Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Taiwan retains No.1 in Asia on freedom index

Taipei Times

Taiwan ranked 12th among 165 jurisdictions around the world and first in Asia in this year’s Human Freedom Index with a score of 8.56, retaining its position from the previous year.

The index, compiled by the Washington-based Cato Institute and the Vancouver-based Frasier Institute, ranked 165 jurisdictions for “personal,” “economic” and “human” freedom in 2021, the most recent year for which sufficient data were available, the report said.

Taiwan scored 7.97 for economic freedom, or ranking 11th in the world — up from 24th in 2020 — and 8.98 for personal freedom, 12th and unchanged from 2020.

China trade report just another bully’s tool

Yen Huai-shing 顏慧欣

China last week announced that Taiwan’s ban on imports of certain Chinese goods constituted a “trade barrier.” Some say they worry the announcement would affect the nation’s Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) application. Beijing’s next move is unclear, but the Chinese trade report is unlikely to affect Taiwan’s participation in the trade agreement.

Some say China could block Taiwan’s trade bloc entry by pressuring one or two members, using trade-barrier probes as leverage. This is overthinking it.

First, everyone knows China does not want Taiwan to join the CPTPP. It would try to block Taiwan’s entry with or without the report. Taiwan’s trade bloc eligibility is not a concern.

Indigenous sub undergoing harbor acceptance test

Taipei Times

Taiwan’s first indigenous defense submarine prototype, the Hai Kun (海鯤, SS-711), is undergoing a harbor acceptance test, a navy official said yesterday.

Admiral Huang Shu-kuang (黃曙光), who heads the Indigenous Defense Submarine program, said that personnel are training on the Hai Kun’s systems and equipment, and the next step would be a sea acceptance test (SAT) in the second quarter of next year.

The submarine was initially launched on Sept. 28, after seven years in development, he said, adding that the program has been supervised and audited by the Legislative Yuan, the Control Yuan and other government agencies, and no problems have been found.

Being pro-China will save no one

Roger Wu 吳哲文

Roson (羅森), a renowned Taiwan-born wuxia (“martial arts and chivalry”) novelist who shot to fame in Taiwan for having mature content in his works, has moved his career to China several years ago. He settled down in Zhuhai in Guangdong Province while managing a novel Web site for years.

He was arrested earlier this year and given a 12-year sentence for “producing, selling or disseminating obscene articles for profit,” according to online reports.

News of him serving a sentence first appeared on Chinese gaming Web site NGA and shortly after, the news spread to Professional Technology Temple’s gaming bulletin board.

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