Since the easing of restrictions on newspapers, this medium has thrived in Taiwan. For instance, the number of Chinese-language newspapers has skyrocketed from 31 to 239. Before the advent of the Taipei Times in 1999, for more than four decades only two English-language newspapers were published in Taiwan. From its first issue, the Taipei Times has created a new and dynamic atmosphere for the local English-language newspaper market, symbolizing a new beginning for the industry.
The Taipei Times bears witness to the pride stemming from the evolution of Taiwan's society. Like its Chinese-language sister paper, the Liberty Times, the Taipei Times stresses the ideal of identifying with Taiwan and putting Taiwan's interests first. It also emphasizes "bringing Taiwan to the world, and bringing the world to Taiwan." That is, while helping to foster Taiwan's national identity, the Taipei Times never fails to build ties between Taiwan and the international community. This paper provides more choices for the Taiwanese and foreign readers in Taiwan. On top of this, by fully advancing Taiwan's viewpoints, it makes an enormous contribution to the integration of Taiwan into the international community and the maximization of Taiwan's role as a responsible member of it.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Taipei Times for its accuracy and professionalism. It accurately reports the aspirations of Taiwan's people and understands well Taiwan's political, economic and social nuances. By the same token, it exemplifies impartial reporting by the media and clarifies current affairs through its editorials.
The Taipei Times plays an indispensable role in providing a channel for foreigners in Taiwan to understand Taiwan's current state, thereby enhancing their understanding, appreciation and support of Taiwan. I am happy to learn that over recent years, the Taipei Times has strived to be the best by adopting Internet technology to further serve its readers with real-time reports. In addition, because the Taipei Times has a wealth and profusion of talent, it often wins international accolades for reporting and design. One can easily understand how the high quality and unremitting efforts of its staff have won recognition by its peers in the industry.
When I first arrived at the office of Government Information Office (GIO) last month, I made it clear that the GIO's primary mission would be to "let the world see Taiwan and let Taiwan understand the world." This happens to be the aim of the Taipei Times as well. Being a long-time reader of the Taipei Times and an old friend of many of its core founders, I take delight in recommending it to foreign officials stationed in Taiwan as well as to foreign businessmen, researchers from think tanks and other guests from abroad. On this occasion, the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Taipei Times, I am honored to extend congratulations on behalf of the government, and wish the Taipei Times a prosperous future.
Lin Chia-lung
WHEELING AND DEALING? Hou You-yi, Ko Wen-je, Eric Chu and Ma Ying-jeou are under investigation for allegedly offering bribes for the other side to drop out of the race Taipei prosecutors have started an investigation into allegations that four top politicians involved in attempts to form a “blue-white” presidential ticket have contravened election regulations. Listed as defendants are Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲). The case stemmed from judicial complaints filed last month with the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office alleging that the KMT (blue) and the TPP (white) had engaged in bribery by offering money or other enticements
ELIGIBLE FOR JANUARY: All presidential candidates and their running mates meet the requirements to run for office, and none hold dual citizenship, the CEC said Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator and vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu (吳欣盈) is working with the Central Election Commission (CEC) to resolve issues with her financial disclosure statement, a spokesman for the candidate said yesterday, after the commission published the statements of all three presidential candidates and their running mates, while confirming their eligibility to run in the Jan. 13 election. Wu’s office spokesman, Chen Yu-cheng (陳宥丞), said the candidate encountered unforeseen difficulties disclosing her husband’s finances due to being suddenly thrust into the campaign. She is also the first vice presidential nominee to have a foreign spouse, complicating the reporting of
GOOD NEWS: Although open civic spaces are shrinking in Asia-Pacific countries and territories, Taiwan’s openness is a positive sign, an expert said Taiwan remains the only country in Asia with an “open” civic space for the fifth consecutive year, the Civicus Monitor said in a report released yesterday. The People Power Under Attack 2023 report named Taiwan as one of only 37 open countries or territories out of 198 globally, and the only one in Asia. Compiled by Civicus — a global alliance of civil society organizations dedicated to bolstering civil action — the ranking compiled annually since 2017 measures the state of freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression around the world. Researchers assign each country or territory one of five rankings describing the
NOT JUST CHIPS: Although semiconductor processes are on the list, it also includes military technology and post-quantum cryptography to combat emerging cyberthreats The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) yesterday released a list of 22 technologies it considers crucial to the nation’s security and competitiveness, including the 14-nanometer semiconductor process and advanced chip packaging. For the first time, the council made a list of core technologies with an aim of preventing secret information about those technologies being leaked to foreign countries, which could put the nation’s security and the competitiveness of local industries at risk. For years, local semiconductor companies have faced challenges from talent poaching and theft of corporate secrets by Chinese competitors, who are seeking to rapidly advance their technology capabilities through
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