Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc (ASE, 日月光半導體) chairman Jason Chang (張虔生) yesterday apologized for the company’s recent wastewater pollution incident and said ASE would donate up to NT$3 billion (US$101 million) over the next 30 years to help promote environmental protection in the nation.
Chang made the remarks after staying behind the scenes for seven days since ASE was fined NT$600,000 by Greater Kaohsiung’s Environmental Protection Bureau on Tuesday last week for discharging toxic wastewater from its biggest plant, known as K7, into the Houjin River (後勁溪).
“ASE will not dodge the responsibility that it must take, nor will the company cover up any employee’s wrongdoing that deserves punishment,” Chang said at a press conference.
Photo: Chang Chung-yi, Taipei Times
Chang reiterated that the company never intended to discharge wastewater illegally, and that it stays committed to social responsibility through environment-related investment.
ASE will donate at least NT$100 million each year, beginning next year, through 2044, he said.
Chang said the company’s daily operation would not be affected, adding that the company has begun constructing a green factory in Greater Kaohsiung’s Nanzih Export Processing Zone at a cost of NT$72 billion and is planning to recruit 16,000 more workers as part of its business expansion plan.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
In addition, ASE is set to launch its new wastewater treatment plant in Greater Kaohsiung as early as the second quarter of next year, he said.
The new wastewater treatment plant is being constructed at a cost of NT$750 million and will be capable of purifying up to 20,000 tonnes of wastewater discharged from ASE’s plants in Greater Kaohsiung, he added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday said it supports Greater Kaohsiung’s Environmental Protection Bureau’s penalties for the company’s misconduct.
“In regards to the ASE water-pollution issue, the ministry supports the Environmental Protection Bureau taking the severest measures against ASE,” Minister of Economic Affairs Chang Chia-juch (張家祝) told the legislature’s Economic Committee.
MAKING WAVES: China’s maritime militia could become a nontraditional threat in war, clogging up shipping lanes to prevent US or Japanese intervention, a report said About 1,900 Chinese ships flying flags of convenience and fishing vessels that participated in China’s military exercises around Taiwan last month and in January have been listed for monitoring, Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) said yesterday. Following amendments to the Commercial Port Act (商港法) and the Law of Ships (船舶法) last month, the CGA can designate possible berthing areas or deny ports of call for vessels suspected of loitering around areas where undersea cables can be accessed, Oceans Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said. The list of suspected ships, originally 300, had risen to about 1,900 as
Japan’s strategic alliance with the US would collapse if Tokyo were to turn away from a conflict in Taiwan, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said yesterday, but distanced herself from previous comments that suggested a possible military response in such an event. Takaichi expressed her latest views on a nationally broadcast TV program late on Monday, where an opposition party leader criticized her for igniting tensions with China with the earlier remarks. Ties between Japan and China have sunk to the worst level in years after Takaichi said in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese
MORE RESPONSIBILITY: Draftees would be expected to fight alongside professional soldiers, likely requiring the transformation of some training brigades into combat units The armed forces are to start incorporating new conscripts into combined arms brigades this year to enhance combat readiness, the Executive Yuan’s latest policy report said. The new policy would affect Taiwanese men entering the military for their compulsory service, which was extended to one year under reforms by then-president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in 2022. The conscripts would be trained to operate machine guns, uncrewed aerial vehicles, anti-tank guided missile launchers and Stinger air defense systems, the report said, adding that the basic training would be lengthened to eight weeks. After basic training, conscripts would be sorted into infantry battalions that would take
DEEP-STRIKE CAPABILITY: The scenario simulated a PLA drill that turned into an assault on Taiwan’s critical infrastructure, with the launchers providing fire support Taiwan yesterday conducted this year’s first military exercises at Longsiang Base in Taichung, demonstrating the newly acquired High Mobility Artillery Rocket System’s (HIMARS) ability to provide fire support and deep-strike capabilities. The scenario simulated an attack on Penghu County, with HIMARS trucks immediately rolling into designated launch areas and firing barrages at the Wangan (望安) and Cimei (七美) islands, simulating the provision of fire support against invading forces. The HIMARS are supposed to “fire and leave,” which would significantly increase personnel and equipment survivability, a military official said. The drill simulated an exercise launched by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern
RSS