Taiwan

Taipei [Taiwan]: Taiwan should join the global semiconductor supply chain alliance against China in order to protect its technological advantage and national security, opined Wang Che-jen, an assistant research fellow at the government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research.In a recently published paper titled "Automotive chip shortage: A look at Taiwan's strategic place in the semiconductor supply chain", Wang said that Taiwan's strategic place in the global semiconductor industry has been highlighted due to a shortage of automotive chips, reported Taipei Times citing Central News Agency (CNA).The shortage shows that the supply chain for such products has become a matter of diplomatic, security and strategic concern, he said, while adding that one of the ways technologically advanced nations are tackling the problem is by attracting foreign chipmakers to set up plants on their soil.Citing examples of how the US and Japanese governments, for example, have invited ... » Learn More about Taiwan should join global semiconductor alliance against China: Expert

Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's speech spreading the so-called "two states theory" that defines cross-Straits ties as a state-to-state relationship is "deceiving the people on the island by distorting facts and confusing the public", said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, on Tuesday. Her speech exposed that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan's nature is seeking independence and it relies on foreign countries to seek independence, Ma said. The island leader Tsai Ing-wen said in a pre-Lunar New Year speech on Tuesday that Taiwan's relations with the United States have remained solid despite the change in US administrations last month and her team will be working with the new administration to enhance exchanges. Tsai said the key to maintaining peace across the Taiwan Straits lies in the hands of the mainland, referring to the mainland's deployment of military aircraft in the Straits. From 2008 to 2016, under Tsai's predecessor, Ma ... » Learn More about DPP leaders urged to give up position on Taiwan ‘independence’

Many Taiwan people who work or study on the Chinese mainland will not return to the island for Spring Festival this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they're still looking forward to a happy and secure celebration. Authorities in Taiwan estimate that about 20,000 Taiwan residents on the mainland will return to the island for Spring Festival this year, down from around 100,000 last year. The long quarantine required for those traveling across the Straits－14 days for a one-way trip－is one reason many have canceled travel plans. Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the mainland will ensure the many Taiwan residents staying put this year enjoy a peaceful and harmonious festival through measures including subsidies for companies and workers, free cellphone service to allow them to connect with families across the Straits and activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year. In Fujian province, on the other side of the Straits from Taiwan, ... » Learn More about Many Taiwan residents staying for Spring Festival

Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Saturday she had received a letter from the White House on the global shortage of auto chips and Taiwanese semiconductor firms are "doing what they should" to address the problem. Tight chip supplies have caused problems for auto makers globally, who in some cases are having to curtail production. This week U.S. President Joe Biden's top economic adviser, Brian Deese, thanked Wang for her efforts to resolve the shortage in coordination with the island's manufacturers. Wang told reporters that she had received the letter on Friday night, adding she had previously met with local chip makers on the issue, referring to meetings she has held in recent weeks. "Going forward, manufacturers are doing what they should," she said. This is a problem affecting car makers around the world, including in the United States, Japan and Europe, and Taiwan is an important supplier, Wang added. "We are helping as much as we can," she said. ... » Learn More about Taiwan says receives U.S. letter on auto chips, firms are doing what they should

TAIPEI -- Taiwan will continue to impose strict epidemic control measures from March 1 as the COVID-19 pandemic remained severe across the world, the local epidemic monitoring agency said Monday. Besides a negative COVID-19 test result within three days is needed when boarding the flight to Taiwan, passengers will be quarantined for 14 days at either a quarantine hotel room, designated quarantine center or at a private home where only the person in quarantine lives, the agency said at a press briefing. People will have to wear face masks at public venues such as hospitals, schools, exhibition halls and aboard public transports, the agency said. The set of epidemic control measures has taken effect since Dec 1 last year in wake of the surging COVID-19 pandemic in winter and was scheduled to end on Feb. 28. However, the agency said the ban of drinking and eating on high-speed trains in Taiwan will be lifted from March 1. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan stood at 942 ... » Learn More about Taiwan continues strict COVID-19 control measures

TAIPEI -- The number of new couples in Taiwan was 121,702 in 2020, down 9.53 percent from 2019 and the lowest in the past decade, according to the island's relevant department. The department attributed the decrease to the impact of COVID-19, adding that the number of new couples in Taiwan has maintained a downward trend since 2015. The highest figure in the past decade was recorded in 2011 when around 165,000 couples registered to marry amid the recovery of the local economy and lower unemployment, the department said in a statement. Meanwhile, the number of mainland residents marrying Taiwan residents fell by 64.72 percent to 2,363 in 2020, also the lowest since 2011, the department said. ... » Learn More about Fewer people marry in Taiwan in 2020

TAIPEI: Taiwan chipmakers are buying water by the truckload for some of their foundries as the island widens restrictions on water supply amid a drought that could exacerbate a chip supply crunch for the global auto industry. Some automakers have already been forced to trim production, and Taiwan had received requests for help to bridge the shortage of auto chips from countries including the United States and Germany. Taiwan, a key hub in the global technology supply chain for giants such as Apple Inc, will begin on Thursday to further reduce water supply for factories in central and southern cities where major science parks are located. Water levels in several reservoirs in the island's central and southern region stand at below 20%, following months of scant rainfall and a rare typhoon-free summer. "We have planned for the worst," Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua told reporters on Tuesday. "We hope companies can reduce water usage by 7% to 11%." With limited ... » Learn More about Chipmakers in drought-hit Taiwan order water trucks to prepare for ‘the worst’

BEIJING -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday voiced resolute opposition to any attempt seeking "Taiwan independence," including making it convenient for the separatist forces, through the so-called "constitutional amendments." Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the comments while responding to a question regarding the island legislative body's plan to initiate the so-called "constitutional amendments." Separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" severely undermine the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and pose threats to peace and stability across the Strait, said Ma. Seriously harming the common interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, such activities will face resolute countermeasures from the mainland, he added. ... » Learn More about Mainland opposes attempts seeking ‘Taiwan independence’: spokesperson

The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command mobilized its air and naval forces to monitor the USS Curtis Wilbur 's passage through the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday, the command's spokesman said on Thursday. "The move by the US naval vessel brought risks to the Straits and deliberately compromised peace and stability in the region. We strongly oppose such acts," senior colonel Zhang Chunhui said in a statement, adding that forces of his command are always on high alert to respond to any possible threats or provocations. Based in Yokosuka, Japan, the Curtis Wilbur is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer and is part of the US Seventh Fleet's Destroyer Squadron 15. The US warship's move on Wednesday marked the second transit in Taiwan Straits by any US naval vessel this month. ... » Learn More about PLA mobilizes forces as US naval vessel transits Taiwan Straits

Chinese mainland issued a temporary ban on the importation of pineapples from Taiwan to prevent the fruit from bringing pests in and it will take effect on Monday, the General Administration of Customs said on Friday. The ban aims to cut off the risk of plant-caused epidemics from root causes as since last year, customs of the Chinese mainland repeatedly found quarantine pests in pineapples imported from Taiwan, the administration said. Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Friday that once imported, these harmful organisms will pose a serious threat to the mainland's agricultural production and ecological security. "It is a normal biosafety precautionary measure, which is scientific, reasonable and in line with the mainland laws and regulations," he said. ... » Learn More about Mainland issues temporary ban on import of Taiwan pineapples