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TAEF BRIEF
November 24th, 2023
No. 123 |
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CONTENT
-TAEF Updates
-TAEF Media Gallery
-TAEF Commentaries
-New Southbound Policy News
-Regional Headlines |
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Closing Ceremony: The 2023 Taiwan-Vietnam High-Tech Disaster Relief and Firefighting Training Camp |
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November 21, 2023
November 10, 2023
The "Taiwan-Vietnam High-Tech Disaster Relief and Firefighting Training Camp" recently concluded with a closing ceremony held by Taiwan National Fire Agency and the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation on the 10th day of the program. Lasting for 10 days, the camp aimed to strengthen collaboration between Taiwan and New Southbound countries in the field of firefighting. Ten trainees from Vietnam participated, and the training focused on sharing Taiwan's advanced technological experiences in disaster response to elevate Vietnam's capabilities. The initiative builds upon Taiwan's successful collaborations with the Philippines in firefighting and extends a friendly hand to Vietnam, emphasizing high-tech approaches to enhance disaster response capabilities.
The training camp was co-organized by Office of Trade Negotiations of Executive Yuan, Taiwan National Fire Agency of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation. The curriculum included a week-long training course at the National Fire Agency's Training Center in Nantou and visits to Taiwan's firefighting disaster prevention technologies, equipment, and facilities, fostering international cooperation in firefighting and disaster response.
The Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, Lin Chia-Lung, highlighted the positive outcomes of Taiwan's New Southbound Policy, emphasizing the significance of Taiwan-Vietnam relations. Acknowledging Vietnam as the fourth-largest source of foreign investment in Taiwan, he expressed hope for continued collaboration and exchange in various fields for regional stability and prosperity. The camp's success in expanding Taiwan's cooperation from the Philippines to Vietnam was praised as a concrete implementation of the New Southbound Policy's inter-departmental partnership.
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2023 SEASAT Youth Camp: Bridging Boundaries - Highlight
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From July 26 to July 28, 2023, the SEASAT Youth Camp 2023 hosted 40 young delegates representing the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Australia, Japan, the US, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Of all the 40 participants, over 30 of them came from abroad to physically attend the camp, engaging in discussions and collaborative activities. Centered around the theme "Bridging Boundaries: Harnessing Collaboration, Inclusion, and Innovation for Next Leadership," the camp provided a platform for these young leaders to address global challenges, explore creative solutions, share personal narratives, and recognize the impactful role of diverse cultures, genders, and identities in shaping leadership within the Indo-Pacific region.
Emphasizing the significance of inclusivity and collaboration, the 2023 SEASAT Youth Camp aimed to foster a sense of shared responsibility among the participants. By encouraging dialogue on pressing global issues and promoting a diverse and innovative approach to leadership, the camp sought to empower the young leaders from different backgrounds to contribute collectively to a more inclusive and forward-thinking Indo-Pacific community.
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Global Voices
'India-Taiwan relations could evolve into a defining partnership in the Indo-Pacific,' says Indian scholar Sana Hashimi
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November 2, 2023
India plays a crucial role in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region, a fact that cannot be overstated. Strengthening ties with India is undeniably in Taiwan’s best interest. Therefore, it is essential for the Taiwanese government and media to recognize the significance of India’s role and work towards fostering a better understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
- Dr. Sana Hashimi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation
Faced with growing hostility and military threats from China, Taiwan is seeking to lessen its economic dependency on its neighbor. Taipei is also seeking a stronger political, diplomatic and strategic relationship with other countries also affected Beijing's territorial and maritime claims, such as the Philippines, Vietnam and India. Taiwan is discussing opening its market to Indian migrant workers, and is increasing its industrial presence in India.
To answer what is understood by “Indo-pacific” in Taiwan and in India, Global Voices spoke to Indian scholar Sana Hashimi, PhD, a fellow at the Taiwan Asia Exchange Foundation and the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations. She also tweets @sanahashimi1.
Dr. Hashimi stated that India–Taiwan relations hold immense potential and could evolve into a robust and defining partnership in the Indo-Pacific. Despite their geographically complex locations, both countries occupy strategically significant positions. They share a common challenge in dealing with China, which infringes upon their sovereignty and disrupts the stability of the Indo-Pacific. Unfortunately, various constraints, ignorance, and occasional neglect often result in missed opportunities for cooperation.
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NEW SOUTHBOUND POLICY NEWS |
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Taiwan Today
Deputy Foreign Minister Tien attends Pacific Island countries dialogue |
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November 14, 2023
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang participated in the 28th Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue held by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Nov. 10 in the Cook Islands, underscoring the government’s commitment to boosting ties with its Pacific allies and like-minded partners, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his speech at the dialogue, Tien said Taiwan has engaged in bilateral cooperation and multilateral initiatives with the PIF Secretariat that aligned with Pacific countries’ priority policies and with U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Taiwan has long carried out projects across the Pacific in areas spanning agriculture, clean energy, education, information and communications technology, infrastructure, medical care, public health and women’s empowerment, and all of which have improved the well-being of people in the region, he added.
All parties agreed to strengthen cooperation on issues such as climate change, maritime law enforcement and cultivating personnel, the MOFA said, adding that the ministry will extend collaboration in these domains and enhance partnerships with Pacific nations.
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Focus Taiwan
Taiwan, India to ink migrant worker MOU by year-end: Labor minister
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November 13, 2023
Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春) confirmed Monday that Taiwan and India are expected to ink a memorandum of understanding (MOU) before the end of this year on the hiring of Indian migrant workers to Taiwan.
The Ministry of Labor is currently still in talks with India, however, on when the MOU will be signed, Hsu said on the sidelines of an event in Taipei held for participants of the upcoming 2023 WorldSkills Asia Competition. Her remarks came after a source told CNA last week that the two sides had almost completed initial discussions on the issue and that the signing of the MOU was scheduled for the end of the year to help Taiwan address its labor shortage.
After the MOU is signed, working-level meetings will have to be held by the two parties to iron out the details, the labor minister said, indicating that once they are finalized, there will be an official announcement on the hiring of Indian migrant workers to Taiwan.
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Taiwan News
India's external affairs minister lauds growing cooperation with Taiwan |
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November 20, 2023
The level of cooperation between Taiwan and India has increased, India’s Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said at a U.K. dialogue event on Wednesday (Nov. 15). India has substantive technology, economic, and business relationships with Taiwan, Jaishankar said, adding that Taiwan has a good reputation in the electronics and semiconductor sectors. The foreign minister spoke at a symposium titled "How a Billion People See the World.”
Jaishankar’s comments come as India seeks to boost Taiwanese investment. On Oct. 25, India’s Secretary of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Rajesh Kumar Singh said, “I see no reason why Taiwanese companies should have any problems doing business in India.”
By coming to India, Taiwanese companies will have the advantage of gaining access to the huge domestic market as well as its export markets, he said. He told Taiwan News there is already a growing number of Taiwan companies investing in India. “India has rolled out a very ambitious plan for widening and diversifying its manufacturing base,” he said.
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Taiwan News
Taiwan's Gogoro opens its first experience center in Philippines
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November 14, 2023
Taiwanese electric scooter maker and battery swapping infrastructure provider Gogoro opened its first experience center in the Philippines last week. It is located in Makati on the second floor of the Greenbelt 4 shopping mall in the Ayala Center. The center is meant to introduce Gogoro Smartscooters and battery-swapping as the company gears up for commercial launch in the Philippines.
Visitors to the center will be able to see a range of Gogoro electric scooters, including the S1, the SuperSport, the Delight, and the Viva. Interested buyers will also get to see how Gogoro’s battery-swapping ecosystem works. Those interested in taking a test ride can sign up at the center. Gogoro Philippines is set to unveil the pricing and availability of models on Dec. 1. Meanwhile, additional Gogoro scooters will be available in early 2024, the company said.
“With the opening of our first Gogoro Experience Center, we are not just unveiling a store, we are opening the doors to the next chapter of mobility in the Philippines. Filipinos are invited to step in, explore, and be a part of this transformative journey towards a smarter and cleaner urban commute,” said Bernie Llamzon, president of Gogoro Philippines.
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Reuters
Indonesia's American EV dreams shunted into the slow lane |
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November 21, 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has made no secret of his ambition to leverage the country's vast nickel resources to become an Asian hub for manufacturing electric vehicles (EV).
He has been wooing Tesla (TSLA.O) for the last two years, offering the U.S. car maker incentives ranging from tax breaks to nickel mining concessions.
Now Widodo also needs a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States for Indonesian materials to qualify for the generous EV subsidies available under the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
In September Indonesia asked Washington for talks on a limited trade deal covering EV battery inputs such as nickel and cobalt. What it got after last week's bilateral meeting was a commitment "to develop a critical minerals action plan (...) with a view toward establishing the foundation to launch future negotiations on a critical minerals agreement".
The joint statement included some pointers as to what the United States expects from that action plan in terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.
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Bangkok Post
Tech giants to invest B300bn in Thailand
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November 16, 2023
The government has announced it has successfully courted Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google and Microsoft to invest in Thailand, with a total investment worth about 300 billion baht.
Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met executives from the three tech giants during his visit to the United States and succeeded in wooing them to invest in the kingdom.
Mr. Chai said the firms' investment plans will bring significant economic benefits to the country while enhancing its digital infrastructure and the development of a high-skilled labour force.
He said AWS's planned investment in cloud computing infrastructure will increase Thailand's competitiveness while boosting workers' expertise in this advanced sector.
Microsoft has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government, which will enhance the country's competitiveness in digital technology and allow the government to provide e-services more efficiently
Mr. Chai said the country's plan to adopt the "Utility Green Tariff" is one of the factors drawing the tech firms' interest. He said Google has also signed an MoU with the Ministry of Digital Economy and help stimulate economic growth.
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Reuters
Philippines woos neighbours to craft code on South China Sea
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November 20, 2023
The Philippines has approached neighbours such as Malaysia and Vietnam to discuss a separate code of conduct regarding the South China Sea, its president said on Monday, citing limited progress towards striking a broader regional pact with China.
Relations between the two have grown more tense under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has increasingly complained about China's "aggressive" behaviour while rekindling strong ties with the Philippines' sole treaty ally, the United States.
"We are still waiting for the code of conduct between China and ASEAN and the progress has been rather slow unfortunately," Marcos said, referring to efforts by the grouping of Southeast Asian nations.
"We have taken the initiative to approach those other countries around ASEAN with whom we have existing territorial conflicts, Vietnam being one of them, Malaysia being another and to make our own code of conduct. Hopefully this will grow further and extend to other ASEAN countries."
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