Since the easing of restrictions on newspapers, this medium has thrived in Taiwan. For instance, the number of Chinese-language newspapers has skyrocketed from 31 to 239. Before the advent of the Taipei Times in 1999, for more than four decades only two English-language newspapers were published in Taiwan. From its first issue, the Taipei Times has created a new and dynamic atmosphere for the local English-language newspaper market, symbolizing a new beginning for the industry.
The Taipei Times bears witness to the pride stemming from the evolution of Taiwan's society. Like its Chinese-language sister paper, the Liberty Times, the Taipei Times stresses the ideal of identifying with Taiwan and putting Taiwan's interests first. It also emphasizes "bringing Taiwan to the world, and bringing the world to Taiwan." That is, while helping to foster Taiwan's national identity, the Taipei Times never fails to build ties between Taiwan and the international community. This paper provides more choices for the Taiwanese and foreign readers in Taiwan. On top of this, by fully advancing Taiwan's viewpoints, it makes an enormous contribution to the integration of Taiwan into the international community and the maximization of Taiwan's role as a responsible member of it.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Taipei Times for its accuracy and professionalism. It accurately reports the aspirations of Taiwan's people and understands well Taiwan's political, economic and social nuances. By the same token, it exemplifies impartial reporting by the media and clarifies current affairs through its editorials.
The Taipei Times plays an indispensable role in providing a channel for foreigners in Taiwan to understand Taiwan's current state, thereby enhancing their understanding, appreciation and support of Taiwan. I am happy to learn that over recent years, the Taipei Times has strived to be the best by adopting Internet technology to further serve its readers with real-time reports. In addition, because the Taipei Times has a wealth and profusion of talent, it often wins international accolades for reporting and design. One can easily understand how the high quality and unremitting efforts of its staff have won recognition by its peers in the industry.
When I first arrived at the office of Government Information Office (GIO) last month, I made it clear that the GIO's primary mission would be to "let the world see Taiwan and let Taiwan understand the world." This happens to be the aim of the Taipei Times as well. Being a long-time reader of the Taipei Times and an old friend of many of its core founders, I take delight in recommending it to foreign officials stationed in Taiwan as well as to foreign businessmen, researchers from think tanks and other guests from abroad. On this occasion, the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Taipei Times, I am honored to extend congratulations on behalf of the government, and wish the Taipei Times a prosperous future.
Lin Chia-lung
A subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based company that has lost control of two critical ports on the Panama Canal said it is seeking US$2 billion of compensation in damages from Panama over its “illegal” takeover of the ports. Panama Ports Co, a unit of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings (長江和記實業), on Friday said in a statement that it is demanding the sum under international arbitration proceedings that it had already started. The Panamanian government last week seized control of the Balboa and Cristobal ports on each end of the Panama Canal, after the country’s Supreme Court declared earlier that a concession allowing
DETERRENCE: With 1,000 indigenous Hsiung Feng II and III missiles and 400 Harpoon missiles, the nation would boast the highest anti-ship missile density in the world With Taiwan wrapping up mass production of Hsiung Feng II and III missiles by December and an influx of Harpoon missiles from the US, Taiwan would have the highest density of anti-ship missiles in the world, a source said yesterday. Taiwan is to wrap up mass production of the indigenous anti-ship missiles by the end of year, as the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology has been meeting production targets ahead of schedule, a defense official with knowledge of the matter said. Combined with the 400 Harpoon anti-ship missiles Taiwan expects to receive from the US by 2028, the nation would have
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MISSION OF PEACE: The foreign minister urged Beijing to respect Taiwan’s existence as an independent nation, and work together to ensure peace and stability in the region Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday rejected Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi’s (王毅) comments about Taiwan, criticizing China as a “troublemaker” in the international community and a disruptor of cross-strait peace. Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the Chinese National People’s Congress, Wang said that Taiwan has always been a territory of China and that it would be impossible for it to become its own country. The “return” of Taiwan to China was the natural outcome of the Chinese people’s resistance against Japan in World War II, and that any pursuit of independence was “doomed
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