new policy 結果共67筆

Taiwan’s export performance reached a historic high from 2021 to 2023, but experienced a 9.8% decline in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Finance. Despite this setback, exports to the U.S. continued to soar with a 49.7% year-on-year increase, while exports to countries covered by Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy also saw significant growth. However, exports to mainland China decreased to 35.2%. Taiwan’s total export tally for 2023 amounted to US$432.48 billion, ranking behind only 2022 and 2021. The demand for communications and electronic products during the pandemic-induced work-from-home trend boosted Taiwan’s exports. The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research predicted significant international trade growth in 2024, which would benefit export-oriented economies like Taiwan. In December 2023, Taiwan’s exports to the U.S. reached $8.49 billion, and exports to southern countries surged by over 50%. However, due to the limited coverage of free trade agreements (FTAs), many traditional Taiwanese industries chose to restructure risks and production in Southeast and South Asia. The return of Taiwanese businesses and the expansion of local factories after the U.S.-China trade war, as well as global economic circumstances, significantly impacted the decline in 2023 exports. The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) estimated the first-quarter export volume for 2024 to be around US$106.1 billion, which is an improvement compared to the same period in 2023, but a 10% decrease from 2022.

Newly elected Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu has announced that the parliamentary session will begin on February 20th, taking into account the Lunar New Year holiday and allowing time for staff preparation. Han plans to invite Premier Chen Chien-jen and department heads to deliver policy reports and answer questions. He emphasized his commitment to sincerity and enthusiasm in his role as Speaker, urging all members to consider the future and fostering mutual trust and cooperation between political parties. Han made the decision after the first cross-party consultation, where proposals were made for either February 16th or 20th. Han and Johnny Chiang were elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, on February 1st.

National Taiwan University (NTU) has announced the graduate thesis quality and review standards for over 40 departments or degree programs, with the exception of the department involved in past plagiarism disputes. The Graduate Institute of National Development, which was implicated in the rescission of degrees awarded to former Hsinchu City mayor Lin Chih-chien and Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan, has not yet released its thesis verification policy. In response, NTU’s Office of Academic Affairs expressed regret over the disputes and implemented measures to enhance the quality of graduate theses. Some departments are still discussing the new directions. Under the new policy, each department is required to establish their own evaluation mechanisms, which may include limitations on the number of graduate students per professor, originality standards for theses, and a threshold for acceptable content similarity.

Taiwan’s Premier Chen Chien-jen and his cabinet have tendered their resignations, which were approved during a cabinet meeting. The resignations await confirmation by the president for a new government to take charge on May 20. The premier is expected to step down before the first legislative assembly after the current legislators’ term expires. The executive branch will continue to push its policy agenda during this transitional period, aiming to work with the new legislative body to promote policies beneficial to the nation and its citizens. Chen Chien-jen launched significant policies during his term, including cash handouts, education subsidies, and safety measures for a sustainable automobile society. He also emphasized Taiwan’s commitment to defense capabilities and democracy through the successful submarine launch and the resumption of one-year military service.

The Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan has announced new training assessment rules for recruits, emphasizing strict criteria to qualify for additional allowances and professional certificates. This comes as Taiwan extends its mandatory military service to one year, with enhanced training activities including realistic military drills.

President-elect Lai Ching-te met with a U.S. delegation, expressing Taiwan’s commitment to peace in the Taiwan Strait. He thanked the U.S. for their congratulations and support, and pledged to work with the U.S. and like-minded allies to maintain stability. The delegation included Stephen Hadley and James Steinberg, who emphasized the consistent U.S. policy towards Taiwan. They also met with other Taiwanese politicians, including New Taipei’s mayor and representatives from the Taiwan People’s Party and Kuomintang.

The 2024 Taiwan elections, marked by a victory for the Democratic Progressive Party, have drawn global attention and sparked discussions on the island’s future relations with China and the United States. Experts analyze the implications of Lai Ching-te’s leadership and the reactions from Washington amidst rising regional tensions.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has begun distributing COVID-19 rapid test kits to travelers at Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei. The kits are available in the reception areas and exit halls of both terminals, and each traveler is eligible to receive one kit regardless of age. The decision was made in response to the increasing rates of respiratory diseases worldwide. The CDC Deputy Director-General, Philip Lo, stated that the peak of the COVID-19 surge in Taiwan is expected to be in mid-to-late January, with a possible rise after the Lunar New Year holidays. Travelers have expressed appreciation for the policy, with many noting how thoughtful and helpful the Taiwanese government is. The distribution of test kits may continue after the Lunar New Year holidays, depending on the international and domestic pandemic conditions.

President Tsai Ing-wen criticizes China’s one-sided trade barriers and emphasizes that bilateral trade relations should not be used as a political tool in her New Year’s address. The tariff preference for certain products under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) has been suspended as of Jan. 1, 2024. Tsai notes China’s intervention in elections and expresses confidence in the people of Taiwan to make wise decisions. She argues that Taiwan’s industries already have global exposure and are gradually reducing reliance on China. Tsai believes that while the economic benefits of the ECFA are limited, diversifying risks and global positioning are important for Taiwan’s industries. She highlights that China often imposes unilateral trade barriers on other countries for political reasons, citing examples of punitive tariffs and import bans on Lithuania and Australia due to their friendly relationship with Taiwan and criticism of China’s human rights policy in Xinjiang.

Taiwan’s health ministry has announced the establishment of the Center for Health Policy and Technology Assessment (CHPTA) with an investment of nearly NT＄200 million from the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA). The CHPTA aims to expedite the review process for newly insured drugs by implementing parallel reviews. Starting from New Year’s Day in 2024, the new system is expected to significantly shorten the time required for reviewing newly insured drugs from an average of 13 months to 6 months. Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan emphasized that national health insurance plays a stabilizing role in Taiwanese society and disapproved of major amendments, ruling out the possibility of a ＂third generation health insurance.＂ He also expressed the belief that drug pricing policies under the health insurance system need reform, making the launch of CHPTA a significant reform effort.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu discusses her initial struggles in her new role, revealing that she was not provided much guidance by the party. It took her several days to figure out certain techniques and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Wu also acknowledges that the party’s resources and focus were primarily on Chairman Ko Wen-je. She addresses recent polls indicating a surge in her unpopularity, attributing it to her low media profile in her political career. Wu emphasizes her commitment to aligning with Ko Wen-je’s campaign schedule and engaging in activities like canvassing, policy announcements, and appearances on programs to better communicate with the public.

DPP Presidential candidate Lai Ching-te proposes using 5% of land in New Taipei City’s Wen Tzu-tsun redevelopment area to build 10,000 public housing units, surpassing his KMT contender’s plan of 2,100 units. Lai suggests that if local officials are unable to implement his suggestions, they can sell the land back to the government for construction. He also aims to exceed the 200,000-unit goal set by President Tsai Ing-wen, with plans for over 130,000 additional units and an increase of 170,000 units through trustee management, ultimately reaching a 300,000-unit goal. Lai suggests that non-special municipalities offer 3% of land area for public housing, while special municipalities offer 5% during urban land redesignation or district expropriation.

During a campaign event in New Taipei City, Kuomintang (KMT) vice-presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong mistakenly referred to the election day on Jan. 13 as ’Jan. 15.’ He quickly corrected himself, stating that they would be a president-elect on Jan. 15 next year, which received enthusiastic applause from supporters. This is not the first verbal gaffe from Jaw, as he has made other slips of the tongue recently. He called out the rival Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te instead of his own party’s presidential hopeful Hou Yu-ih during a policy presentation by the Central Election Committee (CEC). Furthermore, he referred to former KMT chairman Johnny Chiang as a ’terrorist of peace for Taiwan’ instead of DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te during a campaign event in Taichung. Jaw also criticized the DPP’s governance record over the last eight years, arguing that their belief in a change of personnel and party now resonated with the DPP itself.

Dr. Chiang Kuan-yu, a prominent figure, criticized the inadequate security measures on campuses following a severe assault on a teenage student in New Taipei City. Dr. Chiang expressed concern that the victim’s life could be permanently altered due to the attack. He emphasized the potential long-term consequences, even if extracorporeal life support successfully saves the victim’s life and restores breathing. Dr. Chiang pointed out that prolonged absence of vital signs can deprive the brain of oxygen, leading to significant cognitive changes during recovery. The incident occurred when a 15-year-old male student scolded a female classmate for entering another classroom, which provoked her to seek help from a male classmate who then physically attacked the victim with a switchblade. Although the victim was revived through extracorporeal life support, his prognosis remains uncertain. Dr. Chiang condemned the incident as a serious campus safety issue and questioned how a juvenile delinquent managed to bring a knife into the school. He called for a ＂zero-tolerance＂ policy towards violence in educational institutions. Dr. Chiang further expressed concerns about the overall safety of students in what he described as a ＂dark campus＂ environment and stated that as a parent, he would not allow his child to continue attending the school.

Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Presidential candidate, announced at a rally in Pingtung his plans to construct a Taiwan High-Speed Rail line and two expressways in the area. Lai aims to balance Taiwan’s national development projects and bring more support and assistance to Pingtung, transforming it into a ＂beautiful new homeland.＂ His promises include extending the high-speed rail to Chaozhou Township, reducing travel time from Taipei to less than two hours. Lai also intends to attract high-tech industries, introduce agricultural technology, and enhance the export competitiveness of local farm produce. Additionally, he plans to uplift tourism service quality in Pingtung, transforming Kenting into a destination similar to Bali and developing Dapeng Bay into a Hawaii-like getaway. Lai emphasized Pingtung’s importance in the implementation of the New Southbound Policy, highlighting its potential contribution to Taiwan’s development in collaboration with other southern counties and cities. He credited his past contributions to Pingtung’s development, such as the Pingtung Veterans General Hospital, to the efforts of former Pingtung County Commissioner Pan Men-an, current commissioner Chou Chun-mi, and legislators. Lai seeks local residents’ support to make Pingtung glorious again.

The National Property Administration (NPA) in Taipei expects to exceed its goal of 200,000 social housing units by next year by 107 percent. Currently, there are already 94,023 social housing units completed or under construction, surpassing this year’s target of 20,000 units. The NPA provides rental housing matchmaking services to socioeconomically disadvantaged groups using private residential resources and professional management. Additionally, the NPA has proposed a new housing policy goal for 2025-2032, aiming to establish 250,000 direct social housing units, 250,000 units under rental management, and 500,000 units with rent subsidies. The NPA plans to implement more comprehensive housing policies to address the housing needs of different groups and alleviate the public’s housing burden.

DPP vice-presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim emphasized the importance of strength in maintaining Taiwan’s status quo and preventing bullying. She highlighted the current state and prospects of U.S.-Taiwan relations, noting that U.S. policy has consistently supported maintaining the status quo and opposing the use of force. Hsiao mentioned that under Xi Jinping’s leadership, the U.S. has shifted to view China competitively but does not seek a new Cold War. She emphasized critical issues of peace, security, and economic cooperation in Taiwan-U.S. ties, including the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade. Hsiao underscored Taiwan’s determination to defend itself, citing the national defense budget and military modernization reforms. She referred to herself as a ＂cat warrior＂ and advocated for government reform and a balanced international stance. Hsiao urged that Taiwan not become a divisive issue between American political parties and emphasized the need for a proper balance amidst U.S.-China competition to ensure Taiwan’s safe and steady progression.

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 Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in Taiwan have announced a new ＂Subsidiary Tourism＂ program aimed at boosting business travel. Foreign business travelers will be eligible for a subsidy of up to NT＄2,000 starting next year. The program has a budget of NT＄10 million and aims to support foreign business visitors to Taiwan. Stocks of related hotels have surged in response to this policy push, with analysts predicting positive growth for the tourism industry. The reduction in extended public holidays next year is expected to favor domestic tourism momentum and improve hotel occupancy rates. Overall, businesses and investors anticipate a robust year ahead for the hotel industry in Taiwan.

The Chiayi City Government has announced a subsidy program for pregnant women using taxi services, in an effort to create a more pregnancy-friendly environment and counteract the city’s declining birthrate. Starting from New Year’s Day, the subsidies for expectant mothers’ taxi rides will increase from NT＄2,800 to NT＄4,500, with a maximum subsidy per ride rising from NT＄100 to NT＄150. The program now includes travel for any medical visits, as long as the rides are with designated fleets to and from medical institutions. The validity of the transportation tickets has also been extended to include the first three months following the infant’s birth. The policy is targeted at Chiayi locals and former immigrant mothers whose spouses are registered residents of Chiayi. Additionally, Chiayi has introduced plans to provide emotional support, parenting guidance, legal counseling, and financial aid to pregnant women under 20.

DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te criticized the KMT and TPP, stating that neither party reflects mainstream public opinion in Taiwan and lacks the ability to promote stable development. Lai outlined the challenges Taiwan faces, including its future in the Indo-Pacific region, the global struggle between autocracy and democracy, the challenge posed by China, digital transformation, and transitioning to net-zero emissions. He emphasized that the upcoming presidential election will determine Taiwan’s fate and the future of the Indo-Pacific region. Lai aims to ensure Taiwan’s sovereignty and long-term stability, continuing the path toward democracy initiated by President Tsai Ing-wen. He criticized the KMT and TPP for their dependency on China, aligning with the ＂One China principle.＂ Lai warned that a DPP defeat could hinder policy implementation, cause societal unrest, and cast doubts within the international community. Support for DPP-nominated candidates in the elections is crucial for continuing democratic progress.

The Ministry of Labor in Taiwan has announced significant revisions to the regulations governing work permits for foreign professionals in arts and performing arts. The new regulations, which will take effect on December 20, aim to attract more foreign artistic talent to Taiwan’s cultural scene. One major change is the acceptance of documents from important international organizations, such as the United Nations, for residents of Hong Kong and Macau who are unable to obtain official recommendation or certification documents. The framework for foreign artistic professionals’ work is divided into four main types: performance and visual arts, publishing, film and broadcasting, and popular music and crafts. The qualifications for the publishing industry have been relaxed to recognize individuals with over five years of publishing experience who demonstrate originality and special performance in their field. Similarly, the qualifications for crafts-related work have been broadened to accept assistant professors or individuals with equivalent qualifications. Prior to these revisions, the application process for foreigners undertaking artistic work in Taiwan was stringent, requiring an application through an employer or by the professionals themselves if they met the necessary qualifications. As of October 2023, Taiwan had 245 self-employed foreign artists holding valid working permits, highlighting the country’s growing reputation as a hub for international art professionals.

The Transportation Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government has announced that left turns will be permitted at 10 intersections along the route of the Kaohsiung Circular Light Rail. In order to maintain traffic flow and address concerns from drivers, the bureau has reviewed and assessed traffic regulations. To minimize the impact on through traffic, vehicles will be directed to stay to the right about 50 meters upstream from the intersections. Additionally, changes to signal timing and settings on main roads surrounding the light rail, including Dashun Road, Jiangong Road, Dafeng Road, and Dachang Road, will be implemented. These adjustments aim to respond to actual traffic flow and will be fine-tuned as needed.

The Taipei Urban Planning Commission has approved the removal of height restrictions on buildings around the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, except for the north side due to flight path restrictions. This policy shift, effective from January next year, aims to revitalize the aging infrastructure in the Daan district and address issues such as leaking roofs. The height limit, which had been in place for over 30 years, will be increased from 60 meters to 120 meters under the new regulation. However, buildings on the north side of Zhongxiao East Road must still comply with Songshan Airport’s height restriction of 95.49 meters. The height restrictions also apply to buildings behind the Presidential Office, ranging from 50 to 78 meters, to protect the capital’s skyline.

The Legislative Yuan has passed the Minimum Wage Bill in Taiwan, which requires employers to meet minimum wage standards when settling wages with employees. Noncompliance with this law could result in fines of up to NT＄1.5 million and public disclosure of the offender’s name. The new legislation mandates the inclusion of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as one of the key references when determining minimum wage, linking wage adjustments more closely with the cost of living. Previously, adjustments to the basic wage were governed by lesser regulations - the Deliberation Regulations for Basic Wage, which are merely administrative orders and do not guarantee annual wage increases. Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun welcomed the passage of this legislation, expressing gratitude to labor and employer groups, scholar experts, and legislators from all parties for their support. President Tsai Ing-wen had initially proposed the elevation of the Minimum Wage from an administrative order to the force of law in her 2016 policy plan, but it took seven years for the draft to make its way through the legislative process.