SURGING EXPENSES: The losses mainly stem from the state oil refiner having to absorb rising international oil and gas prices to ease the burden on local consumers/ Staff writer, with CNA
State-owned oil refiner CPC Corp, Taiwan’s (CPC, 台灣中油) accumulated losses reached NT$75.1 billion (US$2.53 billion) as of the end of last month, mainly due to its absorption of international oil and gas price hikes to avoid passing the higher costs to local consumers, it said yesterday.
The losses represented more than 50 percent of the company’s paid-in capital of NT$130.1 billion and expanded from losses of NT$64.5 billion a month earlier, CPC said in a statement.
The company’s board is to meet today to discuss ways to improve its financial condition, it added.
Global natural gas prices have skyrocketed following Russia’s
Huang Li-yu (黃麗?) doesn’t think it’s possible to campaign for public office without a vest.
Those who have experienced Taiwan’s fervent, colorful election seasons will know what she’s talking about: the brightly-colored, polyester “uniforms” emblazoned with the candidates’ name, number, party and perhaps a slogan or two.
“In the current political climate, these vests are a must,” says Huang, the borough warden of Yongan Borough in New Taipei City’s Sanchong District (三重). “When you’re campaigning, you’re trying to be seen by those who don’t know you. If you don’t wear them, nobody would even know that you’re campaigning.”
Taiwanese voters pay
Politicians yesterday denounced a Chinese state media report that labeled two Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators as “secret Taiwanese independence advocates,” saying that if its interpretation were true, it would be describing most Taiwanese.
KMT legislators Lin Wei-chou (林為洲) and Charles Chen (陳以信) were on Saturday named by the People’s Political Consultative Daily as members of a “secret” faction of independence advocates.
The article asserted the presence of two independence “forces” in Taiwan, one overt and one covert.
Certain KMT members comprise the “secret” faction, which extolls “one China,” while in reality colluding with external antagonists to act against Chinese in the name
NO SECRET: KMT Legislator Lin Wei-chou said he hopes for peace and coprosperity across the Taiwan Strait, but calm cannot describe China’s worsening jet incursionsBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNA