Money-saving tips for people feeling the pinch as inflation climbs in 2022

2022-11-15

Global inflation rates continue to rise. In October the consumer price index showed year-on-year growth of 2.72%. The inflation rate has now been above 2% for 15 months solid. And that means everything from food to rent is up in price. If you’re feeling the pinch on your budget, you’re in good company. A survey showed 92% of office workers are trying to save money right now. We spoke to one such careful budgeter, a marketing agent, who shared her tips for saving money this winter.

No matter how tired she is, Ms. Kuo郭 takes the metro to work every day. A few years ago, she’d catch an Uber if there was a drop of rain, but now things are different. Inflation is spiraling and she can’t afford to be so extravagant.

Ms. Kuo
Online retail marketing agent
Sometimes I would have a fresh NT$2,000 in my purse, and I’d think “Where did that vanish to so quick?” One Uber return could be NT$400. But if I really switch to always taking the metro, one journey is just NT$35. This way I can save, maybe, NT$3,000 a month or more.

And she’s getting thrifty in other ways too. She picks up her needle to adjust her own clothes and mend holes. If it’s still wearable, she won’t need to buy new ones. And she puts leftovers from her company lunch into a lunchbox to take home for dinner, saving the cost of another meal.

Ms. Kuo
Online retail marketing agent
If you budget carefully, in this climate of inflation, I think you can save yourself NT$3,000 to NT$5,000 a month.

Yang Tzung-pin
Job bank website spokesperson
In this age of inflation, the rise in commodity prices is the most noticeable thing. It’s focused around food, housing, and transport. Ninety-two percent of office workers are planning to push back against rising costs, hoping to thereby save NT$3,700 a month.

Ms. Kuo is far from alone in tightening her purse-strings. Many people who used to be spendthrift are now counting every dollar carefully, in an effort to counteract the rising prices all around.

省錢大作戰! 消費者物價指數連15個月逾2%

2022-11-15

10月國內消費者物價指數，年增率達2.72%，雖然較上一月小幅下降，但仍連 15 個月超過2%通膨警戒線，包括外食費、肉類、蛋類、水產品和房租通通都漲，通膨的壓力越來越大，也讓不少上班族，展開省錢大作戰。

再趕再累，每天都還是搭捷運上班！郭小姐和前幾年只要颳風下雨，就叫Uber接送的那個自己，差很大，通膨怪獸來襲，讓郭小姐花錢不能再任性。

[[電商行銷人員郭小姐]]
“有時候皮包可能才剛領個2000，怎麼一下子就沒了，我一趟Uber車程回去可能要400多塊，可是如果我現在真的都轉搭捷運的話，一趟只要35塊，這樣省下來，可能一個月可以幫我至少省到3000多塊”

除了交通費要省，拿起針線又是改裙子、又是補破洞，一陣修修補補，只要還能穿，就不會買新衣，不只如此，還會將剩下的員工餐，打包外帶當晚餐，替自己再省下一餐的開銷。

[[電商行銷人員郭小姐]]
“有去精打細算過的話，其實如果你在這種通膨的形況下，你一個月要為自己，省個3千到5千，我覺得是可以的”

[[人力銀行發言人楊宗斌]]
“在這個通膨時代當中，物價上漲最有感的，還是集中在食、住、行的一個部分，9成2的上班族有抗漲的計畫，希望每個月可以透過抗漲方式，節省花費3700塊錢”

其實和郭小姐一樣，省吃儉用的人，不在少數，就是因為能想得到的通通漲，不想月底吃土、荷包告急，上班族能省一點是一點。

US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet in Indonesia, discuss Taiwan

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday sat with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a meeting lasting more than three hours, during which both sides discussed topics including Taiwan. Biden says the U.S. policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, and that it opposes any unilateral change to the status quo. Meanwhile, Xi said that the “Taiwan issue” was a red line that should not be crossed. After the meeting, Biden added that he didn’t think Beijing had any plans for an imminent attempt to invade Taiwan.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday met in person with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time as a sitting president. The previous time the leaders of the two countries sat together was three years ago, when Xi met with then-U.S. President Donald Trump. Monday’s meeting lasted three hours and 20 minutes.

Joe Biden
US president
We share a responsibility, in my view, to show that China and the U.S. can manage our differences prevent competition from becoming anything near conflict.

Xi Jinping
Chinese leader
Currently, the China-U.S. relationship is in such a situation that we all care a lot about it.

After the meeting, Biden held a press conference, during which he said he had discussed the topic of Taiwan with Xi.

Joe Biden
US president
We oppose unilateral change in the status quo by either side, and we’re committed to maintaining the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. I made it clear that we want to see cross-strait issues peacefully resolved. And — and so it never has to come to that. And I’m convinced that — that he understood exactly what I was saying. I understood what he was saying.

Biden made an appeal for cross-strait peace and stability. Meanwhile, Xi said that the “Taiwan issue” was the “first red line” that must not be crossed. Biden added that he doesn’t think China would make a move on Taiwan any time soon.

Joe Biden
US president
And I do not think there’s any imminent attempt on the part of China to invade Taiwan. And I made it clear that our policy in Taiwan has not changed at all.

Biden also said that the U.S. is not looking to stir up conflict with Beijing.

Joe Biden
US president
I absolutely believe there need not be a new Cold War. We’re going to compete vigorously. But I’m not looking for conflict, I’m looking to manage this competition responsibly.

Biden reiterated that the U.S. and China could cooperate on many global issues, and that high-ranking officials on both sides would continue communicating. The first one of them will likely be Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is set to visit China early next year.

2022-11-15

NCSIST adds new single-rotor drone to expanding arsenal of military UAVs

Defense contractor the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology on Tuesday demonstrated its drone arsenal, which has just been expanded. The institute has developed a single-rotor drone that is ideal for the needs of urban and coastal surveillance. The new drone adds to an arsenal that already includes mid-range marine-reconnaissance and long-range satellite-guided drones, giving the military more tools to meet its needs. The institute said it has also trained 100 drone pilots across all branches of the military.

This single-rotor drone will mainly be used for reconnaissance in urban areas and along beaches. Its guidance system has a range of 30 kilometers, and it can stay in flight for one hour at a time.

Then there’s this fixed-wing drone, the Teng Yun also from the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. It uses satellite guidance, can reach mid to high altitudes, and remain airborne for 20 hours. It can take off and land on its own, making it useful for monitoring enemy movements.

Another drone designed by the institute is the Albatross, also known as the Chung Xiang II, which was first put to use in August when China’s PLA conducted drills all around Taiwan Island. The Albatross’ primary purpose is surveillance missions over the sea, and it has a guidance range of 150 kilometers, and a maximum flight time of 12 hours. Officials say the drone is ideal for search-and-rescue missions on the open waters.

Chi Li-ping
NCSIST
Ever since we developed the Albatross we have been training drone pilots for all branches of military. So far we have trained roughly 100 pilots, and they have all passed the Civil Aeronautics Administration’s test.

With many people concerned over Chinese investments in Taiwanese companies, as well as the use of China-made components in Taiwanese tech, the institute said it strictly filters manufacturing partners.

Chi Li-ping
NCSIST
Manufacturers we work with undergo strict background checks, to ensure they haven’t received funding from China, and don’t do business with China. In the bidding process for these manufacturing jobs, there is always some confidentiality involved.

With tensions in the Taiwan Strait high, the institute is putting its full effort into ensuring the military has all of the tools it needs to defend the country. With drones becoming increasingly important to modern warfare, Taiwan is set to develop the latest in drone technology.

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Four Taoyuan mayoral candidates trade barbs at policy presentation event

The four mayoral candidates for Taoyuan on Tuesday took part in a policy presentation, where they also had a chance to criticize their rival’s proposals for the city. DPP candidate Cheng Yun-peng started on the offensive, saying that the KMT’s candidate Simon Chang was out of touch with Taoyuan. Meanwhile, Chang’s promises that he would lead with transparency were shot down by his rivals.

At the policy presentation, the four mayoral candidates for Taoyuan pose for a photo. The first to fire the shots was the DPP’s Cheng Yun-peng, who took aim at the proposals by the KMT’s Simon Chang.

Cheng Yun-peng
Taoyuan mayoral candidate (DPP)
My adversary, Mr. Simon Chang thinks that investing in the semiconductor industry is something that should happen many years in the future. That further shows how out of touch he is with Taoyuan. He was a premier in the Executive Yuan, and also the highest adviser for a pro-unification party. Mr. Chang had power, but was unwilling to use it. He didn’t do anything to get trains running on the Taoyuan Airport MRT, to get operations going at the Taoyuan Aerotropolis. He even obstructed projects to put railway tracks underground.

Simon Chang
Taoyuan mayoral candidate (KMT)
Taoyuan has grown a lot since when I was working in Longtan. But a lot of new problems have emerged. Taoyuan has a lot of infrastructure, but not so much attention has been paid to its quality.

Lai Hsiang-ling
Taoyuan mayoral candidate (TPP)
Do we really want to let Cheng Yun-peng take the lead, so that he can fail to open up Taoyuan and bring big changes? Former Premier Simon Chang is a respected figure, but he hasn’t been working in governance for many years, or in the executive branch.

Cheng is the most seasoned lawmaker of the four candidates. In contrast, Chang hasn’t worked in Taoyuan for a decade. At the presentation, Chang touted his engineering experience, saying that he would work toward transparency and against corruption. His opponents took the statement as munitions to slam him.

Simon Chang
Taoyuan mayoral candidate (KMT)
I will make use of my background in engineering to push for safety in public works. My principles in promoting public construction projects are “Clean government, clean process.”

Cheng Pao-ching
Taoyuan mayoral candidate (Independent)
When you were in the government, did you do anything to stop corruption in the KMT government? To stop the mafia running the place? Did you say anything about the project to bring the railway tracks underground?

Cheng Yun-peng
Taoyuan mayoral candidate (DPP)
Simon Chang wants a “clean process.” But from what I can see, his team includes vote buyers and frauds.

The KMT and DPP candidates used their final remarks to land a last jab on each other.

Simon Chang
Taoyuan mayoral candidate (KMT)
All previous county or city heads have had achievements under their belts. But they also had shortcomings. People of Taoyuan, it’s time to change the party in charge.

Cheng Yun-peng
Taoyuan mayoral candidate (DPP)
During the KMT rule, Taoyuan’s infrastructure was stagnating. But during the past eight years, Taoyuan has moved forward at the speed of light. That’s something that all residents here can appreciate.

The candidates traded barbs, as Election Day draws near. Who will get elected on Nov. 26? It remains to be seen.

2022-11-15

Taoyuan hosts mayors from international cities for dialogue on cooperation

The 2022 International Local Government Leadership Dialogue kicked off on Monday in Taoyuan, with representatives from all around the world. At the event, Taoyuan engaged in conversations with other local leaders outside Taiwan about industrial development, cultural diversity and the logistics of hosting airports. Cheng stressed that Taoyuan is an important hub for the high-tech sector as well as an important point for transport in the Asia-Pacific region. He said that, through exchanges with other cities, Taoyuan can better reach its potential and be seen by the whole world.

Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan and members of a foreign delegation give the thumbs up as they pose for a photograph.

Taoyuan on Monday kicked off its 2022 International Local Government Leadership Dialogue. The event was attended by representatives from four of Taoyuan’s sister cities in the U.S., as well as Mayor Horatio Hendricks of South Africa’s Kouga. Together, they discussed industrial development, cultural diversity and issues related to the airports their respective cities host, sharing ideas on how each of their cities had tackled these issues.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Taoyuan mayor
We’ve talked many topics, including cities that host airports, cultural diversity, climate change and urban resilience. I think these are all very important issues that cities are facing.

Cheng said that foreigners from different backgrounds were able to thrive in Taoyuan. He also discussed ways that industry in the city was transforming itself in the face of climate change. He added that the use of green energy toward the goal of net-zero carbon emissions, and building a circular economy, will be crucial for Taoyuan and its peaceful coexistence with the environment.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Taoyuan mayor
With the easing of pandemic restrictions, international exchanges are bound to become more frequent. I hope that the foundation of city-to-city exchanges I’ve established over the past eight years will be passed on to the next city administration, so that Taoyuan can continue to be seen by the world.

Cheng said that Taoyuan is an important center for the high-tech industry, and a transportation hub for the Asia-Pacific region. He said he hopes the city will continue to engage with the world and seek out opportunities for cooperation.

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