Taiwan plans to stop local sales for Chinese Internet television streaming services operated by the likes of iQiyi and Tencent Holdings, according to regulations released this week, but does not plan on blocking the services.
Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has long been suspicious of Chinese attempts to sway its population, including by use of fake news spread online and efforts to influence Taiwanese media.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said late Tuesday that the rules barring Taiwanese companies from selling or operating as sales agents for Chinese Internet streaming services will take effect Sept. 3. The service iQiyi applied in 2016 to set up a Taiwanese subsidiary, but was rejected because Chinese companies cannot operate online streaming services there, the ministry said.
Screen grab from Michelle Lin ‘s Facebook page 擷取自林楚茵臉書
However, Taiwan is not blocking or banning them, the National Communications Commission said. “People can still watch and pay for overseas subscriptions,” commission deputy chief Wong Po-Tsung told Reuters, adding that officials would ensure that subscribers’ rights are not affected.
The commission ruled in May, after months of debate, that Chinese online television service providers would not advertise their services in Taiwan.
Baidu-backed, Netflix-like iQiyi said in a statement issued by unit iQiyi International that it was paying close attention to the situation and that it believed it should “not become the specific target of legislation.” “We wish to see the Taiwanese government departments involved recognize the benefits of an open market economy,” it added. Tencent, which runs Tencent Video, declined to comment.
Photo: CNA 照片:中央社
Taiwan has a free Internet, unlike China, which blocks sites such as Google, Facebook and Twitter. Taiwan also does not ban access to popular Chinese apps like WeChat or sites like Baidu.
China does not permit Taiwanese firms to offer Internet television streaming services.
Chinese Internet giants have come under pressure internationally, led by the US, where President Donald Trump ordered ByteDance last week to divest video-sharing app TikTok’s US operations within 90 days, the latest effort to ramp up pressure on the Chinese company over concerns about data security.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating iQiyi after a short seller accused it of inflating user numbers and prices, it said last week.
(Reuters)
根據本週發布的規範,台灣將禁止中國的網路電視串流服務在境內進行銷售活動,受到限制的對象包括愛奇藝與騰訊控股等業者,但是串流服務並不會遭到封鎖。
被中國聲稱為其主權領土的民主台灣,長久以來相當懷疑中國潛移默化台灣人民的企圖,包括利用網路上散布的假新聞,以及各種影響台灣媒體的手法。
經濟部於週二晚間宣布,台灣公司禁止經銷或代理中國網路串流服務的規定,將於九月三日正式上路。經濟部表示,愛奇藝曾於二○一六年申請成立台灣子公司,但是遭到拒絕,因為中國公司不得在台灣從事網路串流服務等業務活動。
不過,國家通訊傳播委員會表示,台灣並不會封鎖或是禁止這些平台。通傳會副主委翁柏宗向路透表示:「觀眾仍然可以收看,並且付費海外訂閱。」他補充說,政府官員會確保訂閱者的權益不受影響。
經過數個月的爭論後,通傳會在五月做出決定,中國的網路電視服務提供業者不得在台灣廣告和促銷其服務。
由百度持有股份、類似Netflix的串流平台愛奇藝,在一份由愛奇藝國際發布的聲明中表示,該公司正在密切注意情況,並且認為公司「不應該成為立法的特定對象。」該公告補充表示:「我們希望看到台灣政府的相關部門認知到開放市場經濟的益處。」經營「騰訊視頻」(在台灣以「WeTV」上架)的騰訊則是拒絕發表評論。
台灣擁有自由的網路,不像中國封鎖包括Google、Facebook、Twitter等網站。台灣也沒有禁止使用WeChat等受歡迎的中國手機應用程式,或是封鎖百度等網站。
中國則是不允許台灣公司在當地提供網路電視串流服務。
近來,中國的網路巨頭在國際間受到不少壓力,首先是美國總統川普簽署行政命令,要求「字節跳動」必須在九十天內出售或分拆旗下影音分享手機應用程式「抖音」的美國業務。這是川普政府因為資訊安全顧慮,而對該中國公司增加壓力採取的最新動作。
上星期,愛奇藝則表示美國證券交易委員會正在調查該公司,原因是受到一間美國放空機構指控造假,誇大訂閱戶數量和營收。
(台北時報章厚明譯)
A: Artificial intelligence technology has been causing controversy lately: a student was caught cheating with AI to win the grand prize in an art contest. B: That’s so absurd. Does this mean that AI paints better than humans? A: Maybe. Luckily, the student was later disqualified. B: And more absurdly, it’s becoming more and more popular to use AI technology to “resurrect” people. A: Yeah, some netizens even posted videos featuring the late singer CoCo Lee, who was “resurrected” by them with AI software. A: 人工智慧的爭議不斷,有學生違規使用AI參加美術展,甚至贏得首獎。 B: 真誇張,這是不是代表AI比人類還強大? A: 或許吧,幸好得獎資格被取消。 B: 還有更誇張的︰讓死者重現的「AI復活」技術越來越熱門。 A: 對啊,還有網友製作已故歌后李玟「復活」的影片呢! (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
It’s no secret that Japanese people have a deep affection for noodles. Like in the rest of East Asia, noodles are an important staple food, second only to rice. Japanese people have enjoyed noodles for over 1,000 years. The first noodles came from China and were introduced around 800 CE. As time passed, noodles in Japan not only became widespread but also developed some unique Japanese characteristics. The three most popular types of noodles in Japan are ramen, soba, and udon. Ramen, typically made from wheat flour, is usually thin and firm. The dough is kneaded and left to
Rice is an essential ingredient in Taiwanese cuisine. Many foods are made of rice, adding more variety to our cooking, such as rice cake, or “gui.” Wagui is made by steaming rice flour batter in a bowl. The term “gui” refers to a type of food made from rice, while “wa” refers to a bowl. The pronunciation of “gui” in Taiwanese Hokkien is similar to the word for “nobility” in Chinese, so it is common for people to prepare various types of gui, including wagui, as offerings to the gods or ancestors,. 米是台灣重要的主食,用米製成的食品十分多元,豐富我們的飲食,如米做成的「粿」。粿的意思是米做成的糕點,碗粿是將在來米漿倒入碗中蒸熟,因而得名。粿因為音同「貴」,因此碗粿等粿食常用作供品祭拜神明和祖先。 nobility (n.) 高貴,高尚;貴族 offering (n.) 供品 While Taiwan may not be
Continued from yesterday(延續自昨日) https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang As with many aspects of Japanese culture, there is etiquette to follow when you enjoy noodles. To fully experience noodles like a local on your next visit to Japan, consider these simple guidelines. First, be careful where you put your chopsticks. Don’t leave them sticking up in the broth or set them at the side of the bowl. When you have finished eating or if you’re taking a break, place them on the chopstick rest next to the bowl. Also, it is impolite to wave chopsticks around or bring them above mouth-level. Second, don’t take too