This Week in Taiwan 0109-0115
January 10: The Ministry of the Interior announced that the total population in 2021 was 23.37 million, 185,000 less people than 2020, and the second consecutive year of negative population growth. In 2021, Taiwan had 153,820 newborns, and the number of births were lower than the number of deaths each month. Additionally, 114,606 couples were married in the year, also a record low marriage rate.
January 11: The Taoyuan Airport cluster infection is expanding outwards. Since three elementary schools in Taoyuan suspended classes for 14 days for students who were diagnosed with the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Cheng Wen-tsann announced that all elementary schools in the city will begin winter break a week earlier, and Friday, January 14, would be the last day of classes in the fall semester.
The Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch also saw the first nosocomial infection of Omicron in Taiwan.
January 11: An F-16 V fighter jet of the Air Force, numbered 6650, fell into the sea while performing ground bombing training, and Captain and Pilot Chen Yi died. The Air Force Command ordered all F-16 aircraft units to be inspected and suspended all of their combat training missions. This is the first major accident of the F-16V fighter jet since being upgraded November 18 last year. Even the United States is concerned.
January 11: Professor Pang Chien-kuo of the Chinese Culture University, also a former legislator, fell from a building and died. The Chinese Culture University expressed shock and dismay. Pang sent messages to various LINE groups, stating his frustration with injustice in Taiwan and that living is no better than death.
January 12: The Transportation Committee of the Legislative Yuan passed amendments in the first reading to increase the penalty for drunk driving. Repeat offenders who have been driving under intoxication twice within 10 years will have their names, photos, and facts of the violation published. Increased fines will also be imposed on co-passengers, from between NT$600 (about US$21) and NT$3,000 (about US$108) to between NT$6,000 (about US$217) and NT$15,000 (about US$542). The new regulations may take effect as soon as the second half of the year.
January 14: Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao became involved in a case of land development fraud. On January 13, she was interviewed by the Agency Against Corruption, Ministry of Justice, and the prosecution, and more than 30 premises including the county magistrate's mansion was searched. The acting director of the Economic Affairs Department and a section chief of the Agriculture Department were detained and barred from visits.
January 15: According to the latest statistics from mainland China's General Administration of Customs, Taiwan's exports to the mainland (excluding Hong Kong) totaled nearly US$250 billion, with a trade surplus of US$171.6 billion, a record high. But statistics previously published by Taiwan's Ministry of Finance reflected that Taiwan only enjoys a surplus of US$100 billion. A discrepancy exists between the data.
January 15: Shares of United Biomedical, a major Taiwanese vaccine manufacturer, jumped six-fold after its listing in June last year, with senior executives suspected of profiting from insider trading. The Hsinchu District Prosecutor’s Office conducted a large-scale search of United Biomedical and related premises and interviewed 17 people related to the case. It is estimated that Executive Deputy General Manager Peng Wen-chun and a subordinate section chief made a total profit of NT$5 million (about US$180,950). After interview by the prosecution, they were released on a bond of NT$3 million (about US$108,570) and NT$1 million (about US$36,190), respectively.