This Week in Taiwan 0627-0703
June 28: The World Baseball Softball Confederation released the latest world rankings before the Olympics. In the ranking of men's baseball tallying points from 2018, Taiwan's ranking rose to 2nd in the world, its best in history. However, the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association had announced on June 2 that due to the impact of the pandemic and personnel safety, it would have to give up participation in the preliminary games in Mexico and will have to miss the Tokyo Olympics.
There are six national baseball teams participating in the Tokyo Olympics, including the host Japan, South Korea, the United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic (ranked 7), and Israel (ranked 24).
June 29: Since last year, Bloomberg has published a COVID Resilience Ranking with updated results the end of each month. After the Taiwan's outbreak of domestic cases in May, Taiwan's ranking dropped from 5th place to 15th in the world. In the latest ranking released on June 28, Taiwan further fell to 44th place among 53 major economies. Taiwan's performance in terms of vaccination rates, severity of lockdowns, air travel carrying capacity, and freedom of vaccinated passengers received orange-red ratings, which mean "poor."
The United States ranked 1st, while mainland China 8th.
June 30: In Changhua, a fire broke out at a building housing an epidemic prevention hotel in front of the train station. Three individuals who were under quarantine and one fire fighter were killed, and 22 others were injured. According to a post by a hotel guest, fire department staff indicated that the guests may not leave their rooms. The deadly fire ignited a national debate as to whether epidemic prevention or human lives should take precedence.
June 30: Taiwan and the United States held the 11th Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) meeting. After the meeting, the United States Trade Representative issued a press release, indicating that both sides agreed to strengthen contacts on issues such as the entry of U.S. pork and beef into the Taiwan market. The two sides will also form several task forces, including one on labor, to communicate important trade issues.
June 30: Cluster infections broke out in a building located in Fengshan District, Kaohsiung. The Kaohsiung City Government forcefully closed down the building. All 60 households and 146 residents were sent to epidemic prevention hotels and required to quarantine for 14 days, triggering controversy. According to a lawyer, the actions taken by the municipal government has no legal basis. Internet users also criticized that "forced consumption" violates human rights. Mayor Chen Chi-mai responded that there were already two households and five people infected, and it was a painful decision.
July 1: In order to strengthen quarantine measures when entering Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that starting July 2, all inbound travelers will have to test three times. They include testing once before checking into the quarantine location, an additional rapid test between the 10th and 12th day of quarantine, then a final time before the end of the quarantine period.
July 2: The Central Election Commission (CECC) announced that, due to the pandemic, the four referendum cases (about nuclear power, preservation of algal reefs, American pork containing the ractopamine additive, and tie of referenda with elections) will be postponed until December 18.
The CECC also stated that the recall vote of Legislator Chen Po-wei of the Taiwan Statebuilding Party was approved and will be held on August 28.
The CECC decided to postpone referendum votes but hold a recall vote, also shrouded in the shadow of the pandemic, as scheduled, triggering public ridicule of inconsistent standards.
July 3: Cluster infections broke out in the first, second, and Huannan markets of the Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corporation. A total of 220 people were infected across the three markets, of which 111 are from Huannan Market. The Taipei City Government ordered early on July 2 that Huannan market close for three days. Health authorities have identified 183 contacts in the Huannan Market for testing, and another full screening will be conducted on July 8. The CECC also sent 80,000 cautionary text messages, reminding those who have been to Huannan Market to be tested.