Headline News
President outlines priorities for 2017
President Tsai Ing-wen said on New Year’s Eve that lifting the economy will be the government’s most important task in 2017. It includes the speed up of the structural transformation of Taiwan's economy and the expansion of infrastructure investment.
Tsai outlined six targeted sectors of infrastructure, including an integrated rail transport system, broadband and ultra-wideband cloud computing and flood and drought preventions in response to climate change.
The other three sectors for infrastructural development are building facilities serving the demand of an aged society, the infrastructure for basic scientific research and the infrastructure that meets the country's energy transformation goal of phasing out nuclear power and reducing carbon emissions.
The government will also continue major reforms and work to maintain peace and stability in a volatile international situation and play a more active role in regional affairs.
The president reaffirmed her
“steadfast diplomacy” approach in which Taiwan will strengthen its substantial relations with other countries through cooperation and reiterated that her commitments to cross-Taiwan Strait relations remain unchanged.
Delegation to attend US President inauguration
Former Premier Yu Shyi-kun will lead an 11-member delegation including lawmakers from across the political spectrum to the Jan. 20 inauguration ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump.
President Tsai has given the Taiwan delegation the task of “congratulating, thanking and interacting.”
“I will happily congratulate President Trump,” Yu said, and thank the US for its National Defense Authorization Act and the Six Assurances that keep Taiwan-US relations constantly moving forward.
US Secretary of State nominee reaffirms US commitment to Taiwan
U.S. Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson reaffirmed the US commitment to Taiwan, based on the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the Six Assurances, during a Senate confirmation hearing for his nomination as the top US diplomat.
“We have made an important commitment to Taiwan through the TRA and the six assurances, and such commitments should be reaffirmed,” said Rex Tillerson in response to questions from US Senator Cory Gardner regarding the Trump administration's position on Taiwan and the “one China policy.”
“I think it's important that Taiwan knows we're going to live up to the commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act and the six issues accord. That in itself is a message," Tillerson said, adding that the US should recognize the “balancing forces” in its relationship with China that need to be dealt with.
Economy
DAF produces 5000th truck in Taiwan
Less than 10 years after opening its assembly line in Taiwan, DAF Trucks
recorded an impressive growth with the delivery of the 5000th truck with its Taiwan partner, Formosa Plastics Group. With a market share of nearly 30% in the segment starting from 12 tons, DAF is the market leader among non-Asian vehicle brands.
“The quality of Taiwan's DAF trucks is of the same high level as the trucks that leave the production lines in the Netherlands and Britain,” said CEO Geert van Genugten of DAF Trucks, responsible for South-East Asia.
“With the great reliability and low cost per kilometer, DAF trucks are the benchmark standard in the market,” president Wilfred Wang of Formosa Plastics Group explains its success.
Tourism
Taiwan attractive at Utrecht Vakantiebeurs
The Taiwan stand at the international travel fair “Vakantiebeurs” in Utrecht, attracted the attention of many visitors, including Utrecht Mayor Jan van Zanen, with a colorful presentation and daily folkloristic dance and music performances.
“Taiwan attracted 19,267 visitors from the Netherlands in 2015, but recorded a spectacular growth of 20% in the first eleven months of 2016. A further growth of travelers from the Netherlands is expected with the start of direct flights from Amsterdam to Taipei by China Airlines and the deployment of its new A350 fleet from January 2017,” said Ambassador Tom Chou.