DIPLOMACY
Improved EU ties sought
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is to prioritize forging stronger ties with the EU this year, an effort that includes striving for a bilateral economic cooperation agreement. “The ministries of foreign and economic affairs will continue their efforts to seek the support of European countries to begin negotiating an economic agreement,” Department of European Affairs Director-General Zhang Ming-zhong (張銘忠) said at a news briefing yesterday. He said the economic agreement negotiations, along with a proposed bilateral investment pact, are among priorities seeking to develop relations with EU members this year. Zhang also said a research institute in the Netherlands has been commissioned to conduct a feasibility study on the economic cooperation agreement.
MILITARY
RIMPAC talks defended
The nation has taken every opportunity to inform the US of its hope to participate in the Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC), the world’s largest international maritime exercise, Deputy Minister of Defense Andrew Hsia (夏立言) said on Wednesday. “Every time we have meetings with US military officials, we express our desire to join the exercise,” he said at a hearing in the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee. Participation in the exercise would help increase Taiwan’s cooperation with the US and other countries in terms of international humanitarian assistance, he said. “The US is giving consideration to our request,” Hsia said. “We have also told the US that we are willing to start out as an observer.”
MILITARY
Warship name mooted
Representative to the US Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡) joked on Wednesday that if the nation names one of its new warships after his great-great-grandfather Shen Baozhen (沈葆楨), China would think twice about attacking the vessel. Speaking at a legislative hearing, the diplomat said his great-great-grandfather commanded high respect in China, having served as the viceroy of Liangjiang (Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Anhui provinces) during the latter parts of the Qing Dynasty and was known as the founder of the Chinese Imperial Navy at the time. On Dec. 18, US President Obama Barrack signed into law the Navy Vessels Transfer Act, which authorized the sale of four US Perry-class frigates to Taiwan. At the hearing, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) asked Shen Lyu-shun about news reports that one of the frigates was to be named after Shen Baozhen.
DIPLOMACY
French slain honored
France’s representative office observed a minute’s silence yesterday in honor of 12 people killed in an apparent terrorist attack at the office of a satirical magazine in Paris on Wednesday. Led by French representative to Taiwan Olivier Richard, foreign and local office staff gathered in the lobby in silent tribute to the people killed, who included four cartoonists at the magazine Charlie Hebdo and two police officers. A minute’s silence was also observed by Frederic Laplanche, head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taipei. At a news briefing, Zhang Ming-zhong (張銘忠), director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of European Affairs, said that he had sent a message of condolence to Richard upon learning of the incident. Meanwhile, other French nationals in Taipei and Greater Kaohsiung were also planning gatherings at which they would observe a minute of silence.
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators
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