Semiconductors: NEC, Toshiba cooperate
Japan's two largest semiconductor makers, NEC Corp and Toshiba Corp, will jointly develop next-generation memory chips that would reduce power consumption of electronics goods, a report said yesterday. The pair aim to establish mass-production technology of magnetic random access memories (MRAMs) by 2005, replacing dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and flash-memory chips, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said. They plan to invest more than ?10 billion (US$82 million) by early 2005 to pave the way for mass-production before foreign rivals, the economic daily said. MRAMs are expected to slash electricity consumption and boost the length of time notebook computers and mobile phones can operate on a single battery charge, it said.
Tax revenue: China reports increase
Chinese tax authorities reported an 11 percent rise in revenues in the first eight months of the year, boosted by a steep rise in individual tax payments, state media said yesterday. Tax revenues totaled 1.12 trillion yuan (US$135 billion) in the period from January to August, helped by a 24 percent increase in individual income tax revenues, the People's Daily reported. China has launched a campaign to fight tax evasion among high-income business people, artists and entertainers, with severe consequences for some celebrities. Movie actress Liu Xiaoqing was arrested in July on suspicion of tax evasion amounting to more than 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million). Authorities have had much less success getting the corporate sector to contribute to state coffers, as income tax payments from local companies rose only 4.3 percent in the first eight months of the year.
Fishing industry: Vietnam battles US move
Vietnam has condemned moves by the US shrimp industry to consider anti-dumping action against its seafood exporters, in the latest challenge to bilateral trade relations between the two former military foes. US fishermen and officials from eight southern and eastern seaboard states met last week to mull a lawsuit against up to 16 countries, claiming they were selling their shrimp exports in the US at below market prices. The shrimpers are to announce within the next two weeks if they will initiate legal action against Vietnam, China, Thailand -- the world's largest shrimp producer -- and other Central and Southern American countries. They claim that increasing quantities of imported pond-raised marine crustaceans have prompted a large decline in the price processing companies are paying for wild shrimp caught in US waters.
Wealth: Gates stays on top
Despite stock market woes that cost him US$11 billion this year, Microsoft boss Bill Gates remains the richest person in the US. According to Forbes magazine, Gates has US$43 billion in the bank. In March, when Gates had US$54 billion in the bank, he was considered the richest man in the world. The new list is in the Sept. 30 issue of Forbes, which publishes the ranking annually. Investor Warren Buffet has US$36 billion and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has US$21 billion). Together, the 400 richest people in the US have US$872 billion -- US$74 billion less than last year.
RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
‘EXTREME PRESSURE’: Beijing’s goal is to ‘force Taiwan to make mistakes,’ Admiral Tang Hua said, adding that mishaps could serve as ‘excuses’ for launching a blockade China’s authoritarian expansionism threatens not only Taiwan, but the rules-based international order, the navy said yesterday, after its top commander said in an interview that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could blockade the nation at will. The object of Beijing’s expansionist activities is not limited to Taiwan and its use of pressure is not confined to specific political groups or people, the navy said in a statement. China utilizes a mixture of cognitive warfare and “gray zone” military activities to pressure Taiwan, the navy said, adding that PLA sea and air forces are compressing the nation’s defensive depth. The navy continues to
MISSILE MISSION: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology said it does not make policy, but would be glad to obtain certification to assemble the missiles The Ministry of National Defense-affiliated Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is in the process of getting certified to assemble an additional 1,985 Stinger missiles on top of those from US arms sales, a senior defense official said yesterday. Washington is to send a team to Taiwan to evaluate the institute’s manufacturing capabilities and information security, said the official, who commented on condition of anonymity. The ministry initially bought 500 missiles for the army and navy, but later increased the order to 2,485 in response to an increase in Beijing’s military activities around the nation, and to meet the army’s urgent need
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