Mon, Jan 30, 2023
FAMILIAR FACES: Much of the Cabinet would remain, a CNA report said, while the names of new deputies and a full list of officials are to be released later today The foreign affairs, national defense and Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) ministers are to remain in their posts under the new Cabinet, incoming premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) wrote on Facebook yesterday. The Central News Agency (CNA) quoted Deputy Minister of the Interior Chen Tsung-yen (陳宗彥), who is the new Cabinet spokesperson, as saying that the appointments were made after a discussion between President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Chen Chien-jen. Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) and MAC Minister Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) are expected to continue to carry out defense, foreign affairs and cross-strait policies, Chen Tsung-yen said. The CNA report quoted an anonymous source as saying that Chiu Kuo-cheng is to stay in his post to facilitate the extension of mandatory military service this year, while Wu and Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) are to remain “to continue practical diplomacy.” The CNA report said that former Taipei City councilor Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) would be the new MAC deputy minister, and quoted an anonymous source as saying that the appointment would help foster new talent in cross-strait affairs. Straits Exchange Foundation Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Jan Jyh-horng (詹志宏) and MAC Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) are to switch positions, while MAC Deputy Minister Wu Mei-hung (吳美紅) would become Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Deputy Minister and OAC Deputy Minister and Coast Guard Administration Director-General Chou Mei-wu (周美伍) would remain in his post, it said. On Saturday, Chen Chien-jen on Facebook named former Keelung mayor Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) as minister of the interior, Deputy Minister of Culture Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌) as director of the National Palace Museum, and Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Shih Che (史哲) as the minister of culture. Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung (潘文忠), Minister of Justice Tsai Ching-hsiang (蔡清祥), Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材), Minister of
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said it hopes Beijing will stop imposing nontariff trade barriers under the pretext of food safety, after the Kinmen County Government announced that China lifted its import ban on kaoliang liquor. The Chinese General Administration of Customs issued a customs registration code for Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc (KKL, 金門酒廠), enabling the company to export its products to China from Saturday, the county said. The company received the code after Kinmen County Commissioner Chen Fu-hai (陳福海) and county officials traveled to Xiamen, China, on Saturday to meet with Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director Sung Tao (宋濤), it said. Chinese customs halted imports of beer and distilled products from 11 of 28 Taiwanese suppliers, starting on Dec. 9 last year, including KKL, Taihu Brewing (台虎精釀), King Car Food Industrial Co (金車企業), Legend Brewery Co (傳奇酒業), Win Shan International Co (雲山酒廠) and state-owned Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp (台灣菸酒公司). In addition, shipments of 123 of 354 beverage items registered by Taiwanese exporters were also suspended. The MAC said it viewed the Kinmen announcement positively, adding that it hopes China would stop imposing such barriers to trade. After last month’s suspensions, the government, following WTO regulations and bilateral agreements, asked China to remove the nontariff trade barriers to protect the rights and interests of Taiwanese exporters, the MAC said. Now that Chinese customs officials have approved KKL’s registration and resumed imports, hopefully normal trade across the Taiwan Strait could be restored, it said. Chinese customs authorities imposed a ban on imports of groupers from Taiwan in June, which was later expanded to include products from Taiwanese food companies. At the time, TAO spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) said that some Taiwanese exporters could not receive approval for their goods because they failed to provide complete information under a new registration system. Zhu said the registration system was introduced in
Moscow yesterday said it would not hold annual talks with Tokyo on renewing a pact that allows Japanese fishers to operate near disputed islands, saying that Japan has taken anti-Russian measures. The islands, off the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, are known in Russia as the Kurils and in Japan as the Northern Territories, and have been at the core of decades of tension between the neighbors. “In the context of the anti-Russian measures taken by the Japanese government ... the Russian side informed Tokyo that it could not agree on the holding of intergovernmental consultations on the implementation of this agreement,” the RIA Novosti state news agency reported, citing the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Japan, a major US ally, imposed sanctions on dozens of Russians and Russian organizations soon after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year. On Friday, it tightened sanctions on Russia in response to Russian air attacks on Ukrainian cities. Russia in June last year suspended a 1998 agreement that allowed Japanese boats to fish near the islands. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Monday last week told a news conference that Japan would demand that Russia engage in the annual talks so this year’s fishing operations could begin. The Russian ministry said there would be no improvement in ties unless Japan showed “respect.” “To return to a normal dialogue, the Japanese neighbors should show elementary respect for our country, a desire to improve bilateral relations,” the RIA quoted the ministry as saying. Russia and Japan have not formally ended World War II hostilities because of their standoff over the islands.
Ukraine’s military yesterday said its forces repelled an attack in the area of Blahodatne in the eastern part of the Donetsk region, while Russia’s Wagner private military group said it took control of the village. “Units of Ukraine’s Defence Forces repelled the attacks of the occupiers in the areas of ... Blahodatne ... in the Donetsk region,” the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said in its daily morning report, referring to fighting on Saturday. It added that its forces repelled Russian attacks in the areas of 13 other settlements in the Donetsk region. The Wagner Group, designated by the US as transnational criminal organization, wrote on the Telegram messaging app on Saturday that its units had taken control of Blahodatne. Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports. With fighting heating up in Donetsk, the exact line of contact has been unclear, especially around the town of Bakhmut, where some of the heaviest fighting of the war has been taking place in the past few weeks. The Wagner Group has made premature success claims before. Ukraine has said that the Russian offensive on Bakhmut has not culminated, but the situation along the front line there has been growingly difficult. Four civilians were killed, one in Bakhmut, and 17 wounded in Russian attacks on the region on Saturday, Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on the Telegram messaging app. Ukraine has won promises of Western battle tanks and is seeking fighter jets to push back against Russian and pro-Moscow forces, which are slowly advancing along part of the front line. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s top aide said that expedited talks were under way between Ukraine and its allies about its requests for long-range missiles to prevent Russia from destroying Ukrainian cities. “To drastically reduce the Russian army’s key weapon — the artillery they use today on the front lines
SPEAKING UP: Taiwan, as the US’ 10th-largest trading partner, ‘deserves a seat at the IMF’ after years of Beijing suppressing its voice, US Representative Young Kim said Two US lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bill calling on Washington to support Taiwan’s participation as a member of the IMF to ensure its voice is heard on international financial issues. The “Taiwan non-discrimination act” — introduced by US Representative Young Kim, who is on the US House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs committees, and US Representative Al Green — seeks to ensure that the US representative on the IMF board of governors advocates for Taiwan’s admission in the international financial institution. The bill also calls for Taiwan’s participation in the organization’s regular surveillance activities relating to Taiwan’s economic and financial policies, job opportunities for Taiwanese at the IMF, and a provision for IMF technical assistance and training for Taiwan. “As the 21st-largest economy in the world and the 10th-largest goods trading partner of the United States, Taiwan deserves a seat at the IMF,” Kim said in a statement released on Thursday. “For far too long, Taiwan’s freedoms have been suppressed and voice has been silenced by the Chinese Communist Party. The Taiwan non-discrimination act helps right this wrong and ensures Taiwan’s voice is heard in international financial decisions,” she said. Kim said that she and Green would fight to pass the bill. “I will always be a loud voice in Congress for our freedom-loving allies,” she added. Green said in the statement that the bill requires the US’ IMF representative to use the voice and vote of the US to urge Taiwan’s participation and membership in the IMF. “As a leading world economy, Taiwan’s experience in promoting sound economic policies can be instrumental in helping the IMF achieve its mission. Thus, it deserves a seat at the table,” he said. “My hope is that this bill will help steer it toward that direction,” he said. A bill to promote Taiwan’s membership in the IMF was previously introduced in May
GUT FEELING: In the leaked memo, US Air Force General Mike Minihan urged mobile command personnel to go to a firing range, shoot at a target and ‘aim for the head’ A four-star US Air Force general has warned of a conflict with China as early as 2025 — most likely over Taiwan — and urged his commanders to push their units to achieve maximum operational battle readiness this year. In an internal memorandum that first emerged on social media on Friday, and was later confirmed as genuine by the Pentagon, Air Mobility Command Commander General Mike Minihan said that the main goal should be to deter “and, if required, defeat” China. “I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me we will fight in 2025,” Minihan said. Minihan said that Taiwan’s presidential election next year would offer Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) an excuse for military aggression, while the US would be distracted by its own contest for the White House. “Xi’s team, reason and opportunity are all aligned for 2025,” he added. The memorandum also calls on all US mobile command personnel to go to the firing range, “fire a clip” into a target and “aim for the head.” A Pentagon spokesperson responded to an e-mail query about the memo saying that “yes, it’s factual that he sent that out.” Senior US officials have said in the past few months that China appears to be speeding up its timeframe to annex Taiwan. China staged major military exercises around Taiwan in August last year, seen as a trial run for an invasion after a defiant visit of solidarity to Taipei by then-US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi. The US switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but sells weapons to Taiwan for self-defense. A growing number of US lawmakers have called for ramping up assistance, including sending direct military aid to Taiwan, saying that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscores the need for early preparation.
TOURISM BOOST: The transportation system could help attract more visitors to the area, as the line is to connect multiple cultural sites, a city councilor said Residents in New Taipei City’s Ankeng District (安坑) said the local light rail system might have a positive influence, but raised questions about its practicality. The Ankeng light rail system, which is to commence operations after the Lunar New Year holiday, would cut travel time for commuters from Ankeng to downtown Taipei or New Taipei City by 15 to 20 minutes, the city government said. According to the initial plan, there would be one train every 15 minutes during peak time and additional interval trains would run between the densely populated Ankang Station (安康) and Shisizhang Station (十 四張). To encourage people to take the light rail system, the city’s Transportation Department arranged shuttle buses, set up more YouBike 2.0 rental stations and increased parking spaces for vehicles and motorbikes along the light rail. “People living in Ankeng have been waiting for the infrastructure for nearly 30 years,”AmKhenn Culture Studio chief executive officer Wu Bo-wei (吳柏瑋) said. However, the stations along the light rail system are far away from densely populated areas and attractions, he said, citing the example that it takes 10 minutes to walk from Sunshine Sports Park Station (陽光運動公園站) to the park. Many communities along the line from Shuangcheng Station (雙城站) to Jinwen University of Science and Technology Station (景文科大站) are on hillsides, which makes commuting on the light rail difficult, he said. People can take the line to Shisizhang Station, which is also on the Taipei MRT Circular Line, but would have to transfer at Dapinglin Station (大坪林站) before entering Taipei, he said. A resident living near New Taipei City’s Rose China Town, a hillside community, said it takes 10 to 20 minutes of walking uphill from Rose China Town Station (玫瑰中國城站) to the community, adding that riding a motorbike would be more convenient than taking a shuttle bus. Ankeng Borough Warden Lin Yung-huei (林永輝)
BREAKTHROUGH: A study found introducing shrimp into lobster pools and providing kelp as hiding places can help to reduce cannibalism Taiwanese aquaculture researchers have raised the survival rate of lobster hatchlings from 40 percent to 70 percent, the Council of Agriculture’s Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station said. The station unveiled the breakthrough at a trade convention in November last year. Lobster spawns molt several times in the six months following hatching to reach the postlarvae stage, said Cheng Ming-chung (鄭明忠), an assistant researcher with the Fisheries Research Institute’s Eastern Marine Biology Research Center. Postlarvae are highly sensitive to water quality and fluctuations in environmental factors, and regularly engage in cannibalism, which makes keeping them alive a technical challenge for lobster farms, said Cheng, who led the project to improve lobster farming techniques. Taiwanese lobster farms typically import 2cm-long postlarvae harvested from the sea and raise them into 4cm-long juveniles, he said. The research team solved the issue of cannibalism by introducing shrimp larvae into the pool for the postlarvae to hunt, while large clumps of kelp provided hiding places, he said, adding that new technologies were used to improve the regulation of water and feed quality. The techniques could help farmers raise more lobsters from the same larvae stock, and improve the flavor of the tomalley and the firmness of the meat, Cheng said. The researchers used the species Panulirus homarus and Panulirus ornatus in the study, with the former being the more readily available and economic option for Taiwanese lobster farms, he said. Using the new methods, the Panulirus homarus could grow from 2cm-long prolarvae to 4cm-5cm juveniles in two months, Cheng said, adding that the juveniles could then be transferred to downstream farms specializing in growing adults. Juveniles can grow into market-ready adults weighing 250g to 300g in eight months, he added. The Council of Agriculture has unveiled a policy to encourage the use of solar panels on lobster farms with indoor pools, to
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported 27,105 new local COVID-19 cases — an increase of 43.6 percent compared with the same day last week — and 21 deaths from the disease. Local infections were reported from every city and county, with the most cases being in New Taipei City, which reported 5,462 cases. Taichung reported 3,226 cases, followed by Kaohsiung with 3,181, Taoyuan with 3,139, Taipei with 2,450, Tainan with 2,197, Changhua County with 1,239 and fewer than 1,000 each in the 16 remaining cities and counties. The total number of new local infections last week — between Sunday and Saturday — was 139,010, which is about 5.7 percent higher than the week before — with 131,564 cases, the center said. A total of 9,393,162 local infections were confirmed between Jan. 1 last year and Saturday. Of those, 99.54 percent were asymptomatic or mild cases, while 0.27 percent were moderate cases and 0.19 percent were severe cases, it said, reporting 15,387 deaths in the period. Of the total deaths, 91 percent had underlying health conditions, 66 percent had not received a vaccine booster and 91 percent were aged 60 or older, CECC data showed. Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥), who is the CECC spokesperson, said that among the 21 newly confirmed deaths, the youngest case was a man in his 30s, who had liver cirrhosis, esophageal varices and bleeding, and chronic kidney disease. He fell into a coma at home after he tested positive for COVID-19 and was declared dead due to liver cirrhosis and COVID-19 infection, Chuang said. A man in his 80s who had cancer was confirmed dead after returning to Taiwan from China on Jan. 11, Chuang said, adding that he tested positive for COVID-19 and had symptoms including coughing, fever, weakness and shortness of breath. The man died on
People should take time to adjust before returning to work at the end of the Lunar New Year holiday to prevent post-vacation depression, the John Tung Foundation said. Yesterday marked the end of the 10-day Lunar New Year holiday in Taiwan. Post-vacation depression affects people returning to work, and can result in general anxiety, irritability, insomnia, nostalgia, restlessness and physical discomfort lasting up to two weeks, the foundation’s Mental Health Center director Yeh Ya-hsin (葉雅馨) said on Saturday. Symptoms severe enough to disrupt work, school or social life can be diagnosed as an episode of the condition, she said. The condition can be the result of exhaustion from holiday activities and a sense of deflation after suddenly being removed from festivities, she said, adding that when the body experiences rapid change to its sleep schedule, activity and diet, fatigue can be induced. This subset of post-vacation depression often affects travelers, and it can be mitigated if vacationers include a cool-off period of at least one day in their holiday plans to transition back to normal life, she said. Those returning from traveling should rest at home and relax without engaging in overly exciting recreational activities while adjusting their lifestyle to that of a normal weekend, which helps the resumption of the routine, she said. Post-vacation depression can be experienced by people who use holidays to escape from stressful situations, which leads to feelings of resentment toward the “status quo,” she said. People affected by this type of depression should take a step back to examine the source of their stress and consider changing their circumstances or adjusting their expectations, she said.
DEVELOPMENT PLEDGE: Taiwanese use about 8 billion paper containers per year, but up to 15 percent of paper garbage cannot be recycled, the paper companies said Local paper producers have pledged to step up investment in the research and development of technologies that could enable Taiwan to fully recycle its paper waste of 140,000 tonnes per year. Taiwanese use about 8 billion paper containers per year, and many people assume that they can be fully recycled, the Environmental Protection Administration said. Despite government efforts to raise awareness about the correct disposal of garbage, 12 to 15 percent of items collected for paper recycling are not suitable, according to the companies involved in the effort, which include Cheng Loong Corp, Chung Hwa Pulp Corp. Corporate representatives said that laminated and non-laminated paper items must be recycled separately, adding that only the latter can be recycled into containers for food. Recycling laminated items is more complicated, as the layers have to be separated, they said. Separating the layers during recycling does not cause environmental damage, Cheng Loong said. However, it is easiest to use fresh pulp to make paper containers for food, it added. Cheng Loong said it last year recycled 30,000 tonnes of laminated paper products, adding that materials used in their insulation layers were processed into fuel to power paper mills. Chung Hwa said products sold under its CircuWell brand, which are mainly exported or sold to airlines, are easier to recycle into paper cups and other containers. Its products use a heat and oil-resistant coating that is different from insulation materials used by other companies, the company said, adding that its products meet food safety regulations in Taiwan and the US.
A traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Changhua County has raised NT$555,000 in a two-day campaign drive to buy medical supplies, humanitarian aid materials and an ambulance for war-torn Ukraine. Sophie Chiang (蔣宗琴), a Taiwanese living in Poland, on Jan. 18 wrote on Facebook that she launched the effort to help Ukraine in collaboration with the A Court Clinic, a medical franchise with branch hospitals throughout Taiwan. A Court Clinic became involved in fundraisings for Ukraine after Cai Chuan-te (蔡全德), the medical director of the franchise’s main branch in Changhua’s Lukang Township (鹿港), heard about Chiang’s effort from Hsinchu branch director Chai Shen-yen (翟慎言), the clinic said. Chai was Chiang’s classmate at National Chengchi University, it said. Chiang said Ukraine-based aid group Med Help Dnipro is to use NT$150,000 from the funds raised to procure a medical ambulance for Dnipro, an eastern Ukrainian city under Russian shelling and missile strikes. The vehicle is expected to be operational next month and would bear the clinic’s logo, she added. A Poland-based charity founded by Rafal Tomala received NT$100,000 to provide food for Ukrainian children at affiliated orphanages, while the same amount went to a hospital in Kharkiv region that treats 7,000 civilians and soldiers injured in Russia’s invasion, she said. The hospital’s name and location were withheld to protect its staff and patients, as Russia might seek to attack the site, she said, adding that she learned of the hospital through her contacts in Ukraine. The remaining money would be used to furnish medical supplies for other hospitals that serve communities affected by the war, she said. Chiang, who works as a tour guide and Chinese-language teacher, said she moved to Warsaw after marrying a Polish man, adding that some of her business contacts and students are from Ukraine. Warsaw sheltered the first wave of Ukrainian refugees after Russia started the invasion
A Vietnamese entrepreneur who fell in love with Taiwanese wheel cakes while studying in Taiwan is selling the delicacies, rebranded as “Taiwanese UFO pancake.” Tran Thi Thu Hang said her favorite snacks while studying in Taiwan were sweet potato balls and wheel cakes, which are inspired by the Japanese imagawayaki pastry. Like its Japanese counterpart, wheel cake is a cylindrical confection with a texture similar to pancakes. Wheel cakes are offered with several fillings, with savory ones usually eaten as a snack between meals and sweet wheel cakes eaten as a dessert. Studying at Feng Chia University in Taichung from 2015 to 2019, Tran often frequented the nearby Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市) to feast on her favorite snacks, especially wheel cakes. “It’s hot, it’s spongy, it’s crispy and crumbly all in one,” Tran said. “Taking a bite with a mouthful of filling was a sensation I had never experienced before in Vietnam.” Although she first worked at a private company after her return to Vietnam, Tran said she was unable to shake off a dream she had since her youth: to run her own business. Eventually, Tran decided to focus on wheel cakes, as the pastry’s versatility gave her the flexibility needed to create enough flavors to cater to Vietnamese tastes. Ten months after she started her company, Tran serves up to 15 flavors, including staples such as red bean, macha and custard, which she also enjoyed in Taiwan, but also spicy chicken, a taste she designed for Vietnamese customers. Asked why she rebranded the Taiwanese pastry, Tran asked: “Don’t you think that wheel cakes look like UFOs?” referring to unidentified flying objects. Customers flood her store out of either curiosity or love for the flavor, she said. “After eating Taiwan UFO pancakes, my troubles seemed to be teleported to another universe,” one review of her products reads. Tran
The wetlands around Siiaoguei Lake (小鬼湖) in Taitung County is home to one of Taiwan’s most pristine high-elevation habitats and is considered a sacred place by local Rukai communities. The wetlands are known for their ecological diversity, and while that might be partly due to their remote location in a nearly inaccessible part of Taiwan, they also benefit from a Rukai legend that makes hunting near the lake taboo. Known in the Rukai language as Taidrengere (“Little Ghost”), the lake sits at an elevation of 2,050m above sea level on the border of Taitung and Pingtung counties. It covers 18 hectares and has a maximum depth of 1.5m. The area was incorporated into the Dawushan Nature Reserve (大武山自然保留區) when the reserve was established in 1988. It was designated as the Taidrengere Important Wetland in 2018 due to its importance as a wildlife habitat. The most recent ecological survey of the wetland, conducted from 2020 to 2021 by National Pingtung University of Science and Technology professor Wang Chih-chiang (王志強), recorded 23 mammal species, including the endangered Formosan black bear and Formosan serow. The survey also documented 41 species of birds, two reptile species, five amphibian species and two types of fish, as well as 158 plant species, of which 10 were on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ Red List of threatened species. As with many high-elevation lakes, Siiaoguei Lake was originally fishless, although it now has established populations of common carp and pond loaches, Taitung Forest District Office head Wu Chang-yu (吳昌祐) said. The common carp is the lone survivor of a 1979 Pingtung County Government initiative that also tried to introduce catfish and grass carp to the lake, while the pond loaches — which normally live at low elevations — were likely released by a visitor, Wu said. The Rukai legend that has
LUCKY DATE: The man picked the 10th ‘Super Red Envelope’ in a lottery store in Taoyuan’s Jhongli because he broke up with his girlfriend on Jan. 10 A man who recently broke up with his girlfriend won a NT$1 million (US$32,929) prize in the “NT$20 million Super Red Envelope” lottery after picking a card based on the date of their breakup, Taiwan Lottery Co said yesterday. The man, in his 20s, bought the 10th ticket at a lottery store in Taoyuan’s Jhongli District (中壢), because he broke up with his girlfriend on Jan. 10, the store owner told the lottery company. The “Super Red Envelope” lottery was a limited offering by the company during the Lunar New Year holiday, which ended yesterday. The cards, which cost NT$2,000 each, came with seven top prizes of NT$20 million, 10 second prizes of NT$2 million plus a Mercedes Benz sports utility vehicle and 850 third prizes of NT$1 million each. A man in his 30s won NT$1 million after pooling money with three of his friends to buy a card at a lottery store in Taipei’s Zhongzheng District (中正). The man volunteered to pick the lottery ticket, because he was born in the Year of the Rabbit, the company said. A 35-year-old woman in Taichung’s Daya District (大雅) who also pooled money with her friends to buy a scratch card, won NT$1 million, the company added. The woman suggested buying the card from a lottery store that had previously sold a NT$1 million-winning ticket. After winning the prize, she said that “the God of Wealth had not gone far,” Taiwan Lottery Co said. A man in his 40s won NT$1 million in New Taipei City’s Shulin District (樹林) after his son insisted that they buy a scratch card as they waited for a bus that was running late. The store owner said the child was nagging his father to buy a scratch card because he was bored waiting for the bus. Upon seeing that the had won the prize, the
NO DECOUPLING YET: Trade is shifting for many reasons, including Chinese investing outside their country, and multinationals moving closer to the US, an analyst said US trade flows are realigning on the back of COVID-19 pandemic shocks and tensions with China, but efforts to reduce interdependence between the superpowers have not brought a swift decoupling. While security concerns have escalated and US imports from China fell after Washington and Beijing imposed tit-for-tat tariffs, trade has since climbed again. The numbers could rise further when last year’s trade data is released next month, pointing to how interlaced the world’s two biggest economies are. However, experts have said that tensions are leaving their mark in other ways. “US imports from China are well below the trend that they were on before the trade war started,” Peterson Institute for International Economics senior fellow Mary Lovely said. “There is definitely a turn away from China in US imports, especially or primarily in those goods on which the US raised tariffs,” Lovely said. After the trade dispute began, the value of US goods imported from China dropped from US$506 billion in 2017 to about US$450 billion in 2019. Bilateral relations are not the only factors affecting trade. The pandemic took a heavy toll as well. China in November last year experienced its sharpest drop in exports since the start of COVID-19, with business activity slammed by its strict “zero COVID” policy. Also weighing on imports is an “ongoing shift in the US away from spending on goods,” Oxford Economics chief US economist Ryan Sweet said. Americans spent heavily on imported products during the pandemic, but “people are going back out and spending on services” as virus concerns ease, Sweet said. This cuts into demand for goods and can help explain why numbers have not surged more, he added. For now, US government figures through to November show that total US-China trade last year could have approached or hit a high. “Going forward, you’re going to see more diversification,” as opposed to a
‘BLUE OCEAN HIGHWAY’: The private cost of dredging is the main obstacle to having potentially thousands of new marine tourists make port calls, a marina operator said A company executive is betting big on marina development in Taiwan, as the government aims to boost the number of dedicated recreational yacht berths to 1,600 from 1,138 by 2025. Taiwan could make its dream of having thousands of sailboats and yachts make port calls in the country a reality by speeding up the construction of new marina berths, ARGO Yacht Club (亞果遊艇會) president Ho Yu-lin (侯佑霖) said. ARGO operates three marinas, in Kaohsiung, Penghu County and Tainan’s Anping District (安平). The 12-hectare Tainan Anping Yacht City is a members-only yacht club providing an array of amenities including restaurants and a hotel resort operated by Singapore’s Banyan Tree Group (悅榕集團), according to the company. The Anping club was developed after the company received rights in 2017, after which 62 berths were completed. ARGO plans to increase that number to 170 in an expansion project. Although recreational berths can be found in fishing ports throughout Taiwan, only about 200 have electricity and water charging stations for yachts and sailboats, Ho said. Regarding the government’s “blue ocean highway” plans, Ho said that a major obstacle is the requirement for private marina operators to fund dredging work without government subsidies or loans. Dredging consists of maintaining proper channel depth within a marina, and is essential for vessels such as yachts, ferries and private boats to navigate through the facility. Consistent dredging is necessary for safety and to keep a marina operating at maximum capacity throughout the year. Ho is nevertheless optimistic about the potential of the blue ocean highway plan, and said that ARGO plans to expand its foothold in Taichung and Taipei. Taiwan has many areas with adequate infrastructure for developing piers for yachts, he said. More yacht berths that meet international standards would diversify the tourism industry and allow Taiwan better capacity to resupply boaters sailing between Northeast and Southeast Asia,
The US and the EU on Friday announced an agreement to enhance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve agriculture, healthcare, emergency response, climate forecasting and electricity grids. A senior US administration official, discussing the initiative shortly before the official announcement, called it the first sweeping AI agreement between the US and Europe. Previously, agreements on the issue had been limited to specific areas such as enhancing privacy, the official said. AI modeling, which refers to machine-learning algorithms that use data to make logical decisions, could be used to improve the speed and efficiency of government operations and services. “The magic here is in building joint models [while] leaving data where it is,” the official said. “The US data stays in the US and European data stays there, but we can build a model that talks to the European and the US data, because the more data and the more diverse data, the better the model.” The initiative should provide governments greater access to more detailed and data-rich AI models, leading to more efficient emergency responses and electricity grid management, along with other benefits, the official said. Regarding power grids, the US collects data on how electricity is being used, where it is generated and how to balance a grid’s load so that weather changes do not knock it offline, the official said. Many European countries have similar data points they gather relating to their own grids, the official said. Under the new partnership, all of that data would be harnessed into a common AI model to produce better results for emergency managers, grid operators and others relying on AI to improve systems. Meanwhile, Sciences Po, one of France’s top universities, has banned the use of ChatGPT, an AI-based chatbot that can generate coherent prose, to prevent fraud and plagiarism. ChatGPT is a free program that generates original
The latest Cabinet reshuffle retains top economic and finance officials in their posts. Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花), National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫), Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Thomas Huang (黃天牧) and Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) Minister Chu Tzer-ming (朱澤民) are all to remain. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), who is to be sworn in as the new premier tomorrow, reportedly wanted them to complete unfinished tasks and maintain coherent policymaking. This indicates that Tsai’s administration wants to formulate consistent and stable policies, reassure the business community and restore public confidence as the nation’s economy faces rising challenges this year. The DGBAS on Jan. 18 reported that Taiwan’s economy last quarter contracted 0.86 percent year-on-year, ending 26 straight quarters of annual growth, due to a sharp decline in exports. The downturn in external demand, including for semiconductors, dragged the nation’s GDP growth for last year to 2.43 percent, missing the government’s forecast of 3.06 percent and marking the slowest expansion in six years. The trend is likely to continue this quarter. Nevertheless, the promotion of Chuang Tsui-yun (莊翠雲) to minister of finance from the deputy post — replacing Su Jain-rong (蘇建榮), who is returning to teaching at National Taipei University — came as a surprise to many. Previous finance ministers have mostly come from the fields of finance and taxation, while Chuang has a background in managing state-owned property. She is a graduate of National Chengchi University’s Department of Land Economics and worked in several positions at the National Property Administration for nearly three decades before taking the deputy finance minister’s office in 2016. Chuang is also to become the agency’s third female minister, following Shirley Kuo (郭婉容), who served as minister from 1988 to 1990, and Kuo’s daughter, Christina
Criticisms of corruption, a poorly managed bureaucracy and uninformed, unprincipled or unaccomplished policy in China are often met with harsh punishments. Many protesters in the “blank paper movement,” for example, have been disappeared by the authorities. Meanwhile, the WHO has asked China to provide data on its COVID-19 situation, with the Chinese government choosing to disseminate propaganda instead. The first amendment of the US Constitution, written in 1791, prohibits the US government from abridging the freedom of speech, press, assembly, petition, or religion. More than 200 years later, China, the world’s second-largest economy, still lacks the freedoms of speech and the press, among others. A democratic government of the people, by the people and for the people would listen to people’s complaints, as power originates from people. Freedom of speech is essential to achieve that purpose. On the contrary, an autocratic government, which derives its power from a dictator, would not hesitate to suppress people’s voices and ignore their concerns. It has been reported in China that some people who had received three doses of the Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine have died, while some unvaccinated people have survived COVID-19 infection. Although there is no statistical data to confirm its scientific merits, the efficacy of one or two doses of the Sinovac vaccine has consistently been shown to be much lower than that of mRNA vaccines in all age groups. Therefore, it is scientifically puzzling that earlier studies have said three doses of the Sinovac vaccine matches the efficacy of mRNA vaccines. That Sinovac’s inactivated vaccine does not provide effective protection against the Omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 supports the argument that such vaccines might divert the immune system toward multiple targets, compromising its resilience against the mutated virus. China and the WHO should find out the facts and quickly supplement the vaccines currently on offer in
As the People’s Republic of China (PRC) constantly strives to rewrite the Taiwan narrative, it is important to regularly update and correct the stereotypes that the PRC tries to foist on Taiwan and the world. A primary stereotype is that Taiwan has always been a part of China and its corollary that Taiwan has been a part of China since time immemorial. Both are false. Taiwan has always been a part of the vast Austronesian empire, which stretched from Madagascar in the west to Easter Island in the east and from Taiwan in the north to New Zealand in the south. That part of Taiwan’s history needs recognition, as many in the West remain ignorant of it. Taiwan has never been a part of China. Parts of Taiwan have been colonized by other nations including the Dutch, Spanish, fleeing Ming loyalists and pursuing Manchu rulers. Although each had a temporary claim to a part of Taiwan’s history, the only nation to control and rule Taiwan was Japan. Japan received the Manchu section of Taiwan in the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki; it did not get it from China. The Manchu Empire was not China, but rather China at that time was a part of the Manchu Empire. Japan set out to conquer and control the whole island. Taiwan has appeared on the maps of many nations, and under many names, but designation on a map cannot be used as a qualification for possession. It is simply recognition of location. A second and related cliche that is often tossed around in Western history is the erroneous idea of what constitutes China. After the Mongols conquered the lands from Europe in the west to Korea in the east, and from Russia in the north to India in the south, they divided their empire into four khanates. China
‘CHALLENGING’: The Serb overcame off-court drama and a hamstring injury to beat Tsitsipas in the Australian Open final and equal Nadal’s record 22 Grand Slam wins An emotional Novak Djokovic yesterday called it “the biggest victory in my life” after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas to win a 10th Australian Open title and equal Rafael Nadal’s 22 Grand Slam crowns. The Serb is to return to world No. 1 after he overcame a hamstring injury and off-court drama to sweep past the Greek third seed 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5) at Rod Laver Arena. The 35-year-old climbed to his player’s box afterward to embrace his mother and broke down in uncontrollable tears, collapsing to the ground sobbing. His father was again missing after he sparked controversy by posing with a fan carrying a Russian flag featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin’s face following his son’s quarter-final win. The victory over Tsitsipas capped a remarkable return for Djokovic to Melbourne Park, having missed last year’s tournament when he was deported because of his stance on COVID-19 vaccinations. “I have to say this has been one of the most challenging tournaments I’ve ever played considering the circumstances, not playing last year, coming back this year,” he said. “I want to thank all the people that made me feel welcome, comfortable, to be in Melbourne. “I try to pinch myself and really live through these moments, it’s a long journey,” Djokovic said. “Only my team and family know what we have been through in the last four or five weeks, and this is why I’d probably say this is the biggest victory in my life,” he said. There had been an air of inevitability about Djokovic triumphing once more. After his three-year ban from Australia was lifted, Djokovic won the lead-up Adelaide International before reinforcing his stature as an all-time great in Melbourne. “Novak, I don’t know what to say. It speaks for itself what you have achieved so far... Congratulations,” said 24-year-old Tsitsipas, who still has yet to win
The Boston Celtics on Saturday edged the Los Angeles Lakers 125-121 in an overtime battle tinged by controversy, while Philadelphia 76ers big-man Joel Embiid out-dueled the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic as NBA rivalries took center stage. The league-leading Celtics came out on top in a game that featured 19 lead changes, snapping a three-game skid. The Lakers led by seven midway through the fourth quarter, but Jaylen Brown converted a three-point play to tie it up at 105-105 with 4.1 seconds left. He went on to score 11 points in the extra session after LeBron James’s drive to the basket at the end of regulation ended in a miss, with James and the Lakers pleading for a foul call after Jayson Tatum brushed his arm. The call did not come and Boston prevailed, withstanding a 41-point performance from James — who jumped up and down in frustration at the non-call before kneeling on the court. “The best player on Earth can’t get a call — it’s amazing,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who spoke of the “agony” of losing such a huge game. “I don’t understand it,” James said, adding that he did not think it was the first time a non-call proved costly to the Lakers this season. Los Angeles star Anthony Davis said the Lakers were “cheated,” and officiating crew chief Eric Lewis told reporters after the game that the crew had “missed the play.” “There was contact,” Lewis said. “At the time, during the game, we did not see a foul.” Brown preferred to focus not on officiating or the rivalry, but on Boston’s quest to remain the dominant team in the East. “It was a much-needed win,” he said. “We lost the last three, so we wanted to come out and get a win.” Ham said that any game between the Celtics and Lakers — who have
Casemiro scored twice on Saturday as Manchester United turned on the style to beat 10-man Reading 3-1 and reach the fifth round of the FA Cup, as Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min ended his recent goal drought. On a day lacking major shocks, there were wins for English Premier League strugglers Leeds United, Leicester City and Southampton, but Fulham were held by EFL Championship side Sunderland. United produced more compelling evidence they are back on track under new manager Erik ten Hag. The home side took the lead at Old Trafford in the 54th minute when Anthony produced a defense-splitting pass to find Brazilian teammate Casemiro, who lifted the ball over goalkeeper Joe Lumley. Four minutes later United were two up, when Casemiro let fly with a stunning strike from outside the box to find the bottom corner. With the home side brimming with confidence, substitute Fred produced an audacious flick from Bruno Fernandes’ low cross to the near post to make the game safe. By then ,Reading were down to 10 men after Andy Carroll was sent off for a second booking, but Paul Ince’s side still managed to score a consolation goal. Manchester United captain Harry Maguire said that former Real Madrid star Casemiro was a “phenomenal player.” “You don’t win what he’s won without being a top player,” he said. “He’s improved the team, the morale and the performance.” Harry Kane was left on the bench for Spurs’ match at Preston North End, meaning he missed out on a chance to break his tie with Jimmy Greaves and become Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer. In the absence of the England captain, Son stepped up with two fine finishes for a much-needed confidence boost. The South Korean, who shared the Premier League’s Golden Boot last season, had scored just once in his previous 17 appearances for club and country. Yet 30-year-old
Unbeaten light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev on Saturday stopped Britain’s Anthony Yarde in a thrilling eight rounds at London’s Wembley Arena to retain his WBC, IBF and WBO belts. The Russia-born Canadian sent the Briton to the canvas with a punishing right and, after a count, the challenger’s corner signaled to referee Steve Gray to stop the fight 2 minutes, 1 second into the round. Beterbiev, 38, was behind on two of the three judges’ scorecards at that point, but the victory, against an underdog who turned out to be a real threat, took his professional record to 19-0-0. Yarde, 31, is now on 23 wins with three defeats and no draws. Both men had cuts on their faces after trading blows at a ferocious pace from the opening bell — Yarde under his right eye and Beterbiev on his left eyelid. Yarde twice lost his gumshield in a fight that saw both men hammered against the ropes and landing stinging blows. Beterbiev made every punch count, but Yarde held in and landed a crunching right in round five before then being caught by an uppercut. Round seven was another classic, Yarde pushing Beterbiev into a corner, but the champion turned it around to rain down blows on the Briton. “He gave one of the best fighters in the world the toughest fight he’s ever had,” Yarde’s promoter, George Warren, said. “I had him up [on the scorecard]. It was a pendulum fight almost, it swung like a pendulum. Anthony started really well. He showed that he can hurt him and keep him off him and at bay.” Beterbiev, booed as he entered the ring and applauded as he left it, sank to his knees in joy as the referee stepped in and said afterward that he was prepared to take the punches and counter. Asked about a
‘ADVERSE WEATHER’: A man died after being swept away by floodwaters, while thousands of properties were without power as more rain was forecast for today New Zealand’s death toll from heavy rain rose to four yesterday as flash floods and landslides on North Island continued for a third day. Battered since Friday, Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, remained under a state of emergency. The nation’s weather forecaster, MetService, warned of more severe weather yesterday and today for North Island. Intense rainfall could also cause surface and flash flooding, it said. “We know that there is potential for more adverse weather tonight,” Auckland Emergency Management controller Rachel Kelleher told reporters. The emergency covers large swaths of North Island, with Waitomo District about 220km from Auckland, declaring a state of emergency late on Saturday. A man missing after being swept away on Friday in Onewhero, a rural village about 70km south of Auckland, was confirmed dead, police said. “The most horrific part of it is that we’ve lost lives,” New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni said in Auckland, a city of 1.6 million. Climate change is causing episodes of heavy rainfall to become more common and more intense in New Zealand, although the impact varies by region. New Zealand Climate Change Minister James Shaw noted the link to climate change on Saturday when he posted on Twitter his support for those affected by flooding. Police yesterday said they were assisting with traffic management and road closures in Waitomo District after heavy rainfall “caused numerous slips, flooding and damage to roads.” In nearby Bay of Plenty there was also “widespread flooding,” police said, as well as a landslide that had knocked down a house and was threatening neighboring properties. Thousands of properties remained without power, while hundreds were without water, authorities said. Still, Air New Zealand said international flights in and out of Auckland would resume at noon yesterday, a spokesperson said. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, less than a week in office, flew by helicopter over
North Korea yesterday denied providing arms to Moscow after the US said the nuclear-armed state supplied rockets and missiles to Russia’s private military group Wagner. Washington earlier this month designated the Wagner group as a “transnational criminal organization,” citing its weapons dealings with Pyongyang in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The White House showed US intelligence photographs of Russian rail cars entering North Korea, picking up a load of infantry rockets and missiles, and returning to Russia, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. In a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, a senior North Korean official rejected the accusations, saying that the US would face a “really undesirable result” if it persists in spreading the “self-made rumor.” “Trying to tarnish the image of [North Korea] by fabricating a non-existent thing is a grave provocation that can never be allowed and that cannot, but trigger its reaction,” Department of US Affairs Director-General Kwon Jong-gun said He also called it “a foolish attempt to justify its offer of weapons to Ukraine.” Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden promised 31 Abrams tanks, one of the most powerful and sophisticated weapons in the US Army, to help Kyiv fight off Moscow’s invasion. The move drew a rebuke on Friday from Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who accused Washington of “further crossing the red line” by sending the tanks into Ukraine. Along with China, Russia is one of the North’s few international friends and has previously come to the regime’s aid. Other than Syria and Russia, North Korea is the only country to recognize the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk, two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. Russia, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, has long held the line against increasing pressure on nuclear-armed North Korea, even
When Ali Saga visited a clinic in Jakarta four decades ago, he watched as patients and health workers scrambled to get away from him. “The doctor suddenly shouted at the patients: ‘Stand back, this person is a leper,’” the 57-year-old said, recalling one of the most devastating moments after his diagnosis in the 1970s. “They also roughly used a syringe to test my skin and I cried. My skin might not feel anything, but my soul was hurt,” the former leprosy patient added, choking back tears. Now he is using his pain to help other residents of a village on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital live a normal life after leprosy with hand-crafted prosthetic limbs. After Brazil and India, Indonesia has the world’s third-highest cases of leprosy — a contagious bacterial disease transmitted by prolonged close contact with untreated cases. Ahead of World Leprosy Day yesterday, the Indonesian Ministry of Health said the country still has more than 15,000 active cases, with more than 11,000 new cases recorded last year. The ancient disease, which causes disabilities and loss of feeling in reddish skin patches, is diagnosed with a skin biopsy and easily treated with multidrug therapy. However, Saga and other residents of Sitanala village — where hundreds of former leprosy patients have relocated to find solace — have been treated as outcasts for years and dubbed a “leper colony” by local media. They are heavily stigmatized by pervasive perceptions around leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, with some Indonesians believing the affliction is a curse sent by God that can be passed on by brief contact. However, in a small, dusty workshop surrounded by fake body parts hung on white walls, Saga is chipping away at that social cold shoulder, sculpting artificial limbs that have been improving residents’ lives since 2005. One of the neighbors to receive
Earlier this month, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) was elected unopposed to the chairmanship of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). As the chair, Lai is now the presumptive presidential candidate for next year’s election. Even as he became chairman, the global media was sending out signals about the coming fight we face to redefine Lai. As he accepted his new role, he made a statement on independence. He said that he “pragmatically considers Taiwan as already a sovereign, independent country, therefore there is no need for a separate declaration of Taiwanese independence.” This calm statement, DPP boilerplate now for over two decades, was no different than any that current President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has made. For example, after winning the election in 2020, in an interview with the BBC Tsai observed: “We don’t have a need to declare ourselves an independent state. We are an independent country already and we call ourselves the Republic of China, Taiwan.” Clearly Lai is positioning himself as a mainstream candidate offering a position on the status of Taiwan with broad appeal inside and outside Taiwan. In fact his position is boring. It’s been that way for years. Lai sometimes refers to himself as a “political worker” for Taiwan independence. In 2018 he had a roundtable in which he described what that meant. He laid out three tenets for that. First, Taiwan is already a sovereign, independent state, so no need to declare independence. Second, only Taiwan’s 23.5 million people can decide its fate. Third, Taiwan must be promoted and cared for so that it garners the support of its people. MAINSTREAM POLITICIAN Lai’s positions on these milquetoast and mainstream ideas are easily found on the Internet. Yet there was the Financial Times on Jan. 16 shrilling that “Taiwan presidential contender sparks US concerns over China tensions,”
Due to the Lunar New Year holiday, from Saturday, Jan. 21, through Sunday, Jan. 29, there will be no Features pages. The paper returns to its usual format on Monday, Jan. 30, when Features will also be resumed. Kung Hsi Fa Tsai!
It is perhaps fitting that Tainan, the political and economic center of activity on Taiwan for over two centuries, is now the site of a museum telling the story of the nation’s human history. Starting in prehistoric times, Taiwan has been a center for trade. This and the ensuing power struggles among the indigenous, Europeans, Japanese and Chinese are presented in fascinating detail at the National Museum of Taiwan History. Children will enjoy the hands-on activities, the virtual train ride and the outdoor grounds, which include a large lawn and fish pond. Those without a strong interest in history will still be captivated by the gorgeous life-size mock-ups of historical living and working spaces, as well as the variety of peculiar artifacts, many of which have been donated by Taiwanese themselves. And for those who’d really like to delve into the fascinating story of Taiwan’s development, there is enough to keep one busy for an entire day. Overall, what this museum does best is present the story of the people who have made their home on Taiwan from an insider’s perspective. With the help of walk-in dioramas, interactive exhibits where visitors have to imagine themselves in the past and artifacts that represent the unique experience of certain individuals, visitors learn about Taiwan’s past in a way that is at once highly subjective yet not overly biased. ARTIFACTS The museum includes prehistoric archaeological finds. Their ability to paint a picture of life in these times is limited, but the distant source of some artifacts tells us people then still had an awareness of life beyond these shores. Moving into the historical period, there are items that demonstrate that interactions between indigenous people, Han settlers, Japanese merchants and Dutch colonizers were not as simple as oppressed vs oppressors, and that people then had conflicting loyalties that
The Taipei Times bilingual pages are having a makeover, with professionally curated content for both English and Chinese learners of all levels. With our new partners Ivy English, English OK, and American Magazine Center (AMC), Taipei Times readers can improve their language studies while keeping abreast of important issues in Taiwan and abroad. 《台北時報》雙語版最優質的中英文內容，多年來一向受到讀者們的喜愛。近日起版面全新升級！每週和《常春藤解析英語》、《English OK中學英閱誌》、《AMC空中美語》……等專業英語機構合作，提供豐富多元且實用的英語學習內容，不但適合各種程度學生及上班族自修，老師、家長用它當教材也超便利。原先頗受歡迎的雙語新聞則予以保留，持續帶領大家了解國內外之重要議題，打造最強全方位中英文雙語版，精彩內容在網站上也看的到唷！
A festive time of light 元宵佳節知多少 Occurring on the 15th day of the initial month of the Lunar New Year, when the first full moon appears, the Lantern Festival is a festive time that continues the good cheer and celebration sparked by Chinese New Year. It also simultaneously marks the end of that annual event. It’s a time when lanterns and other colorful lights and decorations adorn stores, businesses, and streets in Chinese communities around the globe. Aside from honoring ancestors, the festival is also meant to foster peace, forgiveness, and harmony. Lantern displays are the center of attention during the Lantern Festival in Taiwan. Parks across the island are often decorated with many lanterns depicting everything from the Chinese zodiac animal of the year to traditional Chinese folk stories. In addition, there are other stimulating activities, including lion and dragon dances, fireworks displays, and various parades. Schoolchildren make small lanterns at schools as well. There are also traditional foods associated with the Lantern Festival, such as tangyuan and dumplings. With tangyuan’s round shape, the treats symbolize the completeness and unity of the family. It is believed that the origin of the Lantern Festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE) and is linked to a ritual that was performed by Buddhist monks which involved lighting lanterns to honor Buddha. There are also some colorful legends related to how the festival came about. One tells the story of the Jade Emperor becoming enraged at some townspeople who killed his beloved crane. His plan to burn the town to the ground was foiled by his daughter, who advised the people to light numerous lanterns in the town to trick the emperor into believing it had previously been set ablaze. Whatever the true roots of this joyous occasion, the Lantern Festival is enjoyed in cities
Due to the Lunar New Year holiday, from Saturday, Jan. 21 through Sunday, Jan. 29 there will be no Bilingual Pages. The paper returns to its usual format on Monday, Jan. 30, when Bilingual Pages will also be resumed.
| New Taipei City | 11-13 | 0% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 10-12 | 0% | |
| Hsinchu City | 11-13 | 0% | |
| Taipei City | 11-13 | 0% | |
| Miaoli County | 10-12 | 0% | |
| Taoyuan City | 10-13 | 0% | |
| Keelung City | 13-14 | 0% | |
| Yunlin County | 11-12 | 0% | |
| Taichung City | 12-14 | 0% | |
| Nantou County | 11-13 | 0% | |
| Changhua County | 11-13 | 0% | |
| Chiayi County | 10-12 | 0% | |
| Chiayi City | 11-12 | 0% | |
| Tainan City | 13-14 | 0% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 15-17 | 0% | |
| Pingtung County | 14-15 | 0% | |
| Yilan County | 11-13 | 0% | |
| Hualien County | 13-15 | 0% | |
| Taitung County | 14-16 | 0% | |
| Kinmen County | 10-11 | 0% | |
| Penghu County | 13-14 | 0% | |
| Lienchiang County | 8-9 | 0% | |
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