Taipei Times

Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan. ... The two and other union members are to meet with Chunghwa Post president Chiang Rui-tang (江瑞堂) ... Tue,Jul12,2022 LaivisitsJapantopayrespectstoAbe FIRSTINDECADES: WilliamLaiandRepresentativetoJapanFrankHsiehvisitedAbe’sresidenceinTokyotooffercondolences,andLaiistoattendAbe’sfuneraltoday VicePresidentWilliamLai(賴清德)yesterdaybecamethemostseniorTaiwaneseofficialtovisitJapaninfivedecadeswhenhetraveledtoTokyotooffercondolencesaftertheassassinationofformerJapaneseprimeministerShinzoAbe. TokyobrokeofficialtieswithTaipeiin1972andestablishedrelationswithBeijing. Lai’svisitwasregardedasapartofhis“personalitinerary,”basedonatacitunderstandingbetweenTaiwanandJapan,sourcessaid. TheMinistryofForeignAffairssaidithadnocommentonLai’spersonalschedule. JapaneseTVnewsfootageshowedLai,accompaniedbyRepresentativetoJapanFrankHsieh(謝長廷),visitingAbe’sresidenceinTokyotoofferhiscondolences. LaiisscheduledtoattendAbe’sfuneraltoday,thesourcessaid. TheJapaneseMinistryofForeignAffairswasnotimmediatelyavailableforcomment. AlthoughTokyohasnoformaldiplomatictieswithTaipei,someseniorJapaneseofficialshavebecomeincreasinglyoutspokenintheirsupportforTaiwaninthepastfewyears. InTaipei,PresidentTsaiIng-wen(蔡英文)offeredcondolencesinavisittotheJapan-TaiwanExchangeAssociation(JTEA)yesterdaymorning. Abe,thelongest-servingprimeministerinJapan,diedonFridayattheageof67afterhewasshotinthebackthatmorningwhilecampaigningonthestreetinthecityofNarafortheDiet’supperhouseelectionsheldonSunday.Policearresteda41-year-oldmalesuspectwhoallegedlyshotAbewithahomemadeshotgun. Tsaihasorderedflagstobeflownathalf-staffyesterdaytohonorAbe,whowaswidelyconsideredinTaiwantohavecontributedtobilateralties. TsaiyesterdaysaidshewasofferingcondolencestoAbe’sfamilyofbehalfofthegovernmentandthepeopleofTaiwan. ShesaidsheclearlyremembersAbe’swarmsmileandgreetingsastheyspokeduringanonlinemeetinginMarch,addingthattheyhadexpressedthehopeofmeetinginpersonsoon. “Thank KishidaurgesunitytoachieveAbe’sunmetgoals Boostedbyanewelectionmandate,JapanesePrimeMinisterFumioKishidayesterdaycalledforpartyunityforpoliticalstability,andtoachieveassassinatedformerprimeministerShinzoAbe’sunfinishedgoalsofstrengtheningthemilitaryandrevisingthewar-renouncingconstitution. Kishida’sgoverningLiberalDemocraticParty(LDP)anditsjuniorcoalitionpartnerKomeitosecuredasolidmajorityofseatsintheparliament’supperhouseinelectionsonSundaythatwereimbuedwithmeaningafterAbewasshottodeathwhilecampaigningonFriday. Kishidawelcomedthevictory,butalsoacknowledgedthatunifyingthepartywouldbeahardtaskwithoutAbe,whoevenafterresigningasprimeministerin2020hadledapowerfulpartyfaction. “Becausewe’velostagreatleader,undeniablywecouldbeaffectedinmanyways,”Kishidasaid.“Ourpartymustuniteaswefacedifficultissues.” AmidsecurityandeconomicchallengesinandoutsideJapan,Abe’sdeathismostregrettable,Kishidasaid. “Wewillinherithiswillandtackletheissueshehadtoleaveunachieved,”includinganamendmenttotheUS-draftedpostwarpacifistconstitution. Sunday’svotegavetheLDP-ledcoalition146seatsinthe248-seatupperchamber,thelesspowerfuloftheJapaneseDiet’stwohouses.TheresultmeansKishidacouldruleuninterrupteduntilascheduledelectionin2025andallowshimtoworkonlong-termpolicies. Advancementonamendingtheconstitutionisnowarealisticpossibility.Withthehelpoftwooppositionpartiessupportiveofacharterchange,thegoverningblocnowhastwo-thirdsmajorityintheupperchamberneededtoproposeanamendment. Thegoverningblocalreadyhadtheneededsupportinthelowerhouse. Earlieryesterday,USSecretaryofStateAntonyBlinkenmetwithKishidatooffercondolencesanddeliveraletterfromUSPresidentJoeBidentoAbe’sfamily. “Wesimplywantthemtoknowthatwedeeplyfeelthe Rulesformeatimportstobetightened:FDA FOODSAFETY: Thenewruleswouldapplytofresh,frozenandprocessedmeats,andrequirethateachshipmentbeinspectedinthecountryoforiginAllmeatimportedintoTaiwanwouldsoonhavetocarrymoredetailedinformationfromthesourcecountry,intheinterestofimprovedfoodsafety,theFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)saidyesterday. Thenewmeatimportationrules,mostofwhicharetotakeeffectinOctober,arebeingmodeledonregulationsusedinAustralia,Canada,Japan,NewZealandandtheUS,theFDAsaid. Importsoffresh,frozenandprocessedmeats,aswellasprocessedfoodscontainingmeat,wouldhavetobeaccompaniedbydocumentsshowingthateachshipmentwasinspectedandsupervisedbyhealthauthoritiesinthesourcecountry,theFDAsaid. Theaccompanyingdocumentswouldalsohavetoincludeinformationsuchaswhereandwhentheanimalwasslaughteredandthemeatpackaged,FDAsectionchiefLiaoTzu-ting(廖姿婷)said. Forimportsofcannedmeats,documentsshowingtheyarecommerciallysterilewouldberequired,shesaid,addingthatthenewregulationsforthatcategoryofmeatswouldnotbeimplementeduntilJulynextyear. ThenewcertificationrulesarebeingadoptedtoimprovefoodsafetyinTaiwan,theFDAsaid. FinesforcontraveningthenewregulationsorfalsifyingimportdocumentswouldrangefromNT$30,000toNT$3million(US$1,006toUS$100,610),theFDAsaid,citingtheActGoverningFoodSafetyandSanitation(食品安全衛生管理法). ChinatargetsTaiwanese’spsyche:experts China’scognitivewarfaretacticsagainstTaiwanincludespreadinganti-USandanti-JapanmessagestoweardownTaiwanese’spsychologicaldefenses,aninformationwarfareexpertsaidyesterday. ShenPao-yang(沈伯洋),anassistantprofessoratNationalTaipeiUniversity’sGraduateSchoolofCriminology,madetheremarkataforumononlineinformationwarfareandnationalsecurityattheuniversity’sGISConventionCenter. MostyoungTaiwanesedonottakeapro-Chinastance,soratherthansendingpro-Chinamessages,BeijinghasturneditsfocusondirectingTaiwanese’smistrustattheUS,hesaid. UnlikeUkraine,whichhasquicklyidentified“fifthcolumn”unitsembeddedinthecountry,TaiwanmightnotbeabletodosoifawarweretobreakoutwithChina,hesaid. Fifthcolumninfiltratorsandlocalcollaboratorscouldcausegreatharmduringawarbyspreadingdisinformation,headded. Taiwanese’spsychologicaldefensesarethemostimportantfactortoconsiderwhilemakingassumptionsaboutawar,Shensaid,addingthatmanyTaiwanesehavesaidtheymightsurrenderintheeventofawarwithChina,whichwouldleaveothercountriespowerlesseveniftheywantedtohelpTaiwan. Shensaidheusedtoadvocateforexposingsuchcognitivewarfaretactics,buttheycanonlybeexposedthroughjudicialinvestigations,whichrequirelegalgrounds. Anewmechanismisneeded,astheCriminalInvestigationBureaucanonlypursuetaxevasionchargesorlaunchinvestigationsbasedontheMoneyLaunderingControlAct(洗錢防制法),whichmightonlyhaveanindirectconnectionwithacase,hesaid. Shensaidheoftenhearsyoungpeoplesayingtheywouldliketoreceiveinformationfromvarioussources,includingChina,JapanandtheUS,beforemakingajudgementwhilemaintaininganeutralstance. Hesaidthe“neutralstance”pointstoalackofawarenessoftheenemy,addingthatexposingChina’stacticswouldbeineffectiveifsuchawarenessandpsychologicaldefensesare Chinatensions,Kiribati’sshockwithdrawalcloudPacificmeeting TensionsbetweenChinaandtheUS,andthewithdrawalofthePacificislandnationofKiribati,haveovershadowedthePacificIslandsForumasleadersyesterdayarrivedinFijiforthefirstin-personsummitinthreeyears. Duringthefour-daymeeting,Pacificislandleadersaretodiscusshowtogathermoreinternationalsupportandfundingtofighttheimpactofrisingsealevelsandclimatechange,aswellasChina’sambitionsforgreatersecuritytiesacrosstheregion. AbidbyBeijingtosignabroaderregionaltradeandsecuritydealwith10nationsthatrecognizeChina,butisopposedbysomeforummembers,wasalsotobediscussed. TuvaluanMinisterofForeignAffairsSimonKofesaidinaninterviewthathewassaddenedbynewsofKiribati’swithdrawalandthatPacificleaderswouldneedto“lookattheconcernsraisedbyKiribati”whentheymeetthisweek. KiribatiPresidentTanetiMaamausaidinaletterhiscountrywouldwithdrawfromtheforumbecauseitdidnotagreewithtermsofadealbrokeredweeksagotosolveariftbetweenMicronesianstatesandothermembers,andwantedthemeetingdelayed. NewZealandPrimeMinisterJacindaArdernsaidKiribati’swithdrawalwas“disappointing,”whileAustraliapledgedA$2million(US$1.36million)toassistKiribatiwithdrinkingwateramidaseveredrought. AlsobeingdiscussedbyPacificleadersisfisheries—tunaisamajorsourceofrevenueintheregion—buttheissuealsorisksbeingcaughtupingeopoliticaltensions,Kofesaid. ChinaoperatesalargefishingfleetinthePacificandisseekinggreateraccesstooneoftheworld’srichestfishinggrounds. TheQuadrilateralSecurityDialogueoftheUS,Japan,AustraliaandIndiahaveofferedPacificislandsincreasedsurveillancetostopillegalfishinginexclusiveeconomiczones. “ThisgeopoliticalcompetitionwillcontinueanditisimportantthePacific Straitbelongstoall:topFrenchofficer INTERNATIONALWATERS: Chineseaggressionisontherise,whichconcernsFrance,asithasterritoriesintheIndo-Pacificregion,RearAdmiralJean-MathieuReysaidTheTaiwanStraitisinternationalwaters,andFrancewouldsailthroughitifitdeemssuchactionnecessary,aFrenchnavalcommandersaidinaninterviewwithaTahitiannewspaperonThursday. DuringtheinterviewwiththeFrench-languageTahitiInfos,RearAdmiralJean-MathieuRey,jointcommanderoftheFrenchArmedForcesintheAsia-Pacific,spokeabouttensionsbetweenFranceandChina,aswellasFrance’scooperationwithSoutheastAsiancountries. ChineseaggressionintheIndo-Pacificregionisincreasing,andChinesemilitaryvesselsandaircrafthavefrequentlycontravenedinternationalrules,hesaid. TheissueisofgrowingconcerntoFranceduetoitsterritoriesintheregion,whicharehometo2millionFrenchnationalsspreadoveranareaof9millionsquarekilometers,hesaid. ThisisalsothereasontheFrenchmilitaryispresentintheIndo-Pacificregion,headded. AskedhowFranceshouldrespondtoChina’sincreasinglyfrequentterritorialclaimsintheAsia-Pacificregion,ReysaidthatwhenChinaorothercountriesmakeerroneousassertions,thefirstpriorityistorespondimmediately. Forexample,Chinarecentlyclaimedtohave“sovereignrights”overtheTaiwanStrait,whichis“completelywrong,”astheTaiwanStraitis“aninternationalstrait,”Reysaid,addingthattheonlywatersunderChinesesovereigntyarethe12nauticalmiles(22km)fromitsshoresthatconstituteitsterritorialwaters. “Sothefirstthingistoreacttotheseassertions...[includingthrough]thepresenceofvesselsandaircrafttoseewhatishappeningthereandtoreaffirmfreedomofnavigation,”hesaid.“SowhenweneedtogothroughplacesliketheTaiwanStrait,wedon’thesitatetodoso.” Despiteitsinterestsintheregion,ReysaidtheFrenchNavyhasregularlyencounteredharassmentthroughillegalactionsbytheChinesemilitary. Franceisintheprocessofstrengtheningitsnavalpresenceatits Teamsuccessfullytestsdomesticallymaderocket GREATPROGRESS: TheHTTP-3Aisthefirsthybridrocketintheworldtohaveguidanceandcontroltechnology—amajortechnologicalbreakthrough,theARRCdirectorsaidResearchersfromNationalYangMingChiaoTungUniversity’sAdvancedRocketResearchCenter(ARRC)yesterdaysuccessfullytestedthesecond-stagepropulsionsystemofadomesticallydesignedrocket. MinisterofScienceandTechnologyWuCheng-chung(吳政忠)laudedthetestoftheHTTP-3Asoundingrocket’spropulsionsystem,sayingitdemonstratedtheintegrationofindustryandacademiainTaiwanatatimewhentheglobalspaceindustryisdeveloping. Thetest,whichwasoriginallyscheduledforMay3,beganat6:12amyesterday,withtherocketlaunchingfromSyuhaiVillage(旭海)inPingtungCounty’sMudanTownship(牡丹). Accordingtotheinitialflightplan,the4.8m,365kgrocketwastoliftoffverticallyforfivesecondsbeforearcingoutoverthesea,whenitsenginewouldshutoffafter60secondsandadrogueparachutewoulddeployafter90seconds. Then,afterreachingaloweraltitude,itwouldreleaseasecondparachuteandlandinthesea,havingreachedanaltitudeof12kmduringaneightto10-minuteflight. Yesterday’slaunchfellshortinthatregard,astherocketstayedintheairfortwominutesandreachedamaximumaltitudeofabout3km,butitwasnevertheless“99percentsuccessful,”theARRCsaid. Thelaunchtestedtherocket’shybridpropulsionsystem—whichusesamixofliquidandsolid-statepropellants—navigationsystem,groundcontrols,recoveryparachuteandlaunchpreparations,itadded. Thehybrid-fuelsoundingrocketdoesnotneednavigationassistancetoguideitsflight,ARRCdirectorWeiShih-hsin(魏世昕)said,addingthatafterverticaltakeofftherocketcanadjustitsflightpath,thrustmagnitudeandthrustvectorbyitself. “TheHTTP-3Aistheworld’sfirsthybridrocketwithguidanceandcontroltechnology.Althoughitisnotcapableofflyingveryhigh,itrepresentsamajortechnologicalbreakthrough,”hesaid. Thelaunchallowedtheteamtotestitsself-developed,sixdegreesoffreedom MostPopular 1COVID-19:PCRtestruleforarrivalstobeended 2Studyfinds37%ofyouthshaveneurologicalsymptoms 3NationremembersShinzoAbeasafriendofTaiwan 4COVID-19:TaiwanreportsfirstlocalcasesofBA.5subvariant 5MinistryreaffirmsclaimtoDiaoyutais TaiwanNews ‘Don’tletthemfeelalone’:EnvoyrecallsAbe’sloyalty ‘ORPHANED’: TheJapanassociationheadreliedontheformerJapaneseprimeministerforguidance,andsaidhewouldstrivetoliveuptohisexpecationsforTaiwanJapan-TaiwanExchangeAssociation(JTEA)RepresentativeHiroyasuIzumiyesterdaysaidthatwhenhewasfirstassignedhispostinTaiwan,then-JapaneseprimeministerShinzoAbeinstructedhim:“Don’tletTaiwanesefeelalone.” Abe,Japan’slongest-servingprimeminister,diedonFridayattheageof67afterhewasshotinthebackwhilecampaigningforhispartyinNaraaheadoftheJapaneseHouseofCouncilorselections,whichwereheldonSunday. ThedefactoembassyofJapaninTaiwanopeneditsdoorsyesterdayforAbemourners. IzumiyesterdayexpressedgratitudetothosewhocametopaytributetoAbe. BeforedepartingJapaninOctober2019toheadtheJTEA,hemetwiththen-primeministerAbeandotherappointedambassadorsandenvoys,hesaid. Abegavethemalladviceandencouragementfortheiroverseasassignments,andparticularlytoIzumi,hesaid. “JapanandTaiwanhaveveryspecialhistoricrelations.Thereforeinyourundertakingandendeavors,youmusttakeconsiderationofTaiwanesepeople’sfeelings.Don’tletthemfeelalone.”IzumiquotedAbeastellinghim. IzumisaidhealwaysreliedheavilyonAbe’ssupportandadviceregardingTaiwanrelations. “ButAbeisnotwithusnow,”hesaid.“NowIhavethefeelingofbeinganorphan.” “Thoughwehavelost[Abe],ourendeavorstofirmupJapan-Taiwanrelationswillnotchange,”hesaid.“IshallstrivewithdiligencetolearneverythingaboutAbe’sapproachtoforeigndiplomacy.” RecallingAbe’snotableremarkthat“aTaiwanemergencyisanemergencyforJapan,”IzumisaidhewouldworktobolstertiesbetweenJapanandTaiwan. WangYan-chun(王燕軍),directorofformerpresidentLeeTeng-hui’s(李登輝)office,alsovisitedtheJTEAtopaytributetoAbe. Wang,whowasLee’scloseaideandsecurityofficer,saidthatLeeandAbewouldhold“lengthydiscussionsonarangeofimportanttopicswhentheymet,mainlycenteredonpolitics BeijingtopushTaiwanagendaatforum Beijingplanstopushits“unitedfront”tacticsduringtheStraitsForumsettotakeplacetodayinXiamen,China,anofficialfamiliarwithcross-straitaffairssaidonSunday. Theforumisthemostimportant“unitedfront”eventleadinguptothe20thNationalCongressoftheChineseCommunistParty(CCP),scheduledforlaterthisyear. TaiwanesestudentsandbusinessleadersresidinginChina,alongwithpro-Chinapartiesandpro-unificationgroups,havebeeninvitedtojointheforum,theofficialsaidonconditionofanonymity. ChinesePeople’sPoliticalConsultativeConferenceChairmanWangYang(汪洋)isscheduledtoaddressTaiwanesedelegatestomorrow,whichcouldsetthetoneforthe“CCP’soverallstrategyforresolvingtheTaiwandilemmainthenewera,”hesaid. AstrategytowardTaiwancouldbediscussed,butwouldnotbethefocusatthecongress,assignificantvictoriesbytheDemocraticProgressivePartyinNovember’slocalelectionswouldbeasetbackforChinesePresidentXiJinping(習近平),hesaid. ChinamightinsteadannouncedetailsofastrategyinNovemberwhenmarkingthe30thanniversaryoftheso-called“1992consensus,”orinJanuarywhenmarkingthefourthanniversaryofXi’spresentationofa“onecountry,twosystems”modelforTaiwan,hesaid. Xi’stermiscertaintobeextendedatthecongress,afterwhichhewouldpursuethe“historicalmission”ofresolvingTaiwanissuesina“newera,”theofficialsaid. China’sdiplomatic,militaryandeconomicoppressionofTaiwanareexpectedtoincreaseasitpreparesforpossiblemilitaryforceagainstthenation,hesaid. However,Beijing’spriorityisapeacefulunificationandjointeconomicdevelopment,usingplatformssuchastheStraitsForumtopersuadeTaiwaneseofthebenefitsofcooperation,hesaid. DuetotravelrestrictionsinresponsetotheCOVID-19pandemic,attendanceattheStraitsForumisexpectedtobelessthaninpastyears, UkrainianstudentsseeknewlivesinTaiwan PARALLELSWITHCHINA: RelocatingfromeasternEuropetoTunghaiUniversity,thestudentssaidtheybondwithTaiwanthroughitsfamiliargeopoliticalcircumstancesWhenUkrainianstudentAnnaFursykfirstmovedintoherTaiwaneseuniversitydormitory,theroarofpassingmilitaryjetsmadeherflinch,remindingherofthewarshehadfled. SheisamongeightyoungUkrainianswhoarrivedinTaichungtostudyonfullscholarshipsatTunghaiUniversity,drawnbyTaiwan’sdemocracyandakinshipbornoflivingunderathreatofinvasionfromamuchbigger,increasinglyaggressiveneighbor. TheplanesthatspookedFursykwerefromanearbyairbasethatisscramblingjetsmorefrequentlytocounterthegrowingnumberofincursionsbyChinesewarplanesintoTaiwan’sairdefenseidentificationzone. “IwasscaredatfirstbecauseIthoughttherewasawarstarting.IwasaffectedmentallybythewarinUkraine,”the20-year-oldsaid. WhenRussianPresidentVladimirPutinorderedhistroopsintoUkraine,hegaveformtothedarkestfearsofmanyTaiwanese—thatChinawouldactonitspledgetoannexthenation. AtopChineseofficialrecentlywarnedthatBeijingwould“nothesitatetostartawar”ifTaiwandeclaredindependence. RomanKoval,28,aformerflightattendantfromUkraine’seasternLuganskregion,saidhedecidedtorelocatetoTaiwanpartlybecauseofwhathecalledthe“similarthreats”itsharedwithhishomecountry. HecalledonTaiwantolearnfromUkraine’sexperienceandto“bealwaysreadyandbealwaysprepared.” “AllthetimeUkrainianswerethinking...theUSwillcometosaveus,Europewillcometosaveus,butitturnedoutthatnooneisgoingtocometosaveus,”hesaid.“Wearetheoneswhoaregoingtoprotectourselvesandwearetheoneswhoarefighting.” TherehasbeenanoutpouringofpublicsupportforUkraineinTaiwan.ApublicfundraisingdrivecollectedNT$930.36million(US$31.2million)injustfourweeks, AnnKaoselectedbyTPPtorunforHsinchumayor TaiwanPeople’sParty(TPP)LegislatorAnnKao(高虹安)hasbeenselectedbyherpartytorunforHsinchumayorinNovember’slocalelections,TPPchairmanandTaipeiMayorKoWen-je(柯文哲)saidyesterday. TheTPP’scentralcommitteemetearlierinthedaytochoosethe13mayoralcandidatesfortheNov.26vote. “IwasbornandraisedinHsinchu,andeventoday,myparentsandsiblings—aswellasmanyrelatives,friendsandformerclassmates—stillliveinHsinchu,”Kotoldanewsconferenceheldafterthemeeting.“IhaveaspecialfeelingforHsinchu,andIwantittobecomeabettercity.” HsinchuisthetechnologycapitalofTaiwan,andimprovementofthecitywoulddrivethedevelopmentofothercitiesandcounties,headded. “ThemayorofHsinchushouldhaveabrainthatunderstandstechnology,thespiritofenterprise,akindnatureandtheabilitytobreakawayfromtraditionalpolitics,andbringabreathoffreshairtothecityandthewholenation,”Kosaid. ThecommitteeconsideredKao’sdoctorate-leveleducationandextensivecorporateexperienceinitsdecisiontonominateher,Kosaid. Kao’ssharpquestionsinlegislativesessionsduringhertermdemonstratesherknowledgeandabilitytoresearchissues,Kosaid,addingthatherworkforconstituentsinHsinchuhasbeenappreciatedbylocalresidents. “Sheishardworkingandalwaystriestodoherbest.Shehasplansandknowshowtoimplementthemdiligently,”hesaid. KaoquotedArchimedesinpartwhensheaddressedthenewsconference:“GivemeaplacetostandandIshallmovetheEarth.” Shesaidherexperienceintheprivatesectorandasalegislatorwouldhelpherrunapracticaladministration,andmakeHsinchuabetterplacewhereresidentscanlivehappilyandwithdignity. Kaosaidhernominationformayorissupported CabinettochooseCECC’snewhead CAREREQUIRED: Ofthe19,131COVID-19casesreportedyesterday,twohadtheBA.5subvariant,despitetakingprecautionswhiletransportingtheirsonfromtheairportTheCentralEpidemicCommandCenter(CECC)yesterdayannouncedthatitsnewheadwouldbeappointedbytheExecutiveYuan,whilereportingtwonewlocalcasesoftheOmicronBA.5subvariantofSARS-CoV-2. TheDemocraticProgressiveParty’s(DPP)ElectoralStrategyCommitteeonSundayrecommendedMinisterofHealthandWelfareChenShih-chung(陳時中),whoheadsthecenter,asitscandidatefortheTaipeimayoralelection. TherehasbeenspeculationoverwhowouldreplaceChenifheresignsfromhispoststodevotehistimetocampaigning. CentersforDiseaseControl(CDC)DeputyDirector-GeneralChuangJen-hsiang(莊人祥),theCECC’sspokesman,saidtheCECC,whichwasestablishedtodealwiththeCOVID-19pandemic,isstillalevel1organization,soitsheadisappointedbytheExecutiveYuan. LocalmediahavereportedthatDeputyMinisterofHealthandWelfareHsuehJui-yuan(薛瑞元)mighttakeoverChen’sroleasminister. HsuehsaidhedoesnotknowwhowillreplaceChen,addingthathisjobistocontinuetoperformhisdutieswell. CDCDeputyDirector-GeneralPhilipLo(羅一鈞),deputyheadoftheCECC’smedicalresponsedivision,reported88casesoftheOmicronBA.4andBA.5subvariants,includingtwolocalcasesofBA.5. Ofthe86importedcases,74hadtheBA.5subvariantand12caseshadtheBA.4subvariant,hesaid,addingthatsofar326importedcases—278BA.5casesand48BA.4cases—havebeenreportedinTaiwan. Losaidthetwonewlocalcasesareacouplewhocollectedtheirson,whoreturnedfromFranceonJune24,fromtheairport. TheimportedcasewasonJune25toldthatthetesttheytookattheairportcamebackpositive,hesaid. TheparentswereisolatingathomewhentheytestedpositiveonJune27,Losaid,addingthatgenomesequencingconfirmedthattheywereallinfectedwiththeBA.5 Taiwanresearchersmakesignificantbreakthroughaboutprostatecancer NationalHealthResearchInstitutes(NHRI)scientistshavepublishedresearchshowingthatinhibitionofaspecificgenecanhelpsuppressprostatecancer—afindingtheysaidcouldpavethewayfornewtreatmentswithinfiveyears. Whileprostatecancerwasresponsiblefor1,689deathsinTaiwanlastyear,rankingasthecountry’sfifth-deadliesttypeofcancer,itsfive-yearsurvivalrateisalmost100percentincaseswhereitiscaughtbeforeithasmetastasized,orspreadtootherpartsofthebody. AtanewsconferenceonMonday,aresearchteamfromtheNHRI’sInstituteofCellularandSystemMedicinesharedtheirfindingsregardingtheroleofageneknownasKDM4Cinthemetastasisofprostatecancer. TheresearchfocusedonaprocesscalledtheWarburgeffect,whichreferstothepreferenceofcancercellstometabolizeglucoseanaerobically,orwithoutoxygen,NHRIassociateresearcherChuuChih-pin(褚志斌)said,addingthattheprocessissignificantlyfaster,butlessefficientthanthenormalwaycellsproduceenergy. Theresultofthisprocessistherapidproductionofmetabolites,whichprovideenergytocancercells,aswellaslacticacid,whichhelpsthemmetastasize,Chuusaid. Initsresearch,theteamfoundthatincaseswhereKDM4Cexpressionwaseliminated,theprocessofmetabolizingglucoseandtheproductionoflacticacidinthecancercellsweresignificantlysuppressed,hesaid. Theteam’sdiscoverycouldresultinthedevelopmentoftreatmentstoinhibitKDM4Cexpressionandpreventthespreadofprostatecancer,Chuusaid. Pendingclinicaltrials,suchtreatmentscouldbemarket-readywithinfiveyears,headded. Theteam’sresearchwaspublishedintheMarchissueoftheinternationalscientificjournalClinicalandTranslationalMedicine. ChunghwaExpresspledgestobackstaffpayraise FINALHURDLE: Theworkers’unioncanceledaplannedstrikeafterthecompany’smanagementagreedtopushforitsdemandsataninterimboardmeetingnextweekEntry-levelChunghwaExpressemployeesaretobegivenaNT$5,000raisenextmonthafterChunghwaPostpledgedtosupporttheproposalataninterimboardmeetingonThursdaynextweek. Thedeliveryfirm,whichisasubsidiaryofstate-ownedChunghwaPost,generatesmostofitsrevenuebydeliveringbillsofexchange,promissorynotesandchecksissuedbybanks. OnSunday,theChunghwaExpressWorkers’Unionthreatenedtoholdasecondstrikeyesterdayifthecompany’smanagementkeptignoringitsdemands,whichincludeaNT$5,000raise. However,theunioncanceledthestrikeafterthecompany’smanagementagreedtoallofitsdemandsfollowingatwo-hournegotiationonSundayafternoon. Theagreementalsostatesthattheincreasemustnotresultinareductionofperformance-basedbonusesandannualincomes. ChunghwaExpresschairmanHuangCheng-chung(黃政忠),unionchairmanChenHung-chuen(陳宏春)andChunghwaPostpresidentChiangRui-tang(江瑞堂)metyesterdaymorningtoconfirmthedeal. ThemeetingproceededsmoothlywithlegalassistancefromNewPowerPartyLegislatorChiuHsien-chih’s(邱顯智)office. “Theraiseforentry-levelemployeesistotakeeffectnextmonth,andtheperformance-basedbonusesthisyearmustnotbelowerthantheaverageofthebonusessetfor2020andlastyear,”Chensaid.“WewillcontinuetomonitordevelopmentsattheinterimboardmeetingandhopethatChunghwaExpress’managementkeepsitspromisetotheunion.” Thedeliveryfirmalsopromisedthatitwouldnotretaliateagainstunionmembersandwould,withinamonth,beginnegotiatingwiththeunionoverasalaryadjustmentmechanism,performance-basedbonusesandotherissues,Chensaid. ChunghwaPostholdsa40percentstakeinChunghwaExpressandcontrolsfiveseatsonthedeliveryfirm’sboard,Chiangsaid. “Wewillexpressoursupportfortheraiseandseekbackingfortheplanfromotherboardmembers,”hesaid. Minister Nodiscountforplastic,cardboardorpolystyrenecups ConsumerswouldnotbegivenaNT$5rebateforbringingplastic,cardboardorpolystyrenefoamcupstousefortakeawaybeverages,theEnvironmentalProtectionAdministration(EPA)saidyesterday. TheagencyearlierthismonthbeganimplementingapolicythatisaimedatreducingtheuseofdisposablecupsbymakingapricedifferenceofatleastNT$5mandatoryfordrinksservedincupsprovidedbyconsumersandthoseservedincupsofferedbytheplaceofpurchase. Thepolicyappliestotakeawaybeveragepurchasesatconveniencestores,fast-foodrestaurants,supermarketsandteashops. Therulesgoverningtheuseofsingle-usetakeawaybeveragecupsstipulatethatdisposablecupsarethosemadeofpetrochemical-basedplastics,bio-basedplasticsandbiodegradableplastics,theagencysaid. CupsprovidedbyconsumersshouldbereusableandconformtotheSanitationStandardsforFoodUtensils,ContainersandPackages(食品器具容器包裝衛生標準),whichstatethatplasticfoodcontainersandpackagesshouldnotberecycledforreuse,itsaid. BusinessesshouldnotgiveconsumersaNT$5rebateifthecupstheybringaremadeofplastic,polystyrenefoamorcardboard,theagencysaid. Approximately4billiondisposablecupswereusedin2020,statisticsfromEPARecyclingFundManagementBoardshowed. AlthoughtheEPAin2011requiredbusinessestogiveconsumersaNT$1toNT$3rebateforbringingtheirowncups,only6percentofconsumersactuallydidit,theagencysaid. Thepercentageofconsumersbringingtheirowncupsroseto30percentafteraNT$5rebatewasoffered,whichhelpedreducetheuseofdisposablecupsby5.8billionunitsanddecreasetrashby7,000tonnes,theagencysaid. ReducingtheuseofplastichasbecomeurgentastheUNistoenforceaglobalplasticpollutiontreatyin2024,theagencysaid. Courtsentenceswomanto40daysforstoreaccident TheHighCourtonJune30sentencedanassistantdrugstoremanagerinNewTaipeiCityto40daysindetentionforfailingtowarncustomersaboutdebrisonthefloorfollowingamagnitude6earthquakeonAug.8,2019,whichresultedinawomanbeinginjured. Theruling,finalizedafternearlytwoyearsoflitigation,saidthatwhenlookingforpossibledamagecausedbythetemblor,theassistantmanageronduty,surnamedWu(吳),foundabrokenbottleoflaundrydetergentinanaisleonthesecondfloorofthestore. Shebegancleaningafterstandingthebottleupandsurroundingitwithothermerchandise,butfailedtoputupawarningsignattheentrancetotheisle,therulingsaid. Awomanshoppingonthesecondfloorslippedaftersteppingonthedetergentandsustainedmultiplebonefractures,itsaid. ThedistrictcourtsentencedWutotwomonthsinprisonforthecrimeofnegligentinjury,whichcouldbecommutedtoafine. Wuappealed,sayingthatshehadsurroundedthebrokenbottleofdetergentwithotherproductstopreventcustomersfromapproaching,addingthatshetriedherbesttopreventaccidents. However,theHighCourtsaidthatcustomerswhowerefocusedonpurchasingproductsontheshelvesmightnothavenoticedthedetergentonthefloor. TheHighCourtsaidWuwasresponsibleformaintainingthesafetyofthestoreatthetime. Eventhoughitwasnotpossibletocleanthedetergentimmediately,asignshouldhavebesetupattheentrancetotheaisletoprohibitcustomersfromwalkingthere,itsaid. TheHighCourtfoundWuatfaultformishandlingthesituation,sayingthemeasuresshehadtakenwerenoteffective. Asanassistantmanager,Wuhadnoauthoritytodispatchpersonneltohelpcleanthestoreordecideeven Business Inflationoutpacesincreaseinwages REDUCEDPURCHASINGPOWER: Realtake-homepayafterfactoringininflationslid0.28%inMay,whiletotalcompensationedgedup0.58%,aDGBASofficialsaidWhiletheaveragemonthlytake-homepayinMayincreased3.26percentyear-on-yeartoNT$44,233(US$1,483),itlaggedbehindthe3.39percentgaininconsumerpricesthatmonth,theDirectorate-GeneralofBudget,AccountingandStatistics(DGBAS)saidyesterday. Thelatestdatasuggestedthatinflation,whichhasstayedabove3percentforfourmonthsinarow,iseatingawaypeople’sincome,despiteanincreaseinthebasicwagetoreflectenhancedcorporateearningsandGDPgrowthlastyear. Meanwhile,thenumberofworkershiredbyindustrialandservicesectorsstoodat8.14million,retreatingby0.1percent,oranet8,000people,fromApril,asCOVID-19infectionscontinuedtoweighontheworkforce,DGBASSeniorExecutiveOfficerChenHui-hsin(陳惠欣)said. ThenumberofCOVID-19casesgrewsignificantlyinMay,chillingbusinessfortheretailandhospitalitysectors,aspeoplestayedhometoavoidgettinginfected,shesaid. Thatcausedrestaurantsandhotelstoshed9,000workers,whileretailsalesandwholesaleoperatorsreducedemployeesby5,000,Chensaid. However,onanannualbasis,theworkforceexpandedby0.31percent,or25,000workers,comparedwiththesamemonthlastyear,whenthegovernmentimposedalevel3COVID-19alert,andbannedgatheringsanddine-inservices. AlthoughCOVID-19casessurgedthisyear,thegovernmentshiftedtoapolicyoflivingwiththevirus,takingitscuefromtheUS,EuropeandotherAsiannations. Theaveragetake-homepayinthehospitalitysectorshrank1.52percentfromApril,whilesalariesinthewholesaleandretailsectorsdropped0.71percent,Chensaid. Notallsectorstookahit,whichallowedthegaugetostillexpand3.26percentoverall,theDGBASsaid.Theaveragemonthlycompensation,includingperformance-basedrewards,commissionsandbonuses,rose6.81percenttoNT$55,440,themonthlysurveyfound. Somefinancialinstitutes,marinetransportationcompanies,aswellasgas,gravelandelectronics ForexgainsgiveNanya’sQ2netincomealift UNCERTAINTIES: TheDRAMchipmakerexpectsatoughquarteraheadamidsurginginflationandquestionsaboutChineseproductionresumptionDRAMchipmakerNanyaTechnologyCorp(南亞科技)yesterdayreportedthatnetprofitinchedup0.4percentlastquarter,asforeign-exchangegainshelpedcushiontheeffectofflaggingconsumerelectronicsdemandamidhighinflationandCOVID-19lockdownsinChina. NetprofitrosetoNT$6.57billion(US$220.3million)fromNT$6.55billioninthefirstquarter,orearningspershareofNT$2.12fromNT$2.11inthepreviousquarter. Whileoperatingincomelastquartercontracted14.3percentsequentiallytoNT$5.36billion,netincomegrewmainlyduetonon-operatingincomeofNT$1.74billion,morethanhalfofwhichcamefromforeign-exchangegains,thecompanysaid. NanyaTechnologyexpectsaroughquarteraheadamidincreasinginflationworldwideandflaggingconsumerconfidence,aswellasuncertaintyaboutproductionresumptioninChina. China’s“zeroCOVID”policyhasseverelyaffectedconsumerspendingintheworld’sbiggesteconomyandrippledthroughelectronicsupplychainsthere,NanyaTechnologysaid. “Thethirdquarterwillbeachallengingperiod.Thethirdquarterisusuallyahighseason,butthisyear,itisunclearwhethertherewouldbeaseasonaleffect,”NanyaTechnologypresidentLeePei-ing(李培瑛)toldanonlinenewsbriefingyesterday. “Demandfor[DRAM]isdwindlingintheshortterm,”Leesaid. WeakdemandforDRAMchipsforconsumerelectronics,mainlysmartphonesandnotebookcomputers,wouldultimatelyspreadtomemorychipsusedinservers,aspeopleturnconservativeaboutmostproductsduetomacroeconomicuncertainties,hesaid. AnyrecoveryinDRAMchipdemandwouldhingeonimprovementsinglobalinflation,productionresumptioninChinaandeconomicstimulusmeasuresfromgovernmentsaroundtheworld,Leesaid. Theaveragesellingpriceisexpectedtodipfurtherthisquarterfollowingamid-single-digitpercentagesequentialdeclinelastquarteronlingeringimpactfromglobalinflationasRussia’sinvasionofUkraineledtosurgesincrudeoilandnaturalgasprices,Leesaid. Grossmarginisalso Jointventuretodevelopinhalation-typedrugs Taiwan’sMegaProBiomedicalCo(巨生生醫)andChinaChemical&PharmaceuticalCo(CCPC,中國化學製藥)yesterdayannouncedthattheyhavesetupajointventurewithChina’sWellbridgeBiotechLtd(蘇州瑋琪)focusingonthedevelopmentofdrugsininhalationdosageforms. MegaProsaiditwouldinvestaboutUS$600,000fora30percentstakeinthejointventure—TriumTherapeuticsCo—whileCCPCandWellbridgewouldhold40percentand30percentrespectively. Trium’schairmanandgeneralmanageraretobeappointedbyCCPCandMegaProrespectively,itsaid. Trium’smainresearchgoalistomeetpharmaceuticalcompanies’demandfornon-invasiveroutesofdrugadministration,suchasviathenasalcavity,toimprovepatients’comfortanddrugs’bioavailability,MegaProsaid. MegaProwouldutilizeitsexpertiseinimprovingdrugdeliverytechnologyanddevelopnewdosageformsonitsnano-platformtechnology,itsaid. MegaProwouldalsoberesponsibleforconductinganimaltestsandhumantrials,itadded. CCPC,whichoperatesGoodManufacturingPractice-certifiedpharmaceuticalplants,aswellassaleschannelsathomeandabroad,wouldberesponsibleformassproductionandmarketing,whileWellbridge,whichspecializesinmedicalnebulizers,wouldprovidetechnicalinformationforthedevelopmentofinhalationdosageformsandsupplynebulizerequipment,thecompaniessaid. “Oraldosageformshavebeenwell-developedandwidelyusedbygenericdrugmanufacturingpharmaceuticalcompanies.Howtoexpandspecialtreatmentpathwayshasbecomethenextphaseofdevelopmentinthepharmaceuticalindustry,”CCPCgeneralmanagerWuZhi-yong(吳志庸)saidinastatement. ReportsbyDataBridgeMarketResearchPrivateLtd,aprofessionalresearchcompany,showthattheglobalmarketforinhalersisexpectedtoreachUS$42.1billionin2027,withacompoundannualgrowthrateof5.87percentfromthisyearto2027,MegaProsaid. Aspatientsinhalethedrug,itsmaincomponentscanbequicklyabsorbedbythelungsanddensebloodcapillaries,it Editorials EDITORIAL:Low-incomehouseholdsneedhelp Thegovernmentshouldstartofferingfinancialaiddirectlytolower-incomehouseholdsandvulnerablegroupstomitigatetheeffectsofinflation,asthenation’sconsumerpriceindex(CPI)lastmonthsoaredto3.59percentyear-on-year,reachingthehighestlevelinabout14years.Forlower-incomehouseholds,inflationsurged3.97percent,Directorate-GeneralofBudget,AccountingandStatistics(DGBAS)datashow. Foodpricesrose7.27percentandaccountedforabout28.4percentofthenation’sCPIbasket,higherthanSingapore’s21.1percent,China’s18.7percentandSouthKorea’s14.4percent.TherapidlyrisingCPIhasdrivenuplivingcostsby3.36percent,whilethecostofeatingoutrose6.38percent,itsaid. Spikesinfoodpriceshaveledtofearsoffoodinsecurityandevenhungerforlower-incomehouseholdsandthoselivingbelowthepovertyline,asCPIincreaseshaveerodedtheirincomeandweakenedtheirpurchasingpower.Whilewealthierfamiliescanswitchtolessexpensivefoodorbuyinbulktooffsetpriceincreases,thoseoptionsmightnotbeavailabletolow-incomehouseholds.Someinlower-incomehouseholdsorthoselivingbelowthepovertylinehavecutbackfromthreemealsperdaytotwo,orhavetriedtoeatlesstosavemoney,localmediareported.Decliningincomeisanotherfactoraffectingtheireatinghabits,astherearefewerpart-timejobsavailable. Somedevelopedandemergingcountrieshavestartedtacklingtheeffectsofinflationonlower-incomehouseholdsandvulnerablegroupsbyofferingfoodandenergysubsidies.Francelastweeklaunchedanewroundofmeasurescostingabout20billioneuros(US$20.18billion)tofightinflation,seekingtohelpmoreworkersthistimearound.Parisearlierthisyearspent26billioneurosonenergypricecapsandfueldiscountsforfirmsandhouseholds. SoutheastAsiannationsareofferingsimilaraid.TheSingaporeangovernmentlastmonthannounced Abekillingwarningtobeprepared OnFriday,formerJapaneseprimeministerShinzoAbewasassassinated.ThesuspectedkillerhadreportedlyservedintheJapanSelfDefenseForces,wherehehadreceivedmilitarytraining.Itappearedthatheactedalone,andalthoughtheJapanesepoliceatthetimehadnotyetascertainedamotive,thekillinglookedlikealonewolfattack. Suchactsaremostlycarriedoutbyasingleperson,unaffiliatedwithanyparticulargroup.Theyaredifficulttopreventandoftenleadtoirreversibletragedies. Taiwanhasexperiencedsimilarevents,includingthefatalstabbingofapoliceofficeronatraininJuly2019,andthe“ricebomber”casefrom2003to2004. Thegovernmenthassetupananti-terrorismunit,butunfortunatelyitsdrillshavenotbeenextendedtothewiderpublic. Abe’scontributionwentbeyondJapan.The“ArcofFreedomandProsperity”heproposedin2006wastheinitialconceptualizationofanIndo-Pacificstrategy.ThatTaiwantodaycanbeincorporatedintoitowesmuchtostrongUSassistance,butAbe’slong-termsupportofTaiwaninthiseffortshouldnotbeoverlooked. WithAbehavingfallenvictimtoalonewolfattack,TaiwanshouldextenditscondolencestoJapan.Itshouldalsomakeeveryefforttoensurethatasimilarattackdoesnothappenhere. RaySongisadoctoralstudentatTamkangUniversity’sInstituteofInternationalAffairsandStrategicStudies. TranslatedbyPaulCooper Artofrestructuringstateoperations Alotofattentionhasbeendevotedtotherestructuringofmajororganizations,fromtheproposedprivatizationoftheTaiwanRailwaysAdministrationtotheplannedtransformationofTaiwanPowerCotoaholdingcompanyaspartofthederegulationoftheelectricitysector. Whencompaniesandorganizationsarerestructured,thebiggestobstaclesareoftenrelatedtostaffadjustments. Unlikeprivatecompanies,state-ownedenterprisesarerequiredtooperateaccordingtogovernmentpolicy.Aftermanyyearsofworkingwithinarigidsystem,employeesatthesestate-runcompaniesareunlikelytobeflexibleorreactivetonewmanagementtrendsorstyles. Thereis,then,atransitionperiodinwhichagood,farsightedhumanresourcesdevelopmentprogramwouldnotonlybeabletoreducethestaff’sresistancetochange,butalsobolsterthecompany’sabilitytochangeandadapttoexternalchallenges. Toeasetherestructuringprocess,state-ownedenterprisesshouldtakeastrategicapproachguidedbythephilosophyofcorporatesocialresponsibility(CSR). ThethinkingbehindCSRisthatalthoughcorporationsoftenevolvewithinanenvironmentofglobalizationandtechnologicalinnovation,irrespectiveofhowtheorganizationisrestructured,itmustbedonefromtheperspectiveofsustainability.Itmustdrawonalong-termhumanresourcesdevelopmentplanincorporatingaCSRstrategy,dependingonthatspecificorganization’srequirements. TheseCSRcomponentsshouldbeembeddedintotheirannualtrainingprogramssothatbusinessneedsandcompanygoalscometogether. ThiswouldnotonlyformasetofvaluesandworkcultureinlinewithCSR,butalsohelptheorganizationachievesustainabilityandlong-termprosperity. Withastrategichumanresourcesdevelopmentapproach,long-termorganizationalandindividuallearningactivitieswithaforward-lookingandstrategicperspectivecouldhelpemployeesgaintheknowledgeneededforcareerdevelopment.Itwouldalsohelpthemadapttothetransitionprocessandneworganizationalgoals. Forexample,withdigitaltransformation,companiesneed Sports DjokovicbeatsKyrgiosinfinal ELITELINEUP: TheSerbisjustthefourthmanintheOpeneratoclaimfoursuccessiveWimbledontitlesafterBjornBorg,PeteSamprasandRogerFedererNovakDjokoviconSundaywonaseventhWimbledontitleand21stGrandSlamcrownwithafour-settriumphoverNickKyrgios,whosechallengeunraveledinfrustrationafterablisteringstart. TopseedDjokovicwon4-6,6-3,6-4,7-6(7/3)toequalPeteSampras’markofseventitlesattheAllEnglandClubandmovewithinoneofthemen’srecordofeightheldbyRogerFederer. The35-year-oldSerbisnowoneSlamaheadofFedererintheall-timeraceandjustonebehindRafaelNadal’srecordof22majors. “I’mlostforwordsforwhatthistournamentandthistrophymeanstome,”Djokovicsaid.“Italwayshasbeenandwillbethemostspecialoneinmyheart.” DjokovicalsopraisedKyrgiosaftertheironce-frostyrelationshipthawedatWimbledon. “It’sofficiallyabromance,”hesaid.“Itistoughtofindconsolationwordsatamomentlikethis,butyoushowedwhyyouareoneofthebestplayersintheworld.” DjokovicisjustthefourthmanintheOpeneratowinfoursuccessiveWimbledontitlesafterBjornBorg,SamprasandFederer. KyrgiossaidtheSerbwas“abitofagod.” “FirstofallcongratulationstoNovakandyourteam,you’vewonthesechampionshipsthatmanytimesIdon’tevenknowanymore,”Kyrgiossaid. The40th-rankedplayersaidhewas“exhausted.” “I’mreallyhappywiththisresultandmaybeonedayI’llbehereagain,butIdon’tknowaboutthat,”hesaid. DjokovichadenduredadifficultyearattheSlams. HisdeportationfromAustraliaoverhisCOVID-19vaccinationstatuswasfollowedbyaquarter-finallosstoNadalattheFrenchOpen. HisrefusaltogetvaccinatedbarshimfromflyingtotheUSnextmonthfortheUSOpenasthingsstand. KyrgioswasseenyawningatthetopoftheAllEnglandClubstairsasthe Jungelswinsninthstage,Pogacarremainsinyellow Luxembourg’sBobJungelsonSundaypoweredtovictoryintheninthstageoftheTourdeFrance,holdingoffThibautPinottocrossthelinealoneaftera192kmracethroughSwitzerlandtotheFrenchborder. DefendingchampionTadejPogacarmadealateburstforthelinetogainafewsecondsonsomerivalsastheSlovenianfurthertightenedhisgripontheoverallleadwithafifth-placedfinish. PogacarhailedhisUAETeamEmiratesasthestrongestattheTouraftertheysurroundedhimallday,settinguphislateburst. “Everytimethereisachancetotakeafewseconds,whynot,itwasathree-secondgapintheend,”Pogacarsaid. JungelspreviouslywonLiege-Bastogne-Liege,buthasbeenfrustratedwithpoorformbecauseofhealthissues. “It’ssonicetobebackatthetopoftherollercoaster,”Jungelssaid. “Thisisoneofthemostbeautifuldaysofmycareer,”the29-year-oldsaidadayafteroneofhisAG2RteammatespulledoutwithCOVID-19.“Iwentdownthatlasthillattopspeedandthatmadethedifference.” AndySchleckwasthelastmanfromLuxembourgtowinaTourdeFrancestage11yearsago. Onahotdaywithmorethan40kmascendingasthepelotonrolledintotheAlps,pastCharlieChaplin’slong-timeresidenceatVeveyonthenorthshoreofLakeGeneva,thestagewasapreludeforthreeupcomingmountainslogs. Jungelsracedafull62kmonhisownaftergoingsolofromanearlybreakaway.About20kmfromthefinishlineattheskiresortofLaPortdeSoleilontheFrenchborder,FrenchmanPinotchasedafterhim,graduallyeatingintoatwo-minutelead,butnevergotcloserthan20secondsadriftbeforegivingup. IneosGrenadiers’JonathanCastroviejoeventuallyfinishedsecond,22secondsadrift, Taiwanesespeedskaters,powerlifterclaimsilvers TaiwanesespeedskatersChenYing-chuandKuoLi-yangonSundaytookhomesilvermedalsatthisyear’sWorldGamesinBirmingham,Alabama,whilepowerlifterYangSenalsoclaimedasilvermedal. Chen,whobaggedherfirstmedaloftheGamesonFridaywithabronzeinthewomen’s200mspeedskatingevent,waslookingtoredeemherselfinSunday’s100mroadsprintafterbeingdisqualifiedfromthe500mcompetitionforcomingintocontactwithanopponent. Aftersailingthroughthequalifierandsemi-final,Chencompletedthefinalin10.854seconds,finishingjustbehindGeinyCarmelaPajaroGuzmanofColombia,whowonfirstplacewithatimeof10.773seconds. Meanwhile,inthemen’s100mroadsprint,KuopickeduphissecondmedaloftheGames,claimingsecondplacein10.143seconds. ThegoldwenttoJorgeLuisMartinezMoralesofMexico,whose9.972secondswastherace’sonlysub-10secondtime. Taiwan’sYangalsobaggedasilvermedalinthesuperheavyweightdivisionofthemen’spowerliftingcompetition,finishingsecondtoOleksiyBychkovofUkraine. The114.8kgYangsquattedaworldrecordof440kg,benchpressed322.5kganddeadlifted332.5kgforacombinedweightof1,095kg. TheWorldGames,aninternationalmultisportevent,comprisessportsthatarenotincludedintheOlympicGamesandareheldeveryfouryears. The11thWorldGameshadinitiallybeenscheduledforlastyear,butwerepostponedduetotheCOVID-19pandemic. MonkeysthrashDragonstoclaimhalf-seasontitle TheRakutenMonkeysonSundaywerecrownedCPBLhalf-seasonchampionsaftertheycrushedtheWeiChuanDragons10-2attheTaoyuanInternationalBaseballStadium. Itwastheir14thhalf-seasontitleandafirstforRakutenGroup,whichacquiredtheMonkeysin2019fromLaNewCorp. TheDragonsopenedthescoringinthetopofthethirdinning,whenoutfielderLinHsiao-chengranhomeafterbattingasingleandstealingsecondbase. TheMonkeysralliedinthebottomofthethird,scoringthreerunstolead3-1followingsuccessivehitsbyLinLiandChengChin. MonkeysstartingpitcherWangYi-chengpitchedfivesolidinnings,allowingonlytworunsandsixhitswithonewalk. TheTaoyuanteamkeptuptheirstrongplay,toppingtheDragonswithsevenmorerunstoclaimthevictoryinTaoyuaninfrontofmorethan12,000spectators. Linwasnamedthegame’sMostValuablePlayer. ItwastheRakutenMonkeys’firsthalf-seasontitleundermanagerTsengHao-chu,whosaidthenextgoalwouldbetowintheCPBLregular-seasontitle. TsengsaidthattowinthetitlewouldmeanalotforRakuten,theplayersandcoaches. ReliefpitcherChenYu-hsun,whotookoverthemoundfromWangandkepttheDragons’battersatbay,saidthehalf-seasontitlewasaspecialoneforhimandtheteam. ItwasChen’s100thwininhiscareerasarelieverintheCPBLandhis10ththisseason. WorldNews Macaustartslockdown,asHKmullshealthcodeapp CLOSEWATCH: HongKongmightusetheapptotrackpeoplewithCOVID-19,withthehealthsecretarysayingthatfreedomcould‘easilybeconfusedwithselfishness’MacaucasinosharesyesterdayplungedastheChineseterritoryembarkedonaweek-longlockdowntocurbitsworstCOVID-19outbreak,whileneighboringHongKongsaiditwasmullingamainland-stylehealthcodesystem. Sharepricesofsixgamingconglomerates—SandsChina,GalaxyEntertainment,SJMHoldings,MelcoInternational,MGMChinaandWynnMacau—fellbybetween6andnearly9percentinyesterdaymorningtrade. Itisthefirstcasinolockdowninmorethantwoyears,overridingapreviousdealbetweentheindustryandtheMacaugovernmentthatonlythosefoundwithinfectionswouldneedtoclosetemporarily. Macau,theworld’sbiggestgamblinghub,istheonlyplaceinChinawherecasinosarelegal,buttheCOVID-19pandemichashammereditsfortunesasitadherestoBeijing’s“zeroCOVID-19”model. Whilecasinoshaveremainedopenthroughoutmostofthepandemictheyhaveseenafractionofpre-COVID-19business. ABloomberggaugeoftheterritory’ssixlicensedcasinooperatorsisdown20percentthisyear. Authoritiesannouncedaweekoflockdownsstartingyesterdayafterrecordingmorethan1,500infectionsinthepastthreeweeksdespitemultipleroundsofcompulsorymasstestingofMacau’s650,000people. Allresidentsmuststayhomeexcepttogoshoppingfordailynecessitiesandtogettestedforthevirus,withrule-breakersfacinguptotwoyearsinjail. Somepublicservicesandbusinessessuchassupermarketsandpharmaciescanstayopen,andonlypeoplewithspecialpermissionoralow-riskhealthcodecanusepublictransportation. Chinausesmandatoryhealthcodeappstotracepeople’smovementsandCOVID-19outbreaks.Onlythosewithgreencodescanmovefreely. ItisasystemthatHongKong’sgovernmentisnowconsideringemploying,HongKongSecretaryofHealthLoChung-mau(盧寵茂)saidyesterday. “So-calledfreedomcansometimesbeeasilyconfusedwithselfishness,”LotoldpublicbroadcasterRadioTelevisionHongKong. “Infected SriLankapoliticalvacuumcontinues SriLankayesterdaywasinapoliticalvacuumforasecondday,withoppositionleadersyettoagreeonwhoshouldreplaceitsroundlyrejectedleaders,whoseresidencesareoccupiedbyprotesters,angryoverthecountry’seconomicwoes. ProtestersremainedinSriLankanPresidentGotabayaRajapaksa’sresidence,hisseasideofficeandtheprimeminister’sofficialhome,whichtheytookpossessionofonSaturdaydemandingtheleadersstepdown.ItwasthebiggestandmosteventfuldayofprotestsoverthepastthreemonthssurroundingtheadministrativedistrictinColombo. Theyremainedthereyesterdaysayingtheywouldstayuntiltheresignationsareofficial. SriLankanPrimeMinisterRanilWickremesingheonSaturdaysaidthathewouldleaveofficeonceanewgovernmentisinplace.HourslaterthespeakeroftheparliamentsaidthatRajapaksawouldstepdowntomorrow,whichWickremesinghe’sofficeyesterdaysaidthatRajapaksahadconfirmed. ThepresidenthasnotbeenseenorheardpubliclysinceSaturdayandhislocationisunknown,buthisofficeonSundaysaidthatheorderedtheimmediatedistributionofacookinggasconsignmenttothepublic,suggestingthathewasstillatwork. Pressureonbothmenhadgrownastheeconomicmeltdownsetoffacuteshortagesofessentialitems,leavingpeoplestrugglingtoobtainfood,fuelandothernecessities. Oppositionpartyleadershavebeendiscussingforminganalternativeall-partygovernment,anurgentrequirementofbankruptnationstocontinuediscussionswiththeIMFforabailoutprogram. SriLankanlawmakerUdayaGammanpilasaidthemainoppositionUnitedNationalPartyandlawmakerswhohavedefectedRajapaksa’srulingcoalitionhavehaddiscussionsandagreedtoworktogether. MainoppositionleaderSajithPremadasaandDullasAlahapperuma,whowasaministerunderRajapaksa,havebeenproposedforpresidentandprimeminister,andtheywererequestedtodecideonhowtosharethepositionsbeforeameeting Chinadetains‘gang’afterprotests Membersofa“criminalgang”accusedoftakingcontroloflocalbankswereonSundayarrestedincentralChinaafterrareprotestsoverallegedfinancialcorruptionsparkedviolentclashesbetweencustomersandauthorities. Hithardbythecountry’seconomicslowdown,fourbanksinHenanProvincehavesincemid-Aprilfrozenallcashwithdrawals,leavingthousandsofsmallsaverswithoutfundsandsparkingsporadicdemonstrations. Inoneofthelargestsuchralliesyet,hundredsgatheredonSundayoutsideabranchofthePeople’sBankofChinainHenan’scapital,Zhengzhou,demandingtheirmoney,saidmultiplewitnesseswhodeclinedtobenamed. Protestersheldbannersaccusinglocalofficialsandpoliceofcorruption,callingonthecentralgovernmentto“giveseverepunishmenttoHenan,”videofootageverifiedbyAgenceFrance-Presse(AFP)showed. Althoughlocalauthoritiesdidnotimmediatelycommentontheprotests,policeinnearbyXuchanglateonSundaysaidthattheyhadarrestedmembersofanalleged“criminalgang”fortheirsuspectedinvolvementinaschemetogaincontroloflocalbanks. Thegangmadeillegaltransfersthroughfictitiousloansandusedtheirshareholdings—aswellas“manipulationofexecutives”—toeffectivelytakeoverseverallocalbanksstartingin2011,policesaid. Theprovince’sbankingandinsuranceregulatoralsosaidlateonSundaythatitwas“accelerating”planstotacklethelocalfinancialcrisisand“protectthelegalrightsandinterestsofthebroaderpublic.” FootageofSunday’srallyshowedprotestersthrowingobjects,whileoneparticipantsaidthatdemonstratorswerehitandinjuredbyunidentifiedmen. AnothervideoverifiedbyAFPshowedacryingwomancomplainingaboutherlostmoneybeingforcedontoabusbypolice. Anothermanwithaswolleneyesaidhehadbeenbeatenby“gangsters”anddraggedontothebusbypolice. Somedemonstratorsaccusedofficialsofcolludingwithlocalbankstosuppressrallies,andprovincial Features Pingtungontwowheels PingtungisprobablythemostunderappreciatedofTaiwan’scounties.FormostpeopleitisunknownapartfromtheverytouristybeachresortofKenting.Onthistwo-daytrip,remotemountainousareasofthecountycanbeaccessedtovisithikingtrails,pristinelakesandriversthatoffertheperfectrespitefromthesummerheatofthelowlandsinTaiwan. Duringthesummer,cyclistshavetobeawareoftheheatfactor.Ridingabikeatmiddaycouldeasilyresultinheatexhaustionifproperhydrationisignored.Takingthisintoaccount,IdepartedbytrainfromKaohsiungtoPingtungonasunnyafternoon.Thisjourneyisonly20km,butIavoidedtheafternoonridethroughtrafficandbeattheheat. PingtungtrainstationisnowahubfortheTaiwanRailwaysAdministrationandthismall-likestructureisimpressive.Startingat4pmintheafternoonIhada20kmridetoSandimenTownship(山地門).Afurther3kmupProvincialHighwayNo24tookmetoJhongshanPark(中山公園)whereIcampedforthenight.Ifthiswereahotel,roomswithacommandingviewoftheAiliaoRiver(隘寮溪)belowwouldbehighlysoughtafter. ThefollowingmorningIonlyhadtorideseveralkilometers(uphill)toreachthetrailheadofGuangwangMountain(觀望山,formallyknownasDewenMountain,德文山).Thetrailisatthe2.5kmmarkeronthePingtungCountyRoadNo31,theturnoffisatthe7kmmarkerontheNo24.Nowatanaltitudeof800mtheairisfreshandjustalittlecoolerthanthelowlandstomakethehikeenjoyablewithoutsweatingprofusely.It’saverypleasantthree-hourroundtriptothepeakat1,246m,buttherealrewardistheviewatthetop.IndividualbuildingsinKaohsiung,some50kmaway, Addingsalttofoodattablecancutyearsoffyourlife,studyfinds Addingsalttomealsatthetableislinkedtoanearlierdeath,accordingtoastudyof500,000middle-agedBritons. Researchersfoundthatalwaysaddingsalttofoodknocksmorethantwoyearsofflifeexpectancyformenandone-and-a-halfyearsforwomen.Thisdoesnotincludeseasoningduringthecookingprocess. Thestudydidnotdefinitivelyruleoutotherfactors,suchassaltconsumptionbeingaproxyforagenerallylesshealthylifestyle,buttheteambehindtheworksaidtheevidencewascompellingenoughthatpeopleshouldconsideravoidingseasoningtheirmeals. “Tomyknowledge,ourstudyisthefirsttoassesstherelationbetweenaddingsalttofoodsandprematuredeath,”saidProfLuQiofTulaneUniversitySchoolofPublicHealthandTropicalMedicineinNewOrleans,wholedthework.“Evenamodestreductioninsodiumintake,byaddinglessornosalttofoodatthetable,islikelytoresultinsubstantialhealthbenefits,especiallywhenitisachievedinthegeneralpopulation.” Thefindingswerebasedonresearchinvolvingmorethan500,000participantsintheUKBiobankstudy,whowerefollowedforanaverageofnineyears.Whenjoiningthestudybetween2006and2010,theywereasked,viaatouchscreenquestionnaire,whethertheyaddedsalttotheirfoodsandhowoftentheydidso. Saltintakeisdifficulttoaccuratelytrackbecausemanyprocessedfoodscontainhighlevelsofsaltanddirectmeasurementbyurinetestsdoesnotnecessarilyprovideasnapshotindicativeofoverallintake.Roughly70percentofsodiumintakeinwesternpopulationscomesfromprocessedandpreparedfoods,with8-20percentderivingfromsaltaddedatthetable.However,addingsaltisaverygoodindicatorofaperson’spreferenceforsaltytastingfoods,sotheteamfocusedtheiranalysisonthis NotesfromCentralTaiwan:Historyonrepeat OnJuly6agroupofinfluentialAmericanbusinesspeoplepublishedaletterintheWallStreetJournal(WSJ)callingfor“amoreconstructiverelationshipwithChina”(“WeWanttoRebuildUSRelationsWithChina,”byMauriceGreenberg).ThesignatoriesconsistedofagroupofprominentindividualswithlongtimeChinaties. Thepiecewasnotcompletelystupid,recognizingthatresumingcommunicationwiththeexpansionist,totalitarianstaterunfromBeijingwouldrequire“…awillingresponsefromtheChineseandagenuinecommitmenttoproceedingoodfaith,”butitdidpositanalternateuniverseinwhichUSactionwasthecauseoftheproblem,sayingthataftercommunicationchannelswereeliminatedduringtheTrumpadministration,thedifferencesbetweenChinaandtheUSincreased,“asdidthelevelofmistrust.” CHINAAPPEASERS LongtimeChinaobserverDerekGrossmancommentedonTwitterthatnowheredidthepiecementionhumanrights,Xinjiang,Taiwan,HongKong,theSouthChinaSea,theEastChinaSea,Galwanorthe“nolimits”partnershipwithRussia.ItalsomissedChina’smilitarybuildupanditscommitmenttodisplacingtheUSastheworld’sleadingpower,alongwithitstheftsofwesterntechnologyandmarkets,itsmalignUnitedFrontactivitiesand,ofcourse,theideaofdemocracy. Apparently,noneofthese“increasethelevelofmistrust.” Infact,simplychangethewriters’names,anditcouldhavebeenan“analysis”ofUS-ChinarelationsfromCodePink,thecomicalQuiaoCollective,oranynumberoflostEuropeanleftistsandtankies.Ifthereisanythingamusingintheincreasinglysadglobalsituation,itisthewaythatithasbroughttogetherNoamChomskyandHenryKissinger. TheWSJgroupwrotewithcertainknowledgeofChina’scultivationofwesternbusinessmentoadvanceitsowninterests(imaginehowreadersmightregardthepieceiftheWSJhadidentifiedMax BilingualPages Embracechanges,gobilingual!雙語改版、全新出擊！ TheTaipeiTimesbilingualpagesarehavingamakeover,withprofessionallycuratedcontentforbothEnglishandChineselearnersofalllevels. WithournewpartnersIvyEnglish,EnglishOKandothers,TaipeiTimesreaderscanimprovetheirlanguagestudieswhilekeepingabreastofimportantissuesinTaiwanandabroad. AnewdepartureforusistheadditionofaChinese-languagelearningmodule,withcontentprovidedbytheNationalTaiwanNormalUniversity“MandarinTrainingCenter.” 《台北時報》雙語版最優質的中英文內容，多年來一向受到讀者們的喜愛。

近日起版面全新升級！每週和《常春藤解析英語》、《EnglishOK中學英閱誌》……等專業英語機構合作，提供豐富多元且實用的英語學習內容，不但適合各種程度學生及上班族自修，老師、家長用它當教材也超便利。

原先頗受歡迎的雙語新聞則予以保留，持續帶領大家了解國內外之重要議題。

而此次改版除了英語學習以外，本報特別和台灣師範大學「國語教學中心」聯手，為外國讀者們推出華語學習單元，打造最強全方位中英文雙語版，精彩內容在網站上也看的到唷！ 華語簡易通EASYCHINESEFORYOU! 對話Dialogues 老闆：你要買幾條？ 客人：長褲、短褲，我各買一條。

老闆：兩條七百五。

客人：七百，好嗎？ 老闆：你買兩條短褲、一條長褲，一千塊，怎麼樣？ 客人：好！我買這兩條短褲和那一條長褲。

Clerk:Howmanypairsdoyouneed? Customer:Ineedapaireachofpantsandshorts. Clerk:ThetwopairsforNT$750. Customer:NT$700,OK? Clerk:HowaboutNT$1,000fortwopairsofshortsandonepairofpants? Customer:OK!I’lltaketwopairsofshortsandonepairofpants. 詞彙與短語Vocabulary&Phrase 幾(jǐ)howmuch/many 各(gè)each 怎麼樣(zěnmeyàng)Howis(person,thing)? 這(zhè)this 那(nà)that 教材音檔AudioFiles 本文內容及音檔來源:　華語簡易通 Formoreaudiofiles,visitthecenter’sWebsiteat:http://mtc.ntnu.edu.tw/book/book-show-6.html 國立臺灣師範大學國語教學中心提供 ProvidedbyNTNUMandarinTrainingCenter:http://www.mtc.ntnu.edu.tw/ COPYRIGHT©2022國立臺灣師範大學國語教學中心ALLRIGHTSRESERVED ShinzoAbe:Japan’slongest-servingprimeminister安倍晉三：日本任期最長首相 ShinzoAbesmashedrecordsasJapan’slongest-servingprimeminister,championingambitiouseconomicreformandforgingkeydiplomaticrelationshipswhileweatheringscandals. Nearlytwoyearsafterpoorhealthforcedhimtoleaveoffice,the67-year-oldwasshotduringacampaigneventinthewesternregionofNaraonFridaylastweek. Abewasasprightly52whenhefirstbecameprimeministerin2006,theyoungestpersontooccupythejobinthepostwarera. Hewasseenasasymbolofchangeandyouth,butalsobroughtthepedigreeofathird-generationpoliticiangroomedfrombirthbyanelite,conservativefamily. Abe’sfirsttermwasturbulent,plaguedbyscandalsanddiscord,andcappedbyanabruptresignation. -Theycalledit‘Abenomics’- Heranagain,andJapan’srevolvingprimeministerialdoorbroughthimbacktoofficein2012. Itendedaturbulentperiodinwhichprimeministerssometimeschangedatarateofoneayear. WithJapanstillstaggeringfromtheeffectsofthe2011tsunamiandsubsequentnucleardisasteratFukushima—andabriefoppositiongovernmentlashedforflip-floppingandincompetence—Abeofferedaseeminglysafepairofhands. Andhehadaplan:Abenomics. TheschemetoreviveJapan’seconomy—theworld’sthird-biggest,butmorethantwodecadesintostagnation—involvedvastgovernmentspending,massivemonetaryeasingandcuttingredtape. Abealsosoughttoboostthecountry’sflaggingbirthratebymakingworkplacesmorefriendlytoparents,particularlymothers. HepushedthroughcontroversialconsumptiontaxhikestohelpfinancenurseriesandpluggapsinJapan’soverstretchedsocialsecuritysystem. Whiletherewassomeprogresswithreform,theeconomy’sbiggerstructuralproblemsremained. Deflationprovedstubbornandtheeconomywasinrecessionevenbeforethecoronavirusstruckin2020. Abe’sstarwanedfurther Weather North Central South East OutlyingIslands NewTaipeiCity 28-29 0% HsinchuCounty 27-28 20% HsinchuCity 27-28 20% TaipeiCity 27-29 0% MiaoliCounty 26-28 20% TaoyuanCity 26-28 10% KeelungCity 28-29 0% YunlinCounty 26-28 10% TaichungCity 27-29 20% NantouCounty 26-28 10% ChanghuaCounty 27-29 20% ChiayiCounty 27-28 10% ChiayiCity 26-28 0% TainanCity 28-29 20% KaohsiungCity 28-29 0% PingtungCounty 25-27 0% YilanCounty 26-27 0% HualienCounty 26-28 0% TaitungCounty 26-27 0% KinmenCounty 27-28 0% PenghuCounty 27-28 0% LienchiangCounty 26-27 0% Copyright©1999-2022TheTaipeiTimes.Allrightsreserved.