■ Business
Economy 34th freest: study
Taiwan is the 34th freest economy in the world, according to a survey by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal. Taiwan falls into the category of "mostly free," with a score of 2.43, in the 2004 Index of Economic Freedom survey of 155 countries around the world. The survey has been conducted every year for the last decade. The nation finished ahead of South Korea and Japan in the Asia-Pacific region, but trailed Hong Kong and Singapore, which ranked first and second in the world, respectively, in terms of economic freedom. The index measures 50 variables in 10 broad categories, including trade policy, fiscal burden of the government, monetary policy, government intervention, foreign investment, banking, wages and prices, property rights, regulations and black market activity. On Taiwan's economy, the foundation said that after the legislative elections in December 2001, Taiwan's politicians have reached a new consensus on economic reforms. The financial reforms have been put in place, with regulations on investment in communications, power supply, finance and telecommunications being eased, and the banking system being strengthened.
■ Health
Quit helpline a success
Taiwan's state-run quit-smoking helpline has helped more than 10,000 people quit smoking, the helpline said yesterday. "Since the helpline was launched in January last year, we have counselled 23,227 smokers and helped 10,450 of them to quit smoking. The success rate is 45 per cent," Lou Ya-chun, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Smoke Helpline, said. The helpline, launched by the Department of Health, employs 50 counsellors to handle phone calls Monday through Saturday. The councellors decide if the helpline can help the caller or if the caller should seek help from a hospital. "Many hopsitals provide quit-smoking therapy, using nicotine replacement therapy, but we rely on the smokers' own initiative to quit smoking," Lou said.
■ Transport
Freeway No. 3 waives tolls
To celebrate the completion of Freeway No. 3, the nation's second north-south freeway, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) is waiving all tolls from 3pm today until Tuesday, Jan 13. The southern portion of the freeway from Linluo to Linpien in Pingtung County was opened to traffic yesterday, and the final portion of the freeway from Taichung County's Lungching township to the Kuaikuan interchange in Changhua County will be opened today. In addition, the MOTC also held a concert at the Ching Shui service station to commemorate the freeway's completion.
■ Diplomacy
Ally pledges support
Taiwan and Sao Tome and Principe have pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation, according to a joint communique signed between the two nations on Friday. Before the signing ceremony, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Sao Tome and Principe President Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes held talks together. Chen noted that during a state banquet held in Pingtung on Wednesday, one of the entrepreneurs present expressed concerns about the anti-malaria project in the West African nation and said he was willing to donate NT$2 million to fight malaria. Chen also said that as Menezes was visiting Taiwan during the time of a presidential campaign, he is sure to feel and witness the vibrant dynamism of the island.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is unlikely to attempt an invasion of Taiwan during US president-elect Donald Trump’s time in office, Taiwanese and foreign academics said on Friday. Trump is set to begin his second term early next year. Xi’s ambition to establish China as a “true world power” has intensified over the years, but he would not initiate an invasion of Taiwan “in the near future,” as his top priority is to maintain the regime and his power, not unification, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University distinguished visiting professor and contemporary Chinese politics expert Akio Takahara said. Takahara made the comment at a
Upon its completion next year, the new Tamkang Bridge (淡江大橋) in New Taipei City is to be an important landmark in Taiwan, alongside Taipei 101, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shi-kai (陳世凱) said today. The bridge is scheduled to be completed in December next year and open to the public in the first half of 2026, connecting New Taipei City’s Tamsui (淡水) and Bali (八里) districts. It is an asymmetric single-tower suspension bridge, nearly 70 stories tall, designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. The bridge aims to alleviate traffic in Tamsui and on the Guandu Bridge (關渡大橋), in addition to increasing the
EXERCISES: A 2022 article by a Chinese intelligence expert identified at least six People’s Liberation Army assault boats hidden inside the Hong Kong-flagged ship A Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship that had been docked at Taichung Port and which previously took part in Chinese military exercises departed from the port on Saturday, the Taiwan International Ports Corp’s Taichung branch said yesterday. The statement came in response to a post on the social media platform X by Taiwan-based journalist Chris Horton that said the ship, the SCSC Fortune, had been docked at the port since Tuesday and questioned whether Taiwan has any rules regarding foreign civilian vessels that have participated in People’s Liberation Army (PLA) exercises. Horton referenced a 2022 article by Chinese intelligence expert Rod Lee that
PROBLEMATIC: Popular hotpot restaurant chains were among the list of restaurants that failed the inspection and have been ordered to remove bad ingredients The Taipei Department of Health’s latest inspection of hotpot ingredients in hotpot restaurants resulted in a 16.7 percent failure rate. Eight vegetables had excessive pesticide residue and two other items had aflatoxin and excessive preservatives. As the weather is getting colder, more people eat at hotpot restaurants so a random inspection of ingredients was conducted in October to ensure food safety, the department said. Food and Drug Division Director Lin Kuan-chen (林冠蓁) said 60 different ingredients were tested: 15 high-risk vegetables, 15 processed food items, 10 soy-based food items, five meat items, five lamb items, five seafood items and five peanut powder
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