The online publication of the official guide to the Taipei Summer Universiade in English has come under fire from New Power Party (NPP) legislators for using the name “Chinese Taipei” rather than Taiwan, resulting in “absurd” descriptions of the nation, such as “Chinese Taipei is a special island.”
NPP Executive Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) posted two screenshots of the guide on his Facebook page on Monday night, which he described as “absurd English phraseology.”
One of the screenshots showed page 21 of the guide, under “General Information,” which states: “Introduction of Our Island — Chinese Taipei. Chinese Taipei is long and narrow that lies north to south.”
Photo: CNA
The Universiade offers “the best chance to market Taiwan to the world, but it is surprising that we have to introduce ourselves in such a frustrating way. We must work harder to join the global community under the name Taiwan,” Huang said.
NPP Legislator Freddy Lim (林昶佐) also posted a screenshot of page 25 of the guide, which states: “Chinese Taipei is a special island and its capital Taipei is a great place to experience Taipei’s culture. It is hoped that the Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade will allow Chinese Taipei to be in the spotlight of the world, attract the world to Chinese Taipei and let the world remember Chinese Taipei.”
Lim added a comment: “Welcome to Taipei, Chinese Taipei!”
Taipei Universiade Organizing Committee spokesman Yang Ching-tang (楊景棠) said the term “Chinese Taipei” was used in accordance with the agreement between the International Olympic Committee, Lausanne and the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, Taipei, in 1981.
The application for holding the Universiade was submitted by the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, and since the Universiade is an international event, Taiwan must conform to the agreement, Yang said.
Moreover, the Universiade is hosted by the International University Sports Federation, so all official published content must be reviewed by the federation, he said.
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
RELEASED: Ko emerged from a courthouse before about 700 supporters, describing his year in custody as a period of ‘suffering’ and vowed to ‘not surrender’ Former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was released on NT$70 million (US$2.29 million) bail yesterday, bringing an end to his year-long incommunicado detention as he awaits trial on corruption charges. Under the conditions set by the Taipei District Court on Friday, Ko must remain at a registered address, wear a GPS-enabled ankle monitor and is prohibited from leaving the country. He is also barred from contacting codefendants or witnesses. After Ko’s wife, Peggy Chen (陳佩琪), posted bail, Ko was transported from the Taipei Detention Center to the Taipei District Court at 12:20pm, where he was fitted with the tracking
RSS