■ Politics
NTU activists continue sit-in
Lecturers and students from National Taiwan University continued a sit-in yesterday to express their opposition to Beijing's of the "Anti-Secession" Law targeting Taiwan. The sit-in began March 15 at noon, one day after China's rubber stamp National People's Congress passed the legislation in which Beijing gives itself the authority to use "non-peaceful means" against Taiwan should the nation seek formal independence. NTU students and some professors have been taking turns sitting in front of the NTU campus on Roosevelt Road in Taipei, to make known their opposition to the law. As their sit-in proceeded into its fourth day, more students from National Chengchi University joined the group. According to Yeh Hung-ling (葉紘麟), a graduate student at the NTU Institute of Political Science, the sit-in will go on until March 26 when a nationwide rally is expected to draw 1 million people to protest against the Anti-Secession Law.
■ Politics
Washington protest planned
Taiwanese expatriates in the US are scheduled to stage a demonstration in Washington on March 26 against China's "Anti-Secession" Law, organizers said on Thursday. The members from at least 13 Taiwanese groups led by the pro-independence Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) will protest to the Chinese embassy in Washington and gather on Capitol Hill to express their opposition to the law, which legalizes the use of force against Taiwan, FAPA officials said. They said the protesters will also urge the EU not to lift its arms embargo against China in light of Beijing's military threat against Taiwan.
■ UN Bid
Hsieh names top monikers
Taiwan and the Republic of China (ROC) are "top priority choices" for the name under which Taiwan should bid for its re-entry into the UN, Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said yesterday. Hsieh made the remarks during an interpellation session at the legislature when Legislator Huang Hsih-cho (黃適卓) of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) asked if it is possible for the government to make its bid under the name of "Taiwan" after past bids under the name of the "ROC" have failed for 12 consecutive years. The premier said that both "Taiwan" and the "ROC" are top priority choices, adding that the name does not necessarily have to conform with the official name. The name of "Taiwan" can be used to join international organizations, while other names are equally acceptable if difficulties are encountered. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) also said it will be very difficult for the government to promote a return to the UN under the name of the Republic of China and said it is mulling a new mindset to promote the bid, although the name issue is yet to be finalized.
■ Culture
Group readies for US festival
People First Party (PFP) Legislator Lin Cheng-erh (林正二) formed a preparatory group yesterday for Taiwan's participation in an Asian festival that will take place in Los Angeles and San Francisco in May. Lin, who is a lawmaker for Taiwan's aborigines, said the US set May aside as Asian Month in America in 1998. Many US cities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, have since used the month to celebrate Asian cultural traditions, promote the understanding of Asia and Asian communities in America, and establish a strong bond between the Asian and non-Asian communities.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 7pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter of the temblor was at sea, about 69.9km south of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 30.9km, it said. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake. The earthquake’s intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was highest in Taitung County’s Changbin Township (長濱), where it measured 5 on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 4 in Hualien, Nantou, Chiayi, Yunlin, Changhua and Miaoli counties, as well as
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
COMMITMENTS: The company had a relatively low renewable ratio at 56 percent and did not have any goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy, the report said Pegatron Corp ranked the lowest among five major final assembly suppliers in progressing toward Apple Inc’s commitment to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030, a Greenpeace East Asia report said yesterday. While Apple has set the goal of using 100 percent renewable energy across its entire business, supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, carbon emissions from electronics manufacturing are rising globally due to increased energy consumption, it said. Given that carbon emissions from its supply chain accounted for more than half of its total emissions last year, Greenpeace East Asia evaluated the green transition performance of Apple’s five largest final
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
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