Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday that Taiwan's competitiveness has risen from 10th to fifth globally in the three and a half years that Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has been president.
At a meeting marking Architects' Day, Lu described Chen and herself as architects of the country who have helped the country progress.
According to Lu, a recent World Economic Forum (WEF) report ranked Taiwan's overall competitiveness fifth worldwide, compared with 10th in 2000.
The WEF also ranked Taiwan as the most competitive country in Asia for the second year in a row.
Lu said that architecture does not depend on materials alone, but requires a human touch as well.
She said she hopes that architecture in the future will depend on the interplay of high technology and the humanities; tradition and innovation; and localization and internationalization.
Meanwhile, Lu noted that at a time when countries are seeking to sign free trade agreements, Taiwan should accelerate its internationalization process to avoid being marginalized.
She said that Taiwanese people should not be pessimistic as they have created democratic and economic miracles in spite of having limited territory and resources, as well as having to face the diplomatic embargo imposed by Beijing.
Turning to China, Lu urged Taiwanese people not to forget the 496 missiles Beijing is aiming at Taiwan. Lu reminded the public that the number of missiles may rise to 650 in 2005.
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan yesterday was an independent event and part of a stress-adjustment process. The earthquake occurred at 4:47pm, with its epicenter at sea about 45.4km south of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 5.9km, the CWA said. The quake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in several townships in Yilan and neighboring Hualien County, where it measured 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the CWA said. Lin Po-yu (林柏佑), a division chief at the CWA's Seismological Center, told a news conference
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