 billion, up 9 percent from last year, but down
Source:Taipei Times
June 16, 2023 17:07 UTC
EDITORIAL: Ko a danger to democracy
Ko’s party represents a refreshing spirit, value and political attitude that independent voters have been waiting for. In Ko’s eyes, Glaser is just an academic seeking to get famous by talking about him. Aside from Ko making a fool of himself, Glaser’s remark underscored Ko’s potential threat to Taiwanese democracy. It could claim that Taiwan “made the first attack.” Under such circumstances, the US and other allies could not intervene. Ko’s political style might only resonate with people in favor of demagoguery and pro-KMT ideology.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2023 16:36 UTC
All three major parties surpass 20% in approval
All three major parties surpass 20% in approvalStaff writer, with BloombergThe nation’s top three political parties for the first time have all received approval ratings higher than 20 percent, a poll released yesterday by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation showed, while the Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) approval rating surpassed that of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). The TPP, established in 2019, has an approval rating of 22.2 percent, compared with 20.4 percent support for the KMT, the poll showed. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) received an approval rating of 24.6 percent. This is the first time that three political parties in Taiwan have received approval ratings of more than 20 percent, the foundation said, calling it a potential “super bombshell” for the election in January. The survey was conducted on Monday and Tuesday, and has a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2023 16:36 UTC
Executive Yuan adviser removed
Executive Yuan adviser removedBy Cheng Wei-chi, Tsai Ya-hua and Jason Pan / Staff reportersThe Executive Yuan yesterday removed Cabinet adviser Cheng Hung-huei (鄭宏輝) from his role after he was accused of sexual harassing a woman two years ago. Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said that he ordered a gender equality probe committee to investigate the allegations. Taipei City Councilor Yu Shu-hui of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNAYu said that the woman told her Cheng allegedly unzipped his pants and asked the woman to perform oral sex on him. “Yu’s accusations from an anonymous source are to assassinate my character and attract media attention for her own political benefit,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2023 03:45 UTC
Military outlines drills to counter China
Military outlines drills to counter ChinaBLOCKADE SIMULATIONS: An officer said that Taiwan’s military has run analyses of potential invasion scenarios, and formulated plans to counter blockades and convoysStaff writer, with CNAThe Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday said that it has been conducting drills in response to recent exercises by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) simulating a blockade of Taiwan and nearby maritime routes. Major General Lin Wen-huang (林文皇), who is in charge of planning at the ministry, told a news conference that the espionage systems of Taiwan’s military have run analyses of potential invasion scenarios, including blockades. Ministry of National Defense spokesman Major General Sun Li-fang speaks at the ministry in Taipei on Tuesday. Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei TimesIt has formulated strategies to counter blockades and convoys, and has conducted drills to enhance the military’s capabilities, Lin said. Spare parts for the Mirage jets are also almost impossible to find, the reports said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 15, 2023 03:45 UTC
Consumer inflation drops in US for the 11th month in a row
Consumer inflation drops in US for the 11th month in a rowAFP, WASHINGTONConsumer inflation in the US cooled for an 11th straight month on an annual basis last month, the US Department of Labor said on Tuesday, in an encouraging sign for policymakers. US consumer inflation dropped annually for the 11th month in a row last month. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, consumer inflation was up 5.3 percent over the past 12 months. “CPI used vehicle prices will fall over the summer, likely starting as soon as June,” he said in a note. Meanwhile, new vehicle prices dipped on a monthly basis on improving supply and “softer demand in the face of tightening credit conditions,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 14, 2023 23:06 UTC
Ticket to Taiwan
US not changing policy on evacuation of citizensPLANNING ‘HEATED UP’: A news site said that the US was drawing up evacuation plans for its citizens in Taiwan, but John Kirby said there was currently no need The US has seen “no indication” that the situation in Taiwan warrants a review of its policy of not evacuating private US citizens from areas of conflict, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday, but did not disclose whether it was preparing for such a contingency. The Messenger news site reported that the US government was drawing up evacuation plans for US citizens living in Taiwan, citing three anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter. One of the sources, identified as a senior US intelligence official, told the Web site that planning had been under way for at least
Source:Taipei Times
June 14, 2023 17:53 UTC
World experts join forum on combating corruption
World experts join forum on combating corruptionGLOBAL COOPERATION: Aside from the three-day meeting in Taipei, Taiwan’s representative office and the US embassy in Rome hosted a similar event in ItalyBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporterA three-day forum on combating corruption under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) opened yesterday in Taipei, with international experts joining the physical event for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. The Taipei event, an international workshop focusing on anti-corruption, was organized by the Agency Against Corruption and the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau, and cohosted by Canada and the UK, he said. Incorporating important issues related to combating disinformation and corruption into international collaborations demonstrate the role Taiwan can play and show that the nation is a force for good on the global stage, he said. Through training programs for officials and experts, initiatives under the framework aim to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region to build their capacity in various fields, it says. Over the past eight years, the framework has held 57 international workshops, which were attended by 6,300 government officials, experts and civil society representatives from 125 countries, it says.
Source:Taipei Times
June 14, 2023 07:21 UTC
Japan nuclear plant begins tests
Japan nuclear plant begins testsCONTROVERSIAL PLAN: Workers examined the pumps and emergency shutdown equipment that would release treated, but still slightly radioactive water into the oceanAP, TOKYOThe operator of the wrecked Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant on Monday began tests of newly constructed facilities for discharging treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, a plan strongly opposed by local fishing communities and neighboring nations. The tests at the nuclear power plant use fresh water instead of the treated water, operator Tokyo Electric Power Co Holdings (TEPCO) said. Plant workers examined pumps and emergency shutdown equipment at the newly constructed seaside facility, which would dilute the treated water with large amounts of seawater. However, Nozaki said the association supports progress in the nuclear power plant’s decommissioning and hopes to continue the dialogue. In South Korea, fishers on Monday staged a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul against the plan to release treated radioactive water.
Source:Taipei Times
June 13, 2023 21:42 UTC
Disney cable channels to stop broadcasting in Taiwan
Disney cable channels to stop broadcasting in TaiwanBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNAAll 11 Walt Disney Co Ltd-operated channels in Taiwan are to cease services by the end of this year, the National Communications Commission (NCC) said after confirming that it received documentation covering cessation of broadcasting services yesterday. National Geographic International, National Geographic Wild and Baby TV are to stop broadcasting by the end of September, while National Geographic Local, Star Channel Chinese, Star Channel Movies, Star Movies Gold, Star World, Star Movies Entertainment, Star Movies HD, Star Chinese Movies HD and Star Movies Gold are to stop broadcasting by the end of the year, the NCC said. The 11 channels are owned by two companies — National Geographic Taiwan and Disney Pacific Group Ltd Taiwan branch — both of which are subsidiaries of Walt Disney Co. The Disney+ logo is displayed at the Walt Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, on Sept. 9 last year. Its over-the-top media services, cinema services and content sale contracts would continue to operate as usual, the department said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 13, 2023 21:40 UTC
EU might demand Google breakup
EU might demand Google breakupReutersEU antitrust regulators might order Alphabet Inc’s Google to sell a part of its advertising-technology business, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday. However, frustration has been mounting after Google failed to address competition concerns, the source said. The commission and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Google is the most dominant digital advertising platform in the world with a 28 percent market share of global ad revenue, research firm Insider Intelligence said. Google’s dominance in online advertising has been increasingly questioned over the past few years.
Source:Taipei Times
June 13, 2023 17:11 UTC
All talk, no dialogue on Asia security
All talk, no dialogue on Asia securityBy Richard MaudeThe International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s largest security conference, earlier this month wrapped up its annual meeting in Singapore. In his speech at the conference, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also emphasized bilateral dialogue, especially between military leaders. The second takeaway from the conference concerns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: while the war preoccupies the US and its close partners, Southeast Asia remains indifferent. India was notably absent, with the defense minister skipping the event yet again. However, it would be a mistake to equate a strong showing of alignment between the US and its Indo-Pacific and European allies at Shangri-La with the broader mood in Southeast Asia.
Source:Taipei Times
June 12, 2023 21:44 UTC
TTL begins hiking prices of Taiwan Beer products
TTL begins hiking prices of Taiwan Beer productsStaff writer, with CNAThe prices of some Taiwan Beer products would be raised over the summer to reflect higher international raw material prices, Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp (TTL, 台灣菸酒) said yesterday. Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp’s Chienkuo Brewery in Taipei is pictured on Feb. 6, 2021. TTL said that it had not raised Taiwan Beer prices in more than 20 years. The company said that many imported beer brands increased their prices last year in light of higher raw material costs. In terms of its other products, TTL said the price of its rice wine — which it sells at a loss — would remain the same, due to its widespread use as a cooking ingredient.
Source:Taipei Times
June 12, 2023 21:39 UTC
Taiwanese cyclist wins silver in Asian road championships
Taiwanese cyclist wins silver in Asian road championshipsStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese road cyclist Tu Chih-hao on Saturday won a silver medal in the men’s elite individual time trial at the Asian Road Cycling Championships in Thailand. The silver medal also earned Tu a slot in the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, which is to be held in China from September to October. Taiwanese road cyclist Tu Chih-hao warms up on a bicycle in an undated photograph. Photo: CNA“I’m definitely happy to clinch a berth in the Asian Games, but you always want to win as an athlete,” Tu said in a statement. “The gold medalist performed very well in Europe, too, so I have nothing to say about losing to him, but I want to get my revenge at the Asian Games,” he added.
Source:Taipei Times
June 12, 2023 00:42 UTC
Divided US Fed expected to pause interest rate hike
Divided US Fed expected to pause interest rate hikeAFP, WASHINGTONThe US Federal Reserve is widely expected to pause its campaign of interest rate increases on Wednesday to give policymakers more time to assess the economic affect of existing hikes and recent banking stresses. The Fed has raised its benchmark lending rate by 5 percentage points since March last year, lifting it to 5.00 to 5.25 percent. While most major banks predict a pause, there are still some notable outliers who expect the Fed to hike rates by another quarter of a percentage point. “We are maintaining our call for a 25bp [basis points] rate hike next week — though admittedly it is a close call,” Citigroup Inc economists wrote in an investor note. This would mean the Fed could leave the door open for an additional rate hike if needed, possibly as early as next month, analysts said.
Source:Taipei Times
June 11, 2023 20:06 UTC