Taiwan was 25th on last year’s Corruption Perceptions Index, its best ranking in 25 years, the Agency Against Corruption said in a statement yesterday.
Taiwan scored 67, the same as in 2023, but up three places from 28th among the 180 countries and regions evaluated by the index, which is published by Transparency International.
Taiwan was seventh among the 31 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region, behind Singapore (84), New Zealand (83), Australia (77), Hong Kong (74), Bhutan (72) and Japan (71), the agency said.
Photo: Tyrone Siu, Reuters
Taiwan’s score was higher than 86 percent of the countries and regions evaluated, the agency added.
The highest-ranked country was Denmark with a score of 90, followed by Finland (88), Singapore (84) and New Zealand (83), the report showed.
Luxembourg, Norway and Switzerland tied for fifth with scores of 81, it showed.
The global average was 43, it showed.
Transparency International’s office in Taiwan said that although Taiwan’s score was the same as in 2023, it rose in the rankings because Austria, France and the US dropped points.
However, Taiwan’s score in 2022 was 68, indicating that the fight for government integrity cannot rest on its laurels, the office said.
Taiwan was classified as a “complete democracy,” as well as having an “open” civil space, in which people can freely express their opinions and journalists can report without threat, it said.
However, the average score for complete democracies was 73, while countries with open civil spaces had an average score of 70, both of which Taiwan failed to achieve, posing a warning signal for the country, it said.
The index is compiled from a combination of at least three data sources from 13 corruption surveys and assessments, which are collected by reputable institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum, Transparency International’s Web site says.
Transparency International was established in 1993 and works globally to “stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society,” it says.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS