Taiwan saw a small increase in the number of mixed marriages last year despite an overall drop in the number of new marriages, the latest report released by the Ministry of the Interior said.
The report showed that 117,099 couples tied the knot last year, a decline of 24.4 percent from 2008, mainly because of the economic downturn and the belief that last year, dubbed a “lonely phoenix year,” was not favorable to marriages.
However, marriages between Taiwanese and Chinese (including Hong Kong and Macau) and other nationalities totaled 21,914, up 185, or 0.85 percent, from 2008.
The number of mixed marriages as a percentage of the total number of new marriages recorded last year was 18.71 percent, a rise of 4.68 percentage points from 2008.
After the government began requiring immigration interviews for Chinese spouses in September 2003 and other nationalities in 2005 in an effort to block marriages of convenience, the ratio of mixed marriages had been falling, reaching 14.03 percent in 2008, down from the peak of 31.9 percent in 2003, the ministry said.
Among the mixed marriages last year, 13,294, or 60.66 percent, involved a spouse from China, Hong Kong or Macau, and 8,620, or 39.34 percent, involved a spouse from other foreign countries, mainly in Southeast Asia.
Compared with 2008, the number of Chinese spouses saw the largest increase, by 522, or 4.3 percent.
Among the total of 18,241 non-Taiwanese brides recorded last year, 12,603 were from China, Hong Kong or Macau; 3,614 were from Vietnam; and 739 came from Indonesia.
Of the 3,673 non-Taiwanese grooms, 726 were from Japan; 698 hailed from the US; and 691 came from China, Hong Kong or Macau.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
Tropical Storm Podul has formed over waters north-northeast of Guam and is expected to approach the seas southeast of Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The 11th Pacific storm of the year developed at 2am over waters about 2,660km east of Oluanpi (歐鑾鼻), Pingtung County — Taiwan's southernmost tip. It is projected to move westward and could have its most significant impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the CWA said. The agency did not rule out the possibility of issuing a sea warning at that time. According to the CWA's latest update, Podul is drifting west-northwest
RSS