Taiwan Power 結果共286筆

Taiwan People’s Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je criticized his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) competitor Lai Ching-te for avoiding the nuclear energy debate and lacking long-term planning. Ko argued that Lai’s commitment to a nuclear-free homeland by 2025 would cost him votes, particularly from the business sector. He questioned the feasibility of turning nuclear power on and off at will. Ko also criticized his Kuomintang rival, Hou Yu-ih, for impeding the operation of dry storage facilities at nuclear plants one and two, resulting in a stalemate where spent fuel rods cannot be removed. Ko expressed support for extending the service lives of nuclear plants two and three and called for a thorough check-up of plant four before making any decisions. He emphasized the need for a pragmatic approach to nuclear power rather than treating the idea of a nuclear-free homeland as an ideology. Ko highlighted the goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and mentioned that 22 nations proposed tripling nuclear power by then at COP28.

Taipei mayoral candidate Ko Wen-je criticizes the lack of long-term vision and planning in economic policy by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT). Despite a 120% increase in Taiwan’s GDP since 2000, real wages have only increased by 4% and the country ranks sixth in total working hours globally. Ko believes that low wages and poor living conditions are not the fault of Taiwanese people but rather the result of the government’s lack of global strategic planning. He questions what keyword might define 2024 if the DPP and KMT continue to be in power, and asserts that a change in leadership is needed. Ko suggests that he should be elected president in 2024 to address these ongoing issues, emphasizing the absence of comprehensive strategic planning as the underlying reason behind the problems.

Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih raises questions about Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te’s energy policy during a policy presentation. Hou specifically probes Lai’s stance on the ＂nuclear-free homeland＂ policy and his attitude toward nuclear power generation. Hou questions Lai’s viewpoints, suggesting that if Lai believes ＂nuclear units cannot be stopped,＂ it implies Taiwan’s nuclear power plants may need to extend their lifespan. Hou also criticizes Lai’s ＂clean coal＂ concept and its potential impact on the prevalence of pulmonary adenocarcinoma in Taiwan. Furthermore, Hou criticizes the DPP’s goal of ＂net-zero carbon emissions,＂ arguing that even the announced 2030 target of reducing carbon emissions by 24% to 25% is unattainable and out of step with global trends.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je vows to promote international sports events, including the 2038 Asian Games and the Olympics, if elected. He recognizes the connection between sports and national power and highlights Taiwan’s top athletes. Ko also proposes career planning guidance and specific examinations for sports personnel, as well as the establishment of a National Sports Development Fund and revision of the Sports Industry Development Act. He plans to increase the budget for the national training center, improve support teams, and promote physical fitness nationwide. Ko aims to develop e-sports and align it with global standards, while advocating for education reforms and cultivating high-tech talents.

Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) is planning to hire 1,103 specialists in various fields, including power distribution and transmission, substation, and electromechanical, by 2024. Applications for these positions will be accepted from January 2 to January 15, with preliminary exams scheduled for May 12 in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien. The results of the preliminary exams will be announced on July 16, and the second round will take place on August 6 in Taipei. After selection, new recruits will undergo one year of training and will receive a starting salary of NT$32,000, along with performance bonuses amounting to approximately 4.4 months of year-end bonuses. The largest portion of the jobs on offer is for maintenance staff for power distribution lines, with 429 positions. The next highest category consists of 157 posts for general administration workers, including 38 positions reserved for individuals with disabilities. This recruitment drive also includes three new positions in material management and various other maintenance and engineering roles. Certain positions require higher qualifications, such as a manual car license or a commercial heavy vehicle license. Taipower aims to address staff retirements, ensure stable power supplies, and implement net-zero transformation in the power industry to meet Taiwan’s energy needs.

Taiwan’s People Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je warns that both the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) are using China to their advantage in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. While the DPP incites anti-China sentiments for votes, the KMT strengthens ties with China. Ko suggests that if the KMT comes to power, Taiwan could be ＂bought by China,＂ leading to intense debates. He emphasizes the importance of Taiwan’s autonomy and cross-strait peace, but asserts that autonomy is a prerequisite. Ko advocates for increased defense spending and strategic thinking to ensure Taiwan’s security. He concludes that choosing him as president would guarantee peace and safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Greenpeace has staged a surprise demonstration calling for a 40% renewable energy target in Taiwan by 2030. The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has responded by emphasizing the need for a pragmatic approach to the country’s energy mix policy. TPP spokesperson Tai Yu-wen stated that the energy strategy should be based on scientific evidence, focused on just energy transformation and sustainable development. The TPP supports a proposed energy mix of 45% natural gas, 30% renewables, 15% coal, and 10% nuclear power by 2030. Tai emphasized the importance of developing renewable energy sources while also maintaining justice in the energy transition. The TPP encourages the use of green power, supports community renewable energy projects, and aims to enhance the development of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The party hopes to achieve ambitious goals by 2030, including a 100% electrification rate for public buses and significant market shares for electric cars and scooters.

The Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) sent their lead nominees, Han Kuo-yu and Huang Shan-shan, respectively, to draw lots for the party vote ballot order ahead of Taiwan’s 2024 legislative elections. Both candidates are seen as prominent contenders for Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions in the Legislative Yuan. The KMT aims to secure at least 12 seats, while the TPP hopes to obtain at least 10 seats. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) seeks to surpass its previous election result of 13 seats. In the draw, the DPP received ballot number 6, the New Power Party (NPP) got number 8, the KMT drew number 9, and the TPP was assigned number 12. The event saw moments of excitement, prompting a reminder to maintain order.

Greenpeace stages dramatic protests at the national campaign headquarters of the Democratic Progressive Party, Kuomintang, and Taiwan People’s Party presidential candidates, symbolizing Taiwan’s ＂lack of green electricity.＂ Activists construct towering billboards to voice concerns about Taiwan’s environmental and economic crises due to inadequate green energy development. Greenpeace urges all candidates to commit to enhancing green energy targets for 2030. Lai Ching-te, the DPP candidate, references COP28’s decision and President Tsai Ing-wen’s efforts to complete the first phase of the energy transition. Taiwan’s green electricity supply now exceeds 10 percent, surpassing nuclear power generation.

TSMC chairman Mark Liu’s upcoming retirement in 2024 has led investment experts to suggest that the semiconductor giant should slow down the progress of its new manufacturing facility in the United States. Industry analyst Jonah Cheng believes that TSMC’s policy direction will remain unchanged under the leadership of chief executive C.C. Wei, who is expected to succeed Liu as chairman. Cheng also proposes maintaining a dual leadership structure to cultivate successors from various backgrounds. Speculation suggests that Liu’s retirement may be linked to potential investment challenges in the company’s U.S. expansion. In response to these challenges, Cheng recommends a deceleration in the construction of TSMC’s second U.S. plant. He also highlights the need to assess the current downturn in the car market and economic outlook before proceeding with the German plant focused on automotive applications. Cheng suggests that the Japanese facility could be an optimal choice due to labor and power shortages in Taiwan, as well as cultural similarities and strong government support from Japan. TSMC’s primary obstacle, according to Cheng, is maintaining its leadership position in the semiconductor industry, especially after surpassing Intel. Additionally, the cyclical nature of the industry and the potential opportunities presented by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) applications pose further challenges for the company.

The number of approved overseas Chinese and foreign investments in Taiwan decreased by 8.89% to 2,102 cases in the first 11 months of 2023 compared to the same period last year. However, the investment amount from these sources reached US$10.79 billion (NT$323.7 billion), the second-highest in the past 15 years, with significant contributions from the offshore wind power sector. French company TotalEnergies Renewables SAS and British firm OSW Investments Taiwan JVCO 2 Limited increased their capital in Haiding Two International Investment Co., Ltd. by NT$5.03 billion. New companies established during this period amounted to 1,124 cases, with an investment value of US$680 million (NT$20.37 billion). Investments from Southeast Asian countries increased notably, with 609 cases, a 41.3% year-on-year increase, and a monetary surge of 25.2% to US$2.52 billion (NT$75.68 billion), mainly from Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. However, Chinese investments in Taiwan declined, with only 24 approved cases, a 45.45% decrease from the previous year, and investment figures dropping by 21.65% to US$27.38 million (NT$820 million). On the other hand, overseas investments from Taiwan increased, with a moderate rise in approved cases by 2.44% to 504 and a substantial annual increase of 145.61% in investment total to US$22.81 billion (NT$684.42 billion). Key overseas investments included TSMC’s US$8 billion capital injection into its Arizona subsidiary and a €3.5 billion investment in Germany’s ESMC GmbH. Foxconn Technology Group also made a significant investment of US$8 billion in its Singapore subsidiary, and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. invested a similar amount in Singapore-based Yang Ming (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

KMT vice presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong challenges the narrative of the ＂1992 Consensus,＂ stating it was not used during cross-strait negotiations. He explains that the parties involved articulated their positions orally with no unified expression, and it was later that Su Chi introduced the term. Jaw also addresses the DPP’s stance on the ＂One China＂ policy, stating that the DPP urges Beijing to acknowledge ＂One China＂ as the Republic of China, a recognition unlikely from Beijing. He critiques the DPP’s performance over their 8-year tenure and suggests that the electorate could express dissatisfaction by transferring power to the KMT. Jaw acknowledges the contributions of Taiwanese businesses to China’s economic development and asserts that Taiwan could demand economic concessions from China. He questions the need for increased defense spending and extended conscription in Taiwan in the absence of an immediate threat, stating that conflict between the two sides should and must not occur.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed an amendment to the House Tax Act, known as the ＂House Hoarding Tax 2.0,＂ raising the tax rate for non-owner-occupied housing to a range of 2 to 4.8 percent, up from the current range of 1.5 to 3.6 percent. The tax rates will apply nationally to all properties owned by individuals and will be implemented by July 2025. Local governments will set their tax rate discrepancies based on the total number of residential properties owned nationwide. The amendment was approved in the Legislative Yuan session following negotiations among the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Kuomintang (KMT), and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), with dissent from the New Power Party (NPP).

The newly appointed Chairperson of the New Media Entertainment Association (NMEA), Daphne Lee, emphasizes the importance of funding, talent, and global integration for Taiwan’s content industry to succeed. At the 2023 Asiahub New Media Summit in Taipei, Lee highlights the need for cross-sector collaboration and industry chain integration in the AI era. The summit features six main themes, 19 keynote speeches, panel discussions, and 7 workshops with 60 speakers. Participants, such as LINE Taiwan Managing Director Roger Chen, discuss Taiwan’s soft power, industry upgrade, transformation, and global outreach. Videoland Television Network Chairman Lee Chung-pei suggests creating quality content to ensure profitability and establish funding recovery mechanisms. Lin Chien-han, Chairman of Taiwan Secom, shares the company’s dual strategy of investment and production, moving from DVD rental services to investing in Taiwanese films. Lin also discusses how Taiwanese creative content is breaking into the international market by integrating local culture and socio-political issues, citing successful films like ＂The Candidate＂ and ＂The Bridge Curse.＂

Join the rally against air pollution and global warming in Taichung, central Taiwan on December 24. Environmental organizations are demanding a coal-free central Taiwan and urging Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen to take immediate action to phase out coal at the Taichung Power Plant by 2026. Central Taiwan is responsible for over 60% of the nation’s coal-fired power generation, causing long-term pollution. The International Energy Agency advises developed countries to achieve coal phase-out by 2030 to control temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. Taiwan’s current energy policy does not align with international trends, with proposed energy-use proportion still including 14 to 20% coal by 2030. However, data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs suggests that increased generation from natural gas and renewable sources can allow for a full coal phase-out at Taichung Power Plant by 2026, a decade earlier than Taipower’s claim. Local governments in central Taiwan are criticized for insufficient efforts to reduce coal use, and residents are urged not to wait another 12 years for a healthier environment.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je asserts that while 65% of people in Taiwan desire a political party turnover, there is also a 70% majority that opposes the Kuomintang (KMT) being in power. Ko highlights that around 70% of Taiwanese do not want the KMT to assume office, countering media reports on potential strategic voting effects. He suggests conducting further polls to determine the number of people who want the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to step down and those who do not wish for the KMT to take power. Ko cites Vivian Huang’s victory in the 2022 Taipei mayoral election as evidence of a true third force in Taiwanese politics. During his visit to Kaohsiung, Ko is campaigning for Tseng Yin-li, the party’s sole legislative candidate in southern Taiwan.

President Tsai Ing-wen urges international support for Taiwan, citing its democratic values, importance in the global supply chain, and strategic geographical location. Reflecting on the Democratic Progressive Party’s success in Taoyuan City, Tsai highlights the party’s growing vote shares and her achievements in the area. As the electoral campaign continues, Tsai emphasizes the completion of the first phase of her political blueprint and the need for her party’s candidates to remain in power to implement future plans.

The Legislative Yuan has decided to suspend its plenary and committee meetings from December 20 to December 31 in preparation for the 2024 presidential and legislative elections. This decision follows a proposal by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Caucus and is in line with the parliamentary tradition of pausing meetings during the election period. The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Caucus and the New Power Party (NPP) Caucus opposed the suspension proposal but their amendment was not accepted. The DPP’s proposal was passed, with Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Tsai Chi-Chang announcing the decision. The Kuomintang (KMT) caucus leader Tseng Ming-chung argued for a consensus through negotiation before arranging a recess, opposing the resolution’s forceful passage. DPP Caucus Director-General Ker Chien-ming cited a 30-year-old tradition of recessing before elections and emphasized that the decision only brings forward the suspension by 11 days.

The TVBS Charity Foundation hosted its fifth fundraising party in Fengshan, Kaohsiung, in collaboration with the Chinese Christian Relief Association (CCRA). Over a hundred participants gathered to review the spread of love in Kaohsiung and Pingtung, with the theme of ＂Sharing Endless Love＂ at the heart of the event. The party aimed to express gratitude to churches, social welfare workers, and beneficiaries for their collaboration throughout the year. Kaohsiung City Government Deputy Secretary-General Chang Chiah-sing thanked the TVBS Foundation and the city government’s Social Affairs Bureau for their continuous support, which has aided local social charities and cared for about 12,000 middle and low-income households. Pastor Wang Chung-wu of The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan shared that the ＂Endless Love＂ project helped approximately 100 households, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of brothers and sisters. President Chen Wen-ch’i of the TVBS Foundation expressed gratitude to Jesus for allowing everyone to understand the meaning of love and the essence of Christmas, while acknowledging the event’s role in expanding the power of love.

KMT vice presidential candidate Chao Shao-kang criticizes the DPP’s absolute control of Taiwan’s governance, blaming it for causing chaos in the nation. Chao highlights the DPP’s warnings that a KMT majority would undermine checks and balances, leaving Taiwan ＂hollowed out＂. He argues that the DPP’s eight years in power have resulted in a financial deficit, increased cross-strait tensions, and the loss of nine diplomatic allies. Chao also points to a 19-month decline in export markets, exacerbating wealth inequality and housing issues. He attributes these outcomes to the DPP’s dominance from the presidency to the legislature, arguing that local governments focus on infrastructure projects unrelated to Taiwan’s political influence.

Premier Chen Chien-jen celebrated the release of Human Rights Stamps by Chunghwa Post, showcasing Taiwan’s advancements in human rights. The event was attended by notable figures such as Chen Chu, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, and Wu Hong-mo, Chairperson of Chunghwa Post. Premier Chen, an avid philatelist, emphasized the universality of human rights and the power of stamps in raising awareness. Taiwan’s progress in human rights was highlighted, including the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan in 2022, incorporating five out of nine major human rights conventions into domestic laws. Taiwan’s junior high students also achieved top scores internationally in civic education assessments, particularly excelling in gender equality, ethnic equality, immigrant rights, and environmental awareness. Chen Chu recalled a previous stamp featuring Eleanor Roosevelt during martial law in 1964, introducing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The new set of four stamps features acronyms of major human rights documents, each illustrated with distinct colors and symbols representing their respective themes. Wu expressed hope that these stamps would showcase Taiwan’s human rights achievements as they circulate.

A new poll conducted by Formosa Magazine shows that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ticket of Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim is leading with 40.1% support, followed by the Kuomintang (KMT) duo Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong with 31.6%. The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) pair Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu received the lowest support at 14.8%. The survey also revealed that 3.3% of respondents would not vote or cast an invalid vote, and 10.2% were undecided. The poll shows a slight increase of 1.8 percentage points for the Lai-Hsiao alliance, a 0.2 percentage point rise for the Hou-Jaw ticket, and no change for the Ko-Wu ticket compared to the previous poll. In terms of party governance preferences, 35.3% favored the DPP staying in power, while 29.1% supported a handover to the KMT, and 13.3% were in favor of the TPP. Additionally, 47% disagreed with the idea of voting for the opposition party with the highest level of support to remove the ruling party, while 41.1% agreed. The poll interviewed 1,201 Taiwanese citizens aged 20 and above across 22 counties and cities using computer-assisted telephone interviewing from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6. The confidence level was at 95% with a maximum sampling error of ±2.8%.

A civilian group from Taiwan, the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition (TWYCC), unveiled the ＂Songshan Declaration＂ at a side event related to the upcoming 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai. The declaration calls for fair transition strategies to combat climate change. TWYCC representative Gina Lee highlighted the controversial solar energy development in Tainan’s Qigu area, discussing its negative impact on local aquaculture fishers. The group also explored examples of just transition, such as solar development in Cigu and the electrification of scooters, expressing concern about the government’s lack of dialogue with youth. The ＂Songshan Declaration＂ was jointly initiated by stakeholders from Taiwan’s industries, government, academia, and civil society, pledging to enforce the Climate Change Response Act and engage in the global stocktake. Chen Hui-ping, Chairperson of the Taiwan Green Energy for Charity Association, shared experiences of enabling social change through the ＂Green Well (GW) 100+＂ initiative, which has installed solar power systems for underprivileged communities and conducted energy audits and equipment replacements in social welfare institutions. The association emphasized that their model of green charity fosters wider stakeholder participation and contributes positively to the energy transition.

Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Wang Mei-hua, has announced that Taiwan will closely monitor the development of new nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors and fusion power, and remain open to their adoption. Premier Chen Chien-jen has highlighted that addressing the challenges surrounding nuclear waste from fusion technology could significantly increase societal support for the technology. This declaration comes as over 20 countries, including the United States and Japan, proposed at the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) to triple global nuclear power capacity by 2050. Additionally, nearly 120 countries committed to tripling renewable energy generation internationally within the next seven years. At COP28, 22 countries advocated for nuclear energy, focusing on small modular reactors and nuclear fusion technology, as well as securing international financial support for their development. These discussions at COP28 reflect a growing interest in diverse and innovative approaches to addressing climate change and powering the future.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislator Lai Hsiang-ling has called for the inclusion of a formula in the Minimum Wage Act to guarantee that wage adjustments are not lower than the inflation rate. Meanwhile, New Power Party legislator Chiu Hsien-chih has demanded that representatives from the Ministry of Labor (MOL) be involved in the wage deliberation committee and that evaluation reports be made public before meetings. Lai has expressed concern about the lack of changes in the current draft of the Minimum Wage Act and the limited number of academic representatives on the committee. She has proposed increasing the number of labor representatives and considering factors such as the consumer price index annual increase rate, previous year levels, rent, and employment dependency ratios in annual wage adjustments. Lai has also suggested barring non-compliant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from participating in government tenders.