Headline News
Provocative incursion Chinese jet fighters condemned
After the interception by Taiwan’s air force of two Chinese J-11 jet fighters deliberately intruding Taiwan’s airspace, the U.S. warned China against the use of ‘force or coercion’ against Taiwan. “Beijing should stop its coercive effort and resume dialogue with the democratically elected administration,” State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said.
U.S. national security adviser John Bolton responded that “Chinese military provocations won’t win any hearts or minds in Taiwan, but they will strengthen the resolve of people everywhere who value democracy.”
The EU called on China and Taiwan to restart bilateral dialogue and avoid actions and words that may increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the peace and stability of Taiwan is extremely important to the region and the world.
President Tsai Ing-wen has ordered strong and immediate action against any aircraft that deliberately crosses the median line and has called on China not to deliberately provoke Taiwan, create a conflict or endanger the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan will continue to assist with Syria’s reconstruction
As a member of the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, Taiwan remains committed to help the Syrian people to rebuild their country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
Taiwan has been providing humanitarian assistance in Syria and has donated 350 prefab houses, a mobile hospital, clothing and rice to the Syrian people and refugees in Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.
Taiwan will also donate US$500,000 to Nadia’s Initiative, founded in 2016 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad, to help victims of sexual violence and to rebuild communities in crisis.
Taiwan removed from EU tax haven grey list
The European Union has removed Taiwan from its grey list of tax havens, acknowledging Taiwan’s efforts at implementing anti-tax avoidance measures.
Taiwan was first listed in December 2017 as a potential tax haven by the EU, but is now delisted in the recent EU update. A total of 25 jurisdictions were delisted while 10 others added. alongside other nations and global organizations.
Economy & Society
Taiwan tops the world in IC wafer production
Taiwan continues to lead in IC wafer production capacity throughout 2018 with a 21.8 percent share of the world’s total, trailed by South Korea with 21.3 percent and Japan with 16.8 percent of the global total.
Taiwan’s TSMC and South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix were ranked the top three wafer fabrication plants worldwide. TSMC accounted for 67 percent of Taiwan’s total capacity.
WTO: Taiwan 18th largest exporter of goods in 2018
Taiwan’s exports hit a record high of US$335.9 billion last year, 1.7 percent of the world total, ranking it the 18th largest exporter according to statistics from the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Taiwan’s imports totaled US$286.3 billion, 1.4 percent of the world total, making it the 17th largest importer in the world.
Taoyuan International Airport ranked worldwide 13th best
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport received its highest ranking ever by Skytrax as the 13th best airport in the world, trailed by Schiphol Airport as the 14th best, while Singapore’s Changi Airport ranks No.1 on the list.
Skytrax also ranks Taoyuan the 8th best airport in Asia and the 4th best in the world for its immigration procedures.
Taoyuan is also rated 7th best for its staff and baggage delivery and the 8th for cleanliness and security processing.
The ranking is based on an airline quality review of 550 airports and on the opinion of 13.5 million travelers from more than 100 countries.
