In recent years, the number of international visitors to Taiwan has soared. In the period from January to June this year, a total of 472,425 visitors from China came to Taiwan, a number that has grown by about 260 percent from the same period a year ago.
Taiwan has budgeted US$916 million for investment between 2009 and 2012 to help build the island into a key tourist destination. The island, with a tourism market worth US$11.7 billion in 2008, has many distinct attractions that will continue to draw visitors. Culturally, the National Palace Museum houses the world’s largest collection of ancient Chinese Art. The island also has numerous annual cultural festivals that are unique to the various ethnic groups and folk art traditions found on the island.
Lovers of the outdoors can enjoy Taiwan’s excellent hiking, cycling, surfing, scuba diving, and whale watching opportunities. Natural beauty abounds at Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan, Alishan and Jade Mountain in the south and breathtaking Taroko Gorge on the east coast.
Moreover, Taiwan is shaping up as a key medical tourism destination as well. The Zion Health Club (Guangzhou, China) with about 600,000 members signed an agreement in March with 13 medical centers and hospitals in Taiwan to organize groups from China for medical care, spa treatment and sightseeing. Taiwan offers world-class medical services at a fraction of the cost of Western countries
Taiwan is also deregulating the gaming industry on its offshore islands and has already attracted investment from AMZ Holdings Plc, a property-development group listed on the London AIM market. AMZ purchased 27 acres of waterfront property on Penghu islands located between China and Taiwan. The site is the largest private plot in the island group, and it has been zoned and approved for an international tourist hotel. Penghu is seeking to attract other major international operators for ongoing tourism projects
The island’s tourist industry will also grow as further transportation links with China are built, elevating its status as an important business and transportation hub for the rest of the world. As economic collaboration between China and Taiwan continues to strengthen, it will bring new opportunities for potential investments. Interested investors are cordially invited to join the 2009 Taiwan Business Alliance Conference to get more details and build key ties in the industry.
Hosted by Mr. David W.J. Hsieh, deputy director-general of the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), business executives in related domestic and foreign industries will speak about the partnership opportunities offered by Taiwan’s vibrant tourism and recreation industry. The 2009 Taiwan Business Alliance Conference, organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), will bring together government officials, industry professionals and venture capitalists to build partnerships and expand business on the island.
This sixth annual Conference is scheduled for October 7th, 2009 in Room 101 of the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC).
To register, please contact:
Taiwan Trade Center, San Francisco/TAITRA
5201 Great America Parkway, Suite 306
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Tel: 408-988-5018 ext.203, Fax: 408-988-5029
Email: office@taiwantradesf.orgWeb site: http://sf.taiwantrade.com.tw
Friday, September 4, 2009
Experts call for policy change after Morakot
In the first interview with news media after the devastating Typhoon Morakot, President Ma Ying-jeou said that human beings should not try to compete with Mother Nature. He told the United Evening News that it is getting more and more difficult to forecast the strength and power of natural disasters in the face of global climate change. The paper said he stressed that government agencies should note which areas are not safe for people to live in, and relocate residents to safer ground. Such measures would help prevent a repeat of the fate that met Shiaolin Village, where mudslides set off by Morakot buried the entire village along with most of its inhabitants.
The United Daily News reported that Professor Liao Pen-chuan of National Taiwan University noted that every time a typhoon hits the island, the government spends large amounts of human resources and money on disaster rescue and relief, on bridge repairs, road construction, community reconstruction and flood prevention engineering. This happens time and again, wasting precious resources and taking a heavy toll on society. He urged the government to adjust its thinking regarding disaster prevention and rescue, by reviewing the nation’s land cultivation policies.
When opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members criticized the government of President Ma for not realizing soon enough the severity of Typhoon Morakot and the slow disaster rescue response, the ruling Kuomintang members countered by slamming the alleged failure of the NT$80 billion (US$2.4 billion) flood prevention system constructed under the former DPP administration.
The United Daily News reported that Professor Liao Pen-chuan of National Taiwan University noted that every time a typhoon hits the island, the government spends large amounts of human resources and money on disaster rescue and relief, on bridge repairs, road construction, community reconstruction and flood prevention engineering. This happens time and again, wasting precious resources and taking a heavy toll on society. He urged the government to adjust its thinking regarding disaster prevention and rescue, by reviewing the nation’s land cultivation policies.
When opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members criticized the government of President Ma for not realizing soon enough the severity of Typhoon Morakot and the slow disaster rescue response, the ruling Kuomintang members countered by slamming the alleged failure of the NT$80 billion (US$2.4 billion) flood prevention system constructed under the former DPP administration.
Water resources expert Lee Hong-yuan believes that when people settle in a place they are not supposed to be, overdevelop the land, especially on hill slopes, they will eventually face nature’s backlash. In The Journalist magazine, he suggested that government should roll out overall policies regarding relocation, employment, and schooling in order to prevent social problems from developing.
Lee said the massive earthquake that hit central Taiwan on Sept. 21st, 1999 has forever changed the island’s geology and water flows. The potential threat from mudslides and river flow changes come with every typhoon. He strongly recommended that the government undertake a complete review of current geology and water flows in Taiwan and set up a comprehensive early warning system for mudslides. The government should not merely look for a quick fix, he stressed.
Chung-Ho Wang, a research fellow at Academia Sinica's Institute of Earth Sciences has long studied rainfall trends. In an interview with Commonwealth magazine, he indicated that Taiwan’s geographic position, sitting between the largest continent and the largest ocean, makes the island’s climate more volatile than most other nations in the world. Wang noted the authority in charge of typhoon disaster prevention should not rest solely with the Water Resources Agency and the Central Weather Bureau, which are below the ministerial level. Global warming issues affect national security, and should come under the scrutiny of higher administrative levels. This view is echoed by Huang Chin-shan, the former director of the Water Resources Agency, who thinks the government should set up an inter-ministerial unit to deal with climate change issues, according to the Commercial Times.
Typhoon Morakot did not only expose the potential crisis that extreme climate change could bring, but also showed that ecological conservation in Taiwan is in peril. The United Evening News reported a group of gangsters nicknamed the “mountain rats” who have allegedly been illegally logging in remote mountains for some time. Their criminal acts have damaged the conservation of soil and water, and provided the ideal conditions for potentially disastrous mudslides in mountainous areas.
According to the United Daily News, one of the worst hit villages by Morakot was Linbian Village in eastern Pingtung County, famous for its seafood. Fish cultivation is actively developed by pumping ground water to support the fish farming. This constant water extraction has caused the ground level to drop, resulting in one-third of the village now lying below sea level. Every time a typhoon hits, Linbian is flooded, with residual water accumulating for long period.
It is time to take an inventory of Typhoon Morakot’s cruel lessons so that the 650 lost lives were not in vain. A China Times editorial summed up the disaster, “Taiwan paid dearly for this catastrophe. We can’t let the price be paid for nothing. We must carefully observe and learn from the environment we are living in with a humble attitude. We must seriously deal with the backlash by Mother Nature.”
Summer Deaflympics kick-off in Taipei
Starting September 5th, the 21st Summer Deaflympics will begin in Taipei. It is the first summer deaflympics hosted by an Asian country. Approximately 3,959 athletes from 81 countries are expected to participate in ten days of multi-sport competition.
The deaflympics was the first international sporting event for athletes with disabilities. Except for a ten-year break because of World War II, it has been held every four years since its founding in 1924. The event is organized by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds (CISS, also known as, The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf). Beside the summer games, there are also winter games held on a much smaller scale.
According to CISS, the first games in Paris were attended by only 149 athletes from nine European countries. Since then, the games have undergone various name changes, beginning with the International Silent Games, then from the International Games of the Deaf (1961-1965) to the World Games for the Deaf (1969-1997) before becoming the Deaflympics.
With the World Games 2009 Kaohsiung ending on a high-note in July, Taiwan has proved itself capable of hosting international multi-sport events, according to the Taipei-based China Times. Already the 21st Summer Deaflympics Taipei has broken records. It will be the largest event in the Deaflympics’ 85-year history with a record-breaking number of athletes and countries participating in 20 disciplines. In the 20th Summer Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia, there were 2045 athletes from 64 countries participating in 14 disciplines. For this competition, Judo, Karate and Taekwondo have been added as new summer disciplines.
The event will also be watched by the largest global audience. Dr. Emile C.J. Sheng, CEO of the Summer Deaflympics Taipei, said the opening ceremony will be broadcast live by Hong Kong-based Phoenix Satellite Television to over 160 countries worldwide.
The deaflympics was the first international sporting event for athletes with disabilities. Except for a ten-year break because of World War II, it has been held every four years since its founding in 1924. The event is organized by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds (CISS, also known as, The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf). Beside the summer games, there are also winter games held on a much smaller scale.
According to CISS, the first games in Paris were attended by only 149 athletes from nine European countries. Since then, the games have undergone various name changes, beginning with the International Silent Games, then from the International Games of the Deaf (1961-1965) to the World Games for the Deaf (1969-1997) before becoming the Deaflympics.
With the World Games 2009 Kaohsiung ending on a high-note in July, Taiwan has proved itself capable of hosting international multi-sport events, according to the Taipei-based China Times. Already the 21st Summer Deaflympics Taipei has broken records. It will be the largest event in the Deaflympics’ 85-year history with a record-breaking number of athletes and countries participating in 20 disciplines. In the 20th Summer Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia, there were 2045 athletes from 64 countries participating in 14 disciplines. For this competition, Judo, Karate and Taekwondo have been added as new summer disciplines.
The event will also be watched by the largest global audience. Dr. Emile C.J. Sheng, CEO of the Summer Deaflympics Taipei, said the opening ceremony will be broadcast live by Hong Kong-based Phoenix Satellite Television to over 160 countries worldwide.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Cross-strait harmony boosts student exchanges
The rapprochement across the Taiwan Strait has enabled more mainland students to study in Taiwan. Whereas before President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May 2008, exchanges were mainly one-sided (Taiwan to China); the recent improved relationship between the two countries has resulted in an influx of mainland students. As with increases of tourist numbers visiting from China, Taiwan hopes to reap similar rewards by allowing Chinese students further access to the island’s universities.
A win-win situation
The increase in the numbers of mainland exchange students is a direct result of the relaxation of travel regulations by the Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE) and the lengthening of study times from four months to one year from October 2008. With island-wide college enrollment waning to match Taiwan’s declining birth rate the increase in student enrollment from the mainland is a boon for Taiwan’s universities.
The Taipei-based China Times reported that the opening of Taiwan’s colleges to mainland students could be worth NT$20 billion (US$615 million). There are at least 30 million Chinese seeking higher education degrees, including 3.8 million students this year who failed to pass China’s college entrance examination, 25 million vocational school graduates, and those who are working but without college degrees. Lengthening the allowable study time will allow Taiwan’s schools to tap this underserved population.
Three waves of mainland students
Yuan Chih University president Peng Chong-ping has witnessed previous waves of students arriving from mainland China. He divides the previous waves into three periods. The first was in the 1980s when a small number of mainlanders came to Taiwan for a short period of academic exchange. The second wave was around 1998 when Peng was dean of Studies at National Tsing Hua University. He helped to realize the first academic exchange between his school and “Chun-tsung Endowment” which provided funding for mainland students to visit Taiwan for six to eight weeks. The third period began in 2008 when mainland students were allowed to study for up to one year, enough time to achieve something meaningful.
According to statistics from the MOE, there were 857 mainland exchange students enrolled for at least four months in Spring 2009. Together with those who stayed for shorter periods of between two to four months, making a total of 3000 in the first half of 2009, an increase of 50 percent over the same period in 2008.
“Virtuous competition”
In studying this new trend, the Global View Monthly uses the term “Virtuous competition” to describe the increased student population from the mainland. At National Taiwan University in Taipei, there were 62 mainland Chinese students enrolled for the Spring 2009 semester. Among them was Wang Zhercheng, a biology student from Fudan University, Shanghai, China, who studied in Taiwan for two months. While in Taipei, he traveled extensively and enjoyed the inexpensive dining available in the Gongguan area. Indistinguishable from any other video-obsessed local boy, Wang enjoyed his stay in Taiwan very much. He likes Taiwanese web fiction, listens to songs by pop star Jolin Tsai, and plays e-games developed in Taiwan. With a workload of only eight units, he spent the remainder of his free time learning about and experiencing Taiwanese culture.
Zeng Hua is another student from the mainland. Hua, a graduate student of interdisciplinary studies in the Sculpture Arts Department at Chongqing University, Sichuan, China came to study at Yuan Chih University. There he switched his major and began studying under a fluid dynamics professor in the mechanical engineering department. Under this professor he began to create new fluid sculpture with flow patterns.
I Shou University president Fu Shen-li points out the admission of mainland students to Taiwan’s campuses has created “virtuous competition” between Taiwanese students and their Chinese counterparts. For example, mainland students are usually punctual to arrive in class. They take the front seats and raise their hands quickly to ask questions. Taiwanese students are very different. They arrive late, take the middle seats and are shy to ask questions. However, Fu has observed a subtle rivalry between the Taiwanese students who have no wish to fall behind their Chinese counterparts.
According to China’s MOE, there were 180,000 students studying abroad with their own funds last year. This number is expected to increase to 200,000 in 2010. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), there are about 20,000 Chinese students in South Korea, and roughly that many in Japan as well.
Exchange not about money, but peace making
The former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Shih Ming-te told the United Daily News that he does not see this as a NT$20 billion (US$609.8 million) business opportunity. Rather, the young students from the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should learn the political and economic systems of one another’s countries to help pave the way for a more peaceful co-existence.
In an editorial, The Economic Daily stressed that education is an expression of a nation’s soft power, because it combines the social system, lifestyle and values. In short, education reflects the core of a culture. After exchanges of business, trade and tourism, the logical progression is cultural interchange, with higher education exchanges forming an indispensable part.
Three restrictions and six nos
Despite lowering some barriers, Taiwan still imposes many restrictions on mainland students coming to Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s MOE, it maintains a “Three Restrictions, Six Nos” policy toward mainland Chinese students. The "Three Restrictions" sets a quota so only top tier students are allowed to study in limited subjects. The "Six Nos" means they are not eligible for scholarships, extra points on applications and work off campus. Their admission should not affect current school enrollment. Furthermore, mainland students cannot take license exams or seek employment in Taiwan after graduation. At the same time, Taiwan currently allows Chinese students to study at any public or private graduate schools, but undergraduates can only go to private universities or colleges.
Also, for students who study for more than six months in Taiwan, they must enroll at a college/university with “sister relations” with a school in China. According to Chou Yi-shun of Taiwan’s MOE, currently 115 out of 147 Taiwanese schools have signed “sister school relations contracts” with 302 Chinese counterparts, resulting in 1039 sister school contracts. Based on the enrollments, the top five schools are I-Shou University, National Taiwan University, National Cheng Kung University, National Tsing Hua University and Feng Chia University.
According to the China Times, other countries in Asia offer far greater latitude for mainland students studying aboard. Countries like South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong offer Chinese students scholarships, work opportunities, permanent residence, and even citizenship. Talented Chinese students, according to the paper, are not interested in coming to Taiwan for advanced studies.
Mainland luring Taiwan’s students
Meanwhile, the United Daily News reported that the China’s MOE has created a groundbreaking rule by allowing Taiwanese high school graduates who have passed Taiwan’s college entrance examination to apply directly to mainland colleges. Taiwanese colleges not only face internal competition, but also competition from the Chinese mainland now.
The paper said some of the Chinese schools that have excellent reputations in science and engineering are listed as top tier universities and get high budget allocations from the government. Besides having excellent professors, their software and hardware facilities are competitive. They also have exchange programs with well-known universities in Europe and America. If offered a scholarship, it might prove too tempting for Taiwanese students to resist. However, some students interviewed by the paper said they would stay with National Taiwan University if admitted instead of going to Beijing University.
Dual recognition of qualifications
Both the United Daily News and the Economic Daily urge the government to take more initiative in leading mutual academic exchanges, including recognizing the diplomas issued by some of the distinguished mainland schools and increasing the quota of Chinese students allowed to study in Taiwan.
In order to avoid being swallowed by China, Taiwan has to find the solutions to these complex issues and not allow talented Taiwanese students to be lured away, according to the paper. How the government responds to the issue of student exchange is likely to impact further exchanges in the airline industry, banking and other sectors.
Taiwan currently enjoys little advantage in trade and business over China, but it does have greater freedoms and democracy on its side, these are perhaps Taiwan’s best assets. Allowing greater educational exchanges is a winning strategy that can only lead to greater understanding on both sides. Taiwan has no reason to be afraid of coping with the challenges from China. College campuses on both sides are new platforms where reason and idealism can prevail, creating a new civilized model for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous society.
A win-win situation
The increase in the numbers of mainland exchange students is a direct result of the relaxation of travel regulations by the Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE) and the lengthening of study times from four months to one year from October 2008. With island-wide college enrollment waning to match Taiwan’s declining birth rate the increase in student enrollment from the mainland is a boon for Taiwan’s universities.
The Taipei-based China Times reported that the opening of Taiwan’s colleges to mainland students could be worth NT$20 billion (US$615 million). There are at least 30 million Chinese seeking higher education degrees, including 3.8 million students this year who failed to pass China’s college entrance examination, 25 million vocational school graduates, and those who are working but without college degrees. Lengthening the allowable study time will allow Taiwan’s schools to tap this underserved population.
Three waves of mainland students
Yuan Chih University president Peng Chong-ping has witnessed previous waves of students arriving from mainland China. He divides the previous waves into three periods. The first was in the 1980s when a small number of mainlanders came to Taiwan for a short period of academic exchange. The second wave was around 1998 when Peng was dean of Studies at National Tsing Hua University. He helped to realize the first academic exchange between his school and “Chun-tsung Endowment” which provided funding for mainland students to visit Taiwan for six to eight weeks. The third period began in 2008 when mainland students were allowed to study for up to one year, enough time to achieve something meaningful.
According to statistics from the MOE, there were 857 mainland exchange students enrolled for at least four months in Spring 2009. Together with those who stayed for shorter periods of between two to four months, making a total of 3000 in the first half of 2009, an increase of 50 percent over the same period in 2008.
“Virtuous competition”
In studying this new trend, the Global View Monthly uses the term “Virtuous competition” to describe the increased student population from the mainland. At National Taiwan University in Taipei, there were 62 mainland Chinese students enrolled for the Spring 2009 semester. Among them was Wang Zhercheng, a biology student from Fudan University, Shanghai, China, who studied in Taiwan for two months. While in Taipei, he traveled extensively and enjoyed the inexpensive dining available in the Gongguan area. Indistinguishable from any other video-obsessed local boy, Wang enjoyed his stay in Taiwan very much. He likes Taiwanese web fiction, listens to songs by pop star Jolin Tsai, and plays e-games developed in Taiwan. With a workload of only eight units, he spent the remainder of his free time learning about and experiencing Taiwanese culture.
Zeng Hua is another student from the mainland. Hua, a graduate student of interdisciplinary studies in the Sculpture Arts Department at Chongqing University, Sichuan, China came to study at Yuan Chih University. There he switched his major and began studying under a fluid dynamics professor in the mechanical engineering department. Under this professor he began to create new fluid sculpture with flow patterns.
I Shou University president Fu Shen-li points out the admission of mainland students to Taiwan’s campuses has created “virtuous competition” between Taiwanese students and their Chinese counterparts. For example, mainland students are usually punctual to arrive in class. They take the front seats and raise their hands quickly to ask questions. Taiwanese students are very different. They arrive late, take the middle seats and are shy to ask questions. However, Fu has observed a subtle rivalry between the Taiwanese students who have no wish to fall behind their Chinese counterparts.
According to China’s MOE, there were 180,000 students studying abroad with their own funds last year. This number is expected to increase to 200,000 in 2010. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), there are about 20,000 Chinese students in South Korea, and roughly that many in Japan as well.
Exchange not about money, but peace making
The former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Shih Ming-te told the United Daily News that he does not see this as a NT$20 billion (US$609.8 million) business opportunity. Rather, the young students from the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should learn the political and economic systems of one another’s countries to help pave the way for a more peaceful co-existence.
In an editorial, The Economic Daily stressed that education is an expression of a nation’s soft power, because it combines the social system, lifestyle and values. In short, education reflects the core of a culture. After exchanges of business, trade and tourism, the logical progression is cultural interchange, with higher education exchanges forming an indispensable part.
Three restrictions and six nos
Despite lowering some barriers, Taiwan still imposes many restrictions on mainland students coming to Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s MOE, it maintains a “Three Restrictions, Six Nos” policy toward mainland Chinese students. The "Three Restrictions" sets a quota so only top tier students are allowed to study in limited subjects. The "Six Nos" means they are not eligible for scholarships, extra points on applications and work off campus. Their admission should not affect current school enrollment. Furthermore, mainland students cannot take license exams or seek employment in Taiwan after graduation. At the same time, Taiwan currently allows Chinese students to study at any public or private graduate schools, but undergraduates can only go to private universities or colleges.
Also, for students who study for more than six months in Taiwan, they must enroll at a college/university with “sister relations” with a school in China. According to Chou Yi-shun of Taiwan’s MOE, currently 115 out of 147 Taiwanese schools have signed “sister school relations contracts” with 302 Chinese counterparts, resulting in 1039 sister school contracts. Based on the enrollments, the top five schools are I-Shou University, National Taiwan University, National Cheng Kung University, National Tsing Hua University and Feng Chia University.
According to the China Times, other countries in Asia offer far greater latitude for mainland students studying aboard. Countries like South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong offer Chinese students scholarships, work opportunities, permanent residence, and even citizenship. Talented Chinese students, according to the paper, are not interested in coming to Taiwan for advanced studies.
Mainland luring Taiwan’s students
Meanwhile, the United Daily News reported that the China’s MOE has created a groundbreaking rule by allowing Taiwanese high school graduates who have passed Taiwan’s college entrance examination to apply directly to mainland colleges. Taiwanese colleges not only face internal competition, but also competition from the Chinese mainland now.
The paper said some of the Chinese schools that have excellent reputations in science and engineering are listed as top tier universities and get high budget allocations from the government. Besides having excellent professors, their software and hardware facilities are competitive. They also have exchange programs with well-known universities in Europe and America. If offered a scholarship, it might prove too tempting for Taiwanese students to resist. However, some students interviewed by the paper said they would stay with National Taiwan University if admitted instead of going to Beijing University.
Dual recognition of qualifications
Both the United Daily News and the Economic Daily urge the government to take more initiative in leading mutual academic exchanges, including recognizing the diplomas issued by some of the distinguished mainland schools and increasing the quota of Chinese students allowed to study in Taiwan.
In order to avoid being swallowed by China, Taiwan has to find the solutions to these complex issues and not allow talented Taiwanese students to be lured away, according to the paper. How the government responds to the issue of student exchange is likely to impact further exchanges in the airline industry, banking and other sectors.
Taiwan currently enjoys little advantage in trade and business over China, but it does have greater freedoms and democracy on its side, these are perhaps Taiwan’s best assets. Allowing greater educational exchanges is a winning strategy that can only lead to greater understanding on both sides. Taiwan has no reason to be afraid of coping with the challenges from China. College campuses on both sides are new platforms where reason and idealism can prevail, creating a new civilized model for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous society.
Thanks for condolences and assistance to Taiwan’s typhoon victims
This past weekend, Taiwan was hit with Typhoon Morakot, which dropped as much as 80 inches of rain. The flooding that followed was the worst the island has seen in the past half-century. The landslides and flooding have made getting help to some remote mountainous areas in southern Kaohsiung County almost impossible, with roads washed away and helicopter landing difficult in the slippery landscape. According to the Central Emergency Operation Center, the disaster has left 41 dead, 35 injured and 600 still missing.
Taiwan’s government has rallied quickly to help those in need of funds and temporary shelter. The central government will provide pre-fabricated shelter and low-interest reconstruction loans. The Executive Yuan estimates about NT$20 billion (US$609 million) is currently available from various budgetary sources for relief and reconstruction efforts. Premier Liu Chao-shiuan has instructed all relevant ministries and agencies to submit their respective budgets so the Executive Yuan may decide how to best provide assistance and if additional funding is needed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanked the international community on August 10th for its condolences to the stricken families in the disaster areas.
The local governments will be providing relocation funding to families whose homes were destroyed or washed away. Those wishing to relocate can receive grant of NT$20,000 (US$608) per person, up to NT$100,000 (US$3,039) per household. The Relieve Disaster Foundation is also offering relocation money up to NT$20,000 (US$608). Families who have lost a loved one will receive NT$1 million (US$30,488) in condolence money.
For those wishing to help after seeing the horrific damaged caused by Typhoon Marakot, the government has set up an account for accepting donations.
Ministry of the Interior Donation Account
Mega International Commercial Bank
Account No. 007-09-087816
Swift Code: ICBCTWTP007
Local TECO Office: (415) 362-7680
Taiwan’s government has rallied quickly to help those in need of funds and temporary shelter. The central government will provide pre-fabricated shelter and low-interest reconstruction loans. The Executive Yuan estimates about NT$20 billion (US$609 million) is currently available from various budgetary sources for relief and reconstruction efforts. Premier Liu Chao-shiuan has instructed all relevant ministries and agencies to submit their respective budgets so the Executive Yuan may decide how to best provide assistance and if additional funding is needed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanked the international community on August 10th for its condolences to the stricken families in the disaster areas.
The local governments will be providing relocation funding to families whose homes were destroyed or washed away. Those wishing to relocate can receive grant of NT$20,000 (US$608) per person, up to NT$100,000 (US$3,039) per household. The Relieve Disaster Foundation is also offering relocation money up to NT$20,000 (US$608). Families who have lost a loved one will receive NT$1 million (US$30,488) in condolence money.
For those wishing to help after seeing the horrific damaged caused by Typhoon Marakot, the government has set up an account for accepting donations.
Ministry of the Interior Donation Account
Mega International Commercial Bank
Account No. 007-09-087816
Swift Code: ICBCTWTP007
Local TECO Office: (415) 362-7680
Taiwanese baseball team takes 2nd place at World Series
Earlier this month, some of the world’s best little and big league teams descended on San Jose and Monterey, California, to see which teams and nations would take home championship trophies. Taiwan’s little league baseball team arrived to participate in the Bronco League World Series in Monterey from August 4th to 11th. On August 10th, they reached the semi-finals, but unfortunately lost to a team from Brooklyn, New York. A few hours away in San Jose, its big league team competed at the Palomino World Series starting August 7th. Last night, Taiwan’s team made it to the final playoff and came in second against a team from Houston, Texas.
Taiwan’s little league has been among the leading teams in recent years. In the Bronco League World Series, Taiwan were runners up in 2006 and 2008, and third in 2007. In the Palomino World Series, Taiwan won the championship in 2006 and came second in 2007 and 2008.
The Palomino has long been considered the training ground for players 17-19 wishing to go on to Major League Baseball. Although Taiwan’s professional teams are not a dominating force in the world of baseball, the island still produces stellar players such as Chien-ming Wang, the starting pitcher for the New York Yankees.
In Taiwan, baseball became a national passion after the Hongye (Red Leaves) baseball team from Taitung County defeated its seemingly invincible Japanese counterpart in 1968. Over the next 27 years, Taiwan would go on to win an incredible 17 Little League World Series Championships in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. At its peak in 1974, Taiwan’s little league, senior league and big league all took home championship honors. This year, the Kuei-shan Elementary School from Taoyuan County will represent Taiwan in the 2009 Little League Baseball World Series from August 21st to 30th.
Closer to home, Taitung County’s Taiyuan Elementary School kicked-off their tournament campaign on August 4th in Monterey. Located in the eastern part of the island, Taitung County is home to the legendary Red Leaves baseball team and has produced many professional baseball players. The big league players are from Pin-cheng Senior High School in Taoyuan County. Baseball is king there and it is where the best teams - such as Kuei-shan - can usually be found.
Taiwan’s little league has been among the leading teams in recent years. In the Bronco League World Series, Taiwan were runners up in 2006 and 2008, and third in 2007. In the Palomino World Series, Taiwan won the championship in 2006 and came second in 2007 and 2008.
The Palomino has long been considered the training ground for players 17-19 wishing to go on to Major League Baseball. Although Taiwan’s professional teams are not a dominating force in the world of baseball, the island still produces stellar players such as Chien-ming Wang, the starting pitcher for the New York Yankees.
In Taiwan, baseball became a national passion after the Hongye (Red Leaves) baseball team from Taitung County defeated its seemingly invincible Japanese counterpart in 1968. Over the next 27 years, Taiwan would go on to win an incredible 17 Little League World Series Championships in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. At its peak in 1974, Taiwan’s little league, senior league and big league all took home championship honors. This year, the Kuei-shan Elementary School from Taoyuan County will represent Taiwan in the 2009 Little League Baseball World Series from August 21st to 30th.
Closer to home, Taitung County’s Taiyuan Elementary School kicked-off their tournament campaign on August 4th in Monterey. Located in the eastern part of the island, Taitung County is home to the legendary Red Leaves baseball team and has produced many professional baseball players. The big league players are from Pin-cheng Senior High School in Taoyuan County. Baseball is king there and it is where the best teams - such as Kuei-shan - can usually be found.
Ma elected KMT chairman
President Ma Ying-jeou has become the chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT, the Nationalist Party) for the next four years. After the uncontested July 26th election, Ma reiterated his determination to reform the ruling party and to work more closely with the Legislative Yuan to increase government efficiency.
Ma won with 285,354 votes out of 308,462 votes cast. The KMT has a registered membership of 534,739, which indicated a 58 percent turnout. This is Ma’s second term as KMT chairman, his first time was in 2005 when the KMT was the opposition party. In 2007, after being indicted for misappropriating expenses as Taipei's mayor, Ma stepped down and was succeeded by Wu Poh-hsiung. Ma was later acquitted of the charges.
Ma’s bid drew criticism from the opposition parties since one of his presidential campaign promises was that he would not seek to double as the KMT chairman. However, he justified his bid for the chairmanship by citing the need for further government streamlining in the face of the global financial slowdown.
With Ma now serving as the president and KMT chairman, the Central News Agency reasoned he now has the clout to take full responsibility for Taiwan’s future - to bring peace to the Taiwan Strait and to transform Taiwan into a fully developed country ready to meet global challenges.
The KMT was founded in 1912 by Dr. Sun Yat-sen shortly after the revolution to overthrow China’s Ching Dynasty. The party can trace its roots to the Revive China Society, which was founded in 1895 in Hawaii. The KMT ruled China from 1912 until Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War.
Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen sent her congratulations to Ma on his appointment, but expressed concern over Taiwan’s democracy and the relations across the Taiwan Strait. Hu Jintao, the Chinese Communist Party general secretary, also sent his congratulations to Ma. Trying to allay fears, the Taipei Times reported that Ma said he is in no hurry to meet Hu, saying that the chairman need not attend every meeting between the parties. Even so, the United Daily News commented that as KMT chairman, Ma faces a difficult task in leading his party into December’s elections for magistrates and mayors.
Ma won with 285,354 votes out of 308,462 votes cast. The KMT has a registered membership of 534,739, which indicated a 58 percent turnout. This is Ma’s second term as KMT chairman, his first time was in 2005 when the KMT was the opposition party. In 2007, after being indicted for misappropriating expenses as Taipei's mayor, Ma stepped down and was succeeded by Wu Poh-hsiung. Ma was later acquitted of the charges.
Ma’s bid drew criticism from the opposition parties since one of his presidential campaign promises was that he would not seek to double as the KMT chairman. However, he justified his bid for the chairmanship by citing the need for further government streamlining in the face of the global financial slowdown.
With Ma now serving as the president and KMT chairman, the Central News Agency reasoned he now has the clout to take full responsibility for Taiwan’s future - to bring peace to the Taiwan Strait and to transform Taiwan into a fully developed country ready to meet global challenges.
The KMT was founded in 1912 by Dr. Sun Yat-sen shortly after the revolution to overthrow China’s Ching Dynasty. The party can trace its roots to the Revive China Society, which was founded in 1895 in Hawaii. The KMT ruled China from 1912 until Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War.
Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen sent her congratulations to Ma on his appointment, but expressed concern over Taiwan’s democracy and the relations across the Taiwan Strait. Hu Jintao, the Chinese Communist Party general secretary, also sent his congratulations to Ma. Trying to allay fears, the Taipei Times reported that Ma said he is in no hurry to meet Hu, saying that the chairman need not attend every meeting between the parties. Even so, the United Daily News commented that as KMT chairman, Ma faces a difficult task in leading his party into December’s elections for magistrates and mayors.
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