Taiwan 2023 結果共255筆

The Legislative Yuan’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee reviewed proposed amendments to the Assisted Reproduction Act, including one that would allow a surviving spouse to use embryos for having children after the death of their partner. The Ministry of Health and Welfare is considering expanding the legislation to include same-sex couples, single individuals, and surrogate pregnancies. Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan suggested a public hearing to gather feedback due to the ethical, legal, and child welfare considerations involved. The current law only permits assisted reproduction for married couples, excluding single women and lesbian couples. Taiwan also does not currently recognize surrogacy as legal, creating unresolved issues regarding the parental status of children born through such arrangements. The debate reflects the government’s attempt to address societal changes and demographic challenges, particularly concerns about population decline.

The story discusses the response of the Kuomintang (KMT) party’s International Affairs Department to the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) allegations regarding the KMT’s cross-strait policy. The KMT defended its stance and accused the DPP of manipulating international opinion to hide its own lack of expertise in national security. The DPP’s allegations were made in an article by Vincent Chao, the head of the DPP’s International Affairs Department, in The Diplomat. Chao questioned the clarity of the KMT’s position on relations with China and claimed that a KMT presidency under Hou Yu-ih would lead to a more isolated Taiwan that is overly reliant on China. The KMT argued that Chao deliberately misconstrued their position on military conscription and reiterated the importance of national defense and conscription reforms for the security of the Republic of China (R.O.C.). They expressed regret over the DPP’s misleading claims and highlighted Hou’s commitment to bolstering national defense during his visit to the United States in September 2023. The KMT also criticized Chao for distorting their stance despite their envoy’s detailed explanation of the party’s defense policies at the US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference in October. The KMT emphasized the significance of the next president’s term overlapping with Xi Jinping’s third term as the leader of China’s Communist Party and warned against relying on the DPP’s diplomatic strategies or self-proclaimed experts.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) vice-presidential candidate Cynthia Wu clarifies that her upcoming trip abroad to participate in the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) was planned since October, refuting claims that it was an attempt to avoid controversy surrounding her nationality. Wu, who is the convener for the health and environmental committee, emphasizes that the conference is part of her pre-determined schedule and highlights her dedication to sustainability. She hopes to represent Taiwan and foster international collaboration during COP 28.

Taiwan’s exports for 2023 are projected to exceed US＄400 billion, making it the third-highest on record. Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun expressed confidence in the sustained positive trend, with monthly exports in the fourth quarter expected to surpass US＄30 billion each. The country has accumulated US＄355.1 billion in export figures for the first ten months, putting it on track to achieve the forecast. Year-end stockpiling needs, emerging technologies, and opportunities in artificial intelligence contribute to cautious optimism for November and December’s export performance. Taiwan’s full-year exports are anticipated to trail behind the US＄446.4 billion seen in 2021 and the US＄479.4 billion in 2022. Since 2017, Taiwan’s annual exports have consistently surpassed US＄300 billion, a significant increase from the figures prior to 2016. The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics forecasts a 6.3 percent export growth rate for the coming year.

The Taipei Dome in Taiwan is gradually increasing its attendance for safety reasons, aiming to complete a full capacity test of 40,000 spectators within the next year. The 30th BFA Asian Baseball Championship recently opened its doors to 17,000 people at the Dome. To ensure the safe evacuation of these fans, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an detailed plans to increase the frequency of Taipei MRT trains, with the aim of completing the evacuation in 35 to 40 minutes. Chiang also mentioned that the arrival of Japan’s professional baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants, next year could potentially accommodate 40,000 fans, depending on the professional assessment of the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA) and the Farglory Group. The city government is committed to assisting and gradually increasing the number of spectators in a safe manner. The 2023 Asian Championship, featuring a highly anticipated Taiwan vs. South Korea showdown, is the first international event at the Dome since its completion, and tickets for the event sold out instantly, with 17,000 snapped up in seconds.

Taiwan’s Finance Minister, Chuang Tsui-yun, projects that Taiwan’s total export value for this year will exceed US$400 billion, marking the third-highest record in Taiwan’s history. The nation’s exports for the first ten months of the year have already reached US$355.1 billion. Despite a slight decline in October, Taiwan’s export sector has shown signs of resilience, with positive growth in September. Chuang advises industry leaders and government departments to closely monitor global economic factors, such as inflation and the interest rate hike cycle, which may impact exports. Cautious optimism is emphasized for exports in the fourth quarter and beyond.

Taipei City has been crowned the champion of happiness in Taiwan, according to the ＂2023 County and City Happiness Index Survey＂ conducted by the Economic Daily News and Cathay Life Insurance. Chiayi City secured the runner-up position, followed closely by Taichung City, Hsinchu City, and Taitung County. Taichung City also received the ＂Most Improved Award＂ for achieving the highest government satisfaction rating in Taiwan. The survey, which questioned over 15,260 Taiwanese aged 20 and up, was conducted from Aug. 24 to Oct. 16, 2023.

The latest poll by Formosa Magazine reveals that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is leading the 2024 Taiwan presidential race, with the Kuomintang (KMT) trailing with approximately 30% support, and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) at the bottom. Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim, the DPP presidential candidates, have an approval rating of 36.3%, while the KMT contenders, Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-Kong, hold a 31.0% approval rating. Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu of the TPP secured an 18% support rate. In terms of party support, 32.4% of respondents favored the DPP to continue governing, 28.9% supported the KMT taking the reins, and 14.8% backed the TPP to lead. When asked about an alternation of ruling parties, 37.8% favored voting for the opposition party with the highest polls, while 51.4% disagreed. The poll also examined negative sentiments towards the candidates, with 33.3% least wanting to see Lai Ching-te become president, followed by Ko Wen-je at 23.8% and Hou Yu-ih at 16.4%. Among committed supporters, 20.5% declared unwavering support for the Lai-Hsiao ticket, while Hou and Jaw received 20.0%, and Ko and Wu had 9.1%. However, 41.9% of voters did not pledge strong allegiance to any candidate. The poll, conducted from Nov. 24 to Nov. 28, 2023, used the Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) method and successfully interviewed 1,476 people with a 95% confidence level.

Taiwanese companies have raised fixed monthly salaries in an attempt to address labor shortages, but the annual salary increase rate has declined to 2.5% from last year’s 3.1%. Despite this, the average annual salary in Taiwan reached a new eight-year high at NT$694,000 in 2023. The semiconductor industry remains the highest-paying sector for the eighth consecutive year, surpassing NT$1 million in average salary. Following the semiconductor industry, the computer and consumer electronics manufacturing, electronic components manufacturing, telecommunications and communication services, and software and internet industries are the next highest-paying sectors. In terms of engineering roles, IC design engineers earn the highest yearly earnings, while auditors, computer systems analysts, and network security analysts lead non-engineering jobs. Year-end bonuses in 2023 decreased to an average of 1.08 months’ worth of salary, the lowest in a decade. Financial institutions are expected to provide the highest average year-end bonuses, followed by the semiconductor and construction industries. Looking ahead to 2024, civil servants, educators, and military personnel will receive a 4% pay increase, while private companies anticipate an average increase of 3.2% in salaries, with the accommodation and food services industry having the highest proportion of enterprises raising pay.

Taiwan’s 2023 GDP growth forecast has been lowered to 1.42%, the lowest in 14 years, due to weaker exports and private investment. Year-end bonuses for Taiwanese workers have also been affected, with the average amount shrinking to 1.08 months’ worth of salary, hitting a 10-year low. The financial industry leads in bonus payouts with an average of 1.83 months’ salary, followed by the semiconductor industry at 1.38 months. The healthcare services industry averages just 0.97 months of salary, while the accommodations and food services sector lags further behind at only 0.59 months. Despite the downward revision, the DGBAS remains optimistic for 2024, forecasting a GDP growth rate rebound to 3.35%. However, challenges such as the Ukraine-Russia war, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and ongoing inflation may pose risks to the global economy. Looking ahead to 2024, local job banks predict pay increases in 47.5% of companies, with an average salary hike of 3.2%, slightly lower than in 2023. Experts caution that Taiwan’s economic recovery may not be as swift as hoped.

Explore the soaring heights of Taiwan’s automotive market in 2023. From electric vehicle demand to the impact of the global chip shortage, discover the key drivers behind the near 18-year sales high and the evolving landscape of car brands in Taiwan.

董事長樂團獲日本東京「2023 One Taiwan研討會」邀約前往演出，疫情過後首次出國就到日本，團員們直呼：「台日友好！」吉董感性分享，出國或是外地演出住在一起，難免會有些生活上的摩擦，所以分配房間要有技巧，把興趣相仿的、不計較的放在一間，大家愉快比較重要，更提到一個團能持續26年，還一起出國演出，每晚還都喝在一起，實在不簡單。很多團除了演出在一起，互動真的就只是像同事了，能夠超過20年情誼不變的秘訣在於做人要互相。

桃園市長張善政11月21日下午前往中壢區，出席「Taoyuan FuturePeak 桃園青創博覽會」。張市長表示，「Taoyuan FuturePeak」的含意是期許參展的青創團隊可以成為台灣未來的尖峰，今日桃園青創博覽會串連100組基北北桃竹竹苗七縣市的青創團隊，涵蓋整個北台灣，展現他們的創意結晶，期待在不久的將來，「Taoyuan FuturePeak」可以成為「Taiwan FuturePeak」。張市長強調，推動「青創」不是一個地方政府的努力就可以完成，而是必須有各縣市政府的合作，並透過國際連結，累積更大的能量，才能讓台灣青創團隊在國際舞台嶄露頭角。

The Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI) will host the ＂2023 Taiwan Economic Development Forum — Dialogue with Future National Leaders＂ on Nov. 27, 29-30. The forum aims to address critical issues for Taiwan’s economic development, including industrial development, energy, environmental protection, labor force, taxation, international trade, cross-strait economic relations, long-term care, and social insurance. Key candidates for the upcoming presidential election, including Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je, Kuomintang (KMT) New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, will present their policies and participate in discussions. The forum will be presided over by CNFI Chairman Matthew F.C. Miau, Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC) Chairman Thomas Wu, and General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China (ROCCOC) Chairman Paul Hsu. The event will take place at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that two kilograms of green tea powder imported from Japan were destroyed at the border due to trace amounts of radioactive cesium-137. The batch’s cesium-137 levels were within the acceptable limit of 100 becquerels per kilogram, but the FDA emphasized the importance of ethical practices and urged businesses to adhere to them. The FDA tested the batch on October 31 and found 3 becquerels per kg of cesium-137 and 3 becquerels per kg of cesium-134 plus cesium-137. Since last year, food from five prefectures of Fukushima, Japan, has been imported to Taiwan, provided it meets radiation and origin inspection requirements. The FDA’s regulations for cesium-134 and cesium-137 levels in various food categories are based on the ＂Standards for the Tolerance of Atomic Dust and Radioactivity Contamination in Foods.＂ From 2011 to 2023, Taiwan has tested 224,970 batches of Japanese food, with 252 samples showing trace radioactivity that did not exceed national or Japanese standards.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has condemned North Korea for launching a military reconnaissance satellite, marking the 22nd instance in 2023 of North Korea deploying missiles or satellites. MOFA expressed grave concerns over this provocation, stating that it undermines regional peace and security. The ministry called on North Korea to comply with UN Security Council resolutions and engage in dialogue to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the surrounding area. North Korea’s state media outlet, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported the successful placement of the satellite into Earth’s orbit and plans for future launches.

The 2023 APEC summit between the U.S. and China in San Francisco highlights tensions in their relationship, particularly regarding Taiwan. Violent clashes between anti-Xi protestors and supporters of the Chinese president marred the day, with protestors outnumbered and overpowered. The summit aimed to address sensitive issues and find common ground, but the situation became increasingly tense. The White House reiterated its support for the one-China policy while expressing hopes for Taiwan’s development and freedom of choice in trade partners.

Chiayi City Councilor Cheng Kuang-hung has raised concerns about the declining birthrate in Chiayi and the city’s residents being the least willing to marry compared to other Taiwanese cities. A survey conducted in 2018 with over 8,000 Taiwanese netizens revealed that the number of newborns in Chiayi has been consistently decreasing over the past decade. In 2014, there were 2,100 newborns, but by September 2023, the figure had dropped to 845. Unmarried individuals aged 25-44 accounted for more than half of the population in Chiayi, with 52.52% being unmarried. Men in this age group had a higher unmarried rate of 58.86% compared to women at 46.37%. Cheng suggested that government policies and budget allocations should be redirected towards encouraging early marriage and childbirth instead of focusing solely on post-marriage childbirth subsidies and childcare. Academia Sinica also recommended promoting marriage and procreation at younger ages to address the declining birth rates. The Executive Yuan established a dedicated office in 2018 to combat the declining birthrate, investing over NT＄40 billion in recent years.

憑藉熱門金曲〈Titanium〉紅遍全球的「EDM教父」大衛庫塔（David Guetta），於英國權威媒體《DJ Mag》在台灣時間今（16）日凌晨公布的「2023年世界百大DJ排行榜」榮登冠軍。而他首場世界巡演將獻給台灣，並於12月8日、9日舉辦的第三屆Ultra Taiwan（超世代音樂節）擔任首日壓軸DJ。

The number of Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan has only recovered to 33% of pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2023. One reason for this is the depreciation of the Japanese yen, but the major concern is the growing cross-strait tensions. The instability in the Taiwan Strait has created unease among Japanese tourists. Maintaining stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait is a key task for the new line-up of top government leaders. Another contributing factor to Japan’s decreased tourism in Taiwan is the rising interest in South Korea, including its Korean pop culture, local delicacies, casinos, and cosmetic surgery services, despite its more expensive cost to visit after the pandemic.

The National Health Insurance Committee will discuss using non-anticipated risk funds and the insurance reserve fund in Taiwan on November 15, according to the National Health Insurance Administration Director-General. The insurance premium rate is expected to remain unchanged in 2024. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all sectors, including traditional Chinese medicine, which reported increased medical expenses in the first two quarters of 2023. Western medicine also experienced a drop in the second quarter. The insurance reserve fund is projected to reach 1.97 months by the end of 2023, higher than the previous estimate of 1.5 months, largely due to a government budget allocation of NT＄24 billion.

Taiwan experiences a surge in travel as global restrictions ease, leading to a phenomenon known as ＂vacation vengeance.＂ The Ministry of Finance reports that approximately 8.42 million passengers traveled in the first nine months of 2023. However, strict tax exemption regulations have caused public frustration as returning residents face customs inspections for exceeding the purchase limit. The current tax exemption limit is NTD$20,000, but citizens argue it is insufficient. The Ministry of Finance is considering raising the limit to NTD$30,000 to NTD$40,000. The regulations governing duty-free privileges for inbound personal luggage have remained unchanged for over three decades. The Ministry of Finance is discussing potential changes to address the rising cost of overseas goods and the country’s gross national income compared to Japan and South Korea.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) minister has stated that multiple channels have been used to raise awareness of the ＂Online Registration System for Taiwanese Citizens Visiting Mainland China.＂ The system was implemented in January 2023 to improve emergency assistance services for travelers. However, out of over one million Taiwanese nationals who visited China from January to September, only around 2,000 registered with the system, resulting in a usage rate of just 0.19%. MAC Minister Chiu Tai-san acknowledged the low uptake and stated that efforts have been made to promote the system, including engaging travel agencies. Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung highlighted that in August alone, over 200,000 people traveled from Taiwan to China, but only 554 registrations were made. Minister Chiu explained that registration is voluntary, and if citizens do not anticipate encountering problems in mainland China, it is challenging for the ministry to enforce it. In response to calls for increased promotion, Chiu promised that MAC colleagues would intensify efforts to raise awareness about the registration system.

The Minister of Economic Affairs praised the growing industry ties between Taiwan and Japan at the 2023 Japan-Taiwan Image Exhibition. Investments from Japanese companies such as Ebara, Fujifilm, and semiconductor factories are expected to contribute significantly to Taiwan’s economy, reaching a value of NTD$10 billion. Japan’s interest in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, particularly TSMC’s projects in Kumamoto, suggests the potential for future collaboration. Minister Wang Mei-hua emphasized the importance of adopting low-carbon and smart technologies for a sustainable future, aligning with Japan’s smart city initiatives. She also highlighted the potential of hydrogen power, urging Taiwan to follow Japan’s lead in developing new technologies and exploring infrastructure partnerships.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week 2023 in San Francisco will be a significant event for Taiwan. The country’s main focuses during the summit include the U.S-China leaders’ talks, the possibility of meetings between U.S. President Joe Biden and TSMC Founder Morris Chang, progress on U.S-Taiwan trade negotiations, and Taiwan’s potential participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). President Biden is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade, Taiwan, the U.S.-China tech war, and PLA activities in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan officials are also working towards arranging a meeting between Chang and Biden. While the first agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade has been signed, the second round of negotiations is not progressing as expected. Taiwan’s Minister Without Portfolio John Deng hopes to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai during the summit to confirm progress. Additionally, Taiwan will likely use the APEC summit as an opportunity to hold bilateral talks with CPTPP members to garner support for its admission to the trade pact.