Headline News
Protest against China’s manipulation of Taiwan media
Tens of thousands demonstrators protested in Taipei against Chinese infiltration of Taiwan’s media and media businesses that spread fabricated news for Beijing.
The rally also intends to influence Taiwan’s legislature to introduce relevant bills to counter China’s manipulation of the local media by organizations receiving Chinese funding for disseminating disinformation in Taiwan.
EU a crucial source of support for Taiwan
“If Taiwan cannot defend its hard-won democracy, it would be a tremendous tragedy not only for Taiwan but also for the development of democracy worldwide,” says Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, noting that the EU is a crucial source of support for Taiwan in the fight to consolidate democracy.
Minister Wu made the statement in a video message played at the European Parliament, stressing that Taiwan and the EU are partners who share core values as freedom, democracy and human rights. These shared values are “why Taiwan is able to work together with the EU and why our relationship is getting closer and stronger,” Wu said.
Judicial agreement signed with Poland
Poland has become the first European country that signed a judicial agreement with Taiwan on criminal matters. The agreement, signed on 17 June in Taipei, provides a legal basis for judicial assistance, extradition and transfer of criminals, prosecution of crimes, information sharing, and other forms of legal cooperation between the two countries.
With growing trade ties and exchanges in agriculture, science and higher education between Taiwan and Poland, the legal cooperation agreement will further improve the bilateral relationship with one of Taiwan’s major trade partners in central Europe.
IFJ: Stop discriminatory exclusion of Taiwan journalists
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has put forth an urgent resolution condemning the United Nations’ ”discriminatory exclusion” of Taiwan journalists at this year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva and demands that the U.N. end such a policy.
“Amongst nearly 23.8 million people having been stripped of voice are also journalists, who were barred from press briefings at the Assembly for being holders of Taiwan passports and working for a bona fide media organization formally registered in Taiwan,” according to the resolution passed at the 30th World Congress of IFJ held in Tunisia.
Taiwan upholds freedom of the press and media professionalism, possesses a legitimate and genuine media, and should be allowed to do their work at important international events, the Association of Taiwan Journalists said.
Economy & Society
Hon Hai to focus on AI with 8K+5G integration
The newly chosen chairman of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Liu Young-way, said that the company will continue to focus on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) with 8K+5G technology integration. 8K refers to super-high resolution imaging, and 5G refers to the next generation of cellphone technology.
Another important direction for the company will be the industrial internet of things (IIoT), said Liu, who the head of Foxconn Integrated Technology Co., a semiconductor subsidiary of the Taiwan-based manufacturing giant best known for making iPhones for Apple.
“NO” to plastic
Starting from July 1, plastic straws are banned at government agencies, public and private schools, department stores, shopping malls and fast food chain outlets.
Taiwanese use 3 billion plastic straws a year. Hopefully this ban, along with a prohibition in 2018 of plastic microbeads in personal care products, will help reduce marine pollution and mitigate the harm to ocean creatures, said Environmental Minister Chang Tzi-chin.
In addition, Taiwan’s first “plastic attack” was launched in June to raise public awareness of excessive plastic packaging of merchandise in supermarkets and retailer outlets.
