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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ CYCLING

Bike paths under way

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications yesterday inaugurated a project aimed at establishing a network of bike paths in eastern Taiwan to promote cycling in the region. The cost of the project has been estimated at NT$791 million (US$23.88 million), spread over four years until 2012, officials said. A main part of the project will be to open five “classic routes” covering Taipei, Ilan, Hualien and Taitung counties by the end of this year. The shortest of the routes will be the 13.3km Guanshan path in Taitung County, passing tourist attractions such as the Guanshan Water Park and a century-old Chinese banyan tree. The longest will be the 76km Shuangtan route in Hualien County. Also planned is a 71km border-route connecting Hualien County’s Rueisuei (瑞穗) and Taitung County’s Changbin (長濱), passing attractions such as hot springs and whitewater rafting. The other two routes will be a 31km path through the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area in Taipei County and a 68km route from Dongshan River to Donggang Seaside Park in Ilan County.



■ DIPLOMACY

Sapporo office planned

Taiwan is slated to open an office in July in Sapporo, the capital of Japan’s Hokkaido Prefecture, with a variety of functions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. The main goal will be to provide assistance to Taiwanese nationals in Japan and to Taiwanese fishing boats operating in the nearby waters of the North Pacific, as well as to help attract Japanese tourists to Taiwan, the report said. Representative to Japan John Feng (馮寄台) will present the report on Taiwan-Japan relations tomorrow at the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee. Feng said the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Hokkaido had exceeded 280,000 per year — far more than the 18,000 visits made by Hokkaido residents to Taiwan.



■ SOCIETY

Ex-runner to return to job

Former ultra-marathon runner Chiu Chu-jung (邱淑容) said yesterday she would return to her job at China Steel Corp on June 1 after a long break that began last August when she went to France to compete in a race that led to her losing her right leg and part of her left foot. The 52-year-old Chiu underwent a double amputation to save her from an attack of necrotizing fasciitis contracted through infected blisters the day she finished a 1,150km race through France in which she placed 17th among 44 runners and second in the women’s division. Chiu said her recovery had been progressing smoothly and that she was determined to return to work where she has worked for more than two decades.



■ CYCLING

Giant boss tackles China

More than 20 cyclists from Taiwan led by Giant Inc chairman King Liu (劉金標) launched a bike tour yesterday in Beijing that will take them 1,668km to Shanghai. The team of 23 Taiwanese cyclists is scheduled to arrive in Shanghai on May 28. They will pass through 13 ancient cities scattered throughout Hebei, Shandong and Jiangsu provinces before reaching Shanghai. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the start of the journey, Liu expressed hope that the trip would serve as a bridge for exchanges between bike aficionados on the two sides of the Strait. The 75-year-old Liu will ride a bicycle that was signed by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) at a cycling activity late last month.


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