2022/07/17-2022/07/23

7/19
美國前國防部長艾斯培率「大西洋理事會」訪團18日來台訪問3天,19日對台灣防衛能力提出建議,一、大幅增加國防預算,比照美國至少佔三.二%GDP的規模;二、應讓台灣男女參與義務役且役期至少一年,同時加強後備動員能力。艾斯培強調,台灣發出舉國積極防衛的訊號,美國和區域盟友對防衛台灣會更有信心。

July 19: 
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper led the Atlantic Council delegation in its three-day visit to Taiwan. On July 19, he made recommendations on Taiwan’s defense capabilities. First, significantly increase the defense budget to at least the level of the United States at 3.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Second, both Taiwanese men and women should serve conscription for at least a year, and reserve mobilization capacity should be concurrently strengthened. Esper stressed that the United States and regional allies will be more confident in defending Taiwan if it sends a signal of active national defense.


7/19
台北上海雙城論壇上午視訊登場。台北市長柯文哲致詞時提到陸方擋台灣農產品、共機擾台等,傷害兩岸民眾感情;他說政治可以分歧,但兩岸人民不應當有敵意。避免衝突,避免戰爭,應當是兩岸人民共同的期望。
上海市長龔正則重申秉持兩岸一家親理念,並表示,柯文哲提到的兩岸交流的問題「在過去都曾經得到了很好的解決」。

July 19: 
The Taipei-Shanghai City Forum was held by video conference in the morning. In his remarks, Mayor Ko Wen-je mentioned that mainland China's blocking Taiwan's agricultural products and operating military incursions around Taiwan hurt the feelings of the people on both sides. Ko stated that while politics may be divided, the people on both sides should not be hostile towards one another. Avoiding conflict and war should be the common aspiration by people on both sides. 
Mayor Gong Zheng of Shanghai reiterated that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family and stated that the issues related to cross-strait exchanges mentioned by Ko have been well resolved in the past.


7/19
統一集團宣布以290億元吃下台灣家樂福6成持股,預計二○二三年中完成交割,屆時統一集團將成為台灣家樂福百分之百的獨資公司,台灣也將成為法商家樂福退出亞洲市場的最後一個國家。台灣量販巿場將形成美商好巿多、全聯大潤發、統一家樂福三國鼎立時代。

July 19: 
Uni-President Group announced that it will purchase a 60 percent stake in Taiwan's Carrefour with NT$29 billion (about US$969 million). The deal is expected to be completed by the middle of 2023. By then, Uni-President Group will wholly own Carrefour in Taiwan, and Taiwan will become the last country in Asia from which the French parent company will withdraw. Taiwan's wholesale market will see tripartite competition among Costco, PX Mart and RT-Mart, and Uni-President's Carrefour.


7/20
美國中央情報局(CIA)局長伯恩斯20日(當地時間)表示,他不認為今年中共二十大後,大陸國家主席習近平就會立刻攻打台灣。不過,他也強調,不能低估習近平想要控制台灣的決心。未來十年,時間越往後推進,中國攻打台灣的風險就會越大。

July 20: 
Director William Burns of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency stated that he does not believe Chinese President Xi Jinping will immediately invade Taiwan after the 20th National Party Congress However, he also stressed that Xi's determination to control Taiwan should not be underestimated. As time passes over the next decade, the greater the risk that China will attack Taiwan.

 

7/21
總統拜登20日以「軍方認為不宜」來回應聯邦眾議院議長波洛西(Nancy Pelosi)可能訪台,有線電視新聞網(CNN)21日引述官員說法報導,美方擔憂中國為阻止波洛西出訪,可能會宣布台灣上空為禁航區,進一步升高區域情勢。

July 21:
President Joe Biden of the United States stated on July 20 that the military officials believe it’s “not a good idea right now” for Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the House of Representatives to visit Taiwan at the moment. CNN quoted an official on July 21 assessing that U.S. apprehensions about China's efforts to block Pelosi’s visit may further escalate regional tension by imposing a no-fly zone over Taiwan. An anonymous official said that in addition to declaring the no-fly zone, China may also send fighter jets into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), which may trigger responses from Taiwan and the United States.


7/21
中國大陸6月以檢出禁藥為由,禁止台灣石斑魚輸入,行政院21日宣布將投入6億元,讓全國3600多所中小學、近180萬學童在9月至今年底的營養午餐,每月可吃1次石斑魚。在野黨立委痛批是政策買票,農委會不能只會撒錢,應從根本解決問題。

July 21: 
In June, mainland China banned the import of Taiwanese grouper on the grounds of detection of banned drugs. The Executive Yuan announced on July 21 that it would invest NT$600 million (about US$20 million) to make the fish available in school lunches for 1.8 million school children from 3,600 primary and secondary schools from September until the end of the year. The school children will be able to eat grouper once a month. Opposition party legislators criticized the policy as buying votes before the forthcoming local elections. The Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, should not just squander money but should solve the problem fundamentally.


7/22
白宮國家安全顧問蘇利文22日重申,美國的「一中政策」沒有改變,而在台灣問題上,他相信「模糊必須是戰略的特徵」。他還表示,美國將繼續提供更有利於應對潛在威脅的武器,幫助台灣發展「豪豬」戰略。

July 22: 
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reiterated that the U.S. "One China" policy has not changed, and on Taiwan, ambiguity must be a feature of U.S. strategy. He also stated that the United States will continue to provide arms that are conducive to dealing with potential threats and help Taiwan develop its "porcupine" strategy. 


7/22
新任疫情指揮中心指揮官王必勝19日宣布,即日起放寬口罩禁令,騎機車、腳踏車、戶外空曠處工作、散步、室內外從事運動、室內外拍攝個人/團體照時,均不必戴口罩。
自7月22日起擴大COVID-19疫苗第4劑接種對象,開放50歲以上民眾施打,需與第3劑間隔5個月。如為確診者則建議與確診時間間隔3個月再施打。

July 22: 
Wang Pi-sheng, the new commander of the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), announced that the mandate on masks will be relaxed effectively. Masks are not required when riding motorcycles or bicycles, working in open spaces outdoors, walking, engaging in sports indoors or outdoors, and taking individual or group photos indoors or outdoors. 
From July 22, the eligibility to receive a fourth dose of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine will be expanded, open to people over the age of 50, with an interval of five months from the third dose. If the individual had previously tested positive, then he is recommended to wait three months before inoculation. 


7/24
斥資近十二億元重建的新竹市立棒球場22日晚開幕戰,被球員批評設計不良,開賽兩天就造成三名職業球員受傷。外界質疑承造營造商偷工減料,新竹市府把關不力。中華職棒宣布,原訂24日的比賽將辦理延賽,這恐怕是中華職棒史上頭一次因場地問題而延賽。

July 24: 
The Hsinchu Baseball Stadium, which was rebuilt at a cost of nearly NT$1.2 billion (about US$40 million), reopened on the evening of July 22 but was criticized by players for its poor design. Three professional players were injured in the first two days. Critics question the contractors for cutting corners and the Hsinchu City Government for ineffective oversight. Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) announced that the game originally scheduled on July 24 would be postponed. This is likely the first time in the history of the CPBL that a game has been postponed due to venue problems.