KMT proposes Lai address legislature
KMT proposes Lai address legislatureSTATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questionsBy Liu Wan-lin, Hsieh Chun-lin and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writerThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20. Lawmakers hold up placards indicating opposition at the legislature in Taipei on Friday last week. The TPP yesterday said that the legislature should hear a state of the nation address. The legislature can invite the president to deliver such an address at the opening session every year, it said, adding that Lai should, by law, be required to answer legislators’ questions. The parties were unclear on whether Lai would leave after giving the address, or whether he should respond individually to each question or address all questions simultaneously, Wu said, suggesting that the party caucuses address the issue by clarifying Article 15-4 of the Legislative Yuan Powers Act.
Source:Taipei Times
May 07, 2024 16:59 UTC
Not giving up on Germany despite being banned from entering
Not giving up on Germany despite being banned from enteringBy Yanis VaroufakisThree weeks ago, I was banned from entering Germany. Suddenly, my mind raced back to another era when my 10-year-old self thought of Germany as a refuge from authoritarianism. The specter of deindustrialization that today casts a depressing shadow across Germany is consistent with my prognosis. Dismissing their groundless accusations, let me home in on the central question: How could almost the entire German political class embrace this denunciation, which prepared the ground for the subsequent police action? This is why, despite the ban, I am not giving up on Germany.
Source:Taipei Times
May 07, 2024 16:56 UTC
Foreign reserves down US$1.08bn
Foreign reserves down US$1.08bnBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterThe nation’s foreign exchange reserves last month decreased by US$1.08 billion to US$567.02 billion, the central bank said in a statement yesterday. Foreign exchange reserves have fallen for four consecutive months, as the net outflow of foreign capital offset returns from the bank’s management of reserve assets, data showed. Exchange rate shifts of other reserve currencies against the US dollar and the central bank stepping in to slow the local currency’s depreciation were also factors behind the decrease in foreign exchange reserves, the bank said. Foreign investors sold a net NT$138.89 billion (US$4.29 billion) of local shares last month after a net selling of NT$41.18 billion in March, the commission said. Overall, foreign investors net sold NT$70.21 billion of Taiwanese equities in the first four months of the year, the commission said.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2024 17:16 UTC
Biden hugs Saudi Arabia to strong-arm Israel
Biden hugs Saudi Arabia to strong-arm IsraelBy Andreas Kluth / Bloomberg OpinionIf the latest idea out of the White House works, it could bring the foreign policy of US President Joe Biden full circle in less than a year, with an ironic twist. The US and Saudi Arabia are once again getting close to a historic pact, Bloomberg News has reported. However, whereas its first iteration was intended as a three-way deal with Israel to isolate Iran, this version would aim just as much to pressure Israel. Here is the design of the entente on which the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel were converging before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7: Saudi Arabia would make peace with Israel and forswear closer ties to China. The US would still give Saudi Arabia security guarantees, weapons and more, while Saudi Arabia would in turn distance itself economically and technologically from China, and together they would again isolate and contain Iran.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2024 16:44 UTC
EDITORIAL: Sex education to protect the youth
EDITORIAL: Sex education to protect the youthThe Legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee on Wednesday finished a preliminary review of amendments to the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act (兒童及少年性剝削防制條例), but left some key issues for cross-party negotiations. Sex education is mostly given by regurgitating facts from textbooks without discussions, and students in romantic relationships are often told they should consider breaking up, the survey said. The government should work with schools and civic groups in bridging the gap between the sex education policy and its implementation, by dispelling myths and disinformation, and providing specialized training and support to teachers. They should also calm parents’ concerns by explaining to them what sex education is and how it can better protect children. Ignoring and depriving children of access to adequate information on sex and relationships puts them at risk of learning from unreliable sources and becoming victims.
Source:Taipei Times
May 06, 2024 03:47 UTC
TikTok, Tesla show US-China battle over data is just beginning
TikTok, Tesla show US-China battle over data is just beginningFights over data security are threatening to reshape US-China trade relations, while electric vehicles, healthcare and drones all face closer scrutinyBy Sarah Zheng and Josh Xiao / BloombergThe US push to ban TikTok marks a new phase in its approach to data security that could eventually impact everything from electric vehicles to healthcare, reshaping trade relations between the world’s biggest economies. The law takes a page out of China’s playbook, viewing the potential misuse of data as a national security threat. “TikTok is no different from Twitter or Meta or YouTube in this regard.”Beyond tech apps, US lawmakers have scrutinized data security risks from other Chinese-owned companies. China’s data security and other laws could be used to compel private companies to hand over data to authorities, although ByteDance has denied that it would comply with such requests. “The TikTok bill sets an important precedent for targeting Chinese tech platforms that have successfully penetrated the US market.”
Source:Taipei Times
May 05, 2024 17:45 UTC
Clarifying anti-discrimination laws
Clarifying anti-discrimination lawsBy Yu Ying-fuOn April 28, the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) ran an opinion piece titled “There’s no problem child in special education classes.” As mentioned, “Many countries have anti-discrimination laws ... our country does not have this kind of law.”The meaning of this statement is not precise enough, and it needs to be clarified. At that time, I also published an editorial in the newspaper titled “Do we need an anti-racial discrimination law?” arguing that there was no need to enact separate legislation. Article 16 of the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act (身心障礙者權益保障法), as well as several other laws, also mention the prevention of discrimination. There are some existing anti-discrimination laws in Taiwan, but they are targeted at specific groups and limited to specific areas. With such fragmentation, Taiwan might consider consolidating the provisions to formulate an exclusive anti-discrimination law for several types of discriminatory words and behaviors, so it can be easily understood and applied by all.
Source:Taipei Times
May 05, 2024 03:48 UTC
Taiwan set high mark at Thomas Cup
Taiwan set high mark at Thomas CupOUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor AxelsenStaff writer, with CNATaiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting, right returns to Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan during the opening men’s singles match of their team semi-final at the Thomas Cup at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2 in Chengdu, China, yesterday. The Taiwan men’s Thomas Cup badminton team celebrate after Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan defeated Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Sogaard of Denmark in their quarter-final in Chengdu, China, on Friday. Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei, left and Yang Po-hsuan celebrate after beating Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Sogaard of Denmark as the Taiwan men’s team won their Thomas Cup quarter-final in Chengdu, China, on Friday. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s women’s team were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Uber Cup on Friday by South Korea 3-0.
Source:Taipei Times
May 04, 2024 20:17 UTC
What China is signaling by renaming regions
What China is signaling by renaming regionsBy Khedroob ThondupIn the intricate ballet of geopolitics, names signify more than mere identification: They embody history, culture and sovereignty. By doing so, India not only challenges China’s unilateral renaming, but also underscores its commitment to respecting the historical context of the region. The international community, including governments and organizations, often weighs the historical and cultural context heavily when referring to regions. Despite China’s renaming efforts, many continue to use the term “Tibet,” aligning with the established global understanding. This rejection is a clear message to China and the international community that India stands firm on its territorial sovereignty.
Source:Taipei Times
May 04, 2024 17:00 UTC
KMT and TPP lawmakers vote against DPP proposal
KMT and TPP lawmakers vote against DPP proposalAMENDMENT: Contact with certain individuals in China, Hong Kong and Macau must be reported, and failure to comply could result in a prison sentence, the proposal statedBy Lin Hsin-han, Lee Wen-hsin and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writer and CNAThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday voted against a proposed bill by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers that would require elected officials to seek approval before visiting China. Fifty-six voted with the TPP in opposition to the bill and 49 for, sending the proposal back to the Procedural Committee. Legislators hold placards during voting at the legislature in Taipei yesterday on a Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) proposal to suspend electricity rate hikes. Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei TimesShen said that he had expected this from the KMT, but had not anticipated the TPP aiding the KMT. In other developments, opposition lawmakers yesterday used their majority in the legislature to send a proposed amendment giving lawmakers the final say in electricity prices directly to a second reading.
Source:Taipei Times
May 03, 2024 23:13 UTC
If the US and Israel do not follow the laws of war, nobody will
The ICC is the world’s only supranational tribunal that can try individuals for war crimes and other atrocities. The ICJ is also causing headaches for the US and Israel: In one case, judges are deliberating whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Humanitarian law enshrines norms in war, no matter whether the war in question is just. If humanitarian law goes, so would international law in general. That would mean refining the laws of war to fit new circumstances, and then sticking to the rules like everybody else.
Source:Taipei Times
May 03, 2024 17:09 UTC
Qualcomm gives solid outlook in sign of smartphone recovery
Qualcomm gives solid outlook in sign of smartphone recoveryBloombergQualcomm Inc, the world’s biggest seller of smartphone processors, gave an upbeat forecast for sales and profit in the current period, suggesting demand for handsets is increasing after a two-year slump. The outlook signals that the smartphone market has begun to bounce back, tracking with Qualcomm’s forecast that demand would gradually recover this year. A smartphone displaying a Qualcomm Inc logo lies on a computer motherboard in an illustration photo taken on March 6 last year. Photo: ReutersIn the March quarter, profit was US$2.44 a share, excluding some items. They’re not losing smartphone market share to a resurgent Huawei Technologies Co (華為) in China, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
May 03, 2024 03:43 UTC
Ko Wen-je listed as suspect in corruption probe
Ko Wen-je listed as suspect in corruption probeBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterProsecutors have listed former Taipei mayor and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) as a suspect in a corruption probe relating to the Core Pacific City (京華城) shopping mall redevelopment and the Beitou Shilin Science Park (北投士林科技園區) project. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je speaks to reporters on the sidelines of a forum in Taipei on Saturday. “This is the key evidence showing that Ko abused his authority to allow a large corporation to illegally benefit,” Hsu said. Chien said after construction work began at the science park, the city government posted public tenders for plots T16, T17 and T18 in 2019. Taipei prosecutors said they are coordinating with Ministry of Justice Agency Against Corruption to investigate.
Source:Taipei Times
May 03, 2024 02:15 UTC
Fu Kun-chi undermining national security: DPP, TSP
Fu Kun-chi undermining national security: DPP, TSPBy Lin Chen-yuan and Jason Pan / Staff reportersMembers of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP) yesterday accused Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) of trying to nullify security laws and undermine national sovereignty in the legislature after returning from China. Democratic Progressive Party caucus secretary-general Rosalia Wu, second left, and other DPP legislators hold a news conference at the legislature in Taipei yesterday. TSP Kaohsiung City Councilor Chang Po-yang (張博洋) said that China has been bullying Taiwan for decades, now with constant military intimidation. Separately yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) responded to Fu on Wednesday pressuring other lawmakers to change the word “China” to “mainland” and “nation” to “Taiwan” in legislation. “I think this action is not necessary, and Taiwanese would find it quite unbelievable,” he told a hearing at the legislature.
Source:Taipei Times
May 03, 2024 02:13 UTC
Hypocrisy of touting nuclear power
The decommissioning of unit 1 of the Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Shihmen District (石門) started in 2018. This shows that nuclear power could also take a hit from climate extremes, and earthquakes have of course also led to grave nuclear disasters. That and the protracted use of aging nuclear power plants are two separate issues. Just because some elected officials favor keeping nuclear power does not give them license to conflate separate issues and mislead the public. Mayors and county commissioners who support the continued use of aging nuclear power plants should accept spent nuclear fuel rods with open arms.
Source:Taipei Times
May 02, 2024 03:44 UTC