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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Technology
Protection law urged
An expert called on the government yesterday to work out a law to protect sensitive technology. Tai Chao-yang (戴肇洋), a researcher at the Taiwan Research Institute, said the Executive Yuan should take the initiative in enacting this law to prevent the country's high technology, which is the lifeline of the economy, from being exported. Protecting the nation's edge in technology is vital to its ability to hold its own against competition from overseas, Tai said. This risk is all the more real when it comes to China and other countries that are eager to outpace Taiwan in the information industry, Tai added. He urged the Executive Yuan to follow the examples of advanced countries in crafting laws to control the exports of high technology. Tai's recommendation came days after Robert Tsao (曹興誠), founder of the semiconductor giant United Microelectronics Corp (UMC), was questioned by prosecutors over allegations that he invested illegally in Hejian Technologies, a Chinese semiconductor manufacturer, and provided it with his company's technology to the detriment of UMC.

■ Awards
Afghans honored at show
Two artists from Afghanistan were chosen by a panel of five Taiwan judges from among the contestants in the Venice Bienniale International Art Exhibition as winners of the first Taiwan Award on Saturday. Linda Abdul and Rahim Walizada were each awarded a trophy made out of a brick produced in Taiwan 200 years ago and a cash prize of US$20,000 by Tchen Yu-chiou (陳郁秀), secretary-general of Taiwan's National Cultural Association. Abdul, who is an Afghan refugee, had to choke back tears when she accepted the prize from Tchen. She told the 50-odd audience members at the award ceremony that she loves her country's culture, which was seriously damaged during the civil war, and would like to draw the world's attention through her art to the disaster facing the Afghan people and their culture. Tchen said at the ceremony in Venice on the eve of the Venice Bienniale that the award was initiated by a group of young Taiwan artists and sponsored by her association to highlight Taiwan's aesthetic views on the international stage.

■ Defense
Psychological drills begin
An armed forces' psychological warfare drill week is scheduled to kick off today to help the military better understand the threats from enemies and allow the armed forces to know more about modern warfare and strengthen their ability to discern China's non-military warfare. The psychological warfare week, primarily to be conducted via television, will feature the following themes: Identifying the threats from enemies; knowing the various types of warfare; upgrading military intelligence security; boosting patriotic morale; and streamlining military discipline, according to the Ministry of National Defense. The psychological warfare week, the first of its kind in Taiwan in seven years, will also for the first time introduce China's armed conflict law to allowed military personnel to gain a better understanding of the war strategies and combat methods of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). During the week, attention will be paid in particular to China's "double-handed" strategy and its three-pronged non-military warfare toward Taiwan, said Wang Ming-wuo (王明我), chief of the GPWB Department of Publicity and Political Education.

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