title: 《玖壹壹南北貳路音樂節》天團玖壹壹震撼開唱 粉絲擠爆台中水湳

taiwan-subdivisions: 西屯 橫山 草屯 公館

content_text:
墨新聞｜記者梁偉華／台北報導

「國民天團」玖壹壹迎來成軍 16 週年，再度號召南北親友齊聚台中，於 11 月 15 日（六）至 16 日（日）在水湳中央公園舉辦《玖壹壹南北貳路音樂節2025》，號召萬人齊High。今（15）日首日活動吸引超過5萬人朝聖，預估兩日總觀眾將突破 10 萬人，現場氣氛宛如大型嘉年華，玖壹壹也感性表示：「感謝大家陪我們走了 16 年！」嘉賓陣容星光熠熠。推出台語新專輯的金曲歌王蕭煌奇特別現身，與李炳輝帶來新歌〈輝煌旅行社〉。人氣女團 GENBLUE 幻藍小熊則帶來〈COCOCO〉、〈ACT LIKE THAT〉等 7 首千萬點閱金曲，唱跳火力全開。婁峻碩 SHOU 也帥氣登場，演唱〈Never Land〉、〈你給我等著〉等多首夯曲，掀起全場尖叫。

照片資料：KKLIVE、混血兒娛樂制霸台中！本土天團玖壹壹擔任第一夜「南北貳路」音樂節重磅壓軸，3人以迷彩漂撇造型帥氣登台，開場就以〈打鐵〉，〈派對俠〉、〈哥哥帶上我〉、〈來個蹦蹦〉炸翻現場，打造這場名副其實「天下第一派對」！健志對滿場樂迷直呼：「大家好嗎？我們是玖壹壹，有沒有下午就來的、有沒有明天也會來的、白天天氣炎熱，晚上天氣變涼了，所以我們把氣氛炒嗨，讓你們多留一點汗！」

照片資料：KKLIVE、混血兒娛樂首場演出嘉賓就話題十足，首先由電音傳奇DJ羅百吉攜手老婆寶貝，這對夜店的經典組合呈現進喔南北貳路樂迷！〈superman〉、〈那一夜〉、〈使勁搖〉幾乎把現場變成了全台最大夜店，〈癡情男子漢〉也成為電力滿滿的改編版！健志感謝這位電音教父跨刀助陣：「羅百吉真的是我們從小聽到大的偶像！」

照片資料：KKLIVE、混血兒娛樂辦一場音樂節真的非常不容易！健志笑問全場：「還行嗎？還想要更炸嗎？希望你們玩得開心！這次音樂節找來前輩、不同歌手、也有新生代，讓大家聽見不一樣的音樂，你們會繼續支持南北貳路嗎？」

照片資料：KKLIVE、混血兒娛樂第二組嘉賓是人氣團體「草屯囝仔」前來讚聲，與玖壹壹合唱帶來〈少年家〉、〈愛我你會死2018〉，樞育更帶領全場齊喊「南北貳路！進喔！發喔！」炒熱氣氛

草屯囝仔阿倉展現出驚人的毅力與體力。他在音樂節舞台上透露：「在前一天還在橫山與日月潭參加台灣的極限鐵人競賽 。這項挑戰從清晨 6 點從日月潭出發，腳踏車騎乘 200 多公里，隨後再跑步至合歡山主峰。總里程超過 230 幾公里。在 80 幾位參賽者中，阿倉名列第 19 名。」

令人佩服的是，阿倉在比賽結束後，早上立刻趕來現場進行彩排，並表示自己僅睡了兩個小時，狀態卻依然不錯，精神非常「亢奮」。

照片資料：KKLIVE、混血兒娛樂玖壹壹飆唱了近30首歌，健志也對粉絲告白：「因為你們來，才讓禮拜六這個夜晚那麼熱鬧，也希望這場活動可以讓世界都看見！」並一一感謝台前幕後所有工作夥伴、單位，更對團員彼此說出謝意！安可橋段出現了彩蛋影片由廚神阿基師獻出北部客家炒飯，再搭配〈愛的總鋪師〉相當逗趣，最後全場大聲唱和〈明天再擱來〉劃下完美句點，更加碼釋放超狂煙火作為夜晚完美點綴，相約樂迷明晚續唱第二夜。

《玖壹壹南北貳路音樂節2025》萬人音樂節雙日演出卡司炸裂有天團玖壹壹、蕭煌奇、告五人、Lulu黃路梓茵、羅百吉、許富凱、婁峻碩SHOU、葛西瓦Kasiwa、怕胖團 PAPUN BAND、FEniX、溫蒂漫步、無妄合作社、高爾宣OSN、王ADEN、PIZZALI、溫室雜草、派偉俊 Patrick Brasca、OBSESS、陳華、潤少、GENBLUE幻藍小熊、草屯囝仔、Dizzy Dizzo、Multiverse、c8ight陳全、LilHAO、固定客、旅人、𝖶𝗁𝗈 𝖢𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗌 胡凱兒、西屯純愛組、公館青少年、Peatle、TOKYO HONEY TRAP (JP)、Sabrina 胡恂舞、動漫派、禪波 ZENBØ、Lizi 栗子、187 INC、O.Dkizzya、Quanzo、艾蜜莉 AMILI、J. WALK、慶記KTV、阿跨面、軒仔XuanZai、G.K. 高偉庭、臭屁嬰仔（歐吉虎 X 屁辰 P Chen）、禁藥王 FT. DAFAA大法、馬克SAVAGE.M、JAYRoll、ELVA (JP)，兩天共有超過 30 多組歌手一起嗨翻中台灣，繼續燥落去！

此篇文章最開始出處為: 《玖壹壹南北貳路音樂節》天團玖壹壹震撼開唱 粉絲擠爆台中水湳


content_text:
墨新聞｜記者梁偉華／台北報導

《玖壹壹南北貳路音樂節2025》昨（15）日在台中水湳中央公園盛大開跑，「國民天團」玖壹壹成軍 16 週年，再度號召南北粉絲回娘家，首日湧入超過 5 萬人、兩日上看 10 萬觀眾，現場宛如戶外嘉年華，燈光、音浪、吶喊交織成最熱情的台中夜空。除了玖壹壹霸氣開唱外，金曲歌王蕭煌奇也帶來驚喜彩蛋，一現身便讓歡呼聲瞬間炸裂。

照片資料：KKLIVE、混血兒娛樂這次蕭煌奇為了推出台語新專輯，特別與李炳輝攜手帶來跨世代合作曲〈輝煌旅行社〉。幕後故事同樣精彩可期。蕭煌奇為這首歌親自登門拜訪，得知李炳輝因中風後行動不便而猶豫，他毫不氣餒地笑說：「沒關係啦，我們一句一句慢慢錄！」真誠又有耐心的邀請，最終促成這組「雙金曲傳奇」的合體演出。

蕭煌奇一上台就展現脫口秀潛力，笑稱自己是老司機，為了趕場「南北貳路」一路開快車，快到被警察開紅單，甚至因名字「蕭煌奇」跟「消防局」發音太像，門口警衛還誤以為「消防局來支援表演」，讓現場粉絲笑到不行。

暖心的他更現場開放點歌，本來只限制「五首歌扣打」，結果被熱情粉絲一喊，他直接加碼演唱，展現超高寵粉度。他也帶來象徵陪伴與溫暖的《末班車》，並向粉絲喊話：「我一定會帶著大家走向最幸福的路。」

蕭煌奇（右）和李炳輝合唱場面感人經典畫面堪稱今晚最感動的一幕，蕭煌奇邀請到與他一樣「目中無人」的重量級前輩李炳輝同台。78歲的李炳輝在全場掌聲中緩緩走上舞台，兩位「目中無人的朋友」並肩合唱〈輝煌旅行社〉，全場手機燈海瞬間亮起，成為音樂節的歷史畫面之一。

蕭煌奇也趁機介紹，李炳輝目前常在淡水碼頭街頭表演，呼籲粉絲有空去支持。「走出戶外、參加社團、跟人互動」，兩人用最真實的方式鼓勵大家多接觸世界。

照片資料：KKLIVE、混血兒娛樂整場演出中，蕭煌奇帶來多首膾炙人口的歌曲，包括《好好先生》、《阿嬤的話》、《逆風飛翔》與《你是我的眼》。而在最後清唱《末班車》時，他再次搞笑提醒：「清唱最貴喔！而且不加價！」更請粉絲務必把這珍貴片段錄起來，「記得上網 P 一下，讓大家知道南北貳路音樂節每年都要來！」成軍 16 年的玖壹壹，用最具台味、最有人情味的方式，再次把屬於台灣的音樂節能量推向高點。

《玖壹壹南北貳路音樂節2025》萬人音樂節雙日演出卡司炸裂有天團玖壹壹、蕭煌奇、告五人、Lulu黃路梓茵、羅百吉、許富凱、婁峻碩SHOU、葛西瓦Kasiwa、怕胖團 PAPUN BAND、FEniX、溫蒂漫步、無妄合作社、高爾宣OSN、王ADEN、PIZZALI、溫室雜草、派偉俊 Patrick Brasca、OBSESS、陳華、潤少、GENBLUE幻藍小熊、草屯囝仔、Dizzy Dizzo、Multiverse、c8ight陳全、LilHAO、固定客、旅人、𝖶𝗁𝗈 𝖢𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗌 胡凱兒、西屯純愛組、公館青少年、Peatle、TOKYO HONEY TRAP (JP)、Sabrina 胡恂舞、動漫派、禪波 ZENBØ、Lizi 栗子、187 INC、O.Dkizzya、Quanzo、艾蜜莉 AMILI、J. WALK、慶記KTV、阿跨面、軒仔XuanZai、G.K. 高偉庭、臭屁嬰仔（歐吉虎 X 屁辰 P Chen）、禁藥王 FT. DAFAA大法、馬克SAVAGE.M、JAYRoll、ELVA (JP)，兩天共有超過 30 多組歌手一起嗨翻中台灣，繼續燥落去！

此篇文章最開始出處為: 《玖壹壹南北貳路音樂節2025》！蕭煌奇脫口秀現場 合體李炳輝「目中無人」最經典

taiwan-subdivisions: 西屯 草屯 淡水 公館


companies: Google Apple

content_text:
MISINFORMATION:  The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said

Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed.

The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets.

The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language models.

The inspection consisted of two main parts: application security and generative content, it said.

For application security, the inspection team adopted the Basic Information Security Testing Standard for Mobile Applications v4.0 announced by the Ministry of Digital Affairs and evaluated the apps based on 15 indicators under five categories of security violations.

The five categories are: personal data collection, excessive permission usage, data transmission and sharing, system information extraction and biometric data access.

The inspection results showed that Tongyi violates 11 out of the 15 indicators, with Doubao and Yuanbao violating 10, Yiyan nine and DeepSeek eight.

Common security violations among the five China-made apps include requesting access to location data, collecting screenshots, forcing users to accept unreasonable privacy terms and harvesting device parameters.

For generative content, the inspection was conducted based on 10 indicators released by the Artificial Intelligence Evaluation Center.

The inspection results indicated that some content generated by the five AI language models is strongly biased and contains disinformation.

The models tend to adopt a pro-China political stance, have a cognitive bias in history, avoid the use of specific keywords that are considered sensitive, demonstrate risks of information manipulation and are able to launch remote code execution, the results showed.

First, when addressing topics concerning cross-strait relations, the South China Sea and international disputes, the generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as “Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,” “there is no so-called head of state in the Taiwan area,” and “highlighting socialism with Chinese characteristics.”

Second, for narratives concerning Taiwan’s history, culture and politics, the five language models tend to generate disinformation with an aim to exert influence on users’ understanding of Taiwan’s background information, such as “Taiwan is not a country,” “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,” and calling Taiwan “a province of China.”

Third, the generated content deliberately avoids the use of specific keywords, such as “democracy,” “freedom” and “human rights,” and mentioning the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

The results indicated that the data systems of those language models are subject to political censorship and control by the Chinese government.

Fourth, the models can easily generate highly inflammatory content, or defame people and spread rumors, with the risk of being exploited to disseminate illegal information.

Fifth, the models could launch remote code execution and exploitation under certain circumstances, increasing cybersecurity risks.

A wide range of countries, such as the US, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, have already publicly issued warnings against or bans on some China-developed AI language models, and have even requested Google LLC and Apple Inc to remove them from application stores, the NSB said.

The primary concern is that China-developed AI language models can identify users, collect conversation data and records, and transfer personal data back to China-based enterprise servers, it said.

China-based enterprises are obligated to turn over user data to Chinese authorities, as required by Beijing’s national intelligence and cybersecurity laws, it said.

The inspection results confirmed that widespread cybersecurity vulnerabilities and information distortion exist, it said, urging members of the public to avoid downloading Chinese-made apps.

The NSB said it would continue to improve information sharing with international friends and allies to stay abreast of transnational cybersecurity risks, and ensure Taiwan’s national security and digital resilience.

The use of DeepSeek has been banned from government devices and official premises since February over national security concerns.

However, there is no public sector ban on the other four Chinese apps, nor a ban on the private use of DeepSeek in Taiwan.

Additional reporting by CNA

title: China’s AI models pose risks, NSB says


content_text:
DISPUTE:  A Chinese official prompted a formal protest from Tokyo by saying that ‘the dirty head that sticks itself out must be cut off,’ after Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks

Four armed China Coast Guard vessels yesterday morning sailed through disputed waters controlled by Japan, amid a diplomatic spat following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan.

The four ships sailed around the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) to Taiwan, and which Taiwan and China also claim — on Saturday before entering Japanese waters yesterday and left, the Japan Coast Guard said.

The China Coast Guard said in a statement that it carried out a “rights enforcement patrol” through the waters and that it was a lawful operation.

A Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force surveillance plane flies over the disputed Diaoyutai Islands, called the Senkakus in Japan, on Oct. 13, 2011. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

As of the end of last month, Chinese ships have been spotted in the waters intermittently over 27 days this year — the last time on Oct. 15 — data compiled by the Japan Coast Guard shows.

TAIWAN COMMENTS

Tensions between the two nations have escalated since Takaichi last week said that if military force were used in any conflict over Taiwan, it could be considered a “survival-threatening situation” — a classification that would provide a legal justification for Japan to intervene.

China demanded that Takaichi retract the remark, and then advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan in the near term. China’s consul general in Osaka prompted a formal protest from Tokyo by commenting that “the dirty head that sticks itself out must be cut off.”

Beijing then summoned the Japanese ambassador for the first time in more than two years, and the Chinese Ministry of National Defense declared that any Japanese intervention would be doomed to fail.

Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Education advised students planning to study in Japan to use caution because of heightened safety risks for Chinese there, state broadcaster China Central Television said.

ACTIVITY AROUND TAIWAN

In Taipei, the Ministry of National Defense yesterday said that it had detected 30 Chinese military aircraft, seven navy ships and one “official” ship operating around the nation over the past 24 hours.

Late on Saturday, the ministry said China had been carrying out another “joint combat patrol” to “harass the airspace and sea around us.”

It added that the military had sent aircraft and ships to monitor the situation.

Additional reporting by the Guardian

title: China sends vessels to Japan-controlled waters


content_text:
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) has lost representatives from three member countries due to coercion from China, IPAC cofounder and executive director Luke de Pulford said on Saturday, adding that Beijing is using direct diplomatic coercion to deter international support for Taiwan.

De Pulford told the 54th annual conference of the European Federation of Taiwanese Associations that China’s coercion has led representatives from Malawi, the Gambia and the Solomon Islands to withdraw from the alliance.

COERCION

Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China cofounder and executive director Luke de Pulford speaks at the conference of the European Federation of Taiwanese Associations in Paris on Saturday. Photo: CNA

Beijing threatened to cancel the Malawian president’s visit to China if its lawmakers do not withdraw from IPAC, he said, adding that the Gambia faced a similar threat.

That showed that China is using official government exchanges to block countries from showing support for Taiwan, De Pulford said.

China also told the Solomon Islands government to release an official statement saying the country supports the “one China” principle, and to have its two lawmakers, who were cochairs of IPAC, drop out, he said.

“It [Beijing] got both,” De Pulford said.

One of the cochairs withdrew, so only Solomon Islands lawmakers Peter Kenilorea Jr remains, he added.

Beijing’s coercion is systematic, De Pulford said, citing as an example the IPAC summit in Taipei last year, when China obtained a list of attendees in advance and coerced members from 11 countries not to attend.

China continues to coerce Kenya and other African countries, he said, adding that international friends who speak up for Taiwan are facing enormous pressure from Beijing and that they need support.

DISINFORMATION

De Pulford also addressed rumors that Taiwan paid IPAC 8 billion euros (US$9.3 billion) to allow Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) to make a speech at the European Parliament, saying the alliance has never taken donations from the government.

The claim was “malicious disinformation,” he added.

IPAC recently blocked private equity firm RedBird Capital Partners’ bid to purchase the UK’s Daily Telegraph, which showed that the alliance has substantial influence and is not controlled by any government, he said.

However, international organizations and lawmakers supporting Taiwan are facing ever heavier political pressure from Beijing, whose interference is becoming more direct and tangible, De Pulford said, adding that they also need support from Taipei.

title: China intensifies pressure on IPAC, cofounder says


content_text:
A dedicated, child-centered agency supporting children’s physical and mental health development would be established under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday during his opening remarks at the Healthy Taiwan Sustainability Forum at National Taiwan University Hospital.

Lai said Cardiac Children’s Foundation Taiwan honorary chairperson and NTU emeritus professor of pediatrics Lue Hung-chi (呂鴻基) visited him when he was premier and vice president, advocating for years for better children’s healthcare policies.

Lai said now that he is president, he wants to tell Lue and everyone that an agency specializing on the topic is to be established.

President William Lai gestures during a speech at the Healthy Taiwan Sustainability Forum in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times

“The ministry will establish a children and family administration in the future, a specialized governmental agency for the care of children,” he said.

As the first physician to become president, Lai said he established the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee to increase the healthy life expectancy of Taiwanese, address the sustainability issues of the National Health Insurance (NHI) and create a better healthcare environment.

To improve the healthcare environment, the government would continue to push institutional reforms to improve holistic healthcare services that serve all, from children to elderly people and those with critical or chronic illnesses, he said.

In response to a shortage in pediatricians over the past few years, the government implemented a children’s healthcare improvement program, which Taiwan Pediatric Association chairman Ni Yen-hsuan (倪衍玄) said has been effective, Lai said, adding that Ni expressed hope that the program would continue.

“From this year to 2028, we will continue with the second phase of the program,” he said. “We plan to allocate NT$13.56 billion [US$435.31 million] to the program over four years, to improve the children’s healthcare capacity and help retain healthcare workers in the profession.”

A budget of NT$2.7 billion has been allocated this year for the establishment of a three-tiered triage system for pediatric healthcare, with eight hospitals responsible for the care of children with critical, severe and rare conditions, Lai said.

Subsidies were also provided to 27 key hospitals so that they could integrate medical resources needed for perinatal care and critical care, and provide more comprehensive prenatal or intensive care, he said.

The ministry launched a “Project of Holistic Physicians for Young Children,” and as of September, there were more than 2,500 physicians at about 1,200 healthcare facilities providing care for more than 268,000 children younger than 3 years old, or a coverage rate of about 65 percent, Lai said.

The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) also allocated NT$24.9 billion of its budget for pediatric care for children from birth until they are 6 years old, he said.

The NHIA from last year to this year allocated NT$857 million to increase NHI payments for pediatric medical care services, and it is planning to further increase NHI payments for pediatric ward and intensive care unit consultation fees, as well as provide bonuses to retain pediatricians, he added.

Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) on the sidelines of the forum said that as Taiwan faces low birthrate and childcare issues, the ministry hopes to consolidate scattered childcare services and welfare resources under one specialized agency for management.

In accordance with Lai’s instructions, the new agency would be handling children’s healthcare promotion, preventive care, welfare and protection, and early intervention and development, Shih said, adding that the draft organization law would be sent to the Executive Yuan for review by the end of the year.

Additional reporting by CNA

title: New agency to focus on children’s health: president


title: South Korea should help in countering China: US admiral

content_text:
The US wants South Korea to eventually deploy its newly approved nuclear-powered submarines to help counter China’s rapidly expanding fleet, a top US admiral said, calling it a responsibility expected of a key ally.

“Utilization of that submarine for countering China, I think is a natural expectation with that type of capability,” US Fleet Forces Command Admiral Daryl Caudle said in Seoul on Friday.

He spoke hours after both nations released a fact sheet that put in writing US consent for South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines.

US President Donald Trump, right, talks with US Fleet Forces Command Admiral Daryl Caudle aboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Ocean on Oct. 5. Photo: AP

“I think there will be a responsibility for [South] Korea to deploy those submarines globally and move away from just being a regional navy to a global navy,” Caudle said.

The unexpected US green light came after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung late last month.

Although the approval is a major win for South Korea after years of seeking nuclear-powered submarines, Caudle’s comments expose another discrepancy in how the allies envision the project. Seoul has said it wants the submarines to deter North Korea.

The two nations already appeared divided over where the vessel should be built, its type and whether the US should get free vessels as part of the deal, people familiar with the matter said.

It would also be many years before any of the submarines are built.

The talk of the new submarines comes at a delicate moment for Seoul as Lee seeks to improve ties with Beijing. During his first visit to South Korea in 11 years last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) said Beijing was ready to deepen communication and cooperation with South Korea.


content_text:
TEMPORAL/SPIRITUAL:  Beijing’s claim that the next Buddhist leader must come from China is a heavy-handed political maneuver that will fall flat-faced, experts said

China’s requirement that the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation to be born in China and approved by Beijing has drawn criticism, with experts at a forum in Taipei yesterday saying that if Beijing were to put forth its own Dalai Lama, the person would not be recognized by the Tibetan Buddhist community.

The experts made a remarks at the two-day forum hosted by the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama titled: “The Snow Land Forum: Finding Common Ground on Tibet.”

China says it has the right to determine the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation, as it claims sovereignty over Tibet since ancient times, Liu Han-cheng (劉漢城), author of Tibet Has Never Been a Part of China, said at the forum.

Fooyin University professor Su Chia-hung, first left, speaks at a forum hosted by the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

Before 1949, China never exercised sovereignty over Tibet, so it has no right to decide the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation, Liu said, citing sources from China.

The process for the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation does not originate from religious rituals or laws in China, so Beijing has no historical, legal or moral basis for interfering in how Tibetans select the newest person to bear the title, he said.

He said that the early Republic of China (ROC) was too consumed by internal turmoil and wars to exert control over Tibet, and that after the Qing Dynasty fell, British support enabled Tibetans to expel remaining Qing forces.

Before the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was established in 1949, the ROC had virtually no influence in Tibet, Liu said.

Hu Ping (胡平), editor of the New York-based Chinese-language magazine Beijing Spring, said that none of China’s three requirements in its regulations on the reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhist living Buddhas are tenable.

The requirement that the Dalai Lama must be found in China is a nonstarter because there is a historical precedent of choosing a Dalai Lama from outside the country’s borders, he said, adding that the fourth Dalai Lama, Yonten Gyatso, was born in Mongolia.

The search for reincarnated living Buddhas is based on the spread of Tibetan Buddhism and the spread of its followers, which is not limited by countries’ borders, he said.

The second requirement, that the “Golden Urn” lottery method should be used, lacks significant historical precedent, as this method was only used during the Qing Dynasty to identify one or two Dalai Lamas, he said.

Lastly, the requirement that the Dalai Lama be approved by the Chinese government, as if the Dalai Lama were an “official” appointed by Beijing, does not work because the appointee would be rejected by most Tibetan Buddhists and ultimately become a historical embarrassment, Hu said.

Fooyin University professor Su Chia-hung (蘇嘉宏) said that there could eventually be two Dalai Lamas, one selected by the overseas Tibetan Buddhist community and another by the Chinese government.

If the Dalai Lama was reincarnated in Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, Beijing’s position that the reincarnation must occur within China would collapse, as any political justifications it has would backfire, said Kelsang Gyalsten Bawa, chair of the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Bawa reiterated that Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso said in July that the highest authority on his reincarnation is the Gaden Phodrang Foundation of the Dalai Lama.

National Medical University professor Chang Kuo-cheng (張國城) echoed Bawa’s viewpoint, saying that China would face a narrative contradiction if the Dalai Lama was reincarnated in Taiwan.

If Taiwan were ever to fall under Beijing’s control, it would suffer repression worse than Tibet, Chang said, emphasizing that by supporting Tibet, Taiwan is supporting itself.

Additional reporting by Fang Wei-li

title: Tibetan Buddhists would reject Beijing ‘appointee’


content_text:
NO SYMPATHY:  A KMT caucus official opposes measure to offer support to a lawmaker threatened by Beijing in retaliation for ‘bullying Chinese spouses’   By Lin Hsin-han and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) yesterday said he is opposed to the legislature passing a resolution in support of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) following threats against Shen by Beijing.

Accusing Shen of “sedition,” Beijing has threatened to pursue Shen’s arrest through Interpol, prompting the DPP caucus on Friday to propose that the legislature pass a resolution to condemn China’s attempts at “transnational repression.” Although the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) caucuses initially opposed placing the motion on the agenda, the legislature later agreed to send it directly to a second reading and to cross-caucus negotiations.

Lo yesterday announced his stance opposing the proposed resolution, accusing Shen of “bullying Chinese spouses,” and saying he had no right to expect others to protect him.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang, left, and Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Puma Shen are shown in a composite photograph. Photo: Taipei Times

“Over the past two years Shen has been the DPP lawmaker most aggressively suppressing Chinese spouses,” he said, adding that Shen’s long-held view is that “all cross-strait exchanges are forms of ‘united front’ work.”

Seeing Shen placed on China’s wanted list “elicits no sympathy at all,” he said.

Shen previously proposed amendments to the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) to require Chinese spouses seeking public office in Taiwan to first renounce their People’s Republic of China nationality, Lo said, adding that such a demand was impossible due to the constitutional framework under which both sides claim to be part of “one China,” as well as the political reality of mutual nonrecognition of sovereignty.

Previous administrations under former presidents Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) all regulated Chinese spouses’ rights through the act and never required them to renounce their nationality as a condition for political participation, he said.

Shen’s proposed amendment to the act, which Lo called “draconian,” failed to pass due to the KMT and TPP holding a majority in the legislature.

However, President Willian Lai (賴清德) adopted Shen’s position which resulted in a “sweeping purge” of Chinese spouses who had won various elected offices across Taiwan, including Nantou County councilor positions, and those of village and borough wardens in Hualien County, New Taipei City, Taipei and Taoyuan, Lo said.

“Many of those spouses had lived in Taiwan for decades and won offices one vote at a time,” Lo said, adding the DPP had “cost them their jobs and livelihoods.”

In response, Shen yesterday said that Taiwanese civil servants are already barred by law from holding any nationality other than that of the Republic of China, calling this a fundamental national security requirement.

Lo, despite being a lawmaker, “does not even understand such basic common sense,” he said, calling him “the least qualified legislator in Taiwan.”

Soochow University political science assistant professor Chen Fang-yu (陳方隅) yesterday said that the opposition’s “confusion over national identity and inability to distinguish between allies and adversaries” represent one of the biggest vulnerabilities in Taiwan’s democracy.

At a time when China is acting so aggressively, the opposition’s refusal to make even the “lowest-cost” verbal statement of support sends a dangerous signal, suggesting that some in Taiwan believe Beijing’s actions are justified, Chen said, posing significant risks to Taiwan’s security.

Additional reporting by Hsieh Chun-lin and Huang Ching-hsuan

people: 賴清德 馬英九 陳水扁 蔡英文 羅智強

title: KMT will not support targeted colleague


title: Taiwan and Poland endorse economic cooperation MOU

content_text:
Taiwan and Poland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on economic cooperation at the 13th bilateral economic and trade consultation conference in Wroclaw, Poland, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said on Saturday.

Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Cynthia Kiang (江文若) and Michal Jaros, secretary of state in Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, signed the MOU at the conference on Friday in support of the establishment of special economic zones and industrial parks, the MOEA said in a statement.

The two sides discussed cooperation in several fields, including information and communications technologies, semiconductors, renewable energy development, and innovations by small and medium-sized enterprises, the MOEA said.

Deputy Minister Cynthia Kiang, in white, poses for a photo at a trade conference in Wroclaw Poland, on Friday. Photo: Ministry of Economic Affairs

Kiang led Taiwan’s largest-ever delegation, comprising more than 100 members, to Poland to attend the conference in Wroclaw.

Addressing the conference on Friday last week, Kiang said the large economic delegation Poland sent to Taiwan for last year’s forum and Taiwan’s large delegation this year showed the willingness of both sides to strengthen bilateral economic ties.

At the same time, the close Taiwan-Poland partnership founded on shared democratic values and the spirit of innovation could become a model for Taiwan and other European nations, she said.

Jaros described Taiwan and Poland as important and trusted economic and trade partners, and said that his country hoped to work with Taiwan to build a resilient and safe supply chain.

Poland is Taiwan’s sixth largest trading partner in the EU, according to MOEA.

Last year, bilateral trade totaled US$2.07 billion, while as of September, Poland had invested US$814,000 in Taiwan and Taiwan had invested US$98.85 million in Poland.


title: KMT and TPP heads to meet, collaborate

content_text:
By Yu Chao-fu and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday confirmed that he plans to meet Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) this week.

The meeting is to be conducted publicly to share the two parties’ thoughts on cooperation and priorities, he said.

Asked if the two parties would collaborate on the nominations for next year’s local elections, Huang said discussion on cooperation requires patience, sincerity and goodwill, adding that both parties have their own nomination process.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang, fifth right, Keelung Mayor George Hsieh of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), fourth right, and Deputy Keelung Mayor Chiu Pei-lin of the TPP, sixth right, pose for a photograph at a forum on coalition givernance in Keelung yesterday. Photo: CNA

If both sides share the same attitude, the whole process should go smoothly, he said.

The TPP and KMT have the same goal, which is to make Taiwan a better place and give Taiwanese a better life, Huang said, adding that this is why the two parties are prioritizing a common vision for local governance and policy reform.

However, a more important issue to discuss is what actions the parties have to take to unite Taiwan as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) continues to tear society apart and sow conflict among the public, he said.

The meeting is expected to take place at a third-party venue some time after Wednesday, following the style of Huang’s previous meeting with then-KMT chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), a KMT source said.

Meanwhile, a DPP source yesterday said that Cheng and Huang have their own ulterior motives and are seeking to advance their interests.

Huang is looking to work with the KMT in next year’s New Taipei City mayoral election, aiming to secure an alliance, the source added.

However, Cheng might leverage her influence over electoral nominations to pull the TPP into endorsing her stance, the source said.

What most concerns the DPP is that Cheng opposes raising defense spending for asymmetric warfare, they said.

If Cheng manages to exploit Huang’s weak spot — the nomination for the New Taipei City mayoral election — the TPP could be led by the nose, potentially dealing a major blow to national security, they added.

Additional reporting by Lin Hsin-han and Chen Yun

people: 黃國昌 朱立倫 鄭麗文


title: More than 1m apply for rent subsidies

content_text:
MORE BENEFITING:  If 1 million applications are approved this year, the scheme would have subsidized more than 10 percent of families nationwide, a real-estate operator said

More than 1 million households have applied for government rent subsidies this year, a record high since the scheme was launched in 2007, the National Land Management Agency said yesterday.

The expanded NT$30 billion (US$963.1 million) rent subsidy scheme, which opened for applications on Jan. 1, was initially designed to support about 500,000 households nationwide.

As of the end of last month, 1.02 million households applied for the subsidy, with the government approving more than 870,000 applications.

That means the average number of approved applications is about 87,000 households per month, a real-estate operator said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Combined with the applications that could be approved from this month to next month, more than 1 million application are expected to be approved this year, a milestone in the history of the subsidy program, they said.

About 9.4 million residential buildings are tax-registered nationwide, while 9.71 million households are registered, they said.

If 1 million applications are approved by the end of this year, the scheme would have subsidized more than 10 percent of families nationwide, the operator said.

Of the six special municipalities, Taichung has the highest number of household receiving the rent subsidy, at nearly 200,000 for nearly NT$5.5 billion in subsidies from January to last month, agency data showed.

The highest average monthly subsidy per household was in Taipei, at nearly NT$4,100, followed by New Taipei City and Taoyuan, both at about NT$3,300.

The average monthly subsidy per household in Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung was about NT$2,700, while it was about NT$2,400 in other administrative areas.

The scheme is part of the government’s policy to support families who do not own their homes, as well as single young adults, newlywed couples, families with underage children, and economically or socially disadvantaged individuals, amid high rents and housing prices in Taiwan, Colliers International Taiwan director Huang Shu-wei (黃舒衛) said.

The main aim of the scheme is to help young people pursue their careers, thereby enhancing social stability and population mobility, Huang said, adding that the program can also help the government address the nation’s falling birthrate.

The dual implementation of public housing and the rent subsidy schemes would lessen people’s housing burdens, enabling them to live in affordable rentals, housing researcher Ho Shih-chang (何世昌) said.

However, the ratio of tenants ineligible for rent subsidies to those whose applications were approved is about 4:6, meaning that there are up to 1.4 million households in rentals nationwide, much more than the initially estimated 1 million households, Ho said.

Starting from next year, the scheme would no longer provide subsidies to those living in illegal structures such as rooftop additions, unauthorized buildings or unregistered buildings, the Ministry of the Interior said.

Such buildings have higher rates of public safety incidents, such as fire, and also make up a relatively small proportion of all subsidy applications, it said.

The ministry would terminate rent subsidies for those living in illegal structures to encourage people to move to legal housing, it added.

About 7.6 percent to 7.8 percent of all residential buildings are illegal structures that have already been listed for management by the government, agency data showed.

The central government approved the Regulations for the Handling of Illegal Structures (違章建築處理辦法), which authorizes local governments to establish their own guidelines for tackling illegal constructions, the ministry said.

Given the obstacles to demolishing illegal structures, removing economic incentives such as rent subsidies for them is expected to curb their growth, it said.


content_text:
PUBLIC ACCESS:  The NCREE plans to launch a site for people to search for a building and see its earthquake-resistance evaluation, an official said

The National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) yesterday said it is encouraging private homeowners to undergo an earthquake resistance evaluation, particularly if their house was built before the 921 Earthquake.

Nearly 60 percent of homes that have existed for more than 30 years were built before the magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck on Sept. 21, 1999, when the nation had a relatively underdeveloped construction code, Ministry of the Interior data showed.

The 921 Earthquake, which damaged more than 100,000 houses, was a turning point in earthquake-resistant construction in Taiwan, NCREE Director Ou Yu-chen (歐昱辰) said.

Warning tape is wrapped around a damaged building in Taipei in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the New Taipei City Public Works Department

After the quake, the government implemented stricter construction codes and set up an earthquake-resistant certification system for buildings, Ou said.

He cited the buildings damaged during the Hualien County earthquake on April 3 last year — most of which were built before 1999 — as proof of the progress in building earthquake-resistant facilities.

The government also reinforced the seismic resistance of bridges, schools and public buildings after the 921 Earthquake, Ou added.

However, the collapse of a residential building in Tainan following an earthquake in 2016, which killed 115 people, showed that the earthquake resistance of private housing needed to be addressed, he said.

The NCREE in 2020 set up a special team to bolster the earthquake resistance of privately owned buildings, identifying and prioritizing high-risk apartment buildings, he said.

The goal is to reinforce the seismic resistance of 30 buildings per year, he said, adding that the team has improved 171 buildings.

Boosting the earthquake resistance of private buildings is a challenge, given the complicated ownership situation and the sharing of expenses among residents, Ou said.

The center is to launch the “Townhouse Earthquake-Resistance Portal” next year, which would allow people to enter the address of a building and view its earthquake-resistance evaluation, he said.

NCREE Deputy Director Chai Juin-fu (柴駿甫) said the center has developed a “5D SmartES” platform, where users can create a virtual model that accurately reflects a physical object, system, city or process in real time.

Kaohsiung and the National Taiwan Museum have joined the platform, Chai said.

Through the platform, Kaohsiung residents can see the age and floor plans of buildings in the city, while museum staff can examine whether a building was damaged after an earthquake, by looking at the 5D model and real-time images captured by detectors, he added.

title: Homeowners urged to undergo quake evaluation


content_text:
Nine people were defrauded out of NT$9.33 million (US$299,518) in September, some in scams seeking to exploit the government’s universal cash handout program, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said yesterday.

A 77-year-old retiree in Taipei lost NT$3.2 million to scammers, after receiving a call from a person claiming to be a post office employee, the bureau said.

The fraudster told the woman that someone had used her ID to collect the cash handout, and transferred her to a fake police officer, allegedly at the government’s 165 anti-fraud hotline, it said.

New Taiwan dollar notes are pictured in front of an ATM and a sign providing information on the government’s NT$10,000 cash handout program in Taipei on Nov. 5. Photo: CNA

The “officer” told the woman to add them on the messaging app Line to verify her information.

She later received a call from another person impersonating a police officer telling her that she was involved in a money laundering scheme, sending her a fake summons and search warrant over Line, the bureau said.

The scammer told the woman that if the police discovered money in a search of her home, the funds would be confiscated as illegal monetary gains. She was then told to make an appointment with them to turn over the money in her home.

The scammers also asked her to add a person claiming to be a prosecutor to Line, and was told not to disclose the nature of their “investigation,” it said.

She then gave them the NT$3.2 million she had in her home.

Five of the nine cases were committed by scammers impersonating prosecutors and police officers, bureau data showed.

Three were committed by scammers who claimed that they were collecting cash handouts on behalf of others and prompted victims to send them their ATM cards through the mail.

The other incident involved a fake Web site for the universal cash handout program, which obtained the victim’s credit card information.

So far, suspects involved in six of the nine fraud schemes have been arrested, the bureau said.

The bureau said it had received 70 to 80 scam calls and messages related to the universal cash handout program.

To prevent being deceived by fraud, people should avoid clicking on suspicious links or giving out personal data to strangers or unverified Web sites, and do not wire funds to strangers or spread misinformation, the CIB said.

title: Nine defrauded out of NT$9.33 million, CIB says


content_text:
Taiwan firs could help government reach net zero emissions goal, new study shows

Soil where Taiwan firs (Abies kawakamii) grow contains about 20 tonnes more carbon per hectare than soil around other tree species, which could create opportunities in carbon credit markets, a Taiwan Forestry Research Institute study showed.

Taiwan has forest coverage of up to 60 percent, about one-third of which are artificial forests, which are crucial for Taiwan to achieve its net zero goal, the institute said, adding that soil accounts for the biggest carbon pool in artificial forest ecosystems at about 45 percent.

A long-term study of the soil carbon sink capacity of artificial forests around Nantou County’s Landun Village showed that carbon levels differed significantly in soil at depths greater than 5cm among different tree species.

Dry wood is pictured in a forest in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute

For example, Taiwan firs that have been growing for 40 years have the highest level of deep soil carbon, followed by Taiwan red cypresses (Chamaecyparis formosensi) and Taiwania cryptomerioides of the same age, the institute said.

Compared with Taiwan red cypresses or Tawania, Taiwan firs on average have 10 tonnes to 20 tonnnes more deep soil carbon per hectare, it said.

Such a significant difference in carbon sink capacity has the potential to create economic benefits in carbon credit markets, the institute said, adding that planting tree species with better carbon sink capacity can boost artificial forests’ competitiveness and contributions to the market.

The study also found that forest management approaches would affect forests’ soil carbon storage.

For example, the soil carbon levels of a Taiwan red cypress forest along Taichung’s Lilang Trail (裡冷林道) significantly declined within two years of a noncommercial thinning, showing that tree-removal operations disrupt the forest litter layer — where organic matter such as fallen leaves, branches or trees store carbon as well, the institute said.

Long-term follow-up studies showed that tree canopies closed again 10 years after the thinning, leading to a thicker litter layer and increased total carbon storage of forest mineral soil, it said.

That showed soil carbon sinks can be restored and boosted through proper management and reforestation, despite short-term carbon losses, it said.

While clearcutting results in massive carbon losses, maintaining uneven-aged forests — where trees of different ages grow together — can sustain carbon sequestration and storage capacity, it said.

Extending forest rotation periods also helps stabilize soil carbon sink and reduce carbon losses, the institute added.

Proper thinning of a Taiwania forest on Fonggangshan (鳳崗山) in Kaohsiung’s Liouguei District (六龜) boosted tree growth and total soil carbon storage, it said.

However, severe loss of the litter layer and topsoil due to typhoons caused the forest’s soil carbon storage to plunge, it said.

Therefore, it is important to consider extreme weather conditions such as typhoons or downpours, as well as forests’ gradient, soil stability and wind resistance, when creating forest carbon sinks to ensure their sustainability, the institute said.


content_text:
A 20-year-old with facial neurofibroma yesterday said that accepting her differences has helped her live her life to its fullest.

Shih Yu-kuei (施羽桂) talked about her experiences publicly for the first time at the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation’s annual meeting at the Lihpao Resort World Theater in Taichung, where it awarded scholarships to 58 people with craniofacial conditions.

Speaking to an audience of 173 families and 587 participants, the college student said that when a tumor began to grow on the right side of her face in middle school, she began to feel separated from others.

College student Shih Yu-kuei, right, poses for a photo at the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation’s meeting at the Lihpao Resort World Theater in Taichung yesterday. Photo: CNA

She had her first surgery in high school, as she wanted to get her driver’s license, but the tumor was affecting her vision, she said.

When she looked in a mirror and saw her eye open again after the surgery, a new hope awoke in her, she said.

Neurofibroma grows continuously, but Shih has become increasingly resilient after undergoing four surgeries, she said.

This summer, she postponed another surgery to participate in the foundation’s youth camp.

Her team might have finished last in an icebreaker activity, but other teams helped them complete the challenges, giving her a sense of belonging she has not felt in a long time, Shih said.

It was hard for her to accept her differences, but when she realized that differences are a strength and accepted them, her world opened up, and she was able to do whatever she wanted, she said.

title: Student shares experience of life with facial tumor


content_text:
NTU responds after 100s fall for fried chicken rumor, show up on campus

Hundreds of people lined up inside National Taiwan University (NTU) yesterday after an anonymous netizen falsely promised to hand out free fried chicken and bubble milk tea, prompting the school to issue a statement condemning such activities on its campus.

The apparent prank stemmed from a post in an anonymous Facebook group earlier this month, in which an individual claiming to be a student in NTU’s Atmospheric Sciences Department made a prediction about Typhoon Fung-wong.

The poster claimed that Taipei would announce school and work closures for the typhoon on at least two days from Nov. 12 to Nov. 14.

People walk past the main gate of National Taiwan University in Taipei in an undated photograph. Photo: CNA

The individual promised to give away 100 fried chicken cutlets and bubble milk teas if only one day of closures was announced, or 300 cutlets and teas if there was no typhoon holiday.

After the storm came and went without a typhoon holiday, the anonymous individual wrote a follow-up post, promising to distribute the 300 helpings of chicken and tea at NTU’s Fu Bell yesterday noon.

Several hundred people lined up at the bell to cash in on the failed prediction, with some arriving early in the morning, local media reported.

As the crowd swelled, the university was forced to dispatch security guards to keep order near the bell until the afternoon, when the netizens began to realize they had been tricked and gradually dispersed.

In a statement released later yesterday, NTU said it could not verify the identity of the person who made the post, but warned that they should consider the accuracy and impact of information they spread online, lest they face legal consequences.

The university also urged the public to critically analyze information they see on the internet, so as to avoid falling for anonymous posts and rumors, putting themselves at risk and incurring costs for society.

As a university campus dedicated to teaching and research, any event that attracts large numbers of people unaffiliated with the university must be authorized in advance to ensure safety and order, NTU said, adding that it reserved the right to shut down unauthorized activities when necessary.


title: Taiwan News Quick Take

content_text:
WEATHER

Cooler weather incoming

Low temperatures would be more prevalent throughout this week when the strongest cold front observed so far this fall arrives today, independent meteorologist Daniel Wu (吳德榮) said. The front today would bring rain to windward locations in northern, northeastern and eastern Taiwan, he said. Atmospheric moisture would be the highest tomorrow due to seasonal northeasterly winds, and is expected to bring sporadic and brief showers to northern, northeastern and eastern parts of the nation, he said. Central and southern Taiwan would be comfortably warm tomorrow, with cooler temperatures in the early morning and the evening. Atmospheric moisture would ease up by Wednesday or Thursday, bringing chances of lighter rain to the north coast off Keelung, the eastern parts of the Taipei area and the northeastern parts of Taiwan, which would make northern Taipei cool to cold, Wu said.

SOCIETY

Woman bitten by cobra

A 41-year-old woman was bitten by a cobra on the top of her right foot as she exited a public library in Taichung’s Longjing District (龍井) yesterday, police said. She was transported to a hospital, where she received anti-venom and remains under observation, the hospital said. Firefighters and contractors working with the Taichung Agriculture Bureau captured and removed the 30cm-long snake at the scene. Library director Chen Chiu-hua (陳秋華) said that staff fully inspected the building and confirmed that no other snakes were present. Police said the woman was bitten just as she activated the automatic door to exit the library. The snake might have emerged from a drainage channel near the library, police said.

DIPLOMACY

Legislators depart for US

Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), leading a 14-member cross-party delegation, yesterday departed from Taoyuan International Airport on a nine-day trip to the US and Paraguay, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in South America. They are to begin the trip in Detroit with a Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America event to get a feel for the needs of overseas Taiwanese businesses, Chiang said, adding that the delegation would also meet with US representatives and senators to deepen bilateral ties. The group would then travel to Paraguay, an important ally of the Republic of China since 1957, he said. The trip follows visits to Taiwan over the past year by the presidents of the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies and Senate.

SOCIETY

Fire sends 17 to hospital

A parked motorcycle in Changhua County burst into flames early yesterday morning, sending thick smoke throughout a nearby building and resulting in 17 nearby residents being taken to hospitals, the Changhua County Fire Bureau said. The bureau said it received a report at 3:45am of a parked motorcycle on fire under the sidewalk overhang of a five-story building. Fifteen firetrucks, 11 ambulances and 52 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, it said in a statement. After the fire was extinguished in about an hour, the firefighters sent 17 people suffering from smoke inhalation to local hospitals, Changhua City Mayor Lin Shih-hsien (林世賢) wrote on Facebook. The eldest of the people sent to a hospital was 73 years old, while the youngest was 11 months old, the fire bureau said. It said it was investigating the cause of the fire to determine who was responsible.

people: 陳秋華 江啟臣


title: Bring it on

content_text: Breakdancers yesterday compete at the Presidential Cup Street Dance competition on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei, in front of the Presidential Office Building.


content_text: The Kaohsiung City Government’s Commission of Indigenous Affairs Chairwoman Abus Bainkinung, sixth right, dances with indigenous people in this year’s Tapakadrawane, a harvest festival, with the Duona people of Maolin District yesterday.

title: Good harvests


title: Up, up and away

content_text: A hot air balloon shaped like the sea goddess Matsu takes off at the International Balloon Festival in Leon, Mexico, on Friday. The Matsu balloon, created by the Taitung City Government and Taitung Tianhou Temple, flew among more than 200 balloons from 25 countries.


title: US cuts Swiss tariff for investment deal

content_text:
QUID PRO QUO:  The US runs a US$38bn trade deficit with Switzerland, and the deal involving Swiss private sector-firms would eliminate it by 2028, the White House said

Switzerland on Friday announced plans to invest US$200 billion in the US through 2028 as it finalized a hard-wrought deal to slash US tariffs on Swiss goods.

Swiss Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research head Guy Parmelin said US President Donald Trump’s administration has agreed to cut US tariffs on most Swiss goods to 15 percent — the same level imposed on the neighboring EU — from 39 percent, the highest rate on any Western country.

Speaking to reporters in Bern, Parmelin hailed the deal as a result of “new momentum generated by the commitment of the American president” and said it would take “several weeks” to take effect.

A Swiss national flag is pictured on a boat on Lake Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland, on Aug. 5. Photo: Bloomberg

The White House confirmed the deal on Friday, adding that companies from Switzerland and tiny Liechtenstein would invest US$67 billion of the US$200 billion in the US next year.

“These investments will create thousands of well-paying American jobs across all 50 states in a number of sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical devices, aerospace, construction, advanced manufacturing, gold manufacturing and energy infrastructure,” a White House fact sheet stated.

The US consistently runs a deficit — more than US$38 billion last year — in the trade of goods with Switzerland. The White House said “this deal with Switzerland will put us on a path to eliminate that deficit by 2028.”

Earlier, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on CNBC said that Switzerland would move manufacturing of some pharmaceuticals, gold smelting and railway equipment to the US.

Switzerland is already a top foreign investor in the US. The US$200 billion in Swiss investment would involve the private sector — what Parmelin called “Team Switzerland” cooperating with government.

Some Swiss goods, notably in the pharmaceuticals, chemicals, gold and semiconductor industries, had already been exempted from the 39 percent rate, which had threatened to put Swiss goods at a massive disadvantage to competitors from the EU and beyond.

The US would also suspend extra tariffs on other goods deemed “important” such as in aviation, but those on other sectors such as industrial machinery, watches, coffee and cheese would continue, Parmelin said, adding that Switzerland would continue to try to lower the tariffs on those.

Meanwhile, Trump on Friday announced that he was scrapping US tariffs on beef, coffee, tropical fruits and a broad swath of other commodities — a dramatic move that comes amid mounting pressure on his administration to better combat high consumer prices.

The US president’s abrupt retreat from his signature tariff policy on so many staples key to the American diet is significant, and it comes after voters in off-year elections this month cited economic concerns as their top issue, resulting in big wins for Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey and other key races around the country.

“We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee,” Trump said aboard Air Force One as he flew to Florida hours after the tariff announcement was made.

Pressed on his tariffs helping to increase consumer prices, Trump said: “I say they may, in some cases” have that effect.

“But to a large extent they’ve been borne by other countries,” he added.


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JITTERS:  Nexperia has a 20 percent market share for chips powering simpler features such as window controls, and changing supply chains could take years

European carmakers are looking into ways to scratch components made with parts from China, spooked by deepening geopolitical spats playing out through chipmaker Nexperia BV and Beijing’s export controls on rare earths.

To protect operations from trade ructions, several automakers are pushing major suppliers to find permanent alternatives to Chinese semiconductors, people familiar with the matter said.

The industry is considering broader changes to its supply chain to adapt to shifting geopolitics, Europe’s main suppliers lobby CLEPA head Matthias Zink said.

Flags fly next to a logo of Nexperia at the facade of its factory amid a shortage of chips caused by a diplomatic standoff between China and Netherlands over the company, in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China, on Nov. 7. Photo: REUTERS

“We had some indications already — questions like: ‘How can you supply me without this dependency on China?’” Zink, who also heads Schaeffler AG’s powertrain & chassis division, said in an interview.

The moves follow last month’s sudden supply disruption at Chinese-owned Nexperia. The conflict escalated when Beijing blocked exports of key components from Nexperia’s Chinese factories, in response to the Netherlands seizing control of the company’s Dutch operations.

The fallout quickly spread to manufacturers relying on the low-tech but vital chips. Honda Motor Co cut its annual profit guidance after halting production at some plants, while ZF Friedrichshafen AG and Robert Bosch GmbH, the world’s biggest car-parts maker, slowed output. Volkswagen AG and BMW AG set up task forces to source semiconductors, and prices for the components spiked.

“For procurement leaders, this is more than a temporary disruption,” said Sapna Amlani, who oversees Moody’s global supply chain practice. “It signals a structural risk: geopolitical decisions can instantly reshape sourcing economics.”

While governments have made some progress toward a resolution and deliveries are said to have restarted, the feud at Nexperia continues, keeping supply concerns front of mind.

Rolling back established supply lines is costly and complex, with the push for changes revealing deep discomfort among manufacturers as former trade partners turn foes. The chip supply chain, which relies on cross-regional flows, has been exposed as one of the weakest links in the China-US tug of war that is sidelining Europe.

“What we are feeling is that in the geopolitical arena, the American and the Chinese value chains are slowly separating from each other,” German chipmaker Infineon Technologies AG chief executive officer Jochen Hanebeck said.

Nexperia, whose chips power simpler features like window controls and steering systems, currently holds a market share of more than 20 percent in the segment, according to research firm Omdia.

Competitors that could replace its products include US firms On Semiconductor Corp, Vishay General Semiconductor LLC and Diodes Inc, as well as Japanese manufacturer Rohm Co, according to Omdia data.

A spokeswoman for OnSemi said that it is in discussions with existing and new customers “to be able to best support them over the long term.”

During task-force meetings convened to tackle the Nexperia shortage, Zink said carmakers frequently asked: “What are we going to do thereafter?”

The clash over chips adds to persistent concerns about the supply of rare earths, important for magnets that help operate batteries and electric vehicle (EV) motors. China retains a near monopoly on processing the materials and has frequently throttled supply for leverage.

Any meaningful recalibration of sourcing components outside China — be it batteries, chips or rare earths — would take time, Zink said, estimating a time frame of three to seven years depending on the component.

The string of issues has highlighted the risk of going EV-only in Europe, he added, with China supplying the vast majority of the region’s batteries — a dependency he expects to hold for years to come.

That is adding urgency to calls to walk back the EU’s 2035 phase-out of new combustion-engine cars.

The bloc should rethink that plan and keep allowing the sale of new hybrid models and range-extender EVs to reduce that exposure and save jobs, Zink said.

“We should have no illusions on this,” he said, adding that replacing Chinese battery cells and refineries is “going to be difficult for decades.”

title: Nexperia crunch prompts firms to go ‘China-free’


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Apple Inc is stepping up its succession-planning efforts as it prepares for Tim Cook to step down as chief executive of the tech giant as soon as next year, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, is widely seen as Cook’s most likely successor, the FT reported, citing several people familiar with discussions.

Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Apple CEO Tim Cook holds an iPhone 17 pro and an iPhone Air at an event on its campus in Cupertino, California on Sept. 9. Photo: REUTERS

The newspaper quoted people familiar with discussions inside the iPhone maker as saying its board and senior executives had recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins after more than 14 years.

Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, which covers the critical holiday period, the FT said.

Cook became CEO in 2011 after Silicon Valley legend Steve Jobs resigned, ending his reign at the technology giant he cofounded in a garage.

Separately, sales of iPhones in China rose 22 percent from year-earlier levels in the first month after the iPhone 17 series launched, even as the broader market softened, a private survey showed on Friday.

The new lineup drove most of Apple’s smartphone sales in China in the period from the Sept. 19 launch, with the 17 series accounting for nearly four-fifths of units sold to consumers, according to the data from research firm Counterpoint.

The iPhone 17 launch drew hundreds of people to Apple’s Beijing flagship on release day — a sign of continued enthusiasm for the brand, despite intensifying competition from Huawei Technologies Co (華為) and Xiaomi Corp (小米).

China’s smartphone market remained weak amid subdued consumer demand, with third-quarter sales down 2.7 percent year-on-year, Counterpoint said.

title: Apple plans new leader next year


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Gasoline prices are to remain unchanged this week, despite an increase in global crude oil prices last week, CPC Corp, Taiwan (台灣中油) and Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化) said yesterday.

Gasoline prices at CPC and Formosa stations are to stay at NT$27.1, NT$28.6 and NT$30.6 per liter for 92, 95 and 98-octane unleaded gasoline respectively, the companies said in separate statements.

However, the price of premium diesel is to drop NT$0.2 per liter to NT$25.5 per liter at CPC stations and NT$25.3 at Formosa pumps, they said.

The companies’ announcements came after international crude oil prices last week snapped a two-week losing streak as disruptions to Russian oil exports outweigh oversupply concerns in the global market.

Lukoil PJSC declaring force majeure at its West Qurna 2 field in Iraq showed signs that US sanctions are starting to have an impact on Russian oil exports, although the US Energy Information Administration reiterated that it expects a surplus of about 4 million barrels per day next year, the companies said.

Front-month Brent crude oil futures — the international oil benchmark — last week rose 1.19 percent to settle at US$64.39 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange, while West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures — the US oil gauge — gained 0.57 percent to close at US$60.09 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

title: Gasoline price stable as premium diesel drops


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E.Sun Joins COP30, Unveils Net Zero Transition Plan

E.Sun Financial Holding Co chief sustainability officer Louis L.Y. Chang (張綸宇), along with the dedicated sustainability team, represented E.Sun at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30). At the World Climate Summit, Chang delivered a keynote speech titled: “Building Resilience: An Integrated Financial Approach to Climate Challenges.” His address highlighted E.Sun’s practical experience in driving low-carbon transition through financial innovation, underscoring the proactive role of Taiwan’s financial sector in global climate action.

This year’s COP30, held in Belem, Brazil, focused on “Implementation,” emphasizing climate finance, inclusive participation, and a just transition. Chang detailed the climate challenges facing Taiwan, including transition risks for vital supply chain component — small and medium-sized enterprises — which struggle with carbon management expertise and renewable energy access, and physical risks from extreme weather like typhoon-induced flooding.

As a member of the Coalition of Movers and Shakers on Sustainable Finance, E.Sun utilizes geographic information system tools to build a physical risk database and strengthen risk assessment. E.Sun has also helped develop standardized methodologies for financial sector carbon accounting, target setting and transition loan assessment. Chang’s speech led to a high-level panel discussion featuring senior leaders from the UN Global Compact, the Brazilian Development Bank, Santander Bank SA, the Green Finance Organization and McKinsey & Co.

E.Sun Financial Holding Co chief sustainability officer Louis L.Y. Chang, third left, leads the sustainability team at COP30, advocating for resilience in addressing climate challenges. Photo courtesy of E.Sun Financial Holding Co

E.Sun recently launched its “net zero transition plan” to enhance client and partner climate resilience. The plan centers on achieving net zero by 2050 by shifting to climate-aligned asset management. Using international sustainability taxonomy frameworks, E.Sun established a seven-tier “climate alignment system” to support sectors in transition. E.Sun facilitates step-by-step transformation — helping high-carbon companies progress to low-carbon operations — through tailored financial solutions, prioritizing engagement over exclusion.

Chang stressed that the essence of a “just transition” is to “leave no one behind,” with financial institutions playing a vital role in industrial transformation. E.Sun will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to advance climate mitigation and adaptation, creating sustainable value for future generations.

Details of the plan are available on the E.Sun Financial Holding Co’s official Web site — E.Sun Low-Carbon Transition Plan: https://www.esunfhc.com/en/-/media/ESUNFHC/Images/Home/environment/Net-Zero/transition-plan.pdf


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South Korean conglomerates pledge US$550 billion domestic investment

Samsung Group and SK Group were among four of South Korea’s biggest companies that pledged to invest about US$550 billion in the country after meeting with President Lee Jae-myung, who is seeking to shore up the economy following a trade deal with the US.

Samsung’s affiliates will invest 450 trillion won (US$309.5 billion) in the country, including in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and research and development, over the next five years, according to a statement from Samsung Electronics Co. Hyundai Motor Group pledged 125.2 trillion won over the same period.

SK Group reiterated plans to invest 128 trillion won in AI, chips, energy and biotechnology through 2028. LG Group reaffirmed investment plans of 100 trillion won, mostly on materials, parts and equipment, between last year and 2028.

From left, SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won, Samsung Electronics Co chairman Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Euisun Chung attend a meeting headed by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the presidential office in Seoul yesterday, to discuss follow-up measures after the release of a joint fact sheet on bilateral trade and security agreements with the US. Photo: EPA/YONHAP

The announcements came after a trade deal with the US sparked concerns over low domestic investment and the nation’s currency. South Korea previously agreed to channel US$350 billion into strategic US industries as part of the trade agreement.

Lee met with business leaders including Samsung’s Jay Y. Lee, Hyundai Motor Co’s Euisun Chung, LG Group’s Koo Kwang-mo and SK Group’s Chey Tae-won. The South Korean leader urged them to expand domestic investment and offered government assistance. He suggested that Seoul could adopt new forms of support, such as purchasing subordinated bonds issued by companies or assuming first-loss positions.

Separately, Japan’s economic stimulus package will exceed 17 trillion yen (US$110 billion), Japanese Minister of Finance Satsuki Katayama said after meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the Nikkei business daily reported yesterday.

Since taking office last month, Takaichi has pledged to compile a sizeable package of spending measures to cushion the economic blow from rising living costs, and boost investment in growth areas such as AI and semiconductors.

The administration is expected to finalize the package with approval by the cabinet on Friday.

Additional reporting by Reuters


title: Out for a ride

content_text: People ride bicycles across a bridge in Taipei’s Guandu District during a sunny day yesterday.


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Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislators once again collaborated to vote against the appointments of four new National Communications Commission (NCC) commissioners. This decision has further mired the already dysfunctional agency in uncertainty.

The commission, which regulates online media, broadcast media and telecommunications in the country, has not been able to rule on any case since December last year due to the inability to meet the quorum, which requires a minimum of four NCC members to be present. There are currently only three commissioners.

Some blamed former NCC chairman Chen Yaw-shyang (陳耀祥) for the conundrum. It was Chen who restricted the quorum to 50 percent of the statutory number of members, instead of half of the current number of members.

However, KMT and TPP lawmakers should be held accountable for the situation, as they have not only sabotaged the appointments of new commissioners, but also weakened the regulator.

They last year rejected four commissioner candidates nominated by the Executive Yuan, including former NCC deputy chairman Wong Po-tsung (翁柏宗), saying that the candidates aligned themselves with the agenda of the pan-green camp. Wong was nominated as commission chairman.

After Wong was appointed acting chairperson by the Executive Yuan, KMT and TPP lawmakers proposed amendments to the National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法), banning commissioners from serving more than two terms and forcing Wong to leave his job in December.

The Executive Yuan in July nominated another set of commissioners: National Cheng Kung University computer science and information engineering professor Chiang Jung-hsien (蔣榮先), Soochow University law professor Cherng Ming-shiou (程明修), National Chengchi University professor Vivian Huang (黃葳威) and Shih Hsin University assistant professor Lo Huei-wen (羅慧雯).

The commission was structured with staggered terms for commissioners to ensure stability of the institution and consistency of communication policies, an NCC official said.

KMT legislators have been using nominees’ opinion on the commission’s decision not to renew the operating license of CTi News as a “litmus test” for their stance on press freedom and media independence.

KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said reforming the NCC requires a structural adjustment, rather than mere personnel change, adding that “the commission had a track record of abusing its authority to harm the freedom of the press.”

The KMT caucus also plans to propose amendments to NCC regulations, he said.

The Executive Yuan should consult opposition lawmakers about possible candidates, he added.

Changes proposed by the KMT include ending the impasse regarding CTi News — the party believes the broadcaster was punished for advocating cross-strait unification — and ensuring that NCC commissioners adopt a light-handed approach in regulating news channels with pro-China agendas.

The NCC said that as of Nov. 7, it had 431 major cases pending, most of which involve deciding on license renewals, changes in management and channel line-ups proposed by broadcast media and cable systems, and determining penalties for those who contravene NCC regulations.

It is also proposing legislation to better manage phone numbers to prevent exploitation by scammers.

With a dysfunctional regulator, people’s complaints against television stations and telecom providers are falling on deaf ears. The blame for this lies squarely with KMT and TPP legislators, who have left the NCC in disarray and could care less about how people feel.

title: EDITORIAL: KMT, TPP to blame for NCC paralysis


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John J. Tkacik, Jr. On Taiwan: May the United States Legally Duck Taiwan Independence?

“Si ambulat loquitur tetrissitatque sicut anas, anas est” is, in customary international law, the three-part test of anatine ambulation, articulation and tetrissitation. And it is essential to Taiwan’s existence. Apocryphally, it can be traced as far back as Suetonius (蘇埃托尼烏斯) in late first-century Rome. Alas, Suetonius was only talking about ducks (anas).

But this self-evident principle was codified as a four-part test at the Montevideo Convention in 1934, to which the United States is a party. Article One: “The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: a) a permanent population; b) a defined territory; c) government; and, d) a capacity to enter into relations with the other states.”

In US constitutional law, the recognition of foreign states is within the sole purview of the Chief Executive. Thrice in his first term, President Donald J. Trump invoked this authority: to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Golan Heights as Israel’s sovereign territory, and Western Sahara as the sovereign soil of the Kingdom of Morocco. He did this in laudable pursuit of the “Abraham Accords” and achieving detente between Israel and major Arab neighbors. The moves were controversial, to say the least, and it was fortunate Congress could not kibbitz. Four years ago, in this column (“The American Constitution and recognizing Taiwan” Dec. 20, 2021), I pondered whether an American President was empowered formally to recognize Taiwan independence without further consultation with the legislature. The answer was “yes.”

Today, I examine whether a US president might go in the opposite direction and recognize Taiwan as China’s sovereign territory without Congressional consultation. Here, I think not.

The primary factor that complicates the president’s authority vis-a-vis Taiwan sovereignty was absent in the Abraham Accords. It is that the United States Code (22 USC 48 § 3303(b)(1) — “The Taiwan Relations Act”) already defines Taiwan’s status as identical to “foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities.” Thus, when the TRA became law, with full support in the Senate and under the President’s signature, the matter of Taiwan’s sovereign status (by the Montevideo test) was elevated beyond the purview of the President’s powers and into the realm of “the law of the land.”

This was no legislative usurpation of the executive’s prerogative. The United States president at the time of the Taiwan Relations Act, Jimmy Carter, had himself already included this identical “foreign countries, nations, states” formula in his own executive memorandum to all departments and agencies of December 30, 1978. Applying Suetonius’s principle of “anatine tetrissitation” (嘎嘎似鴨) as well as Article 3 of the Montevideo pact (“The political existence of the state is independent of recognition by the other states”), Carter judged that, in international law, Taiwan was indeed a “state.”

One key element of President Carter’s December 30th memorandum was the following: “Existing international agreements and arrangements in force between the United States and Taiwan shall continue in force and shall be performed and enforced by departments and agencies beginning January 1, 1979.”

Somehow, mysteriously, this little phrase slipped out of his January 26, 1979, draft “Taiwan Enabling Act” before it had even reached Capitol Hill. It was a clause that necessarily presumed “Taiwan’s” continued statehood, and was essential to the continuation of orderly relations with Taiwan after that date. Omission of this clause was strange because everyone agreed it was fundamental. Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher was the first Carter administration witness to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on February 5, 1979, and the first thing Christopher assured the committee of was: “First, we have moved to assure that, with the exception of the mutual defense treaty and related agreements, our many treaties and other agreements with Taiwan — more than 55 in all — will remain in force.” Perhaps he hoped that the clause’s absence in the draft legislation wouldn’t be noticed?

If so, he was mistaken. The senators interrogated him, “why was there nothing in the President’s ‘enabling’ bill about the continuation of existing US treaties with Taiwan when it was part of his December 30 ‘memorandum’?” Christopher responded that “if there is any doubt about [President Carter] having the right ... to permanently provide that the people on Taiwan are to be treated as a country for purposes of the legislation, we think that the precedents are clear that the President is permitted to do this as a transitional structure until Congress has an opportunity to act.” Christopher emphasized, “one of the main purposes of the legislation [is] that in general the people on Taiwan can be treated as a country.”

He continued, “The United States, I think, would find no difficulty if the legislation is passed in treating the people on Taiwan as a valid treaty partner for purposes of important treaties, such as aviation arrangements, nuclear supply arrangements which now exist. Under international law, I think that our judgment is clear that it is legally permissible to have a treaty or an agreement with an entity that is not formally recognized as a government.”

Christopher also explained to the Senate the trade-off which Presidents Nixon and Carter confronted: Because the Chinese side was adamant that it would not issue an explicit renunciation of the use of force against Taiwan, the US would not, therefore, concede Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.

Senator Jesse Helms (NC) then interrogated Department of State Legal Advisor Herbert Hansell on whether there was, in the US Government’s view, “a government [that] maintain[ed] order on that island.” Hansell agreed, “of course, there is, but that does not mean it is the sovereign government. That does not mean it is the legal Government of China.”

Helms was shocked! “So, you are saying the policy of the US Government is that the Government of Taiwan is no longer legal. Is that so?” Hansell retrenched, “No, sir, that is not what I said. It is no longer the recognized legal Government of China. I think there is a difference ... in the view of the US Government.” These assurances by the executive branch to the Senate were intrinsic to the TRA’s enactment. Deputy Secretary Christopher’s legal position that determination of whether the United States could legally treat Taiwan as a “valid treaty partner” was within the President’s constitutional authority only as a “transitional structure” until the “Congress has the opportunity to act.” That is, the President himself believed he was “transitionally” authorized to recognize Taiwan as a “valid treaty partner” only until such time as the Congress acted to confirm (or not confirm) this permanently.

In the end, the Congress was unanimous in enshrining in law the “continuation of all treaties” with Taiwan, together with the enumeration of Taiwan among all the world’s other “foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities.” To conform with Montevideo, the TRA added a geographic definition of “Taiwan” as “the islands of Taiwan and the Pescadores,” and a political definition of “Taiwan” as “the governing authorities on Taiwan recognized by the United States as the Republic of China prior to January 1, 1979, and any successor governing authorities.” These qualities constitute statutory recognition under US domestic law of Taiwan’s international personality as a sovereign, independent state.

In the weeks before the Donald Trump-Xi Jinping (習近平) summit meeting in South Korea on October 30, The Wall Street Journal reported that Xi’s “ultimate prize” would be extracting from President Trump his explicit opposition to “Taiwan independence,” overturning a 54-year US stance of merely “not supporting” it. Questioned on this, Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked that, whatever the Chinese side may want, no one on the American side entertained the idea. When asked, Trump himself commented, “I don’t know that we’ll even speak about Taiwan. I’m not sure. He may want to ask about it. There’s not that much to ask about. Taiwan is Taiwan.”

It was his message to Xi that Taiwan was off the table. Optimistically, the day before the summit, President Trump was overheard confiding to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung that his meeting with Xi could “stretch ‘three to four hours,’” signaling that while Trump was preparing for broad-ranging negotiations with Chairman Xi, he was not prepared to discuss Taiwan.

In the end, the Trump-Xi summit lasted only 100 minutes. And Taiwan? Mr. Trump says the topic “never came up.” A Chinese academic said the two sides agreed that “issue of Taiwan will be postponed until Trump’s visit to China,” perhaps in April, 2026. Even then, President Trump’s position will be the same: “Taiwan is Taiwan.” After all, as Confucius says in the Great Learning (or was it the Analects? Or did I read it in a fortune cookie?): “it’s a duck.” (子曰：狀似鴨，游似鴨，嘎嘎似鴨，則為鴨也.)

John J. Tkacik, Jr. is a retired US foreign service officer who has served in Taipei and Beijing and is now director of the Future Asia Project at the International Assessment and Strategy Center. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Global Taiwan Institute.


title: The leaders in Hsinchu must fix the stadium fail

people: 邱臣遠 高虹安

content_text:
Hsinchu Baseball Stadium should have been a source of pride for the city, but due to suspended Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao’s (高虹安) political manipulation and administrative incompetence, it has instead become synonymous with an absurd farce.

The Hsinchu City Government in 2023 found that the stadium had a faulty drainage system and its surface was unsuitable for players. Suspicions were raised last year that city officials had given illegal benefits to a contractor during the stadium’s multi-year renovation project, which was completed in 2022.

A new investigation was opened at the beginning of this year after reports that excavations of the outfield revealed a large amount of illegally dumped concrete that had been mixed with plastic products, abandoned electrical wires, red bricks and other construction materials.

The Taoyuan District Court on Oct. 31 dealt a major blow to the Hsinchu City Government’s false promise to “pursue the truth,” revealing that the city government — to cover up the stadium’s various issues — tampered with the site, obstructed judicial appraisal and refused to let the truth come to light. This is more than just a construction project controversy — it is a blatant betrayal of Hsinchu residents’ rights and interests.

The court said the city government not only failed to complete the stadium’s inspection and acceptance in accordance with the law, but also went as far as digging up and deconstructing the field before the appraisal, causing the entire inspection and acceptance process to collapse.

Even more astonishing is that the city government then blocked impartial third-party experts from entering the stadium to conduct judicial appraisals, citing a baseless “zero tolerance” policy for workplace safety.

The judge ruled that as an attempt to cover up wrongdoing.

The city government’s actions not only concealed the truth, but also obstructed a judicial investigation.

The city government’s farce harmed Hsinchu residents and baseball fans. A stadium that was meant to be a source of local pride and a catalyst for sports development has — as a result of the city government’s incompetence and political fanfare — devolved into a repeatedly excavated pile of construction waste. Fans cannot watch games as scheduled, the city’s image and credibility have been damaged, and public funds continue to be poured in while the social costs continue to rise.

This incident involves much more than engineering and construction issues — it is a classic example of the Hsinchu City Government using politics as a cover for their problems, and using publicity and propaganda to obscure procedural justice. When even the most basic processes — inspection, acceptance and judicial appraisal — are subject to political interference, public works projects become mere tools of political manipulation, and members of the public are the ones who suffer.

The Hsinchu City Government and Acting Hsinchu Mayor Andy Chiu (邱臣遠) must put a swift end to this dishonest political performance, confront the issue truthfully, respect judicial procedures and deliver to Hsinchu residents a truly quality and useable baseball stadium. This is the most basic form of respect owed to the public and the first essential step toward rebuilding trust in the government.

Hsinchu’s baseball fans deserve better. Political fanfare only ensures that the truth remains forever buried. The city and its residents must no longer be sacrificed in the name of meaningless political theater.

Yang Chih-chiang is a teacher.

Translated by Kyra Gustavsen


title: EDITORIAL CARTOON

content_text: Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian (薛劍) on Saturday last week shared a news article on social media about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, adding that “the dirty neck that sticks itself in must be cut off.” The previous day in the Japanese House of Representatives, Takaichi said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” a reference to a legal legal term introduced in 2015 that allows the prime minister to deploy the Japan Self-Defense Forces.The violent nature of Xue’s comments is notable in that it came from a diplomat,


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Beijing’s efforts to further embed China at the center of global manufacturing leaves its companies with a low return on savings, while itspensioners are poorer than they should be

The world has, for the most part, welcomed the trade truce between the US and China. Exporters, in particular, are hoping for a period of quiet that would allow them to adjust to a new world with higher tariffs and more restrictions.

Yet for workers and companies across the developing world, the possibility of a return to a “status quo” ante is not an entirely comforting notion, either. A new normal that preserves China’s dominance of global trade hurts them far more than it does the US or other Western nations.

A new index from Bloomberg Intelligence that examines the export potential of various major economies explains why. China is still at the top of the table, and there is a big gap between it and the closest competitor, India. Most emerging markets only marginally outperform developed economies, the index shows.

That is not how it is supposed to go. As labor costs in China converge with higher-productivity markets, it should look like a less attractive source of goods. Trade-driven sectors should start moving out of the country — or, in the index’s terms, other developing economies should demonstrate greater or at least comparable export potential.

Instead, China’s lead in other factors — from energy costs and logistics efficiency to straightforward technical know-how — is so great that it still has no peers.

It is impossible to overstate how unusual this is in world history. Several countries and regions have had their moment dominating world trade — the UK, the US, Japan — before stepping aside and letting others grow. As they became richer, they moved to different slots in the supply chain, allowing lower-value goods to be made in places with reduced costs.

China, instead, continues to dominate every rung of the supply chain, from low to high-margin manufacturing. Three-quarters of the country’s enormous trade surplus with the world continues to come from goods that are manufactured using relatively basic skills, and it still has over half the global market share in such sectors, calculations by economists Arvind Subramanian and Shoumitro Chatterjee showed.

Other estimates, with a more restrictive definition of low-skills production, come out a little smaller: Harvard University’s Gordon Hanson in 2020 assessed that China’s share of labor-intensive manufacturing was about one-third.

Either way, it is an anomaly. The market share does not fit with the other things known about that economy — that its working-age population is declining, and average wages are several times those in its struggling competitors.

There could be several reasons for the emergence of the inconsistency. A persistently undervalued currency could account for it, as could hidden subsidies for inputs such as energy.

However, part of the reason is that Beijing has deliberately intervened in the natural process of global development. Because the corollary of one country’s economy growing and a second, poorer peer overtaking it in terms of export potential is that the savers, investors and corporations of the first country start moving capital and technology to the second.

That is how manufacturing spread across the developed world and the Asian Tigers.

In the heyday of British economic hegemony, London’s bankers financed half of the world’s foreign investment. A large proportion of US railroad bonds were denominated in sterling. By the time the US dominated trade a century later, it in turn was the origin of almost half of outward investment globally. During its boom years in the 1980s, Japan’s share of world investment overtook the US’.

That is what happens when companies in trade-surplus nations are allowed to freely plan for the future and find the best returns on their capital. That is not how Beijing allows its economy to work. What it earns from trade is directed instead at creating excess capacity at home, or toward long-gestation projects meant to further embed China at the center of global manufacturing.

That means that Chinese companies get a low return on their savings, and its savers and pensioners are poorer than they should be. It also means that workers throughout the rest of the developing world are cut off from their potential. They need Chinese companies to use their technological skills and hoarded capital to build factories that would train and employ them.

China’s leaders are not allowing that to happen. They want to stay at the top of that export potential table, and do not care if, as a consequence, the developing world is deprived of its destiny. If Beijing has its way, nobody else will ever get rich.

Mihir Sharma is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, he is author of Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy. This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

title: China’s trade model is built on keeping others poor


title: A beloved Tokyo penguin’s end presages a giant

content_text:
Everything in Japan has a recognizable mascot, from tourist sites to the Tokyo police force.

However, one of the most beloved is soon to be no more. East Japan Railway Co, better known as JR East, on Tuesday last week announced that it is retiring the iconic penguin that has long adorned Suica, the contactless payment platform for trains in the capital and beyond.

Since Suica’s introduction in 2001, the penguin has featured on transit cards and apps that are used daily by tens of millions who traverse the world’s largest metropolis and the east of the country. The company officially says the character is “graduating.”

On social media, it was treated like the death of a beloved celebrity.

The change is not just cosmetic. It is part of a business rebrand to shift JR East from an old-school firm dependent on train revenue to a fintech powerhouse. In what it calls a “Suica Renaissance,” the firm aims to change the transit card into a modern mobile payments platform — a super-app offering peer-to-peer transactions and a banking back end, along with new technology that would eliminate the need for station turnstiles.

The penguin is not just a corporate icon — it is more akin to the likes of Hello Kitty. Multiple stores sell goods featuring the character; there is even a bronze statue of it in Shinjuku, the world’s busiest train station, used by 3 million people per day. (Memes showing it being torn down like those of Vladimir Lenin after the fall of the Soviet Union circulated online.)

A yet-to-be-announced new character would take the flightless bird’s place — one that, presumably, would highlight how Suica is evolving.

JR East is acting because it faces stiff competition if it wants to be a payment giant. Cashless transactions are increasingly dominated by QR code systems, with the overwhelming market leader Softbank Group Corp’s PayPay Corp, which has accumulated 71 million users since launching seven years ago.

PayPay’s blitzkrieg strategy offered huge cashback programs for users who downloaded the app, while encouraging merchants with years of zero transaction fees. The firm innovated quickly, aided by the tech know-how of then-fellow Softbank investee Paytm, and as a QR code-based service, it does not require stores to operate finicky (and costly) terminals.

The app already offers many of the fintech services Suica aims to provide. It is the country’s leading platform for peer-to-peer payments, and offers bank accounts, credit cards and investment services. People can even receive part of their salary in PayPay points.

Despite its business being almost exclusively in Japan, Softbank aims to list the firm in the US, with some reports saying its valuation could exceed US$20 billion — or two-thirds of JR East’s entire market capitalization.

It is not hard to think the railway operator missed a chance to become the market leader. Suica was a technological marvel when it launched. Based on Sony Group Corp’s contactless Felica technology, it was built to handle the throughput of Tokyo’s train stations at rush hour, facilitating a passenger every second and quickly displacing paper and prepaid magnetic cards.

It stayed ahead by quickly expanding to mobile devices — first on local handsets, and then becoming the first transit card offered on iPhones. As a method of paying, it is simpler to use than QR codes, and predated tap-to-pay credit cards by years.

While it did not take JR East long to see the potential for use in retail, the technology was initially limited to kiosks and other stores within train stations. It was also hobbled by the nature of Japan’s railway industry, with different firms offering competing standards. JR East had to focus on cooperation rather than nationwide expansion.

The biggest blocker to Suica as a cashless platform has been its design as a charge card with a small upper limit. Meanwhile, QR code systems were free to move more flexibly — and supercharged by a boom in cashless payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, they became fully fledged digital wallets, while Suica still focused on transit and daily needs.

JR East needs to fix the mess of its multiple apps and logins for different services. At least it looks to be on the right track and getting serious about monetizing this product. (While the penguin will be missed, one reason for its retirement might be that it was not created for the railway firm, and the rights partially belong to its illustrator, Chiharu Sakazaki.)

With millions of users locked into its ecosystem, Suica is not going anywhere. The operator last year set up a bank, and is pledging to spend nearly US$17 billion on mergers and acquisitions by 2032. More than anything, the news of the mascot’s demise has already created intense word-of-mouth and awareness of the platform’s coming rebirth. The penguin would be mourned, but it is more important that JR East does not miss this opportunity.

Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief. This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.