By TAITRA
Under the impact of global recession, 911 terrorist attacks and SARS outbreak, aviation industry has suffered heavy setback, which promoted major aircraft manufacturers to seek potential partners to reduce costs and increase competitiveness. Asia Pacific region, nevertheless, thanks to its low labor cost and positive economical outlook, is expected to enjoy steady growth in aviation industry.
Currently, Taiwan has 54 aero structure manufacturers, 35 engine parts makers, 30 companies in interior parts field, 30 avionics makers, and 59 MRO providers involved in aircraft maintenance and aircraft conversion. There are about 170 organizations covering industry, government, academy and research institutes in our aviation industry, employing near 11,500 people. The capabilities established include the design, production, and maintenance for aircraft and aero engines.
By the end of 2003, there are total 116 local companies and 628 product items that have been certified by major aerospace companies such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman, etc. With annual output reaching NT$30 billion, Taiwan aviation industry demonstrates great potential in Asia area.
Taiwan government is now aggressively promoting "Aviation Industry Development Program" to establish a full industrial system for the aviation industry. Some cooperation programs with world-class aerospace companies are being discussed, including the regional jet, business jet, engine parts manufacturing and MRO shop setup. By joining the global supply chain network through these cooperation programs, Taiwan can prompt the technological upgrade of local traditional industries and further increase Taiwan's economical status in global markets.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique