Vice Premier and Council for Economic Planning and Development Chairman Lin Hsin-i (林信義) said yesterday that the impact of a short war between the US and Iraq on the domestic economy would be limited.
At a legislative question-and-answer session, Lin said that a war lasting from three to six weeks would have no major impact on Taiwan's exports and imports.
Lin said that a prolonged military conflict would hamper outbound shipments.
Lin also made it clear that Taiwan will support the US and its campaign against terrorism should war break out.
Responding to a question about a domestic steel shortage raised by PFP caucus whip Chung Shao-ho (鍾紹和), Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Ruey-long (陳瑞隆) said government agencies, including the one in charge of raw materials and major products, have set up task forces to tackle the possible consequences of a war.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has also asked China Steel Corp (CSC) -- Taiwan's leading supplier of steel materials -- to satisfy domestic demand before exporting its products, Chen said, adding that demand for steel might surge in the international market in the post-war construction period.
In the face of rising international prices for steel goods and the many disgruntled mid- and downstream steelmakers at home, Chen said the ministry has crafted measures to secure supplies for the domestic market by preventing CSC-contracted wholesalers from exporting unprocessed raw materials.
PFP lawmakers said earlier the same day that various CSC mid-stream suppliers have exported unprocessed raw materials and hiked prices, making it difficult for local downstream businesses to buy steel at reasonable prices.
Hsieh Chang-chieh (
"Law-enforcement authorities should intervene to ensure a balanced demand and supply at reasonable prices," Hsieh argued.
US climber Alex Honnold is to attempt to scale Taipei 101 without a rope and harness in a live Netflix special on Jan. 24, the streaming platform announced on Wednesday. Accounting for the time difference, the two-hour broadcast of Honnold’s climb, called Skyscraper Live, is to air on Jan. 23 in the US, Netflix said in a statement. Honnold, 40, was the first person ever to free solo climb the 900m El Capitan rock formation in Yosemite National Park — a feat that was recorded and later made into the 2018 documentary film Free Solo. Netflix previewed Skyscraper Live in October, after videos
Starting on Jan. 1, YouBike riders must have insurance to use the service, and a six-month trial of NT$5 coupons under certain conditions would be implemented to balance bike shortages, a joint statement from transportation departments across Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan announced yesterday. The rental bike system operator said that coupons would be offered to riders to rent bikes from full stations, for riders who take out an electric-assisted bike from a full station, and for riders who return a bike to an empty station. All riders with YouBike accounts are automatically eligible for the program, and each membership account
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
RSS