Industrial production still rising

NEW RECORD HIGH: In contrast with the technology sector, traditional industries have been hit much harder by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are also recovering The nation’s industrial production last month increased 10.73 percent year-on-year on the back of increased demand for information and communications technology products amid growing need for work-from-home and distance-learning equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday. Last month’s figure was a record high and marked an eighth consecutive month of annual growth, the ministry said. On a monthly basis, industrial production rose 2.5 percent. In contrast with the technology sector, traditional industries have been much harder hit by the pandemic, but they are also recovering, the ministry said. “Traditional industries are coming back thanks to gradually improving COVID-19 conditions,” Department of Statistics Deputy Director-General Huang Wei-jie (黃偉傑) said. Notably, the mechanical equipment and basic metals sectors returned to the positive territory for the first time since the pandemic hit. Huang attributed the revival of these traditional sectors to a gradual reopening of businesses globally. Mechanical equipment production grew 10.15 percent year-on-year. Cumulatively from January to last month, production has fallen by 6.8 percent year-on-year. Base metals production grew 4.9 percent year-on-year, ending six months of contraction. However, in the first nine months of the year production fell 4.1 percent year-on-year. “A rise in steel prices is a factor driving customers to place orders,” Huang said. Carpentry and woodworking equipment sales to North America were up markedly, he said. “Perhaps since people are stuck at home, they have turned to home improvement,” he added. Chemical materials production rose 7.9 percent year-on-year, as the revival in economic activity worldwide as lockdowns lifted caused businesses to replenish their stock. However, petrochemical and coal products fell by 14.27 percent, due to lingering low demand attributed to the pandemic and production disruption from industrial accidents, the ministry said. Electronic components production continued to be strong, growing 15.7 percent year-on-year, the 10th straight month of double-digit percentage growth. Production in the first nine months of

Apple fans snap up new iPhone 12

Apple Inc fans yesterday lined up in the rain to purchase the company’s new iPhone 12 series smartphones, with some having taken their place as early as seven days ago. Long lines emerged in Taipei’s Xinyi District (信義) yesterday morning for the new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, the two latest smartphone models unveiled on Wednesday last week. A woman surnamed Wei (魏) was the first to buy a phone from Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信), having been at the front of the line since last Saturday, with the help of members of her family. Wei, who purchased a 256G iPhone 12 Pro in pacific blue — expected by market observers to be one of the most popular choices — said that she survived the long wait with the help of a portable charger and essence of clam. An estimated 60 percent of new iPhone purchases would be made through local telecoms, market observers said, adding that with the price of the iPhone 12 Pro generally affordable and supply initially limited, shortages should be expected. Taiwan is one of the markets included in the first round of global sales, with preorders for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro having started on Friday last week. Preorders for the other new models in the iPhone 12 series — the iPhone 12 Mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max — are to begin on Nov. 6 and they are to be available in stores on Nov. 13. A man surnamed Hsu (許) bought a 256G iPhone 12 Pro in pacific blue at the Xinyi A13 Far Eastern Department Store. Also the first in line, Hsu said that he had purchased the new phone because of its strong camera features, but would not be considering 5G services because there are not currently enough base stations to support a stable network. Asked to

Stimulus boost sees retail sector post record sales

The retail sector last month posted record sales of NT$320.6 billion (US$11.09 billion), up 2.9 percent from a year earlier, driven by year-end promotions and government stimulus packages, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday. That lifted third-quarter sales to NT$990.7 billion, up 4.6 percent year-on-year, ministry data showed. Retail sales in the e-commerce segment last quarter expanded 20.3 percent year-on-year to NT$82.8 billion, outpacing the retail sector as a whole as consumers turned to the Internet amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry said. Retail sales could “very possibly” end in growth territory for the full year, as year-end shopping sprees might offset weakness in the first half due to the pandemic, the ministry said. “If we can grow by 1.8 percent in the fourth quarter, we will end up with year-on-year growth for retail in 2020,” Department of Statistics Deputy Director-General Huang Wei-jie (黃偉傑) said. “Looking at typical fourth-quarter growth, that is very possible.” Wholesale revenue last month rose 8.2 percent year-on-year to NT$952.1 billion, an all-time high, the ministry said. It attributed the increase to pent-up demand for electronic components and chips used in smartphones. Wholesale revenue last quarter rose 2.8 percent year-on-year to NT$2.74 trillion, the data showed. Mechanical equipment revenue last month rose 11.1 percent from a year earlier, pharmaceutical and makeup sales were up 15.8 percent year-on-year, and automotive wholesale increased 9.9 percent year-on-year, mainly boosted by launches of new vehicles, it said. Revenue in the food and beverage sector was NT$64.7 billion, up 0.3 percent year-on-year, the ministry said. Restaurant revenue was up 2.1 percent year-on-year and sales at beverage stores rose 0.6 percent, but the catering and banquet trade was still sharply down, 29.4 percent lower than a year earlier, the ministry said.

EDITORIAL: Building comprehensive power

Australia’s top think tank, the Lowy Institute, released its annual Asia Power Index on Monday, and Taiwan was one of just three nations to have gained “comprehensive power” this year amid the economic and political ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The index project, launched in 2018 as a research tool for policymakers and academics, evaluates 25 nations — 26 this year — on key metrics, such as military capability, diplomatic and cultural influence, and resources. This year, three more metrics were added, including ecological threats and handling of the pandemic. While Taiwan has been ranked 14th since 2018, its overall score this year improved 5 percent thanks to a 9 point improvement in diplomatic influence, a 1.1 point rise in cultural influence, and small increases in future resources and economic relationships, even while it lost 0.9 points each in resilience and economic capability, and 0.2 points in military capability. However, its overall power standing has changed considerably from 2018, when it was labeled a “misfit middle power,” along with North Korea and Russia, and from last year, when it was the only middle power to show a significant downward shift in overall power, which was attributed to its geopolitical significance and “its position as a political outsider.” What a difference a year — and a global crisis — can make. Taiwan topped the index’s chart for international reputation and effective handling of the pandemic, just edging out New Zealand. The institute said that competent handling of the pandemic was a key factor, but not the only one that helped Taiwan, Vietnam and Australia to improve their regional standing, as others with successful responses to the pandemic, such as New Zealand and South Korea, saw declines in their power. Yet it included a barbed reminder that “misfit middle powers” such as Taiwan “deliver inconsistent performances across the influence

Leasing Pratas Islands to the US

On Thursday last week, a military-chartered supply flight operated by Uni Air from Kaohsiung to the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島) in the South China Sea was forced to turn back on its way to the disputed islands. The incident has been interpreted as Hong Kong interrupting regular flight plans by not issuing a notice in accordance with international protocols. In addition, as there were no military exercises in that airspace at the time, it has also been interpreted as a threat issued by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Based on the CCP issuing similar threats in a war of attrition against Taiwan, Taipei could consider handing the defense of the Pratas Islands to the US, under a management or leasing arrangement, while retaining non-military control, such as civil government and tourism management. It is public knowledge that there would be no way to defend the isolated Pratas Islands and Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) if the CCP were to launch a military attack on Taiwan. By simply surrounding the islands with armed private boats, they could sever supply lines, and without food supplies, the troops stationed on the islands would be forced to surrender. The only reason that Taiwan can maintain communications with the islands is the freedom of navigation. The line of communication between Taiwan proper and Itu Aba Island remains open because it does not pass through China’s Flight Information Region, which includes Hong Kong. However, the line of communication to the Pratas Islands is nearing crisis-levels following the blocking of the Uni Air flight. If the same thing were to happen again, the government should consider asking the US if it would be willing to lease the island out of concern for air communications and the supply lines of the troops stationed there. The US has no territorial ambitions, and it is opposed to Chinese

HK looks to catch up with Taiwan

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new context for widespread protectionism in international trade, reinforcing the tendency to move away from a laissez-faire business model to a slightly more state-managed economy. For months, the US-China diplomatic stalemate has left Hong Kong’s top officials confused, powerless and indecisive. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s (林鄭月娥) reaction to the bilateral rivalries was not her finest hour. Geopolitical complexities make it impossible for the territory to look ahead in a deeply polarized landscape. In addition, health is taking precedence over wealth. In a post-COVID era, many national leaders are skeptical of laissez-faire as the necessary path toward prosperity. Although trade barriers are nothing new to Hong Kong, it cannot remain neutral and is becoming an incidental casualty amid worsening US-China relations. In this volatile environment, Hong Kong officials and business leaders are hoping to use the trade diplomacy mechanism to get the best deals. Today, Hong Kong and Chinese exports to the US are reportedly subject to quotas and tariffs. These constraints have prompted local industries to adjust to future uncertainty. With the loss of profit from the manufacturing sector, Hong Kong entrepreneurs are shifting their investment into social media technologies in the Pearl River Delta. The optimal timing of making such a strategic business adjustment is of great significance. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of Shenzhen as a special economic zone last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) urged Hong Kong to raise fresh capital for Shenzhen’s transition into a major global financial and high-tech powerhouse. Effective planning across regional government bureaucracies is always a key to success. Even though infrastructure upgrades and environmental sustainability are at the top of official agendas, Beijing has yet to launch a new regional body that embraces different interest groups, professional bodies and the civic sector in the decisionmaking process. Evidently, China’s export-driven, labor-intensive system of

China tells Canada to halt interference

FEUD CONTINUES: The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned a Canadian parliamentary report that called Beijing’s actions against Uighurs genocide China has warned Canadian lawmakers to halt their “blatant interference” in its internal affairs, in the latest episode of a rumbling diplomatic feud between the two nations. Earlier this week, a Canadian parliamentary committee concluded that China’s actions against ethnic Uighurs in the Xinjiang region constituted “a genocide” and called for sanctions against officials complicit in the government’s policy. “Witnesses were clear that the government of China’s actions are a clear attempt to eradicate Uighur culture and religion,” the committee wrote. Speaking to reporters late on Thursday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian (趙立堅) condemned the committee’s findings, saying that the report was “full of lies and disinformation.” Zhao also used his news conference to level a warning, urging Canada to “exercise caution in its words and deeds ... to avoid further damage to China-Canada relations.” China’s response underscores the extent to which relations between the two nations continue to sour. Last week, only days after the two countries observed the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu (叢培武) accused Canada of encouraging “violent criminals,” as it considered granting refugee status to Hong Kong pro-democracy advocates. Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that Cong’s remarks were “not appropriate” for a diplomat. “Let me also reassure the 300,000 Canadians in Hong Kong that a Canadian is a Canadian and we will stand with them,” Freeland said. Meanwhile, Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole called for an apology from Cong, or face expulsion. In recent years, Canada and China had both expressed the hope of building stronger ties, but the arrest of Huawei Technologies Co chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou (孟晚舟) in December 2018 marked a fatal blow to relations between the two nations. China quickly retaliated, detaining Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, charging the pair under dubious “espionage” charges. Canada has repeatedly called for the men

Letter urges UK’s Raab to demand return of ‘HK 12’

More than 60 British lawmakers and peers have written to British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Dominic Raab, calling on him to demand the return of 12 Hong Kong advocates detained in China after attempting to flee to Taiwan by boat. In a letter delivered to the foreign secretary on Thursday night, the lawmakers warned of a profound chilling effect should Chinese authorities be allowed to “prosecute and imprison Hong Kong activists in the mainland with little outcry or response from the international community.” On Aug. 23, Chinese authorities intercepted a speedboat off the coast of Hong Kong, carrying 12 young people aged 16 to 30 allegedly attempting to seek asylum in Taiwan. Almost all of the passengers were facing charges in Hong Kong relating to last year’s protest movement. Among the group was Andy Li (李宇軒), a young activist who had previously been arrested under Beijing’s National Security Law on suspicion of foreign collusion. Late last month, Chinese authorities formally approved the arrest of the group for allegedly illegally crossing China’s borders. Families and lawyers for the detained have said that authorities have denied the group access to legal assistance, contact with the outside world and in some cases medication for medical conditions. The letter to Raab said: “In view of this, we ask that you call on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (林鄭月娥) and your counterpart in Beijing to immediately ensure the return of the 12 activists to Hong Kong, to guarantee that they have legal representation of their choosing, contact with their families and to ensure the young people access to necessary prescribed medication.” “This is a simple matter of natural justice,” it added. The letter said that allowing China to detain and hold Hong Kongers without international pushback would give Beijing a signal that it could use the national security

CIA-like street vendors first on scene at Thai protests

With an intelligence network so good that they have been compared with the CIA, Thai street vendors are often first on the scene at “guerrilla” democracy protests in Bangkok, where they hawk sour pork and fishballs to a democracy-hungry crowd. After a government crackdown last week, protest groups had begun keeping the venues for their demonstrations — which have demanded the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and reforms to the monarchy — secret until the last minute, in a bid to outsmart authorities. However, protesters quickly noticed that they are often second on the scene, behind food vendors setting up their carts and readying themselves for a busy night of brisk sales. Meatball seller Rattapol Sukpa said that he stays ahead of the curve by monitoring Facebook for hints of the latest locations, and is in constant contact with other vendors, who tip each other off. “My earnings were good before, but selling at the protest sites, you sell out faster than usual,” the 19-year-old said, as he set up near the Victory Monument. Business has been booming since the protest movement began in July, with the vendors becoming a regular feature on the sidelines. A post on Tuesday calling on people to come and rally at a new protest venue carried a picture of a food cart with a caption that read: “Let’s send the CIA there first.” Rattapol said that the bonanza has also given him a better work-life balance, enabling him to sell out his entire cart by 8pm, instead of the usual midnight closing time. Protesters are calling for serious changes to Thailand’s status quo — an overhaul of Prayuth’s administration, a rewrite to the military-scripted constitution and reforms to the kingdom’s unassailable monarchy. However, their gatherings also bring a food festival vibe. Sour pork and rice sausage balls, a delicacy of Thailand’s

Cycling Shorts: Round-island ride: Day 1 Taking in the sights from Guandu to Hsinchu

In the 2006 movie Island Etude (練習曲), a handsome young man with a guitar slung across his back rode his bike around Taiwan meeting a variety of interesting characters against a series of spectacular sceneries. Suddenly, everybody and their mum, including Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), a candidate in the then-upcoming 2008 presidential election, was inspired to try the 1,000km circumnavigation of the island on two wheels. At the end of 2015, the route received government sanction with the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) investing NT$1.2 billion (US$41.7 million at today’s rate) to link a dozen local cycle paths. This also helped bring the challenge to international attention, and led to local cycle stores offering quality bikes for rental and tour companies adding cycling options to their portfolios. Another NT$3.2 billion was later earmarked for a four-year project of improvements and extensions, meaning that cyclotourists now have a plethora of routes to choose from, some sticking close to the coast, others presenting more challenging roads through inland foothills. The first decision is whether to proceed clockwise or counterclockwise. The MOTC handbook Cycling Around Taiwan recommends starting at Songshan Railway Station (松山車站) in Taipei and traveling in a counterclockwise direction so “you can improve your fitness and become more skilled and comfortable on your bike before the more difficult sections.” SUITED FOR ALL If this makes it sound like unfit and inexperienced cyclists are encouraged to ride 100km in one day for the first time in their lives, and then repeat that for another 9 days, well, they are — since they are probably going to do it anyway. The round-island ride is almost a rite of passage for people graduating from university, or graduating from middle age. Most local cyclists tend to set off from their hometowns; a few cycle clockwise, perhaps to avoid riding

Highways and Byways: ‘Every three steps, a minor shrine’

Forced to retreat southward by unrelenting winds, I made my way into Lukang (鹿港), which is never a bad thing. I had to abandon any thought of cycling up the coast of Changhua County into Taichung, but at least I could pedal around one of Taiwan’s most historic and characterful towns. However many times I go back to Lukang, I always seem to discover something I’d not noticed on previous trips. This recent unplanned visit was no exception. Freewheeling through side streets near the rightfully famous Longshan Temple (龍山寺), I found myself facing an unfamiliar place of worship no wider than a shop. Its name, Lukang Xingan Temple (鹿港興安宮), didn’t ring any bells with me, but its weathered exterior was instantly appealing. I’d barely got my bicycle locked when a middle-aged lady walked up to me and began talking. Four-fifths of what she said was in Mandarin, the rest in English. She mixed useful statements about the temple with prying questions (“What’s your line of work?” “How old are you?”). She also handed me a Chinese-language booklet that contained a sketch of the temple as it probably looked in the decades after its founding in 1684. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the temple faced one of the docks through which Lukang merchants imported stone, wood and silk, while exporting rice and sugar. Silt eventually blocked the waterways between the sea and the docks. By the second half of the 19th century, the town’s golden age as a cross-strait trade hub was over. The temple’s name derives from Xinghua (興化) Prefecture, part of Fujian Province in China. Even though the prefectural government was formally abolished about 300 years earlier, it seems the toponym was still in common use when Han people began to settle in Lukang. Old habits do indeed

Fading flowers bloom again

In 1995, teacher and choreographer Lin Lee-chen (林麗珍) founded her company, the Legend Lin Dance Theatre (無垢舞蹈劇場), and marked its arrival with the first part of a trilogy about heaven, earth and humans that was inspired by years of research into Taiwanese folklore, customs and religious rituals: Mirrors of Life (Miroirs de Vie, 醮). The production was the beginning of her search to capture the beauty and spirit embodied in ancient religious performances as well as the timeless rhythm of nature, and Mirrors was followed by Anthem to the Fading Flowers (Hymne aux Fleurs Qui Passent, 花神祭春芽) in 2000 and Song of Pensive Beholding (Chants de la Destinee, 觀) in 2009. The trilogy became a quartet in 2017 with the premiere of The Eternal Tides (潮), which, like its predecessors, transported audiences into a mystical, tranquil otherworldly realm. In Lin’s productions, time, and her dancers, move with meditative slowness — even slower than the minute-hands of a clock watched by students counting down until the end of a class — so that they appear to just glide across the stage. Given the years between each new production, revivals of the works of the trilogy excite fevered anticipation among Legend Lin fans eager for a return visit to the worlds she creates. One benefit of the COVID-19 pandemic that has closed so many arts venues around the world, and temporarily shuttered those in Taiwan, is that the National Theater and other venues of the National Performing Arts Center are restaging classic theater and dance productions to fill gaps in their schedules caused by foreign artists and troupes canceling their appearances. Lin decided to revive Anthem to the Fading Flowers to mark the 20th anniversary of the production, and it begins a three-city tour at the National Theater on Friday next week. “The COVID-19 pandemic is

Photo News: Protests heat up in Thailand 從照片看新聞：泰國民主示威持續升溫

SPEAK UP ! 雙語會話

This isn’t going to be an easy climb (5/5) 這趟路並不輕鬆（五） A: Congratulations! We’re at the peak. From here, the only way is down! B: That outcrop is an interesting shape. It looks like a whale to me. The lichen halfway down the side could be the eye. A: Actually, it’s already been given a name. It’s known locally as “Dragon Boat Rock.” B: Look, there’s somebody sitting under the outcrop. I can see their toes poking out of the whale’s mouth. A: It’s not a whale. It’s a dragon boat. A: 恭喜！我們登頂了。從這裡開始，就都是下坡了！ B: 這邊露出來的石塊形狀很有趣，看起來像鯨魚。中間的青苔就像牠的眼睛。 A: 其實它已經有名字了。當地人叫它「龍船岩」。 B: 你看，有人坐在岩石底下，我可以看到他們的腳趾從鯨魚的嘴巴裡伸出來。 A: 那才不是鯨魚，是龍船！ （Paul Cooper, Taipei Times／台北時報林俐凱譯） English 英文: Chinese 中文:

SPEAK UP ! 雙語會話

A: How are your legs? Not too tired? This is the final stretch. We’re almost at the top. B: So do we need to walk up that path? I think I’ll be fine: it looks like a gentle ascent, and there are steps all the way. A: Appearances can be deceptive. The path gets quite steep further on, and the steps become broken and irregular. We’re not out of the woods yet. B: What does that signpost say? If we take the right fork we will get to a temple in 25 minutes. A: Nice try. We’re going straight on, to the peak. A: 你的腿還好嗎？不會太累嗎？這是最後一段路了，我們快到山頂了。 B: 所以我們要往上走那條路嗎？我應該是沒問題的，那看起來是緩緩的上坡路，而且一路上都有階梯。 A: 外表會騙人。再遠一點坡度就變蠻陡，而且台階會變得破碎不規則。我們還沒脫離險境。 B: 那個路標寫什麼？如果我們走右邊的岔路，二十五分鐘以後就會到一座寺廟。 A: 你想得美！我們要繼續往前走，走到山頂。 （Paul Cooper, Taipei TimeS／台北時報林俐凱譯）　 English 英文: Chinese 中文: