Headline News
Taiwan to send delegation to WHA
Taiwan has confirmed it will send a delegation to participate in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA), organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva May 23 - 28, as observer. Incoming Health Minister Lin Tsou-yen will lead the delegation, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Eleanor Wang.
The WHO’s invitation to Taiwan had initially sparked controversy for being the first time it made mention of the “one-China principle”. The incoming administration of President-elect Tsai Ing-wen stressed however that Taiwan’s participation does not imply it accepts the “one-China principle”.
International Relations
Inaugural Europe Fair held in Taipei
The Europe Fair was organized for the first time in Taipei as part of worldwide celebrations for Europe Day on May 8, reflecting the growing importance the EU places on Taiwan. The three-day event attracted around 30,000 people.
MOFA Minister David Lin said during the launch of the event that it will help Taiwanese people better understand the EU and bring the two closer together in for example economic and trade relations.
Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je stressed the importance of Taiwan-EU people-to-people exchanges, stating that “this event allows the locals to experience the EU’s cultural diversity”.
Madeleine Majorenko, Head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taipei, said she expects the fair to become an annual festival, adding that Taiwan-EU relations are “excellent”.
Taiwan Relations Act Reaffirmed
The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and Six Assurances were reaffirmed on April 28 as US policy towards Taiwan by the US Senate. The bill signed to this effect by the Senate also stated that “the provision of defensive weapons to Taiwan should continue” and that “enhanced trade relations with Taiwan should be pursued to mutually benefit the citizens of both countries.”
The TRA has been in place since 1979 and authorizes the continuation of substantive relations between the people of the US and Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic ties, as well as help maintain peace, security and stability in the Western Pacific.
The Six Assurances were issued by former US President Ronald Reagan in 1982 and stipulate several things that the US will not do. This includes altering the TRA terms and formally recognizing mainland Chinese authority over Taiwan.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US stated it was grateful for the strong vote of confidence by the US Congress and the Republican Party.
Taiwan, UK sign prisoner agreement
Taiwan and the United Kingdom signed an agreement on May 3 enabling prisoner transfers between both sides. The agreement is the second of its kind, following a similar agreement with Germany signed in November 2013.
The agreement allows British prisoners in Taiwan and Taiwanese prisoners in the UK to apply for prison transfers closer to home. MOFA stated that this will make it easier for families to visit the convicted more regularly.
Technology
TSMC No.1 chip maker
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) retained its position as the largest global supplier in the global wafer foundry industry in 2015, according to information technology market advisory firm Gartner Inc.
TSMC reported US$26.57 billion in sales in 2015, an increase of 5.5 percent compared with a year earlier. This accounted for a 54.3 percent share of the global market for 2015.
The company was also titled as the most profitable company in Taiwan in 2015 for the 14th consecutive year, according to CommonWealth Magazine. Its profits amounted to more than US$9.5 billion in 2015.
Culture
Lungshan Temple included in CyArk 500
Lungshan Temple situated in Lukang Township has been included in CyArk 500, a US digital archive dedicated to preserving invaluable cultural sites worldwide.
The temple has been digitally documented by use of the latest laser scanning technology, with which CyArk aims to build a free 3-D online library of the world’s 500 at-risk cultural heritage sites by 2018.
Other sites that have already been included in the library include the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Mt. Rushmore and the city of Pompeii.
