Sat, May 14, 2022
‘A SERIOUS THREAT’: At a summit in Tokyo, the leaders said they ‘strongly oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force, regardless of the location’ Japan and the EU on Thursday reaffirmed “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” in a joint statement at their summit, which focused on coordinating strategies in the Indo-Pacific region. “We underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues,” said the joint statement, issued at the 28th EU-Japan Summit in Tokyo. It was the second such reference to Taiwan in a joint statement by the leaders of Japan and the EU, following a statement issued at last year’s summit. At this year’s summit, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss global and regional challenges as well as bilateral relations, they said in the statement. The leaders condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and demanded that Moscow immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the country, the statement said. The EU and Japan “strongly oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force, regardless of the location, as a serious threat to the entire international order,” it added. They vowed to involve ASEAN, South Asian and Pacific Island countries in establishing “synergies” among their strategies to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, it said. In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said that Taiwan welcomed the joint statement and expressed sincere gratitude to the leaders of the EU and Japan. The statement was further testimony that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a consensus among democratic countries, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said. Amid challenges posed by aggressive expansion of authoritarian regimes that have undermined the international rules-based order and regional stability, Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with Japan, the EU and like-minded countries to safeguard shared values of justice, freedom and
Taiwanese tennis duo Lin Chia-wen (林家文) and Ho Chiu-mei (何秋美) on Thursday defended their women’s doubles title at the Summer Deaflympics in Brazil, earning Taiwan’s second gold medal at the Games. Lin and Ho defeated Germans Heike Albrecht-Schroder and Verena Fleckenstein 6-4, 6-1 in a relatively comfortable victory. “After waiting for five years, we are able to win a gold medal again,” Lin said after the match, while also thanking her partner for her performance. The duo won the women’s doubles in 2017 at the Summer Deaflympics in Turkey, the most recent previous edition of the Games. Lin also took home gold in the women’s singles event that year. In Brazil, she still has chances to win gold in two more events — the women’s singles and mixed doubles — with both finals scheduled for yesterday. Ho was to vie for the bronze medal in the women’s singles against Rotem Ashkenazy of Israel. In other events, Taiwan’s Hsu Le (許樂) advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 200m dash with a time of 26.32 seconds in the qualifying round on Thursday. She was to race in the semi-finals and finals yesterday. Earlier this week, Hsu won the women’s 100m hurdles to snag Taiwan’s first gold medal at this year’s Games, after she earlier won a bronze medal in the women’s 100m. The Taiwanese delegation consists of 39 athletes, who were competing in eight sports — track and field, badminton, table tennis, tennis, men’s basketball, karate, taekwondo and shooting.
A Chinese intelligence ship tracked off the coast of Western Australia is an “act of aggression” by Beijing, Australian Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said yesterday, in the latest pre-election warning about China’s military intentions. Australia had tracked the spy ship over the past week as it sailed past the Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt at Exmouth, which is used by Australian, US and allied submarines. “I think it is an act of aggression. I think particularly because it has come so far south,” Dutton told a news conference in Perth. In the run-up to federal elections on Saturday next week, with the government trailing in opinion polls, Dutton has been warning voters not to trust the opposition Labor Party with Australia’s security. Dutton said the vessel had been sailing close to the coastline for the “last week or so.” Although he said that he could not reveal when Australia became aware of the ship for “operational reasons,” a defense ministry statement showed that it had been tracking the Dongdiao Class Auxiliary Intelligence ship named Haiwangxing since Friday last week. Australia’s air force was monitoring the ship, which had entered the country’s exclusive economic zone, he said. The zone extends beyond Australia’s territorial waters and the government has previously said it accepts that Chinese spy ships can operate there. “Its intention, of course, is to collect intelligence right along the coastline, and it has been in close proximity to military and intelligence installations,” Dutton said. He said it was “unusual” in the way that it had sailed so far south and was hugging the coastline. He provided a map of the ship’s route and video of the vessel, saying he was speaking about the spy ship “because it is best to be honest and open with the Australian public.” He also took the opportunity to warn voters not to
‘DAMOCLES SWORD’: An Italian missionary said the arrest of cardinal Zen is a blow for the church in Hong Kong, China and the world, signaling great danger ahead China yesterday defended the arrest of a 90-year-old Catholic cardinal under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, a move that triggered international outrage and deepened concerns over Beijing’s crackdown on freedoms in the territory. Retired cardinal Joseph Zen (陳日君), one of the most senior Catholic clerics in Asia, was among a group of veteran democracy advocates arrested on Wednesday for “colluding with foreign forces.” Pop singer Denise Ho (何韻詩), veteran barrister Margaret Ng (吳靄儀) and cultural studies academic Hui Po-keung (許寶強) were also arrested, the latter as he attempted to fly to Europe to take up an academic post. Cyd Ho (何秀蘭), a democracy advocate currently in jail over a previous protest conviction, was arrested yesterday. “The persons concerned are suspected of conspiracy to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security — an act of severe nature,” the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affair’s office in Hong Kong said. Hong Kong’s government said that the religious background of those arrested was “completely irrelevant” and that “no one can enjoy a privilege above the law.” The five were detained for being trustees of a now-disbanded defense fund that helped pay legal and medical costs for people arrested during democracy protests three years ago. Beijing responded with a broad campaign to crush the movement and transform the territory so that it more closely resembles mainland China. Zen and his colleagues, who were released on bail late on Wednesday, join more than 180 Hong Kongers arrested to date under the security law imposed to stop the protests. Criticism came from Western nations, who have accused China of eviscerating the freedoms it once promised Hong Kong. The US, which has sanctioned key Chinese officials over the crackdown, called on Beijing to “cease targeting Hong Kong’s advocates.” British Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly told Parliament in Londin yesterday that
The Executive Yuan yesterday condemned Hong Kong for arresting five democracy advocates, including singer-actress Denise Ho (何韻詩), cardinal Joseph Zen (陳日君) and former opposition lawmaker Mageret Ng (吳靄儀). Officers of the Hong Kong Police Forces’ National Security Department the previous day had arrested the group — who were all trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund — on charges of seditious conspiracy under the territory’s National Security Law. The arrests came three days after Beijing-backed veteran law-enforcement official John Lee (李家超) became the Hong Kong chief executive following an election in which he ran as the sole candidate. The five were released on bail early yesterday morning. “Taiwan joins the international community in condemning the violation of human rights and regression of the Hong Kong Government,” Executive Yuan spokesman Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) said. “This government condemns the violation of human rights committed by Hong Kong under the pretext of national security,” Lo said. “Hong Kong is called upon to represent the people, and to stop its contravention of rights and freedoms.” Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) also condemned the actions of the Hong Kong government and called for an end to the persecution of dissidents. Hong Kong authorities are to blame for “implementing the regressive Hong Kong National Security Law, causing declines in the human rights, freedom, democracy and rule of law there,” Chiu said. “We call on the parties responsible for the situation to recognize that they have gone down the wrong road and must return to the right one,” he said. “If they compound their errors, they will become coconspirators and accessories to this crime.” Despite promises that freedom of speech would be protected, the passage of the Hong Kong National Security Law has led to the jailing of critics including Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai (黎智英) and closures of independent media firms, Chiu
REVISION COMING: The target looks untenable, as the second half is to be unfavorable, even if exports and consumption have fared well, Yang Chin-long said The nation’s 4 percent GDP target this year might be difficult to attain, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and global monetary tightening is expected to weigh on exports in the second half, central bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) said yesterday. At a meeting of the legislature’s Finance Committee, Yang said that the central bank would revise its growth forecast at its board meeting next month. The nation’s top monetary policymaker in March said the growth rate was expected to be 4.05 percent. “GDP growth of 4 percent this year looks increasingly untenable, as unfavorable factors would start to weigh in the second half, even though exports and consumption data have fared quite well thus far,” Yang said. The war in Ukraine has been termed a “black swan” event — something that was unpredictable and had profound consequences on the global economy — while the rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve have been called a “gray rhino” event — a threat to markets that was predictable, yet largely ignored. The military conflict in eastern Europe prompted major countries to impose sanctions on Russian oil and gas exports, which drove up international prices for fuel and raw materials. Global central banks are hiking interest rates to help curb inflation, which is likely to slow economies down. “The downside risks raise concern over whether growth momentum for Taiwan’s exports can extend into the second half,” Yang said. Major chipmakers have given rosy earnings guidances for this quarter, while suppliers of laptops and other electronic devices expect declines due to COVID-19 lockdowns in China. International research bodies have trimmed their forecasts for Taiwan’s GDP growth this year to 3.6 to 3.8 percent, Yang said. Consumer prices in Taiwan remain high this month after being above 3 percent for the past two months, Yang said. However, he refused to say unequivocally that the central bank
RACTOPAMINE RULING: The Constitutional Court said in its judgement that local jurisdictions must not contradict or exceed the authority of the central government A central government order nullifying food safety regulations put in place by local governments requiring “ractopamine-free products” was judged to be legal, the Constitutional Court said yesterday. The court cited articles of the Constitution and the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法) in its sixth judgement, affirming the authority of the central government to insist that food safety regulations be followed and to direct the nation’s trade policy. The local governments of Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Chiayi County and Tainan appealed to the court over the central government order after they adopted a “zero tolerance” policy toward ractopamine residue in US pork imports. The administration of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in August 2020 said that Taiwan would allow imports of pork containing ractopamine residue, with the order taking effect on Jan. 1 last year. The Executive Yuan on Dec. 31, 2020, announced that local government bans on imported pork containing ractopamine were in contravention of the central government’s authority and were invalided when the import restrictions were lifted. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) at the time pledged to help local governments to seek a constitutional ruling on the legality of the central government’s move to invalidate local ractopamine bans. Judicial Yuan President Hsu Tzong-li (許宗力) read the ruling at the Constitutional Court yesterday. Article 15 of the act stipulates that the central government has the authority to place restrictions on processing and preparation of raw materials and edible parts for food use, Hsu said. Article 18-1 stipulates that “businesses in food processing and its raw materials ... shall conform to safety, sanitation and quality standards ... as prescribed by the central authority,” while Article 21 sets out the requirements for “review and approval by the central authority,” including health risk assessments for food manufacturing, processing, input of additives, preparation, packaging, import and export of food products, and registration
REVISED REGULATIONS: The education minister said policies for international students apply to China and its territories, and such students would be vetted well High schools planning to admit students from Hong Kong and Macau for the fall semester must submit their plans before the end of this month, Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung (潘文忠) said on Thursday, adding that such students would be vetted by immigration and national security agencies. Pan made the remarks at a meeting of the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee after the ministry last month revised the Regulations for Hong Kong and Macau Residents Studying in Taiwan (香港澳門居民來台就學辦法), which allow high schools and vocational high schools to admit students from the Chinese territories. According to the revisions, students from Hong Kong and Macau can study at local high schools, vocational high schools and five-year junior colleges when the fall semester starts in September. As most such students would be yet to turn 18, the regulations allow high-school principals, directors of school boards or school board members to be their guardians in Taiwan. Each can serve as a guardian for five students from Macau or Hong Kong, the rules say. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chang Liao Wan-chien (張廖萬堅) said that while Taiwan welcomes students from Hong Kong and Macau, there have been significant changes in relations with the Chinese territories in the past two years. “Government authorities there are more aligned with Beijing’s agenda than before, and Hong Kong now has more residents who were born in China,” Chang Liao said. “The ministry needs to carefully consider the security ramifications of this new policy.” The ministry permits entry of students from Hong Kong and Macau to study at local high schools and vocational high schools in accordance with the National Development Council’s 2020 policy, which aims to attract talent from all over the world, Pan said. “For years, Taiwan has accepted students from Hong Kong and Macau to study at universities. The only difference now is that they
The government must quickly reach a consensus on legislative amendments addressing climate change, environmental groups said yesterday after the legislature on Thursday discussed more than 20 proposed changes. Six committees were debating proposed amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act (溫室氣體減量及管理法), which would set a goal of net zero emissions by 2050 among other climate-related provisions. While the committees agreed on the 2050 goal, disagreements remained on more than 20 proposals regarding how it could be achieved. Environmental groups yesterday issued a joint statement that included six recommendations. The Environmental Rights Foundation, the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance, Citizen of the Earth, Taiwan, the Taiwan Environment and Planning Association, the Homemakers United Foundation and the Environmental Justice Foundation said that advancing the proposals to committee discussion does not mean that Taiwan has the capacity to face risks posed by climate change. The rules should include provisions to increase the level of climate governance and grant equivalent authority to oversight agencies, the groups said. The implementation targets for a proposed carbon fee should be improved, as should management mechanisms, to ensure efficacy and to allow room for it to eventually become a carbon tax, they said. The amendments should prioritize adaptive strategies for communities as changes occur, given the effects of climate change on human rights, the groups said. Local governance, transparency and public participation must be improved to leave no one behind, while also including provisions allowing public litigation, the groups said. There needs to be a significant push for sources of renewable energy, as nuclear power is not an option in Taiwan, they said. Many legislators at Thursday’s meeting took issue with a lack of interim goals leading up to 2050, but the groups said that they were unsure the proposals would be approved even if only short-term goals were involved. The groups said that the legislature has agreed
China appears to have built mockups of a port in northeastern Taiwan and a military vessel docked there, with the aim of using them as targets to test its ballistic missiles, a retired naval officer said yesterday. Lu Li-shih (呂禮詩), a former lieutenant commander in Taiwan’s navy, wrote on Facebook that satellite images appeared to show simulated targets in a desert in China’s Xinjiang region that resemble the Suao naval base in Yilan County and a Kidd-class destroyer that usually docks there. Lu said he compared the mockup port to US naval bases in Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan, and in Subic Bay in the Philippines, but it more closely resembles Suao. The South China Morning Post on Thursday quoted Lu as saying that the mockup vessel resembled one that was based in northeast Taiwan and some Guam-based US vessels. “The mockups and drills suggest that Chinese People’s Liberation Army warships are simulating precision strikes on the Guam naval base and the Suao military port using China’s YJ-21 anti-ship missiles,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “A site with full-scale piers and a destroyer-sized ship-like target was constructed in December [last year],” said a report published on Wednesday on the US Naval Institute Web site, an independent forum. “A test missile hit ... dead-center on the ship replica in February” at the Taklamakan Desert site and the target was quickly disassembled “and is now gone,” the Web site reported. In November last year, satellite images showed that China was building targets that simulated a US aircraft carrier and other US warships in the desert to test its hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles, including YJ-21s, which are an increasingly significant threat to vessels, it said. Images of the sites were in satellite images that the US Naval Institute posted, but it did not name any structures that the mockups might have
FIRST IMAGE: The Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, which includes Academia Sinica, captured an image of a Sagittarius A*, a black hole at the center of our galaxy An international astronomical project that includes Taiwan’s Academia Sinica on Thursday released the first-ever image documenting the existence of a massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. Astronomers believe nearly all galaxies have giant black holes at their bustling and crowded center, where light and matter cannot escape, making it extremely hard to capture images of them. Light is bent and twisted around by gravity, as it is sucked into the abyss, along with superheated gas and dust. The colorized image unveiled on Thursday is from an international consortium comprising 13 research units from around the world. The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a collection of eight synchronized radio telescopes around the world, captured the image of Sagittarius A*, a black hole at the center of our galaxy about 27,000 light years away. University of Arizona astrophysics professor Feryal Ozel described it as a “gentle giant” while announcing the breakthrough along with other astronomers involved in the project. Academia Sinica President James Liao (廖俊智) told a press conference held simultaneously in Taipei that the image offered direct proof of earlier scientific work that provided evidence of a black hole at the center of our galaxy. “With Academia Sinica as one of the 13 members of the EHT, we have again shown Taiwan’s continued role in the world’s most important scientific discoveries,” he added. The picture also confirms Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity: The black hole is precisely the size that Einstein’s equations dictate. It is about the size of the orbit of Mercury around the sun. Black holes gobble up galactic material, but Ozel said this one is “eating very little.” It is equivalent to a person eating a single grain of rice over millions of years, another astronomer said. University of California, Los Angeles astronomy professor Andrea Ghez, not part of the telescope
CAUTION ADVISED: People should see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor first before taking NRICM101 or similar herbal treatments against COVID-19, experts said Experts yesterday cautioned against purchasing black-market herbal treatments for COVID-19, following the success of the clinically proven NRICM101. Developed by the National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, NRICM101, also called Taiwan Chingguan Yihau (清冠一號), is on the approved list of medications prescribed to people with COVID-19. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment has been proven to ease symptoms of COVID-19 while also inhibiting the virus’ ability to infect and replicate. As COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed, so has demand for the drug, with TCM pharmacies reporting increased inquiries for medicine similar to NRICM101. Some unverified sellers are reportedly selling the drug for as much as NT$5,000 per box, far above its normal retail price of NT$1,500 to NT$2,000. Speaking at a news conference in Taipei, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Mark Ho (何志偉) and the Taipei Chinese Medical Association urged the public not to buy such products without first consulting a TCM doctor. About 80 percent of people in Taiwan confirmed with COVID-19 use TCM to treat their condition, Ho said, gesturing to the array of herbal treatments displayed before him to emphasize that there is no shortage. While NRICM101 might enjoy widespread acclaim, many other effective treatments are available, he said, urging the public to refrain from hoarding medication. Association chief supervisor Lin Yuan-chuan (林源泉) said that more than 1,000 clinics nationwide — including more than 400 in Taipei — have agreed to provide remote consultations. Through these consultations, TCM doctors can prescribe appropriate treatments for each patient, he added. NRICM101 is not appropriate for everyone, association executive supervisor Yen Chih-cheng (顏誌誠) added, urging people to consult a doctor first. The appeal comes amid a nationwide shortage of NRICM101 as cases soar, and as people without COVID-19 reportedly take the drug believing it would boost their immunity. Kuang Tien General Hospital TCM practitioner Wang Tun-cheng (王敦正) advised against taking NRICM101 without a
About 100 taxi drivers yesterday protested in front of the buildings housing the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) in Taipei, demanding that the government ensure sufficient supplies of COVID-19 rapid test kits for drivers. The government launched a rapid test kit rationing scheme on April 28, fixing the price at NT$500, with each kit containing five rapid tests. However, supplies are limited, with long lines forming at pharmacies that sell them. On Thursday last week, some supermarkets and other retailers also began selling COVID-19 rapid test kits for NT$180 apiece, but many have complained about the price. The protest was organized by the Taipei City Taxi Drivers’ Union and an industrial union representing shuttle service by appointment on digital platforms. Peng Chih-yuan (彭芝園) from the industrial union said that other countries provide the kits to citizens for free, while the Taiwanese government “sells them for NT$180 per kit.” KiKi, a self-employed taxi driver, said she used to earn about NT$1,000 to NT$2,000 working eight hours a day, but now works about 24 hours a day, but only earns about NT$500 to NT$600. Passengers would ask her whether she had taken a rapid test, and would complain if she said no, KiKi said. They would ask “Why don’t you have a test since you have contact with so many people?” or “How can you prove that you are virus-free without taking a test?” she said. The protesters said that some passengers would even get exit their cab and take a bus or walk home because they considered it too dangerous. Aside from testing kits, many drivers have encountered difficulties buying antipyretics and can only drink salted water when they have a fever. Taxi driver A Mu (阿沐) said that he lives with his 80-year-old father, 75-year-old mother and a second-grade son,
The Ministry of Culture on Monday unveiled subsidies for performance arts groups that have to cancel events due to the local COVID-19 outbreak. Performing art groups and event organizers can apply for up to NT$2.5 million (US$83,873) for costs related to the production, promotion, venue rental, rehearsal or marketing of performances from April 1 to June 30, the ministry said in a news release. Eligible groups include those that canceled a performance as performers or employees were quarantined, or the closing of the performance venue due to COVID-19, it said. Subsidies would also be granted for ticket cancelations, it said. The policy was drafted in response to flagging ticket sales and cancelations following COVID-19’s resurgence in Taiwan, it said, adding that last month, 46 performances were canceled outright, resulting in an estimated NT$16.44 million in lost revenue. Citing data from the National Theater and Concert Hall’s OPENTIX system, the ministry reported a cancelation rate of 5 percent by customers for shows that went on as planned, and 11 percent for shows that were rescheduled. Overall performance revenue fell 33 percent compared with the same month before a COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, and 27 percent compared with the same month during last year’s outbreak, it said. Applications for subsidies will be open from Monday until July 15 via an online platform, it said, adding that additional information can be found at www.moc.gov.tw/information_250_145264.html. The ministry added that it would announce details about other measures to boost businesses in the cultural sector at a later time. These policies include subsidies for organizers of book fairs and festivals; subsidies for the visual arts, museums and galleries; promotions for virtual and brick-and-mortar bookstores; joint marketing programs for local films; and debt relief for art groups, it said.
INTRUDER ALERT: The solar-powered system developed by an NDHU team sounds an alert when trespassers are detected, alerting farmers and police A team from National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) has developed a solar-powered infrared “invisible” fencing system to help farmers in Hualien County prevent theft of their crops. Initiated as a project by the university’s Energy Technology Center, the infrared system establishes a detection fence that is not visible to the naked eye, removing the unsightliness of physical fences. The system sounds an alarm when trespassers are detected, while a mobile app alerts farmers and notifies local police of the intrusion. Using solar power, the system does not add to energy costs. Pai Yi-hao (白益豪), an associate professor at the university and director of the technology center, said the team began working on the project earlier this year. Professors and students at the technology center engineered the system’s infrared sensors and the electronic transmitters, along with the waterproof shell that houses the intricate electronics. The team also ensured that the solar power design was stable, and that farmers could use the Line app to receive alerts and notifications, Pai said. The project was not without setbacks. In one of its first installations, in a Hualien watermelon field, the system’s signal was weak and unstable due to the area’s geography. Chunghwa Telecom stepped in to help by boosting its signal strength, Pai said. NDHU’s University Social Responsibility Office, which is in charge of the school’s social outreach program in Hualien, selected several watermelon farms covering about 40 hectares for the technology. The farms were selected for having sufficient exposure to sunlight, creating optimal conditions for solar power collection, the office said. Local farmers who were presented with the technology said they were grateful that they would not have to be so anxious about theft from their fields at night, it said.
WEIGHTINGS REVISED: Powership Semiconductor, China Airlines and EVA Airways were added to the MSCI Global Standard Indexes, while Foxconn was downgraded Global index provider MSCI Inc yesterday cut Taiwan’s weighting in two indices, but raised the weighting in another after a semi-annual review, Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed. MSCI lowered Taiwan’s weighting in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which is closely watched by foreign institutional investors, by 0.11 percentage points to 15.56 percent, the exchange said. That revised weighting is still higher than a range of 11.46 percent to 14.21 percent over the past three years, it said. MSCI also lowered Taiwan’s weighting in the MSCI All-Country Asia ex-Japan Index to 17.9 percent from 18.01 percent, while the company raised Taiwan’s weighting in the MSCI All-Country World from 1.7 percent to 1.71 percent, the data showed. The adjustments are to take effect on June 1. Following the review, MSCI added four Taiwanese companies to its MSCI Global Standard Indexes and removed three, it said in a statement on its Web site. China Airlines Ltd (中華航空), EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) and power cable manufacturer Walsin Lihwa Corp (華新麗華) were added to the global standard indices, a promotion from the MSCI Small Cap Indexes, the data showed. Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (力積電) was also added to the Global Standard Index, the data showed. The company’s weighting in the index was raised by 0.42 percent, the most among the four companies, the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported. Meanwhile, Foxconn Technology Co (鴻準精密), a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), Hiwin Technologies Co (上銀科技) and Oneness Biotech Co (合一生技) were deleted from the global standard index, the data showed. They were downgraded into the small-cap index, with Hiwin Technologies’ weighting lowered by 0.19 percent, the most among the three companies. MSCI also added several companies to its small-cap index, including Evergreen Steel Co (長榮鋼鐵), Allied Supreme Corp (上品綜合工業), Etron Technology Inc (鈺創科技), Genesys Logic Inc (創惟科技), Great
The central bank’s proposal to tighten mortgage terms could affect home buyers, as they would need to borrow less money if they cannot shoulder higher mortgage burdens, analysts said yesterday. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) told lawmakers on Thursday that there is still room for selective credit controls to cool the housing market, especially in areas with sharp price surges. Policy tools under consideration include shortening mortgage payment plans and lowering loan-to-value ratios for second-home financing, Yang said, adding that shorter mortgages would prompt borrowers to be more cautious in planning their finances. Sinyi Realty Inc (信義房屋), Taiwan’s only listed broker, yesterday said the monetary policymaker could cap mortgage terms at 20 years, which would make home ownership more expensive. As housing prices have risen significantly in the past few years, a increasing number of home buyers are opting for 30-year mortgage payment plans, rather than the standard 20 years, allowing them more flexibility to purchase expensive property, Sinyi research manager Tseng Ching-der (曾進德) said. People with a monthly salary of NT$60,000 (US$2,013) could take out mortgages of NT$10 million on 20-year payment plans, but could raise the borrowed amount to NT$13.92 million on 30-year schemes, Tseng said, adding that mortgage payments on either plan would be about NT$48,700 per month based on an interest rate of 1.6 percent. Mortgage periods averaged 23.9 years for homeowners in the third quarter of last year, with about 40 percent opting for 30-year plans, Tseng said, citing government data. Unfavorable terms would hit people with lower incomes the hardest, noticeably young home buyers who have less financial headroom, Tseng said. Tseng said that central bank adjustments to mortgage policy have eased the burdens of first-home buyers and urban renewal projects during four previous waves of credit controls. Senior housing analyst Lee Tung-rong (李同榮) said that stricter mortgage terms would sink the
DISRUPTIONS: The war in Ukraine, China’s lockdown measures, rising interest rates and inflation have thrown a wrench into business plans made years in advance Samsung Electronics Co is talking with foundry clients about charging as much as 20 percent more for making semiconductors this year, joining an industry-wide push to hike prices to cover rising costs of materials and logistics. Contract-based chip prices are likely to rise around 15 percent to 20 percent, depending upon the level of sophistication, people familiar with the matter said. Chips produced on legacy nodes would face bigger price hikes, while new pricing would be applied from the second half of this year, they said, adding that Samsung has finished negotiating with some clients and is in discussions with others. Samsung’s decision is a shift from last year’s relatively stable pricing policy, when the industry rushed to raise prices in the wake of a global chip shortage. The company is facing multiple risks such as the war in Ukraine, lockdown measures in China, rising interest rates and inflation. Those are throwing a wrench into business plans typically made a few years in advance. The move translates into additional pressure on makers of smartphones, cars and game consoles to lift the prices consumers pay. Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) account for more than two-thirds of global capacity for outsourced chips. Costs for chipmakers are now rising at about 20 to 30 percent on average on all fronts, from chemicals, gas and wafers to equipment and construction materials. Contract chip manufacturers including TSMC and United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電) are telling clients that they plan to raise prices by a mid-to-high single-digit percentage, on the heels of a price hike several months ago. Industry leader TSMC has told clients that it plans to raise prices by about 5 percent to 8 percent next year, following a 20 percent price hike last year, the Nikkei said. UMC is also planning another round of 4 percent price
US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and other US officials on Tuesday told a US Senate hearing that China remained determined to invade Taiwan, and was making its military capable of doing so by 2030. US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Scott Berrier said that until China is ready to attempt an invasion, it would continue to threaten Taiwan militarily. This was apparent over the past week, as China’s military conducted joint exercises with its aircraft and carrier group along the southern and eastern parts of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) from Thursday last week to Sunday. China also flew a WZ-10 attack helicopter across the median line of the Taiwan Strait and issued a warning to the US Navy’s guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal on Tuesday, which was conducting a “freedom of navigation operation” through the Taiwan Strait, Reuters reported. While China strengthens its military, Taiwan is implementing a new reservist training program, and is focusing on its asymmetric warfare capabilities, Deutsche Welle reported on March 15. In practice, this would mean the use of “weapons like coastal defense cruise missiles” and “short-range, mobile air defenses, smart naval mines or drones,” Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia program at the German Marshall Fund, told the broadcaster. Ian Easton, senior director at the Project 2049 Institute, a US think tank, was also quoted in the report, saying that Taiwan’s best option would be a defensive alliance with the US, and an “updated and intensified” military training program. Taiwan is addressing Chinese threats by providing additional training to reservists, and through bills proposed recently by Democratic Progressive Party legislators, including Chang Liao Wan-chien (張廖萬堅), that would prepare Taiwan’s private security guards for wartime roles. A TVBS News Network poll conducted in March also showed majority public support for female military conscripts and longer service
In a World Press Freedom Day briefing at the US Department of State’s Washington Foreign Press Center on Tuesday last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded to a Central News Agency reporter’s question about Taiwan’s media environment by saying that Taiwan is on the front lines of China’s “hybrid war.” Blinken said that the US government has joined with Taiwanese authorities and civil organizations “to try to build societal resilience to disinformation and other forms of foreign interference.” Blinken’s response shows that the US is aware that Taiwan faces challenges from local collaborators who work hand in glove with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), using media and social networks in an attempt to brainwash Taiwanese and undermine their faith in democracy. Taiwan occupies a key position on the defense lines against authoritarian expansion, and if Beijing achieves its goal of weakening Taiwan, the first island chain of the Indo-Pacific region would risk being breached. The CCP is always looking for ways to cut off Taiwan from international support by sowing division with the US, such as by seizing upon changes in international dynamics to cook up stories about the US abandoning Taiwan. When the US withdrew from Afghanistan last year, Chinese media promoted the catchphrase: “Today Afghanistan, tomorrow Taiwan,” which was quickly taken up by pro-China figures and media locally. Not until US President Joe Biden explained that the situations in Afghanistan and Taiwan were different did these voices quieten down. When Russia invaded Ukraine, a similar analogy emerged: “Today Ukraine, tomorrow Taiwan.” Commenters said that the US would watch a Taiwanese invasion from the sidelines. However, as the Ukrainians bravely resist their enemy, the US and other democratic countries have been supplying aid, and this has caused attempts to undermine trust to fizzle out. In fact, the US’ direct or
No matter the outcome of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainians have undoubtedly written an epic chapter in their history. Through satellite images and media reports, the world must admit that Russia’s indiscriminate bombing and shooting of innocent people are absolutely barbaric acts that constitute war crimes. Such behavior completely replaces morality and humanity with barbarity and slavishness. What Russian President Vladimir Putin has done clearly crosses the line between human and beast. As Putin shouted for Ukraine’s demilitarization, is the Russian military invasion not ironic? Has Russia “demilitarized” itself? In Putin’s logic, Russia has the right to attack Ukraine at any time, within any part of its borders, in the name of a “special military operation.” Meanwhile, Ukraine in Moscow’s view is obligated to demilitarize itself and be bullied. This is a modern version of the old expression: “To only allow the officials to set fires, but not allow the public to light lamps.” Is Putin not setting fires while banning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from lighting lamps? Whether Ukraine applies to join the EU or NATO is up to Ukraine alone. Whether to approve its applications is the sole right of the EU and NATO. Unless Ukraine is a puppet regime of Russia, which is not a member of the EU or NATO, how can the latter demand, on threat of force, that the former not join the EU or NATO? Compared with Putin, who ignited the fuse of war just to make Ukraine submit to his whims, the Ukrainians stand in front of the barrels and block the advance of Russia’s tanks. So who is a savage coward, and who is the symbol of courage and civilization? Well, the answer is self-evident. More importantly, Putin’s invasion and continued attacks did not cause the Ukrainians to surrender in fear as he expected. On the
MAVS FORCE G7: Luka Doncic got his first victory in an elimination game as Dallas beat the Phoenix Suns to force a deciding game in the Western Conference semis Jimmy Butler on Thursday scored 32 points and waved “bye bye” to the Philly crowd as he sent the Miami Heat into the Eastern Conference finals with a 99-90 victory over the 76ers in Game 6. Butler knocked Joel Embiid out of the playoffs, then walked over to his former 76ers teammate and hugged him, told him he loved him and was proud of him. Butler then headed out of a familiar court a winner and straight into another conference finals with Miami. “Now I’m where I belong,” Butler said. “Guess where I should have been a long time ago.” The Heat are to play the winner of the series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics. The Heat reached the conference finals for the second time in three seasons, again with Butler leading the charge. Philly fans — and many inside the 76ers organization — still cannot believe the franchise let Butler get away after the 2019 season. He did not mess around, scoring 14 points on six-of-nine shooting in the third quarter when the Heat used a 16-2 run to take control. Butler scored 33 points in Game 3, 40 in Game 4 and took 29 shots in Game 6. “I think he’s one of the ultimate competitors in this profession,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He was brilliant all series long. The challenges only get tougher here. He saw there was an opportunity to end this tonight and he wasn’t going to let this get to seven.” Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, had no significant help, making 20 points with 12 rebounds on seven-of-24 shooting. “I know I tried. I think for the most part, we tried,” Embiid said. “It just wasn’t good enough.” Embiid remained to this day befuddled and hurt that the Sixers passed on Butler after forming a trio with Ben Simmons that — egos
The Rugby World Cup is to be staged in the US for the first time after being voted on Thursday as the host of the men’s event in 2031 and the women’s tournament two years later. It marks rugby’s biggest attempt to move into the wider American sporting consciousness and unlock what World Rugby — the sport’s international governing body — regards as an area of untapped potential in commercial and sporting terms. “The golden nugget that everybody wants to get hold of” was how World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont described the US. “What we will leave in the US is an extremely sustainable, vibrant sport that will go from strength to strength,” Beaumont said. USA Rugby’s vision is of countrywide membership more than quadrupling to 450,000 by 2031, of stadiums “from coast to coast” staging matches — there have been around 25 venue bids, including from NFL and Major League Soccer arenas — and of significant investment in the domestic Major League Rugby so the US Eagles are a competitive team in time for 2031. A competitive, perhaps quarter-final-bidding team, would crucially be necessary for the Eagles and the World Cup to get traction in the US. The Rugby World Cup is staged during September-October, when audiences are already transfixed by the NFL and college football, the MLB pennant races and playoffs, and the start of the NBA and NHL. The World Cups are “an invitation to increase our levels of awareness, to increase our sport’s fan base,” said Victoria Folayan, who played sevens rugby for the US and is USA Rugby’s athlete representative. “The doors are opening. Being able to take that step is just the beginning.” Meanwhile, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up in green and gold after Australia was awarded the men’s World Cup in 2027 and the women’s tournament in 2029. The men’s
Officials with the Iditarod on Thursday announced that they have reversed penalties levied against two mushers who were demoted in the final standings for breaking a rule against sheltering their dogs inside a cabin during vicious storms near the end of this year’s race across Alaska. However, mushers Mille Porsild of Denmark and Michelle Phillips of Canada were then fined US$1,000 each, the same as another musher who was initially fined but not demoted for also sheltering dogs inside. Porsild and Phillips appealed, and Iditarod Trail Committee president Michael Mills appointed an appeals board to hear their claims. The incidents happened on March 14 as the mushers were nearing the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome. Both women rode out the storm in a shelter with their dogs and then continued to the finish line. Later, four mushers filed complaints against them for contravening a rule against sheltering dogs. Porsild was dropped from 14th to 17th position, while Phillips dropped one notch to 18th. The drop in finishing position equated to US$3,450 less for Porsild and US$1,000 less for Phillips. Their original finish positions and prize money were restored with the board’s decision. The other musher, Riley Dyche of Fairbanks, also sheltered his dogs, a decision he said he knew was right after hearing the winds batter the cabin for 24 hours. He was not demoted in the standings, but he was fined US$1,000 after officials determined that there were no other mushers close to him who would have been affected by the dogs resting inside. The board also said it agreed with Porsild and Phillips, who complained about differing race rules. The one they were penalized for says no dogs may be taken inside unless it is for a medical exam or treatment by a race veterinarian. However, that conflicts with another rule that says:
Former New Zealand great Brendon McCullum yesterday said he had “bittersweet” emotions when he agreed to take on the role of turning around England’s cricket fortunes. The 40-year-old, renowned for a “smash or crash” approach during his 101-Test career, which only ended six years ago, was on Thursday named as the new head coach of an England cricket side who have won only one of their past 17 Tests. “Really excited, but also some bittersweet stuff in regards to having to turn the page on a couple of things,” McCullum told SENZ radio from India, where he is coaching Indian Premier League team the Kolkata Knight Riders. “In life, I think, if you’re going to change what you’re doing, then make sure it’s worth the risk of doing so and this is a big enough challenge to risk that, that’s for sure.” McCullum’s first task will be preparing England for a three-Test series against New Zealand next month, which he said it would be “a little interesting” when asked how he would feel when the national anthems are played. “Obviously, New Zealand is what I was able to be part of for so long and I’m incredibly passionate about what we built,” he said. McCullum, embarrassed early in his reign as New Zealand captain when the side were bowled out for a paltry 45 against South Africa in 2013, is regarded as having played an integral part in developing the side into a leading cricket force and now World Test champions. He sees his aggressive approach — he holds the records for the fastest Test century and the most Test sixes — as a perfect fit with England captain Ben Stokes, who also prefers an attacking game, and said they have an opportunity to revitalize Test cricket. “And what an opportunity. What a chance in your life
‘THE PEOPLE’S STRUGGLE’: Opposition parties have found common ground in refusing to support the new government, saying the president has ‘lost legitimacy’ Sri Lanka’s new prime minister yesterday struggled to forge a unity government and forestall an imminent economic collapse, as opposition lawmakers refused to join his Cabinet and demanded fresh elections. Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in late on Thursday to navigate his country through the worst downturn in its history as an independent nation, with months of shortages and blackouts inflaming public anger. The 73-year-old insists that he has enough support to govern and approached several legislators to join him, but three opposition parties have already said his premiership lacks legitimacy. Senior opposition lawmaker Harsha de Silva rejected an overture to take charge of the finance ministry and said he would instead push for the government’s resignation. “People are not asking for political games and deals, they want a new system that will safeguard their future,” he said in a statement. De Silva said that he was joining “the people’s struggle” to topple Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and would not support any political settlement that left the leader in place. Huge public demonstrations have for weeks condemned Rajapaksa over his administration’s mismanagement of the worsening economic crisis. Hundreds remain outside his seafront office in the capital, Colombo, at a protest camp that has for the past month campaigned for him to step down. De Silva is a member of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the largest single opposition grouping in parliament, which had appeared ready to split over the question of whether to support Wickremesinghe. The head of the possible splinter faction, Harin Fernando, yesterday said he had returned to the fold. “I will not support Wickremesinghe’s government,” Fernando said. Two smaller parties have also signaled that they would not join any unity government. The Tamil National Alliance said that Rajapaksa’s administration had “completely lost legitimacy” with the appointment of Wickremesinghe, a five-time former prime minister who most recently held office in 2019. The
VACCINE DIPLOMACY: Helping North Korea by providing vaccines could ease tensions in other areas such as in its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, analysts said Six people have died and 350,000 have been treated for a fever that has spread “explosively” across North Korea, state media said yesterday, sparking new calls for the government to accept aid that could save lives, help protect its battered economy, and possibly lead to a diplomatic opening. North Korea likely does not have sufficient COVID-19 tests and said it did not know the cause of the mass fevers. A big outbreak of COVID-19 could be devastating in a country with a broken health care system and an unvaccinated, malnourished population. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that of the 350,000 people who developed fevers since late last month, 162,200 have recovered. It added that 18,000 people were newly found with fever symptoms on Thursday, and 187,800 people are being isolated for treatment. One of the six people who died was infected with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the agency said. State TV showed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Kim wearing a mask as he entered what the broadcast described as the country’s headquarters of its pandemic response, which appeared to be Pyongyang’s landmark Koryo Hotel. He took off the mask and smoked a cigarette while talking with officials. KCNA said that Kim criticized officials for failing to prevent “a vulnerable point in the epidemic prevention system.” He said that the outbreak was centered around the capital, Pyongyang, and said that all work and residential units should be isolated from one another, while residents should be provided every convenience during a lockdown. The spread of the virus might have been accelerated by a massive military parade on April 25, where Kim gave a speech and showcased his army and weaponry in front of tens of thousands of people. The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said yesterday that it intends to help North Korea, including by providing vaccines,
Fans still sing and dance away to Russkaja’s Soviet nostalgia beats, but the Austrian ska-punk band say their mission to bring “fun and love” has become tricky since Russia invaded Ukraine. “We were concerned. To what extent can you represent something Russian?” Moscow-born lead singer Georgij Makazaria said in a joint interview with Ukrainian bassist Dimitrij Miller. “Singing ‘The Russians are here’ gets stuck in my throat,” he said. The group — one of whose tag lines is “peace, love and Russian roll” — started in Vienna 17 years ago, after a chance encounter between the two men. They shot to fame as the house band of one of Austria’s most popular late night shows, electrifying young western Europeans with their blend of “Russian turbo polka metal.” They have released six albums — many with left-leaning political messages, like the most recent No One Is Illegal about a young refugee — and regularly tour Europe. Since Moscow invaded Ukraine in late February, the seven-piece band have found themselves in a bind and has even considered changing their name, which stands for “Russia,” “ska” and “yes.” They have also rewritten some of their lyrics, which generally mix Russian and English. For example, their plea to Moscow “let’s tear down all these walls” has morphed into “Hello, Moskva, let’s stop this fucking war.” Miller said that since the invasion, bringing fun and partying to their fans has been “extremely hard.” “To be happy on stage when my best friends are fighting there, in war, that’s inconceivable,” said the 41-year-old, whose cousin headed to the front line last month to defend his country against Russian troops. Still the party goes on. In March, the band toured the US for the first time, as the supporting act for Celtic punk band Flogging Molly. It has 20 concerts lined up this summer in Austria
In the world of Chinese-speaking media, “Sydney Daddy” is an Australian YouTube phenomenon: a kind of Alan Jones for Mandarin-speakers, who has found unexpected success, not just in Australia but throughout the diaspora. From his home in Sydney, Edgar Lu, 41, does a talk-back style program two or three times a week, interviewing politicians and local community figures or ranting on issues he cares about. “I think by Australian standards, I’m center-right,” he says. He says he’s not “anti-CCP [Chinese Communist Party], but at the same time, I don’t particularly care what they think.” YouTube offers a platform that is free from the censorship that applies to the popular China-based WeChat, allowing Lu to build his rightwing profile and earning him a sizable audience. But some are less than enamored of Lu and his pro-Trump views, accusing him of confecting a rightwing stance in order to attract eyeballs. On Twitter, the Chinese-Australian dissident artist and political cartoonist Badiucao (巴丟草) has engaged in vigorous criticism of Lu, despite both parties being less than enamored of the CCP. Recently it has boiled over into threats of legal action by Badiucao over Lu using his artwork on his channel. ECLECTIC TOPICS Lu’s topics are an eclectic mix. During the election he has aired a commentary video about politician Gladys Liu, stating that although Liu had been accused of being “a CCP spy” (something she denies) he would suggest voting for her in comparison to Labor’s Carina Garland who “allegedly supported Black Lives Matter.” He has done an interview with former Chinese diplomat Han Yang, who is a Labor supporter. As they discussed why Yang was supporting Labor, Sydney Daddy made it clear he was a Liberal supporter. More controversially on Twitter, he has resurrected allegations made by a former member of Young Labor, Kathy Sherriff, about an alleged historical rape by former leader Bill
Germans are finding that death no longer quite becomes them. Europe’s biggest economy is rethinking its way of death, with one start-up claiming to have found a way of prolonging life — digitally at least — beyond the grave. Youlo — a cheery contraction of “You Only Live Once” — allows people to record personal messages and videos for their loved ones, which are then secured for several years in a “digital tombstone.” Unveiled at “Life And Death 2022” funeral fair in the northern city of Bremen this month, its creators claim it allows users to have their final word before they slip gently into the good night. Traditionally, Lutheran northern Germany has long had a rather stiff and stern approach to death. But as religion and ritual loosened their hold, the crowds at the fair show people are looking for alternative ways of marking their end — a trend some say has been helped by the coronavirus pandemic. “With globalization, more and more people live their lives far from where they were born,” said Corinna During, the woman behind Youlo. When you live hundreds of kilometers from relatives, visiting a memorial can “demand a huge amount of effort,” she said. And the COVID-19 pandemic has only “increased the necessity” to address the problem, she insisted. NO LONGER TABOO During lockdowns, many families could only attend funerals by video link, while the existential threat coronavirus posed — some 136,000 people died in Germany — also seems to have challenged longtime taboos about death. All this has been helped by the success of the German-made Netflix series The Last Word — a mould-breaking “dramedy” hailed for walking the fine line between comedy and tragedy when it comes to death and bereavement. Much like British comedian Ricky Gervais’ hit series After Life, which turns on a husband grieving the loss
A weekend getaway where you can escape the summer heat, commune with nature among trees that sprouted before the time of Christ or enjoy landscaped gardens and comfortable accommodations is within easy reach of northern Taiwan. Experience a traditional garden with Chinese and Japanese influences, birdwatching, ecological tours of old-growth cypress forest and one of Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) namesake villas set among orchards with a beautiful view of the Lanyang River (蘭陽溪) valley, all in the Makauy Ecological Park (馬告生態園區). The Northern Cross-Island Highway connects Taoyuan and Yilan counties, passing through misty conifer forests as it climbs over the Snow Mountain Range (雪山山脈), before descending to the broad Lanyang River valley that leads to Yilan City. On the eastern half of this road, three sites — at high, middle and low elevations along the highway — form the Makauy Ecological Park. Formerly administered by the Veterans Affairs Council, these sites were tendered out for private operation in 2015 and are now run by Lea Lea Hotels. VILLA WITH A VIEW When starting from Yilan on the Northern Cross-Island Highway, the first of the Makauy sites is Chilan Resort (棲蘭山莊), located near the point where the highway begins its steep ascent toward Taoyuan. Perched just above the highway with a gorgeous view of the broad river valley, Chilan was originally a Forestry Bureau nursery for reforestation projects. An attractive bungalow with a wood and stone front sits on the property. Formerly the nursery’s guesthouse, after two visits from Chiang, the building was renamed the Chiang Kai-shek Chateau. A statue of the former leader adorns the lawn of the well-manicured yard. Indoors, the (separate) bedrooms where Chiang and his wife stayed are preserved in their classic 1960s style. Madame’s room plays a recording of a radio speech she made to American listeners, adding a measure of
Jack, Zoe and Irene are discussing whether to take the dog with them for a trip. 杰克、柔伊、艾琳正在討論是否要帶小狗去旅行。 Jack: I’m excited about the trip ! Can I take my dog with us? Zoe: Does your dog behave itself? Jack: Yes, but it gets a little nervous in the car. Irene: Let’s call the hotel to ask if it allows pets. ----------- 必備單字 1. pet n. 寵物、寵兒（國中基本1200字） 2. allow v. 允許、准許（國中挑戰800字） 實用字詞 1. excited 感到興奮的 exciting 令人興奮的 2. behave oneself 安分、守規矩 閱讀技巧： 將長句分成短字詞，以利閱讀 Yes,／but it gets／a little nervous／in the car. 是的，／不過牠會／有一點緊張／在車裡。 斷句練習： Let’s call the hotel to ask if it allows pets. 解答： Let’s call the hotel／to ask if／it allows pets. 來打電話給旅館／去問問看是否／允許帶寵物。 考題練習： TOEIC Bridge測驗X國中會考題型 1. What does Jack like to take? (A) A cat (B) A dog (C) A bird 2. How does the dog feel in the car? (A) Happy (B) Sad (C) Nervous 3. What will they do? (A) Call the hotel (B) Call the pet shop (C) Call the car rental company 解答： 1. (B) 2. (C) 3. (A) 文章由 English OK 授權使用: www.englishok.com.tw
Let’s download the Taiwan Social Distancing App (5/5) 快下載台灣社交距離App（五） A: I heard that the Taiwan Social Distancing App has already been downloaded over 8 million times. B: However, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center, a minimum of 12 million people need to download the app for it to have a meaningful effect. A: Also, some elderly people might not know how to turn on Bluetooth, while others might turn off Bluetooth or stop using the app altogether to save battery power or for other reasons. B: So everyone should download the app and do as suggested. A: 聽說「台灣社交距離App」，下載次數已超過八百萬次。 B: 不過指揮中心說，至少要一千兩百萬人下載，才會有較明顯的效果。 A: 而且有些老人可能不會開藍牙，也有人為了避免耗電，或其他考量關閉藍牙，下載了也沒用。 B: 所以民眾要多下載、多配合才行。 （Translated by Edward Jones, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩） Audio recordings for Speak Up! dialogues will be suspended until further notice due to the pandemic.
A: I’ve already downloaded the Taiwan Social Distancing App. What now? B: You need to turn on your phone’s Bluetooth, so that the App can detect whether you have come into contact with an infected person. A: Is there anything else that I need to do? B: You also need to ensure that the contact notification function is turned on, so that you will receive a warning. A: 我已經下載了「台灣社交距離」App，然後呢？ B: 然後你要開啟手機的藍牙功能，才能偵測是否有和確診者接觸。 A: 還有什麼要注意的嗎？ B: 還要確認接觸通知的功能是否有啟動，才能收到警示。 （Translated by Edward Jones, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩） Audio recordings for Speak Up! dialogues will be suspended until further notice due to the pandemic.
| New Taipei City | 22-23 | 100% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 22-23 | 90% | |
| Hsinchu City | 22-23 | 100% | |
| Taipei City | 21-23 | 90% | |
| Miaoli County | 22-24 | 100% | |
| Taoyuan City | 21-23 | 90% | |
| Keelung City | 21-22 | 100% | |
| Yunlin County | 24-26 | 90% |  |
| Taichung City | 24-26 | 90% | |
| Nantou County | 25-26 | 100% | |
| Changhua County | 24-25 | 100% | |
| Chiayi County | 24-25 | 90% | |
| Chiayi City | 25-26 | 90% | |
| Tainan City | 25-26 | 90% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 27-29 | 80% | |
| Pingtung County | 27-29 | 90% | |
| Yilan County | 23-24 | 90% | |
| Hualien County | 24-26 | 80% | |
| Taitung County | 25-27 | 80% | |
| Kinmen County | 19-22 | 70% | |
| Penghu County | 24-27 | 100% | |
| Lienchiang County | 16-18 | 70% | |
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