Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin visits jointly constructed neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital and joins Guatemalan Foreign Minister Martínez in celebrating 90th anniversary of bilateral ties

Date：2024-10-27
Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs

October 27, 2024  
No. 371  

On October 25, during his visit to Guatemala, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung met with President Bernardo Arévalo, Foreign Minister Carlos Martínez, and other senior officials. He also toured the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which finished construction this year with assistance from Taiwan. While at the new building, Minister Lin interacted with families that benefited from the joint endeavor, giving him the opportunity to better understand the fruits of Taiwan-Guatemala collaboration. 
 
Hospital Director Erika Pérez and Pediatrics Department Chief Juan Carlos Reyes introduced the facilities and functions of the building to Minister Lin when he toured the neonatal building in the morning. Accompanied by Guatemalan Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance Joaquín Barnoya, Minister Lin attended a traditional Taiwanese ceremony to bless infants and gave gifts to the attending families. 
 
In his remarks at San Juan de Dios Hospital, Minister Lin stated that, in addition to the joint construction of the hospital’s neonatal building, Taiwan’s technical mission and Guatemala are working on a program to promote maternal and neonatal health care. The initiative will assist in training medical professionals at hospitals and birth centers in Guatemala City to enhance their ability to give women clinical care before, during, and after childbirth and reduce premature birth and infant mortality risks, benefiting 70,000 people each year. It will also arrange for related personnel from Guatemala to travel to Taiwan for training. Over 450 health care professionals are expected to receive training, thereby raising the quality of services available to women and children in Guatemala. It took just 12 months for Taiwan and Guatemala to complete the planning and construction of the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which has helped improve maternal and neonatal care. The important project has been met with wide approval from the government and civil society of Guatemala. 
 
In the afternoon, Minister Lin called at Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet with Minister Martínez, who invited him to view bamboo planted by Taiwan’s technical mission in the square outside the building. The plants commemorate 90 years of friendship and diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Guatemala. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

In response to the growing needs of an aging population and the increasing emphasis on the rights of persons with disabilities, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology, and Inspection (BSMI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs has been actively promoting accessibility and inclusivity. As part of these efforts, BSMI held the award ceremony for the “Universal Design Competition for Assistive Devices for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities” and the “Campaign on User-Friendly Commercial Assistive Devices for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities” on November 19. These initiatives aim to fulfill the accessibility requirements outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), promote the concept of universal design, and recognize innovative and practical assistive devices.

Universal Design Competition: Pioneering Innovation in Assistive Devices
The Competition garnered 137 entries this year, showcasing a variety of creative and ergonomic solutions. After rigorous evaluation, gold, silver, and bronze awards, along with five honorable mentions, were presented.
Gold Award: A keyboard assistive device designed for the visually impaired, enabling rapid identification of keyboard positions.
Silver Award: A lightweight, thin massage cushion with adjustable intensity, ideal for long-term bedridden users.
Bronze Award: A wireless communication-enabled restraint band that reduces caregivers’ workload while enhancing safety.
These winning designs integrate cutting-edge technologies such as ergonomics, wireless communication, and specialized materials, representing a significant leap in Taiwan’s assistive device innovation.
Campaign on User-Friendly Commercial Assistive Devices: Enhancing Everyday Lives
The Campaign reviewed 48 commercially available products, selecting 20 outstanding designs that prioritize user experience. The evaluation focused on safety, convenience, and user-centric design, emphasizing innovations such as lightweight materials, compact storage solutions or easy-to-operate mechanisms.
These features demonstrate the industry’s commitment to creating assistive devices that are both functional and thoughtful, boosting the competitiveness of Taiwan’s assistive device market.
Meeting the Needs of a Super-Aged Society
BSMI emphasized that as Taiwan approaches a super-aged society, the demand for assistive and healthcare products is expected to surge. These initiatives not only foster dialogue between designers and users but also encourage technological innovation to improve quality of life. BSMI is committed to supporting the development and promotion of award-winning products through exhibitions, business matchmaking, and other initiatives, further advancing the assistive device industry and ensuring accessibility for all.
“Through these campaigns, we aim to create a more inclusive society where assistive devices cater to diverse needs, ensuring dignity and independence for people with disabilities and the elderly,” said a BSMI spokesperson.
For more information on the winning entries and upcoming assistive device initiatives, visit the website at https://reurl.cc/z67Dde.

Responsible Division: Inspection Technology Division
Contact Person: Yang, Li-Yuan, Deputy Director
Tel. (O): +886-2343-1829
Email: ly.yang@bsmi.gov.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Taiwan Expo 2024 in Thailand, promoted by the International Trade Administration (TITA) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), opened on November 21 in Bangkok, Thailand. This year’s Expo featured 170 leading Taiwanese companies that showcased innovations in 5 key industries: smart manufacturing, smart medical care, the circular economy, smart lifestyles, and culture & tourism, under the theme “Explore Tomorrow’s Innovations at the Taiwan Expo 2024”.

TITA’s Director General Cynthia Kiang stated in her welcoming remarks that the Taiwan Expo has become the premier platform for strengthening economic, technological, and cultural cooperation between Thailand and Taiwan. Since Taiwan excels in advanced technology, ICT, and machinery, it is conducive for partnering with Thailand’s manufacturing prowess, thereby presenting both sides with unique opportunities for collaboration in the sectors of smart medicine, green technology, and carbon reduction technology.

Director General Kiang also highlighted the “Taiwan Select” section, which showcased Taiwan’s high-quality food products to promote the diverse culinary charm of Taiwan and help Taiwanese food enterprises enter global markets.

For more detailed information on the Taiwan Expo 2024 in Thailand, please visit the official website: https://thai.taiwanexpoasean.com/zh-tw/index.html

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Golden Pin Design Award (GPDA/the Award) began active internationalization in 2014 and is now an internationally renowned award. Its 2024 jury board boasted 99 international experts from 13 countries, reviewing a total of 2,339 multidisciplinary design entries from 20 different countries. The Award surged a record entry from amongst the Southeast Asian countries of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy partners. This year’s designer entries reflected the latest trends in smart technology, circular sustainability, and sociological design; many domestic entries demonstrated Taiwan design’s leading position in global innovation trends. The Honorary Award went to Shu Chang Kung, renowned Taiwanese architect and the Architecture Professor of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University’s Graduate Institute of Architecture. The winners of this year’s Best Design as well as other special awards will be announced during the Grand Award Ceremony at the Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center, on December 13th. The Golden Pin Design Award Exhibition will kick off on December 3rd inside Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. We welcome all to join!

GPDA’s collaborations with international design organizations resulted in nearly 50% international entries and made it an important exposure platform for Taiwan’s design talents and design industries with the rest of the world. The New Southbound Policy led to the signing of active Memorandums of Exchange and Collaboration for design research and development with Southeast Asian countries. GPDA’s growing brand awareness in Asia-Pacific regions is proven by this year’s record breaking 213 entries from amongst the New Southbound Policy collaborating countries, including: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and New Zealand.

Operated by the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI), GPDA is not only a recognition for outstanding designs, but also a bridge for international marketing of design works. By TDRI’s international collaboration in channels and expos, GPDA winners are further exposed around the world. Examples include setting up a permanent GPDA counter inside Marunouchi Good Design Store, Tokyo, as well as displaying Taiwanese winning designs inside the Taiwan Pavilion during Milan Design Week in April 2024. The holistic support system, from selection recognition to international exhibition and market promotions, helps designers and companies expand into international markets.

As it attracts not only Taiwan designer and company entries but also latest design innovations from designers and corporations from the four corners of the world. The Award has become an important indicator for both diverse industries’ status and future trends. This year’s winning works demonstrated the multidisciplinarity and innovative nature of design, from technological applications to social transformations, all in response to the needs of modern consumers. Many entries integrated design thinking and technology to improve functionality, lead product innovation, and create new lifestyles. Furthermore, in environmental protection and sustainability, eco-friendly solutions rooted in material innovation and resource circulation were proposed. Last but not least, many entries showed that design has become a powerful tool in responding to social challenges as well as fostering public participation. The 2024 winning designs will be exhibited at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei, starting on December 3rd (Tuesday, TAPEI GMT+8).

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Since its establishment in 2021, Taipower’s Energy Trading Platform has introduced a new business model for electricity trading, attracting private distributed energy resources to participate in the grid and provide ancillary services to help stabilize the national power system. In 2023, the Energy Trading Platform earned Taipower the National Development Council’s Government Service Award (Digital Innovation and Value-Added), and now the Company has won the 2024 Gartner Eye on Innovation Awards for Power and Utilities in the category of “Innovation: Intelligent Dispatching and Monitoring System for Distributed Resources”.

Gartner, a globally renowned think tank, specializes in providing third-party information and communications technology (ICT) research and consulting services to businesses and government agencies. Since 2019, Gartner has hosted the annual Gartner Eye on Innovation Awards for Government competition, calling on government organizations around the globe to showcase their successful digital innovation services. The event attracts over 200 submissions each year. This year, Gartner introduced the Gartner Eye on Innovation Awards for Power and Utilities, which was divided into three regions: the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The top four entries from each region advanced to the finals, where a prestigious panel of more than 20 experts from Europe and the Americas selected the year’s winners. Taipower’s Energy Trading Platform won the award in the Asia-Pacific region, sharing international recognition with notable companies ITC Limited, Southern California Edison (SCE) from the Americas, and Enerjisa from Europe. The award winners were announced online in October, and yesterday (November 25) Gartner Taiwan President Liao Ming-Jen personally presented the award to Taipower at its headquarters.

A Taipower representative explained that Taiwan’s island geography operates as an independent grid, requiring self-sufficiency to maintain grid stability and balance while meeting nationwide electricity demand. Taipower’s Energy Trading Platform, which has received international recognition as an Intelligent Dispatching and Monitoring System for Distributed Resources, was designed based on the power market structures of advanced countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. By introducing ancillary service trading and integrating cloud server applications and other ICT innovations, the platform attracts distributed power resources, including privately owned generation facilities and grid-connected energy storage systems. Through a competitive bidding model, participants can compete fairly to earn revenue while contributing to national grid stability. The platform accelerates the development of emerging power technologies and establishes a real-time dispatch system that emphasizes information security, scalability, and stability. To date, the platform has successfully integrated 430 distributed energy projects.

Since Taipower’s Energy Trading Platform began operations 3 years ago, it has accumulated nearly 100 qualified participants, with a total participation capacity exceeding 1.7 GW. The platform has demonstrated its critical rescue capabilities in real-world scenarios, such as during the 403 Hualien Earthquake. The earthquake tripped multiple generators nationwide, resulting in an immediate reduction of approximately 3.2 GW in power supply. Through the Energy Trading Platform, energy storage resources were instantly deployed, providing 500,000 kW of power. Combined with other fast-responding hydro and thermal power units and photovoltaic power, the grid frequency was stabilized within a short period after the quake, preventing a potential blackout crisis due to system imbalance. Taipower representatives emphasized the Company’s commitment to leveraging innovative technologies to enhance the grid’s safety and flexibility, thereby ensuring a stable power supply.

Spokesperson: Vice President Tsai Chih-Meng
Phone: (02) 2366-6271; 0958-749-333
E-mail: u910707@taipower.com.tw
Contact Person: Director of the Power Dispatching Department Chou Fang-Cheng
Phone: (02) 2366-6600; 0952-810-417
E-mail: u027007@taipower.com.tw

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

News & activities

News releases

2025-03-25
The Office of the President will be closed to visitors on April 9 (Wed.), 10 (Thurs.), and 17 (Thurs.) due to maintenance work in the exhibition area. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Office of the President will be closed to visitors on April 9 (Wed.), 10 (Thurs.), and 17 (Thurs.) due to maintenance work in the exhibition area. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to joint declaration by G7 defence ministers expressing concern over China’s joint military exercise around Taiwan and reaffirming importance of cross-strait peace and stability

October 20, 2024  

The Group of Seven (G7) defense ministers held a meeting in Naples, Italy, from October 18 to 20. In a joint declaration issued on October 19, they expressed concern over China’s provocative actions, particularly the recent People’s Liberation Army military drills around Taiwan. They reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait was indispensable to international security and prosperity and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly welcomes and sincerely appreciates the G7 member states’ staunch support for maintaining the peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait. 
 
As a responsible member of the Indo-Pacific community, Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with G7 member countries and take concrete actions to uphold the core values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. It will work in solidarity with like-minded partners to safeguard the rules-based international order and promote prosperity and stability in the region and throughout the world.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade expressing grave concern over China’s joint military drills around Taiwan

October 16, 2024In response to a question from the media on October 16, a spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that Australia was deeply concerned that China had commenced large-scale military exercises around Taiwan and that Australia urged China to refrain from actions that increased the risk of accident and potential escalation. The spokesperson added that differences should be resolved through dialogue, not the threat of force or coercion, and that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait were in the interests of all parties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely thanks the government of Australia for paying close attention to the Taiwan Strait situation, calling on China to show restraint, and underscoring the importance of cross-strait peace and stability. Taiwan will continue to work with Australia and other like-minded partners to uphold the rules-based international order and advance regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office expressing serious concern over China’s joint military drills around Taiwan

October 15, 2024  

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issued a press statement on October 14 expressing concern over China’s military exercises around Taiwan and adding that these exercises increased tensions and risked dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait. In the statement, the United Kingdom reaffirmed its interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which it said was of critical importance to global prosperity. The statement reiterated that the Taiwan issue should be settled by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. It further said that the United Kingdom did not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and called for restraint and the avoidance of any actions that might undermine peace and stability.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely appreciates that the UK government has continued to pay close attention to developments across the Taiwan Strait and clearly spelled out the importance of cross-strait peace and stability to global affairs. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded partners to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order. It also hopes that democracies around the world will stand together in urging China to exercise reason and restraint and to stop threatening Taiwan and unilaterally escalating regional tensions. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to US State Department expressing serious concern over China’s military drills around Taiwan

October 14, 2024   

The US State Department issued a press statement on October 13 stating that the United States was seriously concerned by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan, and that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) responding with military provocations to a routine annual speech was unwarranted and risked escalation. In the statement, the United States called on the PRC to act with restraint and to avoid any further actions that may undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region. The statement added that the United States would continue to monitor China’s activities and coordinate with allies and partners regarding their shared concerns.
 
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week publicly emphasized that Taiwan’s National Day address was a routine activity and that China should not use the event as a pretext for engaging in any provocative actions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) conveys its sincere appreciation to the United States for expressing its serious concerns and reaffirming its security commitments to Taiwan, and for once again focusing attention on the PLA as it uses a routine speech to justify launching military acts of harassment against Taiwan.
 
MOFA emphasizes that China’s use of President Lai Ching-te’s National Day address as a pretext for applying military pressure on Taiwan and issuing a slew of threatening remarks is a grave violation of the fundamental spirit of the United Nations Charter. Such actions will not only fail to gain the endorsement of the international community, but rather prompt countries to express heightened concern over China’s provocative behavior that disrupts the status quo. MOFA calls on like-minded allies and partners to jointly press China to exercise self-restraint and to cease its intimidation of Taiwan and all activities that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region.