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TAEF BRIEF
May 26th, 2023
No. 111 |
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CONTENT
-TAEF Updates
-TAEF Media Gallery
-TAEF Commentaries
-New Southbound Policy News
-Regional Headlines |
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MoU signing between TAEF and Pijar Foundation |
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 May 26, 2023
The Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF) and Indonesia's Pijar Foundation will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in the fields of future food and climate innovation. The theme of this partnership is "Enhancing Collaboration in Future Food and Climate Innovation," aiming to foster a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the critical areas through collaboration and knowledge sharing between Taiwan and Indonesia, and further to develop innovative solutions. Both organizations are committed to creating a sustainable future region by connecting and engaging strategic stakeholders from the private sector, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and communities.
Pijar Foundation is a non-profit organization and ecosystem that aims to equip strategic players with the skills and knowledge to face future trends, opportunities, and challenges, particularly in the fields of Future Talent and Future Planet sustainability. To achieve this goal, Pijar Foundation has launched three main programs in policy (Global Future X), talent (Future Skills), and innovation (Lestari). In addition, Pijar Foundation builds ecosystems and connects thousands of strategic stakeholders from the private sector, government, educational institutions, communities, and society to work together to accelerate progress and build a better future for all.
Through the exchange of ideas, strategies, and best practices, both parties aspire to establish a long-term partnership and move towards a brighter future. Through this collaboration, TAEF and Pijar Foundation seek to maximize the best ideas, innovations, and policies related to future food and climate trends, challenges, and opportunities.
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2022 Yushan Forum | Interview: Minister of Council of Agriculture |
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Organized by TAEF, the annual Yushan Forum: Asian Dialogue for Innovation and Progress provides a prominent platform for facilitating regional dialogues and showcasing both governmental and non-governmental cooperation between Taiwan and its neighboring partner countries. By doing so, the Yushan Forum helps foster stronger social connectivity for the region's youth by encouraging innovation, progressive ideas, and diverse regional partnerships.
For the 2022 Yushan Forum, TAEF was fortunate to have the opportunity to interview the Minister of Council of Agriculture, Dr. Chi-Chung Chen. The Minister shared with us the cooperation between Taiwan and NSP countries in the agricultural sector. The Minister discussed the value of exchange programs that give young farmers from Taiwan and NSP countries the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences on best agricultural practices and new emerging technologies. The Minister also talked about the impact that climate change will have on undermining food security in the region, and the growing importance for Taiwan and NSP countries to boost their trade integration to help offset the impact of local food shortages due to climate-change related disasters.
TAEF is excited to share with you the full interview with the Minister of Council of Agriculture.
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TRT World Now
Taiwan's Gold Card: Solution to systemic woes?
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May 11, 2023
-Dr. Sana Hashmi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
In an interview with the Taipei Times, Sana Hashmi, a postdoctoral fellow with TAEF, commented on Taiwan's Gold Card system that enables eligible foreigners to stay in Taiwan without being attached to a specific employer. She said that the existence of Taiwan's Gold Card program is not widely known in India, and that there needs to be more of a system that makes it easier for high-level professionals to establish businesses in Taiwan. Taiwan's government hopes to attract 60,000 foreign professionals under the Gold Card system by 2032, but with only 6,500 cards handed out since 2018, major efforts will need to be directed towards promoting and marketing the program to overseas talent.
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NEW SOUTHBOUND POLICY NEWS |
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Taipei Times
Ministry hits glass sellers with anti-dumping tariffs
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May 23, 2023
Taiwan's Ministry of Finance has imposed anti-dumping tariffs of up to 129.32% on glass products from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand after an investigation found that they certain manufacturers were selling their products in the Taiwanese market at unfairly low prices. The investigation came after the Taiwan Glass Industry Association accused manufacturers from the three Southeast Asian countries of dumping glass products in Taiwan between 2017 and 2020. The Ministry says that the tariffs would end on May 21, 2028.
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Taiwan News
Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom partners with Thailand's largest electricity provider
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May 19, 2023
Taiwan's largest telecom service provider, Chungwa Telecom, has announced plans to work with Thailand's Provincial Electric Authority to develop and implement a smart city and smart energy projects across Thailand over the next two decades. The partnership will see Chungwa assist in the rollout of 5G communication networks across the country, particularly outside of major metropolitan areas.
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Focus Taiwan
Taiwan's third offshore wind farm official inaugurated
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May 16, 2023
Formosa 2, an offshore wind project off Taiwan's northwestern coast, was officially inaugurated on May 16. The project, a joint venture between the Japanese power company JERA, the Australian Green Investment Group, and Taiwan's Synera Renewable Energy, will supply power to approximately 380,000 households. The Australia Office in Taiwan said the event marked "another important milestone" in the long-standing and mutually beneficial Australia-Taiwan relation, and said that they would continue to work with Taiwan to promote further trade and investment opportunities in renewable energy.
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Taiwan News
Taiwan footwear titan Pou Chen to layoff 5,700 workers in Vietnam
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May 14, 2023
Pou Chen, Taiwan's leading footware manufacturer, has announced the layoff of 5,744 workers in its Vietnam factories, about 10% of it's Vietnam workforce. Pou Yuen Vietnam, the company's Vietnam branch, is the largest employer in Ho Chi Minh City, and comes just after the layoff of 2,358 workers in February. The company says that orders have not recovered to their pre-pandemic levels, forcing them to downsize their workforce.
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Nikkei Asia
Thai election defeat shatters Thaksin's myth of invincibility
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May 23, 2023
The Move Forward Party's surprising victory in Thailand's lower house election on May 14 signals a potential shift away from the dominance of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Move Forward has formed a coalition with eight opposition parties, including Thaksin's own Pheu Thai Party. Although, with coalition support, Move Forward holds a majority in the House of Representatives, they still need additional support from the ruling coalition and military appointees to install their leader as prime minister.
Move Forward's success can be attributed to its appeal to young voters with progressive policies such as reforming lese-majeste laws and ending military conscription. The decline of Pheu Thai, which had previously won five consecutive general elections, is a notable development. Thaksin's influence in Thai politics, despite being in exile since 2006, is attributed to his astute understanding of public sentiment. His earlier electoral victories were driven by offering policies focused on revitalizing rural areas and combating poverty. However, his subsequent attempts to regain power faced setbacks such as mass protests and military coups.
In the recent election, Thaksin's ill-timed tweet about returning to Thailand stirred speculation about secret deals between Pheu Thai and the pro-military ruling party, potentially harming his party's credibility. Thaksin's era as a charismatic and invincible politician appears to have come to an end, raising questions about the future of Thai politics.
Read more
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BBC
Cyclone Mocha death toll rises sharply in Myanmar
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May 20, 2023
Myanmar's military rulers have reported that at least 145 people, mostly from the Rohingya minority, have been killed by Cyclone Mocha, revising their earlier figure of 21. The storm, with winds of up to 209km/h (130mph), severely impacted Rakhine state, Sagaing, and Magway regions.
The United Nations estimates that around 800,000 people have been affected by the cyclone, one of the strongest to hit the region in decades. Reports indicate that the death toll may be even higher, particularly in camps where internally displaced Rohingya reside. The destruction caused by the cyclone includes collapsed homes, disrupted communication, and numerous missing individuals. In addition, there have been reports of military attacks on locals in the aftermath of the storm. The military's entry into villages coincided with the cyclone's occurrence, and thousands of people fled their homes in the Sagaing region.
While neighboring Bangladesh did not report immediate casualties, the cyclone caused significant damage to shelters in the Cox's Bazar refugee camp, home to one million Rohingya refugees. Cyclone Mocha follows the devastating Nargis cyclone that struck Myanmar in 2008, highlighting the increasing frequency and strength of storms attributed to climate change.
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The Diplomat
Pakistan: In the eye of the political storm
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May 16
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The release of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has brough an uneasy calm, but the stage is set for a more serious clash. After having been violently beaten and detained by the country’s paramilitary, Khan’s challenge to Pakistan's powerful military and intelligence services has garnered widespread public support, and amid frustration of the country’s economic crisis and the military’s interference in public policy, his popularity has soared.
Khan faces numerous criminal cases, including allegations of corruption involving lucrative real estate deals. While his supporters claim the cases are politically motivated, his opponents argue he should face trial. It is highly likely that Khan will be arrested again, as his bail is limited, and the establishment seeks to curtail his influence.The ongoing political crisis will escalate, leading to increased unrest in the country.
Additionally, Pakistan is grappling with severe economic challenges, including skyrocketing food inflation and shortages of life-saving medicines. Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for funding have faltered due to the government's reluctance to impose further austerity measures ahead of elections.
Fractures within the military and potential interventions by foreign powers could further complicate the situation. Additionally, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an Islamic militant group, stands to benefit from the chaos and poses a significant threat to Pakistani and regional national security.
Read more
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