From Saturday's edition of The China Post, a fine newspaper (if you believe in Greater China fantasies, that is):
"Holders of Taiwan driver's license will be eligible to apply for a Japanese license without taking a test, and vice versa, starting Oct. 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) 中華民国外交部, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) 中華民国交通部 and the Interchange Association (Japan) 交流協会 jointly announced yesterday."
Despite recent tensions over the Senkaku Islands 尖閣諸島, relations between Japan and Taiwan continue to grow closer at the tourist level. Last year the two governments agreed to mutually recognize driver's licenses from both countries, with the provision that Taiwanese drivers needed to get copies of their licenses translated into Japanese (and vice versa for Japanese motorists in Taiwan). This latest initiative means drivers will be able to obtain licenses in the other country without having to take a test (other than a physical exam). It is the latest action (starting with the decision made by the Japanese government a couple of years ago to waive visa requirements for Taiwanese tourists) that recognizes the fact that 2.5 million people travel between Japan and Taiwan every year. I'd like to see an article in the future on whether or not Taiwanese drivers are obeying traffic regulations in Japan, the latter being a place where drivers actually stop for red lights, and (gasp!) let pedestrians cross the road without trying to drive around (or over) them first.
"The Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday that 500 boxes of imported rice crackers from Japan that may have been contaminated with a pesticide and with aflatoxin were distributed to consumers in late June, but stressed that the health risk was very low."
The ongoing scandal in Japan involving Mikasa Foods 三笠フーズ having sold contaminated rice (from Vietnam and, no surprise, China) to 375 brewers, food ingredient wholesalers and confectionery makers, has apparently reached these shores. According to the government, a local dress company imported 500 boxes of rice crackers from a Japanese food processor that used tainted rice procured from Mikasa, to be given as presents to customers. The firm, however, denies the DOH's allegations. Japan has been hit by a number of scandals over the past year involving food safety, which has shaken the faith of many Japanese consumers.
No comments:
Post a Comment