Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀) is to tout Taiwan’s semiconductor industry at next month’s APEC summit, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday.
Tsai addressed a news conference at the Presidential Office, announcing that Chang would represent Taiwan at the APEC economic leaders’ meeting in Bangkok on Nov. 18 and 19.
Chang would be representing the nation for the sixth time at the summit and the fifth time during Tsai’s administration.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
However, it is only the second summit he would be attending in person, after Chile canceled the 2019 summit due to public unrest, while the past two editions were held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The nation’s presidents are barred from attending APEC summits due to Chinese opposition.
Tsai tasked Chang with conveying three messages to other APEC leaders during the summit, which is also to be attended by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
First, Taiwan’s delegation should call on APEC members to recognize “differences of opinion” within the region and seek to strike a balance between free trade and fair competition, as well as between supply chain security and efficacy, and economic development and sustainability, she said.
Second, they should call attention to Taiwan’s “key influence” in global supply chains — especially in semiconductors — while conveying the nation’s willingness to work with regional partners to build safe, reliable and resilient supply chains, Tsai said.
Third, the delegation should express Taiwan’s determination to pursue sustainable economic development while also pushing for a green transition, workers’ welfare, women’s empowerment and social welfare, she added.
Chang told Tsai that he was honored to accept the appointment.
APEC is especially important at this challenging time and is perhaps the most important international forum for Taiwan to attend, he said.
Chang said he would convey Taiwan’s desire to build safe and resilient global supply chains with reliable partners, especially in semiconductors.
He said Taiwan has already done a lot to mitigate the effects of climate change, but it still has a long way to go, adding that the delegation would share Taiwan’s achievements with other nations.
Chang vowed to convey Tsai’s messages to other leaders at the summit, as well as during bilateral meetings and informal events to be held on the sidelines.
Minister Without Portfolio John Deng (鄧振中) and National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) are also to attend, the Presidential Office said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old