Gender reassignment surgery battle goes on, Wu says
Gender reassignment surgery battle goes on, Wu saysStaff writer, with CNADespite a crushing election defeat, Abbygail Wu (吳伊婷), Taiwan’s first transgender legislative candidate, has vowed to continue fighting to eliminate the burden of undergoing gender reassignment surgery placed on those wanting to legally change their gender. “I want them to know that they are not alone and that they have rights and are supported.”The 37-year-old transitioned in 2012 after undergoing gender reassignment surgery in Thailand. Wu said that if elected, she would continue working toward abolishing Taiwan’s surgery requirement for legally changing one’s gender. To change gender identity on a national identification card, applicants need to submit a diagnosis certificate evaluated by two psychiatrists and a certificate from a qualified medical institution confirming that gender reassignment surgery has been completed. In addition to the financial burden, there is a need for thorough psychological preparation before undergoing such surgery, Wu said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 23, 2024 18:40 UTC
Strait crisis likely this year, experts say in poll
Strait crisis likely this year, experts say in pollNOT READY: Although China has the capability to set up a blockade around Taiwan, it could not mount an effective invasion, the majority of experts saidBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporterA Taiwan Strait crisis is likely to occur this year, US and Taiwan experts say, according to a report published on Monday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. More than half of the experts said they believed a crisis in the Taiwan Strait is “very likely” or “likely” this year, at 67 percent of US experts and 57 percent of Taiwanese experts respectively, the report showed. About half of the Taiwanese experts, 49 percent, considered “highly coercive nonmilitary actions” to be the most likely action Beijing takes in such a situation. The experts said that international partners are more likely to intervene if China launched an invasion, compared with a blockade, in the next five years. Ninety-six percent of the US experts were “moderately” to “completely” confident that the US would intervene in the event of an invasion, while 72 percent of Taiwanese experts agreed.
Source:Taipei Times
January 23, 2024 18:40 UTC
Taiwan’s celebrated democracy
It is unsavory that Beijing has been trying to poach Taiwan’s diplomatic allies through coercion and inducement, with Nauru being the latest example. Taiwan’s soft power, its governance model and civic culture are endearing the nation to the outside world as never before. Taiwan’s development assistance to other countries who are not even its diplomatic allies and without strings attached speaks to its humanitarian commitment. Trump also signed the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act, passed by the US Congress in 2020. This legislation envisages US support for Taiwan’s diplomatic alliances around the world and Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the WHA.
Source:Taipei Times
January 22, 2024 21:40 UTC
US lawmakers to meet Lai in Taiwan: reports
US lawmakers to meet Lai in Taiwan: reportsNETWORKING: The US delegation plans to meet with senior members of the KMT and TPP, which an analyst called ‘essential’ to build support for security policiesBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporterUS lawmakers are planning to visit Taiwan to show support for president-elect William Lai (賴清德), as well as potentially meet with members of opposition parties, the Nikkei Asia reported on Sunday. The Financial Times on Friday reported that US representatives Ami Bera, Andy Barr and Mario Diaz-Balart are to visit Taiwan in the coming weeks. “This could lead to a deadlock, as the DPP is unlikely to cooperate with the KMT,” it said. In the Jan. 13 legislative elections, the DPP secured 51 of the 113 seats in legislature, the KMT 52 and the TPP eight. To advance security policies such as increasing defense spending and weapons purchases, the support of both parties “is essential,” she said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 22, 2024 21:36 UTC
‘Distrust’ source of TPP youth support, experts say
‘Distrust’ source of TPP youth support, experts sayStaff Writer, with CNAThe 3.69 million votes garnered by Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) in Jan. 13’s presidential election reflected the “distrust” felt by many young people toward the country’s two major parties, a Malaysian analyst said. Tan Seng Keat (陳承傑), research manager at the Malaysia-based Merdeka Center for Opinion Research, said a key takeaway from the outcome of the presidential election was how many young voters supported Ko. Photo: EPA-EFEOn the other hand, the loss of youth support should raise the alarm for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), added Tan, who visited Taiwan for the presidential and legislative elections. Ko received 3.69 million votes, 26.46 percent of the total, leaving him in third behind Vice President William Lai (賴清德) of the ruling DPP and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) of the KMT. Lai received 5.58 million votes in the presidential election, leaving him well short of the 8.17 million received by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) four years ago.
Source:Taipei Times
January 21, 2024 17:10 UTC
TPP says its membership has increased by 7,661
TPP says its membership has increased by 7,661By Lee I-chia / Staff reporterThe Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on Saturday evening said the party gained 7,661 new members in the week after the presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 13. If you want to go far, go together,” alongisde the announcement, saying that the the total number of party members has risen to 32,484 people. With the TPP attracting many young supporters, local media have reported that some parents are worried about their children attending TPP campaign events, complaining that their children are coming under the influence of the party. Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei TimesThe TPP has also released data on the age profile of its new members. Meanwhile, TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday held a meet-and-greet event in Taipei to show gratitude to his supporters.
Source:Taipei Times
January 21, 2024 17:10 UTC
EDITORIAL: Ko sowing election integrity doubts
EDITORIAL: Ko sowing election integrity doubtsTaiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was last in the three-way presidential election, but his name was everywhere in news media and on political talk shows in the past week. Following the elections, unverified short videos of election workers reciting and tallying votes were posted on social media, claiming that vote-rigging might have occurred. The videos went viral after a few influencers shared them, including a popular and outspoken Ko supporter on YouTube. The Central Election Commission said election procedures were transparent and allowed parties’ overseers and the public to monitor the vote counting. However, Ko said that “it is impossible to conduct large-scale election fraud in Taiwan,” but left room for speculation.
Source:Taipei Times
January 20, 2024 17:17 UTC
New India-Taiwan ties under Lai
Lai has stated his intention to uphold Tsai’s cross-strait “status quo” and continue her broader foreign policy approach. It appears highly probable that his administration is to prioritize continuity, with an emphasis on bolstering ties with like-minded democracies. Beyond India’s Taiwan policy, it is imperative for the incoming Lai administration to continue fostering strong ties with India, a pivotal country within the New Southbound Policy framework and the Indo-Pacific vision. To advance relations, Lai could consider taking several strategic steps. The Lai administration should contemplate restarting negotiations to effectively address and overcome the damage caused by the disinformation surrounding the pact.
Source:Taipei Times
January 20, 2024 17:16 UTC
Quantum computer with 5-qubit chips launched
Quantum computer with 5-qubit chips launchedBy Wu Po-hsuan and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerAcademia Sinica yesterday unveiled a quantum computer based on 5-quantum-bit (qubit) chips, connecting the device to the Internet to enable its use in scientific research by the institution’s members and partners. Academia Sinica Institute of Physics distinguished research fellow Chen Chii-dong, left, poses with another researcher at the institute’s quantum computing laboratory in an undated photograph. The 5-qubit computer is now available for use as a test and development platform for quantum computing, ultra-low temperature complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and operational amplifier research programs, it said. The Taiwanese research team has consistently outperformed expectations despite being given less time and resources than the quantum computer research programs of foreign nations, Academia Sinica President James Liao (廖俊智) said. Academia Sinica’s work in quantum computing is intended to blaze a trail for the nation’s private sector and generate the momentum necessary to sustain the investment in talent and education, Liao said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 20, 2024 09:19 UTC
NCC should rethink the pre-election polling ban
NCC should rethink the pre-election polling banBy Liu Ying 劉瑩In Taiwan, there is a law that bans poll results being made public within 10 days of a presidential election. So before the window closed, each party released their internal polling results and the media released more than a dozen polls. The gap between Lai and Hou or between Hou and Ko was about 7 percentage points, almost as if it were a mathematical sequence. In the US, polls can be released freely up to the last day before an election, while “exit polls” are available on election day. Newly established polling organizations should have to state clearly that “this organization has not conducted any previous [presidential] election polling, and this is the first time,” so the public could ground their judgement.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2024 21:38 UTC
Hon Hai announces joint semiconductor OSAT venture with India’s HCL Group
Hon Hai announces joint semiconductor OSAT venture with India’s HCL GroupStaff writer, with CNAHon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), also known as Foxconn Technology Group (富士康科技集團) internationally, on Wednesday announced a semiconductor packaging and testing service joint venture with India’s HCL Group. The iPhone assembler said in a statement that its subsidiary Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development Private Ltd has teamed up with HCL to set up a semiconductor joint venture in India. By investing US$37.20 million, the subsidiary secured a 40 percent stake in the outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) joint venture, which has set its sights on India’s semiconductor market, it said. In July last year, Hon Hai announced it would be pulling out of a US$19.5 billion joint venture with Indian conglomerate Vedanta Group to make semiconductors in India. Indian media reports said that the breakup might have been caused by the slow pace at which the joint venture was proceeding.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2024 21:34 UTC
‘Little Grass Card’ claim a smear tactic, TPP says
‘Little Grass Card’ claim a smear tactic, TPP saysBy Lin Tse-yuan and Jason Pan / Staff reportersThe Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on Wednesday decried accusations of cultivating “cult-like religious zealots,” by allegedly enticing students to attend political events and paying for “youth membership” in the TPP, calling it a politically motivated attempt to smear the party. The accusation stems from a post on the Facebook group “Love Agro Girl” (農藝女孩看世界) on Wednesday by someone claiming to be the mother of a 16-year-old high-school student who purchased one of the “Little Grass” cards (小草識別證). “My kid proudly showed me a ‘Little Grass Card’ with his name and photo, and said that many of his friends also got one. Someone arranged for a bus trip to Taipei to attend a TPP campaign event, and they all paid NT$500 to get this card,” she wrote. Lee also said that the “Little Grass” card was different from the youth credentials issued by the party, and asked for more clarity about the claims.
Source:Taipei Times
January 18, 2024 23:00 UTC
Han Kuo-yu to run for speaker
Han Kuo-yu to run for speakerBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator-at-large-elect Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) yesterday announced that he is teaming up with KMT Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) to run for legislative speaker and deputy speaker respectively, although Chiang said he would make way for a Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislator to become deputy speaker if the party is willing to work with the KMT. Former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu, right, embraces Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Johnny Chiang, second right, at a campaign event in Taichung on Dec. 23 last year. Asked on Tuesday about being Han’s deputy, TPP legislator-at-large-elect Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said that he has “absolutely no interest” in being deputy speaker. According to the Method for Mutual Election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker by Legislators (立法委員互選院長副院長辦法), one-third of the 113-member legislature must be present to form a quorum, and the speaker and deputy speaker must obtain more than half of the votes from the attendees. The speaker and deputy speaker could also be re-elected, but more than one-third of all legislators must propose such a motion and more than two-thirds of the attendees must approve the re-election.
Source:Taipei Times
January 18, 2024 23:00 UTC
Direction of voting rights reform
Direction of voting rights reformBy Jiang Zung-shiang 江榮祥Saturday’s presidential and legislative elections have attracted the attention of the international community, and Taiwan’s voting procedure has generated much discussion and debate. While some have praised Taiwan’s voting system as transparent and prudent, some have called it obsolete for not incorporating electronic voting, postal voting and prepoll voting. Nevertheless, the linking between place of residence and voting rights have inconvenienced people and prevented those working or studying abroad, polling station staff and on-duty security officers from exercising their voting rights, while prisoners are also deprived of their rights. If the government wishes to introduce prepoll voting, postal voting or electronic voting, to ensure privacy and information security, it should wait until the technology matures and society reaches a consensus on the issue. To protect the voting rights of every citizen, conducting “nonresidence voting” by allowing people to vote near one’s place of study or work is a feasible direction for reform.
Source:Taipei Times
January 17, 2024 21:40 UTC
TPP rejects claims of large-scale voting fraud
TPP rejects claims of large-scale voting fraudBy Kayleigh Madjar and Jake Chung / Staff writersTaiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday rejected claims of large-scale voter fraud in Saturday’s presidential election, saying it was unlikely in Taiwan’s mature democracy. Following Ko’s third-place finish in the presidential election, some of his supporters have suggested that voter fraud was to blame for the discrepancy between the party’s polling and the official results. Although some minor voting anomalies in the election were possible, large-scale fraud is unlikely in a mature democracy like Taiwan’s, he said. Despite the conclusion of the presidential election, people continue to spread false allegations on online against the commission and its staff, it said in a news release. Even if some individuals failed to observe regulations, they were isolated cases, and, despite claims, ballot-rigging is impossible, the commission said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 17, 2024 21:40 UTC