Headline News

 

Taiwan’s stance on the South China Sea ruling

 

Minister David Lee of Foreign Affairs has stated on July 12 that the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the South China Sea arbitration case is unacceptable to Taiwan.

 

Lee stated that the PCA went outside the scope of the original case by expanding its authority to include Taiwan-governed Taiping Island in its decision, calling the island a “rock” that does not generate an exclusive economic zone.

 

The PCA did not formally invite Taiwan to participate in its proceedings, nor did it solicit Taiwan’s view. The PCA’s ruling therefore has no legal binding force on Taiwan, Lee said.

 

Disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved peacefully through multilateral negotiations in the spirit of setting aside differences and promoting joint development. Taiwan “is willing, through negotiations conducted on the basis of equality, to work with all states concerned to advance peace and stability in the South China Sea”, the minister commented.

 

Taiwan - EU Relations

 

Taiwan-EU investment agreement resolution

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has welcomed the passage of a resolution in the European Parliament on July 5 urging the European Commission (EC) to immediately start talks with Taiwan on a bilateral investment agreement. MOFA urges the EC to start negotiations as soon as possible.

 

MOFA hopes “both sides can work quickly to conclude the pact so as to enhance protection for investors, expand mutual investment and business opportunities, and create more local jobs. The agreement promises to deliver mutual benefits and a win-win outcome.”

 

Taiwan is the EU’s seventh largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade amounting to US$46.6 billion in 2015. The EU is currently Taiwan’s fifth largest trading partner and the number one source of foreign direct investment. EU firms invested more than US$37.7 billion in Taiwan as of May last year.

 

Taiwan-France working holiday agreement

 

Taiwan and France have signed a reciprocal working holiday agreement on July 14, allowing young adults from both countries to experience each other’s culture and lifestyle and paving the way for expanded bilateral exchanges.

 

Deputy minister Wu Chih-chung of Foreign Affairs said that the agreement is a natural extension of strong Taiwan-France relations spanning the areas of agriculture, culture, investment, technology and trade. Director Benoit Guidee of the French Office in Taipei stated that the agreement is certain to benefit both sides and “enables Taiwan’s youth to experience the beauty of France and vice versa.”

 

France is Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade equaling to US$4.02 billion in 2015. France is also Taiwan’s second largest technological cooperation partner worldwide, evidenced by nearly 60 joint projects and 208 tertiary education accords.

 

Technology

 

Taiwan-NASA collaboration

 

Taiwan’s National Space Organization, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and Academia Sinica have signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month with the US’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Taiwanese research institutions and NASA will jointly develop an unmanned lunar lander.

 

NCSIST will be developing the lander’s sensing system, while NASA is responsible for its propulsion system. The research institute stated that the lunar landing module is scheduled to be delivered to the US for testing in October 2018 and will be sent to the moon in 2020.

 

Ecology

 

International climate change workshop in Taipei

 

The 2016 International Workshop on Climate Change was held July 13 at National Taiwan University in Taipei City. More than 200 officials of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from the European Union and Asia discussed projects on carbon emission reduction.

 

Deputy Minister Javier Ching-shan Hou of Foreign Affairs stated that there is an “urgent need to enhance cooperation in this field both between the public and private sectors in Taiwan as well as between the country, its international partners and NGOs.”

 

The workshop is part of Taiwan’s efforts to enhance environmental protection and to play a greater role in combating global climate change.