Taiwan has expertise in the field of advanced computer chips, so with more cooperation with the EU, the democratic alliance could improve supply chain resilency, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told visiting representatives from the European Parliament in Taipei yesterday.
Bulgarian European Parliament member Andrey Kovatchev is leading a delegation to Taiwan, which includes Ivan Stefanec of Slovakia and Leopoldo Lopez Gil of Spain, who are in the body’s Taiwan Friendship Group.
They arrived in Taiwan on Monday and are to depart on Saturday.
Photo: CNA
Tsai thanked the delegation for the parliament’s long-term support and monitoring of the situation in the Taiwan Strait to uphold regional peace and stability, including by publishing open letters and organizing petitions to back Taiwan’s participation in the international community.
The European Parliament in the past few years has approved resolutions to improve its friendship and economic links with Taiwan, deepening the EU-Taiwan partnership, she said, adding that it is the third straight year that the EU has sent an official delegation to the nation.
“Taiwan and EU share the values of democracy and freedom,” Tsai said.
“We are facing the expansion of authoritarian regimes and changes in economic development around the world,” she said. “Therefore, Taiwan and the EU should continue to share their working experience and promote closer exchanges to expand economic and investment ties, including collaboration in advanced technology industries, to maintain regional security.”
With the European Chips Act approved by the European Parliament in September, Taiwan can undertake enhanced cooperation in semiconductor production and help strengthen its supply chain, she said.
The EU can bolster its semiconductor research and development efforts, and maintain security in the supply and production of computer chips, she added.
“Taiwan has a firm foundation of experience and capability in advanced computer chip manufacturing, so it is a trustworthy partner,” she said.
Both sides look forward to enhanced collaboration and together building a more resilient supply chain in the democratic alliance,” Tsai said, adding that Taiwan desires to sign more bilateral investment agreements.
Kovatchev said that the European Parliament supports Taiwan’s bid to take part in the international community.
It also opposes to any unilateral attempts to change the “status quo” across the Taiwan Strait, he said.
Additional reporting by Yang Yao-ju
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
RSS