INTERNATIONAL
Work holiday program opens
A reciprocal working holiday program between Taiwan and Israel is open for applications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. It allows up to 200 people aged between 18 and 30 from each country to work in the other country for up to one year. The agreement was signed by both sides on May 3, 2023, the ministry said. The program would give young people a chance to experience life in another country, learn about each other’s cultures, and deepen mutual understandings and friendships, it added. For more information on how to apply, visit https://www.youthtaiwan.net or https://new.embassies.gov.il/taipei/zh-hant, the ministry said.
Photo: Taipei Times
SOCIETY
Two dead in scooter crash
Two 19-year-old Filipino students enrolled at a technology university in Kaohsiung were killed in a scooter crash in the city’s Cijin District (旗津) early yesterday morning, police said. They were riding a scooter southbound on Cijin 3rd Road (旗津三路) at 4:30am when they struck a roadside curb, the police said. The passenger, identified by his Chinese surname Su (蘇) on his student ID, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, identified by his Chinese surname Ou (歐) on his student ID, was taken to the hospital, but was later declared dead. Police said the cause of the crash is still being investigated. Authorities urged motorcyclists to stay alert, maintain safe speeds and exercise caution, especially during periods of low visibility, such as at nighttime or early morning.
SOCIETY
Beloved nun dies
Sister Giusebbiana Frongia, an Italian-born nun who became a Taiwanese citizen in 2017, passed away on Friday at the age of 93 after dedicating 65 years to caring for underprivileged children in a remote village in Hsinchu County, Jhubei City Mayor Cheng Chao-fang (鄭朝方) said. Cheng announced the death of Sister Giusebbiana, who was also known by her Chinese name, Chao Hsiu-jung (趙秀容), on Friday. Born in Sardinia in 1932, Frongia came to Taiwan in 1960 and dedicated her life to educating indigenous children in Hsinchu County’s Jianshi Township (尖石) and missionary work, Cheng said, adding that she built a Catholic church and a kindergarten there and spent decades supporting and assisting the indigenous Atayal people. Calling her “Taiwan’s equivalent of Mother Teresa,” Cheng said Frongia — known as “Mumu” (mother in the Atayal language) — left a legacy of enduring love in Taiwan.
POLITICS
Pro-Taiwan party renamed
The pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (台灣團結聯盟) has officially changed its name to the Taiwan Solidarity Party (台聯黨), party Chairwoman Chou Ni-an (周倪安) said yesterday. Chou said that the party’s original name in Chinese is too much of a mouthful. The name change is intended to usher in a fresh start, she said. The party has stronger support in central and southern Taiwan, where many residents regard former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) as its spiritual leader, Chou said. Following Lee’s passing, many people mistakenly believed the party had disbanded or faded into obscurity, “but we are still here,” she said. The word “union” in the party’s former name sometimes led people to mistake it for a club or society, rather than a political party. Founded 24 years ago with the aim of bolstering Taiwan and its economy, the party has always prioritized the nation’s interests, she said, adding that its platforms differ from those of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
Taiwan has received more than US$70 million in royalties as of the end of last year from developing the F-16V jet as countries worldwide purchase or upgrade to this popular model, government and military officials said on Saturday. Taiwan funded the development of the F-16V jet and ended up the sole investor as other countries withdrew from the program. Now the F-16V is increasingly popular and countries must pay Taiwan a percentage in royalties when they purchase new F-16V aircraft or upgrade older F-16 models. The next five years are expected to be the peak for these royalties, with Taiwan potentially earning
STAY IN YOUR LANE: As the US and Israel attack Iran, the ministry has warned China not to overstep by including Taiwanese citizens in its evacuation orders The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday rebuked a statement by China’s embassy in Israel that it would evacuate Taiwanese holders of Chinese travel documents from Israel amid the latter’s escalating conflict with Iran. Tensions have risen across the Middle East in the wake of US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran beginning Saturday. China subsequently issued an evacuation notice for its citizens. In a news release, the Chinese embassy in Israel said holders of “Taiwan compatriot permits (台胞證)” issued to Taiwanese nationals by Chinese authorities for travel to China — could register for evacuation to Egypt. In Taipei, the ministry yesterday said Taiwan
POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT: Japan and the US are expected to hold in-depth discussions on Taiwan-related issues during the meeting next month, Japanese sources said The holding of a Japan-US leaders’ meeting ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to China is positive news for Taiwan, former Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association representative Hiroyasu Izumi said yesterday. After the Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide victory in Japan’s House of Representatives election, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to visit the US next month, where she is to meet with Trump ahead of the US president’s planned visit to China from March 31 to April 2 for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). Japan and the US are expected to hold in-depth discussions on Taiwan-related issues during the
‘LIKE-MINDED PARTNER’: Tako van Popta said it would be inappropriate to delay signing the deal with Taiwan because of China, adding he would promote the issue Canadian senators have stressed Taiwan’s importance for international trade and expressed enthusiasm for ensuring the Taiwan-Canada trade cooperation framework agreement is implemented this year. Representative to Canada Harry Tseng (曾厚仁) in an interview with the Central News Agency (CNA) said he was increasingly uneasy about Ottawa’s delays in signing the agreement, especially as Ottawa has warmed toward Beijing. There are “no negotiations left. Not only [is it] initialed, we have three versions of the text ready: English, French and Mandarin,” Tseng said. “That tells you how close we are to the final signature.” Tseng said that he hoped Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
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