Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), founded in 1987, has made great contributions to industrial development, charity and national defense over the past three decades, and even successfully procured 5 million doses of the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for Taiwan. The company is sometimes referred to as a “sacred mountain protecting the country,” a well-deserved description.
When visiting several Taiwanese biotechnology companies on Feb. 17, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) said he hoped that those companies would build another sacred mountain through the production of COVID-19 vaccines. Given the extremely high potential of the local pharmaceutical industry, such companies deserve greater attention and support.
Becoming a pillar of industry in Taiwan does not only require sufficient funding and good industrial and economic policies; the public’s attitude toward the industry is just as crucial.
For example, there are numerous semiconductor wafer foundries around the world, but TSMC and United Microelectronics Co are the ones most frequently mentioned in Taiwan. Many people might not know much about wafer manufacturing, but TSMC is a name known to almost everyone. The government’s frequent touting of those big foundries is also important to the public’s familiarity with them.
In contrast, the public seems to hold a different attitude toward the pharmaceutical industry. Despite the strength of the industry, people seem to believe that the grass is greener on the other side.
Today, demand for painkillers has surged following the launch of a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination drive, as officials and media advise people to buy Panadol in case they need to relieve any pain after being inoculated. Central Epidemic Command Center specialist advisory panel convener Chang Shan-chwen (張上淳) said that the side effects from vaccination were quickly alleviated by Panadol.
This brand is made from acetaminophen, the primary ingredient in hundreds of other painkillers on the market. Acetaminophen is produced by many Taiwanese companies, and more than 200 drugs covered by the National Health Insurance program contain it.
The local companies that produce these drugs have obtained international certification. Their ability to produce drugs is not inferior to that of foreign brands, and there is no problem with the quality or the efficacy of locally produced painkillers.
There are so many options for painkillers containing acetaminophen that it is practically impossible for them to be sold out. Still, news reports often tell us about Panadol shortages, which deepens public misunderstanding and causes panic.
Despite this, officials never take the initiative to clarify the issue by saying that it is not necessary to buy a specific brand of painkiller, but instead make it sound as if Panadol is the only painkiller available.
It would not be possible to turn the pharmaceutical industry into the next “sacred mountain” simply by lavishing it with praise. Still, the government should take the initiative to develop public trust in and reliance on the local pharmaceutical industry.
Huang Jin-shun is president of the Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists’ Associations.
Translated by Eddy Chang
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers led by the party’s legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (?) are to visit Beijing for four days this week, but some have questioned the timing and purpose of the visit, which demonstrates the KMT caucus’ increasing arrogance. Fu on Wednesday last week confirmed that following an invitation by Beijing, he would lead a group of lawmakers to China from Thursday to Sunday to discuss tourism and agricultural exports, but he refused to say whether they would meet with Chinese officials. That the visit is taking place during the legislative session and in the aftermath