Legislative Yuan passes New Zealand trade pact

BUILDING BLOCKS:The DPP said the trade agreement is beneficial to both nations, and urged the government to continue pursuing similar pacts with other trade partners
By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

A free-trade agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and New Zealand was passed by the Legislative Yuan yesterday, the first FTA Taiwan has signed with a non-diplomatic ally.

Lawmakers across party lines lauded the bilateral economic cooperation agreement, the first FTA with a country other than China that President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration has signed since 2008, saying that it was a step forward in Taiwan’s participation in regional economic integration.

Legislature to review free-trade accord with New Zealand next week: Wang

By Chris Wang  /  Staff reporter

The free-trade agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and New Zealand is scheduled to be screened, and hopefully passed, in the Legislative Yuan next week, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said yesterday.

The bilateral economic cooperation agreement, with the official title of the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC), was signed on July 10. New Zealand’s parliament has already ratified the accord.

Millions to pay dearly for NZ deal: PFP

INCONSIDERATE:：The party said it is not against the ANZTEC, but rather against the lack of consideration for affected industries, which it said will bear NT$3.5bn in losses
By Chen Yen-ting, Jake Chung and Chris Wang  /  Staff reporters, with staff writer
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 - Page 3

The economic cooperation agreement between Taiwan and New Zealand was signed without giving sufficient consideration to the 5,635 registered livestock enterprises in the nation that will shoulder an estimated NT$3.5 billion (US$116 million) in losses because of the pact, People First Party (PFP) caucus whip Thomas Lee (李桐豪) said yesterday.

Lee criticized President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration for its customary “no notification, no negotiation, no preparation, no discussion” approach to signing pacts like the the cross-strait service trade agreement and the Taiwan-New Zealand agreement, titled the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC).

NZ police confirm death of Taiwan national in quake

Taipei, March 23 (CNA) New Zealand police confirmed Wednesday that a Taiwan national had been killed in the Feb. 22 earthquake in Christchurch.

Lee Hsin-hung, a 32-year-old female from Taiwan, and three Chinese nationals were among seven more people confirmed dead in the quake, according to a press release issued by New Zealand police.

This brought the total number of confirmed deaths to 155. New Zealand police had earlier estimated a death toll of 182.

Lee had been listed as missing since Feb. 22 when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand's South Island.

She was reportedly a student at King's Education language school, which was located in the Canterbury Television (CTV) Building that collapsed in the quake.

James Chang, a spokesman for Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declined to comment on Lee's death, citing her family's right to privacy. (By Chris Wang) enditem /pc

Taiwan group off to successful start at Auckland festival

Auckland, New Zealand, March 15 (CNA) Taiwan's U Theatre made it first appearance at the 2011 Auckland Arts Festival Tuesday night with a successful performance that drew praise from the New Zealand audience.

The performance of the "Sound of the Ocean" by the group, one of the main attractions in the last week of the March 2-20 biennial arts festival, won a three-minute round of applause from the near-capacity audience in the 1,500-seat ABS Theatre at Aotea Center.

"I was blown away by the beautiful drumming in which every beat was so impeccably and beautifully timed. You could feel within yourself each vibration, " New Zealander Phil Tchernegovski said on the sidelines of a post-show cocktail party.

Tchernegovski, whose son went missing during a trip to southern Taiwan in 1998 and was never found, said he was especially impressed with the "throat singing" part of the 90-minute performance.

"It was mind-blowing and added a new dimension to the show, " he said.

Sound of the Ocean, a five-part piece that was created in 1998, is one of the most popular presentations in U Theatre's repertoire.

It depicts stories of water and life though the sound of large drums, gongs, the classic Chinese seven-stringed zither, mantra chants and ceremonial primitive human calls.

"It was a powerful and beautiful performance. I sincerely hope U Theatre will visit Auckland again in the future, " said Lily Ho, a Taiwanese living and working in Auckland.

The festival's artistic director David Malacari, who managed to bring U Theatre to Auckland after four years of preparatory work, described the show as a "beautiful journey."

It was "everything that I hoped it would be and more," he said at the post-show party.

U Theatre is scheduled to stage three more performances of "Sound of the Ocean," from Wednesday to Friday at the same venue.

Taiwan's First Lady Chow Mei-ching, who is on a six-day visit to Auckland to support the company and attend charity activities, watched the show from her seat on the second tier of the theater and afterwards congratulated the troupe on its performance.

In related news, Chow donated dozens of books, including children's storybooks and a collection from the National Palace Museum, and documentary DVDs on Taiwan geography and history to the Central City Library in downtown Auckland Tuesday morning.

The first lady also read stories of Chinese traditions in English and Mandarin to children at a storytelling session at the library.

The donation was valuable to the library -- one of 55 in the city's public library system -- because of the heavy usage of the Chinese-language children's books due to the large Chinese population in the region, said Geoff Chamberlain, manager of service delivery at the library. (By Chris Wang) enditem /pc

Auckland festival director happy to finally welcome U Theatre

Auckland, New Zealand, March 15 (CNA) After four years of talks, preparations and trips to Estonia and Taiwan, David Malacari finally landed Taiwan's U theatre for the biennial Auckland Arts Festival, and he believed the audience will love it.

"It was a show that you found very hard to forget, " said Malacari, the artistic director of the biennial arts event, recalling his impression after seeing U Theatre perform for the first time, in Hong Kong in 2006.

He first heard about the company in a speech in Hong Kong in the same year and immediately fell in love with the group, which combines contemporary Western theatrical techniques with Zen Buddhist philosophy, Malacari told the Central News Agency in an interview on the sidelines of the festival, which runs from March 2-20.

He flew to Tallinn, Estonia to see U Theatre perform "Sound of the Ocean" again before deciding to bring the company to Auckland, he said.

"It's taken two festivals to finally bring the company to Auckland," Malacari said as he described the enormous amount of time, energy and funding needed to invite big artistic companies because of the airfares involved as well as getting the timing right and finding the right venues.

U Theatre will be one of the featured groups in the last week of the festival, and Malacari believed that the audience would immediately connect with it during its four performances of "Sound of the Ocean" from March 15-18 at ASB Theater in Aotea Center.

U-Theatre's work is rooted in ongoing exploration of indigenous Taiwanese and Chinese culture and deep respect of the natural environment, and the "Sound of the Ocean, " which plays on those themes, was highly praised by Malacari.

He especially lauded its drumming, which "gives audiences a visceral quality with almost a contemplative and meditative feeling that is so compelling."

The festival, launched in 2003, aims to feature Pacific Rim and Asia Pacific artists because of the multicultural environment of the Auckland community, which has a large East Asian and Pacific Island population, according to Malacari.

The festival's director said he had met with several Taiwanese artists and groups when he last visited Taiwan and was hopeful to bring more Taiwanese artists to the world stage when opportunities permitted.

Malacari has over 30 years experience in the cultural sector in various roles, including 12 years with the Adelaide Festival. He joined the Auckland festival in 2004 and was the event's director in 2005, 2007, and 2009.

The experienced organizer said his biggest gratification from organizing arts events is to introduce people new art forms and groups and to "open up people's eyes and teach them something about the part of the world that they're not familiar with."

He also found some similarities in Taiwan's indigenous culture and Polynesian culture, which scientific research has confirmed as having shared connections. (By Chris Wang) Enditem/ls

Taiwan aims to forge closer bilateral ties with New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand, March 14 (CNA) Taiwan is hopeful that it can forge closer bilateral ties with New Zealand, especially on the economic and tourism fronts, Taiwan's representative to New Zealand said Monday.

New Zealand is in favor of the free trade system, which is seen as beneficial to an export-driven economy such as Taiwan, which is why Taiwan wants to establish closer economic relations with the South Pacific country, said Elliot Y.L. Charng, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in New Zealand.

"We support anything that is beneficial to bilateral economic cooperation, including the possibility of exploring an economic partnership agreement (EPA), " Charng told CNA on the sidelines of a visit to New Zealand by first lady Chow Mei-ching.

A former deputy chief representative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Office of Trade Negotiations, Charng said establishing closer economic ties is at the top of his agenda.

However, the potential for tourism should not be overlooked, he went on, given that the number of Taiwan tourists visiting New Zealand has increased by 40 percent since the country granted Taiwanese passport holders visa-free privileges last year.

Charng said his office is also planning to expand a popular working holiday program under which up to 600 young people can sign up for the program every year, allowing them to spend a year on vacation in New Zealand and to take casual work to finance themselves.

Charng said most Taiwanese businessmen, immigrants and students living in New Zealand, especially those in Christchurch, have settled down and tried to get their lives back to normal in the aftermath of a devastating magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck the South Island city Feb. 22.

Lee Hsin-hong remained the only Taiwanese national listed as missing to date, and the TECO has been in close touch with local police for the latest information about quake victims, he said.

Some Taiwanese students in Christchurch have returned to Taiwan, while others have opted to transfer to schools in Auckland or Australia to continue their studies, he said, adding that most Taiwanese-owned local businesses were not seriously affected by the earthquake.

The diplomat said cultural exchanges are also important and that the first lady's visit, during which she is scheduled to visit local schools and attend performances by the Taiwanese dance troupe U Theatre at the Auckland Arts Festival this week, is a perfect example that more interaction will be helpful in each side gaining a deeper understanding of the other's culture. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J

Taiwan's first lady shares stories with Auckland students

Auckland, New Zealand, March 14 (CNA) Taiwan's first lady Chow Mei-ching visited a middle school in New Zealand Monday and shared stories about Chinese traditions with the students there.

Chow's visit to the ACG Parnell College, a private school that offers an international grade 1-13 curriculum, was a part of her six-day tour of the country for the purpose of cultural exchanges.

The first lady told two stories -- one about the Chinese zodiac and the other about a "Mouse Wedding." She spoke in English and Mandarin to a class of around two dozen students, most of whom had been learning Mandarin for two years.

Before the 30-minute storytelling session, the teacher introduced Chow and briefed the students on Taiwan's geographic location.

One of the students, 17-year-old Webber Chen of Taiwan, presented Chow with an oil painting that he said he had done last year and wanted to give to "someone special."

"There's no better person to receive this painting than the first lady," said Chen, who has been studying in New Zealand for the last two and a half years and aspires to be an architect.

"It's a great pleasure to have Ms. Ma, the first lady of Taiwan, here today," school principal Larne Edmeades told the class. Chow "appreciates and understands young people" very well because she's the mother of two daughters, Edmeades said.

Since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008, the first lady has embarked on several such cultural exchanges that have focused primarily on students. She is scheduled to visit other schools during her tour of Auckland from March 13-18.

Chow is in the New Zealand city with U Theatre, a renowned Taiwanese dance troupe that was invited to perform at the Auckland Arts Festival 2011.

Chow has also personally endorsed many Taiwanese artists and cultural groups and accompanied them on performance tours abroad. (By Chris Wang) enditem /pc

First lady in Auckland to support Taiwan's dance troupe

Auckland, New Zealand, March 13 (CNA) Renowned dance troupe U Theatre was ready for its first performance in New Zealand as Taiwan's first lady Chow Mei-ching arrived Sunday as the troupe's honorary leader to show her support.

U Theatre is scheduled to deliver four shows, titled "Sound of the Ocean, " as one of the featured groups at the biennial Auckland Arts Festival from March 15-18 during the event's final week.

The troupe was invited to the festival by David Malacari, the event's artistic director, four years ago in Hong Kong, said U Theatre founder and artistic director Liu Ruo-yu, after Malacari saw U Theatre.

"The invitation was actually made four years ago. It (the invitation) was very meaningful for us, " Liu said.

"Sound of the Ocean" was inspired by water and depicts water's cyclical journey from a tiny drop to the crashing waves of the mighty sea with an assortment of temple bells, drums, gongs and cymbals, Liu said.

Around a dozen dancers and technical staff arrived in Auckland on March 10 to prepare for the show, according to Liu.

Chow, who has been devoted to charity work and providing support for sports and arts groups since she became the first lady in 2008, arrived in Auckland at 6:30 p.m. Sunday and visited the troupe at the hotel where Chow will stay with the dancers.

Accompanied by Elliott Y.L. Charng, Taiwan's representative to New Zealand, Chow remembered every dancer by name and embraced them with hugs outside the hotel lobby.

The first lady is scheduled to appear at U Theatre's rehearsal and performances as well as visiting local schools for charity purposes during her stay from March 13-18.

The Auckland Arts Festival 2011, which is taking place from March 2-20, includes dance and music performances as well as visual arts and theater. The four festivals held to date have attracted a combined 880,000 people, according to the organizer.

Founded by Liu in 1988, U Theatre combines contemporary Western theatrical techniques with Zen Buddhist philosophy. It has been known for its disciplined training in various forms, including acting, martial arts, drumming, Tai-Chi, dance and meditation on the mountains on the outskirts of Taipei. (By Chris Wang) enditem/ls

Taiwanese student in Christchurch remains missing

Taipei, Feb. 24 (CNA) A Taiwanese student was still listed as missing after a powerful earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman James Chang said Thursday.

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Christchurch Tuesday morning, Taiwan time, killing at least 98 people. About 120 people have been pulled out of collapsed buildings, but over 200 still remain missing.

The Taiwanese was among a group of foreign students who were reportedly trapped under the collapsed Canterbury TV building, according to New Zealand media. New Zealand police have said that the building was "not survivable" and they have abandoned all hope of finding survivors.

Speaking to the media, Chang said the student remained listed as missing after attempts by Taiwanese officials in Christchurch to make contact with the student via mobile phone failed. The student was also not at home when officials paid a visit to the student's residence.

Chang declined to disclose the identity of the student, citing privacy.

The MOFA has been in contact with the student's family in Taiwan and will provide any assistance if necessary, he said. (By Chris Wang) enditem/ly

Taiwan donates US$100,000 to quake-stricken New Zealand

Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) Taiwan donated NT$2,957,200 (US$100,000) Wednesday to help with earthquake relief and recovery efforts in New Zealand and pledged to provide more assistance if necessary.

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Christchurch Tuesday morning, Taiwan time, and killed at least 75 people.

"Our thoughts are with the people of New Zealand, " Taiwan's Foreign Minister Timothy C.T. Yang said Wednesday as he presented a US$100,000 check to Stephen Payton, Director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, the country's representative office in Taiwan in the absence of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The donation is meant to express Taiwan's condolences to the people of New Zealand, as well as return the friendship New Zealand demonstrated when it made a similar donation to Taiwan in 2009, said Yang.

Wellington donated NT$2,212,400 in aid to Taiwan after Typhoon Morakot devastated the island in 2009.

There were no reports of injury or death among the estimated 600 Taiwanese residents and tourists in Christchurch, Yang said, but his ministry is trying to locate the whereabouts of a female student as of Wednesday.

In his statement to Parliament, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key praised Taiwan as being amongst several countries that "have responded so quickly and have provided assistance in such a timely way."

Payton, New Zealand's representative in Taiwan, lauded Taiwan for its quick response in sending out its first search and rescue team to New Zealand on Tuesday night. The 22-member team is currently en-route with two tons of equipment, and is scheduled to arrive in Christchurch Wednesday evening.

"Only a small number of countries responded that quickly," Payton said.

He added that his office also received phone calls from locals in Taiwan who wanted to donate to New Zealand.

Payton described Taiwan's donation, which will go to the New Zealand Red Cross, as a generous offer, and said that he expects the Taiwanese rescue team will work with their counterparts from other countries in Christchurch.

"We hope that more lives can be saved, " Payton said. (By Chris Wang) enditem/ly

Taiwan to send rescue team to quake-struck New Zealand

Taipei, Feb. 22 (CNA) Taiwan will send a rescue team Tuesday night to New Zealand after a powerful earthquake struck one of New Zealand's largest cities Tuesday morning, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MOFA).

Taiwan's representative office in New Zealand has been gathering information since a 6.3-magnitude quake struck Christchurch and killed at least 70 Tuesday morning Taiwan time and hasn't reported any injury or death among more than 600 Taiwanese living in the country, group tourists and backpackers, MOFA spokesman James Chang said.

Taiwan's National Fire Agency is scheduled to send a rescue team, which consists of 24 members and two search dogs, to New Zealand vis Sydney, Australia Tuesday night, according to a foreign ministry official. The team will also carry resuce equipment and humanitarian aids.(By Chris Wang) enditem/jc

Olympic gold medalists hope for good results at Taipei meet

Taipei, May 27 (CNA) Sprinter Michael Frater, a member of Jamaica's world record-setting 4x100-meters men's relay team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said Thursday that he would like to be the first athlete to break the 10-second mark in the men's 100-meters in Taiwan.

Frater was among 15 top athletes, including four Olympic gold medalists, invited to attend the 2010 Chinese Taipei International Athletic Meet scheduled to take place May 28-29 in Taipei with over 600 athletes from 15 countries participating.

The gold medalists are Frater, Polish shot putter Tomasz Majewski and New Zealand women's shot putter Valerie Vili -- all of whom won their golds in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Tim Mack, who won the men's pole vault in the 2004 Athens Olympics, will also compete.

Responding to a reporter's question, Frater said he would love to be the first to break the 10-second mark in Taiwan, where Liu Yuan-kai and Tsai Mung-lin share the national record of 10.29 seconds.

The athletes have a lighter year than usual this year, since there are no major championships this year after the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. Vili, who came to Taiwan after a Shanghai Diamond League athletics meet last week, said she will focus on the Diamond League this year.

She said she was hoping for a good result this week in Taipei, before spending a week training in Singapore and competing in the next Diamond League series in New York.

German discus thrower Robert Harting, who won gold in the World Championships last year and fourth place in Beijing, said the competition is a good opportunity for a reunion with his Taiwanese friend Chang Ming-huang, one of the best discus throwers in Taiwan, who uses the same coach as Harting -- Werner Goldmann -- when he is in Germany.

The Chinese Taipei Track and Field Association (CTTFA) , the game's organizer, hopes that the competition's "star power" will inspire local athletes and rejuvenate local development in the track and field category, which has suffered from lackluster performance for some time, said CTTFA Secretary-General Wang Ching-cheng. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J

Taiwanese lovers to cycle around the world in 30 months

Taoyuan, Taiwan April 7 (CNA) A Taiwanese couple are embarking on a cycling trip that would take them to four continents in 30 months to promote the centenary of the Republic of China (Taiwan), as well as environmental awareness and Taiwanese products.

Lin Hsiau-kai, 37, and his girlfriend Yen Yi-hui, 27, began their 55,000-kilometer trip on Wednesday by flying from Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok, Thailand, where the cycling will begin.

"Ever since I was a high school freshman in 1986, I've dreamt about taking this trip and it has finally come true. But the road is long and there's a big challenge ahead, " Lin told the CNA at the airport.

Lin and Yen plan to travel the world on bicycles from April 2010 to October 2012. During the 30 months, they will cycle across Southeast Asia, Oceania, Central Asia and Europe before flying across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States and then Japan, the final stop.

Lin, who worked at the technical department of the renowned Taiwanese dance troupe Cloud Gate together with Yen before the two quit their jobs, said this has been a dream of his since he read about the story of Hu Jung-hua, the first Taiwanese to cycle around the world in the 1980s, and was greatly inspired.

Interestingly, he said, a coincidence made the trip happen.

"My landlord told us a couple of months ago that we had to move out because he had decided to sell his apartment. I thought about taking a break from work before coming up with the idea to turn the break into a cycling tour around the world, " Lin said.

He thought the year 2010 would be a good time to make the trip because preparations are beginning this year to celebrate the ROC's centenary next year and cycling is a good way to promote awareness of climate change and alternative energy.

Yen joined without hesitation although she had no previous cycling experience. Lin has been a long-time cyclist and cycled across Australia in 1996. Yen said all she wanted was to go out and see the world and cycling is one of the options of transportation.

Yen and Lin said they would like to dedicate the trip to the Republic of China (Taiwan) , which was established in 1911, as a birthday present to the country.

"I guess we'll be somewhere in Australia on January 1, 2011 to celebrate the first day of the centenary. And maybe we can get married on October 10, ROC's National Day somewhere in Europe, " she joked.

Lin drew up the travel itinerary after consulting with a senior cyclist, who advised them which countries to avoid and which countries would be good places to cycle in.

Lin half-jokingly said Wednesday that he was still struggling with whether to make the trip, but also noted that the most important factor of the long trip is not stamina, but determination.

The pair will cycle between 60 to 120 kilometers on average each day, Lin said.

With a budget of around NT$2 million (approximately US$63,400) , Lin said, the trip would not be possible without the sponsorship of several local bicycle companies, which provided them with bicycles priced at NT$200,000 each, and the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which asked Taiwan's foreign offices to provide help.

Cloud Gate founder Lin Hwai-min also encouraged the couple to make the trip with a donation of NT$100,000.

"Mr. Lin jokingly told me that I would have to pay him the money back if I drop out of the trip, " Lin said.

A certified historical sites guide in Taiwan, Lin said he believes that he will be able to share Taiwan's stories with foreigners and "show Taiwan to the world" during his trip.

"And about 90 percent of our equipment are Taiwan-made. We would like to tell people these products are very well-made in Taiwan, " he said.

Cycling is an ideal way of travel, which is faster than walking and slower than driving cars, Lin said, adding that it also makes connecting and communicating with local people possible.

Looking ahead to the trip, Yen said that the place she would like to visit the most is Lijiang in the southern China's Yunnan province, because of the difficulty of the route, which is 2,800-3,000 meters above sea level.

However, Lin acknowledged that it is very much possible that the trip will turn out differently than it was originally planned due to weather conditions, accidents and the situations in different countries.

"We might have to change our plan along the way, " he said.

But no matter how the world tour turns out, the couple said they plan to document their dream trip every step of the way by taking photographs and shooting videos. They also plan to regularly update their blogs and Facebook fan pages to keep in touch with friends.

Lin and Yen are scheduled to kick start the 2,100-kilometer first leg of the two-and-a-half-year trip from Thailand to Malaysia and Singapore from April 7-28.

After that, they will travel to Australia and New Zealand as well as make stops in China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus before entering eastern and central Europe in the second half of 2011. (By Chris Wang) enditem/cs

Climate refugees an issue for Taiwan

Taipei, March 25 (CNA) The term "climate refugees" became a much talked about issue when it was raised in Taiwan recently following massive damage and loss of life resulting from natural disasters, as well as in President Ma Ying-jeou's ongoing trip to Taiwan's six South Pacific allies.

Discussions about the possible climate refugee phenomenon increased after Typhoon Morakot devastated parts of southern Taiwan last August.

This is partly why a locally produced global warming documentary titled "Plus or Minus Two Degrees Celsius, " inspired by the 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" produced by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, attracted attention and sparkled public debate over its prediction of an apocalyptic future for Taiwan.

According to the film, the people of Taiwan will be among the first climate refugees -- or "environmentally induced migration" as some prefer to call it -- if the environmental situation keeps deteriorating and protection measures are not immediately put in place.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) , an advocacy organization, claimed in a 2009 report that nearly 10 percent of the world's population is at risk from displacement by climate change. Around 26 million have already had to move, a figure that the EJF predicts could have grown to 150 million by 2050.

The impact of climate change became one of the key themes during Ma's South Pacific trip. He talked about helping Taiwan's allies to fight climate change and rising sea levels. For Kiribati and Tuvalu, global warming is a life-threatening disaster because it is causing rising sea levels that could eventually submerge their homelands, according to some scientists.

"We will help seek possible solutions to the global warming that is causing rising sea levels that could eventually submerge Kiribati, " Ma said during a meeting with Kiribati President Anote Tong.

He also noted that according to research, ancestors of the Austronesian people now living in the South Pacific emigrated from Taiwan some 3,000 years ago.

"We will probably return to Taiwan someday, " Tong responded.

Benjamin T.H. Ho, Taiwan's ambassador to Kiribati, said in a recent interview with CNA that the Kiribati government has devised a plan for "relocation of the whole country" in the event of a disaster and has also been lobbying for more international aid for its life-and-death battle against global warming.

According to the ambassador, Kiribati was exploring whether any country in the world would be willing to provide land or an island to accommodate its total population of about 100,000.

Ho said the plan does not seem feasible. Although Australia and New Zealand are willing to accept immigrants from Kiribati, they would not do so without any prerequisites.

Ho said that in his view, apart from offering vocational training, Taiwan could play a more active role in Kiribati's relocation plan by opening its doors to workers from there.

The ambassador said he had already discussed the proposal with the Council of Labor Affairs and that the plan is likely be implemented if the Kiribati government is willing to set up a fund to offer low-interest loans for prospective Kiribati workers to travel to Taiwan. The travel cost is about US$300 per person, which Ho said could be repaid through phased deductions from the workers' wages.

While Tuvalu also faces the threat of rising sea levels, its government has not been as active as Kiribati's in seeking national relocation. "The Tuvalu government is reluctant to talk about national relocation because it fears its people will panic, " according to James C.K. Tien, Taiwan's ambassador to Tuvalu.

Asked about the possibility of Taiwan accepting climate refugees, Ger Baushuan, deputy secretary-general of the Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) , said the ministry has not heard of anything related to the issue and has no such plans.

Ger pointed out that these South Pacific countries traditionally maintain closer relationships with Australia and New Zealand because of proximity, history and culture.

The New Zealand Foreign Ministry states on its website that its immigration policy does allow for a limited number of people from Pacific countries including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu to gain residency in New Zealand. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J

KMT candidate outlines economic platform to foreign chambers

Taipei, Nov. 29 (CNA) The presidential candidate of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) unveiled his economic platform at a luncheon Thursday to foreign chambers of commerce, reiterating his determination to place the economy at the top of his priorities list and pursue more open trade relations with China.

Ma Ying-jeou, who announced his economic policy earlier in the day along with his running mate, Vincent Siew, explained in detail the "i-Taiwan 12 Projects" and future economic plan for the country to hundreds of foreign businessmen.

The proposed projects cover transportation, industrial development, human resources and quality of living. Among them are a mass rapid transit network throughout Taiwan, industrial innovation corridors along the West coast, turning Kaohsiung into a freeport and making Taichung a sea and air logistics center.

According to Ma, the scheme will require investment of NT$125 billion (US$3.87 billion) in the public and private sectors and will create jobs. Increasing public investment to boost the economy was a measure taken by the Taiwan authorities during the first oil crisis in the 1970s and he will take the same approach and launch full-scale regulatory reforms, Ma said.

The former KMT chairman pledged that he will neither discuss the issue of unification or independence nor pursue Taiwan independence if he is elected president, adding that "no unification, no independence, no military action" and closer trade relations with China will be the cornerstones of his economic policy.

The European Chamber of Commerce (ECCT) later responded to Ma's speech in a press release, saying that while it recognizes that Ma touched upon several issues raised in the ECCT's recently released annual Position Papers, he failed to address the ECCT's recommendations regarding taxation.

Ma, who also described himself as a "pragmatic idealist, " reiterated his approach of "flexible diplomacy" and spent time questioning the competency and integrity of the current administration.

"The Chen administration during the last seven years has been creating political controversies and managing the country with unstable government personnel and policies, " Ma claimed, adding that Taiwan has been losing its competitive edge not because of its people but because of the government.

The luncheon was co-hosted by the ECCT, the American Chamber of Commerce and the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce.

Taiwan to establish Austronesian Forum with allies

Taipei, July 31 (CNA) Taiwan will establish an Austronesian Forum with its six South Pacific allies and the Philippines to share, preserve and promote Austronesian cultures that the eight countries have in common, as well as strengthening relations, Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) officials said Tuesday.

The forum, which includes Taiwan, the Philippines, Nauru, Kiribati, Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Solomon Islands, aims to hold academic conferences, increase Austronesian participation in Asia-Pacific and international organizations, and demonstrate commitment in indigenous development, said CIP Minister Icyang Parod in a preparatory committee meeting.

One of the forum's priorities is to stop China's attempt to include Austronesian cultures on the list of its World Cultural Heritage in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) , said Awi Mona, an indigenous Taiwanese law professor.

As Taiwan has stepped up its efforts to preserve and promote its Austronesian culture and ethnicity in recent years, China came to realize that this will further alienate and distance Taiwan from China, Mona said.

This is why China is said to be planning to submit an application to UNESCO next year to list Austronesian culture as its own cultural heritage, even though Austronesian culture was never a part of Chinese culture, Mona said.

"If China succeeds, it will be not only a devastating blow to Taiwan but also to every country that shares the culture, " he claimed.

The idea of building up stronger ties among Austronesian nations was mentioned as early as 2002, when an assembly of Austronesian leaders was held in Taipei and began to materialize as a regional forum last year in the first Taiwan-Pacific Allies summit in Palau, during which President Chen Shui-bian signed the Palau Declaration with various allies, Parod said.

Chen will unveil the preparatory office of the forum Wednesday and the secretariat of the forum is expected to be established next year in Taiwan, which will provide the majority of funding for the forum, said Parod.

The forum is hoping to invite more countries, such as New Zealand, to be members and it welcomes the participation of government officials as well as academics and non-government organization workers, he added.

JONES CUP INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BEGINS

Taipei, July 2 (CNA) The William Jones Cup International Basketball Tournament, one of the most popular basketball events in Taiwan, began Monday at the start of 16 days of basketball action that includes 17 men's and women's teams from 13 countries.

Ten teams are in the men's competition, which runs through July 10 with Athletes in Action (AIA) , a team from the U.S., looking to defend its title from last year. Seven women's teams will compete in the women's competition from July 11-17 at the Sinjhuang Stadium in Taipei County.

Close games highlighted the opening day with the Philippines upsetting defending champion AIA 72-67. Jordan beat Kazakhstan 63-61 on a last shot and South Korea edged out Qatar 70-69. Lebanon defeated Iran 80-71.

This year's men's competition is regarded as a warmup for the Asian Basketball Championship for Men, which will be played in Tokushima, Japan from July 28-Aug. 8. Eight of the 10 participating countries, including Taiwan, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, South Korea, Kazakhstan and the Philippines, are fielding their national teams.

Japan sent its World University Games national team, while the AIA consists of mostly U.S. college players.

Participating teams in the women's group include New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Athletes in Action and two home teams -- Taiwan Blue Team and White Team.

The tournament was created in 1977 to honor Dr. Williams Jones, who was FIBA secretary-general at the time and had been supporting Taiwan in the international basketball community. Because of cross-straight disputes with China, Taiwan was barred from the international basketball competition until 1986.

FIRST DOUBLE AMPUTEE MOUNT EVEREST CLIMBER VISITS TAIWAN

Taipei, May 18 (CNA) The first double amputee to scale Mount Everest arrived in Taiwan for a two-day visit Friday to send out his message to the handicapped that everyone is able to accomplish beyond one's limits if he is determined to do so.

Mark Inglis, a 47-year-old New Zealander who lost both legs 25 years ago, reached the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, May 15 last year. His Everest expedition was filmed for the Discovery series "Everest: Beyond the Limit."

"I can't describe how fantastic the experience was. I was very lucky, " Inglis said in the premiere ceremony of the six-part series, which documented the 40-day expedition.

"I came to realize that the only thing I lost was two legs, but I had an opportunity to live a different life, " said Inglis, who is now a motivational speaker.

Inglis was stuck in an ice cave in an intense blizzard for 14 days on Mount Cook in New Zealand in 1982 and lost both legs below the knee to frostbite. He went back to conquer the mountain, reaching the summit in 2002, and later started planning the Everest climb by training for the whole of 2005.

Inglis also met a group of Taiwanese athletes who will participate in the 2009 Deaflympics, to be hosted by Taipei City, and encouraged them to never give up. Inglis was a torch carrier in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics and won a silver medal for cycling in the Sydney Paralympics.

Inglis is scheduled to attend a seminar at the Taipei International Convention Center Saturday. An interactive exhibition on his Everest expedition will be displayed in the plaza of the Eslite Bookstore Xinyi Branch from May 18-June 15.