Headline News
President Tsai on National Day
The government is committed to boosting the nation’s international participation in international affairs, maintaining peaceful and stable cross-strait relations and transforming and renewing the country, said President Tsai Ing-wen during the National Day celebrations held on October 10.
The President stressed that Taiwan is able and willing to contribute to the international community by achieving enhanced participation through steadfast diplomacy and mutually beneficial cooperation with allies. Tsai also expressed her gratitude to the U.S., EU and Japan for supporting the Republic of China in achieving this.
The government will also maintain the country’s democracy as well as the status quo of peace across the Taiwan Strait, establishing a consistent, predictable and sustainable relationship. The President stated that Taiwan will not bow to pressure, nor will it revert to the old path of confrontation. Instead, both sides should sit down for talks to discuss enhancing peace and improving people’s welfare.
Taiwan’s economy and industries will be upgraded by focusing on innovation, research and development and boosting investments, said Tsai.
Economy
Taiwan to transform economic structure
Taiwan is aiming to improve its overall economic structure by setting up an “Asian Silicon Valley” in Taoyuan City, home to many industrial clusters and a large pool of high-tech talent. This initiative is similar in nature to the Industry 4.0 movement which is taking hold around the world, said Premier Lin Chuan.
The National Development Council stated that the Asian Silicon Valley aims to create one ecosystem built around innovative startups with a heavy focus on research and development. By connecting local industries together and by connecting Taiwan to the world, it should turn the country into an innovative startup destination for young Asians and create new industries for future generations.
Ecology
Taiwan expanding solar power capacity
The government aims to have renewable energy account for 20 percent of generated electricity by 2025. This move will diversify Taiwan’s energy portfolio and make the island more energy self-sufficient, said Premier Lin Chuan. The target will also support safe energy, a green economy and environmental sustainability.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs is planning to install 1.52 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity from July 2016 to June 2018. By the end of that period, all solar power installations combined are expected to provide a total capacity of 2.46 GW, generate 3.075 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually, and cut carbon emissions by nearly 1.6 million metric tons a year.
Culture
CinemAsia Film Festival on Tour 2016
CinemAsia on Tour 2016 will be screening three films and several shorts in KINO Rotterdam on October 22nd. The event will feature “Zinnia Flower”, a Taiwanese film directed by Tom Shu-yu Lin.
“Zinnia Flower” is the CinemAsia Jury Award Winner 2016 and features Stone from the popular rock band Mayday and the Golden Horse Award Winner Karena Lam.
For more information: https://kinorotterdam.nl/event/cinemasia/.
Archeologists find eight VOC shipwrecks in Taiwan
Taiwanese archeologists have found eight VOC shipwrecks in the Taijiang National Park in Tainan, close to the ruins of Fort Zeelandia. The ships are likely to be part of the aftermath of the siege on the fort by China in February 1662. The siege meant the end of the Dutch reign over Formosa, Taiwan’s name back then, after being in charge of the island since 1624.
