Taipei Liaison Office in the RSA SA-TAIWAN eNews NOVEMBER 29TH 2019 PUBLISHER: MATTHEW CHOU ISSUE 11 I, and the South African Government, have enormous appreciation for the contribution that the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has made to the commitment of the Govern- ment sector in the economic development in Africa. The ROC (Taiwan) further, made a gener- ous and much appreciated contribution to South Africa's transition to democracy . Statement by President Nelson Mandela—27 November 1996 CEC announces ROC (Taiwan) 2020 presidential election candidates Candidates from the ruling ernor of Taiwan Province from Democratic Progressive 1993 to 1998 and head of the Party and opposition Kuo- defunct Government Informa- mintang and People First tion Office from 1979 to 1984, Party will contest the up- will run a fourth time as presi- coming ROC (Taiwan) presi- dential candidate. His running dential race, according to mate is Sandra Yu, former chair- the Central Election Com- woman of local advertising firm mission Nov. 22. United Communications Group. The DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen will According to the CEC, 650 can- seek a second term. She is the The KMT’s Han Kuo-yu, mayor of didates will compete for 113 first woman to hold the country’s Kaohsiung City in southern Tai- seats in the Legislative Yuan. In highest office after winning 6.89 wan and a legislator from 1993 January 2016, the DPP claimed million votes, or 56.12 percent, to 2002, is the main challenger. 68 seats to become the majority in the 2016 election. His vice presidential pick, Chang party for the first time followed San-cheng, was premier from by KMT, 35; New Power Party, 5; Running mate Lai Ching-te was February 2016 to May 2016 and PFP, 3; Non-Partisan Solidarity premier from 2017 to 2019; minister of science and technol- Union, 1; and independent, 1. mayor of Tainan City in southern ogy from March 2014 to Decem- Taiwan, 2010 to 2017; and a leg- ber 2014. The presidential and legislative islator, 1999 to 2010. elections are set for Jan. 11, PFP Chairman James Soong, gov- 2020. November Snapshots of Taiwan Left,Hu Jong-i (second left), director-general of Agriculture and Food Agency under the Council of Agriculture, displays locally grown bananas Nov. 26 at a news conference in Taipei City announcing plans to increase produce exports to Japan’s Ibaraki prefecture. (Courtesy of AFA) ;Middle, A representative (left) from Equal Love Taiwan, a Taipei City-based nongovernmental organization advocating for same-sex marriage, receives a HERO Award at a ceremony organized by Bangkok-based NGO APCOM Nov. 22 in the Thai capital. (Courtesy of ELT) ;Right,A Tamsui Light Rail System train featuring characters created by renowned Taiwan illustrator Jimmy Liao is launched Nov. 25 in New Taipei City to celebrate the service’s one-year anniversary. (Courtesy of New Taipei Metro Corp.) ISSUE 11 SA-TAIWAN ENEWS Headline News Page 2 President Tsai meets US Congressmen Bill Flores and Guy Reschenthaler During a meeting with US Congressmen Bill Flores and As the strategic forefront of Guy Reschenthaler on the the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan morning of November 26, is the first line of defense for President Tsai Ing-wen democratic values. Over the stated that the situation in past months, the people of Hong Kong demonstrates Hong Kong have continued to the importance of Taiwan pursue freedom and democ- and the United States' joint racy, only to be met with vio- defense of free, democratic lent suppression. values. As the strategic forefront of the Indo-Pacific re- wan. Congressman Flores is a The worsening situation in Hong gion, she said, Taiwan is the first member of the Congressional Kong only further demonstrates line of defense for democratic Taiwan Caucus, and he has lent the importance of Taiwan and values. We will continue to strong support to bills supporting the United States' joint defense strengthen our cooperation with Taiwan, including our participa- of free, democratic values. the United States in all fields, so tion in international organiza- that we can make greater contri- tions and the signing of a bilat- We have also noted that the US butions to regional stability, eral trade agreement between House and Senate recently prosperity, and development, Taiwan and the United States. passed a bill supporting human she stated. rights and democracy in Hong Since taking office earlier this Kong. This effort proves that A translation of the president's year, Congressman Reschen- these core values are not split remarks follows: thaler has staunchly supported along party lines. They are the I still remember when Congress- Taiwan as well. In addition to overwhelming consensus of all man Flores came to Taiwan in signing the TAIPEI Act (Taiwan democratic countries. 2016 right after I took office. It is Allies International Protection wonderful to see you again. I and Enhancement Initiative Act) This year, Taiwan and the United also want to welcome Congress- and the Taiwan Assurance Act, States hosted the first-ever Pa- man Reschenthaler on his first he has also voted in support of cific Islands Dialogue. We will visit to Taiwan. Meeting with all Taiwan-friendly resolutions. continue to strengthen our coop- of you before Thanksgiving Thanks to your hard work and eration with the United States in makes this feel like a reunion of the efforts of many others, the all fields, so that we can make friends. Taiwan-US partnership has greater contributions to regional grown stronger across the board. stability, prosperity, and devel- I want to personally thank both In a speech last month, Vice opment. of you for your support for Tai- President Mike Pence said that the United States has "stood Taiwan-US relations enjoy strong by Taiwan in defense of her bipartisan support in the United hard-won freedoms." I would States. I hope that you will con- like to take this opportunity to tinue to support Taiwan, and say that Taiwan will be a help bring our partnership to a steadfast partner to the new level. United States. ISSUE 11 SA-TAIWAN ENEWS Business and Economics Page 3 President Tsai touts Taiwan’s economic potential at AmCham’s Annual General Meeting President Tsai Ing- contributed to wen said Nov. 19 that local economic the local economy is development moving ahead in leaps and plays a key and bounds, and role in advanc- there are many poten- ing Taiwan-U.S. tial-laden areas in trade ties. This which Taiwan and the President Tsai Ing-wen (front, center) and AmCham Taipei President involvement is U.S. can cultivate mu- William Foreman (from, second right) are joined by business represen- of great value as tually beneficial op- tatives and officials from Taiwan and the U.S. at the organization’s the government portunities. Nov. 19 Annual General Meeting. (Courtesy of Presidential Office) continues trans- forming the Taiwan’s economic country into a growth topped the Asian tigers clude the establishment of the pat- world center for financial and over the first three quarters in ent linkage system in August and wealth management R&D and top- 2019, Tsai said. In addition, home- announcement of the Talent Circu- end manufacturing, she added. bound investment of nearly lation Alliance announced in April, NT$700 billion (US$22.9 billion) Tsai said. According to Tsai, Taiwan and the forecast to produce more than U.S. are economic partners of sig- 55,000 quality jobs was The patent linkage system allows nificant standing. From January to greenlighted by the government, for the speedy resolution of dis- October, the country’s U.S. exports she added. putes pertaining to patent invalidity recorded a sizable increase of 17.7 and infringement among big-name percent year on year, she said. Tsai made the remarks while ad- drug companies and generic manu- dressing the American Chamber of facturers. It was contained in 2018- Closer cooperation is the way for- Commerce in Taipei’s Annual Gen- approved amendments to the Phar- ward, Tsai said, adding that a bilat- eral Meeting. maceutical Affairs Act. eral investment agreement would pave the way for strategic alliances According to Tsai, employment op- TCA is a public-private partnership in value-added sectors of the future portunities created by homebound between lead organizations such as like artificial intelligence, internet investment are complemented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, of things and Industry 4.0 while de- those stemming from an uptick in Industrial Development Bureau, fending rules-based order in the interest from technology heavy- state-backed Institute for Informa- Indo-Pacific. weights like Amazon.com Inc., tion Industry and the American In- Google, Microsoft Corp. and Micron stitute in Taiwan. It encourages the Established in 1951 with more than Technology Inc. These firms recog- free flow of human capital between 1,000 members from 500 compa- nize Taiwan’s robust business cli- Taiwan and like-minded partners, nies, AmCham Taipei is a nonprofit, mate and its abundance of highly as well as creates a deep pool of nonpartisan organization dedicated educated talent, she said. digital professionals with a global to promoting the interests of outlook. American and international busi- Other achievements underscoring nesses in Taiwan. Taiwan’s economic credentials in- Tsai said AmCham Taipei has long ISSUE 11 SA-TAIWAN ENEWS Science & Technology Page 4 MOST launches two new ocean research vessels in Keelung Two ocean research vessels commis- he said. sioned by the Ministry of Science and Technology were launched Nov. According to the MOST, the two new 25 in the northern port city of Kee- 811-metric-ton vessels will join the lung, marking a milestone in domes- 1,000-metric-ton R/V New Ocean tic marine research development.