Headline News
No new local coronavirus infection for 43 days
Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Monday (May 25) announced zero new cases of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), marking 43 days without a new local infection.
Taiwan's total number of cases still stands at 441. Since the outbreak began, Taiwan has carried out 70,880 COVID-19 tests, with 69,928 tests turned out negative. Up until now, 7 patients didn’t survive from the disease, while 415 have been released from hospital isolation. Only 19 patients are still undergoing treatment for COVID-19 in Taiwan.
Taiwan and WHO
The threat of emerging infectious diseases to global health and the economy, trade, and tourism has never abated. Taiwan, though not a member of WHO, has fulfilled its responsibilities and abided by the International Health Regulations.
If it is indeed WHO’s mission to ensure the highest attainable standard of health for every human being, then WHO needs Taiwan just as Taiwan needs WHO, says Chen Shih-chung Minister of Health and Welfare in The Postonline:
https://tpo.nl/2020/05/11/chen-shih-chung-betrek-taiwan-bij-de-who/
Transparency, New Technology and Resilience, are the key factors behind the successful approach in containing COVI-19 in Taiwan, writes Representative Chen Hsin Hsin in an opinion article in Elsevier Weekblad:
Poll: 70% of people consider themselves Taiwanese
In the latest public opinion poll released on May 18 by Taiwan New Constitution Association, 70% of people in Taiwan consider themselves "Taiwanese," 2.7% opted for "Chinese," and 25.2% chose "both." Among respondents aged 20 to 29, those who considered themselves "Taiwanese" reached 91.1%
The poll also measures the approval rating for President Tsai Ing-wen, showing that 72.6 percent of respondents are satisfied with her performance and 17.3 percent expressing disapproval. The latest results represent a remarkable 17.6 percent increase over Tsai's approval rating recorded in the Nov. 19 edition of the poll.
The survey gathered 1,121 valid responses from adults qualified to vote in 20 cities and counties, with a confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.93 percent.
Economy & Society
Economic growth 1.54% in 1st quarter
Minister Without Portfolio Kung Ming-hsin said that Taiwan’s economic growth in the first quarter was 1.54 percent, which was the best among the Four Asian Tigers.
Kung also said that in the first quarter, unemployment rate increased only 0.04 percent from the same period of last year, which was minimal given the impact from the coronavirus.
Apple to invest in LED, micro-LED display plant
Apple is planning on investing over US$330 million in a factory in Taiwan to manufacture both LED and micro-LED displays for its iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and other new devices.
Apple is teaming up on the new factory with Epistar, Taiwan's top LED producer, and Taiwanese LCD panel maker, AU Optronics. The plant will be located in the Longtan branch of the Hsinchu Science Park and Apple's total investment is estimated at US$334 million.
BERI: Taiwan 3rd best investment destination
Taiwan ranks the 3rd best destination for investment in the latest U.S. Business Environment Risk Intelligence (BERI) report.
With a total score of 61 for profit opportunity recommendation (POR) - the overall indicator used by BERI to evaluate each country as an investment destination – Taiwan ranks the third highest among the 50 countries assessed, up one notch from the previous rankings.
The only two countries ahead of Taiwan are Switzerland (POR score 71) and Norway (POR score 62).
Taiwan records 4,021 gay marriages in one year
A total of 4,021 gay couples got married in Taiwan, almost exactly one year after the legalization of same-sex marriages in Taiwan took effect on May 24, 2019.
Data released by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) showed that the majority of the registered marriages are female couples, which stands at 2,773, or 69 percent of the total, with 1,248 for male couples.
While the majority of same-sex marriages are between Taiwanese nationals, the number of transnational couples in which one spouse is a foreign national is 189, or 5 percent of the total.