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news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Chinese Vessel Suspected of Damaging Undersea Cable Near Taiwan | By William YangTaiwan is investigating a Chinese-owned ship suspected of severing an undersea fiber-optic cable north of the island. While the incident caused minimal disruption to internet services, analysts say it reflects the vulnerability of Taiwan and its undersea infrastructure in the event of a Chinese military attack or blockade. “It’s a vulnerability shared by a lot of countries in a globalized world,” said Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and a former Pentagon official. “The real challenge for Taiwan is how do they increase their resilience now [that] there is growing awareness that they could be intentionally held vulnerable through direct attacks that are difficult to attribute to a particular actor, ” he told VOA by phone. Taiwan’s government-run telecommunications operator Chunghwa Telecom received a warning about damage to a subsea cable near the Keelung Harbor in northern Taiwan Friday morning. Chunghwa Telecom said the disruption, which didn’t affect internet service across the island, may have been caused by a vessel dragging its anchor along the seabed where the undersea cable is located. Within hours, Taiwan’s coast guard dispatched a ship and found the Cameroon-flagged vessel Shunxin-39 in waters north of Taiwan. Taiwanese authorities ordered the ship to return to waters off Keelung Harbor for inspection but failed to board the ship due to rough weather conditions. Taipei has sought assistance from South Korea to investigate the ship, which is sailing toward the South Korean city of Busan. The Taiwanese coast guard said in a statement shared with VOA that the ship is owned by a Hong Kong company headed by a Chinese national. The seven crew members on board are Chinese nationals. In addition to carrying a Cameroon flag, Taiwanese authorities said the ship was also registered in Tanzania and seemed to operate under two sets of Automatic Identification System equipment, which shows the vessel’s basic information and coordinates. The coast guard said while the Chinese vessel’s intention remains unclear, the incident could be part of China’s gray zone operations that aim to exert pressure on Taiwan through irregular tactics short of combat. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed to reunify with the island, with force if necessary. China has increased the frequency of its gray zone operations around Taiwan in recent years, regularly deploying military aircraft, naval vessels, and coast guard ships to airspaces and waters near Taiwan. Ray Powell, director of Stanford University’s Sealight project, which tracks Chinese maritime activities across the Indo-Pacific region, told VOA that the Chinese vessel has been operating between in waters near Taiwan’s Keelung Harbor, South Korea’s Busan and along the Chinese coast under two different names, two different flags, and six different identification numbers over the last six months. “Having at least six different registration numbers indicates this ship is devoted to being off-grid or hard to track,” he said in a phone interview. Powell said the vessel may be conducting a gray zone operation against Taiwan’s key infrastructure in the region. “The reason we would classify the incident as a potential gray zone activity is because it’s hidden behind a private company based out of Hong Kong with an owner in China and flags of African countries, which keep the Chinese government from the vessel’s activities,” he told VOA. The Chinese embassy in Washington, D. C. , told VOA in a written response that it is unaware of the severing of the undersea cable near northern Taiwan, adding that Beijing “has always welcomed and supported other countries and telecommunications companies laying international submarine cables in waters under China’s jurisdiction.”The incident comes amid a growing number of damages to undersea cables and pipelines caused by Chinese and Russian vessels in the Baltic Sea since 2023. It is also not the first time a Chinese vessel has been suspected of cutting undersea cables near Taiwan. In February 2023, Taiwanese authorities found evidence that two Chinese ships cut two internet cables near Taiwan’s outlying island of Matsu, causing a month-long internet outage on the tiny island. Since then, Taiwan has poured more resources into preparing for potential internet outages caused by damage to undersea cables. Last October, Chunghwa Telecom announced that signals from low-earth orbit satellites should cover the entire island. It was part of the efforts to reduce Taiwan’s dependence on undersea cables for external communication. During the first tabletop military exercise held by Taiwan’s presidential office last month, response to internet blackouts caused by damage to undersea cables was one of the scenarios simulated by top Taiwanese officials. While Chunghwa Telecom said the cable will be fixed later this month, Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs has vowed to secure more funding to help the telecom operator build more facilities to increase the island’s connection to international undersea cables. Some Taiwanese lawmakers also urged the coast guard to strengthen its capabilities to monitor activities in areas concentrated with undersea cables and update protocols in case similar incidents happen in the future. Some analysts say the coast guard needs to enhance its capabilities to address challenges posed by China, which have become more frequent in recent years. That includes monitoring “irregular activities conducted by fishing or commercial vessels in waters near Taiwan’s undersea cables,” said Shen Ming-shih, a defense analyst at the Taipei-based Institute for National Defense and Security Research. He told VOA in a phone interview that Taiwan should also enhance its efficiency in repairing “damaged undersea cables within the shortest amount of time.”The News Lens has been authorized to publish this article fromVoice of America. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187342 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Police Reform Bill Faces Constitutional and Public Scrutiny | The contentious police reform bill, passed on Tuesday with the numerical advantage of the opposition, faces public scrutiny as well as procedural and constitutional challenges regarding its implementation. The Executive Yuan announced today that it would discuss potential remedies and consider consultation with the Examination Yuan. Under the revised Police Personnel Management Act, the monthly income replacement ratio for police officers, firefighters, coast guard personnel, National Immigration Agency officers, and airborne service personnel is set at 43. 25% for 15 years of service. This percentage increases annually by 1. 75 points, reaching a maximum of 80% for individuals who have served 36 years or more. The spokesperson for the Executive Yuan, Michelle Lee, stated at a press conference today that the Cabinet had not been consulted on certain details of the reform. According to Article 91 of the Budget Act, lawmakers are required to seek approval from the Executive Yuan for bills that “largely increase annual expenditures or decrease annual revenues.” Furthermore, the bill does not clearly specify the source of funding, which already constitutes a violation of Article 70 of the Constitution and relevant provisions of the Budget Act, Lee added. Premier Cho Jung-tai commented on Tuesday that the reform bill significantly widens the national fiscal gap and increases expenditures without consulting the Executive Yuan, highlighting procedural injustices in the legislature's abrupt passage of the bill. The Ministry of Civil Service also issued a statement on Tuesday, arguing that solely increasing the income replacement rate for police officers violates the constitutional principle of equality, which requires fair treatment for all members of the public service pension system. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187341 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | South Korea’s Political Crisis Dragging Down Economy | By Julian RyallA cloud of uncertainty hangs over South Korea, with the country still reeling from President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law in early December. The political crisis has already hit the nation's economy. The stock market appears to be unstable, its currency — the South Korean won — continues to lose value and foreign investors are shifting to alternative markets. Most of these problems stem from a political power struggle at the top. Yoon is refusing to cooperate with the investigation into his actions and has defied orders for his arrest. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is deliberating on whether he can be impeached and the opposition Democratic Party is demanding an immediate general election. But business in South Korea are also unsettled by Donald Trump returning to the White House later this month. Ahead of the US election, Trump referred to South Korea as a "money machine" and hinted he would ask Seoul to pay billions of dollars more to station US troops. The president-elect has also pledged wide-reaching international tariffs to push his "America first" agenda. Business confidence drops to pandemic-era lows"To put it mildly, a lot of the political unrest that we have seen over the last month has yet to be resolved," said Kim Sang-woo, a former politician with the left-leaning South Korean Congress for New Politics and a member of the board of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation. "The won was already weak against the dollar, but that has become worse due to the unrest and I fear there is no clear understanding of who is governing the country at the moment," he told DW. "That is very unsettling for companies, which are afraid to make plans for the coming year," he added. The crisis could end with Yoon avoiding impeachment and returning to the presidency, although this would likely trigger outrage amid large sections of the public. Another outcome could be Yoon's rivals from the Democratic Party pushing through a new election, which they would likely win. Right now, however, the country is adrift. A recent poll by the Bank of Korea showed that business sentiment has sunk to its lowest level in four years. The monthly Composite Business Sentiment Index also tumbled 4. 5 points from November's figure, hitting the lowest level since September 2020, when the economy was feeling the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A second report by the central bank predicted that economic growth in 2025 will be under 2%, due to weak export growth and reduced consumer spending, and could drop even further if global trade tensions worsen. Stock exchange falls againShares on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) on Monday recovered some of the ground they lost in the weeks after Yoon's announcement, despite the market jitters that analysts have contributed to the political uncertainty. The won continued its recent downtrend against the dollar, leaving it trading at close to 16-year lows last seen in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The government also confirmed on December 30 that foreign investors have sold more than 17 trillion won in Korea treasury bonds since Yoon declared martial law, signaling a loss of confidence in the nation's financial stability. And the latest economic storm comes after months of weak corporate earnings — last week, the government also announced that tax revenues fell by 8. 5 trillion won ($5. 9 billion, €5. 6 billion) in the first 11 months of 2024, in comparison with 2023. What will US-China row do to South Korea? Another danger for countless South Korean companies is the fact they procure components from Chinese firms. With Trump returning and the US-China trade war threatening to escalate, those business could be forced to pay even greater penalties as the US tries to muscle China out of production chains. "There is also a lot of uncertainty about the upcoming administration in Washington, what Trump will do on tariffs and the pressure that he may put on Seoul to renegotiate the South Korea-US free trade agreement," said Mason Richey, a professor of politics and international relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. "It is also clear that the actions that he takes towards China will also have a serious knock-on effect here, such as for manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries," he told DW. What happens if Yoon's rivals take power? And while businesses crave the stability of a settled government, many are unenthusiastic about South Korea's Democratic Party returning to power, said Richey. "Assuming that Yoon is impeached and removed from office, there would have to be an election within 60 days and it appears very likely that the Democratic Party would win," he said. "But they are far more inclined to tax and impose regulations on industry than the Yoon administration has been."Richey cites the example of the civil nuclear industry as a sector that would be affected by the power shift. Under the left-leaning Moon Jae-in government immediately before Yoon, nuclear energy was being phased out entirely. Yoon reversed that policy and made it a key export sector. If the Democrats once again take office, Seoul could perform yet another U-turn and abandon nuclear energy — the sort of policy reversal that makes planning effectively impossible, Richey said. Edited by: Darko JanjevicThis article was originally published on Deutsche Welle. Read the original articlehere. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187334 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Hurdles Malaysia Faces in Becoming A Wafer Manufacturing Hub | With over five decades of experience in the semiconductor industry, Malaysia has established itself as an important hub for chip assembly and testing, commanding an impressive 13% share of the global outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) market and over 50% within Southeast Asia. Industry giants such as Intel, Texas Instruments, Micron, and ASE have long regarded Malaysia as a cornerstone of their back-end manufacturing operations. However, recent policy announcements and statements by political leaders indicates the country is no longer content with its achievements. This ambition is clearly articulated in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), unveiled in September last year, which states, "As Malaysia continues to climb the semiconductor value chain, the urgency to establish chip manufacturing facilities grows ever more pressing."In May of this year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim echoed these aspirations, affirming that under the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), Malaysia would not only enhance its expertise in OSAT but also encourage domestic and foreign investments in chip fabrication. To be sure, Malaysia is not entirely absent from the chip manufacturing scene. Multinational corporations like Infineon, Onsemi, Osram, and X-Fab already have a foothold in the country. Notably, Infineon announced plans last August to build the world’s largest 8-inch silicon carbide (SiC) power wafer fab in Kulim, Kedah—a project that thrust Malaysia into the international semiconductor spotlight. Yet, as geopolitical tensions escalate in East Asia, global chipmakers are increasingly motivated to diversify their supply chains. Coupled with the lucrative value of upstream activities in the semiconductor industry, Malaysia sees a golden opportunity to secure a larger slice of the chip manufacturing pie. While the vision is undeniably compelling, the road to industrial upgrading is fraught with formidable challenges. One of the foremost challenges Malaysia faces in developing its chip manufacturing sector is funding. Semiconductor fabrication is an inherently capital-intensive industry, requiring expensive equipment like lithography machines and etchers. According to DIGITIMES Research, building one wafer fab costs at least $1. 4 billion, with the price rising sharply up to $16 billion for more advanced nodes. Such exorbitant costs make chip fabrication a high-stakes gamble. Poor yield rates or unstable customer demand could quickly drive a facility into financial distress. Unfortunately, Malaysia is no stranger to this grim reality. Take Silterra, for instance. The local wafer fab struggled with declining revenue and rising costs for years, amassing cumulative losses of RM1. 832 billion (approximately $387. 52 million) over nine years, according to a 2019 Auditor-General's Report. Buckling under pressure, Silterra’s majority shareholder, Khazanah Nasional, sold the company in 2021 to Malaysian firm DNEX and China's CGP Fund. A similar fate befell 1st Silicon, another Malaysian wafer fab established in 1998. Persistent financial difficulties led to its sale to a German company in March 2006, after which it was rebranded as the aforementioned X-Fab. Dr. Mohd Zamir Pakhuruddin, director of the Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology (INOR), highlighted the scale of investment required. “Developing a chip manufacturing industry is a massive undertaking. Even expanding the capacity of existing players demands billions of dollars, let alone building new fabs from scratch” he said. With the failures of Silterra and 1st Silicon as cautionary tales, Malaysia is pivoting away from government-owned ventures to a collaborative model involving both domestic and foreign investments. The NIMP 2030 blueprint aims to attract at least one global leader to establish a wafer fab in the country. The government also seeks to promote the participation of local companies in the supply chain to enhance technical capabilities. Pakhuruddin endorsed this strategy, emphasizing the wisdom of leveraging foreign investment. He explained that “Local firms can’t shoulder multi-billion-dollar investments alone. Why not elevate Malaysia’s chip-making capabilities by inviting multinational corporations to play a pivotal role?”Foreign investment could address more than just funding challenges. According to David Lacey, Chairman of the Semiconductor Fabrication Association of Malaysia (SFAM), “Multinational corporations possess not only the technological expertise but also established customer bases. By attracting them to Malaysia, the chip manufacturing industry would gain immediate access to both advanced technology and a steady flow of clients.”The second major hurdle lies in the scarcity of skilled talent. As Malaysia’s semiconductor industry continues to thrive, the government has projected the need for at least 50, 000 skilled engineers. Yet, the country produces a modest 5, 000 engineering graduates annually. The NIMP 2030 report bluntly acknowledges this, noting that the proportion of graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields remains below the ideal 60%, leaving companies grappling with a lack of technical expertise. David Lacey emphasized that building a chip manufacturing ecosystem requires more related bachelor’s degree holders. Malaysia must cultivate a larger pool of master’s and doctoral STEM graduates. While universities like the University of Malaya (UM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have made commendable efforts in nurturing semiconductor talent, Lacey believes this is insufficient. “We need more institutions focusing on semiconductor education, each specializing in a different technical domain. This approach would create a comprehensive talent pool capable of addressing diverse challenges faced by Malaysia’s chip manufacturers,” he said. Lacey says that many Malaysians remain hesitant to pursue postgraduate studies due to two primary reasons. First, the limited number of chip manufacturing plants in Malaysia historically offered fewer job opportunities compared to assembly and testing facilities. This lack of demand has disincentivized individuals from pursuing advanced degrees. Second, fresh graduates often prioritize entering the workforce to earn an income quickly, viewing further studies as a costly and time-consuming endeavor. “In Western countries, as well as in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, the semiconductor industry values postgraduate qualifications highly,” Lacey said. “In contrast, this perspective is less prevalent in Malaysia, causing many to overlook the long-term benefits of advanced degrees.”Malaysia also suffers from severe brain drain. Due to uncompetitive wages, many skilled engineers are lured by attractive offers from companies in Singapore, Taiwan, and mainland China, ultimately opting to work abroad. Even Pua Khein Seng, the CEO of Taiwan’s Phison Electronics, once cited talent outflow as a key reason for closing the R&D center he had previously set up in Penang. Pakhuruddin candidly admitted that this challenge is exacerbated by the global race to expand semiconductor manufacturing capacity. “Malaysian engineers, fluent in both English and Chinese, are highly competitive in the international market.” He mentioned that multinationals have “poached” Malaysian talents by offering three times the domestic salary. Even within Malaysia, fierce competition for talent exists among local semiconductor companies, with the losing side often suffering operational instability. Mohd Zamir Pakhuruddin, who worked as an engineer at Silterra from 2003 to 2009, witnessed this firsthand. “Not long after I joined Silterra, Infineon came to poach our staff, offering at least a 30% salary increase. Many of Silterra’s engineers and managers left for greener pastures. This is a common occurrence in Malaysia’s semiconductor and electronics sectors,” he recalled. “Now imagine this: if your employees are constantly being headhunted, how can your factory operate smoothly? Or, more importantly, would you feel confident setting up a plant here?”The third significant hurdle is Malaysia’s relatively incomplete semiconductor ecosystem. While Malaysia already offers tax incentives, well-equipped industrial parks, and strong infrastructure, as well as advantages like political stability and a thriving chip assembly and testing industry, gaps remain that need addressing to fully support chip manufacturing. According to Lacey, Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem still requires significant improvements. A critical shortcoming is the lack of locally available chemicals and materials essential for chip production, such as silicon wafers, electronic gases, and photoresists. “To establish or attract investments in wafer fabs, it is imperative to ensure a stable supply of these materials,” Lacey emphasized. The NIMP 2030 report actively encourages foreign and domestic companies to produce electronic chemicals locally for wafer fabrication needs. In addition to materials, the success of Malaysia’s chip manufacturing industry also hinges on the technical support of research institutions. In Taiwan, this role is fulfilled by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which charts development strategies to overcome technical challenges. Similarly, South Korea has institutions like the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) and the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI) to back its semiconductor sector. Malaysia sought to emulate Taiwan and South Korea by establishing the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (MIMOS). However, MIMOS has been relatively less effective compared to its Taiwanese and Korean counterparts. Although it was founded in 1985, it took a decade under MIMOS before the country’s first wafer fab was established. “Like ITRI in Taiwan, MIMOS plays a critical role in the ecosystem,” Lacey stated. A robust semiconductor ecosystem also requires a thriving upstream IC design sector. The more fabless semiconductor companies operating within Malaysia, the more stable the demand for local chip manufacturing. Pakhuruddin pointed out that the failure of Silterra and 1st Silicon was partly due to the underdeveloped state of Malaysia’s IC design industry, which could not provide sufficient orders to sustain the wafer fabs. Malaysia has begun addressing its upstream IC design weakness. In April this year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced plans to establish a 60, 000 square feet IC Design Park in Selangor, with aspirations to make it Southeast Asia’s largest IC design hub. Global intellectual property giant ARM is one of the key partners in this initiative. Additionally, Phison Electronics CEO Pua Khein Seng has invested RM100 million (approximately NT$700 million) to launch a startup named MaiStorage in Selangor. The company aims to bring generative AI technology, data centers, and EV-related memory storage to Malaysia. By December, the Malaysian government allocated RM50 million (approximately NT$366. 62 million) to support IC design development in Penang. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow highlighted that over 30 IC design companies have already established operations there, with the state projecting to attract RM120 million (approximately NT$879. 88 million) in investments over the next five years. Having endured setbacks with Silterra and 1st Silicon, Malaysia has recalibrated its strategy. The focus has shifted from wholly government-owned ventures to a joint investment model involving both domestic and international stakeholders. Yet, challenges remain formidable. Talent shortages and an incomplete ecosystem continue to pose significant hurdles for Malaysia’s chip manufacturing ambitions. As the nation ambitiously climbs the semiconductor value chain, the question remains: Can Malaysia overcome these obstacles and achieve success? Source: | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187331 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Trump's Return Sparks Surge in Preventive Chip Orders to TSMC | With U.S. President-elect Donald Trump set to return to the White House in January, there are reports of a surge in chip orders flooding into Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), due to his possible threat of a 60% tariff on Chinese-made goods. Industry analyst Chen Ziang told RTI that, according to market forecasts, Chinese clients may soon be targeted by Trump and require TSMC’s foundry services. Given the ongoing U.S. -China tension, chip clients who are likely to be targeted by the Trump administration will mostly be from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, Chen added. Market reports suggest that, in anticipation of Trump's return and potential geopolitical tensions and restrictions, some customers have already placed"preventive stockpiling"orders with TSMC. However, with TSMC’s advanced process orders already at full capacity and the U.S. closely monitoring, it is believed that TSMC’s willingness to take on such orders from Chinese clients may be low. Among them, those capable of designing advanced process chips and needing TSMC’s foundry services may include Chinese companies like Xiaomi. In addition, there have been incidents where China circumvented the system to acquire TSMC’s advanced process chips. Given these circumstances, TSMC may not be willing to take on orders from Chinese clients at this time. The U.S. is about to undergo a change of administration, with the current Biden administration continuing to implement measures to block China's advanced semiconductor and high-tech development before it leaves office. Minister of Economic Affairs, Kuo Jyh-huei, stated that if Trump imposes additional tariffs after taking office, they will be applied globally, not just targeting Taiwan. If everyone is subject to a 10% tariff, the impact will be limited. From the perspective of the industrial chain, the U.S. currently focuses on IC design chip products, while Taiwan or TSMC mainly provides wafer foundry services with equipment capacity. If heavy tariffs are imposed, TSMC would be indirectly affected, but the actual impact is expected to be limited. With Donald Trump's administration set to take office in January, U.S. economic and technological pressure on China will only intensify. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187315 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Uniting industry players to expand globally! Chin Ching Silica Sand collaborates with the Taiwan Casting Industry Alliance to establish a new smart casting business model | With the rise of ICT and emerging technologies, the era of digital manufacturing has quietly arrived. As Taiwan’s leading casting brand, at the 2016 GIFA (International Foundry Trade Fair) in Germany, Chin Ching Silica Sand realized that the traditional industry must not only make their production processes smarter but also transform their entire business operations—from manual order processing and cross-border communication to a centralized, instant, and digitalized mode. Since 2020, Chin Ching Silica Sand has been building a 3D printing production line at the Zhongxing factory in Miaoli. At the same time, several upstream and downstream suppliers and customers have also responded to join as so called the "3D digital casting national team", it resulted the first 3D casting community in Asia, and In 2021, established “D-Casting Digital Casting Service Network” (D-Casting), Chin Ching Silica Sand was not stopped by the challenges of the digital transformation and continues to push the development to a higher level of efficiency this year, by collaborating with alliance partners Chyn Wang, Li Jia, and World Known MFG. , and also by the support of “Cross-Domain R&D Plan for SME Upgrade and Transformation” (Cross-Domain R&D Plan), they developed the “Mass Production of Customized Service Center”—a digital casting business model aiming to break the traditional independent operations of Taiwan’s casting industry and leveraging a “national team” approach for faster, larger-scale advantages to compete globally. CEO Wen-Lung Lo highlighted that the critical breakthrough in this year’s plan lies in improving the speed and accuracy of the entire order process. In the past, manual order-taking and slow scanning led to gaps, causing data and information loss. Therefore, Chin Ching Silica Sand aimed to establish a digital platform that retains all critical information throughout the process. With guidance from the relevant agencies, Chin Ching completed the D-Casting platform in 2021. However, the adoption of digital platforms varies across traditional industries. Business owners, particularly in smaller enterprises with high technological similarity, still worry about potential leaks of proprietary technologies, and are hesitant to embrace an open digital platform. One key focus of this year’s Cross-Domain R&D Plan is to encourage the industry to adopt digital workflows, with Chin Ching Silica Sand leading by example to share its technology on the platform. Through the one-stop service provided at the Mass Production of Customized Service Center, customers can submit their casting requirements to the D-Casting platform. Chin Ching Silica Sand then manages the entire process, from casting flow design to creating customized prototypes using 3D printing technology. The platform connects casting and processing partners to complete post-production work including casting pouring. Compared to traditional methods, which take 10 weeks to produce a casting sample, the Mass Production of Customized Service Center can do so in just one week, improving efficiency tenfold. In the casting industry, efficiency improvement significantly impacts customer satisfaction and order acquisition. Manager Yi-Chung Chen explained that casting prototypes are critical to winning contracts. If a project is worth NT$7 million, the casting factory that delivers a suitable casting first is more likely to secure both the project and future mass production orders. The Mass Production of Customized Service Center not only solves the long lead times and low customization of Taiwan’s traditional casting industry but also significantly improves global competitiveness. Manager Yi-Chung Chen noted that as the Mass Production of Customized Service Center becomes more widely used, the mindset of foundry owners is gradually shifting. They are becoming more open to platform interaction, online quotations, and uploading designs to the platform. As trust in the D-Casting platform grows, more casting requests are expected to follow, leading to an accumulation of technical knowledge on the platform. This will help Taiwan’s casting industry advance steadily and sustainably. The Mass Production of Customized Service Center integrates digital design, simulation, and 3D printing technologies. These smart casting methods allow for the creation of complex castings that were previously impossible with traditional techniques. “With digital processes, we can now create things like hollow interiors or honeycomb structures, which were not feasible before. This not only cuts costs but elevates casting expertise, leaving a lasting impression on customers,” said CEO Wen-Lung Lo proudly. “For example, traditional casting methods for stainless steel closed impellers rely on sand molds and resin sand cores, which result in thicker and heavier castings with solid interiors. However, smart casting with 3D printing allows for more precise and complex designs, reducing casting thickness by about 30%. In addition, traditional processes typically produce castings with surface roughness of Ra 30μm (micrometer) and above, but digital processes can achieve roughness as low as Ra 12μm, doubling the quality, ” explained Manager Yi-Chung Chen. Beyond reducing production time and improving casting quality, the smart casting technology introduced this year also addresses the labor shortages facing Taiwan’s casting industry. Aging populations and declining birth rates have taken a toll on traditional industries, and many long-term clients of Chin Ching Silica Sand are concerned about succession plans for their foundries. However, if 3D printing and digital simulation technologies become more reliable and affordable, they could provide a new path for Taiwan’s traditional casting sector. This is precisely why Chin Ching Silica Sand has been involved in numerous government programs over the years. CEO Wen-Lung Lo emphasized that the development of D-Casting and the Mass Production of Customized Service Center is not about establishing Chin Ching as the dominant provider of technology or products. Rather, it is about demonstrating new possibilities and leading the transformation of Taiwan’s traditional casting industry toward digitalization. By inviting other industry players to join the D-Casting platform, Taiwan can consolidate its industrial strength and face international market challenges as a unified “national team.”Learn more: D-Casting - One-Stop Digital Casting Service Platform | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187189 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Polar Silk Route: China’s Engagement with the Arctic | By Tauqeer Hamza SahrIn January 2018, The People’s Republic of China formulated its Arctic policy, dubbed the "Polar Silk Road framework." The policy intends to enhance shipping routes in the Arctic and promote sustainable development through energy, infrastructure, and research collaboration with Arctic countries. Although the Polar Silk Road (PSR) offers tremendous opportunities, it still faces significant political, environmental, and strategic thinking obstacles. PSR EvolutionThe idea of a PSR was borrowed from Russia’s Concept "Silk Road on Ice" in 2011. It later became a central pillar of China’s Arctic Strategy under the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This idea received traction when China gained observer status in the Arctic Council, further reinforced by the historic voyage of MV Xue Long in 2013. China formally introduced the PSR in its Arctic strategy in 2018. The plan views the Arctic Sea shipping route as a key trade route and advocates cooperation in infrastructure development, including the Northern Sea Route (NSR), satellite navigation systems, and fiber optic cables. Collaborations with Russia and Nordic nations, such as the geothermal project with Iceland, underscore PSR's focus on connectivity, energy security, and sustainability while also addressing geopolitical issues and environmental concerns. Lucrative GainsChina's Arctic Silk Road policy recognizes three primary areas of opportunities within the Arctic region. First, the region's abundant natural resources represent an important opportunity for improving energy security. The Arctic contains large amounts of natural gas, oil, and rare minerals. Major projects like the Yamal LNG project demonstrate China’s strategy of securing energy resources while fostering partnerships with Arctic nations. The influx of investments in resource-rich regions reflects Beijing's goal of diversifying its energy sources and ensuring a continuous energy supply. In addition, the Arctic shipping routes present transformative opportunities for global trade. The Northeast Passage and the Trans-Arctic Route could serve as alternatives to existing routes such as the Suez Canal, shortening the distance between Asia and Europe. These lines allow China to transport more goods in shorter times and also reduce fuel costs for China’s extensive trade network. Chinese state-owned shipping companies have already made numerous voyages on these routes, demonstrating Beijing's determination to integrate Arctic routes into global supply chains. Furthermore, the Arctic region offers a platform for scientific research and technological innovation. In addition, China's commitment to Arctic exploration and climate research will enhance its scientific capabilities and help China reaffirm its position as a responsible stakeholder in the Arctic. This focus on innovation is in line with China's broader goals of expanding its knowledge economy and technological self-sufficiency. This potential reflects the strategic importance of the Polar Silk Road to China. Global Resistance to the PSRWhile the PSR is promising in theory, its practical realization has been hampered by several challenges. Geopolitical resistance is a major challenge to its implementation. Western Arctic countries, particularly the United States and Canada, are skeptical of China's presence in the Arctic given the ongoing US-China competition. NATO's growing focus on Arctic security limits China's ability to effectively engage with non-Russian Arctic states. Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden, aligned with the US and the European Union, act cautiously towards Beijing. Although Iceland has shown some willingness to cooperate, there are widespread concerns about dependence on Chinese investment. Greenland's acceptance of the Chinese capital has been officially greeted with enthusiasm. But Denmark’s oversight limits Beijing’s influence. Norway's relations with China are also strained due to diplomatic tensions over the Nobel Prize issue. In addition, environmental factors also pose a major challenge. Climate change threatens delicate Arctic ecosystems. Large resource extraction and infrastructure projects have come under criticism for potentially damaging the environment. Governance issues and legal uncertainty complicate the feasibility of the PSR. The Arctic’s Legal Framework based on the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea(UNCLOS), is open to interpretation. China's status as a"near-Arctic"state has been questioned by Arctic states suspicious of its broader ambitions. Efforts to promote a comprehensive governance model for the Arctic are likely to face resistance from stakeholders in the region. Power StruggleAfter the Ukraine WarChina's Arctic strategy has evolved following the Russia-Ukraine war. This shift is characterized by a "wait-and-see" approach, influenced by heightened skepticism from Western nations and the increasing securitization of Arctic-related matters. As concerns about dual-use technologies increase and competition between China and the US reaches new levels, Beijing's ability to build partnerships is severely limited, leaving Russia as its primary Arctic gateway. However, Russia’s dependence on China, exacerbated by the Western sanctions after the Ukraine war, has provided Beijing with an opportunity to expand its influence in the region. Their joint statement in February 2022 showed the willingness of both sides to cooperate in the Arctic, marking a shift in Moscow's policy toward non-Arctic countries. This allowed China to expand its role in energy and infrastructure projects in the Northern Sea Route, reaffirming re-engagement in the Arctic amid conflict in the region. China's increasing engagement with Russia during the Ukraine war has made Western Arctic nations, including Finland, increasingly wary. Most recently, Finnish President Alexander Stubb visited China in October 2024 and focused heavily on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while Arctic cooperation was notably absent from the updated Sino-Finnish Action Plan. Since 2019, Finland has gradually reduced its Arctic cooperation with China, citing security risks. It cancelled the Arctic railway project and imposed restrictions on satellite services. Sino-Finnish relations in the Arctic reached their lowest point in 2023 when a Chinese ship reportedly damaged a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, sparking speculation of covert operations and escalating tensions. Can China’s Ambition Continue? To achieve its PSR ambitions, China must navigate political, environmental, and strategic complexities. It’s crucial to broaden the range of partners, especially beyond traditional reliance on Russia. Engagement with Arctic countries could strengthen cooperation in areas such as sustainable infrastructure and clean energy. If the PSR is to succeed, China must balance the need for comprehensive and sustainable development of the Arctic region with the pursuit of its national interests. Overall, the Arctic could be an important indicator of China's global ambitions and capabilities at a time of major war conflict. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187335 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | AI Cross-industry Applications on the Rise, Global Startups Meet in Taipei — 2024 AI+ Taipei Startup Demo Day | The AI+ Taipei Startup Demo Day, Taipei’s annual startup event, brought together AI startups, investors and industry experts from around the world. The event was not only a showcase for the latest emerging technologies but also a forum to discuss the future of AI applications and development trends, building a critical bridge between Taiwan and the global tech ecosystem. This year’s Demo Day highlighted Taipei’s support for international startups through resources provided by the Taipei Entrepreneurs Hub, a platform created by the Taipei City Government, which helps international startups establish a presence in Taipei, expand their operations, and foster cross-border tech collaborations. The initiative highlights Taipei’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and technological innovation, as well as solidifies its role in the global AI ecosystem. As an international brand of the entrepreneur community, Taipei Entrepreneurs Hub (TEH) provides a solid platform for startups to stand out from the global competition and receive substantial resource support. After receiving applications from 29 international startups, TEH selected six finalists from Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the United States to pitch their companies at Demo Day. These companies span education tech, healthcare tech, and entertainment tech, showcasing AI technology’s innovative applications across various scenarios and further highlighting Taipei’s appeal as a platform for emerging enterprises. In the field of education technology, three companies were selected: Minglecon Co. , Ltd. from Korea, Sensay Learning from the U.S. , and HelloWorld from Japan. Minglecon Co. , Ltd. ’s Minglebot AI is a gamified learning platform designed to teach computational thinking and develop skills relevant for effective collaboration with AI. Sensay Learning applies phoneme-level AI speech recognition technology to provide students, from preschool to high school, with personalized English learning and feedback mechanisms. The company has begun partnering with Taiwan’s education institutions to expand this innovative educational technology. HelloWorld’s language learning platform, WorldClassroom uses AI speech recognition technology to offer interactive language learning experiences. Since 2021, WorldClassroom has connected over 650 schools in 40 countries, facilitating language learning and cultural exchange. Its core strength is providing real-time, accurate pronunciation feedback, helping learners improve fluency, and creating a bridge for intercultural communication. AI applications in healthcare were also a highlight of Demo Day. U.S. -based Auspex Diagnostics has developed an AI-powered colon cancer detection tool with higher accuracy in predicting cancer recurrence, bringing new advancements to medical decision-making. Meanwhile, Korean startup MedySapiens focuses on diagnosing rare genetic diseases in newborns, using AI-powered genetic screening to expedite the diagnosis process. The company has partnered with Taiwan’s “TMU Biomedical Accelerator” and “BE Health Accelerator” to foster international medical tech exchanges, introducing cutting-edge diagnostic technologies and collaboration opportunities to Taiwan’s healthcare ecosystem. In addition, in the entertainment tech sector, Singapore-based Wubble. ai captivated audiences with an AI music platform that can rapidly generate royalty-free and personalized music for various uses, such as marketing videos and games. Responding to Taiwan’s active creative industry and market demand, Wubble. ai plans to strengthen collaborations with local companies, showcasing new possibilities in AI music creation and providing Taiwan's entertainment industry with more diverse choices. The AI+ Taipei Startup Demo Day brought together prominent figures from venture capital, tech services, and innovation for an insightful panel discussion. Hosted by Yan Lee, Founding Partner of Hive Ventures, the panel featured speakers Arthur Huang, CSO & Spokesman of GrandTech Cloud Services, Sanghoon Jin, Executive Director of Korea’s Tap Angel Partners, and Cami Lu, partner of Sunsino Venture Group. Panelists shared market insights about Taiwan, Korea and Southeast Asia, along with strategies to understand AI’s impact on the future of the startup ecosystem. CSO Huang discussed how GrandTech supports startups by optimizing resource use in multi-cloud environments to reduce costs, enabling AI tech companies to grow more efficiently. Executive Director Sanghoon Jin of Tap Angel Partners highlighted investment trends in AI, IC, and entertainment tech, underscoring the cross-industry potential of AI applications. Cami Lu of Sunsino Venture Group reflected on her years of entrepreneurial experience, noting the rapid advancement of AI across various fields. She emphasized that investors should support technology solutions with long-term value to provide businesses with a sustainable competitive edge. Cami further encouraged businesses to embrace AI innovation across all industries to meet the diverse demands of a globalized market. The AI+ Taipei Startup Demo Day not only welcomed international startups, but also actively encouraged Taiwan’s startup ecosystem to participate, showcasing Taipei’s support for AI technology and its applications. This year, three representative AI startups from Taiwan, which are all members of the NVIDIA Inception Program, showcased innovative applications across 5G, AI and smart healthcare. They include IHH Co. , Ltd. , which develops safe and efficient image communication solutions; Avalanche Computing, which provides affordable AI solutions across industries; and KenKone Medical Co. , Ltd. , which leverages large language models and AI speech recognition in healthcare to develop the EVAS system, enabling real-time medical record management during surgeries. Showcasing domestic startups demonstrated Taipei’s support and enthusiasm for AI industry development and Taiwan’s technological prowess in AI to international investors and industry experts, further solidifying Taipei’s role as a center of innovation in AsiaAs international startups took the stage at Demo Day, Taipei City showcased its embrace of innovative technology and international cooperation, attracting more global startups to make Taipei their launchpad for expansion in Asia. This also enhances Taipei’s standing in AI and tech development on the global stage. We look forward to watching these AI startups find long-term opportunities in Taiwan and build stronger, more connected networks with local players. Their strong potential will bring new business opportunities to Taiwan’s industries, drive cross-border collaborations, and pave a broader path for global AI advancement. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187245 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Trump Remains Ambiguous About Defending Taiwan | US President-Elect Donald Trump indicated that he would “never reveal” whether Washington is committed to defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. However, he expressed a preference for China not to take such action, adding that he maintains a “good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, Trump explained that he avoids making such declarations because "I need to negotiate things." When asked again about his position on Taiwan’s defense, Trump reiterated his preference, saying, "I would prefer that they do not do it." He also confirmed that he had been in regular communication with Xi, most recently just three days before the interview. When asked if he had explicitly told Xi that China should not invade Taiwan, Trump replied, "We did not talk about that." He further emphasized that he has a strong relationship with Xi, expressing his hope that China would refrain from such an action. In a separate development, Japanese media reported that Washington is planning to reorganize US forces in Japan into a joint force headquarters under the Indo-Pacific Command. According to Kyodo News, this restructuring would enhance coordination between US forces and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The two nations are expected to form a task force to oversee the establishment of the new headquarters, which the JSDF will integrate into their own Joint Operations Command, set to be operational by the end of the year. This move was one of the key topics discussed during the US-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in July. Lieutenant General Stephen Jost, Commander of US Forces in Japan, and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani further discussed the plan during an intelligence-sharing meeting in October. The reorganization of the forces is linked to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, proposed by the US Department of Defense as part of a broader defense funding package worth US$895. 2 billion. The legislation includes provisions that require joint activities between US and Japanese forces to be implemented within 180 days after the bill is expected to pass through Congress. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187305 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | TNL Mediagene Claims Four Honors at Agency & Advertiser of the Year Awards 2024, Demonstrating Cross-Domain Excellence | The winners of the "Agency & Advertiser of the Year Awards 2024" were officially announced on the evening of January 6th. TNL Mediagene demonstrated outstanding performance in this year's competition winning nominations all four major awards. These achievements highlight the group's leadership position and innovative capabilities across multiple domains, including news media, marketing technology, data services, and policy communication. The awards received are as follows: Mario Yang, Co-founder and Chief Content Officer of TNL Mediagene's The News Lens, expressed after receiving the award:"Winning the 'Excellence News Media Company of the Year' and other awards is a significant recognition of our longstanding commitment to focusing on important news and diverse perspectives. In the future, we will continue to deliver trustworthy content, providing readers across the Pan-Asian region with more authentic and profound reporting. "Lynn Yang, the General Manager of the Sales Department and Founder of Ad2iction Co. , Ltd. , stated: “The future of marketing technology lies in the perfect integration of data and creativity. In the past, Ad2iction gained attention primarily for its creative capabilities. Following our integration with the group, we have made significant progress in broadening the application of data. In 2024, the inaugural year of RMN, we are honored to receive dual recognition as'Excellence Mobile Marketing Company of the Year'and'Excellence Data Services Company of the Year'. This achievement motivates us to continue driving innovation and delivering more precise and efficient marketing solutions for our clients.”Grace Lee, the General Manager of S. C IMC Co. , Ltd. , added: "We are grateful to the Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, for giving us the opportunity to assist in promoting Microcomputer Gas Meters and ensuring the safety of gas usage for the public. This is our first time participating in the'Excellence Policy Communication Company of the year'and we are honored to receive recognition. S. C IMC will continue to drive innovation and create impacts, assisting more government departments with their policy communication."The News Lens was founded in 2013 with the goal of creating an independent media platform that delivers substantial content without sensationalism. In 2018, the company began acquiring other media outlets, including INSIDE, Sport Vision, and Cool3c, gradually evolving into a media group. In May 2023, it merged with Japan’s Mediagene Inc. to form TNL Mediagene. The group has since risen to become the first digital media company in the global Chinese-speaking community to integrate cross-industry content, technology, and data services. It is also among the first Asian media companies to be listed on NASDAQ. This award not only recognizes the group's strategic growth from an independent media outlet to its continuous expansion in content, technology, and data services but also inspires the team to keep progressing in delivering high-quality content and digital technology services. We look forward to achieving continued success in the Pan-Asian market. TNL Mediagene, a Cayman Islands-registered company, is the product of the May 2023 merger of Taiwan’s The News Lens Co. and Japan’s Mediagene Inc. , two leading, independent digital-media groups. Its business includes original and licensed media brands in Chinese, Japanese and English, across a range of subjects, including news, business, technology, science, food, sports and lifestyle; AI-powered advertising and marketing technology platforms in demand by agencies; and e-commerce and creative solutions. It takes pride in its political neutrality, its reach with younger audiences, and its quality. The company has about 550 employees across Asia, with offices in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. https: //www. tnlmediagene. com/For further information, please contactE-mail: pr@tnlmediagene. com | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187339 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | How Trump Threatens The World Trading System | By Robert StaigerIf the United States wanted to break the world trading system it could not have done better than to re-elect Donald Trump to the US Presidency. Not that Trump is alone among recent US presidents in his disregard for the current system of global trade rules. The Biden administration maintained and even extended a number of high-profile trade policy initiatives from the first Trump administration and paid little heed to how these policies squared with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). And the unwillingness of the first Trump Administration to fill vacancies created by the expiring terms of WTO judges continued a practice adopted by the Obama Administration. But Trump’s words and actions have made it uniquely clear that his vision for a world trading system is antithetical to the rules-based multilateral global trade order that the United States helped to create 75 years ago. The current global trading system was established through the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the precursor to the WTO. GATT’s rules-based global trade order was built on the twin pillars of non-discrimination and reciprocity. The ‘most-favoured-nation’ (MFN) rule of non-discrimination ensures that exports of the same product originating from any country enjoy equal tariff treatment in a given destination market. Reciprocity means that tariff bargains aim to balance the changes in import and export volumes that each country experiences as a result of the negotiations. These pillars created a system that constrains large trading countries’ ability to dominate negotiations. The MFN principle dilutes the ability of large countries to extract disproportionate advantages from smaller bargaining partners by ensuring that any gains are also shared by third-country exporters. Reciprocity further neutralises the exercise of power in tariff bargains because it establishes an expectation of balanced terms for the bargain. This system of rules encouraged smaller countries to invest in globalisation without fear of exploitation at the bargaining table, and the more inclusive globalisation that resulted benefited large countries as well. By discouraging the bluff and bluster accompanying the exercise of power in negotiations, the rules delivered a streamlined method for tariff bargaining that dramatically reduced trade barriers over the latter half of the twentieth century, helping to usher in decades of trade growth and poverty reduction. Importantly, these rules created a ‘member-driven’ system, where countries have the flexibility to decide what trade policies are right for them, provided they do not aim to shift their policies’ costs onto trading partners. Eliminating these cost-shifting incentives is the primary goal of the rules, and a world trading system built on MFN and reciprocity is well-designed to help governments achieve this goal. As trading partners often bear costs when a country imposes tariffs, achieving this goal naturally leads to lower tariffs around the world. But how much lower is a matter for each country to determine for itself through voluntary rules-based negotiation. Built-in flexibilities within the system allow countries to rethink their preferred level of trade openness if they so desire. As such, being a free trader is not a prerequisite for supporting the rules-based global trade order administered by the GATT and WTO. And a country does not have to escape from these rules in order to rethink its commitment to a level of openness. Rather, the rules provide a ready-made and orderly avenue for the country to do just that while maintaining a measure of predictability and stability in trading relations that is itself an important benefit of the rules-based system. The incoming Trump administration plans to take a sledgehammer to the pillars of the rules-based global trade order. Under the first Trump administration, then commerce secretary Wilbur Ross outlined an alternative trading system wherein countries with the lowest tariffs would match the tariffs of those with the highest, country by country and product by product, automatically adjusting as other countries lower their barriers. Under this system, MFN would be abandoned, as exporters from a high-tariff country would face high tariffs in a given market while exporters of the same good from a low-tariff country would face low tariffs in that market. This system would also introduce an unprecedented notion of reciprocity — matching tariff levels across countries rather than negotiated tariff changes — that is antithetical to the member-driven logic of the WTO. In short, the vision for a global trade order articulated under the first Trump administration would replace the rules-based multilateral trading system with something more like a power-based system for tariff bargaining where large countries are no longer constrained by the rules of behaviour that have shaped the system for the past 75 years. President-elect Trump’s recent statements reflect this vision of power-based tariff bargaining and broaden it to include the use of tariffs as bargaining chips for a host of settings beyond traditional tariff bargaining. These include non-tariff issues ranging from the regulation of immigration to the production of fentanyl precursors to the role of the US dollar in the global economy. There are also indications that Trump will seize the opportunity to engage in bargaining with domestic interests in the United States over exceptions to his tariff policies, all of which fits with his view that tariffs are a bargaining chip to extract concessions from others. The rules-based system administered by the WTO is far from perfect. But its creation 75 years ago was built on lessons learned from earlier failed attempts at power-based trade bargaining and there is good reason to think that the core features of this system remain valuable today relative to a power-based alternative. Viewed in this light, the incoming Trump administration’s evident intent to tear down the rules-based multilateral trading system and replace it with a power-based system will likely end in disappointment — if not disaster. Robert Staiger is Roth Family Distinguished Professor in the Arts and Sciences and Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College. He is also Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. https: //doi. org/10. 59425/eabc. 1736330400The News Lens has been authorized to republish this article from the East Asia Forum. East Asia Forum is a platform for analysis and research on politics, economics, business, law, security, international relations and society relevant to public policy, centered on the Asia Pacific region. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187338 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Police Pension Reform Bill Passed Amid Disputes | Taiwan’s legislature passed a pension reform bill that raises the maximum income replacement ratio for retired disciplinary officers to 80%, amid disputes over the proposal making the police force superior to other civil servants. According to the amended Police Personnel Management Act, the monthly retirement income for police officers, firefighters, as well as members of the Coast Guard and National Air Service Corps, will be determined based on years served. The amended bill stipulates that the income replacement ratio should be set at 43. 25% for those with 15 years of service, with the ratio increasing by 1. 75% per year until it reaches 80% after 36 years of service. For those who have served for 37 years or more, the income replacement ratio would remain at 80%, while those with less than a year until retirement would have different calculations. The amended bill was drafted in mid-June last year by Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT). The proposal sought to align the pension benefits for police officers, firefighters, and other similar categories with those of military personnel. Nevertheless, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vehemently opposed the bill. Despite ongoing cross-party negotiations that extended until January 6, no agreement was reached. The bill was passed yesterday with a numerical advantage for the opposition parties, the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), over the DPP, by a vote of 60 to 49 during Tuesday's plenary session of the Legislature. The DPP lawmakers primarily argued that the amendment bill would favor the police over other civil servants, creating divisions or generational conflicts among them. The lawmaker Rosalia Wu contended that the pension reform represented a step backward of Taiwan’s system, while it risks contravening the principle of equality as stated in the Constitution. However, the KMT lawmaker Wu Tsung-hsien argued that the policy addresses the reluctance of police officers to retire due to income regression. Another lawmaker from the KMT, Chang Chih-lun, stressed that the amendment aims at addressing the concerns of frontline workers, striving to ensure fairness and justice. Retired Police Officers’ Association head Keng Chi-wen thanked the legislature for passing the reform bill and defended the interests of disciplinary forces, stating that they “perform high-risk duties and are a stabilizing force for the state and society,” and thus deserved “the delayed justice.”DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming announced that his party would seek a constitutional interpretation of the amended bill. He also mentioned that the Executive Yuan might consider sending the bill back to the legislature for further review. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187337 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Pompeo Hypes Trump’s Continued Support for Taiwan | Mike Pompeo, who was United States Secretary of State during President Donald Trump’s first term, voiced his unwavering support for Taiwan at a forum last Monday, in light of its longstanding row with China. Despite initial fears that a changing of the guard would impact American top tier's support for Taipei, Pompeo assures this is not the case. The forum titled “Towards Permanent World Peace: The Shared Mission Between the US and Taiwan” was organized by the Formosa Republican Association and Pompeo spoke of the “continued resolve” of the US to deter Chinese aggression. At the forum, Pompeo firstly acknowledged Taiwan as a key role in the US'model of deterrence against China, by citing his track record with Trump in his first presidency. “We believe we have developed a pretty effective model of deterrence against adversaries who want to undermine the set of rules and values that the people of Taiwan and people of the United States hold dear,” he said. “My full expectation is you will see much the same worldview emanating from the White House, broadly speaking, and the American security establishment that you saw in the first four years,” Pompeo affirmed to the forum audience. Although Trump has opted for Marco Rubio as Secretary of State for his second term, Pompeo assured that his successor “shares my views and love and understands the importance of this shared relationship [with Taiwan]. ”Pompeo said the White House sees nations allied to the US including Japan, Australia and the Philippines as crucial to upholding free indo-pacific, while sending an “unambiguous message to Beijing—that Taiwan is free and it’s going to stay that way.”“Succeeding in continuing to build this model will not solely rest at the feet of president Trump and his team, but it will be shared with Taiwan; you will be crucial in this effort,” he said. This forum speech marked Pompeo’s fourth visit to Taiwan since 2022, with his first visit this year being to attend President Lai Ching-te’s inauguration ceremony. He also hinted that the new Secretary of State, Rubio, or another White House official could be headed to Taipei for a visit in the near future. Meanwhile, the former official suggested the new presidency will scrap the “strategic ambiguity,” an approach that was prominent under President Joe Biden’s administration. He argued that lasting ambiguity on territorial and geo-political tensions actually “misleads the international community and increases aggression in the Asia-Pacific region.”Boldly, he commented that Chinese President Xi Jinping 'will not determine the future of Asia or of Taiwan.' 'We’ll do it alongside Japan, Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and India,' he added. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187336 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | South Korea Investigators Halt Yoon Arrest Attempt | South Korean investigators have failed to carry out an arrest warrant against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol after arriving at his residence to execute it. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that they faced resistance upon arrival and were then locked in a nearly six-hour long standoff. The investigators entered the presidential residence through heavy security barricades and Yonhap reported that the attempts to proceed were hindered by a military unit inside the compound. After managing to"move past"the unit, they were confronted by the Presidential Security Service still protecting the impeached president. The impeached president is under criminal investigation over his short-lived bid on December 3 to impose martial law, which has plunged the country into a political and constitutional crisis. Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) called off the arrest attempt at around 1: 30 p. m. (0430 UTC/GMT) due to concerns over the safety of its personnel. "It was judged that it was virtually impossible to execute the arrest warrant due to the ongoing standoff," the CIO said in a statement. A CIO official told reporters that over 200 Presidential Security Service (PSS) personnel and more military troops seconded to presidential security outnumbered the some 20 investigators and 80 police personnel. They formed several layers of human chains to block them. Though they appeared to be carrying firearms, the official said that no weapons were drawn in the standoff. The CIO office said it will discuss its next move. It was unclear whether they planned on making another attempt to detain Yoon. The police announced designating the PSS chief and the deputy as suspects in a criminal case over their obstruction of official duty, Yonhap news reported. They have been summoned to appear for questioning on Saturday. In response to the investigators'arrival on Friday, Yoon's lawyer said they were not acting lawfully and that further legal action would be taken against the move. "The execution of a warrant that is illegal and invalid is indeed not lawful," Yoon's lawyer Yoon Kap-keun said, adding that"legal actions will be taken regarding the illegal execution of the warrant. "On Tuesday, a Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon's arrest after he failed to appear for questioning after multiple requests and blocked searches of his offices in the South Korean capital. It is valid for one week, and due to expire after Monday. The lawyers argue that Yoon's warrant cannot be enforced at his residence, citing a law which protects from search locations with possible links to military secrets, so long as the consent of the person in charge is not obtained. Authorities are looking into whether Yoon's short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3 amounted to rebellion. He could become the first sitting president to be arrested in the South Korea's history. Hundreds of the president's supporters gathered at his residence in an effort to block investigators. The embattled president had vowed to "fight until the end" while facing arrest. Supporters who had gathered on Thursday to protest the arrest warrant against Yoon camped overnight and chanted "illegal warrant is invalid" on Friday morning as investigators and media convened at the presidential residence. The president had told his supporters on Thursday: "I will fight until the end to protect this country together with you."The Presidential Security Service continues to protect Yoon as the sitting head of state and had blocked previous police raids of the residence. km, sdi/jsi (AP, AFP, Reuters)This article was originally published on Deutsche Welle. Read the original articlehere. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187328 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Taiwan to Build “New Silicon Valley” in Southern Region | On Thursday, the Executive Yuan, Taiwan’s Cabinet, approved plans from the National Science and Technology Council to turn several industrial hubs in Southern Taiwan into a semiconductor corridor which they dubbed a “new Silicon Valley.”Officially, the government is calling it the "Greater Southern New Silicon Valley Promotion Plan." It is recognized by the government as one of six regional flagship projects. The plan involves linking several industrial and science parks together including those in Tainan, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung to form an s-shaped corridor in the south. The government is set to rely heavily on the development and deployment of AI in its plans. Premier Cho Jung-tai explained that they intend to make the most of the region’s existing industrial capacity not just in semiconductors but in biotechnology, medical devices, precision machinery, solar green energy, while expanding into areas such as space technology, drones and smart agriculture. The efforts run in-line with President Lai Ching-te’s policy pronouncements to make Taiwan an “island of artificial intelligence." It hopes to usher in Taiwan’s entry into an era of AI applications. To power the corridor, Su Chen-kang of National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) explained the need to connect regional power grids while making use of greener energy sources. Likewise, he explained that the eight reservoirs in the drought-prone region will be connected to ensure water supplies for the residents as well as the factories. There are also plans to make use of more recycled water in the process. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187329 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Whistleblower Bill Passed to Safely Expose Corruption | The Legislative Yuan passed a bill on last Friday aimed at enhancing protections for whistleblowers, marking a significant advancement in safeguarding individuals’ rights and safety for those who expose illegal actions for the public good. The new law initially applies to whistleblowers reporting corruption and misconduct within the public sector and state-owned enterprises. However, there is a provision that allows for the potential extension of these protections to the private sector after three years. The agencies responsible for handling whistleblowing include government agencies and their heads, or designated units or personnel within the public sector. It also covers the heads, responsible persons, or designated units or personnel of state-owned enterprises, government-controlled businesses, organizations, or institutions, as well as prosecutorial agencies, judicial police agencies, regulatory authorities for specific industries, the Control Yuan, and the government ethics bodies. Whistleblowers are categorized into public sector whistleblowers and those from state-owned enterprises, government-controlled businesses, organizations, or institutions. According to the passed legislation, public officials who unlawfully disclose a whistleblower’s identity could face prison sentences ranging from six months to five years, along with fines up to NT$300, 000 (approximately US$9, 140). For non-public officials who commit similar violations, penalties include up to one year in prison, fines of up to NT$100, 000, or both. The law, which will come into effect six months after its promulgation, also stipulates that whistleblowers whose reports result in the discovery of illegal activities will be eligible for rewards. The amount of the reward, to be determined by the relevant authority, must be no less than the fines imposed on the wrongdoer. The Ministry of Justice, which has been designated as the overseeing authority, will establish a seven-member whistleblower protection committee led by the Minister of Justice to manage enforcement and related processes. If a whistleblower submits a report to the designated agency and does not receive a notification of investigation within 20 days, and after urging the agency to act, still receives no response within 10 days, the whistleblower may then report the issue to central or local elected representatives, media organizations registered as companies, or nonprofit organizations registered as legal entities. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187323 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Fruitful Identities: Yan-Ze Luo’s Solo Exhibition A Fig Tree | Taiwan’s legalization of same-sex marriage marked a significant milestone in the journey toward LGBTQ+ equality, yet LGBTQ+ individuals continue to encounter unspoken challenges, particularly within the intimate realm of family relationships. Taiwanese artist Yan-Ze Luo’s exhibition A Fig Tree (2024), in Hsinchu 241 Art Gallery, explores these tensions, reflecting on the complexities of family relationships and the potential for dialogue and reconciliation. After his father’s passing, Luo was prompted to confront his identity as a gay man within his family. He recalled a cherished memory of sharing fresh figs with his father, which led his father to secretly plant a fig tree in their garden. Inspired by this memory, Luo spent a year cultivating a fig tree as part of his creative process. One key piece, A Special Moment (2024), features two red-and-white striped plastic bags, commonly seen in Taiwan, adorned with delicate embroidery with threads dyed from flowers in the artist’s family garden. The patterns evoke falling rain, inspired by a passage from Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967), where yellow flowers descend like misty rain to signal the death of a father. This references Luo’s own experience of his father’s passing, marked by the fruit from a tree in their garden falling abundantly, mirroring the emotional weight of the moment. The bags are arranged in the same form as when Luo first bought the fig tree, representing hope and the desire to mend his relationship with his family. In traditional Taiwanese culture, LGBTQ+ individuals face pressure to carry on the family line, as fertility is deeply tied to cultural values. The homophonic connection between the words for “seeds” (zǐ) and “descendants” (zǐ) in Mandarin deepens this expectation. Yan-Ze Luo’s exhibitionA Fig Tree explores these symbolic “seeds” and the complexities they represent. One artwork, Brook Red Fig(2024), centers on a fig tree Luo planted, known for its prolific fruiting. Despite his care, the tree failed to bear fruit. In the artwork, the fig tree is bound by red threads, which gently sway with the motion of an air-powered installation. This delicate movement mirrors the emotional tension between Luo and his mother—her quiet hope that he might continue the family lineage, juxtaposed with his understanding of his identity, which diverges from traditional norms. The red threads symbolize both connection and constraint, reflecting the influence of family expectations on the tree’s growth. Inspired by the fig tree’s original label, Luo created a new one using red embroidery thread, transforming it into a personal identity. Rather than rejecting these pressures, Luo employs the concept of disidentification, as defined by José Esteban Muñoz. Rather than wholly rejecting or embracing social norms, disidentification reshapes them from within. Luo does not discard or erase the social labels imposed upon him but accepts and transforms them into something meaningful. In his work, labels—often seen as restrictive—are transformed into expressions of hope, longing, and acceptance. Through the meticulous act of embroidery, Luo creates a label that embodies not confinement, but reconciliation and self-acceptance. The fig tree becomes a metaphor for “fruitful identities”—those not defined by external expectations but by the richness of individuality and self-expression. Luo crafts a self-affirming label that transcends traditional constraints. Through his critical and creative engagement with imposed structures, he redefines labels, reclaims his identity, and celebrates the beauty of plural and fruitful self-representation. His art nurtures hope and resilience, growing into a narrative that surpasses traditional boundaries. In the exhibition, three tissue paper bricks from Luo’s father’s factory show both personal and familial ties. Luo’s father, the factory owner, provided stability for the family, and the exhibition space, with black plastic flooring, evokes the sensory atmosphere of a factory, immersing visitors in the experience. A fig tree placed atop tissue paper bricks connects his father’s foundation of stability to the artist’s growth and identity, representing their emotional bond. Through weaving, Luo intertwines the affections, tensions, and expectations from his parents, bridging their hopes and his self-discovery. Luo also conducted field research at his father’s factory, interviewing workers to uncover a side of his father he hadn’t known. These conversations filled gaps in his understanding, allowing him to rediscover a side of his parent he had not fully known during his lifetime. The final piece in the exhibition, Hypanthodium (2024), encapsulates the overarching themes of Luo’s work. Drawing inspiration from the hidden structure of fig flowers—concealed within the fruit—the piece explores the interplay between visibility and privacy. It features a fig-like form crafted from individually sewn plastic petals, with an opening that reflects the artist’s intentional act of revealing his personal narrative. This act of openness, regardless of whether the “fruit” yields tangible outcomes, becomes a statement of profound significance. At its heart, the work poses a tender yet provocative question: Must one bear children to be considered fruitful? Luo redefines fruitfulness beyond biological terms, offering a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on love, loss, identity, and fulfillment in its many forms. Building on his earlier Mutualism series (2023), which delved into relationships and queer experiences, this exhibition represents a notable progress in Luo’s practice. His shift from two-dimensional works to immersive installations highlights a meticulous attention to materiality and a deepening conceptual sophistication. I eagerly anticipate how Luo will continue to expand these themes and approaches in his future projects. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187312 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Wang Seeks New Discourse On Cross-Strait Relations | Former Legislative Yuan representative Wang Jinping introduced a new proposal earlier this week regarding an approach on cross-strait relations. He mentioned that the two entities at each end of the Taiwan Strait “are not subordinate to each other, and the sovereignty is the same but not divided.”The 1992 Consensus, which in the eyes of Beijing means that “the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China,” is the prevailing narrative over the territorial divide. However the Kuomintang (KMT), which represented Taiwan at the time, understands the consensus as one of “one China, different interpretations.”Wang’s proposal was welcomed by KMT legislators, whereas those from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) maintained that the narrative was simply “one country, two systems.”Wang established the think tank “Middle Way Peace Alliance” in November this year, and held a peace declaration and initiative conference earlier this week. In his speech, Wang said that the key to this complicated issue was not to let ideology dictate the decision-making and instead turn to rational thinking. He recalled remarks by then-President Lee Teng-hui in 1996 that “It is a fact that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are divided across the sea due to historical factors; but it is also a fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait aim to pursue national reunification.”During his term, Lee established the National Unification Committee, promulgated the National Unification Program, facilitated the Ku-Wang Talks, and opened a new era of positive cross-strait interaction. Wang further explained that it is a pity that cross-strait relations, which originally saw the dawn of peace, have experienced many changes in recent years, even becoming an area of potential military conflicts. He attributed this to changes in the international environment, ideological constraints, and more importantly, misunderstandings and ensuing confrontations caused by the stagnation of cross-strait exchanges. Wang called the cross-strait division an issue left over from history, with each country developing uniquely over time. The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait jointly inherit Chinese culture and have the same traditions in language, customs, and religious beliefs, he said. Wang advocates that “the governing powers of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other, and the sovereignty is the same but not divided.”He batted for “divide and rule without separation” as the most pragmatic approach at this stage to break the deadlock. In response to Wang’s remarks, DPP legislator Shen Boyang issued a statement last night, saying that “the governance powers of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other, and the sovereignty is the same but not divided.”Shen emphasized that China has always wanted to establish a new organization “Ministry of National Unification”, and pro-China people in Taiwan also want to strengthen discussions in this regard in Taiwan. Shen posited that if Taiwan really wants one country, two systems, it needs to sign a relevant peace treaty with China. This would put it in the same basket as Tibet and Hong Kong. “Please look at the current appearance of Tibet and Hong Kong. That will definitely not be Taiwan's future,” Shen reminded. KMT Legislator Li Yanxiu emphasized achieving cross-strait peace, and hoped for an end to feuding on various levels. He echoed Wang’s wish as one shared by the KMT and the Taiwanese public. Li called on the DPP not to treat mainland China as an enemy, to treat exchanges and dialogues as infiltration, and to treat unintentional remarks as a united front. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent democratic country with an elected government. Distinguishing sovereignty and governance can easily lead to a dispute over terms, he added. Lin also mentioned the Four Commitments proposed by President Tsai Ing-wen in 2021, insisting “that sovereignty is inviolable and annexable, and insisting that the Republic of China, Taiwan The future of Taiwan must follow the will of all Taiwanese people."He added that this works in conjunction with the “Four Pillars of Peace” of President Lai Ching-te before this year’s election, including: strengthening Taiwan's self-defense, strengthening economic security, deepening partnerships with democratic countries around the world, and promoting cross-strait dialogue and exchanges. The Mainland Affairs Council stated that it took note of the relevant remarks made by Wang and emphasized that any relevant discussions must ensure Taiwan's liberal democratic system and face up to China’s existence. This article is translated and edited from The News Lens Chinese edition. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187302 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | South Korea Seeks Arrest Of Impeached President Yoon | South Korea’s joint investigation unit on Monday sought an arrest warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law earlier this month. “The Joint Investigation Headquarters filed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol with the Seoul Western District Court,” said the probe team. The prosecutors’ application for a warrant is believed to be the first attempt to forcibly detain a sitting president in the country's constitutional history. A court will decide whether to issue the warrant. Yoon has circumvented several requests to appear for questioning by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors. He has also blocked searches of his office related to the investigation. Investigators are planning to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. The martial law declaration, on December 3, drew immediate opposition from politicians, with lawmakers having quickly passed a resolution demanding Yoon lift his order. On December 14, lawmakers voted to impeach the president over his failed attempt to impose military rule, suspending his presidential powers. However, it is up to the Constitutional Court to decide whether to confirm the impeachment and remove Yoon from office or restore his powers. The process could take months. Days after his attempt to impose martial law, Yoon apologized sayinghe would not evade legal and political responsibility over his actions. He nevertheless later came out to defend his decision, saying it was a measure to protect the country’s democracy. Opposition party membershavecriticizedhis repeated defiance of the summonsand havewarned againstpossible destruction of evidence. Yoonfaces a string of investigations, including potentialcharges of leading aninsurrection, a crime punishable bylife imprisonment or even the death penalty. The country's political crisis deepend further, when parliament last week also impeached acting PresidentHan Duck-soo, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies. rmt/lo (AFP, AP, Reuters)This article was originally published on Deutsche Welle. Read the original articlehere. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187322 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Diplomacy or Appeasement? Behind Guterres’ Cordiality with Putin | By Daniel RaynoldsThe debate surrounding United Nation Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's recent attendance at the2024 BRICS summit—that took place in Kazan, Russia, between October 22 and 24—reveals deep fractures in how international diplomacy is understood and practiced in an increasingly polarized world. On one side, critics argue that Guterres’s cordial engagement with Vladimir Putin is tantamount to endorsing his actions. They assert that such diplomacy undermines the moral authority of the UN, especially in light of ongoing conflicts such as the war in Ukraine. Alexander J. Motyl, a professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark, in his article published onThe Hillcriticizes the Secretary-General for meeting a “war criminal” at the summit. He argues that while Guterres has a duty to engage with world leaders, it is morally wrong for him to appear cordial with dictators like Putin. Motyl emphasizes that Guterres’s actions effectively endorse Putin’s actions and diminish the UN’s credibility, particularly at a time when tensions are escalating due to North Korean troops arriving in Russia to support the war in Ukraine. Motyl compares Guterres’s bow to historical appeasement of dictators, suggesting it shows a lack of respect for Ukraine’s suffering. Ultimately, the author calls for Guterres to resign, asserting that he has compromised both his position and the UN’s mission for peace. The crux of this argument is that in times of escalating conflict, leaders must take clear stances that reflect their commitment to justice and accountability. Conversely, risk analyst and columnist Bahauddin Foizee presents a compelling defense of Guterres’s approach, framing it as a necessary engagement for peace. Heemphasizes in his article published onOped Column Syndicationthat the Secretary-General’s role is not merely to condemn aggression but to foster dialogue among all nations, even those accused of serious crimes. Foizee argues that sidelining Russia could jeopardize the UN’s broader mission and limit opportunities for conflict resolution. His perspective highlights the complexity of international relations, where rigid moral absolutism can hinder the nuanced diplomacy required to achieve lasting peace. Additionally, Foizee defendsGuterres’s absence from Ukraine’s peace summit in Switzerland in June, stating that it reflects the need for balance; attending would have necessitated alignment with Western proposals, potentially alienating Russia. These contrasting views underscore a pivotal tension in contemporary global politics: the balance between moral leadership and pragmatic diplomacy. Critics of Guterres fear that engaging with dictators could normalize their actions and erode the UN’s credibility. However, proponents assert that without dialogue, the potential for de-escalation and understanding diminishes. This dilemma raises critical questions about the role of international organizations in addressing conflict: Is the UN a moral arbiter, or should it prioritize dialogue, even with those who perpetrate violence? It appears that Guterres’s actions will continue to be scrutinized, reflecting broader anxieties about how the international community navigates the turbulent waters of diplomacy in a world rife with injustice. As the war in Ukraine continues and other global tensions simmer, the challenge for Guterres and his successors will be to find pathways to peace without compromising their moral principles. The effectiveness of the UN, and indeed of global diplomacy itself, may hinge on this delicate balance. Daniel Raynoldswrites opinions and reviews about various topics, including human rights violations across the world. He has been published, among others, on The New Federalist, Foreign Policy News, Eurasia Review, International Policy Digest, GAC European Union Politics, Washington Politics Blog, OnLine Opinion (Australia). | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187249 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Taiwan to Subsidize Firms Relocating from China if Trump Imposes Tariffs | The local government would help Taiwanese firms to relocate their China-based plants if President-elect Donald Trump actualizes his threat to impose a 60% tariff on Chinese-made goods, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Thursday. Various departments of Taiwanese government are preparing for Trump’s second presidency. Economically, he is set to return to the White House next year with tougher hands on international trade relations, vowing to impose a 60% tariff on Chinese goods and 10% to 20% tariffs on goods from other countries. The Minister of Economic Affairs, Kuo Jyh-huei, had openly admitted that while imposing the 10% or 20% tariffs globally would see little impact on Taiwan, the 60% tariff will have a larger effect on Taiwanese businesses in China. Speaking to a legislative committee on Thursday, he said future assistance would be offered to Taiwanese businesses in China, helping them relocate their production bases to avoid the 60% tariff. However, he has not disclosed any specific measures. Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, Chern-Chyi, told the committee that some Taiwanese companies may benefit from the U.S. firms’ shifting orders from Chinese to Taiwanese goods, which could boost Taiwan’s economic and trade growth. If the Trump administration imposes a 60% tariff on China and cancels China’s permanent normal trade relations status, the competition between the U.S. and China will intensify. At the same time, this will create significant uncertainty in global trade and lead to unpredictable ripple effects on Taiwan's economy and trade, Chern added. Between 2019 and 2021, amid the escalating trade war between Beijing and Washington, Taipei rolled out incentives to encourage Taiwanese businesses in China to relocate back to the island. These incentives included two years of free rent in industrial zones managed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, labor subsidies, and reduced-interest loans. When asked whether he was concerned that TSMC and MediaTek might be influenced by Trump’s policies, Kuo emphasized that all production and sales are"driven by market demand. While politics can affect market fluctuations, ultimately, the market will align with demand. Regarding the possibility of the U.S. “CHIP Act” being repealed, he pointed out that the act is not only for TSMC, but also includes companies like Intel and Samsung. Asked whether the Ministry of Economic Affairs is prepared for a “Trump 2. 0,” Kuo concluded by saying that “we are constantly monitoring and ready for any shifts in the situation.” | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187273 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | DPP Whip Calls for Ousting of KMT Lawmakers After Speaker Revote Push | The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip, Ker Chien-ming, has called for the mass ousting of lawmakers from the Kuomintang (KMT) party after his party colleagues pushed to revote the legislative speaker last Friday. By invoking Article 8 of the Regulations on Electing the Legislative Speaker and Deputy Speaker by Legislators, DPP lawmakers proposed that electing a new legislative speaker be the first agenda item for January 3rd. The DPP's argument centers around current Speaker Han Kuo-yu, who they claim delayed submitting two controversial amended bills—the Public Officials Election and Recall Act and the Act Governing Allocations of Government Revenue and Expenditure—to President Lai Ching-te. The DPP has alleged that Han intentionally postponed the bills at the request of two KMT committee conveners. In a press briefing, Ker condemned Han's actions as “unlawful and unconstitutional,” stating that his stance reflected the DPP's core principles. He added that if the DPP does not call for Han’s dismissal now, the party might as well “shut down.”The DPP further argued that Han’s actions violated Article 3 of the Organic Act of the Legislative Yuan, which requires the speaker to uphold neutrality and fairness in managing the legislature's proceedings. On Saturday night, DPP lawmakers Tsai Yi-yu and Wang Yi-chuan arrived at the Legislative Yuan to submit a proposal in response to Friday’s meeting. They argued that allowing individual committee conveners to override the Constitution and legislative procedure—particularly in determining whether a bill should be transmitted—contravenes the Constitution and disrupts government operations. These actions, they said, violate Article 72 of the Constitution, which stipulates that “statutory bills passed by the Legislative Yuan shall be transmitted to the president of the republic and to the Executive Yuan.”On Sunday, Ker intensified his rhetoric by calling for the mass ousting of KMT lawmakers, stating, “The 41 KMT legislators must be recalled.” He explained that with only 51 DPP seats in the legislature, his party is unlikely to block proposals from the opposition parties. Ker specifically referred to 39 KMT lawmakers directly elected by voters in their constituencies, in addition to two independents aligned with the KMT. However, the KMT’s remaining 13 legislators-at-large—elected through party votes—are exempt from the recall provisions in the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act. Ker also accused lawmakers from the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) of pushing through bills that violate the Constitution and national interests. He particularly criticized the controversial legislative reform bill that expanded lawmakers' investigative powers over the government—but that that were largely revoked by the Constitutional Court in October 2024. Additionally, Ker objected to recently passed amendments, including the KMT’s proposal to raise the threshold for Constitutional Court rulings, impose stricter requirements for officials recall, and reallocate central government revenues to local governments. In a press conference following his New Year’s Day address, President Lai stated that he had invited Han for a coffee meeting in an attempt to ease the ongoing partisan tensions in the legislature. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187333 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Cabinet Will “Likely” To Ask For A Revote On Revenue Bill | The executive Cabinet looks set to request a review of the recently passed revenue bill in the Legislative Yuan, urging them to reconsider the allocation of US$11. 5 billion from the central government’s funds towards local governments. Concerns have been raised by Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee over the “significant impact” on the central government resources. Lee spoke of a “high chance” of asking for a revote. At a press briefing, Lee also mentioned seeking recourse with the Constitutional Court and said the central government was "currently researching and discussing all constitutional remedy procedures"Last Friday, squabbling lawmakers from opposition and ruling parties had approved revisions to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, marking a first in the last 25 years. Minority Kuomintang (KMT) Lawmakers, had proposed most of the amendments, hoping for greater support for local public work endeavors. Meanwhile the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, say the changes could pull too much from the central government’s needs. The Ministry of Finance likewise expressed its qualms that greater local government funding would create negative ripples on the entire country’s fiscal welfare. Policies ranging from economic development, welfare and even national security could all be impacted at a time when these areas are under immense scrutiny. Although there is yet to be an exact estimate of just how impactful these amendments could prove to be, the Executive Yuan also admitted. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187320 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | One Year On: What’s Next for the Gaza Strip? | By Yunfan Zhao (Neil Drao)On 7 October 2023, the terrorist attack codenamed “Operation Al Aqsa Storm” was launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement of Palestine (Hamas). In response, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) entered the Gaza Strip todismantle the operational capabilities of the Islamist militant organisation. Despite being equipped with far more advanced weaponry, Israel has not yet completed its mission, and the conflict has resulted inat least 16, 000 Palestinian civilian deaths. With no immediate end to the war in sight, the former Hamas-run territory faces multiple possible outcomes, with an armed Israeli occupation being the most likely. Prospects for an IDF return to the Gaza Strip, following its disengagement in 2005, are currently high given that Hamas, though operating at a reduced capacity, continues to pose security threats to Israel. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains resolute in his commitment to fighting against the terrorist organisation. A key reason for his continued hold on power is hisongoing corruption trial, as remaining in office helps him avoid potential jail time. Additionally, occupying the Gaza Strip would enable the IDF to occupy the territory and systematically dismantle Hamas. In the meantime, Israel remains cautious about fully annexing the Palestinian enclave due to social and national security challenges. On the one hand, fully annexing the Gaza Strip would immediately place the financial burden of supportingover 2. 14 million new citizens on the Israeli government, in addition to its existing9. 4 million citizens. On the other hand, many people in the territory have embraced theradicalised ideology of resistance (Al Muqawama), and a full integration with Israel would allow Palestinian terrorists to carry out attacks with fewer restrictions. Thus, a military occupation is considered far less risky than annexation. Could the Gaza Strip be handed over to Egypt for governance, as it was between 1948 and 1967? While unlikely, it remains a possibility. Being part of Egypt would immediatelylift the land, air, and sea blockade that Israel has imposed since Hamas took control in 2007, likely bringing economic prosperity to the Gaza Strip. However, such a solution would require Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to carefully navigate foreign policy, balancingNetanyahu’s security demands to curb nationalist Palestinian movements with Arab leaders'moral support for Palestinian statehood. Fiscally, the Egyptian government is not in a position to provide social services to the Gaza Strip andhas been anxious about any unilateral Israeli actions that might lead to such a situation. The Egyptian economy has struggled since the early years of Hosni Mubarak’s administration, relying on IMF loans for decades, conditioned on meeting US and EU criteria. Furthermore, Egypt’s main sources of income—tourism, the Suez Canal, and gas exports—have beenseverely impacted by Israel’s war against Hamas. Therefore, it would not be financially sustainable for Egypt to administer the Gaza Strip without significant international aid. As the internationally recognized Palestinian government, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is dominated by Fatah, the largest party in the PLO. While there is a possibility of a PA-led regime in the Gaza Strip due to its global legitimacy, the extent of Palestinian governance would ultimately be determined by Israeli authorities. It is well known that theShin Bet regularly coordinates with the PA’s security forces, and therefore, a PA government in the Gaza Strip would effectively resemble an Israeli occupation, though to a lesser extent. This would push the Palestinian cause further from thestatehood desired by the Arab world. Some may argue that new elections could be held to determine the next PA government if Israel allows its establishment in the Gaza Strip. However, major parties in the territory, such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), would not be able to participate in PA elections due toIsrael’s control and stance on these groups. Even if a Fatah-led PA government were established in the Gaza Strip, Hamas and the PIJ would continue to resist Israel and its partners, benefiting from their familiarity with the tunnel network and guerrilla warfare tactics. This could potentially spark another intifada, especially given thecurrent public support for Hamas. Finally, the prospects for an international regime based on UN diplomacy are extremely dim, ashistory illustrated with Jerusalem in 1948. The establishment of an international administration in the Gaza Strip would require significant concessions that are unlikely under the current status quo, such as the withdrawal of IDF soldiers to the internationally recognised Israel-Gaza border and the support of Israel and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, including the US and its allies, the UK and France. Given itsstrong support for Israel, the US would not back any motion that jeopardises Israel’s security. The implementation of an international regime in the Gaza Strip would likely provide a more conducive environment for Hamas and other Islamist factions to regroup and prepare for another intifada compared to being ruled by the PA. On the one hand, theUN has limited capabilities to coordinate and control the situation on the ground, as demonstrated by the Lebanon-Israel crisis. On the other hand, relying on the UN and international NGOs for social services would require financial contributions from the international community, which may not have a unified stance or willingness to contribute. Moreover, the risk of the international regime collapsing is too great for Israel to afford. In summary, the future of the Gaza Strip appears increasingly likely to resemble a full-scale Israeli military occupation similar to the pre-2005 period. This scenario would not only enhance Israel’s long-term security but also provide political immunity for Netanyahu. Handing the territory over to Egypt or the PA could potentially address Israel’s security concerns, but these scenarios are less likely due to Egypt’s unwillingness to take on additional responsibilities and the risk of another intifada. While an international regime could theoretically work, political differences and logistical hurdles pose significant challenges for the global community and would leave the power of Hamas and other fighters unchecked. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187201 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | INTERVIEW: Taiwanese Artist Highlights Global Climate Change Through QR-Code Art | Taiwanese artist Vincent J. F. Huang (黃瑞芳) is bringing to light the effects of global climate change by constructing a QR code comprised of 7, 000 mangrove trees. Huang says many Taiwanese are not familiar with Tuvalu due to the lack of media coverage of the island and its relationship with Taiwan. Through this new eco-art installation, Huang aims to emphasize the need for not only local, but also international, support for Tuvalu. In an interview with The News Lens International, the artist explains what inspired him to start the Art Mangroves Project and its significance. The News Lens International (TNLI): When and how did you start developing a strong interest in global climate change? Huang: I started focusing on environmental issues during my art practices in Scotland. This was back in 1999 when I was studying for my master’s degree. Around then is when I began doing more ecological art, or eco-art. Since 2010 is when I began a cooperation with the Tuvaluan Government to assist with my art. I wanted to help them get global society to focus on their climate crisis. TNLI: Why Tuvalu, specifically? There are many other island-nations near and around Taiwan, but stood out about Tuvalu? Huang: It was because of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen back in 2009. This was when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted on how Tuvalu could be the first nation to disappear due to rising sea levels. From there, I researched the tiny island-nation and was very touched by the dedication the Tuvaluan Government put in towards making a statement in Copenhagen. I remember them saying, “The fate of our nation rests in your hands.” Also, Tuvalu got a lot of media attention in 2009 because of the event. TNLI: Upon visiting Tuvalu, was there a moment that caused you to create the Art Mangroves Project? Huang: After the Copenhagen UNFCCC event in 2009, I went to Tuvalu in 2010. Immediately when I landed, I noticed how the rising sea levels had caused a majority of the coconut trees to die. This was because of the saltwater sinking into the sand near the trees. The visual impact hit me right there. I also met a lot of local children during my one-week stay in Tuvalu. They always asked me, “Will my homeland disappear because of climate change?” After that I started thinking about what I could do as an artist to assist the Tuvaluan people, especially the kids. They are the next generation to continue living in Tuvalu. TNLI: Why a QR code? Huang: I collected mangrove tree seedlings and developed the idea of making it in the shape of a QR code. The 7, 000 seeds will link scanners to a website discussing the climate crisis in Tuvalu. I want people to know it’s not about my artist business, and show them how Tuvalu isn’t the only country that will be affected. It’s a global crisis, after all. TNLI: In your eyes, why is it Taiwan isn’t as educated on environmental issues? Huang: Well, I feel it’s because Taiwan is very isolated globally, especially with global issues. Most Taiwanese aren’t familiar with the global scene, causing them to not care as much about climate change. They don’t know on how Tuvalu has a great diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. I think 90% of Taiwanese don’t know about the country. TNLI: How has the crowdfunding campaign been going since you announced the project in early July? Huang: So far nearly 1, 000 people globally have visited my fundraising website on Indiegogo. A lot of them told me they’re touched by my project, but unfortunately very few people have donated. We have raised a total of US$1, 305, and need a total of US$30, 000 before the end of August. I will be heading to Tuvalu around then. Because of the low funding, we have been in discussions with Taipei 101 management. They’re quite interested in making up for the price conflict around early August, possibly. We also reached out to the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also next week, we might have a chance to meet President Tsai Ing-Wen (蔡英文) and her team, too. However, they are only worried about whether or not this event will be successful because it’s on the small island-nation of Tuvalu. TNLI: Have you witnessed a shift in public awareness on global climate change compared to before? Huang: Most of the global society, around 80 to 90% of them, have never heard about Tuvalu. However, through multiple art projects I have done in Tuvalu since 2010, they’re more aware of the situation. I believe this shows you the power of art and how it can initiate change on a global scale. To donate or find out more about the Art Mangroves Project, click here. First Editor: Olivia Yang Second Editor: J. Michael Cole | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/45187 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | With an annual trading volume exceeding NT$9 trillion, Taiwan’s startup joins the ranks of the world’s top ten crypto market makers: We are the wolf of Wall Street! | Taiwan is home to a mysterious company that is not only among the world’s top ten cryptocurrency market makers, but also ranks as the top-notch liquidity provider for the top three trading pairs globally! In 2023, their annual trading volume reached an impressive US$300 billion (approximately NT$9 trillion), and this year it is projected to surpass US$500 billion (approximately NT$16 trillion)!This Taiwan-oriented company, Quantrend Technology, has earned the reputation of being the “Wolf of Wall Street” in the crypto world. In just two years since its inception, it has developed exceptional trading strategies through superior AI technology. The company’s co-founder, Popo Chen, is a well-known figure in the crypto community. He was one of co-founders of Cobinhood, a Taiwanese cryptocurrency exchange that was once a highly promising unicorn in the industry. Chief Technology Officer Kaede Tai is also a renowned tech genius, known for co-founding PTT, the popular online forum in Taiwan. By a stroke of fate, these two extraordinary figures from Taiwan’s crypto and tech communities have joined forces with the ambition to make a difference in the crypto world. They aim to turn over a new leaf of past incidents like pump-and-dump schemes, ICO scams, and the FTX fund misappropriation scandal. Driven by a touch of romantic perseverance, they leverage AI technology and superior strategies to rise among the global elite in quantitative trading, standing toe-to-toe with industry giants. If you are interested in the mysteries of the cryptocurrency industry and eager to discover the invisible hand behind trading, tune in this episode of “All About the Money” for an in-depth interview. Join us as we explore Quantrend Technology’s business model, future trends in cryptocurrency, and how to uncover the most lucrative opportunities in this FinTech revolution. The most renowned cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, has been around for 14 years, yet it remains a highly volatile and intense market where there is a saying that “a day in the crypto world is like a year in the real world.” This volatility has scared off many long-term investors, attracting instead those looking to get rich quick. But must the crypto world rely solely on this get-rich-quick model? Is there no better way to achieve steady and long-term profits in this market? “Of course, a new trend presents opportunities for quick wealth, because hot money flows in. However, after witnessing the speculative frenzy of recent years and the decline of NFTs, I've realized that cryptocurrency should develop in a more practical direction,” says Popo Chen. With this vision, he founded Quantrend Technology in 2020, aiming to emulate the hedge fund model of Renaissance Technologies LLC. They utilize AI quantitative models derived from mathematical and statistical analysis for cryptocurrency trading strategies. By investing and profiting through proprietary trading and offering institutional clients with lower-risk investment portfolio products, Quantrend Technology is capable of balancing self-investment with client services. You might wonder, given the high volatility of cryptocurrency, how does Quantrend Technology manage to mitigate risks? Similar to the hedging concept in traditional financial markets, they employ a “market-neutral strategy” to offset risks. This involves holding both long and short positions simultaneously to balance each other out. Meanwhile, effective predictive factors and AI models are used to forecast the price differences between various assets, generating excess returns (Alpha) by capitalizing on these price differences. In other words, the superiority of predictive models and the speed and accuracy of judgments determine the amount of excess returns (Alpha). This is the decisive advantage that Quantrend Technology proudly boasts. Quantrend Technology CTO, Kaede Tai, also points out that the current financial product barriers in the cryptocurrency world are too low. This has led to a gambler’s mentality, where many people use 100x leverage to buy perpetual contracts, essentially gambling for a win-or-lose outcome. In contrast, only long-term holders tend to make trading in the cryptocurrency spot market. So, is it possible to find a perfect balance? Quantrend Technology has developed an innovative service that combines the benefits of high-frequency trading and long-term holding. Using clients’ Bitcoin holdings as a base, they “mirror” a trading limit and employ portfolio-based AI trading strategies to profit from price differences. After each trade, they immediately repurchase Bitcoin, allowing the spot holdings to grow not just in value, but also in volume. The success of these products demonstrates that even without relying on speculation, gambling, or other gray-area means, it is possible to build a sustainable business model in the crypto world. The unstoppable trend of cryptocurrency is evident from the legalization of Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs. But the key question is, is the moat deep enough? When financial giants move to carve up market share, what advantages does Quantrend Technology have? CTO Kaede Tai believes that traditional giants may not be able to easily dominate the crypto world. “There are many new concepts here, such as ‘perpetual contracts, ’ which have never existed before. In addition, cryptocurrency exchanges are cloud-based, unlike traditional finance which requires setting up physical data centers and dedicated lines. It’s a completely different ecosystem." For these large institutions, finding individuals who understand trading, cryptocurrency, and AI simultaneously is very challenging. This is precisely Quantrend Technology’s background and strength that can easily identify the formula for profitability. Cryptocurrency has weathered ups and downs, and experienced bull and bear cycles. It finally enters the mainstream market in recent years. Transitioning from decentralized management to being recognized and regulated by numerous countries, cryptocurrency has also become a significant investment position for major traditional financial institutions like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. This shift has boosted the confidence of the general public in investing in cryptocurrency. “In the economy as a whole, the total assets of traditional investors far exceed the total assets in the crypto market. The key question is how the fund will flow into this emerging market, allowing its value to solidify over time (Note: a phenomenon where an asset or protocol gains more value or usage as time progresses). Considering these factors, I believe we are still in the early stages of a bull market, and this trend should continue for the next two or three years. ”So, how should retail investors participate in this highly lucrative FinTech revolution? Popo and Kaede unanimously suggest that “Don’t even try to compete with the trading bots!”“AI is designed to learn and exploit human behavior, so our profits essentially come from human nature. To be frank, we are the wolf of Wall Street. Don’t walk into the lion’s den by trying to trade on your own.”Popo advises that the simplest strategy for retail investors is dollar-cost averaging (DCA). This approach helps achieve an average price, shielding retail investors from short-term volatility. As prices approach their peak, investors can gradually sell their holdings, effectively profiting from the average price difference without emotional stress. “Or even a simpler strategy,” he adds, “if you can’t beat them, join them!”Quantrend Technology has successfully entered the ranks of the world’s top ten cryptocurrency market makers by leveraging AI technology. They have demonstrated that the crypto community can employ a sustainable business model, enhancing financial efficiency in the cryptocurrency market through their advanced technology. This allows retail investors to buy and sell at the best prices while enabling market makers to earn reasonable profits, gradually paving the way toward a mature and stable market mechanism. Quantrend Technology | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187046 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | MOFA Says Malaysia And Singapore Not Opposed To Taiwan’s CPTPP Accession | Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) chief Lin Chia-lung believes Singapore and Malaysia did not oppose their bid to become full members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP is a free trade pact between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. It was formed in 2018, and now represents one of the biggest free trade scales, accounting for 15% of the global GDP. According to a reportage from the American news outlet Politico last month, delegates of the trade bloc failed to reach a consensus in a meeting in Vancouver late last month regarding the accession of both Taiwan and China. Politico reported that Singapore and Malaysia were notable in that they did not back the bid of their neighbor. However, Lin maintains that this isn’t the case. In a statement, Taiwan’s Office of Trade Negotiations said “Our government expresses its deep disappointment and once again calls on CPTPP members to set up a working group on our membership at an early date without political considerations.”Both China and Taiwan’s applications to join the pact were submitted just days apart back in 2021. In the same year, some members also displayed an adverse reaction to China’s application. Japanese economic chief Yasutoshi Nishimura was less than thrilled about the prospect, saying it must determine whether China is “ready to meet its extremely high standards.”Beijing has opposed Taiwan’s accession, which has raised concerns among Taiwanese officials. Nevertheless, Lin assured that although they did not achieve the desired outcome, he stressed that “we have made progress.”He explained that Singapore is open to both Beijing and Taipei becoming members but that the degree of its backing for either “differs.” He also said that Malaysia has a similar standpoint. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187301 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Jimmy Lai Trialed Over His Taiwan and US Connections | Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai told a Hong Kong high court on Wednesday that he had met with Taiwan’s former president Tsai Ing-wen several times and introduced two former United States officials to help her understand Donald Trump’s stance towards Taiwan. Today marked the first time Lai testified in his foreign collusion trial under Hong Kong’s national security law, in which he could face up to life imprisonment. In this 93rd session of the trial, he admitted to his Taiwanese connections, which began when he sought to establish the Taiwanese branch of Apple Daily, the mass pro-democracy media outlet founded in 1995, with its headquarters based in Hong Kong before it ceased operations in 2021 due to a police crackdown. Lai admitted in the morning hearing that he met with Tsai through the connection of her “right-hand man” Jiang Chunnan, a Taiwanese politics commentator and the former chairman of the General Association of Chinese Culture. According to Lai’s testimony, he met with Tsai for the first time when he sought to launch the Taiwanese branch of Apple Daily, which was later founded in 2003. After Tsai became the self-ruled island’s president, Lai met with her again. In order to let Tsai learn more about Trump’s views towards Taiwan, Lai connected Tsai with former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense W. Patrick Murphy and former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General Jack Keane, to her through Jiang. When asked about his purpose in helping Taiwan, Lai openly stated in court that he hoped to lend Taiwan a helping hand, “because Taiwan is the only place in Chinese society that has democracy in history.”Trump and Lai have never met, nor had any indirect contact, as Lai emphasized regarding his relations with a few U.S. political figures. He admitted to meeting then-Vice President Mike Pence in the U.S. in mid-2019, in an ad-hoc arrangement, when he originally planned only to meet with U.S. lawmakers to discuss the social movement in Hong Kong. During the same trip, he also met with then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss a similar topic. Lai emphasized that he would not ask Pence to influence foreign policy on Hong Kong or China, and instead, he explained the situation in Hong Kong to him. He also denied exploiting his friendships with overseas officials to push a political agenda, South China Morning Post reports. Lai mentioned that he had joined a think tank and had known former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton for a long time. They had met in Taiwan and discussed policy matters, chatting like ordinary friends. However, Lai denied knowing former U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and only learned that the founding chairman of the Democratic Party, Martin Lee, was a longtime friend of Pelosi. Tsai’s office has not yet responded to Lai’s account of his Taiwanese connections. During her visit to the Czech Republic in October this year, Tsai stated that Jimmy Lai should be released. This article is edited based on a reportage from The News Lens Chinese. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187267 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Korea’s Presidential Drama | South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a surprise televised address on December 3, 2024, citing threats from North Korea and “antistate forces” while accusing the opposition-controlled National Assembly of obstructing his governance. The move, which deployed special forces into Seoul, temporarily suspended political activities, and curtailed freedoms, marked South Korea’s first martial law declaration since 1980. It was widely condemned as a desperate attempt to salvage Yoon’s plummeting popularity, already weakened by parliamentary defeats and scandals involving his administration and his wife. The declaration of martial law sparked mass protests in Seoul, with demonstrators expressing outrage and vowing to remove President Yoon from office. Many citizens viewed the move as reminiscent of past dictatorial measures, further fueling public anger. Military and police clashed with civilians, outside the National Assembly the unrest. The martial law order faced condemnation from opposition leaders and even members of Yoon's own People Power Party, who labeled it unconstitutional. The situation also drew international attention, with allies like the United States expressing concern over the suspension of democracy and the unfolding events in South Korea. Yoon’s declaration of martial law, intended to counter mounting domestic political challenges and calls for impeachment, lasted only six hours before being overturned by the National Assembly. The move, widely criticized as a “legal overreach and a political miscalculation,” has led to widespread criticism, legal challenges, and further alienation from both the opposition and his own People Power Party. Analysts view the declaration as a desperate attempt to consolidate power amid intense political pressure, a fractured government, and historic unpopularity. Yoon’s approval ratings, already at record lows, have plummeted further as impeachment efforts intensified, deepening his political crisis and signaling what many see as the beginning of his political downfall. Yoon, who narrowly won the presidency in 2022, now faces mounting political isolation as his leadership comes under intense scrutiny. His senior aides have offered mass resignations, and his party leadership has called for his withdrawal from the People Power Party. While the opposition Democratic Party initiated an impeachment vote, it failed to proceed due to a boycott by Yoon's conservative party, which denied the quorum needed to move forward. Despite avoiding removal, Yoon continues to face criticism, with even members of his own party openly calling for his resignation. Although he has so far survived removal from office, President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sidelined from running the country and handling diplomacy. Ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon announced that Yoon agreed to step back from governance. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and the ruling People Power Party will now manage state affairs, though the opposition Democratic Party has condemned the arrangement as unconstitutional. South Korea remains in political turmoil as public discontent grows, with roughly three-quarters of citizens supporting President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal from office. The National Assembly, driven by opposition leaders, plans to hold weekly impeachment votes, with the next scheduled for December 14. Meanwhile, legal scrutiny over Yoon's martial law declaration has intensified, further undermining his already fragile presidency. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, accused of proposing the martial law order, has been detained on charges of insurrection and is under investigation alongside Yoon for abuse of power and treason—a charge not protected by presidential immunity. The ongoing criminal investigation by South Korean prosecutors has heightened domestic and international pressure to restore stability, as calls for Yoon’s ousting continue to escalate. Amid growing unrest, the ruling People Power Party has proposed plans for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s early exit, though critics contend that ousting a sitting president without adhering to constitutional procedures is illegal. Protests continue to escalate, highlighting the deep divisions within South Korean society and adding complexity to an already fraught political landscape. Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry has imposed a travel ban on Yoon as investigations into allegations of rebellion and abuse of power intensify. The domestic political turmoil coincides with heightened regional tensions, including North Korea's escalating nuclear threats and the upcoming U.S. administration transition, which could further complicate South Korea’s foreign relations. However, North Korea has remained notably silent during this crisis. Historically quick to exploit South Korean political instability, Pyongyang appears to have shifted its focus toward strengthening alliances with Russia and China and deepening its involvement in the war in Ukraine. Recent reports of North Korea exchanging munitions with Russia for food suggest that Pyongyang is prioritizing domestic stability and leveraging international partnerships over engaging directly with South Korea. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187307 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | ZEROVA Powers Up EV Fleets at CES 2024 with New MegaWatt Charging System | ZEROVA Technologies, a leading innovator in electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, is announcing the debut of its new MegaWatt Charging System (MCS) for commercial heavy-duty vehicles at CES 2024. Garnering particular interest and acclaim, the MCS offers industry-leading power capabilities — with support for up to 3. 75 megawatts, 3, 000 amps, and 1, 250 volts —making it the world's highest powered commercial single-stream fast-charging connector. To explore Zerova’s new MCS for heavy-duty electric-powered trucks and fleet vehicles, please contact: sales_asia@zerovatech. comWith the growing electrification of truck and fleet commercial vehicles, ZEROVA is leveraging its state-of-the-art, highly customizable MCS charging solutions to harness booming demand for total commercial fleet solutions while delivering the scalability, efficiency, and user-friendly designs these fleets need. It offers an integrated platform that combines cutting-edge hardware and software, with onboard applications such as a system for scheduling charging times for added ease-of-use. In North America, ZEROVA has cemented its reputation as the premier partner for white-label EV charging solutions — with a proven track record of fostering collaborations with automakers, Charge Point Operators (CPOs), and turn-key EV charging providers supporting various sectors, including hospitality, multi-unit dwelling, parking, fuel, and fleet. “Zerova Technologies has established a solid business foundation in the fiercely competitive North American market through successful collaborations with hotels, apartment complexes, parking facilities, gas stations, and heavy-duty fleets,” Alex Lin, the chairman at ZEROVA Technologies. “We are focused on ensuring that our charging stations not only offer fast and reliable service but also seamlessly integrate with vehicle technology for optimal charging efficiency.”Key innovations in the Megawatt Charging System-High power, small package. Single conductive plugIt takes immense pride in introducing the Megawatt Charging System, which promises to revolutionize the field of electric vehicle charging, while offering robust support for future sustainable energy endeavors. In May 2023, ZEROVA also launched its four-gun 480kW fast-charging solution DQ480, ensuring its lead in the EV charging market with top-tier charging capabilities. Zerova Technologies designs and manufactures a complete line of EV charging solutions that power brands globally. Whether white-label or collaborative design partnerships, the company works closely with customers to ensure success and align with their global channel strategies. As a subsidiary of Phihong Technology, Zerova leverages its 50+ years of industry-proven experience as a global manufacturer of power products to provide an industry-leading product portfolio to address a broad set of EV charging use-case scenarios. For more information, visit www. zerovatech. comThe content of this article is provided by "Phihong Technology". | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/186766 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Bridging Continents, Amplifying Voices: TNL Mediagene and The Los Angeles Tribune Forge Visionary Partnership | TNL Mediagene (Nasdaq: TNMG), Asia’s next-generation digital-media and data group, together with The Los Angeles Tribune announced a groundbreaking partnership that reshapes the international media landscape, to create a visionary collaboration. This partnership brings together two pioneering organizations dedicated to using the power of narratives to foster cultural understanding, elevate voices, and inspire meaningful worldwide change. This alliance merges TNL Mediagene’s expertise in technology and multilingual media production with The Los Angeles Tribune’s legacy of bold journalism, international leadership programs, and transformative content creation. Together, they aim to redefine the role of media in bridging cultural divides and connecting diverse communities across continents. This partnership, in which The Los Angeles Tribune aligns with TNL Mediagene’s mission of “To Be the Trusted Voice for a Better Future,” blends TNL Mediagene’s cutting-edge advertising and analytics with the Tribune’s international platform. The alliance will amplify Asian perspectives, ensuring that voices from the region resonate on a global scale. The collaboration also seeks to expand digital horizons by creating innovative content that informs, inspires, and unites audiences. TNL Mediagene, formed through the merger of Taiwan’s The News Lens Co. and Japan’s Mediagene Inc. , has built a reputation for high-quality, culturally resonant journalism tailored to millennial and Gen Z audiences. Its portfolio includes influential brands such as “Business Insider Japan” and “Gizmodo Japan”. Together with The Los Angeles Tribune, which also champions diverse voices through specialized publications like “The Women’s Journal”, “The Vietnamese Journal”, and “The Spanish Journal”, this union will foster inclusivity and creativity. TNL Mediagene and The Los Angeles Tribune envision a media landscape that not only informs but also uplifts and unites. This partnership represents a turning point in worldwide communication, symbolizing a future where technology amplifies authenticity and voices from every corner of the world are heard. The Los Angeles Tribune is a boutique international media conglomerate dedicated to freedom of speech, integrity, and the power of compelling ideas. Its diverse ecosystem includes diverse leadership programs, public education initiatives, and specialized publications that elevate voices and ideas worldwide. https: //thelosangelestribune. com/TNL Mediagene, a Cayman Islands-registered company, is the product of the May 2023 merger of Taiwan’s The News Lens Co. and Japan’s Mediagene Inc. , two leading, independent digital-media groups. Its business includes original and licensed media brands in Chinese, Japanese and English, across a range of subjects, including news, business, technology, science, food, sports and lifestyle; AI-powered advertising and marketing technology platforms in demand by agencies; and e-commerce and creative solutions. It takes pride in its political neutrality, its reach with younger audiences, and its quality. The company has 550 employees across Asia, with offices in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. https: //www. tnlmediagene. com/ | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187316 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Taiwan Seeks Clarity On Trump Team Policy Amid Chinese Pressure | By William YangTAIPEI, TAIWAN — As the world prepares for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Taiwan finds itself sandwiched between Washington and Beijing as it grapples with uncertainties about the outlook of U.S. -Taiwan relations and growing military pressure from China. Trump has already picked several politicians known for their hawkish stances on China as potential nominees for his Cabinet, including Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz, but analysts say the president-elect's comments about Taiwan on the campaign trail and in recent interviews have not offered much clarity about how he might handle one of Washington’s most delicate relationships. “We don't know if [Trump] means it when he wants to return the United States to a more isolationist position, ” said J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based senior fellow with the Global Taiwan Institute. During an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek in July, Trump said Taiwan should pay the United States for defense and compared U.S. military spending on Taiwan to an insurance policy. “I know the people very well. Respect them greatly. They did take 100% of our chip business. I think Taiwan should pay us for defense,” he said. In October, Trump pledged to impose additional tariffs on China if Beijing were to “go into Taiwan.”“I would say: If you go into Taiwan, I'm sorry to do this, I'm going to tax you, at 150% to 200%,” the President-elect said during an interview with The Wall Street Journal. In his first post-election interview with NBC News on Dec. 8, Trump didn’t publicly say whether the U.S. would militarily defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. “I’d prefer that they don’t do it,” Trump said, adding that he has a “very good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and that the two have been communicating since last month’s election. During his time in office, U.S. President Joe Biden has on multiple occasions said his administration would defend Taiwan if it was attacked. Some Taiwanese residents worry about what they describe as a lack of clarity from the Trump administration. “I’m slightly concerned about how Trump’s return to the White House might affect relations between the U.S. and Taiwan because he always prioritizes U.S. interests, which makes it hard to predict how his administration might form their Taiwan policies,” Angel Chi, a 28-year-old medical worker, told VOA in a recent interview on the streets of Taipei. Others say while Trump’s position on Taiwan seems uncertain, they do not think his administration will reduce support for Taipei. “I still have faith in the U.S. democratic system because he can’t decide everything by himself,” Christine Chiu, a 42-year-old accountant, told VOA. The strong bipartisan support for Taiwan in Congress and some potential Trump Cabinet members’ track records on foreign policy could prevent U.S. -Taiwan relations from undergoing major changes during Trump’s second term, experts said. “I don’t think there is panic in Taipei because we dealt with this situation before and we have confidence in our congressional support in the U.S. ,” said Lai I-Chung, president of The Prospect Foundation, a Taiwan-based think tank made up of academics and government officials. “The mood [in Taiwan] is we will be careful and watchful about the development, but we are not panicking, ” he told VOA in an interview in Taipei. In recent weeks, Taiwan’s government has been reaching out to Republican congressional leaders and Trump’s transition team. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te spoke with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson on the phone during his first overseas trip to the Pacific region in early December. On that trip, Lai had stopovers in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam. Additionally, two senior national security officials from Taiwan traveled to the U.S. last week to meet members of Trump’s transition team, hoping to establish ties before next month’s inauguration, Reuters news agency reported last on Dec. 19. Cole said there should be enough “institutional resistance” in the U.S. government to prevent longstanding policies toward Taiwan from being abruptly altered. During a regular press conference on Dec. 6, China’s Foreign Ministry responded to a question on Lai’s stopover in Guam and Hawaii and said, “No one should underestimate the firm resolve, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.”As Taiwan tries to deepen its engagement with U.S. officials and the incoming Trump administration, China has been increasing military pressure on the island throughout 2024. Beijing has conducted two blockade-style military exercises around Taiwan since Lai took office in May. Last week, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Beijing deployed the largest number of naval and coast guard vessels to regional waters in almost three decades. Apart from military exercises, China has increased pressure on Taiwan through a range of what are called gray zone operations, measures that involve irregular tactics but stop short of combat. China’s use of its coast guard to intimidate and test Taiwan is one example of those gray zone tactics. Beijing has repeatedly sent coast guard vessels to patrol waters near Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen and Matsu islands since February. Kinmen and Matsu are closer to China than they are to the main island of Taiwan. The Prospect Foundation’s Lai said China has some coast guard vessels that are similar in size to naval destroyers, making it harder for Taiwan’s coast guard to respond proportionately. “It would be difficult for Taiwan to [deploy] naval vessels against the Chinese coast guard, and when Taiwan responds by deploying its coast guard forces, the vessels are smaller ships [while] the Chinese coast guard vessels are as big as navy ships, ” he told VOA. To counter the growing military pressure and gray zone operations from Beijing, Taiwan has incorporated more unscripted, real-combat drills into its annual military exercises. The island has also increased its defense budget in recent years, which is set to reach a new high of $19. 74 billion dollars in 2025. This year, Taiwan’s government also established a committee to help strengthen the island’s civil defense capabilities. Cole said Taiwan still faces challenges in that regard. “There is still quite a bit of resistance not only within the security apparatus and armed forces, which don’t like the idea of involving citizens in defense, the opposition parties have also sought to derail [relevant] plans and fundings, ” he told VOA. What may come next depends on Taiwan’s actions and Beijing’s assessment of Trump’s policies toward the island after he takes office in January. The News Lens has been authorized to publish this article fromVoice of America. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187319 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Press Freedom Continues To Deteriorate In Hong Kong | By Liam ScottWASHINGTON — Jailed pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai testified Tuesday that the Hong Kong government became “very strict” after Beijing's national security law came into effect in 2020. The 77-year-old British national made the statement when the court asked him to explain comments he made in August 2020 following the arrest of pro-democracy former lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting. At the time, Lai said the arrest showed that the Beijing-imposed national security law, or NSL, “definitely had destroyed our rule of law.” Lam was found guilty of rioting last week. “I think the NSL has, you know, affected the way . .. the government conducted the law,” Lai told the court Tuesday. “After the NSL, the government has been very strict in using the law.”The founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper stands accused of collusion with foreign forces and sedition under Beijing’s national security law. He rejects the charges, which press freedom groups have decried as politically motivated. “The trial is entirely a sham,” Yaqiu Wang, the China research director at the nonprofit Freedom House, told VOA. Lai's plight is a feature, not a bug, of the current press freedom landscape in Hong Kong, according to analysts. The past year has been particularly devastating for media freedom in a place that was once considered a bastion of press freedom in Asia, say analysts, who point to Lai's trial, a new national security law, and other trials of journalists as evidence that the media landscape has continued to deteriorate in Hong Kong. “It's just the continuation of a dramatic decline in press freedom in Hong Kong,” Wang said. Next year is unlikely to be any better, multiple experts told VOA. Lai's trial began in December 2023 and was initially expected to last about 80 days. But now, his year is set to end the same way it began: attending hearings for a trial that could sentence him to life in prison. Sebastien Lai, the son of Jimmy Lai, has consistently voiced concern about his father's health. The elder Lai has been held in solitary confinement since late 2020. “His health has gotten much worse, as you can expect when you put a 77-year-old man in solitary confinement for four years. But his spirit is holding strong. His mind is holding strong,” Sebastien Lai told VOA in November. Lai's case is intended to scare other people in Hong Kong from criticizing the government, says Caoilfhionn Gallagher, the head of Lai's international legal team. “His case was also designed to send a chill down the spine of anyone who might want to wear a T-shirt or sing a song or post a tweet or say anything which might stand up to Hong Kong or Beijing's leaders,” Gallagher said at a November press conference in Washington. In late November, a Hong Kong government spokesperson told VOA it was “inappropriate” to comment on Lai’s case because legal proceedings are ongoing. Hong Kong authorities have previously denied that Lai's trial is unfair. The spokesperson also said Hong Kong “rejected any fact-twisting remarks and baseless smears against the legal system” and emphasized that “Hong Kong citizens enjoy freedom of the press and freedom of speech.”When it comes to press freedom in Hong Kong, Lai's trial is part of a broader pattern. In August, two editors — Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam — at the now-shuttered Stand News were convicted of sedition and later sentenced to prison. Like Lai’s, that case was also viewed as a bellwether of the poor state of press freedom in Hong Kong, according to Sophie Richardson, a visiting scholar at Stanford University. The cases “are a very clear message across the board to journalists that they cannot expect the protections of law to guarantee their free speech rights in order to practice journalism without fear of reprisal,” Richardson told VOA. In November, 45 pro-democracy activists were sentenced to prison under the national security law. And in September, the Hong Kong Journalists Association reported that dozens of Hong Kong journalists and their families had faced harassment since June. “You're not safe if you cross the government,” Mark Clifford, who recently published a biography on Jimmy Lai, told VOA. Those developments have taken place against the backdrop of a new, homegrown national security law known as Article 23, which expands on Beijing's national security measure. Enacted in March, Article 23 covers treason, sedition and state secrets, and allows for trials to be held behind closed doors. Experts have warned the law will likely further the deterioration of press freedom and other civil liberties in Hong Kong. “Almost any conduct can now be labeled as a threat to national security,” said Richardson, the former China director at Human Rights Watch. Wang said the law may also underscore insecurity on the part of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. “They feel the need to take out more tools to repress people,” Wang said. In 2019, before Beijing's national security law was enacted, Hong Kong ranked 73 out of 180 countries on the Global Press Freedom Index. In 2024, it ranked 135 — a more than 60-spot drop. That rapid decline in press freedom and broader civil liberties has fundamentally changed the identity of Hong Kong, whose population long celebrated their freedoms, according to Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong. “It's surreal. It's traumatic,” Clifford said. “I don't think we've seen another country or another city in the past 100 years that has seen its freedom so quickly and thoroughly and comprehensively snuffed out.”The News Lens has been authorized to publish this article fromVoice of America. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187317 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | US Senate To Vote On Bill That Fuels Possibility Of Chinese Drone Ban | By Yihua LeeWASHINGTON — The 2025 defense spending authorization bill is coming up to a final vote in the U.S. Senate. As the American Northeast buzzes with drone sightings and fears of foreign surveillance, the bill moves to ban products from the world's largest drone-maker: China. In a procedural vote on Monday, senators voted 83-12 in favor of moving to a full vote on the National Defense Authorization Act, a massive piece of annual legislation that sets priorities and authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Defense. A provision within the 2025 NDAA aims to create mechanisms for further oversight and prohibition of the use of Chinese drones while working to increase drone supply chain resilience within the U.S. and partner countries. The bill mandates an investigation into two Chinese drone manufacturers, DJI and Autel Robotics, with the aim of placing them on the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) “Covered List.” This would prevent their use in telecommunications industries. Another section calls for the Department of Defense to regularly disassemble and analyze the components of DJI drones. The provision on drones draws in part from earlier anti-Chinese drone legislation introduced by Republican Representative Elise Stefanik and Senator Rick Scott. These bills received bipartisan support, showing how concerns over the risk that Chinese drones pose to U.S. national security have united a politically divided Congress. “DJI drones pose the national security threat of TikTok, but with wings,” Stefanik said. “This Chinese-controlled company cannot be allowed to continue to operate in the U.S.”During an interview on Fox News, Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi described how he collaborated with Stefanik to draft legislation on Chinese drones to be included in the NDAA. “These Chinese-manufactured drones allow for the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party, to access data in a backdoor manner and ultimately surveil Americans,” Krishnamoorthi said. China's DJI dominates the production and sale of household drones, with 2021 estimates suggesting that the company accounts for 76% of the worldwide consumer market and about 90% of the U.S. market. While more companies have emerged in past years, DJI still controls the largest share of the market. This gives the U.S. an increased imperative to diversify the domestic drone economy, Carlos Gimenez, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee's Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, told VOA. “We have to go a little cold turkey on this one. To say, ‘No, we can't buy that anymore, ’” Gimenez said. “You have to look for other suppliers, which then will slowly incentivize American companies to start building them.”While the Chinese drone ban has bipartisan support within Congress, it faces pushback from drone enthusiasts and nongovernmental organizations that oppose a blanket ban on Chinese drone products. Brandon Karr, spokesperson for the nonprofit Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA), supports the development of stricter and more rigorous data security regulations for drones rather than an all-out ban, which could pose problems for American law enforcement and safety agencies. Karr has written to Congress, advocating for agencies to develop their own protocol and oversight for drone data security and to maintain their right to use Chinese drones while minimizing their risk. LEDA leads training on drone operation and best practices for public safety and law enforcement. All 30 of the drones the group uses for training are made by Chinese companies. “Generally speaking, over 90% of public safety agencies in the nation and worldwide today are utilizing Chinese aircraft,” Karr said. “So in the event that a bill like this would go fully through and would potentially ban the use of Chinese drones for public safety, it’d be catastrophic for the public safety drone industry.”The biggest advantage of Chinese drones is their low cost, especially when compared with American models. Karr told VOA that he'd rather use American products, but that domestically produced drones were double the price of those made in China and included more maintenance fees."There's not a law enforcement entity across the United States that would rather fly a Chinese aircraft over an American if they were competitively priced," he said. In addition to LEDA, the California Fire Chiefs Association, the Air Public Safety Association and other groups have written to Congress saying the bill will harm them, with most citing concerns over cost. In an interview with VOA in August, Republican Senator Marco Rubio called Chinese drones "a huge vulnerability," and said that data security regulations would not address the security risks of Chinese drones given their frequent software updates. People “just want drones, and these are the cheapest ones they can find,” said Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state in the next administration. "We need to help incentivize the development of alternative manufacturers that are cost effective for law enforcement, for utility companies, for others.”DJI has not yet responded to VOA’s request for comment on the latest version of the NDAA, which could ban the company's drones. However, when votes were taken to include a ban of DJI drones in the NDAA in the House of Representatives earlier this year, DJI representatives told VOA that the moves “suggest protectionism and undermine the principles of fair competition and an open market.""Our drones have enabled the growth of entire industries, empowering small businesses in sectors such as agriculture, real estate, and transportation. These businesses depend on the accessibility of DJI's drone technology to thrive. We believe that innovation, security, and privacy can coexist and are essential to advancing the drone industry and the interests of all stakeholders," wrote DJI representatives. DJI has consistently denied claims that it sends drone data to the Chinese government. Katherine Michaelson contributed to this report. The News Lens has been authorized to publish this article fromVoice of America. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187318 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | The 2023 Taoyuan FuturePeak Youth Innovation Expo is underway, featuring 120 youth Startup from seven counties and cities in northern Taiwan showcasing their creativity. | The "Taoyuan FuturePeak Youth Innovation Expo" took place on November 21 in Zhongli District, attended by Mayor Zhang Shan-Zheng. Mayor Zhang expressed that "Taoyuan FuturePeak" symbolizes the aspiration for the participating youth Startup to become the future peaks of Taiwan. The expo showcased 100 youth Startup from the seven counties and cities in northern Taiwan, covering the entire northern region. The goal is to present their creative achievements, with the hope that "Taoyuan FuturePeak" can eventually evolve into "Taiwan FuturePeak." Mayor Zhang emphasized that promoting youth innovation is not solely the responsibility of one local government but requires collaboration among various county and city governments. International connections are also crucial to accumulate greater strength, enabling Taiwanese youth Startup to shine on the international stage. Mayor Zhang pointed out common challenges faced by youth Startup, including the need for initial funding, domestic and international networks, and exposure. To address the funding issue, the city government initiated a policy to subsidize interest rates for youth innovation loans, assisting young entrepreneurs during the challenging initial phase. This year, the city government extended its reach beyond Taoyuan, inviting friends from northern counties and cities to join the event. Industry experts and successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs were also invited to provide opportunities for networking and exposure to the youth Startup. Mayor Zhang expressed the hope that this year's model could be sustained in the future, emphasizing that as long as counties and cities collaborate, efforts to highlight youth Startup can be successful, providing them with opportunities for visibility both nationally and internationally. Director Hou Chia-Ling of the Youth Affairs Department mentioned that the department collaborated with partners such as the Taoyuan City Government's Economic Development Bureau, the Hutoushan Innovation Park, the Taoyuan Aerotropolis Corporation, the Asia-Silicon Valley Development Agency, National Central University, and New Green Synthetic Fiber Co. , Ltd. Together, they connected 100 startup teams from the seven counties and cities in northern Taiwan. Additionally, 20 domestic and international incubators, venture capitalists, and accelerators collaborated to curate the expo. The event featured heavyweight speakers conducting "Startup Lectures" and an "International Forum," sharing the latest entrepreneurial perspectives and industry trends, facilitating inter-county exchanges and international connections to showcase the startup potential in northern Taiwan. Director Hou noted that the Taoyuan Youth Innovation Expo featured 120 startup booths and invited renowned figures from the startup industry to share their insights. The "Startup Lectures" included speakers such as Yu-Chi Yeh, Managing Partner of the Mosaic Accelerator Program, Jiu-Ru Cheng, Partner at AppWorks Accelerator, and Bo-Rong Lee, CEO of the Asia-Silicon Valley Development Agency. They discussed topics related to linking resources and industry trends, sharing their entrepreneurial experiences across various fields, and offering advice on gaining investor favor. The "International Forum" invited Chairman Wu-Fu Chen of Acorn Campus Ventures Limited, Founder and CEO Chong-Chih Wang of TAcc+, and Chairman Wei-Chung Wang of Huayang Venture Group. They spoke on the theme of "Connecting Silicon Valley Characteristics to Create Industrial Brilliance," sharing their Silicon Valley entrepreneurial experiences and macroscopic perspectives, allowing startup teams to see Silicon Valley from Taiwan's perspective and envision the future on an international scale. The advertorial content is provided by" 桃園青年局 ". | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/186696 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | 2023 Cyber Day: ACW South – Incubate Cybersec Talent through Cross-domain Cooperation | After the pandemic, the pace of global digitization has accelerated, and malicious cyber attacks have constantly evolved, posing cybersec threats to Taiwan. Therefore, the government has identified the cybersec industry as one of the country’s key industries. Launched in 2021 in Tainan’s Shalun, ACW SOUTH Cybersec Service HQ (ACW SOUTH) operated by ADI is dedicated to promoting the development of the cybersec industry, enhancing industrial cybersec defense capabilities, promoting cybersec in the industry, and fostering cross-domain cooperation. ACW SOUTH actively promotes talent development, industry technology testing and verification, cross-domain cooperation, and other initiatives to create a flagship cybersec hub in Taiwan. Since its launch, ACW SOUTH has incubated over 2, 300 cybersec professionals, developed 23 sets of attack and defense exercise playbooks, and assisted 23 companies in completing 33 categories of tests on cybersec products. To further link up Taiwan’s cybersec industry, MODA’s ADI held the “2023 Cyber Day” at ACW SOUTH on November 24. The event featured industry discussions, cybersec seminars, corporate booth exhibitions, interactive games, creating a platform for exchanges and connections between the cybersec industry and the companies required cybersec services. Professionals from industry, government, academia and research came together to collectively contribute to Taiwan’s cybersec development. This year’s Cyber Day focuses on cyberse R&D, supply chain collaboration, product testing and talent training in the IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) sectors in Taiwan. At the opening ceremony, ADI added creativity to showcase how various sectors have dedicated to cybersec technology and the process of enhancing industrial cybersec resilience. Presenting the Cybersec Rising Star certificates, ACW SOUTH has demonstrated its devotion to nurturing newcomers in the collaborative efforts with the industry. In addition, to facilitate further exchange and dialogue between the cybersec industry and the companies in need of cybersec service, experts were invited to share insights of the latest trends, including AI collaboration, public-private cooperation and CMMC. Through the exhibition of 23 booths in the main venue, a platform for communication between industry, government, academia and research was established, fostering the flow of industrial energy in R&D technology and innovative services. In the lightning talk at the opening ceremony, R&D 100 Awards winner, Director Ding-Jie Huang stated, “Over the years, industrial control cybersec has gradually gained attention from the industry. The recognition of the ICSentry Industrial Control Cybersec Threat Analysis Platform by the R&D 100 Awards represents the international attention and recognition of Taiwan’s innovative R&D capabilities in the field”. For everyone who has contributed to the cybersec industry, this award represents international recognition of Taiwan’s cybersec R&D capabilities, and serves as encouragement for industry partners to continue their efforts in this field. Reflecting on the achievements in Taiwan’s cybersec development this year, ADI Deputy Director-General Jiunn-Shiow Lin praised, “Taiwan’s cyber security industry has truly been a decade in the making. The remarkable results we see today are contributed by many people over the years, truly showcasing Taiwan’s prowess in the cybersec field”. However, for the cybersec industry to continue to thrive and bring forth more innovative technologies and services, the cultivation of new talents is an indispensable key. This year, ACW SOUTH continues to organize the “2023 ACW SOUTH Cybersec Rising Star Matching and Cultivation Program”, extending the core spirit of last year’s ACW SOUTH Cybersec Rising Star Competition”. Collaborating with industry mentors, this program aims to help newcomers who are passionate and interested in the field find the right learning environment and resources to elevate their skills to the next level. At the opening ceremony, MODA Minister Audrey Tang presented certificates of honor to the enterprises and students selected to participate in this year’s ACW SOUTH Cybersec Rising Star Matching and Cultivation Program. Before presenting the certificates, Minister Tang acknowledged the matching model of “companies proposing topics, students solving problems” in her speech. Yue-Xin Chen, a representative of the Cybersec rising stars, expressed that the most special part of the program was receiving professional guidance from industry mentors. This not only deepened their understanding of cyber security but also helped them realize the differences between theoretical learning and practical industry experience. This experience has posed significant impact on their future academic and career development. During the pitch session in the afternoon, the rising stars fully demonstrated their passion for cyber security and expressed gratitude and recognition for the guidance provided by industry mentors. After the opening ceremony, the rising stars showcased their project achievements in the “Testbed Cybersec Application Exhibition Area”. They used an interesting game to promote their project information to the public. In addition, there was a “Rising Stars Achievement Tour” where guides provided detailed explanations of the development context and highlights of the achievements. They led the audience through the tour, allowing them to explore the various experiences of different rising star teams during the training process. For example, the team “When to Eat Kura Sushi” from the Department of Information Management at Chang Gung University utilized the training platform and vulnerability detection tools provided by Galaxy Software Services to develop a “Smart Secure Conference Room Management System” with a secure framework. Another team formed across different schools used hardware equipment from Trapa Security for practical implementation by observing and analyzing cybersec attacks. During the project period, they even detected a real DDoS attack. Interestingly, during the sharing session, the rising stars unanimously expressed that the most significant gain from participating in the program was the understanding of the gap between theory and practice through repeated setbacks and difficulties. As they transitioned from being mere “problem solvers” to become “problem raisers” who identify and solve problems, they developed even more passion in cyber security. On the other hand, the industry mentors participating in talent cultivation also highly praised the dedication of the rising stars. They believe that the drive and attitude demonstrated by the rising stars in their learning process are the key to successful problem-solving. They also look forward to ACW SOUTH’s talent cultivation program expanding even further in the future, injecting more vitality into Taiwan’s cybersec industry. Rising Stars x Industry Dialogue: The Key Node of Taiwan’s Cyber SecurityAt the opening ceremony, Minister Tang stated, “MODA has long been committed to promoting various cybersec projects to bridge the gap between the ‘cybersec industry’ and the ‘industrial cybersec’. The goal is that when new services or demands emerge in the future, both sides can connect without any knowledge barriers, maximizing the speed of technological iteration”. ACW SOUTH is a crucial node where these two groups intersect. It not only trains more industrial cybersec talents, but also explores more potential rising stars to join in the cybersec industry. Also, it facilitates mutual exchange among various Taiwanese enterprises, inspiring an increasingly positive cycle. With the guidance of MODA’s ADI, ACW SOUTH is able to attract more cybersec talents, consolidate industrial cybersec capabilities, and collaborate with industry, government, academia and research to move towards a more flexible and diverse cybersec future. (Advertorial sponsored by Administration for Digital Industries, Ministry of Digital Affairs) | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/186701 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Chinese Migrants In US Illegally Uneasy After Fourth Removal | By Bo GuWASHINGTON — After more than two years of separation, Chinese migrant Duan Chunxia, 51, recently met face to face with her husband and daughter at Stewart Detention Center, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Georgia. “My wife has lost a lot of weight, and her hair turned gray,” her husband, Ni Jinfang, told VOA Mandarin in an emotional video interview. “Our daughter cried so much when she saw her mother. Her tears were all over her face and neck.”That tearful reunion on December 1 was the latest in an emotional roller-coaster ride for the family as they’ve separately come to the United States seeking political asylum. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a surge in Chinese nationals entering the United States illegally and seeking asylum. Over the past year, those numbers have dwindled, and U.S. authorities are stepping up efforts to send a growing number back to China. There is also increasing concern among undocumented migrants from China about President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to carry out mass deportations. Just days after Duan met with her family, she was scheduled to be sent back to China on a U.S. government-chartered removal flight. That flight departed Monday, but Duan was not on it. Following a second asylum interview, authorities agreed to give her more time to appeal the deportation order. The charter flight marked the fourth time in six months that the United States has deported undocumented migrants back to China. Three previous flights in June, October and November carried a total of at least 350 Chinese citizens back to their homeland. The last previous large-scale repatriation occurred in 2018. In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the flight “is yet another example of the department’s ongoing cooperation with [China] and other international partners to deter irregular migration. ”It added that DHS and its counterparts in China “also continue joint work to counter the human smuggling networks that facilitate irregular migration.” DHS did not say how many migrants were on the flight. Chen Chuangchuang, an immigration lawyer in California, told VOA Mandarin that the Chinese and U.S. governments have cooperated more closely on immigration issues this year than previously. "In the past, China rarely cooperated with the U.S. government in accepting illegal migrants,” Chen told VOA in a December phone interview. “China has recently exchanged prisoners with the U.S. many times and also accepted undocumented people. [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping calls it ‘law enforcement cooperation’ rather than ‘border and immigration issues. ’ ”How they arrivedNi, 53, and the couple’s 18-year-old daughter entered the U.S. on tourist visas in 2022. After Duan’s husband andDuan made the hazardous journey through Ecuador and then traveled overland through Colombia, Central America and Mexico to the U.S. border. Both Duan and Ni are from China’s central city of Suzhou, just outside Shanghai. The city is relatively wealthy but human rights violations are not unheard of. In 2012, Ni lost his house and land following a government-led forced demolition. He tried to sue the local government in 2013 but was not given a chance to file his lawsuit. He continued to petition the government without result. In 2016, Ni was assaulted by local police officers and put in jail for 171 days for the crime of “disturbing public order.”Ni continued to speak against the Chinese government after coming to the United States and participated in a protest in San Francisco last November, when Xi visited the city for the APEC summit and met with U.S. President Joe Biden. Another Chinese immigrant who entered the United States last year via the same route as Duan and is now living in New York state spoke with VOA on the condition that his name not be used because of his undocumented status. In a telephone interview, he said that with the recent deportations and Trump’s pledges, many in the Chinese immigrant community are a little panicked. "After he takes office, everyone will be worried about being deported, not just us illegal immigrants,” he said. “The ones with green cards, aren’t they afraid, too?"Before entering the United States, this man said he had openly criticized Xi on Chinese social media. He said that if he is deported, he will undoubtedly face a prison sentence in China. The man, who is in his 30s, has already begun applying for political asylum and is still hopeful. “Although I don't like this result [Trump's victory], this is the choice of the American people, and there is nothing I can do. We are all entering an uncertain era, and everyone's future is uncertain,” he said. Immigration lawyer Chen said that Chinese immigrants in the U.S. who have not yet obtained legal status do face a “real threat.”“The Republicans have already occupied both houses [of Congress], and conservatives also have a clear advantage in the Supreme Court, "he said."We can say with absolute certainty that the second Trump administration will have way more resources, in terms of manpower, law and finances, to support the implementation of his deportation plan. This is bound to happen. ”However, Chen does not think that all Chinese immigrants who apply for asylum will be unsuccessful. “For those who have a deportation order, if you have a legal reason to apply to stay in the U.S. , there is still a chance for review. It’s not easy though. The standard will be raised,” Chen said, adding that individuals need to prove that they will be persecuted if they return to their home country. daughter left China, she applied for a tourist visa the following year, but her application was rejected. More than one year after that, in late September, she illegally entered the U.S. , crossing the southern border with Mexico. The News Lens has been authorized to publish this article fromVoice of America. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187314 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Southeast Asia Transnational Crime | A recentINTERPOL operation, targeted drug trafficking in Southeast Asia, resulting in record seizures of synthetic drugs worth USD 1. 05 billion. Running from July 22 to August 7, the operation involved Australia, Cambodia, Korea, Myanmar, Thailand, the U.S. , and Vietnam. It led to the confiscation of 139 million Yaba pills, 1. 5 tonnes of ketamine, and 13. 5 tonnes of sodium cyanide, a methamphetamine precursor. These seizures revealed evolving trafficking routes, underscoring the global reach of transnational crime networks originating in Southeast Asia, impacting regions as far as Europe and Australia. The rise of transnational crime in Southeast Asia threatens regional security and stability, driven by weak governance, corruption, and advanced technology. Criminal networks in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos exploit these vulnerabilities, often with the collaboration of local elites and military forces. Corrupt police and military officials enable the trafficking of drugs, money, weapons, and people across borders, sustaining these illicit networks that engage in a wide array of crimes, including cyber scams, wildlife trafficking, and money laundering. A United States Institute of Peace (USIP) study highlights the growing influence ofChina-origin criminal networks in Southeast Asia, which are involved inonline scams, human trafficking, and transnational crime. These networks pose a global security threat, directly impacting U.S. national security as drugs and online scams linked to these groups reach American shores. Embedded in both legal and illegal enterprises, these networks infiltrate local elites and regional governments. They operate within a broad ecosystem, including casinos, special economic zones (SEZs), and other seemingly legitimate businesses, making them hard to dismantle. The networks'criminal activities generate an estimated $43. 8 billion annually, with profits benefiting Myanmar's military, border guard forces (BGFs), ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), and ruling elites in Cambodia and Laos. One such enclave, theKings Romans Casino in Laos, is run by Chinese crimeboss Zhao Wei. He has been on the U.S. Treasury sanctions list since 2018 for involvement in drug trafficking, human trafficking, and money laundering. Despite these sanctions, the casino and its surrounding Special Economic Zone (SEZ) continue to expand, attracting tourists and migrant workers with new developments like casinos, hotels, and an international airport. The casino is infamous for openly facilitating various forms of transnational crime, including forced criminality. In this form of exploitation, trafficked victims are forced into illegal activities such as cybercrime and cryptocurrency scams, often lured by fake job offers in cities like Dubai and Bangkok. Victims, recruitedfrom multiple countries, are used to scam people in their home nations by speaking their language and gaining trust. Countries like India, which has suffered significant financial losses from these scams, are now collaborating with ASEAN to combat this growing threat. China's infrastructure projects, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, have alsoindirectly enabled the proliferation of scam centers in SEZs across Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation as organized crimerepurposed empty casinos, particularly in Cambodia’s Sihanoukville and Myanmar's Yatai Shwe Kokko SEZ, for scams and trafficking. Weak immigration controls and rising digital fraud in ASEAN—home to 460 million internet users—make addressingonline scams and trafficking an urgent regional priority. In Laos, local and international law enforcement agencies struggle to regulate the Golden Triangle SEZ due to weak governance and the presence of aprivate police force that controls the area. While the SEZ has boosted the economic growth of the Bokeo province, it has also deepened social inequality and facilitated criminal activities. Despite these issues, theSEZ continues to expand, with plans for a new port facility and further real estate development, which could provide even more opportunities for criminal networks to flourish. Various criminal activities in Southeast Asia often converge, creating a synergy that amplifies their impact. For example, human trafficking fuels cyber scams, while drug and arms trafficking are frequently intertwined. A recent case inNorth Maluku, Indonesia, revealed a rare convergence of arms and wildlife trafficking. Suspects smuggled endangered birds to the Philippines, using the profits to purchase firearms like M16s, which were later seized by Indonesian authorities. This case highlights how criminal networks overlap, enabling illicit actors and worsening issues such as armed violence and biodiversity loss. While arms and drug trafficking commonly intersect in Southeast Asia, the exchange of wildlife for weapons is an unusual but growing trend. The convergence of these criminal economies poses significant threats in regions with weak state presence and porous borders, particularly in the Philippines and Indonesia. Organized crime groups take advantage of these vulnerabilities, often facilitated by embeddedbrokers and clan networks. To combat these transnational crime networks, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC has launched anEmergency Response Network (ERN), connecting law enforcement officers from countries like Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam to enhance coordination andintelligence-sharing. Supported by INTERPOL, the ERN aims to dismantle scam centers and rescue trafficking victims. The network, funded by Japan, underscores a regional commitment to tackling transnational crime through improved collaboration and specialized training. The Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is intensifying efforts tocombat transnational crimes through bodies like the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC). These initiatives target issues such as human trafficking and scam centers, particularly in regions like Cambodia and the Golden Triangle. ASEAN is also considering establishing an ASEANCentre on Transnational Crime (ACOT) to enhance intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and regional coordination, aiming to curb activities like arms and wildlife trafficking, as well as human trafficking. The task of curbing international criminal activities in Southeast Asia seems bleak. Governments are outmatched in resources and manpower, while many individuals, whether through direct employment or bribery, rely onthese crime networks for their livelihood. Transnational crime groups, after facing law enforcement crackdowns earlier this year, have adapted and expanded. In Myanmar, political instability and military cooperation create a fertile ground for these groups to revive operations. China's reduced pressure on Myanmar’s military regime has further emboldened these networks, allowing them to escalate their activities. Key figures like warlordSaw Chit Thu of Karen State, now leading the rebranded Karen National Army (KNA), have deepened their involvement in human trafficking, forced labor, and other criminal operations in partnership with Chinese mafia groups. Despite international efforts to curb these activities, Chit Thu’s network thrives, evading law enforcement and exploiting weak governance to expand its influence and criminal operations across the region. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187191 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Lai Calls National Security Meeting After South Korea Martial Law Fiasco | After arriving in Guam on his first official visit as President, Lai Ching-te called an emergency national security meeting in response to the political turmoil in South Korea. Lai discussed "potential risks and impact" with the rest of his advisers who spoke with via video conference. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on Tuesday, amid growing rivalries with the opposition party. About six hours later, an opposition dominated parliament overruled the decree by a vote. In the 40-minute meeting, Lai was briefed then asked his officials to continuously monitor the situation and respond accordingly. For its part, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) reached out to their South Korean counterparts to get abreast of the situation. It then “took corresponding diplomatic actions and measures at any time to safeguard the personal safety of people traveling in South Korea.”The MOFA also advised any Taiwanese citizens in currently in South Korea to avoid any rallies, demonstrations, political gatherings and any areas relevant to the current political upheaval. After the controversial announcement, President Yoon is now facing impeachment charges. The declaration stirs memories of state atrocities perpetrated in the 1980s. Lai is currently on a diplomatic mission visiting several allies in the Pacific area. He will make his way back to Taipei on Friday. Chinese officials have condemned Washington for its supposed compliance in Lai visiting political allies in the region. During his trip, Lai also spoke on the phone with Washington officials about Beijing’s posturing. In the past, any perceived indiscretion by Taiwan has spurred Beijing to launch a round of military drills along the Taiwan strait. | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/187291 |
news | 關鍵評論網英文版 | Leading medical equipment distributor, TBMS embraces the ideal of “Confucian entrepreneurship for the society” to ensure the perpetual legacy of the enterprise | As the generation creating Taiwan’s economic miracle in the 1970s approaches retirement after nearly six decades of relentless efforts, the tide of “corporate succession” is nearing. While tradition once dictated that successors be direct descendants, a new trend of passing the business to capable leaders rather than descendants has emerged. According to a recent survey by a human resources firm, 52. 7% of enterprises now opt for professional executives to take the reins. One exemplary case is TBMS, renowned domestically for its importation of medical devices and equipment. In 1985, TBMS was founded by Chairman Moses Teng from scratch. Upon returning to Taiwan from the United States, Moses seized the opportunity of Taiwan’s economic boom that contributed to a significant rise in the standard of living and consumer purchasing power of Taiwanese people. Despite the government’s proactive efforts in establishing a robust healthcare system and a national medical information network, there was still ample room for improvement in overall medical service quality. It was then that Moses made the bold decision to venture into the healthcare industry, dedicating himself to introducing globally advanced medical devices and equipment. Measured by financial statements and business scale, TBMS stands as a testament to entrepreneurial success. With over 200 employees, the company achieves an impressive annual sales growth of 20%. Its operational scope has expanded to six business divisions, representing over 40 reputable medical equipment brands with over 300 varieties of product lines. In addition to the pursuit of corporate profitability and profit-sharing among employees, TBMS’s nearly four-decade journey is defined by its steadfast adherence to the spirit of “Confucian entrepreneurship for the society”. The concept of “Confucian entrepreneurship for the society” embodies a heartfelt commitment to improving society and making the world a better place through meaningful engagement. Despite being a seasoned entrepreneur in the business arena, why did Moses choose to embrace the ideal? He explains, In addition to infusing the belief of Confucian entrepreneurship into its corporate culture, TBMS has extended this spirit to external partners in recent years. Through active collaboration with domestic medical equipment manufacturers and biotech companies, TBMS pushes forward mutual benefit and shared success throughout the industry chain. This strategic shift stems from Moses’s early entrepreneurial challenges. After the company solidifies its foundation, Moses seeks to leverage his influence to help more Taiwanese medical equipment manufacturers expand internationally. As Taiwan prepares to enter a super-aged society by 2025, with one in every five individuals being elderly, TBMS finds its greatest advantage from its professional expertise of ensuring everyone has the opportunity to age gracefully. Drawing inspiration from Japan’s experiences, Shu-Li Huang, General Manager of TBMS’s Surgical Channel Division cites the example of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), also known as a treatable and reversible form of dementia prevalent among the elderly population. Symptoms such as unsteady gait, urinary incontinence and declining memory are often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, leading to missed treatment opportunities. In response, TBMS has launched a three-year initiative to raise awareness of iNPH through collaboration with medical professionals, associations, and interdisciplinary teams. By ensuring timely and accurate diagnosis and providing appropriate medical interventions, the goal is to help patients return to normal life patterns and reduce overall societal caregiving costs. The company’s mission of “serving for life” has also become a driving force in active response to ESG sustainability trends: constructing a corporate governance paradigm featuring “virtuous profit through Confucian entrepreneurship”. By harnessing the collective power of external stakeholders such as physicians, charity groups, suppliers, the company aims to promote widespread medical knowledge, enhance healthcare quality and patient-doctor relationships, as well as alleviate the workload of healthcare professionals. Furthermore, TBMS is dedicated to cultivating a diverse, inclusive, and harmonious workplace, providing employees with comprehensive resources and opportunities for learning and growth. Warren Buffett once noted, “By definition, a great company is one that’s going to remain its competitive advantage for 25 to 30 years”. Following the philosophy of passing the business to capable leaders rather than descendants, TBMS ensures the continuation of its corporate legacy. Moses further explains, “Passing on to virtuous and capable individuals is about continuing to give back to society, forming a model of sustainable governance. Some may question if it’s easy to entrust the company to outsiders. I believe that it’s precisely because we can’t bear to see the end of the company that we must find ways to ensure its sustainable operation”. As for the substantive approaches, Moses emphasizes the cultivation of employees with a focus on “skills and virtue”. “Skills” represent expertise in the professional field, while “virtue” underscores the importance of ethical conduct and integrity. Currently, TBMS has established an Operation Management Committee, operating under a “co-governance” model to achieve complementary and balanced collective decision-making. Furthermore, the organization promotes financial transparency between departments, reinforcing accountability within each business division. Besides fostering healthy competition, the primary goal is to enable employees to “share” the fruits of the company’s success. TBMS is not only committed to implementing its “co-governance” and “sharing” system internally but is also eager to share its concrete strategies with external organizations. For instance, through workshops and focus group discussions with the Bliss & Wisdom Foundation of Culture and Education, TBMS proactively shares its business philosophy and corporate culture with other small and medium-sized business owners, fostering a cycle of goodness. In addition to developing mid-to-senior-level management, TBMS prioritizes nurturing and retaining talent within its workforce, as exemplified by Moses’s creation of the "Living Water Plan." This plan includes stock incentives and stock subscription subsidies. The former rewards key talent based on their annual performance, while the latter allows employees with more than three years of employment to subscribe to company stocks, with a proportional subsidies provided by the company. Moses adds, “Currently, our employee shareholding stands at 13%, with a projected increase to 20% within three years. Our ultimate goal is for employees to enjoy 40% of the shareholding benefits. In a recent survey of mid-level managers, nearly two-thirds expressed that the Living Water Plan is one of the most impactful company policies, aiming to strengthen employees’ morale and cohesion”. When aligning TBMS’s operational years with the human growth timeline, it falls in the stage of a young adult, characterized by peak physical and mental prowess. Strategically, the company is positioned to become a centennial enterprise. To achieve this, TBMS is implementing several initiatives: firstly, the continuous integration of digital tools to enhance organizational workflows and decision-making efficiency; secondly, fostering internal entrepreneurship opportunities to encourage employees to collaborate in creating new ventures, enabling this collective effort to become a magnificent driving force for TBMS's sustained growth, progress, and long-term sustainability. TBMS Official WebsiteTBMS LinkTree | https://international.thenewslens.com/article/186961 |
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Dataset summary
This dataset is designed for Traditional Chinese (zh-tw) and comprises a collection of texts from various sources, including news articles, scientific publications, technological reports, and Wikipedia entries. The number of tokens from each source is listed below.
- 商業周刊 : 44M
- cti (中天) : 159M
- 關鍵評論網 : 575M
- 關鍵評論網英文版 : 11M
- 聯合報 : 323M
- ttv (台視) : 104M
- pts (公視) : 516M
- yahoo : 158M
- ettoday (東森) : 5700M
- 遠見 : 228M
- TVBS : 63M
Wikipedia
- wikipedia : 880M
Science
Technology
Total tokens: 9.1B
(Tokens are calculated by tokenizer of LLaMA2)
Usage
from datasets import load_dataset
dataset = load_dataset("benchang1110/Taiwan-pretrain-9B", split="train")
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