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Taiwan Quick Take

■ POLITICS
Change China policy: Yu
On the 28th anniversary of the US' passage of the Taiwan Relations Act, Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Yu Shyi-kun yesterday urged Washington to specify in the Act that its "one China" policy does not apply to Taiwan. Yu told a press conference that the US should replace its "one China" policy with a policy that distinguishes Taiwan from China because Taiwan is an independent sovereignt state and not part of China. "Everyone knows that the peace and stability in the western Pacific is closely related to the interests of the US and Taiwan," he said, adding that Washington should not force Taiwanese to keep President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) "four noes" pledges made in 2000. The Taiwan Relations Act was passed by the US Congress in 1979 after the US established diplomatic ties with China.

■ EDUCATION
Translation test to be held
The Ministry of Education will hold its first certification test for Chinese-English translators on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 as part of its "Certification of Professional Translators" plan, the ministry announced recently. Comprised of written translation and oral interpretation sections, the exam will test examinees' translation skills according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages' (CEFRL) standards, which categorize foreign language proficiency on a scale ranging from A1, indicating a fundamental knowledge of the target language, to C2, or "mastery" of the foreign language. A test outline and example test questions will be made available to prospective examinees at the end of next month and September respectively, with registration occurring from Oct. 8 to Oct. 24, a press release said. Examinees who pass will be officially certified by the Taiwanese government as translators.

■ SOCIETY
Dogs taught to scare monkeys
Stray dogs are being trained to clear Old Tianmu Trail (天母古道) of Formosan Macaque monkeys, which try to get food by preying on tourists on the trail. In cooperation with local Tianmu residents, Agouworld -- an association dealing with stray animals -- will train dogs to chase the monkeys away. Cheng Yuan-hsin (鄭媛心), an Agouworld member, says the association recently talked with local borough wardens and residents before bringing dogs out on the trail for a trial, adding that after coming upon a group of about 15 monkeys, the dogs effectively chased them back into the trees. Cheng said the dogs would not harm the monkeys and that Agouworld has cooperated with the Taipei Municipal Institute for Animal Health in selecting five dogs from the Neihu Animal Shelter.

■ SPORTS
Liaolo Bay race announced
Organizers of this year's Liaolo Bay Swim Race said yesterday that those who wished to join the contest have until June 30 to apply and pay the entrance fee. The 3km swim -- an annual event now in its fifth year -- will take place on July 29 in Liaolo Bay (料羅灣) in southern Kinmen (金門). The event is organized by the Kinmen County Government, the Kinmen County Sports Association and Kinmen County Stadium. Contestants must be in good health and at least 10 years old to qualify for a starting position. The swimmers will be divided into different age groups for the long-distance swim. A maximum of 500 swimmers will be allowed to participate, with a limit of 1,500 others engaging in a non-competitive swim. The organizers said that all participants in the race will receive souvenirs.


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