DOCSLIB.ORG

Taiwan's Energy Challenge

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Taiwan's Energy Challenge October 2016October | Vol. 2016 46 | | Vol. Issue 46 10 | Issue 10 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN TAIPEI IN OF COMMERCE THE AMERICAN CHAMBER TAIPEI IN OF COMMERCE THE AMERICAN CHAMBER COVERCOVER STORY STORY Taiwan’sTaiwan’s Energy Energy ChallengeChallenge 台灣的能源挑戰台灣的能源挑戰 TAIWAN BUSINESS TOPICS TAIWAN BUSINESS TOPICS TAIWAN INDUSTRYINDUSTRY FOCUS FOCUS Real EstateReal Estate DESIGNDESIGN IN TAIWAN IN TAIWAN FashionFashion Designers Designers BACKGROUNDERBACKGROUNDER October 2016 | Vol. 46 | Issue 10 Vol. October 2016 | 46 | Issue 10 Vol. October 2016 | LGBT RightsLGBT Rights 中 華 郵 政中 北 華台 郵字 政第 北 台 字 第 5000 5000 號 執 照 登號 記 執為 照雜 登誌 記交 為寄 雜 誌 交 寄 ISSUE SPONSORISSUE SPONSOR Published by the Published by the American Chamber OfAmerican Chamber Of Read TOPICSRead Online TOPICS at topics.amcham.com.tw Online at topics.amcham.com.tw NT$150 NT$150Commerce In Taipei Commerce In Taipei 10_2016_Cover.indd10_2016_Cover.indd 1 1 2016/10/4 2:41:59 2016/10/4PM 2:41:59 PM CONTENTS NEWS AND VIEWS 6 Editorial A Significant Initiative 重大的一步 OCTOBER 2016 VOLUME 46, NUMBER 10 一○五年十月號 7 Taiwan Briefs By Timothy Ferry Publisher 發行人 Andrea Wu 吳王小珍 Editor-in-Chief 總編輯 11 Issues Don Shapiro 沙蕩 Cosmetic Law Clarifications Associate Editor 副主編 化妝品法釋疑 Tim Ferry 法緹姆 Art Director/ 美術主任/ By Don Shapiro Production Coordinator 後製統籌 Katia Chen 陳國梅 Manager, Publications Sales & Marketing 廣告行銷經理 COVER SECTION Caroline Lee 李佳紋 Translation 翻譯 Jay Chen, Yichun Chen, Sonia Tsai, Andrew Wang Taiwan’s Energy Challenge 陳正杰, 陳宜君, 蔡函岑, 王先堂 台灣的能源挑戰 ByTimothy Ferry American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei 14 Taiwan’s “Energiewende” 129 MinSheng East Road, Section 3, 7F, Suite 706, Taipei 10596, Taiwan – Developing Renewable P.O. Box 17-277, Taipei, 10419 Taiwan Energy Tel: 2718-8226 Fax: 2718-8182 e-mail: [email protected] Massive investment in solar and wind website: http://www.amcham.com.tw 名稱：台北市美國商會工商雜誌 power will be needed if Taiwan is to 發行所：台北市美國商會 臺北市10596民生東路三段129號七樓706室 phase out nuclear energy at the same 電話：2718-8226 傳真：2718-8182 time as meeting its carbon abatement Taiwan Business TOPICS is a publication of the American Chamber of commitments. Commerce in Taipei, ROC. Contents are independent of and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Officers, Board of Governors, Supervisors or members. 21 An Early Nuclear-free © Copyright 2016 by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, ROC. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint original material must Homeland be requested in writing from AmCham. Production done in-house, Printing by Farn Mei Printing Co., Ltd. With both nuclear power plants in 登記字號：台誌第一零九六九號 northern Taiwan soon to shut down, 印刷所：帆美印刷股份有限公司 經銷商：台灣英文雜誌社 台北市108台北市萬華區長沙街二段66號 a significant gap in power supply is 發行日期：中華民國一○五年十月 中華郵政北台字第5000號執照登記為雜誌交寄 looming. ISSN 1818-1961 23 Reaching the Peak Chairman/ Dan Silver Can Taiwan maintain reliable – and Vice Chairmen/ Margaret Driscoll / Daniel Tseng affordable – electricity prices even as Treasurer: Al Chang Secretary: Fupei Wang it slashes greenhouse gas emissions? 2015-2016 Governors: Margaret Driscoll, Revital Golan, Vincent Shih, Gordon Stewart, Rodney Van Dooren, Fupei Wang, Lee Wood. 2016-2017 Governors: Al Chang, Christine Jih, Annie Lee, BACKGROUNDER Edward Shober, Dan Silver, Joanne Tsai, Daniel Tseng, Neil Waters. 26 Being Tongzhi: Examining 2015 Supervisors: Albert Chang, Anita Chen, Nick Chen, Joseph Lin LGBT Rights in Taiwan COMMITTEES: Many consider Taiwan to be East Agro-Chemical/ Melody Wang; Asset Management/ Christine Jih, Derek Yung; Banking/ Victor Kuan; Capital Asia’s friendliest country for lesbians, Markets/ Mandy Huang, C.P. Liu, Shirley Tsai; Chemical gays, bisexuals, and transgenders. Manufacturers/ Michael Wong; CSR/ Lume Liao, Fupei Wang; Customs & International Trade/ Stephen Tan; By Alexander Melnik Greater China Business/ Cheng-Mount Cheng, Helen Chou; Human Resources/ Vickie Chen, Richard Lin, Monica Han, Seraphim Mar; Infrastructure/ Paul Lee; Insurance/ Dan Ting; Intellectual Property & Licensing/ Jason Chen, DESIGN IN TAIWAN Peter Dernbach, Jeffrey Harris, Vincent Shih; Marketing & Distribution/ Wei Hsiang, Gordon Stewart; Medical Devices/ Terry Lin, Raghavendra Shenoy, Joanne Yao; Pharmaceutical/ 29 The Hurdles Facing Fashion Margaret E. Driscoll, David Lin, Jun Hong Park; Private Equity/ William Bryson; Public Health/ Dennis Lin, Joseph Designers Romanelli; Real Estate/ Tony Chao; Retail/ Ray Chan, The final article in a series published Prudence Jang, Wern-Yuen Tan; Sustainable Development/ Kenny Jeng, Cosmas Lu, Kernel Wang; Tax/ Stella Lai/ to mark Taipei’s designation as the Cheli Liaw, Josephine Peng; Technology/ Revital Golan, Rod Morgan; Telecommunications & Media/ Thomas Ee, Joanne 2016 World Design Capital. Tsai, Ken Wu; Transportation/ Nick Chen; Travel & Tourism/ Anita Chen, Pauline Leung, Achim v. Hake. By Nina Sheridan 4 taiwan business topics • october 2016 10 Contents.indd 4 2016/10/4 5:23:06 PM october 2016 • Volume 46 number 10 AMCHAM EVENTS InDuStrY 49 Amcham Taipei Marks 65th F cuS Anniversary A Report on the Real Estate Sector 34 Trends in the Taiwan the luxury segment for smaller Property Market units with lower selling prices. High transaction costs are affecting By Philip Liu foreign investors’ interest in Tai- wanese real estate, while Taiwan’s 42 Investing in Japan’s institutional investors are looking Residential Property abroad. Market By Ping Lee, CBRE Taiwan By Matthew Fulco 37 For Taiwan’s Insurers, the 43 Build it and maybe they Opportunity of a Lifetime will come? Faced with a tepid home property By Matthew Fulco market, Taiwan’s life insurers are increasingly investing in high-yield 44 Taiwan a World LEEDer for overseas property. Green Buildings By Matthew Fulco More can be done, say experts, particularly through government 39 Stagnant Conditions in the incentives, education, and retrofit- Housing Market ting old buildings. Developers recently have deserted By Jules Quartly taiwan business topics • october 2016 5 10 Contents.indd 5 2016/10/5 3:03:57 PM E D I T O R I A L A Significant Initiative n an executive order likely to have far-reaching implications existing rules. Often deficiencies in proposed regulations became in improving the transparency and effectiveness of Taiwan’s apparent only after the rules were already implemented. The I regulatory process, the Executive Yuan in early September longer notice and comment period will contribute to the drafting issued a directive extending the notice and comment period for of more thoroughly considered, more effective regulations and will proposed regulations from the current 14 days to 60 days. The further boost the democratic spirit of broad public engagement. new system took effect from the beginning of this month, and Although the new executive order addresses what had been applies to all regulations proposed by government ministries and one of the chief shortcomings in Taiwan’s rule-making process, agencies, as well as to draft laws dealing with trade, investment, more remains to be done to ensure that this reform achieves or intellectual property rights that are being considered by the its full effectiveness. At the most basic level, all those who are Executive Yuan for submission to the legislature. potentially affected by a new regulation – including industry, AmCham Taipei enthusiastically applauds this initiative, civic organizations, and members of the public at large – need to and commends Premier Lin Chuan and the National Develop- be informed about the new system and encouraged to provide ment Council for recognizing its importance. Providing a 60-day their input. The government can help by making the process notice and comment period has been among the Chamber’s top as easy and user-friendly as possible, for example by creating a priorities for the past two years. As AmCham Chairman Dan single centralized website that uses a uniform format for notice Silver noted in an email to all Chamber members, the executive and comment on all new laws and regulations, no matter which order moves Taiwan “closer to world-class practices for regu- ministry has proposed them. latory transparency” and “signals Taiwan’s readiness to make Equally important, the various ministries need to be prepared significant reforms to prepare for its bid” to join the Trans-Pa- to provide meaningful responses to major themes that emerge cific Partnership (TPP). from the public comments, and to be open to revising the The Chamber also did its best to spread word of this welcome initial drafts of regulations to reflect useful suggestions that are change through letters to officials in key U.S. government offices submitted. In the past, even if comments could be offered in (including the National Security Council, State Department, time, the communication was nearly always one-way, with little Commerce Department, and USTR), leading American industry or no feedback. associations, and prominent scholars of administrative law. In Finally, a sound rule-making process requires the setting of those letters, AmCham praised the new policy as a sign of the mandatory sunset provisions, so that regulations do not remain new administration’s “willingness to proactively engage the on the books forever without being periodically reviewed to public and industry stakeholders.” ensure their continued relevance and appropriateness. Previously, the 14-day period (increased just last year from The 60-day period provides an excellent framework for posi- only seven days) left insufficient time for meaningful
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Taiwan City Office & Residential Market in Taipei City and Investment Market In
    R ESEARCH TAIWAN CITY OFFICE & RESIDENTIAL MARKET IN TAIPEI CITY AND INVESTMENT MARKET IN TAIWAN Q 3 2016 COMMERCIAL OFFICE MARKET NEIHU RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE IN TAIPEI CITY TECHNOLOGY MARKET IN INVESTMENT PARK TAIPEI CITY KEY FINDINGS ECONOMY The Directorate General of Budget, in September that the discount rate, the Accounting and Statistics of Executive secured financing interest rate and the In Q3 2016, monitoring scores Yuan estimated that the GDP growth in short-term interest rate remained went up by 3 to 23, signaling 2016 would be 1.22% (Table 1). National unchanged at 1.375%, 1.75% and 3.625% economic recovery in Taiwan. Development Council announced that respectively. domestic economy became stable in Construction mortgage balance was down The Central Bank of Taiwan September 2016 (Table 2). This shows that by US$22 million to US$51.9 billion, down announced that the discount rate, the economy is recovering. the secured financing interest rate 1.7% year on year, representing a decline and the short-term interest rate Economic growth is lower than pre-financial for 10 consecutive months. Residential remained unchanged at 1.375%, crisis level, which means that the world mortgage balance, on the other hand, 1.75% and 3.625% respectively. economy is growing at a slow pace. In the surged US$1 billion to a record high of USA, despite its economy is gradually US$200 billion. This is mainly supported by recovering, investment sentiment remains the mortgage scheme for first time home low. In Japan, the economy remains buyers (undertaken by eight sluggish, while emerging economies see state-owned/partially state-owned banks), stable growth.
    [Show full text]
  • OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS TAIWAN a Review of 2019’S Investment Trends Sheds Light on Taiwan’S Six Metros
    COLLIERS RADAR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY | RESEARCH | TAIPEI | 8 APRIL 2020 Eilleen Liang Director | Research | Taiwan +886 2 8722 8601 [email protected] OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS TAIWAN A review of 2019’s investment trends sheds light on Taiwan’s six metros. COLLIERS RADAR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY | RESEARCH | TAIPEI | 8 APRIL 2020 Insights & Recommendations Annual land Commercial Although Taiwan’s economy has been sales hit NTD276.5 property affected by the US-China trade war in 2019, it also pushed manufacturing and billion in 2019, transactions totaled technology sectors to relocated partial increasing NTD138.6 billion operations back to Taiwan, increasing the demand for office, industrial office and 49.6% YOY up 70.0% YOY factories. Coupled with the low interest rates, the investment amount hit a record high in 2019. Looking forward in 2020, we Top destination for Most stable city for think uncertainties such as outbreak of COVID-19, US-China tensions, and the land investment- commercial cross-strait relations will likely impact the Taichung City property income: investment momentum especially in H1 2020. > Office: We still think the office sector is Taipei City the best opportunity for investors. Though leasing demand will likely > In 2019, land and commercial property investments grew significantly. The total sales value reached slowdown in H1 2020, with latent NTD415.1 billion (USD13.4 billion), a 56% increase compared to 2018. This is also the record high demand and a lack of supply we expect since Colliers survey started in 2007. rents and vacancy to remain stable. > Taiwan’s six metros are destinations both for investors and developers, with a total commercial > Industrial: We recommend owner- property sales value of NTD129.6 billion (USD4.2 billion), 94% of Taiwan’s total.
    [Show full text]
  • Copyrighted Material
    04_144350 ch01.qxp 1/25/08 8:24 PM Page 1 Chapter One THE BEST OF HONG KONG, BEIJING, SHANGHAI & TAIPEI There is an old Chinese curse that goes something like this: May you live in interesting times. Perhaps all times are interesting, none more so than those related to the New China . of 2008 and the Olympic Games and the World’s Fair in Shanghai in 2010. China Onstage. So I’d like to twist the ancient curse into a prayer for you and yours: May you shop in somewhat dirty street markets but contract no disease. May you never pay more than 100 of anything (yuan, Hong Kong dollars, euros—whatever). May you gaze at the New China and understand that you see the future—and it is powerful. Hey, I know there’s a real China out there, that miners are dying in horrific accidents, and that many couples still are per- mitted only one child. But as a visitor to glam parts of Shang- hai and Beijing, you will be hard-pressed to find it. With the Olympics considered a turning point for the gov- ernment, everything has become cleaner and more generic, brighter, and even garish. Hong Kong still shimmers as an oasis, althoughCOPYRIGHTED prices are higher on most MATERIAL items (except designer goods, which cost 20% less than in mainland China). This is the new China, and it has been built by the world’s finest archi- tects. You can’t help but be impressed. 1 04_144350 ch01.qxp 1/25/08 8:24 PM Page 2 2 THE BEST OF HONG KONG, BEIJING, SHANGHAI & TAIPEI If you’re antsy about the rate of exchange on the dollar against the euro, Asia is your new best friend.
    [Show full text]
  • Reaching LGBT Travelers: Taiwan Report Profile of Taiwanese International Visitors
    2017 Taiwan LGBT Travel Trends LGBT Market Intelligence Report | Reaching LGBT Travelers: Taiwan Report Profile of Taiwanese International Visitors May 2017 Produced by 1 2017 Taiwan LGBT Travel Trends LGBT Market Intelligence Report | ABOUT CMI 25 YEARS OF LGBT INSIGHTS › Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) has been conducting LGBT consumer research for 25 years. Our practice includes online surveys, in-depth interviews, intercepts, focus groups (on-site and online), and advisory boards. Industry leaders around the world depend on CMI’s research and analysis as a basis for feasibility evaluations, positioning, economic impact, creative testing, informed forecasting, measurable marketing planning and assessment of return on investment. › Key findings have been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, CBS News, NPR, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, eMarketer, Mashable, and many other international, national and regional media. › CMI’s other research clients include leaders from a wide range of industries. In the past few years, studies have been produced for these and many other clients: VISIT FLORIDA, Empire State Development Corp., Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, NYC & Company, Visit Orlando, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, Travel Portland, Choose Chicago, Tourism Toronto, Argentina Tourism Office, Hawaiian Airlines, Hyatt Hotels, Prudential, Wells Fargo Bank, Aetna, Target Brands,
    [Show full text]
  • Taipei City Office Market & Taiwan Investment Market
    R ESEARCH TAIWAN INVESTMENT IN TAWIAN, OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL MARKETS IN TAIPEI CITY Q1 2017 COMMERCIAL OFFICE MARKET NEIHU RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE IN TAIPEI CITY TECHNOLOGY MARKET IN INVESTMENT PARK TAIPEI CITY ECONOMY KEY FINDINGS The Directorate General of Budget, increased by 58.41% year on year. Taiwan’s economy has Accounting and Statistics of Executive In terms of residential sales remained stable for nine Yuan estimated Taiwan’s GDP growth transactions, the number of buildings months as of March 2017. in 2017 to reach 1.92% (table 1). transferred was 59.7 thousand, up Outlook for export was optimistic. 35.29% year on year (table 1). This The Central Bank of Taiwan Meanwhile, the National Development was a lower base period resulted from announced that the discount Council announced that the domestic the implementation of Integrated rate, the secured financing economy has remained stable for nine Housing and Land Tax last year. interest rate and the short-term months as of March 2017 (table 2). interest rate remained Regarding mortgage balance, Airport Considering the uncertainties in the unchanged at 1.375%, 1.75% MRT’s operation brought about the US and Europe’s economic policies, and 3.625% respectively. buying sentiment along the MRT route. and the support to the recovery of Room for negotiation went up and domestic economy, the Central Bank Foreign capital engaged mainly some projects were completed and of Taiwan announced in March that an in M&A activities, and no foreign ready for handover. As a result, easing monetary policy would be direct investment activities were residential mortgage balance reached adopted and that the discount rate, the recorded.
    [Show full text]
  • APIQ Q2 2018.Indd
    Savills World Research Asia Pacifi c Asia Pacifi c Investment Quarterly Q2 2018 Australia China (Northern) - Beijing/Tianjin China (Western) - Chengdu China (Southern) - Guangzhou/Shenzhen China (Eastern) - Shanghai Hong Kong | Japan | Macau Malaysia | New Zealand | Singapore South Korea | Taiwan Thailand | Vietnam Major Transactions Image: Hong Kong HIGHLIGHTS For Japan, monetary policy money remains the dominant a result. Korea’s investment remains supportive and the force and the focus this year market was more active World Bank forecasts steady has been on the offi ce market than ever during the second growth through 2020. Real while a recovering retail quarter. Total volumes for estate fundamentals are sector is gaining appeal. In the fi rst half of this year strong, and international Singapore, the July cooling have already reached 70% investors continue to target measures had a particularly of those posted in FY2017 fi rst and second tier cities negative impact on residential when the investment market in a display of confi dence. collective sales. This will saw its most active year. In Financial restrictions remain almost surely result in a Vietnam foreign capital is tight on the property market precipitous drop in this abundant but opportunities in China, with investment segment of the investment are limited across all sectors. funds less active than owner- sales market and we have occupiers. This trend could revised our investment sales Simon Smith, Savills Research continue for the rest of the forecast down, from S$36 year.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded from Brill.Com09/26/2021 05:59:11PM Via Free Access 356 Notes
    Notes For complete author names, titles, and publication data for works cited here in short form, see the Works Cited list at the back of the book. Introduction 1. It is problematic to use the term “emperor” to describe the monarch throughout most of Japanese history. As Joan R. Piggott reminds us in The Emergence of Japanese Kingship, “The term empire is strongly associated with a martial political formation founded on conquest” (8). For most of Japanese history, Japanese monarchs did not preside over empires. The monarchs of Imperial Japan (1890–1945)did rule over an empire that came to include numerous overseas possessions, however. In the case of Hirohito (r. 1926–89), he ascended to the throne as the sovereign of an empire, and thus the term “emperor” is an appropriate title for him for the period from 1926 to 1945. Strictly speaking, the term “emperor” does not describe Japan’s monarch since 1945, for Japan no longer has an empire and the monarch does not even remain sovereign. In the end, however, I decided to use the term “emperor” (as well as terms such as “monarch”) for the postwar period in part because it seemed confusing to switch back and forth between “emperor” for the prewar period and, say, “king” for the postwar period, and also because it served to highlight one of the most important transwar continuities regarding the Japanese throne: Hirohito, who ascended to the throne with the mindset of a sovereign emperor, remained on the throne even as the Japanese empire collapsed and the politico-legal system defining his position underwent sweeping reform.
    [Show full text]
  • Gennaio 2021 Numero Miscellaneo Issue 45
    Numero 45 – Gennaio 2021 Numero miscellaneo Issue 45 – January 2021 Miscellaneous Issue ISSN: 1824-4483 DEP n. 45 Indice Ricerche Parte monografica La violenza domestica in Asia orientale e sud-orientale Sara D’Attoma, Introduzione p. I Sara D’Attoma, 百年好(不)合! Cento anni di (in)felicità coniugale! Aspetti normativi del divorzio per violenza domestica nella Repubblica popolare cinese p. 1 Hsiaowei Kuan, The Law on Domestic Violence and Its Practice in Taiwan, (Taiwan) p. 24 Sumiko Honda, Reiko Ogawa, Domestic Violence in Japan: An Invisible Problem in the “Safest Country in the World” p. 35 Elodie Voisin, “As husband I must be violent”. Continuum of violence in forced migration and militarized policies. Ethnography among Rohingya Refugees in Malaysia p. 60 Parte miscellanea Corina Costea, The Evolution of Romanian Law and Mechanism in the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings. A Focus on the Situation of Women p. 80 Doreen Perl-Valentina Srbuljevic, The Importance of the Inclusion of Women’s Rights in the US – Taliban Peace Treaty p. 98 Documenti Claire Goll, La mano di cera (1917), traduzione di Serena Tiepolato p. 122 Kathleen Lonsdale, Security and Responsibility (1954), traduzione e cura di Maria Grazia Suriano p. 127 Recensioni, interventi, resoconti Annalisa Zabonati, “Bringing peace home”. I corpi delle donne e degli animali nonumani nell’analisi ecofemminista critica di Carol J. Adams p. 151 Arianna Ceschin, “La degradazione è la dea del momento”: natura e società nella scrittura di Anna Maria Ortese p. 158 Claire Tomalin, Jane Austen, la vita (Bianca Tarozzi) p. 169 Vandana Shiva, Reclaiming the Commons, Biodiversity, Indigenous Knowledge and the Rights of Mother Earth (Sara Dal Monico) p.
    [Show full text]
  • Shandong Iron & Steel Files to Sell Perps
    IFRASIA INTERNATIONAL FINANCING REVIEW ASIA MAY 5 2018 ISSUE 1039 www.ifrasia.com Xiaomi lines up blockbuster HK IPO under new dual-class share rules Shandong Iron & Steel files to sell perps convertible into equity Casino operator plans Cambodia’s first offshore bond offering PLUS: MONTHLY LEAGUE TABLES EQUITIES EQUITIES BONDS PEOPLE & MARKETS Foxconn’s mainland Indian real estate Lippo Karawaci UBS becomes first unit mulls selling firms look to sell faces cash crunch foreign bank to part of jumbo IPO shares as sector’s after breaching apply for majority to strategic buyers outlook improves bond covenant control of China JV 07 08 08 12 REGISTER TODAY GREEN FINANCING ROUNDTABLE TUESDAY MAY 22 2018 | THOMSON REUTERS BUILDING, CANARY WHARF, LONDON Sponsored by: Green bond issuance broke through the US$150bn mark in 2017, a 78% increase over the total recorded in 2016, and there are hopes that it will double again this year. But is it on track to reach the US$1trn mark targeted by Christina Figueres? This timely Roundtable will bring together a panel of senior market participants to assess the current state of the market, examine the challenges and opportunities and provide an outlook for the rest of the year and beyond. The Roundtable is free to attend, and you can register at http://financial-risk-solutions. thomsonreuters.info/GreenFinancingRoundtable Upfront OPINION INTERNATIONAL FINANCING REVIEW ASIA Leap of faith to convince investors of its growth plans and list at a reasonable valuation. If it fails, Hong Kong’s leap into the iaomi’s giant IPO is widely seen as a turning point for unknown will be looking more like a step backwards.
    [Show full text]
  • Voting Shift in the November 2014 Local Elections in Taiwan
    Current affairs China perspectives Voting Shift in the November 2014 Local Elections in Taiwan Strong rebuke to Ma Ying-jeou's government and policies and landslide victory for the DPP. FRANK MUYARD n 29 November 2014, Taiwan held the largest series of local elections policies, including its trumpeted cross-strait economic and political rap - in its history, in a nine-in-one format combining polls for 11,130 po - prochement, left the KMT candidates with few national or local policy Ositions, ranging from mayors of municipalities and cities achievements to run with. In many cases, Ma was seen as so politically toxic (zhixiashi/shizhang 直轄市 /市長 ), county magistrates ( xianzhang 縣長 ), city that candidates declined to stand with him on a public stage. In a desperate and county councillors ( shi/xian yihuiyuan 市/縣議會員 ), township chiefs attempt, Lien Sheng-wen and the KMT tried to nationalise and polarise the (zhenzhang 鎮長 , xiangzhang 鄉長 ), and village and borough chiefs ( cunzhang campaign into a classic Blue-Green battle around cross-strait relations and 村長 , lizhang 里長 ), to indigenous district chiefs and councillors ( zhixiashi identity, pushing the “save the Republic of China (ROC)” card to rally deep- shandi yuanzhumin quzhang , qumin daibiao 直轄市山地原住民區長，區民 Blue voters and prop up their campaign. It had the mostly opposite result 代表 ). All were elected for four-year terms. Two-and-a-half years into the sec - of showing even more clearly the disconnect between today’s mainstream ond presidential term of Ma Ying-jeou, the nation-wide elections were seen national Taiwanese identity and the KMT mainlander old guard such as for - as a mid-term test for his administration and a prelude to the next legislative mer premiers Hau Pei-tsun 郝柏村 and Lien Chan, aggravated by repeated and presidential elections in early 2016.
    [Show full text]
  • LGBTQ+ Rights and Protections: Do Existing Theories Explain Japan's
    LGBTQ+ Rights and Protections: Do Existing Theories Explain Japan’s Limited Legislation? by Jonathan King A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in International Affairs Middle Tennessee State University August 2020 Thesis Committee: Dr. Stephen D. Morris, Chair Dr. James P. Chaney Dr. LaToya E. Eaves I dedicate this thesis to those in the LGBTQ+ community who continue to fight for equality, and those who, out of the fear of persecution or the penalty of death, remain hidden within themselves. Furthermore, I dedicate this thesis to those who fought for the equal rights that exist today. ii ABSTRACT Due to the acceptance and prominence of homosexuality in Japanese history, one could assume that Japan would be accepting of homosexuality, as well as the other facets that constitute the umbrella term LGBTQ+, in the present day. However, currently, legislation in favor of the LGBTQ+ community is quite limited in Japan. In order to explain such limited legislation, an examination of theories regarding the creation of minority rights is conducted. These theories include national factors such as regime type, economic status, religiosity, the health of civil society, the rule of law, and how socialization, policy diffusion, and global queering has and continues to have an influence over attitudes and legislation. After observing Japan’s status regarding each of these theories, it is determined that they do not provide an explanation for the limited LGBTQ+ equal legislation. Compared to countries with similar levels as Japan in each of these theories, Japan appears to be much more apathetic towards LGBTQ+ rights and protections.
    [Show full text]
  • Ex-HTC Designers Go to Jail for Suspected Expense Fraud and Trade Secret Theft
    Sep 02, 2013 12:06 BST Ex-HTC designers go to jail for suspected expense fraud and trade secret theft Ex-HTC designers have gone to jail for suspected expense fraud and trade secret theft. According to Engadget, “Several top designers at HTC were arrested in Taipei under suspicion of fraudulent expense claims, as well as stealing trade secrets ahead of leaving the company to run a new mobile design firm in both Taiwan and mainland China. Five people were interrogated, with the most notable ones being Vice President of Product Design Thomas Chien (pictured above), R&D director Wu Chien Hung and design team senior manager Justin Huang (who also personally sketched out the One’s design). Chien and Wu are taken into custody, whereas the others were released on bail (see video after the break). Their offices were also raided yesterday as part of the investigation. “Reports say HTC chairwoman Cher Wang personally filed a complaint to Taiwan’s Investigation Bureau, which has since learned that Chien, Wu and Huang planned to set up a new design company (which is already registered under the Chinese name “Xiaoyu”) aimed at the mainland Chinese market, and that they would resign after claiming their mid-year bonuses yesterday. The real beef HTC has here is that it apparently caught Chien secretly downloading files related to the upcoming Sense 6.0 UI design, and then shared them with external contacts via e-mail. The Investigation Bureau refused to comment on whether Sense 6.0 is related to the One Max due later this year.
    [Show full text]