SOCIETY
Counting set to begin
The decennial national population and household census is set to begin this month, with 16,000 census workers being deployed to visit more than 1.2 million households, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said on Tuesday. The data collected on regional population distribution, household and family structures, long-term care and childcare services, education, employment, language use, and housing conditions would aid policymaking and provide the central and local governments with a more accurate understanding of the population, DGBAS Minister Chu Tzer-ming (朱澤民) said. People would not be asked to disclose personal information, such as bank account data, Chu added. The census is to be conducted from Sunday next week to Nov. 30, with forms available online from today, the DGBAS said.
ECONOMY
APRC vouchers mulled
The government is mulling to include foreign nationals who hold Alien Permanent Resident Certificates (APRC) in its economic stimulus program, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said on Friday. The Cabinet has agreed to open the Triple Stimulus Voucher program to the about 10,000 foreign permanent residents in Taiwan, Wang said, adding that a formal announcement would be made once the plan was finalized. Despite the program only running through the end of the year, Wang said that there would likely still be demand for the vouchers during the Christmas holiday season. She did not elaborate on the reason for the change in policy, but said that it would “stimulate spending.” The program, which was launched on July 15, allows citizens and their foreign spouses with resident certificates to purchase NT$3,000 worth of vouchers for NT$1,000.
EDUCATION
Deal inked with US school
The Ministry of Education signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Pittsburgh to conduct a research project on modern Taiwanese history, a the ministry said in a press release on Wednesday. The agreement was signed by the education division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, and the university’s Asian Studies Center. The three-year project, titled “Centering Taiwan in Global Asia,” is aimed at examining Taiwan’s role in the Asia-Pacific region, taking into account historical, cultural, political, economic and socio-developmental perspectives, the press release said, adding that courses and film screenings would also be held at the university. The ministry is continuing to seek cooperation with other top universities abroad, the press release said, adding that it also expects to renew an agreement with the University of California, Los Angeles to encourage its students to pursue studies on Taiwan-related topics.
CULTURE
Kinmen festival to open
This year’s Kinmen Ocean Art Festival is to take place in Kinmen County’s Lieyu Township (烈嶼) from today to Nov. 29 and feature activities that highlight local culture and tourism. A newly created cycling path would allow tourists to explore a series of land art creations near scenic spots in the township, the Kinmen Department of Tourism said. Land art turns landscapes into artworks, for example by using natural materials such as rocks and twigs, or through earthworks. Other events include concerts and art performances, as well as a fair selling local products, the department said. Activities are held daily from noon to 8pm.
‘VIRUS DIPLOMACY’: The nation’s expertise in handling COVID-19 was among the reasons that it should not be excluded from the WHO, the European Parliament said The European Parliament this week passed resolutions that support Taiwan’s bid to participate in the WHO and its intention to negotiate a trade pact with Taiwan. During its plenary session from Monday to Thursday, the parliament approved resolutions on the foreign policy consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak and the EU’s trade policy, parts of which were viewed as friendly toward Taiwan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a statement yesterday, the ministry welcomed the passage of the resolutions and thanked the parliament for its support for Taiwan. In the first resolution, the parliament cited Beijing’s increasing threats to Taiwan, the crackdown on
LOOPHOLES: The people behind biased media content produced by a Chinese network, likely without sending staff to Taiwan, remain anonymous, a source said Beijing’s latest attempt at psychological warfare through heavily biased online media is aimed at sowing discord and polarizing Taiwanese society, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said. The council’s comment came in response to Chinese network Southeast Television, which late last month began broadcasting an online program featuring commentary by Taiwanese unification supporters that authorities suspect was filmed illegally in Taiwan. To circumvent cross-strait regulations, the broadcaster collaborated with online service provider Baidu to air the series titles Diverse Voices From the Taiwan Strait (台海百家說). Only Taiwanese are shown on camera, without revealing the host, interviewer or production team. In one video, political commentator and
SUPPRESSION: Michael Tsai, a former defense minister, said that Beijing’s list of Taiwan independence advocates contravenes the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights The best way to respond to threats from China against Taiwan independence advocates is for the president to publicly reiterate Taiwan’s sovereignty, former minister of national defense Michael Tsai (蔡明憲) said on Sunday. Chinese media on Nov. 15 said that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was compiling “a list of stubborn Taiwanese separatists and will severely punish them in accordance with [China’s] Anti-Secession Law and hold them accountable for their actions for the rest of their lives.” Chinese media subsequently accused Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) of being a “first-rate war criminal,” because of his policy on mask exports. “The vast majority
Trial runs on the first line of Taichung’s MRT rail system could be further delayed after the Taichung City Government asked for more comprehensive safety checks following a malfunction. Trial runs on the Green Line began on Nov. 16, but were suspended after one of the trains on Nov. 21 reported a malfunction at the Taichung High Speed Rail Station terminal. Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corp (TMRTC) the same day said that all services would be suspended until the problem is resolved. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the train’s manufacturer, said that a US-made coupling connecting two carriages had broken, which the
RSS