In the past, I always believed it best not have anything to do with prosecutors, but recently I had a very pleasant experience dealing with a few young prosecutors.
They work at the Yunlin District Prosecutors' Office. They told me that if an individual commits a relatively slight offense, the prosecutor can suspend an indictment. Under newly amended regulations, prosecutors can demand that the person whose indictment has been suspended may pay specified sums of money to public welfare groups. They believe children of low-income families urgently need help, but many children have been facing problems with their education because of Taiwan's economic doldrums.
In cooperation with the prosecutors, Yunlin County's Bureau of Education has set up an account called the Relief Stipend Fund for Elementary and High School Students in Yunlin County. Part of the money demanded by prosecutors from those who have their indictments suspended will go to that account. The person concerned may specify the purpose of the money he or she remits.
I was truly moved by Yunlin County's prosecutors. They are not only concerned about crime but also about disadvantaged groups.
I call on the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice to set up a joint team to promote the use of money from people who have their indictments suspended to help children of low-income families so that they won't have problems while acquiring their education.
The simplest way would be to adopt Yunlin County's model, which involves the local education bureau setting up a dedicated account, as well as rules for implementation and a supervisory mechanism.
The money in such accounts should be used exclusively to benefit students from low-income families at elementary and high schools, to cover their tuition fees, lunch fees and health insurance expenses, and other costs. If Yunlin County can do it, why can't other counties and cities?
Lee Chia-tung is a professor at National Chi-nan University.
Translated by Francis Huang
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers led by the party’s legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (?) are to visit Beijing for four days this week, but some have questioned the timing and purpose of the visit, which demonstrates the KMT caucus’ increasing arrogance. Fu on Wednesday last week confirmed that following an invitation by Beijing, he would lead a group of lawmakers to China from Thursday to Sunday to discuss tourism and agricultural exports, but he refused to say whether they would meet with Chinese officials. That the visit is taking place during the legislative session and in the aftermath