■ LANGUAGE
Dispute rages over ‘Chinese’
The Presidential Office yesterday said it was not against calling Chinese “Huayu (華語)” or “Huawen (華文),” but said that the Executive Yuan must explain the government’s position to the public. Presidential Office Spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said “Guoyu (國語)” refers to the national and official language of a country, a principle that should be reflected in school textbooks. Chinese courses for elementary and junior high schools next year will still be called “Guoyuwen (國語文)” but be changed to “Huayuwen (華語文)” in guidelines for teachers and textbook writers and editors. Huang Kuang-kuo (黃光國), a national policy advisor, threatened to resign should the Ministry of Education decide to change “Guowen” to “Huawen.”
■ HEALTH
Kids stay home, get myopia
Nearly 90 percent of the school children visiting ophthalmology clinics recently have been diagnosed with worsening myopia because of excessive eye strain suffered during the summer break, an eye doctor said, adding that television and computer games could be to blame. Most students prefer indoor activities during the summer vacation, which tends to cause worsening of any existing eye problems, said Liao Chang-bin (廖昶斌), director of the Shu-tien Urology and Ophthalmology Clinic.
■ TRADE
Taipei, Manila talk pact
The Philippines is likely to sign a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan within a year on the basis of the recent trade pact between Taiwan and China, Philippine Deputy Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal said yesterday. Although the Philippines is a member of the ASEAN plus one grouping, which includes China, and has an economic agreement with Japan, it will benefit from an FTA with Taiwan, Cristobal said. “We hope to start formal FTA negotiations with Taiwan within a year,” Cristobal said. However, the Philippine government will have to consult with the country’s parliamentarians, academics and business leaders on the issue and close internal divisions before it could hold discussions with potential FTA partners, he said. In late June, then-Secretary of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry Jesli Lapus said that because the Philippines adheres to the “one China” policy, the issue of an FTA with Taiwan was quite sensitive.
■ RETAILING
Post office moves online
Chunghwa Post said yesterday it was considering branching out into online shopping. The company said in a presentation at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications that the move was part of a strategy to increase revenue as its mail delivery service shrinks because of the increased use of electronic mail and documents. Trumpeting the advantage of having 1,320 outlets nationwide and a comprehensive logistics network, the company said it was ready to compete with the main players in the market, including Yahoo-Kimo, PC-Home and PayEasy. To distinguish itself from competitors, Chunghwa Post said it would focus on the sale of health-related products, produce and special snacks in different localities. Based on preliminary plans, sellers would pay between 4 percent and 5 percent of the closing price as well as a NT$10,000 guarantee. The company said it would waive the annual NT$12,000 fee to use Chunghwa’s online shopping network for the first year, for those vendors that use the postal company’s boxes to package their products.
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended an open invitation to Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled concert in Shanghai. Hamasaki, 47, had been slated to perform on Saturday before organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing “force majeure,” a move widely viewed as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday said the city “very much welcomes” Hamasaki’s return and would continue to “surprise” her. Hamasaki, who has a large global fan base, including
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
VIGILANT: Enterovirus activity remains in the epidemic phase, with the CDC urging caregivers of infected children to be on the lookout for signs of severe illness Influenza activity is rising in neighboring countries, and, with temperatures forecast to drop this week, flu cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. Hospitals reported 87,162 visits for flu-like illnesses between Nov. 23 and Saturday, which remained about the same level as the previous week, but nine deaths and 24 cases with serious flu complications were also confirmed last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said. Flu activity reached a peak in late September before declining for eight consecutive weeks, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠)
RSS