DIPLOMACY
France visa talks under way
Taiwan and France are moving closer to a bilateral agreement that would implement a reciprocal working holiday program for young adults, a source familiar with diplomatic affairs said. The two nations have been discussing the program for many years and it might come to fruition in the near future, the sources said. The two nations view the development as “good news,” the source said. During the discussions, France developed a certain level of trust in Taiwan based on a perception of sincerity, the source said. Four Cabinet officials — including Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Chih-chung (吳志中) — have studied in France, the source said. French Office in Taipei Director Benoit Guidee had said previously that if the two sides signed a working holiday agreement, the initial quota would be about 500 annually.
EDUCATION
Mongolia MOU signed
Taipei National University of the Arts and the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Ulan Bator to foster bilateral cooperation in cultural and arts education. Taipei university president Yang Chyi-wen (楊其文) and Mongolian university rector Sonintogos Erdenetsogt signed the MOU on behalf of their respective schools at a ceremony that was also attended by Representative to Mongolia Huang Kuo-jung (黃國榮). The two schools are to jointly organize forums on education, carry out programs on experimental education, engage in faculty and student exchanges and host joint exhibitions of the arts, a statement issued by the Taipei Trade and Economic Representative Office in Ulan Bator said.
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
DIPLOMACY: It is Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s first visit to Taiwan since he took office last year, while Eswatini’s foreign minister is also paying a visit A delegation led by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo arrived in Taiwan yesterday afternoon and is to visit President William Lai (賴清德) today. The delegation arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 4:55pm, and was greeted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). It is Arevalo’s first trip to Taiwan since he took office last year, and following the visit, he is to travel to Japan to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Arevalo said at the airport that he is very glad to make the visit to Taiwan, adding that he brings an important message of responsibility
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