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Taiwan Quick Take

■ TAIWAN EXPORTS BULLETS TO US
Taiwan has shipped 1 billion rifle bullets to the US for NT$560 million (US$17 million) in a rare arms sale to the US, it was reported yesterday. The 5.56mm bullets are mainly used to replenish supplies which have run low after wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Chinese-language China Times reported, citing a military source. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense last year beat off competition from the likes of Singapore and South Korea to win the five-year contract from a US military subcontractor, it was reported. In a separate deal, the China Times said the Taiwanese Army plans to purchase 60 UH-60M Black Hawk transport helicopters from Washington for NT$71.7 billion. The US is Taiwan's leading arms supplier.

■ EDUCATION
MAC eases restrictions
The Mainland Affairs Council yesterday announced the easing of restrictions on students from Hong Kong and Macau studying in Taiwan. "In a joint meeting on Monday, we approved the education ministry's proposal to ease the restrictions on Hong Kong and Macau students coming to study in universities in Taiwan," the MAC said in a statement. Under the latest measure, Hong Kong and Macau residents who have lived in the special administrative regions for six years consecutively are eligible to apply to study in Taiwan's universities, down from the previous eight-year requirement, the council said. Students must sit for a joint entrance examination held simultaneously in Hong Kong and Macau, council officials said.

■ HEALTH
CDC warns on influenza
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is more serious than the common cold and people over the age of 65 should not hesitate to take the government up on its offer of free flu shots, said Shih Wen-yi, deputy director of the Department of Health's Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Shih made the appeal after a recent survey found that many senior citizens hold misconceptions about the flu. The CDC's survey of 1,115 people aged 65 or older found that 43.3 percent of respondents doubted the vaccine's effectiveness. Meanwhile, 22 percent of respondents said they were uncertain whether they would go to hospitals or clinics to receive flu shots because they are afraid of side effects. As a result of these misconceptions, Shih said less than half of the country's 2.36 million senior citizens have received free flu shots so far this year.

■ DEFENSE
MND explains need for AC
The installation of air conditioners at 10 of the military's basic training camps is intended to give newly enlisted men time to adapt to their new environment, a Ministry of National Defense official said yesterday. Wu Ta-peng , vice chief of the Command Staff, made the remarks while delivering a report to the National Defense Committee at the Legislative Yuan. Responding to news reports that the ministry is preparing to spend NT$400 million (US$12.27 million) to install the air conditioners, Wu said the ministry is hoping that new conscripts will be given time to adjust during the transitional period from civilian life to the military." The Reserve Command said in a press release that the basic training camps were built between the 1960s and 1970s. They are cement flat-roofed buildings that easily trap light and heat.
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