full

Yushan Located in central Taiwan and spanning nearly 103,121hectares, Yushan National Park 玉山國家公園 contains 30 ofthe 100 highest mountain peaks in Taiwan, including YushanMountain (Jade Mountain) 玉山, Northeast Asia’s highestpeak at 3,952 meters. e wide spectrum of climatic zonesmeans that a large variety of animal and plant life can befound in the park. Subtropical, temperate and alpine speciesall thrive on Yushan Mountain. Related Websites: • Environmental Protection Administration: http://www.epa.gov.tw • Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs: http://www.moeaboe.gov.tw • Recycling Fund Management Board: http://recycle.epa.gov.tw • Council of Agriculture: http://www.coa.gov.tw • Soil and Water Conservation Bureau, Council of Agriculture: http://www.swcb.gov.tw • Forestry Bureau’s conservation site: http://conservation.forest.gov.tw • National Trail System: http://trail.forest.gov.tw/RA_En_JP/NT_EN/NationalTrailMap.htm • National Parks of Taiwan: http://np.cpami.gov.tw • YouBike: http://www.youbike.com.tw 191

Kaohsiung City metro’s Formosa Boulevard Station,featuring a stunning massive glass dome, was ranked thesixth most impressive metro station in the world by CNNTravel in 2014. (Courtesy of Taiwan Review)

10Infrastructure

10 Infrastructure Land Transportation TRoads aiwan has over 42,000 kilometers of roads, most of which span the western coastal lowlands and hilly areas. On the west side of the island, the 433.4-kilometer Sun Yat-sen Freeway 中山高速公路 (National Freeway No. 1) connects Taiwan’s major cities from Keelung City 基隆市 in the north to Kaohsiung City 高雄市 in the south. Similarly, the 432.9-kilometer Formosa Freeway 福爾摩沙高速公路 (National Freeway No. 3) starts from Keelung City and runs to Pingtung County 屏東縣 in the south. Moreover, numerous east-west national freeways and expressways feed into these major north-south arteries, forming an e cient and convenient tra c network to serve the densely populated west coast. In the northeast, the 54.2-kilometer Chiang Wei-shui Freeway 蔣渭水高速公路 (National Freeway No. 5) runs from the seaport of Su-ao Township 蘇澳鎮 northward along the coast to Yilan City 宜蘭市, then cuts northwestward through the Xueshan Mountains 雪山山脈 via the 12.9-kilometer Hsuehshan Tunnel 雪山隧道 the world’s h-longest free- way tunnel to New Taipei City 新北市, and ends farther north at the Nangang System Interchange 南港系統交流道 in Taipei City 臺北市. Transportation networks are less developed in eastern Taiwan, which, compared with the west, has a much small- er area of at land and is less populous and industrialized. However, with domestic tourism boosted by Taiwan’s grow- ing prosperity, this picturesque region is a high priority in development of transportation networks. Under the Hualien- Taitung Area Development Act 花東地區發展條例 promulgated in June 2011, NT$40 billion (US$1.36 billion) will be allocated over a 10-year period for the improvement of infrastructure, tourism, ecological sites and other concerns in Hualien 花蓮 and Taitung 臺東 counties. One east coast project underway is the re-engineering of the 101-kilometer Suhua Highway 蘇花公路 (part of Provincial194

Taiwan’s Highway NetworkSource: Ministry of Transportation and Communications 195

10 Infrastructuree Highway No. 9) between Su-ao Township and Hualien City 花蓮市. Improvement work on three sections totaling 38.8 196 kilometers in length began in 2011 and is expected to be completed by 2017. On December 30, 2013, Taiwan switched its entire national freeway network to an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system that calculates tolls based on the distance traveled by a vehicle, replacing the conventional at-fee, semi-manual toll collection scheme. Now over 90 percent of freeway drivers take advantage of the ETC system by using “eTag” sensors, which are detected and tracked by a radio-frequency identi cation system. Vehicles without the tags can still travel on freeways; their road-use mileage is recorded on cameras using imaging recognition technology and their drivers are billed a few days later by the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau 臺灣區國道高速公路局. e new scheme not only ensures fairness all around but also speeds up highway tra c as vehicles no longer have to pass through toll booths. Public and Commercial Road Vehicles Tens of thousands of highway buses, tour buses and public and private city buses provide long-distance or intercity trans- portation services. In Taipei City, dedicated bus lanes on major roads together with its mass rapid transit systems have helped ease tra c congestion. City buses islandwide accept coins dropped in fare boxes, but passengers also have the option of paying with electronic stored-value cards such as the EasyCard 悠遊卡 and the iPass 一卡通. Taxis are a common sight in metropolitan areas. Taxi fares are set by local governments and vary slightly from locale to locale. Meanwhile, car rental is on the rise as more city dwellers prefer to rent vehicles for vacation. Railways Taiwan has a state-run railway system as well as a privately run high-speed railway service. e former, operated by

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) 臺灣鐵路管理局 of theMinistry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC),provides service among 225 stations around the island. Itsoperating routes, 61.3 percent of which utilize double-tracklines, total 1,064.5 kilometers in length.In recent years, the proportion of passengers takinglong-distance express trains has declined as travelersincreasingly utilize the high-speed rail. Hence, the TRA isfocusing on providing better service to passengers on shorterroutes, including adding new stops and new cars to improvecommuters’ travel experience.Along Taiwan’s eastern coast, the TRA operates the TarokoExpress 太魯閣列車, which employs a tilting technologythat allows it to negotiate bendsat high speeds and transportpassengers from Taipei to TRA Public Railway SystemHualien in just under twohours. In February 2013, the TRAopened service on a new classof tilting trains, the PuyumaExpress 普悠瑪列車, which canreach maximum operation Su-aoxinspeed of 150 kilometers per Beipu Porthour. Also, the Hualien-Taitungelectric railway system wascompleted and began operationin June 2014.Various projects are under-way to modernize sections ofexisting rail lines and to buildnew rapid transit commuterrailways that connect urbanand outlying areas. In PingtungCounty, an elevated, electri eddouble-track system betweenPingtung City and ChaozhouTownship 潮州鎮 was completed Source: Taiwan Railways Administration 197

10 Infrastructuree and became operational in June 2015. Another project to build an elevated rapid transit railway in Taichung City 臺中市 is scheduled for completion in March 2017. In Kaohsiung City, 15.37 kilometers of rail tracks and several stations will be moved underground by the end of 2017 to ease tra c congestion. High-speed Rail Taiwan High-speed Rail (THSR) 台灣高速鐵路, which is run by the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp., provides a quality 300 km/hour intercity rail service along Taiwan’s western corridor that allows travel between Taipei and Kaohsiung in just 96 minutes. THSR trains make at least 128 trips daily with a punctuality rate (arrival within five minutes of schedule) of above 99 percent. Taiwan High-speed Rail System The 345-kilometer railway system currently serves eight stations (Taipei, Banqiao 板橋, Taoyuan 桃園, Hsinchu 新竹, Taichung, Chiayi 嘉義, Tainan 臺南 and Zuoying 左營). The just completed stations at Miaoli County 苗栗縣 in the north and Changhua County 彰化縣 and Yunlin County 雲林縣 in central Taiwan are expected to begin operations in December 2015. Source: Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp., September 2015 Metro Services e Taipei Mass Rapid Transit System 臺北大眾捷運系統, popular- ly known as the Taipei MRT or Metro, has signi cantly facilitated transportation in metropolitan Taipei since it opened in 1996.198

Currently, ve lines with a total of 129.2 kilometers ofroutes and 116 stations are in operation. November 2014 sawthe addition of the east-west Songshan Line 松山線, whichhelps ease rush-hour congestion at major transfer stations.Two more extensions and four more lines, including oneconnecting the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TTIA)臺灣桃園國際機場 and Taipei Main Station 臺北車站, are currentlyunder construction. Once the TTIA Line is completed, traveltime between the airport and downtown Taipei will be reducedfrom around an hour to just 35 minutes. The Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit System 高雄捷運,or Kaohsiung Metro, spans nearly 45 kilometers and has38 stations on two lines. It is linked with the KaohsiungInternational Airport 高雄國際航空站, the THSR and TRArailways, as well as the city bus system. The KaohsiungLight Rail Transit Circular Line 高雄環狀輕軌捷運線 Taiwan’s rst light railway system is currently under construction. e rst phase of the network is expected to begin o eringservices in June 2016. In Taichung, construction is underway on the MRT’s greenline, the Wuri-Wenxin-Beitun Line 烏日文心北屯線, which isexpected to be put into trial operation by 2018.Personal Transportation Scooters are extremely popular for their fuel e ciency,minimal parking space needs and freedom of mobility par-ticularly in urban areas. Nationwide, scooters outnumberprivate-use four-wheel vehicles by more than two to one. To complement existing transportation networks whilepromoting greener lifestyles, various cities have introducedpublic bicycle rental systems o ering ultra-low rental pricesand convenient access. Rental stations have been set up nearmetro stops, scenic spots and major business points whilebike lanes are being extended. As of April 2015, the popularscheme had been launched in Taipei City, New Taipei City,Taichung City, Changhua County, Tainan City and KaohsiungCity and is spreading quickly to other locales. 199

10 Infrastructuree Maritime Shipping and Ports At the end of 2014, Taiwan’s shipping eet consisted of 295 vessels totaling 3.37 million gross tons (4.98 million deadweight tons). Among the country’s international car- riers, several provided container transport services while others o ered bulk freight services. Taiwan has seven international harbor facilities under the management of the MOTC. The four largest Port of Kaohsiung 高雄港 in the south, Port of Taichung 臺中港 on the west central coast, and Port of Keelung 基隆港 and Port of Taipei 臺北港 in the north handle container shipping and bulk/break-bulk cargo. e remaining three Port of Hualien 花蓮港 in east central Taiwan, Su-ao Port 蘇澳港 in the northeast and Tainan City’s Anping Port 安平港 in the south handle bulk and break-bulk cargo. e Port of Kaohsiung was ranked by the World Shipping Council as the 14th-busiest container port in the world in 2014. ough the Port of Taipei did not begin serving container The largest con- tainer port in Taiwan, the Port of Kaohsiung was designated as a free eco- nomic pilot zone in August 2013. (Courte- sy of the Port of Kaohsiung) 200

ships until February 2009, it has grown prodigiously into thenation’s fourth-largest maritime shipping hub. As a result of the agreement reached in November 2008by Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) 海峽交流基金會 and mainland China’s Association for Relations Acrossthe Taiwan Straits (ARATS) 海峽兩岸關係協會 to open directshipping links between the two sides, Taiwan has opened 13ports to direct cross-strait shipping, and the mainland hasreciprocated with 72 openings. is has signi cantly reducedthe time and cost of transporting cargo to and from Taiwan’stop trade partner. Vessels sailing the strait now also trans-port tourists between the mainland and Taiwan (includingo shore islands).Civil Aviation As of December 2014, a total of 69 airlines (45 foreign, 16mainland Chinese and eight domestic) operated internation-al and cross-strait ights to and from Taiwan. ey served acombined 290 routes to 129 cities around the world. In 2014,the number of passengers served at Taiwan’s airports (in-cluding arrivals, departures and transits) grew 9.99 percentover the previous year to 55.36 million, with international ight passengers making up the lion’s share. In line with agreements between the SEF and the ARATS,direct cross-strait charter ights commenced in July 2008with weekend service, which was expanded to daily servicein December of that year. Carriers of both sides therea ercould y across the strait without detouring through HongKong’s airspace. In April 2009, the SEF and the ARATS signed a supple-mentary agreement on scheduled ights between Taiwan’sairports and those in mainland China. As a result, two newcross-strait routes were commissioned in July 2009 with270 scheduled passenger ights per week. As of August2015, the number of scheduled passenger ights between61 airports in mainland China and 10 in Taiwan rose to 201

10 Infrastructuree After a hiatus of some 20 years, international flight services at Taipei Songshan Airport resumed in 2008. (Courtesy of Taipei Songshan Airport) 890 per week, while the number of scheduled cargo ights between 10 destinations on the mainland and two in Taiwan increased to 84 weekly. Airports e main gateway into the country is the Taiwan Tao- yuan International Airport, which in 2014 served 35.80 million international and domestic passengers through two passenger terminals. It is now run by Taoyuan International Airport Corp. Ltd. 桃園國際機場股份有限公司, a state-owned corporation established in November 2010 under the auspices of the MOTC. A renovation project launched in 2010 to revamp Terminal 1 of the airport was completed in July 2013. To o er additional passenger-friendly services to an increasing number of global travelers, a two-year multi- billion Terminal 2 refurbishment and expansion project was unveiled in late 2014, and a third terminal is expected to be completed by 2020. Moreover, a rapid transit rail connecting the airport with Taipei City is scheduled for completion by March 2016. 202

Several other airports also provide international service.In 2014, Taipei Songshan Airport 臺北國際航空站, locatedin downtown Taipei, served 6.11 million international anddomestic passengers. Kaohsiung International Airport,connected to the city via the Kaohsiung Metro, served 5.40million passengers. Taichung Airport 臺中航空站, opening anew international terminal in April 2013, served 2.18 milliontravelers for the entire year. All three of these airports o ertwo passenger terminals. Of Taiwan’s 17 airports, nine are located on Taiwanproper (Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, Chiayi, Kao-hsiung, Hengchun 恆春, Hualien and Taitung) and eight ono shore islands three on the Penghu Islands 澎湖群島, twoon the Matsu Islands 馬祖列嶼, and one each on Lanyu Island(Orchid Island) 蘭嶼, Ludao Island (Green Island) 綠島 andGreater Kinmen 大金門.E-traffic Information The MOTC’s Institute of Transportation 交通部運輸研究所 operates a Traffic and Transportation Service Center交通服務e網通 website that displays real-time tra c conditionsaround Taiwan, enabling drivers to avoid tra c jams and nd alternative routes. Visitors to the bilingual website canobtain information about fares, timetables and routes oflong-distance coaches, TRA trains, high-speed trains, ights,and boats plying the waters between Taiwan proper and itso shore islands. Also available on the website is informationon city buses, intercity buses and rapid transit systems inTaiwan’s various urban areas.Telecommunications Taiwan’s telecommunications market has developed ata rapid pace since liberalization measures were adopted inthe mid-1990s with mobile, satellite and xed-line commu-nication services opened to the private sector. Combinedrevenues from telecom services averaged an annual growth 203

10 Infrastructuree rate of 1 percent since 2002 to reach around NT$378 billion (US$12.44 billion) in 2014. Like many other developed nations, Taiwan’s mobile phone market faces oversaturation. e penetration rate passed 100 percent in early 2002 and continued to climb, reaching 130 percent in 2014. e market’s limited size has led to erce competition among network operators as they vie to expand their market share through e ciency, value- added services and competitive pricing. e number of mobile phones in use exceeded the num- ber of xed-line telephones for the rst time in 2007. Taiwan has three second-generation, ve third-generation and six fourth-generation (4G) mobile phone operators, as well as three wireless broadband access carriers. As of February 2015, their subscribers numbered 2.1 million, 22.4 million, 4.6 million and 92,259, respectively. Taiwan Inaugurates 4G in 2014, Eyeing 5G by 2020 The National Communications Commission (NCC) 國家通訊傳播委員會 marked a new milestone in Taiwan’s telecommunications industry in October 2013 when it awarded licenses for 4G mobile broadband services to six local operators, opening up a wave of new applications and services. Since 4G service was inaugurated in the second half of 2014, the gov- ernment has been developing the nation’s 4G mobile broadband network through an NT$15 billion (US$494 million) four-year project. Efforts include reducing the urban-rural digital divide by encouraging service providers to install base stations in remote areas. Although Taiwan only recently entered the 4G race, the government is already eyeing a foothold in the still uncontested fifth-generation (5G) market. The Executive Yuan’s Office of Science and Technology 行政院科 技會報辦公室 is currently working with the Ministry of Science and Technol- ogy and the Ministry of Economic Affairs to devise a plan for delivering 5G technology by 2020. 204

Digital Television On July 1, 2012, terrestrial television channels in Taiwancompleted a transition from analog to digital TV signalbroadcasting. e digital format allows Taiwan’s original veterrestrial channels to o er additional services, giving thepublic access to 20 channels as of April 2015. In keeping with the Digital Convergence Policy Initiative數位匯流發展方案 approved by the Executive Yuan in 2010, thecable TV industry is being required by the NCC to movetoward comprehensive digitization. A dra amendment tothe Cable Radio and Television Act 有線廣播電視法, currentlypending legislative approval, would accelerate the digitiza-tion of cable TV while increasing competition in previouslymonopolistic operating areas.The Internet Taiwan is one of the best-wired nations in the Asia-Pacific region. In the Networked Readiness Index of theWorld Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology Smartphones have become in- dispensable for many Taiwanese, who increas- ingly rely on the devices and apps to engage in everyday tasks. (Courtesy of Taiwan Panorama) 205

10 Infrastructuree Report 2015, Taiwan ranked No. 18 out of the 143 econo- mies surveyed. 206 A survey conducted by the Taiwan Network Infor- mation Center 財團法人臺灣網路資訊中心 in August 2014 showed that, among people aged 12 and above in Taiwan, 16.22 million or 77.66 percent had used the Internet (increasingly via mobile devices) in the preceding six months. Meanwhile, 7.02 million or 84.53 percent of households were equipped with Internet service (mostly broadband connections). NCC data showed that broadband Internet subscrip- tions (mobile and xed) stood at 26.41 million at the end of 2014. Among these, some 1.36 million were ADSL, 3.10 million FTTx, 1.21 million cable modem, 3,799 leased lines and 1.77 million public wireless local area network users. Mobile broadband accounts, meanwhile, reached 18.97 million. Digital Convergence e Digital Convergence Policy Initiative (2010-2015) is aiming to deliver broadband Internet access to all house- holds in Taiwan. As of the end of 2014, the percentage of households subscribing to 100 Mbps xed-line broadband service had already reached 89 percent. e initiative’s other objectives are to increase household subscriptions to optical ber networks and wireless broadband accounts to 7.20 million and 11 million, respectively, by 2015. IPv6 Upgrade Promotion Program In December 2011, the Executive Yuan approved the IPv6 Upgrade Promotion Program 網際網路通訊協定升級推動 方案 to replace Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) with IPv6 as the communications protocol that directs Internet tra c. One month later, the IPv6 Upgrade Promotion O ce 網際網 路通訊協定升級推動辦公室 was established under the National Information and Communications Initiative Committee

行政院國家資訊通信發展推動小組 of the Executive Yuan. Underthe program, government agencies are required to nishupgrading all internal networks, databases and computerequipment to IPv6 standards by 2016. As of the end of 2014,80.52 percent had been upgraded.Related Websites:• Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau: http://www.freeway.gov.tw• Directorate General of Highways: http://www.thb.gov.tw• Taiwan Railways Administration: http://www.railway.gov.tw• Ministry of Transportation and Communications: http://www.motc.gov.tw• Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp.: http://www.thsrc.com.tw• Taipei Rapid Transit Corp.: http://www.trtc.com.tw• Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp.: http://www.krtco.com.tw• Civil Aeronautics Administration: http://www.caa.gov.tw• Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport: http://www.taoyuan-airport.com• Traffic and Transportation Service Center: http://e-iot.iot.gov.tw• National Communications Commission: http://www.ncc.gov.tw 207

Taiwan is bolstering its long-term care system to satisfythe needs of a graying society.

11 HEALTH &WELFARE

11 HEALTH & WELFARE Public Health THealth Indices he overall health of Taiwan’s people has improved con- siderably over the past several decades, with a steady rise in their standards of living and advances in the health and medical sciences. Increasingly sedentary lifestyles and unbalanced diets have given rise to a new set of health challenges, however, with cancer and chronic cardiovascular diseases replacing communicable illnesses as leading threats. In 2014, cancer accounted for 28.3 percent of all deaths in Taiwan, nearly 50 percent of which were of lung, liver or colorectal cancer (in order of frequency). Nevertheless, increased early detection and screening have reduced the death and disability rates associated with these conditions. National Health Insurance Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) 全民健康保險 has been touted worldwide for providing equal access to quality health care. Over 99 percent of ROC nationals are covered by this public program, and all citizens and foreign residents who have lived in Taiwan for at least six months are required to enroll. Services e NHI system was established in 1995 and provides compre- hensive and uniform bene ts to all covered by the program. e insured have access to more than 20,000 contracted health care facilities around the country providing inpatient and ambulatory care, dental services, traditional Chinese medicinal therapies, obstetric services, physical rehabilita- tion, home care and chronic mental illness care. Most forms of treatment, including surgery, are covered by the system, as are examinations, laboratory tests, anesthesia, prescription medication, medical supplies, nursing care, hospitalization and certain over-the-counter drugs.210

Premiums and Copaymentse payment of each insurant’s premium is typicallydivided between the insurant, his or her employer, andthe government, with their respective contribution ratiosvarying based on the nature of the insurant’s employment(see table “NHI Premium Contribution Ratios”). Certaingroups’ premiums are fully subsidized by the government;such coverage was extended to inmates in correctionalfacilities by the Second-generation NHI (which is explainedin the next section).e insured have complete Ten Leading Causes of Deathfreedom of choice of medical in Taiwan in 2014service providers. To access anNHI-contracted medical facilityor pharmacy in Taiwan, patientsneed only make a copaymentand pay a small registrationfee. For inpatient care, a pro-gressive rate depending on theintensity of care and length ofstay applies.Second-generation NHI Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare Taiwan’s graying population,costly new drugs and treatments,as well as lifetime coverage forchronic illness, rare diseasesand catastrophic illnesses havestrained the NHI’s nances. Ac-cordingly, the National HealthInsurance Act 全民健康保險法 wasamended in January 2011 toexpand the premium base whilereducing the nancial burdenon salaried employees. e revised act requires thegovernment to fund at least 36 211

11 HEALTH & WELFARE percent of the NHI budget, excluding funding from tobacco health and welfare surcharges and lottery proceeds. Implemented in January 2013, the Second-generation NHI features a 2-percent supplementary premium charge on income from stock dividends; interest earnings; rental income collected from enterprises or organizations; professional practice income; part-time work income that exceeds the minimum monthly wage; and annual bonuses exceeding four months of an employee’s regular salary. All such payments are now reported to the National Health Insurance Administration 中央健康保險署 for premium collection. Medical Care System Personnel As of the end of 2014, around 281,000 medical pro- fessionals worked in Taiwan. ere were 21.13 physicians (including physicians of Chinese medicine) and 5.68 dentists per 10,000 people. In order to ensure that quality medical service is available to all citizens, higher salary and transpor- tation subsidies are o ered to doctors and nurses who prac- tice in rural or remote areas. Medical Facilities In 2014, there were 498 hospitals and 21,601 clinics op- erating in Taiwan. ese medical institutions had a total of 161,583 beds, or about 70 beds per 10,000 people. Health Concerns and Health Promotion Healthy Birth and Growth A ra of measures and facilities are in place to ensure the health of mothers and infants: Baby-Friendly Hospitals and preventive health care services are provided, including 10 di erent free prenatal examinations and a number of subsidized prenatal genetic diagnoses, access to breastfeeding- friendly environments, and newborn screening services with follow-up diagnoses and treatment upon detection of any212

NHI Premium Contribution Ratios (since January 2013) Classification of the Insured Contribution Ratios (%) Insured Registration Government Organization Insured and Civil servants dependents 30 70 0 Insured and Volunteer servicemen dependents 30 70 0 and public office Insured and holders dependents Insured and Private school teachers dependents 30 35 35 Insured andCategory 1 Employees of public or dependents 30 60 10 private enterprises or Insured and organizations dependents Insured and Employers dependents 100 0 0 100 0 0 Self-employed Independent 100 0 0 professionals and technical specialists Occupational union Insured and 60 0 40Category 2 members dependents 60 0 40 Insured and 30 0 70 Foreign crew members dependents Members of farmers’, Insured andCategory 3 fishermen’s and irrigation dependents associations Military conscripts Insured 0 0 100 Military school students on scholarships and deceased military Insured 0 0 100 servicemen’sCategory 4 dependents on pensions Males performing Insured 0 0 100 alternative military service Inmates in correctional Insured 0 0 100 facilitiesCategory 5 Low-income households Household 0 0 100 members Veterans and their Insured 0 0 100Category 6 dependents Dependents 30 0 70 Other individuals Insured and 60 0 40 dependentsSource: National Health Insurance Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare 213

11 HEALTH & WELFARE Prenatal tests, accessible breastfeeding environments, and infant screenings and treatment are provided to help ensure new- borns’ health. abnormalities. Centers for assessing child development have been established so that early intervention can be o ered for those with developmental delays. Pediatric counseling and seven other preventive services are given to children as well. Separately, there are health promotion plans designed specif- ically for children’s oral and visual health as well as newborn hearing screening programs. Since 2015, subsidies have also been provided to help infertile couples seek professional assis- tance with arti cial reproduction. Obesity Prevention and Control Obesity is associated with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Since 2011, the government has implemented a weight management program to proactively encourage citizens to examine and address obesogenic environments and adopt a healthy lifestyle, while also o ering weight control counseling services to the public.214

Tobacco Hazards Control In recent years, the public and private sectors have adopteda strict stance on controlling tobacco hazards. e TobaccoHazards Prevention Act 菸害防治法 prohibits smoking inindoor areas such as workplaces shared by three or morepersons, karaoke lounges, restaurants and Internet cafes, aswell as outdoor public areas such as hospital campuses andspaces near the entrances of railway stations. Beginning April1, 2014, visitors and sta of all public recreation areas, in-cluding national parks, may only smoke in designated areas.Furthermore, since January 2009, warning labels on tobaccoproducts have been required by law to cover 35 percent ofprincipal pack surfaces. e Health and Welfare Surcharge on Cigarettes 菸品健康福利捐 is NT$20 (US$0.63) per standard pack. Revenue fromthis surcharge goes into the National Health Insurance ReserveFund 全民健康保險安全準備基金 and is used to subsidize NHIpremiums for the economically disadvantaged, as well as tosupport smoking cessation services, tobacco hazard aware-ness campaigns, cancer prevention, social welfare and im-provement of public health and medical care.Cancer Control Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Taiwansince 1982. In response, the government has been imple-menting prevention and control measures against risk factorssuch as tobacco and betel quid hazards while promotingphysical activity, healthy eating and obesity prevention. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Prevention and ControlProgram 國家癌症防治計畫 has been implemented since 2005to reduce mortality rates through education, free screeningservices, improvement of diagnoses and treatment, andpromotion of hospice and palliative care. e program’sthird phase (2014-2018) shi s the focus from screening andtreatment to prevention. Its three new emphases are:1. Controlling emerging risk factors (obesity, unhealthy diets 215

11 HEALTH & WELFARE and physical inactivity), monitoring and addressing obe- sogenic environments, conducting the National Nutrition Program 現代國民營養計畫, and doubling the share of the population that exercises regularly. 2. Promoting evidence-based cancer screening policies, espe- cially for precancerous lesions that are precursors of colon cancer and oral cancer. 3. Implementing the Cancer Patient Navigation Program 癌友 導航計畫 to make every life count, cure early-stage cancers and provide palliative care for end-stage patients. Chronic Disease Prevention and Control National and local public health agencies have joined forces to promote awareness and prevention of hypertension, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. To detect chronic diseases and their risk factors early on, preventive health care services are provided free of charge every three years to people age 40 to 64 and annually to indigenous people age 55 and older as well as all people at least 65 years of age. Additionally, a na- tionwide network for chronic disease care has been construct- ed, and Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities have joined diabetes shared care networks and diabetes/chronic kidney disease health promotion institutions to further enhance care quality. Active Aging Due to its low fertility rate, Taiwan is expected to become an aged society, de ned as a society in which over 14 percent of the population is age 65 or above, by 2018, and a super-aged society, in which senior citizens account for at least one- h of the total population, by 2025. To raise the quality of life of the nation’s senior citizens and slow the progression of chronic diseases, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has supported age-friendly cities, age-friendly health care, health promotion for the elderly, and prevention and control of chronic diseases. A total of NT$10 billion (US$329.27 million) has been earmarked to build elderly day care centers in 368 townships by 2016, while an elderly employment resource center was launched in October 2014 to bring employable senior citizens into the job market.216

With his or her National Health Insurance card, a patient in Taiwan can receive afford- able, high-quality treatment. (Courtesy of Taiwan Panorama)Rare Diseases In addition to ensuring the availability of comprehensivehealth care through the NHI system, in cases where expens-es are not covered under the National Health Insurance Act,the MOHW subsidizes the costs of diagnosis, treatment,pharmaceuticals and special nutrients for patients with rarediseases under the Rare Disease and Orphan Drugs Act 罕見疾病防治及藥物法. It also maintains a distribution logistics centerfor nutrients and orphan drugs specially formulated fortreatment of rare diseases and subsidizes laboratory testingin partnership with other nations.Long-term Care Demographic aging, longer life expectancy and changesin disease patterns have increased the need for long-termcare. In 2007 the Executive Yuan 行政院 launched the National10-year Long-term Care Plan 我國長期照顧十年計畫, underwhich subsidies are available for four groups of people whoneed assistance in their daily lives because of a functionaldisorder: people at least 65 years of age, indigenous people 217

11 HEALTH & WELFARE in mountainous areas who are at least 55 years old, handi- capped people age 50 and over, and people age 65 and over who live alone and need help with “instrumental activities of daily living.” The subsidies cover home nursing care and rehabili- tation, acquisition or rental of assistive devices and adap- tation of homes into free-access environments as well as meals, transportation, respite care and other institution- al services. The MOHW is creating a Long-term Care Service Network 長期照護服務網 plan from 2013 to 2016 to establish long-term care institutions, ensure quality control, train personnel and develop care resources in rural areas. The Long-term Care Services Act 長期照顧服務法 was My Health Bank Launched in September 2014, My Health Bank 健康存摺 is a service offered by the National Health Insurance Administration to help NHI beneficiaries stay well-informed of their own medical history and enroll- ment status. Beneficiaries may also use My Health Bank to quickly and easily show their medical history to their doctors, facilitating fast and accurate diag- noses and prescriptions, reducing inconsistencies between patient histo- ries, and improving doctor-patient communication as well as medical safety and efficiency. My Health Bank provides access to all the declarations made by insurants over the past year when applying for care at NHI-affiliated institutions and includes information such as dates of hospital and clinical visits, doctors’ orders, copayments and NHI expenditures. Individuals can simply use their Citizen Digital Certificate 自然人憑證 or NHI card to browse or download the aforementioned personal health data on the Internet.218

green-lighted by the Legislature in May 2015. A draftLong-term Care Insurance Act 長期照顧保險法 is expectedto be enacted afterward.Communicable Diseases Prevention and control of infectious diseases such astuberculosis, hepatitis, dengue fever and enterovirus havesigni cantly improved in Taiwan in recent decades. Inaddition to the Communicable Disease Control Act 傳染病防治法, several disease surveillance systems, including theReal-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance System 即時疫情監視及預警系統, the School-based Surveillance System學校傳染病監視通報資訊系統 and the Taiwan NosocomialInfections Surveillance System 院內感染監視通報系統, havebeen established to collect timely, comprehensive andprecise information on infectious diseases. Meanwhile, theMOHW’s Centers for Disease Control 衛生福利部疾病管制署has been working in collaboration with medical care andacademic research institutes to better understand epidem-ics and formulate preventative and control measures.Traditional Chinese Medicine Traditional Chinese medicine is a popular alternative forhealth care therapy. As of 2014, Taiwan had 6,156 licensedpractitioners, 3,461 pharmacies and 3,648 Chinese medicineclinics and hospitals. e MOHW’s Department of Chinese Medicine andPharmacy 衛生福利部中醫藥司 oversees the practice of Chi-nese medicine in Taiwan and supports research on phar-maceutical development, acupuncture and other traditionalpractices. e manufacture and sale of traditional Chinesemedicines in Taiwan are subject to strict regulations as wellas mandatory certi cation procedures.Regulation and Oversight The MOHW’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA)衛生福利部食品藥物管理署 ensures food and drug safety and 219

11 HEALTH & WELFARE A local health official inspects sanitation and checks for ille- gal additives at a pastry store. (Courtesy of the Hualien County Health Bureau) is a liaison on such matters for the public. With inspectors stationed at all entry points to the country, the FDA is re- sponsible for assuring the safety and e ectiveness of hu- man drugs, vaccines and other biological products, medical devices, dietary supplements, foodstu s and cosmetics. Food Safety Several food safety management mechanisms have been set up in Taiwan to address basic food production processes, food processing in factories and slaughterhouses, temperature controls during transportation, food storage and handling in retail operations and food preparation at eateries. Other mechanisms include inspection of imported products, pro- motion of food safety education in schools and monitoring of advertisements. e FDA has established a task force to assess risks in food products and the environment arising from chemi- cal contaminants, food additives, pesticides, heavy metals and biological toxins. Such assessments provide a scienti c foundation for risk management and formulation of food safety policies.220

Taiwan also participates in a number of food-relatedworld bodies. rough such cooperative forums, it strivesto establish national food safety standards that comply withinternational norms.Pharmaceutical Regulation e ROC began to implement Good ManufacturingPractices 優良藥品製造標準 for the pharmaceutical industry Stricter Regulations Adopted to Ensure Food Safety In the wake of several food safety incidents, the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation 食品安全衛生管理法 was amended in four rounds between 2013 and 2015 to safeguard public health. The amendments, which aim to end the use of unapproved additives in and illegal adulteration of food products, focused on food testing, inspection and control as well as strengthening food safety risk management. The revised act requires that related government agencies set up a food safety monitoring system and that local food manufacturers establish a tracking system for the production and trade of food. Certain manufacturers are required to conduct a self-inspection of their ingredients and products or send them to third-party laboratories for examination. Penalties have been stepped up on an array of illegal food-related activities. The maximum fine for food found to contain expired materials, ingredients harmful to human health or excessive herbicide or veterinary drug residue was raised to NT$200 million (US$6.33 million). Those who adulterate food with counterfeit or unapproved additives are subject to a maximum seven years in prison, as well as a fine of up to NT$80 million (US$2.53 million). In the case that this violation leads to a fatality, the offender could face life imprisonment in addition to a fine of NT$200 million (US$6.33 million). Manufacturers that inten- tionally mislabel or exaggerate the functions of products could face a fine of up to NT$4 million (US$126,622). 221

11 HEALTH & WELFARE in 1982 and the more stringent current Good Manufac- turing Practices (cGMP) 現行優良藥品製造標準 in the 1990s. Such certi cations are contingent on passing routine in- spections as well as unannounced investigations due to speci c concerns. e MOHW applied to join the international Phar- maceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PIC/S) in June 2010 and was awarded membership in early 2013. From 2015 on- wards, all pharmaceutical manufacturers must obtain man- ufacturing authorization from the MOHW based on their PIC/S GMP inspection results. e manufacturers shall be subject to regular and unannounced inspections to make sure of their compliance. Social Welfare In 2015, the central government allocated NT$441.20 bil- lion (US$13.97 billion) to public welfare, accounting for 22.8 percent of its total budget. e target groups may be summa- rized as follows. Children Taiwan’s under-18 age group (referred to herein as “chil- dren”) has been shrinking in recent years as birth rates have declined. To encourage childbearing and reduce the burdens of child care, a childrearing allowance for unemployed parents with children under age two has been made available for certain families since January 2012. Moreover, each parent of a newborn who is covered by employment insurance and who elects to take unpaid parental leave can receive a monthly Employment Insurance Fund 就業保險基金 allowance for up to six months. Since 2009, NHI premium subsidies have been available for medical treatment of children belonging to households in the low- and lower-middle-income brackets (see “Dis- advantaged Households” section for bracket de nitions).222

Children whose basic living needs are jeopardized are enti-tled to receive emergency subsidies for up to six months ata time, while mentally or physically challenged children canalso receive aid for early treatment and education. An all-encompassing safety program has been imple-mented since 2007 to protect children. e program coversprotection from domestic violence and sexual abuse; keep-ing school environments safe and free of violence, drugs andgangs; enforcement of rating systems for print media, tele-vision and Internet content; and ensuring the safety of food,toys and transportation vehicles. A system for reporting and preventing child abuse hasbeen established in line with the Protection of Children andYouths Welfare and Rights Act 兒童及少年福利與權益保障法, theDomestic Violence Prevention Act 家庭暴力防治法 and theSexual Assault Crime Prevention Act 性侵害犯罪防治法. eProtection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Actrequires that persons and government agencies responsiblefor children’s well-being must take immediate action to protectthem upon discovering or being informed of any conditionthat endangers their well-being. e system includes 24-hourhotlines, medical treatment and protective placement as wellas assistance by police and prosecutorial authorities. Other legal protections for children can be found in theCriminal Code of the Republic of China 中華民國刑法, whichrequires lengthy prison sentences for adults who engage insexual intercourse with children under 16; the Child andYouth Sexual Transaction Prevention Act 兒童及少年性交易防制條例, which mandates imprisonment, detention and nesfor commercial transactions involving sexual exploitation ofminors under the age of 18; the Labor Standards Act 勞動基準法,which stipulates that youngsters under 15 may not work unlessthey have already graduated from junior high school and beenapproved by a competent authority and that they, as well asall 15-year-olds, shall be considered child workers who maynot work more than eight hours a day, work night shi s, orhandle heavy or hazardous work; and the ImplementationAct of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 兒童權利公約 223

11 HEALTH & WELFARE 施行法, e ective in November 2014, which formally brought Taiwan’s protection of children’s rights and interests in line with international standards. The Elderly Taiwan became an aging society as de ned by the World Health Organization when its elderly population (65 or older) crossed the 7-percent threshold in 1993. At the end of 2014, 11.99 percent of the population was elderly. e Senior Citizens Welfare Act 老人福利法 addresses the rights and welfare of the elderly, providing for an annuity system to safeguard the nancial security of elderly people as well as living subsidies and special care allowances for nancially disadvantaged senior citizens. e act stipulates that o spring or contractual welfare institutions that mis- treat, abuse or abandon elderly people are subject to nes; that their names be published; and that individual o enders attend family education courses. Under the National 10-year Long-term Care Plan, which has a 10-year budget of NT$81.70 billion (US$2.59 billion), the MOHW allocates funds to local governments for the provision of day care and home care for the elderly and for setting up support centers that teach nursing skills to family members and professional caregivers. Other services provided include free health checkups and in uenza vaccinations; discounts on public transportation and access to cultural and educational facilities; day care and home care services; lifelong learning programs and social activities; and free meal delivery. Currently 1,063 publicly and privately funded care cen- ters provide institutional care services to the elderly. Senior citizens in low- and lower-middle-income households who are not receiving institutional care are granted monthly living allowances of NT$7,200 (US$228) and NT$3,600 (US$114), respectively. In addition, local governments provide a monthly special care allowance of NT$5,000 (US$158) to low- and lower-middle- income households taking care of elderly persons unable to perform basic activities of daily living. In 2014, around 9,100224

households received such subsidies. ey also received sub-sidies for hospital care and denture implants.The Disabled As of the end of 2014, 4.87 percent of Taiwan’s popu-lation was registered as disabled. A variety of public andprivate institutions serve people with speci c disabilitiessuch as vision, hearing and speech impairments, autism andchronic psychosis. Services provided range from long-termnursing care to training and development programs. e physically challenged receive tax exemptions, free-of-charge public transportation and access to public recreationaland scenic spots, subsidies for medical expenses and socialinsurance premiums, preferential loans, and vocationalguidance and training. Disabled persons are entitled to anincome-tax deduction of NT$128,000 (US$4,052), while Social Welfare Budget Social welfare budget Social welfare expenditure as percent of government budget(US$ billion) 14.25 14.82 13.95 13.97 (％) 21.8 23.0 22.1 22.8 15 25 12 11.75 20 9 6 19.6 30 2012 2013 2014 2015 15 2011Note: U.S. dollar figures are based on the annual average exchange rates of NT$29.46,NT$29.61, NT$29.77, and NT$30.37 per US$1 for 2011 through 2014, respectively, ascalculated by the Central Bank of the ROC (Taiwan). The exchange rate for 2015—NT$31.59per US$1—is based on the average rate for that year’s first three months.Source: Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Executive Yuan 225

11 HEALTH & WELFARE disabled students enjoy tuition reductions ranging from 40 to 100 percent, depending on the severity of their condition, if the annual income of the household to which they belong is less than NT$2.2 million (US$69,642). Other nancial support for the disabled includes monthly national pension payments and, for those in low- and lower- middle-income households, monthly living allowances ranging from NT$3,500 (US$111) to NT$8,200 (US$260). ose who reside in caregiving facilities are also subsidized up to NT$20,000 (US$633) per month, depending on their household income and degree of disability. e People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act 身心 障礙者權益保障法 requires that disabled persons constitute at least 1 percent of the work force at private enterprises with 67 or more employees and at least 3 percent of the work force at government o ces, public schools and state-owned en- terprises with 34 or more employees. Employers can receive monthly reimbursements of NT$12,000 (US$380) for each disabled person employed a er reference by a public job placement center. Persons with disabilities participating in state-run or government-commissioned vocational training programs can receive allowances equal to 60 percent of the nation’s minimum monthly wage for up to one year. Indigenous Groups Taiwan’s indigenous peoples constitute approximately 2 percent of the total population. e Indigenous Peoples Basic Law 原住民族基本法 obligates the central government to pro- vide resources to help indigenous groups govern their own a airs, formulate policies to protect their basic rights, and promote the preservation and development of their languag- es and cultures. e Indigenous Peoples Employment Rights Protection Act 原住民族工作權保障法 stipulates that indigenous peoples should make up at least 1 percent of the work force at government agen- cies, public schools and state-owned enterprises with 100 or more employees and at least one-third of the work force for any such organizations if they are located in indigenous communities.226

Other provisions for the indigenous peoples includeliving allowances for indigenous senior citizens; subsidiesfor preschool day care and nursery care; emergency assis-tance; tuition subsidies, scholarships and work-study grants;indigenous community health services; low-interest housingloans and rent subsidies; and subsidies for National HealthInsurance premiums and medical treatment.Farmers e Farmers’ Health Insurance (FHI) 農民健康保險 program,which includes cash bene ts for disability, maternity and funer-al expenses, provides coverage to all people who are 15 years ofage or older and engage in agricultural work for at least 90 daysa year or who are members of a farmers’ association. In addition, farmers who are 65 or older and have resid-ed in the ROC for over 183 days each of the past three yearsare entitled to a monthly pension of NT$7,000 (US$222) solong as they have been insured under the FHI for at least 15years and are not receiving pension payments from othersocial insurance programs.Disadvantaged Households In accordance with the Public Assistance Act 社會救助法,the MOHW, together with local government agencies, im-plements a variety of programs that provide nancial andpractical assistance to low and lower-middle-income house-holds. Some provide relatively long-term aid, others short-termaid in emergency situations. Low-income households are de ned as those whosemonthly average per-member gross income is less than themonthly “minimum living expense” level of the region inwhich they reside, which is de ned as 60 percent of the averagemonthly disposable income there. Lower-middle-incomehouseholds are defined as those whose monthly averageper-member gross income is less than 1.5 times the region’smonthly minimum living expense. e MOHW’s Immediate Assistance Program 馬上關懷急難救助 provides short-term emergency living subsidies and 227

11 HEALTH & WELFARE practical relief to disadvantaged households as well as to households whose well-being is threatened by the recent death, disappearance, unemployment, severe injury or illness of their chief income earners. Emergency aid ranging between NT$10,000 (US$317) and NT$30,000 (US$950) is provided along with a variety of welfare services. e Act of Assistance for Family in Hardship 特殊境遇家庭 扶助條例 stipulates that single parents of families whose basic needs are not being met due to extraordinary contingencies shall be provided with subsidies encompassing a wide vari- ety of emergency conditions, including payments for daily living costs, health care, children’s education, legal expenses and interest payments on business startup loans. National Pension e national pension 國民年金 serves citizens who are not covered by social insurance programs for laborers, farmers, members of the military, civil servants and teachers, ensur- ing that the vast majority of citizens receive regular, lifelong pension bene ts. As of the end of 2014, the program covered 3.56 million people. Insurants may join the program a er turning 25 years old and receive monthly payments for the rest of their lives upon reaching the age of 65, with each citizen’s payment amount de- pending on how much he or she paid into the system over the years. ose who were already 65 at the time of the program’s implementation are exempt from paying premiums but receive monthly payments of NT$3,500 (US$111). Low-income and severely disabled insured persons pay no premiums, while di erent levels of premium subsidy, ranging from 55 to 70 per- cent, are provided to less disadvantaged individuals. Labor Pension and Labor Insurance Pension e Labor Pension Act 勞工退休金條例 allows workers to join the labor pension program administered by the Minis- try of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Insurance (BLI) 勞動部勞工保 險局. e program o ers portable individual labor pension228

accounts into which employers pay monthly premiumsamounting to at least 6 percent of their employees’ monthlywages, while employees may elect to contribute up to 6 per-cent of their monthly salary themselves. Persons who reach the age of 60 a er having participatedin the program for at least 15 years are eligible to begin receiv-ing monthly pension payments regardless of whether they arestill working. ose 60 or over who have been in the programfor less than 15 years cannot receive monthly payments andmust withdraw their labor pension in one lump sum. As for the country’s labor insurance system, eligible workersinsured before January 2009 can choose to receive annuitypayments monthly until they pass away or to collect a lumpsum, while workers rst insured a er January 2009, whenthe Labor Insurance Pension (LIP) scheme 勞保年金制度 wasimplemented, can only receive monthly payments. Like theaforementioned labor pension system, the LIP is adminis-tered by the BLI. In response to demographic changes, the government iscurrently planning amendments to the labor pension andLIP programs as well as the military, civil servant and teacherpension systems to ensure their long-term sustainability.Related Websites:• Ministry of Health and Welfare: http://www.mohw.gov.tw• National Health Insurance Administration: http://www.nhi.gov.tw• Health Promotion Administration: http://www.hpa.gov.tw• Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov.tw• Department of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Ministry of Health and Welfare: http://www.mohw.gov.tw/CHT/DOCMAP• Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov.tw• Council of Indigenous Peoples: http://www.apc.gov.tw• Ministry of the Interior: http://www.moi.gov.tw• Bureau of Labor Insurance, Ministry of Labor: http://www.bli.gov.tw 229

Its lights on, the Zuoxin Branch Library looks magnificentagainst a dusking sky. The award-winning structure inKaohsiung has integrated design elements echoing the local waterchestnut paddies as well as lotus ponds, leaves and flowers.(Courtesy of Kaohsiung Public Library)

12Mass Media

12 Mass Media NTews Agenciesaiwan has one of the freest media environments in Asia, with intense competition among thousands of news agencies o ering breaking news, economic intelligence and a variety of political viewpoints. e largest and oldest among the outlets is the Central News Agency (CNA) 中央通訊社, established in 1924 in main- land China and relocated to Taiwan in 1949. It served as the Republic of China’s (ROC) o cial news agency until 1996, when it was reorganized as an autonomous newsgathering organization funded only in part by the central government. Providing news around the world in Chinese, English, Span- ish and Japanese, CNA also operates the largest online photo sales platform in Taiwan. Capitalizing on its worldwide newsgathering network, in 2010 the agency expanded into video news. Another prominent news agency, the China Economic News Service 中國經濟通訊社, was founded in 1974 to pro- vide overseas buyers with up-to-date business and econom- ic news as well as contact and background information on Taiwanese suppliers. e Military News Agency 軍事新聞通 訊社, established in 1946, is the only domestic news agency that specializes in news about the ROC armed forces. Print Media Newspapers According to e Nielsen Co., newspaper readership in Taiwan peaked at 76.3 percent in 1991 and has steadily declined since then. Print editions of newspapers continue to lag behind television and the Internet in terms of pene- tration rate. Newspapers have responded by going digital, delivering news to readers via online and mobile platforms. Taiwan’s major Chinese-language dailies are the China Times 中國時報, the United Daily News 聯合報, The Liberty Times 自由時報 and the Apple Daily 蘋果日報. (Unless otherwise232

indicated, newspapers and magazines mentioned below areChinese-language publications.) Founded in 1950, the China Times presents itself as anintellectually more sophisticated paper that provides exten-sive coverage of international a airs. Its electronic mediaoperations include the terrestrial TV station China TelevisionCo. 中國電視公司 and satellite TV channel CTI Television, Inc.(CtiTV) 中天電視. Sister publications of the China Timesinclude the Commercial Times 工商時報, the China TimesWeekly 時報周刊 and the Want Daily 旺報, a newspaperlaunched in 2009 targeting Taiwanese readers interested inmainland Chinese business a airs. Founded in 1951, the United Daily News continues toenjoy a loyal readership. Its sister publications include theEconomic Daily News 經濟日報 and the United EveningNews 聯合晚報, which has been Taiwan’s sole evening papersince 2005. The Liberty Times, which began operations in 1988,bills itself as a guardian of the fourth estate and defender ofTaiwan’s local ideology. Its motto “Taiwan Foremost, LibertyFirst” re ects its more progressive stance. e debut of the Apple Daily in 2003 shook up the news-paper market by o ering tabloid-style excitement. Like itsparent paper of the same name founded in Hong Kong, theTaiwan edition has carved out a niche by publishing intrigu-ing accounts and photos of gures in the worlds of politics,entertainment and sports. Recent years have seen the rise of giveaway newspapers.Among them, Upaper targets the nearly 2 million daily TaipeiMetro 臺北捷運 passengers. Another free newspaper, the SharpDaily 爽報, is available in Taipei and Kaohsiung 高雄 cities; itshares news content with the Apple Daily and had an averagedaily circulation of about 250,000 in 2014. For foreign residents in Taiwan wishing to keep abreastof local and world a airs, the Taipei Times and The ChinaPost are the two printed English dailies to choose from. 233

12 Mass Media Online News To satisfy a growing Internet-savvy population, traditional newspapers have focused on operating online platforms, social networking sites as well as mobile applications. Among the most successful are the Apple Daily, which has merged live reporting, video, animation and online users’ feedback in its instant news updates, and the United Daily News, which in January 2015 unveiled a new website design tailored to mobile gadgets. Overall, advertising sales generated by on- line news are projected to increase by 18 percent annual- ly, prompting other print news publications to go digital as well. Stand-alone online publications have also been on the rise in recent years. The two largest online news publica- tions in Taiwan are ETtoday 東森新聞雲 and NOWnews 今日新聞. Other choices include cnYES 鉅亨網, specializing in nan- cial news; New Talk 新頭殼, which aims for independent reporting, media reform and citizen participation; and Storm Media Group 風傳媒, featuring international news and politi- cal investigations. A number of online news publications are also available in English, including Taiwan News, CNA’s Focus Taiwan, as well as the government-sponsored Taiwan Today, published in English, Japanese and Spanish. Magazines An increasing number of consumers are reading mag- azines online as publishers offer more access via mobile applications. Market surveys show that magazines on fi- nance and business management, news and current affairs as well as fashion are the most popular among Taiwan’s reading public. Leading periodicals on nance and business management include the Business Weekly 商業周刊, Business Today 今周刊, CommonWealth 天下雜誌, Smart 智富月刊 and Wealth 財訊雜誌, while Next Magazine 壹週刊, the China Times Weekly, the234

Ming Pao Weekly 明報周刊, the TVBS Weekly TVBS周刊 andthe Global Views Monthly 遠見雜誌 are readers’ top choicesfor news and current a airs. Taiwan remains an attractive market for publishers ofinternationally known periodicals. Some, such as Time,Newsweek and The Economist, o er direct subscriptionservices or distribute their publications through bookstores,while others publish Chinese-language editions in pursuitof a wider readership. e Chinese editions of fashion magazinessuch as Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE andViVi have long enjoyed top spots in Taiwan’s sales charts. ose of National Geographic magazine, science magazinessuch as Scientific American and Newton, as well as sportsand leisure magazines such as Golf, XXL, and Car and Driverhave also succeeded in carving out a niche in Taiwan’smagazine market. The success of English-learning magazines is also anoteworthy feature of Taiwan’s media market. StudioClassroom 空中英語教室 and Let’s Talk in English 大家說英語, Bookworms browse through publications at the Eslite Book- store’s Xinyi Branch, which houses over 1 million books and holds book launches as well as art events year-round. (Courtesy of Taiwan Panorama) 235

12 Mass Media both associated with radio and TV programs, have ranked among the top 20 best-selling magazines for many years. Taiwan Panorama 台灣光華雜誌, established in 1976, is an important periodical that o ers international readers in-depth insight into Taiwan’s society and culture. It is published in two editions featuring parallel texts, one with Chinese and English, the other with Chinese and Japanese. Books Implemented in Taiwan since 1989, the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) system has become a bell- wether for growth in the island’s publishing industry. In 2014, the industry saw about 41,500 new book titles with ISBN codes. Kingstone 金石堂 and Eslite 誠品 are the nation’s two largest chain booksellers, and Books.com.tw 博客來 its most prominent online bookstore. Among book publishers, the majority are small, independent rms while a score of large publishers are a liated with media conglomerates enjoying ample nancial and marketing resources. In addition to works of ction, books on personal and career development as well as health and tness have a wide appeal among Taiwanese readers, with translations of foreign books continuing to sell well in 2014. Translated works made up 22.52 percent of the new book titles published in 2014, with Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom and South Korea the main sources for book licensing. Digital Publishing e digital publishing industry has seen faster growth than paper books in recent years, producing about 1,650 new e-book titles with ISBN codes in 2014. Publishers have become increasingly optimistic about the future of the e-book market, as private-sector interest in developing digital content has grown,236

With the grow- ing popularity of digital pub- lishing, Taiwan’s numerous publi- cations, such as The Republic of China Yearbook, are just a few clicks or taps away.e-book platforms have been launched and e-reading devicesare available at affordable prices. Among the leading e-book platforms are those establishedby major telecommunications service providers: eBook Town遠傳e書城, an a liate of Far EasTone Telecommunications 遠傳電信; myBook myBook書城 of Taiwan Mobile 台灣大哥大,which o ers titles from more than 100 publishers as wellas an audio publication inventory; and Hami BookstoreHami書城, operated by Chunghwa Telecom 中華電信, withdigital book content as well as video books. Other popu-lar e-book platforms include PUBU, which features bookspublished by individuals, and MagV, popular for its wideselection of magazines.Broadcast MediaRadio As of March 2015, Taiwan had 171 radio stations. Mostof them began operation only after 1993, when media 237

12 Mass Media A group of mer- ry elementary school children at a tour of Na- tional Education Radio, a pivotal platform for adult contin- ued education. (Courtesy of National Education Radio) liberalization resulted in the release of more radio frequen- cies for commercial use. is sharp increase in the number of stations, however, has been accompanied by a declining number of listeners. Despite facing a challenging future, radio broadcasting continues to maintain a viable share of the media market. Surveys have found that music stations are the most popular. In second and third places are variety stations and news stations, respectively. Radio Taiwan International (RTI) 中央廣播電台, funded by the government, creates and broadcasts programs to regions around the world in 13 languages, highlighting Taiwan’s culture, society, and political and economic a airs. Its broadcasting reached Africa for the rst time in Janu- ary 2015, covering a total of 22 countries worldwide. RTI’s Mandarin teaching programs are particularly popular in Latin America. International Community Radio Taipei 台北國際社區廣 播電台 ICRT is the island’s only predominantly English- language radio station, and broadcasts talk shows, news re- ports and Western pop music. In addition, a dozen other238

radio stations air programs in English, Thai, Indonesianand Vietnamese, providing tens of thousands of SoutheastAsians working in Taiwan with practical informationabout Taiwan, local labor regulations and news fromtheir homelands. Among Taiwan’s seven nonpro t, public service radiostations are National Education Radio 國立教育廣播電台, whichprimarily o ers educational and language-learning programs, Digital Convergence Digital convergence is the integration of telecommunication, radio and television broadcasting, and Internet technologies to make previously separate voice, digital and audiovisual content accessible on a single platform. This has brought drastic changes to Taiwan’s media industries, as companies now can compete across industry barriers. However, platforms of different industries are bound separately by regulations of their respective fields and thus not given a level playing field. As part of the efforts to adapt to the trend, the National Communications Commission (NCC) 國家通訊傳播委員會 restructured its organization in January 2015. Four departments previously classified by industry divi- sions were reorganized to focus on networking infrastructure, platforms and businesses, frequency and resources, and broadcasting and content, respectively. This is expected to not only streamline management but also foster the growth of converged media. To better facilitate the development of digital convergence, the NCC has drafted amendments to the Radio and Television Act 廣播電視法, the Satellite Broadcasting Act 衛星廣播電視法, and the Cable Radio and Television Act 有線廣播電視法, which have all been submitted to the Legislative Yuan 立法院 for approval. The NCC is also preparing to submit a digital convergence bill for review by the Cabinet by the end of 2015. 239

12 Mass Media An anchorwom- an ready to report news at a broadcasting studio of Taiwan Television Enterprise, whose evening news program is the most long-standing of its kind in the country. (Cour- tesy of Taiwan Panorama) and the Police Broadcasting Service 警察廣播電台, which specializes in round-the-clock tra c and news reports. Television Terrestrial Television Taiwan’s television industry dates back half a century to 1962. In its rst three decades, TV broadcasting was monopolized by three terrestrial stations Taiwan Tele- vision Enterprise 臺灣電視公司, the Chinese Television System (CTS) 中華電視公司 and China Television Co. e industry has become highly diversi ed since 1993, when multi-channel cable and satellite television system oper- ators and content providers o cially entered the market. Competition further intensi ed with the launching of two additional terrestrial broadcasters Formosa Television 民間全民電視公司 in 1997 and the Public Television Service (PTS) 公共電視 in 1998. Established in 2006, the Taiwan Broadcasting System 臺灣公共廣播電視集團 is the umbrella organization for several240