Farmers protest water conservation projectBy Esme Yeh / Staff reporterAgricultural workers from Hsinchu County yesterday gathered in front of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to protest a water conservation and efficiency project that shut down water conveyance facilities without sufficient communication with farmers. Farmers protest a water conservation project in Hsinchu County outside of the Ministry of Agriculture in Taipei yesterday. The agriculture ministry and the Ministry of Economic Affairs should put forward a water control plan instead of “dressing up water suspension as a systemic water saving plan,” Hsu said. Asked why the irrigation gates were shut down ahead of the project, Chen said it was a coincidence. Such measures are part of the county’s rotational irrigation scheme, not the project, he said.

MOTC unveils hotline for public transport disastersEASY TO USE: People could report accidents without having to wonder which agency to call, and the ministry would relay the information to the appropriate agencyBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) yesterday launched a dedicated hotline (0800-365-917), which people could call to report public transport accidents. An operator receives a call on the Ministry of Transportation and Communication’s new hotline for reporting public transportation accidents in an undated photograph. The office also distributed cards containing the hotline number, allowing people to report major public transport accidents, Chen said. “People can call the hotline whenever they encounter major transportation accidents, regardless of whether the accident is a Class-A disaster,” the minister said. Personnel taking the calls must decide within 20 minutes how to relay the information to the agency in charge, Chang said, adding that cards containing the hotline number would be available at major transport hubs.

Former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je, center, TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang, third right, and other party officials hold a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times“You can remove one Ko Wen-je, but there are millions of ‘little grasses’ (小草),” he said, referring to his young supporters. The TPP is fighting not only for Ko’s innocence, but also to save a judicial system that has been reduced to a tool for the DPP’s “green authoritarianism,” he said. The DPP in a statement said that it respects judicial independence and would not comment on individual cases. DPP Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) said that Ko’s disqualification from running for president could have a significant impact on Taiwan’s political landscape.

US lawmakers pan China for interfering in WTO conferenceStaff writer, with CNA, WASHINGTONTwo US lawmakers on Wednesday criticized China for allegedly interfering in the WTO ministerial conference in Cameroon, which they said led to Taiwan’s exclusion from the event. It is part of a sustained campaign by Beijing to marginalize Taiwan and exert undue influence over international bodies,” the statement said. “The United States will continue to stand with Taiwan, which deserves a seat at the table as a model democracy, one of the world’s largest economies and a technological powerhouse. Photo: AFPThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week lodged a formal protest with the WTO Secretariat after Cameroon listed Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China” on visa documents for the ministerial conference, scheduled for yesterday until Sunday. The designation “seriously undermined” Taiwan’s status and rights as a WTO member, the ministry said.

Ruling may end Ko’s political careerBy Lin Che-yuan and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Taipei District Court’s guilty ruling yesterday in the corruption trial of Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) founder Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) has potentially cut short a once-promising political career. Former Taiwan People’s Party chairman Ko Wen-je reacts during a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Ko’s legal troubles erupted the same year, when the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office opened an investigation into alleged bribery over an urban redevelopment project concerning a torn-down mall and misappropriation of political contributions. The Taipei District Court on Tuesday indicted Xu on charges connected to alleged contraventions of the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法), banking fraud and forgery. Ko’s conviction at his first trial, combined with the scandals and legal woes surrounding the TPP, is likely to pose a severe test not only to the doctor-turned-politician, but the political party he founded.

Minister defends National Security Act amendmentsBy Lee Wen-hsin and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerPerceived restrictions on free speech under proposed amendments to the National Security Act (國家安全法) are “an unrealistic and impractical fantasy,” Deputy Minister of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan (馬士元) said yesterday. Deputy Minister of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan addresses a public hearing at the legislature in Taipei on proposed amendments to the National Security Act yesterday. Lawyer Liao Kuo-hsiang (廖國翔) linked the amendments to concerns over China-born Taiwan People’s Party Legislator-at-large Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀). The proposed amendments would allow for earlier intervention in a more proportionate way, she said. However, New Party spokeswoman Chen Li-ling (陳麗玲) said that previous amendments had resulted in prolonged travel restrictions imposed on party members who were later acquitted, raising concerns about due process.

U.S. envoy calls on Taiwan legislators to pass special defense budgetStaff Writer, with CNAThe United States’ de facto ambassador to Taiwan on Thursday urged lawmakers across party lines to pass a special defense budget to fund planned purchases of U.S. weapon systems for self-defense. “We encourage all parties in Taiwan’s legislature to work through political differences and quickly pass a special defense budget that demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to its self-defense by funding the acquisition of critical defense capabilities,” he added. Greene’s remarks came after lawmakers wrapped up a three-day joint session earlier Thursday to review three competing special defense budget proposals, without reaching a conclusion. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have proposed smaller plans of NT$380 billion and NT$400 billion, respectively. Greene delivered the address at the annual AmCham Hsieh Nien Fan banquet, which was also attended by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

Number of Taiwanese missing in China risingFOURFOLD INCREASE: People should continue to assess the potential risks before traveling to China after 221 cases were reported last yearBy Chen Yu-fu and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe number of reports of Taiwanese going missing, being detained or interrogated, or having their personal liberties restricted in China has reached 313 since Jan. 1, 2024, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) data showed. Last month, 17 Taiwanese were reported missing or detained in China, with half of them still unaccounted for, a MAC official said on condition of anonymity. China in June 2024 issued a 22-point set of guidelines used to penalize “die-hard” Taiwanese independence separatists, allowing the Chinese Communist Party to more easily detain or interrogate Taiwanese. Since then, it has become increasingly risky for Taiwanese to visit China, Hong Kong or Macau, authorities said. Several Taiwanese members of the I-Kuan Tao religious group remain in detention in China, the official said.

Think tank urges Foreign Trade Act amendmentBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterA Taipei-based think tank yesterday urged the government to fix loopholes in regulations governing chip exports to China, after Super Micro executives were indicted by the US Department of Justice for allegedly smuggling Nvidia chips into China via Taiwan. Representatives of the Taiwan Economic Democracy Union hold placards at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Taiwan Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強) said that the government is in an awkward position, as the people involved are Taiwanese and the case occurred in Taiwan. The Foreign Trade Act classifies advanced chips as a strategic high-technology commodity (SHTC). “What happened at Super Micro could make other countries question Taiwan’s capability in controlling the exports of high-end chips to China.

Mideast war fuels disinformation about Taiwan’s gas supplyAFP, TAIPEITaiwan has been targeted by a wave of online disinformation claiming the self-ruled island’s gas supplies will soon be completely depleted due to disruptions from the Middle East war -- a narrative officials say could cause panic and undermine confidence in the government. “LNG supplies from Qatar account for roughly one-third of our total supply. “These netizens are interpreting the situation as if LNG from the Middle East cannot get through, Taiwan will be left without a natural gas supply. LARGER CAMPAIGNBeijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office said last week that “peaceful reunification could provide better protection” for Taiwan’s energy security with a “strong motherland” as its backing. “This is a significant vulnerability in terms of Taiwan’s energy weakness,” Liang said.

Judge goes hitless; Taiwan’s Teng namedStaff writer, with CNA and APTwo-time reigning American League Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge on Wednesday went hitless on opening day for the first time in his big-league career and had four strikeouts in a game for the first time since September 2024 in the New York Yankees’ 7-0 win over the San Francisco Giants, while the Houston Astros named Taiwanese pitcher Teng Kai-wei on their opening-day roster. The Astros, who were to play early this morning Taiwan time, named Teng as a multi-inning reliever in their bullpen. Houston Astros pitcher Teng Kai-wei of Taiwan winds up during their spring training game against the New York Mets at Clover Park in Port St Lucie, Florida, on March 1. The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge prepares to bat during their MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wednesday. Good night for us.

Debates on special defense bills falter againON TRACK: The defense minister said the next US arms sales package was proceeding as expected, with the government receiving a letter of guarantee from WashingtonBy Huang Ching-hsuan, Fion Khan and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writers and ReutersLegislative committee members yesterday failed to reach a consensus on most articles of the three versions of the special defense budget bill. Over the past two days, a joint session of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee and Finance Committee conducted article-by-article deliberations on the three versions. Legislators attend a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense and Finance committees to discuss versions of the special defense budget at the legislature in Taipei yesterday. “We will continue to make efforts,” Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) told reporters after the session. Regarding proposed auditing mechanisms, Koo agreed to the KMT caucus’ proposal that the Ministry of National Defense submit a special report to the Legislative Yuan each session detailing the execution progress and performance of the special budget.

Former Taipei Mayor Ko sentenced to 17 years in prisonFIRST TRIAL: Ko’s lawyers sought reduced bail and other concessions, as did other defendants, but the bail judge denied their requests, citing the severity of the sentencesBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterFormer Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was yesterday sentenced to 17 years in prison and had his civil rights suspended for six years over corruption, embezzlement and other charges. Taipei prosecutors in December last year asked the Taipei District Court for a combined 28-year, six-month sentence for the four cases against Ko, who founded the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). Former Taipei city Mayor Ko Wen-je, center, leaves the Taipei District Court yesterday, after he was sentenced to 17 years in prison on bribery and corruption charges. Supporters of former Taiwan People’s Party chairman Ko Wen-je protest in front of the Taipei District Court yesterday. The bail court also denied requests from Sheen and Ying to have additional bail amounts of NT$30 million lifted.

Water rationing imposed after extremely dry winterBy Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNAThe Water Resources Agency (WRA) has imposed rationing and authorized unallocated water reserves for household use until July, after the driest winter in 75 years in Taiwan’s western region. Photo: Wu Chun-feng, Taipei TimesThe shortages affect water supplies for chipmaking hub Hsinchu County and industrial center Taichung, the agency said. The WRA has activated emergency measures to facilitate the diversion of water resources from unaffected regions and reduce wastage, policies that are to remain in force until July, it said. State-owned enterprises and government offices have ceased unnecessary water use and farmers are enacting irrigation methods that save water, it said. The government is striving to prevent zoned water rationing for domestic use before the end of June, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday.

Disciplinary Court chief justice removed from office over harassmentBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAThe Disciplinary Court today ruled to remove former Disciplinary Court chief justice Lee Po-tao (李伯道) from office and bar him from reappointment for one year, after he was found to have sexually harassed and bullied his female subordinates and a female section chief. Former Disciplinary Court chief justice Lee Po-tao is pictured in an undated photograph. The committee found disciplinary action necessary and resolved to submit the case to the Disciplinary Court’s tribunal, recommending removal from office. Lee previously served as the chief justice of the Supreme Court and chief justice of the Taichung High Court, before his promotion to chief justice of the Disciplinary Court in October 2020. The Disciplinary Court handles cases for public servants who contravene conduct regulations.