March 18, 2017
Photo by Theerasak Saksritawee
Taiwan
info
Science Ministry to invest in AI development
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has been planning to invest NT$5 billion (US$163 million) in artificial intelligence (AI) development to help the local industrial sector compete in the booming industry.
on the locations of the planned AI research centers, Chen said that the MOST already operates high-speed computing centers in the Hsinchu Science Park in northern Taiwan, the Central Taiwan Science Park and the Southern Taiwan Science Park, so that he sees no difficulty in expanding these existing hubs into AI research bases. A move to develop AI does not mean replacing existing industries, Chen said, but the AI efforts are expected to encourage the local industrial and academic sectors to collaborate so that industries will have boosted capabilities in innovation, which will eventually sharpen Taiwan's global competitiveness. As long as the ministry can raise the NT$5 billion targeted for AI development, the research hubs will soon become operational, Chen said.
Source: Focus Taiwan
Minister of Science and Technology Chen Liang-gee said that his ministry is seeking support from the Cabinet to secure a NT$5 billion budget for AI development, adding that the ministry aims to set up three to four cutting-edge high-speed AI computing bases. Chen said that over the next 10 to 20 years, AI is expected to become a basic requirement for a country to develop high-end technology, so that Taiwan will have to strengthen its capability in this area to pave the way for upgrading its technology development. He said that the planned research centers are aimed at luring international talent by providing attractive compensation to help Taiwan develop interdisciplinary technology in AI, applying a wide range of aspects such as voice technology, neurology, and humanities. Commenting
Taitung to host 2017 World Surf League longboard championships Source: Focus Taiwan, Photo: Taiwan Open of Surfing facebook
The Taitung County government in southeastern Taiwan has signed an agreement with the World Surf League (WSL) to host the World Men's and Women's Longboard Championships for 2017. Taitung Magistrate Justin Huang, who is currently visiting Australia, sealed the agreement March 13 at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast. The championships will be held in the Jinzun coastal area from November 23 to December 3, the county government said in a statement released that day. The statement cited Huang as saying that it is an
honor for Taitung, which has served as one of the WSL tournament tour destinations for several years, to be granted the right to host the world championships. "It pushes Taiwan's international surfing brand to a new level," Huang said, predicting that having the world championships in Taitung will help boost the development of industries related to surfing in the county.
Taiwan-supported fund to improve power distribution in Republic of Srpska Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) co-financed the Green Energy Special Fund, which will help the Republic of Srpska to improve its power distribution system. The signing of the loan agreement between the EBRD and Elektrokrajina A.D. Banja Luka was held March 7, 2017 in Banja Luka. Ambassador Tao Wen-lung, who served as the TaiwanICDF secretary-general before his post in Hungary, said at the signing ceremony that “the idea of the Green Energy Special Fund was developed dur-
ing my tenure at the TaiwanICDF, and I was there to oversee the whole process and signed off on the final commitment of US$80 million.” “This is a very emotional moment as the realization of this project
our first non-sovereign loan in the Republic of Srpska is testament to our belief in its economic potential,” adding that the loan will also help pave the way for a more efficient and stable system of power distribution. The TaiwanICDF and EBRD each provides 7.5 million euros toward the funds for Elektrokrajina to upgrade the power distribution network.
Source: Taipei Representative Office in Hungary
goes beyond mere professional satisfaction,” Tao said. Tao added that “the current project is a great start toward achieving across-the-board efficient energy usage and the development of a green economy, and we hope to see more collaboration going forward.” Ian Brown, head of EBRD in Bosnia and Herzgovina, said that “the provision of
Aging index tops 100 for 1st time in Taiwan Taiwan’s aging index reached a record 100.18 in February, reflecting the high standard of local health care but presenting the government with a unique set of policymaking challenges, according to the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) March 9. tional Health Insurance system, enhanced health awareness among the public and a general improvement in the well-being of the people. MOI statistics reveal that out of Taiwan’s 22 administrative regions, the southern counties of Chiayi and Yunlin, as well as the central one of Nantou, topped the aging list in that order at 177, 141.87 and 139.48, respectively. At the other end of the scale in the north are Hsinchu City at 63.87, Taoyuan City at 67.62 and Hsinchu County at 70.59.
Source: Taiwan Today, Photo: Jimmy Lin
Calculated as the number of persons 65 years old or over per 100 persons under age 15 by the MOI, the benchmark is widely used to gauge the degree of aging in a society. Jair Lan-pin, deputy director-general of the MOI’s Department of Household Registration, said Taiwan’s aging index has been on the rise since 2011 when it was 72.2. There are several reasons for this trend, she added, citing the country’s low birth rate, an increase in life expectancy brought about by the Na-
Ministry data also indicates that those born in 2015 can expect to live to 80.2 years, up from 77.42 a decade before, with the life expectancy for men and women averaging 77.01 and 83.62, respectively. Taiwan officially became an aging society in 1993 when 7 percent of the local population comprised senior citizens; the weighting has since nearly doubled to 13.33 percent as of last month. At the current rate, the National Development Council expects Taiwan to become an aged society next year with the elderly accounting for 14 percent of the total population. The country will turn into a super-aged society in 2026 when one in five people will be aged 65 or older. Jair said the
government is making every effort to mitigate the impact of this demographic challenge, adding that one of the most important initiatives underway is the Long-term Care 2.0 project. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the 10-year initiative aims to establish a comprehensive care system that promotes aging in place, which is defined as living safely and independently in one’s home or community regardless of age, ability or income level. The government is also working to forge a better work-family balance and provide more support to families with young children as an incentive to help boost the country’s birth rate.
Calla lily festival to kick off in suburban Taipei
Source: Focus Taiwan, Photo: Calla Lily Festival facebook
The annual calla lily festival in Yangmingshan National Park's Zhuzihu (bamboo lake) valley in northern Taipei will be held from March 24 to April 23, organizers said March 9. Although the flowers have yet to reach full bloom, visitors are still welcome to witness the beauty of the calla lily fields before the festival officially opens, officials from the Taipei City Department of Economic Development said, adding that the flowers are expected to be in full bloom from late March to early April. During the one-month festival, the city government plans to organize a variety of
activities to help people enjoy the blossoming lilies, including a flower art-centered design contest and guided tours around the farms of Zhuzihu, according to the department. Originally home to terraced rice paddies and vegetable farms, the valley's unique landscape was later transformed into a tourist area where visitors flock on weekends to enjoy the calla lilies.
Empowering Women
The government is working to raise awareness of gender equality. (Photo courtesy of Gender Equality Committee of the Executive Yuan)
By Pat Gao Taiwan Review
Efforts to foster gender equality are resulting in significant gains both at home and abroad.
In Taipei last November, Taiwan for the first time hosted the Executive Committee Meeting of the International Council of Women (ICW), a Paris-headquartered women’s rights organization established in 1888 that enjoys consultative status with the United Nations. Among those in attendance at the gathering was ICW President Kim Jungsook from South Korea. In her opening remarks, she praised gender-related legislation in Taiwan and the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in January last year as the nation’s first female head of state, a fact that “speaks loudly of the progress taking place in [Taiwan] and bodes very well for continued movement toward gender equality.”
In her address at the ICW meeting, Tsai echoed Kim’s comments, presenting her election to the nation’s highest office as evidence of women’s growing participation in Taiwan’s public affairs. This trend, she added, can also be seen in the number of female legislators who took office in February last year. Women belonging to five political parties currently hold 43 of the nation’s 113 legislative seats, an increase from the previous total of 38. According to Yang Fang-wan, president of the National Alliance of Taiwan Women’s Associations (NATWA), the people of Taiwan should take pride in the high proportion of female legislators. “In the past, women were a true minority in politics,” she said. “Their significantly increased presence in the public sphere is itself an indicator of progress toward equality.”
Institutionalizing Equality
The NATWA, established in 2001, comprises more than 50 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) devoted to gender issues. In addition to coordinating information and resources among these groups, the alliance seeks to help empower women’s advocacy associations and activists at home and overseas. Yang and two other NATWA members are among the 18 nongovernmental representatives to the Executive Yuan’s Gender Equality Committee (GEC), which is led by Premier Lin Chuan and includes 16 other Cabinet members. Formed in 1997 as the Committee of Women’s Rights Promotion, the organization helps integrate gender equality policies across various government bodies. It expanded and adopted its current name in 2012 and is now staffed by the Executive Yuan’s Department of Gender Equality (DGE). Yang pointed out that gender bias exists in many areas of society, which is why the GEC formed six specialized task forces led by the
Ministries of Education, Foreign Affairs, Health and Welfare, the Interior, Labor, and Science and Technology, respectively, to help further the government’s policies. In 1999, the government-supported nonprofit Foundation for Women’s Rights Promotion and Development (FWRPD) was established with the goal of implementing gender equality strategies. In 2008, it began operating the Taiwan Women’s Center, which helps fund and support dozens of women’s service centers throughout the nation. Huang Ling-hsiang, the FWRPD’s vice director, took part in a forum titled Transforming Society through Women’s Empowerment held on the sidelines of the ICW meeting in Taipei. The purpose of the event was to examine gender-based inequalities and women’s roles in local communities and workplaces. Huang said such a forum taking place locally affirms “international recognition of gender equity development in Taiwan as well as the country’s growing connection to global women’s rights movements.”
Cover image of the Second Report on the Implementation of CEDAW (Photo courtesy of National Alliance of Taiwan Women’s Associations)
Going Mainstream
gender mainstreaming efforts, such information now abounds, including valuIn 2007, Taiwan ratified the U.N. Convenable figures concerning both men and tion on the Elimination of All Forms of women in terms of education, employDiscrimination against Women (CEDAW). ment and entrepreneurship. The Enforcement Act of CEDAW was adStatistics released by the Ministry of Fiopted by the Legislative Yuan May 20, 2011, nance in January reveal that 36.1 percent and took effect January 1, 2012. of the nation’s 1.33 million for-profit enterYang noted that while Taiwan is neither a prises were headed by women at the end U.N. member nor a signatory of CEDAW, of 2015, reprethe country is senting a slight committed to increase from eliminating 35.6 percent gender bias in in 2010. In the line with interservice sector, national stanincluding acdards. As such, commodations the DGE has and food serbeen supervisTaiwan spearheaded the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Innovation for Women and Ecoing efforts by nomic Development Project, which ran from 2013 to 2015. (Photo courtesy of Gender Equality vices, women Committee of the Executive Yuan) in leadership government roles accountunits to formued for more than 45 percent. late administrative measures that conform Meanwhile, women’s labor participation to the convention. The department is also rose from 45.3 percent in 1995 to 50.7 perresponsible for drafting a report on the cent in 2015, according to official data. The act’s implementation every four years that most recent government data also reveal is examined by local and foreign experts. more than 90 percent of women aged 25 to Although CEDAW spells out what must be 29 are gainfully employed. done to protect women’s rights, Yang said, “gender mainstreaming” explains how to Global Movement go about doing it. The United Nations deRecognizing that women play a signiffines gender mainstreaming as the process icant role in driving economic growth, of assessing the implications for women each June the FWRPD sends memand men of any planned action, including bers or researchers to the Asia-Pacific legislation, policies or programs, in all arEconomic Cooperation (APEC) Womeas and at all levels. In 2004, the Executive en and the Economy Forum. Last year, Yuan approved the incorporation of gena 15-member delegation from Taiwan der mainstreaming in training programs comprising government officials, scholfor government and school employees. ars, NGO members and business repreHuang said that in the past, before the sentatives attended the forum in Lima, government began compiling significant Peru, from June 27 to 30. The particigender-specific statistics in the early pants focused primarily on such issues 2000s, there was little relevant official as access to capital, digital literacy and data regarding women’s participation in promotion of women-operated micro, the public and private sectors. Thanks to small and medium enterprises.
During the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima last November, representatives from Taiwan and the United States jointly announced a plan to establish the APEC Women and the Economy Sub-Fund, which aims to remove barriers that restrict women’s economic participation. Since Taiwan joined APEC in 1991, the country has spearheaded a number of female empowerment initiatives including the Innovation for Women
and Economic Development Project. The three-year undertaking, running from 2013 to 2015, made use of Taiwan’s industrial strength in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector to help improve the lives of women throughout the region. The program involved researching the benefits of women’s use of ICT, boosting women’s knowledge of new technologies and fostering public-private partnerships to help enhance such efforts.
Lighthouse museum spotlights Taiwan’s maritime history Taiwan’s first lighthouse museum opened March 1 in the northern port city of Keelung, offering visitors the opportunity to learn more about one of the most important aspects of the island’s maritime history dating back 200 years. their keepers in ensuring the safety of ships sailing near the coastlines of Taiwan proper and its outlying islands.vAccording to Hsieh, the bureau is also working with Keelung City Government on joint marketing campaigns promoting nearby historical relics and local maritime heritage such as the 11-meter-high Keelung Lighthouse, which was built in 1900 during the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945). Taiwan is a paradise of sorts for lighthouse lovers, with its 36 operational beacons possessing distinct
Source: Taiwan Today, Photos: Courtesy of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications
Operated by the Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the facility features an initial display of 60-plus lamps and optical systems, with more equipment and items of interest expected to be added by June. At the museum’s inauguration ceremony, MPB Director-General Hsieh Wei-chun said he expects the facility to help boost public awareness and appreciation for the contribution of lighthouses and
architectural styles and fascinating histories. The first on Taiwan proper was built using funds raised by local residents in 1796 during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) at Danshui Port, New Taipei City. It was replaced by one erected by the Chinese Maritime Customs Service in 1888. Other facilities of interest include Eluanbi Lighthouse in Pingtung County on the southernmost tip of Taiwan. Constructed in 1881 at the urging of Charles William Le Gendre, then U.S. consul to the Qing dynasty, the 21-meter-high lighthouse was intended to minimize the chance of further shipwrecks such as the Rover 14 years earlier. After striking a reef, the American merchantman drifted into the Kenting area where survivors were killed by indigenous people in retaliation for earlier attacks by foreigners on local tribes.
Less bloody but equally fascinating is Mudouyu Lighthouse in Penghu County. Built in 1899 out of cast iron to withstand the strong winds of the outlying archipelago, the 40-meter-high lighthouse is Taiwan’s tallest and sports black and white bands to enhance visibility during the day for passing vessels. The surrounding waters are notoriously treacherous, claiming at least 50 ships before the facility was completed. Although lighthouses are not as essential as they once were due to the advent of GPS, their popularity as tourist attractions ensure they will long remain landmarks on the nation’s coastlines. According to the bureau, Taiwan’s lighthouses welcome 1.2 million visitors annually and plans are in the pipeline to open more of them to the public.
Taiwanese weightlifter receives international award Taiwanese weightlifter Hsu Shu-ching on March 4 received the female Lifter of the Year award for 2015 from the International Weightlifting Federation. The international federation gave the award to Hsu belatedly because it thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to present it to her at the weightlifting trials for the 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade, according to the Taiwan’s Weightlifting Association. Hsu, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, said she was preparing to represent Taiwan in the Universiade in August. Source: Focus Taiwan, Photo: Huang Chung-hsin
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