Issue No.2 Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Taiwan Newsletter Starting from March 1, imports of Taiwan pineapples." She March 4th showed. The US think tank reopens to business travel pledged that the government would measures 12 freedoms, from property On February 24, the Central Epidemic allocate NT$1 billion to ameliorate the rights to financial freedom, grouped Command Center (CECC) announced impact of the import ban and work to into four categories: rule of law; that it would again allow people from export 30,000 tons of pineapples to the government integrity; judicial CECC's list of low- and medium-risk U.S., Japan, Singapore, and other effectiveness; and regulatory efficiency countries/regions who are eligible to international markets. and open market. Taiwan was fourth enter Taiwan and wish to make short among 40 economies in the Asia– visits for business purposes to apply for Pacific region after Singapore, New shortened quarantine periods in Taiwan. Zealand and Australia, with an overall The center explained that travelers who score of 78.6, above the regional and arrive from low-risk countries and have world averages, the survey showed. stayed for five days in a quarantine The main factor holding Taiwan from hotel can contact local health authorities the top economic freedom category to apply for a COVID-19 test at their remains a relative lack of labor freedom, own expense. it said, adding that the government Those from medium-risk countries can US reaffirms Taiwan support in raised the minimum wage again last do the same after spending seven days report year, despite the possibility of damage in quarantine. If their coronavirus test On March 4th, the Ministry of Foreign to productivity and flexibility for results are negative, business travelers Affairs thanked US President Joe workers. can apply with local health authorities Biden’s administration after it issued for permission to end their quarantine interim guidance on strategic priorities, International Forum on Gender within 14 days after entering the including reaffirming support for Equality country and begin self-health Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the management. The 23-page Interim National Security Republic of China (Taiwan) and the They must then carry out self-health Strategic Guidance report, published by Foundation of Women’s Rights monitoring until they have spent 21 the White House on Wednesday, said Promotion and Development jointly days in the country. that the US would “support Taiwan, a planned to hold an online "International leading democracy and a critical Forum on Gender Equality" on March Taiwanese buy entire year's worth of economic and security partner, in line 18 (Thursday) 20:30-22:00 (GMT+8). pineapple exports to China in 4 days with longstanding American "Accelerating Women's Economic On Friday (Feb. 26), Beijing announced commitments.” Empowerment" is the theme, sharing it would ban all imports of Taiwanese US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the foresight of Taiwan and the public pineapples, alleging that “harmful in first major address in office, and private sectors of the United States organisms” had been found in the fruit. promised that the Biden administration and Europe to improve women’s Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA) would prioritize diplomacy over economic lives, and Taiwan’s role and contribution in enhancing the economic Minister Chen Chi-chung chastised military action, and build cooperation status of women in developing China for its “unilateral decision,” with the world on global challenges countries. which he deemed “unacceptable.” The such as climate change and COVID-19. "International Forum on Gender move prompted Foreign Minister “Our relationship with China will be Equality" will be broadcast live on the on Friday to launch a competitive when it should be, YouTube channel of the Ministry of "Freedom Pineapple" campaign on collaborative when it can be and Foreign Affairs. Twitter. adversarial when it must be, and we Online live broadcast: That same day, President Tsai Ing-wen will engage China from a position of https://reurl.cc/GdjrZ3 also took to Twitter, calling on the strength,” he said. public to buy Taiwanese pineapples and writing that like with Australian wine, Taiwan ranks as sixth-freest economy: "China's unfair trade practices" were survey targeting Taiwan's pineapples, despite Taiwan’s economy ranked sixth in this the fact that 99.79 percent of imported year’s Index of Economic Freedom, as batches had passed inspection. its overall score picked up 1.5 points In a Facebook post on Friday, Tsai due primarily to an improvement in condemned China for its "ambush-like, government integrity, an annual unilateral notice that it would ban Heritage Foundation survey released on

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