Sat, Sep 26, 2020
‘VOICES OF JUSTICE’: The group’s application received support from the UK and the US, but a Chinese delegate was pushing politics, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wikimedia Taiwan yesterday called on China to take responsibility for intellectual property (IP) issues after a Chinese delegation pressed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to suspend a review of the Wikimedia Foundation’s application for observer status. The WIPO is a UN specialized agency committed to developing a balanced and effective global IP system. When its member states on Wednesday examined the foundation’s application for observer status, a Chinese delegate asked the assembly to suspend the discussion, non-governmental organization (NGO) Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) reported. “As of October 2015 this foundation had 41 recognized chapters and thematic organizations, one of which is Wikimedia Taiwan, established in the province of China,” the KEI quoted the Chinese delegate as saying. “There is reason to believe that this foundation has been carrying out political activities through its member organizations, which could undermine the state’s [China’s] sovereignty and territorial integrity, therefore, it is not fitting for the foundation to serve as an observer to this professional organization.” The delegate asked the assembly to suspend discussion of Wikimedia Foundation’s application “before the foundation could further clarify such questions as member organizations and Taiwan related positions,” the KEI reported. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday criticized the Chinese delegate. The delegate is seeking to impose political censorship on the Wikimedia Foundation and override professionalism with politics, the ministry said. The application was supported by the delegates from the UK and the US, showing that there are still “voices of justice” inside the global organization, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said in a statement. Reviewing NGOs’ applications for observer status is irrelevant to the so-called “one China” issue, Ou said, urging the WIPO to adopt a professional approach in examining the foundation’s application. The WIPO should not become an agent of Chinese expansionism in global organizations or an accomplice in subduing NGOs, otherwise it would fall
China’s foreign influence campaigns have damaged democratic institutions, but Taiwan will continue to work with the US and like-minded partners to counter Beijing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. The ministry made the statement in response to a speech by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday. Pompeo warned about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence campaigns targeting US states. For example, he said that Wisconsin Senate President Roger Roth earlier this year received a letter from Wu Ting (吳婷) — wife of Chinese Consul General in Chicago Zhao Jian (趙建) — asking him to pass a draft resolution praising China’s response to COVID-19. Although Roth did not accept her request, these types of solicitations are happening across the world and in statehouses throughout the US, Pompeo said. CCP campaigns targeting state-level officials have been in full swing for years and are increasing in intensity, Pompeo said. “Much of that activity revolves around pressing state governments not to recognize, trade with or otherwise engage with Taiwan,” he said, citing the case of a New York City Police officer and US Army reservist who this week was charged with allegedly acting as an agent of China. Pompeo urged senators to scrutinize their state pension funds and ensure their state colleges “aren’t improperly influenced by CCP-linked organizations like the Confucius Institutes and that pro-democracy students from China, Hong Kong or Taiwan studying in Wisconsin are not harassed.” “We want them here. Make sure they’re not being threatened by pro-Beijing elements on your campuses,” he added. China has been using any means it can to suppress Taiwan’s international space, while its foreign influence operations that threaten democratic institutions have sparked concerns from the US and other democracies, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said in a statement. Taiwan and the US share common values of freedom,
The commander of Andersen Air Force Base on Guam yesterday said that a Chinese air force video that seemed to show a simulated attack on his facility was “propaganda” designed to coerce and antagonize. The video showed H-6 bombers striking what appears to be Anderson, though it did not directly mention the base, as regional tensions rise and the US carries out a major biennial drill near Guam. “I’m always concerned about our ability to protect our service members and their families,” US Brigadier General Jeremy Sloane, Andersen’s commander, told reporters on a conference call about the ongoing Valiant Shield exercises. “The video itself — they know the timing of the exercise,” he said. “It’s a propaganda video ... although we’re always concerned about the protection of the island and the protection of our people, the video itself is just purely propaganda designed to coerce and antagonize us.” The Chinese government has not commented on the video, which lifted scenes from Hollywood movies such as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, to the amusement of posters on Chinese social media. It was released on Saturday last week on the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) Sina Weibo account, in the midst of the Valiant Shield drill, lasting from Monday last week to yesterday. Sloane said that Valiant Shield continued as scheduled. “The exercise itself is going to go on as planned, because it’s designed to make sure that we’re trained and ready to conduct ourselves across a variety of operations in the Indo-Pacific and to support our allies and partners,” he said. Guam is home to major US military facilities, including the air base, which would be key to responding to any conflict in the Asia-Pacific region. The video also came as China carried out a second day of drills near Taiwan, to express anger at the visit of a
Pro-democracy Hong Kong politicians yesterday staged a brief protest in the territory’s legislature to call for the release of 12 activists arrested by Chinese authorities at sea last month as they tried to flee to Taiwan by boat. Chinese police have said that the 12, who are all suspected of crimes in Hong Kong related to anti-government protests that erupted last year, were suspected of illegal border crossing. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called them “separatists.” Their detention in Shenzhen has become a lightning rod for criticism of Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed government. About a dozen opposition members of the territory’s legislature surrounded Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung (張建宗) before a meeting on mitigating the economic impact of COVID-19, and demanded he meet the detainees’ families and try to bring them back. “Release the 12 Hong Kongers immediately,” the politicians shouted, while holding up placards with the same message and delaying the start of the session. The failed bid by the 12 to flee to Taiwan has highlighted fears that many people feel in the semi-autonomous territory about what they see as China’s determination to end any push for greater democracy in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s government has said that it cannot interfere on their behalf and they must face legal proceedings in China before they can come home, although it says it is willing to provide “feasible” assistance to their families. “They were fugitives who committed serious crimes, skipped bail, violated laws in mainland waters,” Cheung said before leaving the room. “The immigration department and security bureau are the professional department to handle the matters. Senior management will continue to pay attention to the incident,” he added. Mainland authorities have said the legitimate rights of the 12 were being protected according to the law. In other news, a student arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of selling weapons online
CONSOLIDATION? Taiwan Thinktank deputy executive-general Doong Sy-chi said Beijing’s intimidation tactics are further alienating those who identify as Chinese Only 2 percent of respondents to a poll on constitutional amendments and national identity identified as Chinese, while 62.6 percent identified as Taiwanese, the Taiwan Thinktank said yesterday. Legislators have proposed amendments to the Additional Articles of the Constitution (憲法增修條文), which would change the definition of the nation’s territory, remove the Taiwan Provincial Government as an entity, prioritize the use of “Taiwan” for national groups at international events, and remove restrictions on defining the national emblem, national flag and national anthem. The poll showed that 80.5 percent of respondents agreed that the nation should participate as “Taiwan” at events organized by world bodies, while 12 percent disagreed. Ethnically, 62.6 percent identified as Taiwanese, while 2 percent identified as Chinese and 32.6 percent identified as both, the results showed. If they were forced to choose between Taiwanese and Chinese, 86 percent chose Taiwanese and 6.3 percent selected Chinese, while 1.1 percent adamantly maintained that they are both. When asked what name the nation should use at global events, 51.2 percent of respondents said “Taiwan,” while 33 percent said the “Republic of China,” 9.7 percent said “Chinese Taipei” (中華台北), 0.6 percent said “Zhongguo Taibei” (中國台北), and 2 percent said “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu,” while 0.1 percent said other names, 2.9 percent said they did not know or had no opinion, and 0.5 percent refused to answer. Under a 1981 agreement with the International Olympic Committee, the Republic of China Olympic Committee was renamed the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee. In 2008, China used “Zhongguo Taibei” instead of “Chinese Taipei,” saying that there was no difference between them in Chinese. To join the WTO in 2002, Taiwan used the name “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.” The poll results show a consolidation of Taiwanese national identity as Beijing’s intimidation tactics further alienate those who identify
‘INDENTURED SERVICE CONTRACT’: The Ministry of Culture has arranged legal representation for the artists and plans to file a class-action lawsuit against the firm The Ministry of Culture yesterday said that it would assist artists with litigation against an online art gallery and distributor, Global Art Net, which used contracts to allegedly bilk the artists out of commissions on all of their sales. Ink painter Liu Kuo-sung (劉國松) first brought the issue to light four years ago when he discovered that Global Art Net was selling reprints of his work, the ministry told a news conference. Liu, Wu A-sun (吳炫三) and other alleged victims took part in the news conference. “I was going to take them to court, but they produced a contract, that I signed, which authorized them to sell all my work — current, past and future — and take 40 percent of the profit,” Liu said. The contract included official and private deals, Liu added. Likening the contract to an “indentured service contract,” Liu claimed that more than 500 artists had signed contracts with the Web site, which demands a 40 percent commission from sales of their work. Investigations have shown that Global Art Net owner Lin Chu-nan (林株楠) might have begun defrauding artists as early as 2011. Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te (李永得) yesterday extended an apology to all of the alleged victims, saying that the ministry learned about the company’s actions too late and could not deliver justice before now. The ministry has asked prosecutors to urge the court to expedite a review of the case. The ministry has arranged for the artists to have legal representation and plans to file a class-action lawsuit against Global Art Net, in the hope of annulling the contracts by declaring them illegal. The case is “absurd,” Lee said. “If we can’t defend and protect our artists’ rights, what right do we have to talk about the development of national arts and culture?” he added. Lee called on other artists who might have been deceived
CONSENSUS: Nine administrative directives on the contested import plan were handed to five legislative committees, after the DPP and KMT had agreed about how to proceed Nine administrative directives related to allowing US imports of pork containing ractopamine residue were submitted to a joint session composed of five committees at the Legislative Yuan for review amid a cross-party consensus yesterday. The administrative directives were introduced after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Aug. 28 announced that the government would lift bans on US pork containing ractopamine residue and US beef from cattle more than 30 months old. The policy is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1 next year. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government has planned to allow the import of US pork through an administrative order that, according to the Administrative Procedure Act (行政程序法), requires a 60-day period for public comment before it can go into effect. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has said that the issue must undergo a further, substantial review by the relevant legislative committees. Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday said that he is not opposed to the proposed policy being put to review at legislative committees. As the DPP caucus yesterday did not object, cross-caucus consensus was reached to put the issue to review at the legislative Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, the Economics Committee, the Foreign and National Defense Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Education and Culture Committee. The administrative directives include regulations on levels of ractopamine residues in pork products; the labeling of the origin of pork products to be sold to consumers and food suppliers; quarantine and examination procedures for imported beef; and rules for imports of US and Canadian beef. Meanwhile, the Council of Agriculture is looking for the best logo for Taiwanese pork products, with winning logos from the preliminary round now in an online vote. The vote would run until 6pm on Monday next week, the council said. Additional reporting by Chien Hui-ju and CNA
The leaders of Haiti and Nauru on Thursday thanked Taiwan for its help in fighting COVID-19 and voiced general support for Taiwan on the third day of the general debate of the 75th UN General Assembly. Five of the nation’s 15 diplomatic allies have so far spoken up on Taiwan’s behalf during the annual debate, which is to last until Tuesday. Haitian President Jovenel Moise thanked all partner countries that have helped Haiti manage the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the Republic of China (Taiwan). “It is time for the world to recognize Taiwan’s right to existence and give the country its rightful place in international forums, especially at the UN,” he said. Nauruan President Lionel Aingimea expressed his appreciation to “genuine friends” for their valuable support in responding and containing pandemic. As those friends, he named Taiwan, Australia, India, Japan, the US and New Zealand. Aingimea said that the UN Charter was drafted based on the principles of universality and equality, and that it was not enough to proclaim the virtues of multilateralism if UN member states failed to strengthen their commitment to upholding the charter’s core principles. “We therefore call on the United Nations to fulfill our commitments to the human family and ensure that the 23.5 million people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) enjoy the same rights as the peoples of other nations,” he said. “While the world grapples with the COVID pandemic, the people of Taiwan must not be left behind, nor should its exemplary response to the global pandemic be ignored,” he said. “Taiwan is an important partner in the world’s response to this pandemic. More than ever today we need inclusivity and solidarity in responding to the global challenges.” Both leaders addresses were pre-recorded. None of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies spoke on
NO ‘SIGNIFICANT RISK’: Frequent ADIZ incursions by Chinese aircraft could be seen as messages aimed at a domestic audience and at the US, the experts said China has been intensifying its military maneuvers in the region, including sending warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), because the leadership in Beijing faces domestic pressure, academics said on Thursday. Lin Ying-yu (林穎佑), an assistant professor at National Chung Cheng University’s Institute of Strategic and International Affairs, said that pressure on the leadership in Beijing has been growing, especially since it initiated large-scale military reforms in 2016. Reforms of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) included merging several units and scrapping others, Lin said, adding that the PLA is trying to show its members and the Chinese public that the reforms have successfully beefed up China’s military might. The Taiwan Strait is seen as a perfect venue for the PLA to demonstrate its reformed might and for Beijing to ease internal pressure, Lin said. As Taiwan has in the past few months strengthened its ties with the US, China’s military has raised the frequency of maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, he said, adding that this included the PLA Air Force making incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossing the Taiwan Strait’s median line. Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a senior analyst at the Institute of National Defense and Security Research, agreed with Lin that the moves were to demonstrate strength to the Chinese public. Crossing the Strait’s median line is an attempt to demonstrate strength, but it does not significantly increase the risk of all-out war in the region, Su said, adding that the PLA is operating in a gray area. The PLA has also engaged in several small-scale exercises in open seas or near China’s coast, Su said, adding that these must be understood as propaganda, rather than as genuine military threats. The crossings of the median line can also be understood as reactions to the US’ role in the
The High Court on Thursday sentenced a retired army lieutenant colonel surnamed Lan (藍) to two years and three months in jail for supplying China with the names and activities of personnel at intelligence agencies. The verdict reversed an earlier ruling of a suspended sentence. Lan, 60, was convicted of contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法). In May, the Pingtung District Court found Lan guilty, handing him a term of two years and six months, but suspended the sentence. The Pingtung court said that Lan’s spying activities took place in 2005 and 2006, adding that his activities “did not cause real damage to Taiwan’s national security.” The High Court ruled that “the penalty was too lenient and has no deterrent effect,” adding that “the leaked intelligence materials were highly sensitive and resulted in serious harm to Taiwan’s national security.” His sentence includes a mandatory two-year prison term, while the further three month sscan be commuted to a fine. Lan served in the Republic of China Army Logistics Command and held positions at the Ministry of National Defense before teaching at several military-affiliated universities. He retired in 1996. Investigators said that Lan in 2004 went to China to work for a Taiwanese business, with stints in Shanghai, Fuzhou, Shenzhen and Nanning. Lan befriended Chinese government officials, including two men from intelligence agencies surnamed Li (李) and Huang (黃), the investigators said. Li and Huang plied Lan with money and arranged sexual services in exchange for espionage work, the investigators said. Lan returned to Taiwan for several months in 2005 and 2006, and obtained highly sensitive materials, including information on four officers at the National Security Bureau and the Military Intelligence Bureau: their ranks, work units, details of office and field activities, as well as their education and training background, the investigators said. He also attempted to
ANTIBACTERIAL: The Academia Sinica team’s success made them stand out among more than 700 teams applying to participate in this week’s Taiwan Innotech Expo Academia Sinica research has found that collagencin, an antibacterial peptide from fish collagen, shows great potential in the treatment of burns by accelerating healing and helping to prevent scarring. Five years ago, a team — led by Research fellow Chen Jyh-yih (陳志毅) of the Marine Research Station at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology — found that fish have special body mucus that helps wounds to heal underwater and prevents bacterial infections. Following up on this research, the team found that collagencin from groupers kills bacteria by dissolving their outer and plasma membranes, Chen said on Thursday, adding that the peptide also has mechanisms that infiltrate and disrupt the bacterial cells’ lipid bilayers. In stage 1 of a four-part experiment, collagencin proved to have healing properties on mice burns, which healed in seven to 14 days without scarring, while in stage 2, collagencin similarly helped to heal pig burns, which healed in about 25 days, he said. The success of the first two stages made the team stand out among more than 700 research teams applying to participate in the Taiwan Innotech Expo, an annual exhibition of innovative technologies hosted by the government in Taipei, which opened on Thursday and closes today, he said. In stage 3, collagencin is to be tested on monkeys and the last stage is the clinical trials, Chen said. If all of the stages go well, a collagencin ointment would be developed that could treat burn victims, but it could take about five years to develop the ointment, Chen added. Common causes of death for those with severe burn injuries include decreased blood flow, abnormal nutritional support, and wound sepsis or other bacterial infections, Chen said, adding that collagencin-based treatments help heal wounds by promoting the growth of new blood vessels and preventing scarring. In related news, the Council of Agriculture
CRACKDOWN: The heavy penalty is seen as proof of the health department’s intention to curb illegal manufacturing and to serve as a warning to others The Kaohsiung Department of Health yesterday fined Jingxin Technology Co NT$2 million (US$68,318) for setting up unlicensed mask production equipment, while the Ministry of Labor said that it would send teams to regularly inspect mask facilities after it received complaints of breaches of labor laws. The Kaohsiung-based Jingxin Technology is part of the government’s national alliance of approved mask manufacturers, but more production equipment had been set up at two off-site locations, which were not licensed, the Ciaotou District Prosecutors’ Office said. Complaints led to the raids, which uncovered machines to equip 22 additional production lines. Kaohsiung health officials said that Jingxin Technology was fined for breaches of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (藥事法). The heavy penalty is seen as proof of the health department’s intention to crack down on illegal manufacturing and to serve as a warning to others. The company could make more revenue by producing masks beyond its government quota. Alliance members have all agreed to conditions set by the government regarding subsidized pricing for fabric and other needed production materials, and guaranteed sales amounts under the government’s rationing program. The owners of Jingxin Technology are a father and son surnamed Hsu (許). After being questioned on Thursday, the father was released on bail of NT$300,000 and the son on bail of NT$200,000, prosecutors said, adding that they are expected to be charged with breaches of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act. Yesterday, the father denied that he intended to illegally produce masks, saying that the off-site locations were only pilot projects for testing production methods and manufacturing sample masks, which were not to be sold in retail outlets. Ministry of Labor officials have said that they have instructed inspectors to make regular rounds of all mask manufacturing facilities. Workers have complained that they were not properly paid for overtime work at mask facilities, as well as other contraventions of the
A Philippine national who entered Taiwan two weeks ago has tested positive for COVID-19, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday, adding that the man contracted the infection before he arrived in Taiwan. The new case brings the nation’s tally to 510 infected people, since Taiwan reported its first COVID-19 infection on Jan. 21. The man, who is in his 30s and came to work in Taiwan, was tested upon his arrival on Sept. 10, Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥), who also serves as the CECC’s spokesman, told a news briefing in Taipei. The man had no symptoms at the time and his first COVID-19 test returned negative, Chuang said, adding that he was subsequently placed in a government-designated quarantine facility. The man experienced diarrhea on Sunday last week and on Monday, and was tested again on Thursday, the day before his mandatory 14-day quarantine would have ended, Chuang said, adding that the second test returned positive and he was transferred to a negative pressure room at a local hospital. Chuang said that since Sept. 7, migrant workers arriving from the Philippines and Indonesia must be tested on arrival and again before the end of their quarantine, as cases in those countries have surged. The CT value of his polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was above 33.6 and his test for IgG antibodies also returned positive, suggesting that he had contracted the disease about three weeks earlier, before his arrival in Taiwan, Chuang said. IgG antibodies generally start appearing two to three weeks after the infection, Chuang added. To date, 418 of the nation’s cases have been classified as imported. Twenty-three remain hospitalized, while 480 have recovered and seven died, CECC data showed. Taiwan’s last domestic infection was recorded on April 12.
Elderly people are encouraged to exercise more and increase their intake of vitamin C, a Taipei doctor has said, citing the high number of elderly Taiwanese with osteoporosis. A growing number of people aged 50 or older, most of them women, have osteoporosis, family physician Shen Yi-ling (沈怡伶) said, adding that in serious cases the condition can lead to a fractured hip or femur. “Bone deterioration is a chronic condition that worsens with age,” she said. From 2016 to last year, the prevalence of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol in Taiwan steadily decreased from 25 percent to 10 percent, but the number of those with osteoporosis remains high, at nearly 30 percent of those aged 50 or older, Shen said. “It is clear that Taiwanese are eager to prevent high blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as diabetes, but they haven’t been as aggressive in dealing with osteoporosis,” she said, adding that most people think that bone degeneration is an inevitable result of aging. If older people with osteoporosis fall and fracture a femur or hip, it is a problem, because they can contract an infection while they are bedridden, she said. People at an advanced age are at a high risk of dying within a year of a bone fracture, Shen added. People at the highest risk of death or other complications resulting from a broken bone are those with a body mass index of less than 18.5, who do not exercise enough, and those with a history of bone fractures, long-term steroid use, smoking or drinking alcohol, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or thyroid problems, she said. After menopause, women’s bones tend to degrade faster, and women are especially affected by osteoporosis as they tend to live longer than men, Shen said. People taking medication for osteoporosis are
Taroko National Park administrators on Wednesday advised the public to avoid climbing Tengu Rock (天狗岩) after receiving reports that the ledge has become unstable. Traffic at the formation on Haishushan (海鼠山) skyrocketed after its rediscovery in 2015 by hikers who recognized the outcropping from postcards issued by the Port of Hualien during the Japanese colonial era. Academics and hikers had long been intrigued by the unique rock formation that was featured on a series of postcards issued between 1912 and 1926, and frequently appeared in official and literary records of the time. However, as no one had found the location of the outcropping, it was believed to have been destroyed in a natural disaster. At the time, a hiker surnamed Cheng (鄭) told reporters: “Neither a typhoon nor an earthquake has destroyed it, but I am afraid that as soon as this news breaks, Tengu Rock will not be able to withstand so many hikers.” Hualien historian Yeh Po-chiang (葉柏強) on Tuesday posted a message on Facebook to alert the public about the rock’s condition, with the post receiving more than 500 shares in one day. “A hiker recently discovered that after they walked out onto the rock to take a photograph, it started shaking. If access is not restricted, Tengu Rock will soon collapse, and it will have been destroyed by our hands,” Yeh wrote. Some hikers doubted the veracity of Yeh’s statement, saying that when they visited a few months ago, the rock was stable. However, another hiker, surnamed Yeh (葉), confirmed that when they visited four days prior, they saw the rock shake when a hiker weighing about 80kg climbed onto it. The formation is relatively remote and difficult for the average hiker to access, park administrators said, pledging to send experts to investigate as soon as the weather permits. As they have not yet gathered any
DIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: The Web-only bank, which is still waiting for a license, plans to offer deposit, debit card and small loan services by the end of the year Web-only Next Bank (將來銀行) aims to work with major online banking services, such as Taishin International Bank’s (台新銀行) Richart service or the digital service offered by O-Bank Co (王道商業銀行), general manager Liu I-cheng (劉奕成) said yesterday. “I admire the two banks and think they are doing a fine job, so my goal is to at least partner with them after launching our business,” Liu said at a forum organized by the Taiwan Fintech Association in Taipei. Next Bank is the first among the nation’s three virtual banks to clearly announce its plans regarding competition with the nation’s existing banks. Liu did not elaborate how many clients Next Bank aims to attract in the first year. Taishin’s Richart online service had 2.11 million digital savings accounts as of the end of June, the highest among all banking Internet services, while O-Bank ranked fourth with 441,945 accounts, Financial Supervisory Commission data showed. Next Bank would rely heavily on big data analysis to set up a competitive business strategy and understand its clients’ needs, because as a virtual bank it is not allowed to set up physical branches and it would not be able to interact with customers face-to-face, Liu said. Given foreign virtual banks’ vibrant approach to their customers, such as cooperating with coffee shops to enable customers to buy financial products using the devices at cafes, a similar trend is likely to take place in Taiwan, Liu said. “As Microsoft’s Windows Live Messenger was replaced by newer social network platforms, we virtual banks also have to keep in mind that there will always be new rivals and new competition,” Liu said. Next Bank plans to offer deposit, debit card and small loan services by the end of this year. In the first quarter of next year it plans to provide foreign-exchange and remittance services for migrant workers to promote inclusive
Formosa Plastics Group (FPG, 台塑集團) yesterday announced that it is to form a joint venture in Taiwan with Japanese chemicals company Tokuyama Corp to manufacture and sell high-purity isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to the electronics industry. FPG chairman and president Jason Lin (林健男) is to be chairman of the new venture, which is to be called Formosa Tokuyama Advanced Chemicals Co, while Tokuyama Corp general manager Haruyoshi Honda is to be general manager. FPG and Tokuyama Corp are each to hold a 50 percent stake in the new company. The companies have invested NT$1 billion (US$34.16 million) of capital into the new venture. Tokuyama Corp said in a statement that the company’s board of directors approved the joint venture at a meeting yesterday. FPG confirmed the formation of the joint venture in a filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange. “Due to the advances made in 5G, IoT [Internet of Things], AI [artificial intelligence] and other technologies, the semiconductor market is expected to continue expanding over the medium and long term, and accordingly demand for high-purity IPA is forecast to gradually increase,” Tokuyama said in the statement. The joint venture would allow the company to “immediately respond” to the needs of its customers in Taiwan, the Japanese firm said. Tokuyama’s IPA is made for the electronics industry using a “proprietary method” to achieve a “purity level of over 99.99 percent,” according to the company’s Web site. “This product is ideal for cleaning and drying electronic devices, including semiconductors and glass substrates,” the Web site says. Tokuyama is a supplier of high-purity chemicals to a number of leading Taiwanese semiconductor companies, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電), United Microelectronics Corp (聯電) and Winbond Electronics Corp (華邦電子), according to a Ministry of Economic Affairs statement last year. Tokuyama established its first factory in Taiwan in Hsinchu in 1996, followed by a NT$600 million
EYE ON WALL STREET: With the US presidential election causing uncertainty, local investors should stay alert about movements on US markets, an analyst said The TAIEX yesterday closed lower after a volatile session amid concerns about further selling by foreign institutional investors, who are continuing to lock in gains, dealers said. While many large-cap shares came under pressure, the government is believed to have entered the market to pick up select bargains in the financial sector to give support to the broader market, they said. The TAIEX closed down 31.47 points, or 0.26 percent, at 12,232.91, on turnover of NT$209.042 billion (US$7.14 billion). “Although the Dow Jones [Industrial Average] rebounded yesterday, the gains were not strong enough, prompting many investors to think that volatility on US markets will continue amid lingering concerns over a lack of new stimulus measures to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hua Nan Securities Co (華南永昌證券) analyst Kevin Su (蘇俊宏) said. “As long as US markets encounter more losses, foreign institutional investors are expected to cut their holdings on the local equity market, so such fears led many investors to become reluctant to chase prices and even shift to the sell side after today’s initial gains,” he said. Foreign institutional investors yesterday sold a net NT$284 million of shares, Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed. “The bright spot for today was that some large shares, in particular TSMC, benefited from late-session buying,” Su said. “I expect the buying came from government-led funds in a bid to cap the losses and boost investor sentiment.” Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) shares rose 0.24 percent to close at NT$424, after fluctuating between NT$421 and NT$428. With TSMC bouncing back from its early lows, the electronics sector rallied to close down 0.65 percent at 583.90, after earlier hitting 579.33. Shares of IC packaging and testing services provider ASE Technology Holding Co (日月光投控) also rebounded from a low of NT$58.2 to close at NT$58.9, up 1.2 percent. Shares of iPhone assembler Hon
A fire led to the deaths of three men this week because of technicalities, government failures and money, but it was not the first time such a tragedy has occurred and probably will not be the last. A host of questions have been raised in the wake of the blaze at the illegal long-term care facility in Taipei’s Neihu District (內湖) — a fire that could have easily occurred in many other cities and towns across Taiwan. Many of those questions involve apportioning blame, and it would be too easy — and ineffective in the long run — to place all the blame on the woman who was operating the unregistered facility. Yes, she should face charges under the Long-Term Care Services Act (長期照顧服務法) and the Senior Citizens Welfare Act (老人福利法), but what about the failures on the part of the police, Taipei city bureaucrats and contractors, and the families of the men who died? The Ziyun Borough (紫雲) warden called the city’s 1999 hotline in August and September last year, asking if the facility was legal, which prompted a visit by a health department inspector, the warden and police officers to the address on Sept. 17 last year, which was the appropriate response. However, as the house was locked and no one responded to the doorbell, the group left after deciding that the police would monitor the building for “suspected illegal behavior,” because, as Taipei Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) said on Wednesday, “there appeared to be no imminent danger.” Yet there was no follow-up, at least not until the handwringing and finger-pointing started after the fire was extinguished on Tuesday afternoon. There were reports of a building being used as a long-term care facility for disabled people, but finding it locked up and no one responding to the doorbell and knocking, the assumption is
Following the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) decision at its National Congress on Sept. 6 to uphold the so-called “1992 consensus” to govern cross-strait relations, KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) on Sept. 8 invited former legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to lead the party’s delegation to this year’s Straits Forum in Xiamen, China. On Sept. 10, a program on China Central Television (CCTV) showed a headline about Wang and the delegation that read: “With the [Taiwan] Strait on the brink of war, this man [Wang] is coming to the mainland to sue for peace.” The headline sparked a public outcry, and the KMT promptly fell flat on its face. When the party called for an apology from CCTV — a mouthpiece of the Chinese government — but failed to receive one, it decided not to send a delegation “as a political party” to the forum. Even former KMT acting chairman Lin Rong-te (林榮德), who originally planned to attend the forum as an “individual,” came under fire and consequently canceled his “personal” trip. Intense criticism also came from within, with grassroots KMT members and local representatives denouncing the party even more fiercely than outsiders. While it is unclear whether the headline had been intended to have the effect it did, the CCTV interlude has allowed the public to clearly see that the KMT’s and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) wishful thinking of achieving consensus with each other is nothing but a beautiful mistake. Being so sensitive to the phrase “suing for peace,” the KMT apparently shares more common ground with Taiwanese society. The CCP’s main tactics against Taiwan are: to isolate the primary enemy, join forces with the secondary enemy and form a “united front” with insiders. At this point, the primary enemies are the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), along with other Taiwan-centered
Rapid advances over the past few years in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Rocket Force have expanded the power projection capability of its guided missile force, meaning that if a war were to break out with China, all of Taiwan’s airbases, ports, radar stations and military command centers would come under a devastating, sustained attack by PLA missiles. After having been pulverized by wave after wave of PLA guided missiles, the military would probably no longer be capable of mustering a robust aerial counterattack. LOW-COST SOLUTION Given the elevated threat from the PLA’s Rocket Force, in addition to purchasing new types of fighter jets, the government should consider converting commercial container ships into missile platforms to provide an additional defense against PLA missiles. Due to the relatively low production cost of container ships and the broadly non-sensitive nature of the equipment that would need to be installed, the government could require a specific number of container ships to be converted for military use, equipping them with the capability to carry anti-aircraft and cruise missiles. These ships could be used in “hit-and-run” attacks against the enemy, which would help to increase the military’s ability to survive on the battlefield. Equipping container ships would have several advantages: First, container ships are relatively easily to conceal. In a wartime situation, either side would focus their attention on neutralizing the threat from military vessels. As civilian container ships are more difficult for militaries to identify than navy warships, when loaded with missiles, they would become a lethal weapon to defend against an attacking Chinese military. Second, the PLA would have difficulty detecting whether a converted container ship was carrying missiles, giving them a higher chance of survival than military surface ships. LONG-RANGE STRIKE If Taiwan could fit out about four to eight container ships of differing sizes and types to carry
‘WINNING TIME’: Denver’s Michael Malone said that his side have to improve on defense as they face play-off elimination for the seventh time this post-season The Los Angeles Lakers are a victory away from returning to the NBA Finals and only another comeback from 3-1 down by the Denver Nuggets can stop them. Anthony Davis scored 34 points and LeBron James had 26 as the Lakers beat the Nuggets 114-108 on Thursday in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals. “We played great down the stretch, we played great overall,” Davis said. “Still some things that we can fix if we want to put this thing away.” Davis got the Lakers off to a fast start with his scoring and James helped them finish it with his defense, forcing Jamal Murray into some late misses after the guard had kept the Nuggets in it with an array of high-difficulty baskets. “I knew it was winning time and Jamal had it going,” James said. James added nine rebounds and eight assists, and the Lakers had 12 offensive rebounds for a 25-6 advantage in second-chance points. “This is the Western Conference finals, Game 4. If you can’t help us on the defensive end, maybe you shouldn’t be on the floor,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “We have to be able to lock in, finish with a rebound. We had too many empty possessions tonight.” Game 5 is to be played today, when the Lakers can reach the NBA Finals for the first time in a decade. Davis said he expects to be fine for it after rolling his ankle in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets face elimination for the seventh time in the bubble. They were down 3-1 against the Utah Jazz in the first round and climbed out of the same hole against the Los Angeles Clippers in the West semi-finals. However, they could not come back in this game, getting within one point in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but constantly turned back
Australia batsman and cricket commentator Dean Jones, who had been covering the Indian Premier League from Mumbai, has died after a heart attack aged 59, broadcaster Star India said on Thursday. “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing away of Mr Dean Mervyn Jones,” the company said in a statement. “He died of a sudden cardiac arrest. We express our deep condolences to his family and stand ready to support them in this difficult time.” One of Australia’s most popular cricketers, Jones played 52 Tests, scoring 3,631 runs, and 164 one-day internationals in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the World Cup in 1987. The attacking player was renowned for his exploits in the 50-over game, where he scored 6,068 runs. The Victorian’s most memorable innings was in 1986, when he struck 210 in the blistering heat of Chennai during cricket’s second-ever tied Test. “One hour into day 2 I knew I was in trouble,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “I didn’t drink anything apart from a cup of tea or coffee. We didn’t know anything about dehydration and rehydration back then. Then I just batted from memory basically. I can’t remember much from 120 on.” Later he coached in the Pakistan Super League and was also a widely traveled commentator. “Dean Jones was a hero to a generation of cricketers and will forever be remembered as a legend of this great game,” Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings said in a statement. “This is a truly sad day. Deano’s loss will be felt not just at home in Australia, but across the globe.” Jones’ former Australia captain, Allan Border, said he was “genuinely shattered” by the news. “He was simply just a good mate that always had my back. We’d stayed close post-cricket and only talked this morning about a fun project that we were going
Keysha Atiki is only 10, but she can already lift her own weight as she trains with a weightlifting coach who once competed in the Olympics — her grandmother. Mercy Obiero was only the second African woman to compete in weightlifting at the Olympics, representing her native Kenya in 2012. Now retired from professional competition, the 42-year-old works as a coach, and her daughter and granddaughter are hoping to follow in her footsteps. “I feel very happy and proud to be training my daughter and granddaughter at the same time,” Obiero told reporters at her house in eastern Nairobi after a training session at a nearby gym that started with star jumps in front of a mirror. Her 12-year-old daughter Chanel, a slight 29kg, can already lift up to 60kg. She squats and lifts as Obiero encourages her. “My mum has been motivating me. She went to the Olympics and I saw her on TV. Since then, I said one day I will go to the Olympics,” Chanel said. Obiero has been weightlifting for 20 years, and said that she has overcome plenty of skepticism about women in the sport. She was a hockey player and athlete before her brother introduced her to weightlifting in 1999. “I got a lot of discrimination especially in the gym — the men feel like you should not be doing this, but with time, you get over it,” she said, her medals glinting in the light. Obiero said that the COVID-19 pandemic, which in March prompted officials to close schools, had brought the family closer and given the children more time to train. She watches proudly as her granddaughter Keysha — a slight 32kg — prepares to lift 30kg. Obiero steps forward to support her, watching her in the mirrored walls of the gym. After the workout, she is glowing. “My grandmother is my role model,” said
Eight teams in the National League are vying for four post-season spots heading into the regular season’s final weekend. The Marlins, Phillies, Cardinals, Reds, Brewers and Giants are the top teams still in contention — and they are packed tightly with slots available for one team from the NL East, another from the NL Central and then two wild cards. The Mets (26-31) and Rockies (25-31) are mathematically eligible, but need to win out just to have a shot. Only one playoff spot remains open in the American League, and Michael Brantley and the Astros are on the verge of clinching it. BLUE JAYS 4, YANKEES 1 Hyun Jin-ryu (5-2) pitched seven shutout innings as Toronto clinched their first post-season spot since 2016, beating the Yankees on Thursday and further damaging New York’s chances of hosting a first-round playoff series. New York lost for the fourth time in five games and remained two games behind the slumping White Sox for the fourth seed. Toronto secured at least an AL wild-card spot and ensured their eighth trip overall to the post-season. The Blue Jays trail the Yankees by two games for second place in the AL East. Both teams have three games remaining. ROCKIES 5, GIANTS 4 Raimel Tapia hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 11th inning as Colorado rallied to keep San Francisco from gaining ground in the National League wild-card race. Jairo Diaz earned his fourth save by getting Austin Slater to ground into a game-ending double play. The Giants (28-28), winners of three of their past five, dropped behind idle Cincinnati for the first NL wild card. INDIANS 5, WHITE SOX 4 Jose Ramirez delivered a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh inning as Cleveland beat Chicago for a four-game sweep in a matchup of playoff-bound teams. The victory pulled the Indians within one game of Chicago for the fourth seed and
‘ILLEGAL ASSEMBLY’: The UK voiced its concern over the arrest of the democracy activist for joining a protest against a government ban on masks in October 2019 Hong Kong police on Thursday arrested democracy activist Joshua Wong (黃之鋒) for participating in an unauthorized assembly in October last year and breaching the territory’s anti-mask law, according to a post on his official Twitter account. Wong’s latest arrest adds to several unlawful assembly charges or suspected offenses he and other activists are facing related to last year’s pro-democracy protests, which prompted Beijing to impose a sweeping National Security Law on June 30. Hong Kong police confirmed they arrested two men, aged 23 and 74, on Thursday for illegal assembly on Oct. 5 last year. Britain, which administered Hong Kong until a 1997 handover to China whose terms were agreed in a Joint Declaration between London and Beijing, expressed concern over Wong’s arrest. “I am deeply concerned about the arrest of Joshua Wong, another example of HK authorities targeting activists,” British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Dominic Raab said in a tweet. “Chinese and HK authorities must respect the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, as protected in the Joint Declaration,” he said. The arrest of Wong, 23, comes about six weeks after media tycoon Jimmy Lai (黎智英) was detained on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces. Wong had been a frequent visitor to Washington where he appealed to the US Congress to support Hong Kong’s democracy movement and counter Beijing’s tightening grip over the global financial hub. His visits drew the wrath of Beijing, which says he is a “black hand” of foreign forces. Wong disbanded his pro- democracy group Demosisto in June, just hours after China’s parliament passed the National Security Law for Hong Kong, bypassing the territory’s local legislature, a move widely criticized by Western governments. His long-time colleague Agnes Chow (周庭), 21, and two other activists were among 10 people police arrested last month on suspicion of violating the new
China on Thursday lashed out at the US at a high-level UN meeting over its criticism on the COVID-19 pandemic, with its envoy declaring, “Enough is enough.” Two days after US President Donald Trump used his annual address to the General Assembly to attack China’s record, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft, also took an outraged tone — after which her Chinese counterpart showed palpable anger. “I must say, enough is enough. You have created enough troubles for the world already,” Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun (張軍) told a Security Council meeting on global governance attended through videoconference by several heads of state. “The US has nearly 7 million confirmed cases and over 200,000 deaths by now. With the most advanced medical technologies and system in the world, why has the US turned out to have the most confirmed cases and fatalities?” he asked in English. “If someone should be held accountable, it should be a few US politicians themselves,” he said. Using a phrase often told by US leaders to China, Zhang said: “The US should understand that a major power should behave like a major power.” The US “is completely isolated,” he said in remarks enthusiastically backed by his Russian counterpart. His remarks came after Craft opened with angry words that took diplomats off-guard. “You know, shame on each of you. I am astonished and I am disgusted by the content of today’s discussion,” Craft said. “I am actually really quite ashamed of this council — members of the council who took this opportunity to focus on political grudges rather than the critical issue at hand. My goodness,” she said. Diplomats said they were puzzled at the tone of Craft, who had left by the time the Chinese ambassador spoke. Craft was “very aggressive” after a session that had been “more or less full of
Farmers in India yesterday blocked roads and railway tracks in a protest against new legislation that they say could pave the way for the government to stop buying grain at guaranteed prices, leaving them at the mercy of private buyers. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has defended the bills — recently approved by parliament — as reform measures that will help rid India’s vast agriculture sector of antiquated laws and allow farmers to sell to institutional buyers and big retailers like Walmart. The government has also insisted that the new rules give the option to farmers to sell their produce to private buyers, but it would still purchase staples, such as rice and wheat, at guaranteed prices. However, such assurances have failed to mollify millions of farmers who make up an influential voting bloc in states such as Punjab and Haryana — India’s northern farm belt that borders the capital, New Delhi. As part of a nationwide shutdown, more farmers are likely to hit the streets in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, where opposition parties are likely to join them. Authorities yesterday had to cancel several train services on some routes, as farmers started blocking highways and railway tracks. Police in various states have beefed up security in the hope of heading off any violence, especially around New Delhi.
As if the climbs and views and snacks and companions of cycling in Taiwan aren’t sufficient, the GPS-generation of route-planners are now using apps such as Strava and Endomondo to create works of art as they ride. One such is nicknamed the Dove Road of Sijhih (汐鴿路), a 25km ride that follows the riverside bike path from the Nangang-Neihu Bridge (南湖橋) to New Taipei City’s Sijhih District (汐止), climbs around 400m up the Sijhih-Shiding Road (汐碇路), before dropping back down past Academia Sinica to generate a very dove-like pattern. Originally called Kippanas by indigenous Ketagalan people and transliterated into Hoklo (more commonly known as Taiwanese) as phangasi (峰仔峙), Sijhih’s modern Chinese name means “tide stops” and indicates it is located at the tidal limit of the Keelung River and is therefore essentially at sea level. Once a sleepy suburb on the edge of the Taipei Plain, it developed rapidly since the 1980s, and is now home to many of Taiwan’s major electronics headquarters, including Acer and Garmin. To the north, though not on today’s menu, is a choice of three popular routes up Wujhih Mountain (五指山, “Five Finger Mountain”). At the top is the military cemetery designed as the final resting place for former president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and his son, former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國). To date, however, its top-flight resident is the mostly-forgotten Yen Chia-kan (嚴家淦, president from 1975 to 1978) though starting Oct. 7, he will be joined by recently deceased Lee Teng-hui (李登輝, president from 1988 to 2000). Similarly, to the south, three routes climb to Luku (鹿窟, literally “Deer Cave,” but more likely the transliteration of an Aboriginal name). Two rise quite precipitously, but today’s dove-shaped route takes the westernmost, which fortunately is also the easiest. Eight kilometers and around 400m of ascent bring you to a plateau,
Until this summer, when the idea of hiking the length of the island first occurred to me, I didn’t even know that Cijin (旗津) had been a peninsula until 1967. That’s when diggers and dredgers severed Cijin from Taiwan’s “mainland,” because the authorities wished to create a southern entrance to Kaohsiung’s fast expanding port. The island is just under 9km long, but a bit of research quickly convinced me that a south-to-north trek wasn’t a good idea. The southern third of Cijin is dominated by container-lifting cranes, warehouses and other facilities off-limits to the public. Dunhe Street (敦和街) forms the boundary between the inhabited section of Cijin and the freight-handling zone. Stepping off the bus, I walked through densely-packed neighborhoods, hoping to get a good look at the shipyards on either side of Jhongjhou Fishing Harbor (中洲漁港) and Jhongjhou Ferry Station (中洲輪渡站) on Cijin’s northern waterfront. The security guard at one yard told me I shouldn’t take photos. At another, three vessels were being worked on, but all of them were obscured by scaffolding. Near the ferry dock, a few businesses sell mahogany-colored slabs of sun-dried salted mullet roe (烏魚子). This pricey delicacy, known as karasumi in Japan, is similar to the bottarga produced in several Mediterranean countries. The backstreets and alleyways in this part of Cijin are incredibly warrenous, and I couldn’t locate the Chen (陳) ancestral hall marked on my map, nor the one for the Ye (葉) clan. I eventually stumbled across the Jhuang (莊) ancestral temple. It has three stories, making it one of the town’s taller non-shipyard structures. The extended Ye and Jhuang families figure prominently in the saddest episode in Cijin’s recent history. MEMORIAL PARK Continuing along Cijin 3rd Road (旗津三路), I reached the Memorial Park for Women Laborers (勞動女性紀念公園). Visually, it’s unremarkable — the central feature is a pedestal
The most-downloaded app of 2010 made the photographs you took on your phone look way cooler. Vintage-effect filters, artful vignettes and a square-frame layout gave your ordinary snaps a pleasingly nostalgic Polaroid appeal. But 10 years later, barely anyone remembers Hipstamatic. It was a different photo-sharing app, which launched snapping at Hipstamatic’s heels on 6 October 2010, that went on to change the world. Last month more than 1 billion people posted photos on Instagram. You probably wouldn’t have predicted, from the co-founder of Instagram Mike Krieger’s first post, that you were witnessing the birth of a cultural and economic phenomenon. It was a shot of San Francisco’s South Beach harbor viewed through the industrial-chic steel-framed windows of Pier 38. Only the composition, tilted so that the boat masts angled at 45 degrees, hinted at ambition beyond the pedestrian. But a decade later, Instagram has rewired society. It has changed how we look, what we eat, our relationships, how we vote, where we go on holiday and what we spend our money on. From the Kardashians to avocados to mental health, many stories of the past decade are part of the story of Instagram. The short version of that story goes something like this. Bought by Facebook for US$1 billion in 2012, Instagram goes to the dark side. Joining forces with the dastardly forces of big tech, it steals our self-esteem and our attention span, leaving us with nothing to show for the trade but a needy dependency on affirmation by virtual strangers and the menagerie of swimming pool inflatables, which Instagram decreed essential to summers circa 2014-16, that are now gathering dust in the loft. Instagram has seen us, like Narcissus gazing at himself in the pond, brought down by our vanity. The truth is a little bit more complicated. It’s strange
Thousands of Colombians protested on Monday against police brutality and government policies, 11 days after the death of a man at the hands of police sparked demonstrations. Trade unionists and students led the rallies and marches, chanting slogans against police brutality, that culminated in clashes with police in the center of Bogota, the main protest hub. Demonstrators threw stones at police officers, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades. Police said that 5,600 people participated in 142 protests, but by the end of the day, attendance seemed slightly higher. Bogota experienced several days of unrest after a 43-year-old engineer named Javier Ordonez died on Sept. 9 after being assaulted by two police officers. After an 11-day break, students wearing masks took to the streets once more. On Monday, a court ordered that the two officers, who have been charged with torture and aggravated homicide, be preventively detained. During the protests that followed Ordonez’s death, security forces opened fire, killing 12 people. Investigations against several members of the force are ongoing.Thousands were also injured, including many officers, and dozens of police stations were destroyed. Monday’s protests took place against the backdrop of a recent wave of massacres related to the conflict between drug traffickers and authorities, as well as the economic crisis created by the coronavirus pandemic. (AFP) 週一，在一名男子死於警察之手而引發示威遊行後的第十一天，哥倫比亞數千民眾對警方的野蠻行為及政府施政進行抗議。 工會成員與學生引領集會遊行，高喊口號反對警察施暴，最後在抗議的主要地點波哥大市中心與警方發生衝突。 示威者向警察投擲石塊，警方以催淚瓦斯及閃光彈回擊。警方表示，一百四十二場抗議活動有五千六百人參加，但到當天結束時，參加人數似稍有增加。 四十三歲的工程師哈維爾‧歐多涅斯遭兩名警察攻擊後，在九月九日死亡，這在波哥大引發了數日的動盪。 隔了十一天，學生們戴著口罩，再次走上街頭。 法院於週一判令，預防性拘留該二名被控施酷刑與加重謀殺罪之警察。 在歐多涅斯之死所引發的抗議活動中，維安部隊開火，造成十二人死亡。目前正對部隊數名成員進行調查。抗議活動中有數千人受傷，其中包括許多警察，也有十多個警局被毀。 週一抗議活動發生的背景，是毒販與政府當局衝突所引發的最近一波殺戮，以及冠狀病毒疫情所造成的經濟危機。 （台北時報林俐凱譯）
Let’s dine out tonight (5/5) 今晚我們去餐廳吃飯吧（五） A: I can’t believe we ordered the hottest curry on the menu by mistake. I’m such a dunderhead: I should have checked with the waiter first. B: Never mind, the mango lassi the waiter gave us on the house really did the trick: my mouth has cooled down now. A: Why don’t you finish off the remainder of the lamb rogan josh — it’s the mildest of all the curries we ordered. I’ll polish off the beef vindaloo. Waste not, want not. B: Are you sure that’s wise? I might have to take you home in an ambulance. A: 真不敢相信我們竟然不小心點到菜單上最辣的一道咖哩。我真是個笨蛋：我應該先跟服務生確認的。 B: 沒關係，服務生送我們餐廳招待的芒果優格真的發揮魔力了：我的嘴巴現在冷卻下來囉。 A: 你要不要把剩下的喀什米爾羊肉咖哩吃完──這道是我們點的咖哩菜肴裡最溫和的。我會快速掃完辛辣香料牛肉咖哩。不浪費才能不虞匱乏。 B: 你確定這樣是明智之舉嗎？我搞不好要叫救護車載你回家哦。 （Edward Jones, Taipei Times／台北時報章厚明譯） English 英文: Chinese 中文:
A: Have you tried the tandoori king prawns? There are layers of flavor dancing around the palate of my mouth. B: I haven’t tasted it yet. I’m just about to sample the beef vindaloo. I’ve never tried a vindaloo curry before. . . Aargh! My mouth’s on fire! A: Are you alright? Quick! Drink some water. B: I’m in agony. I’ve. . . never. . . eaten. . . anything. . . so hot. . . before. . . in my life! A: I’ll ask the waiter to bring some ice cubes. Waiter! A: 你有試試這道坦都里香料烤明蝦嗎？層層疊疊的味道在我的味蕾上跳舞呢。 B: 我還沒試，我正準備要來試吃辛辣香料牛肉咖哩，我以前從來沒試過辛辣香料的咖哩……啊！我的嘴燃燒了！ A: 你還好嗎？快！先喝一點水。 B: 我好痛苦。我……從來……沒有……吃過……這麼辣……的東西。 A: 我來請服務生給你一些冰塊。服務生! (Edward Jones, Taipei Times／台北時報章厚明譯） English 英文: Chinese 中文:
| New Taipei City | 25-28 | 40% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 24-29 | 20% |  |
| Hsinchu City | 24-30 | 20% | |
| Taipei City | 24-27 | 30% | |
| Miaoli County | 23-30 | 10% | |
| Taoyuan City | 23-28 | 30% |  |
| Keelung City | 24-27 | 40% | |
| Yunlin County | 24-32 | 10% | |
| Taichung City | 25-33 | 10% | |
| Nantou County | 24-33 | 10% | |
| Changhua County | 25-32 | 10% | |
| Chiayi County | 24-32 | 10% | |
| Chiayi City | 24-33 | 20% | |
| Tainan City | 26-31 | 20% |  |
| Kaohsiung City | 27-31 | 20% | |
| Pingtung County | 25-33 | 20% | |
| Yilan County | 23-27 | 20% |  |
| Hualien County | 24-29 | 20% | |
| Taitung County | 25-30 | 20% | |
| Kinmen County | 25-29 | 10% | |
| Penghu County | 26-31 | 10% | |
| Lienchiang County | 23-26 | 20% | |
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