The pan-blue opposition yesterday demanded that Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh (
"Of course it would be easy to quit now, but that wouldn't solve the problem," she said. "The most important thing right now is to get the water back on. I promise I will not remain in my position if I am found to be responsible and cannot meet a new timetable."
Ho's remarks drew a round of applause from Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) lawmakers, who had invited her and Water Resources Agency Director-General Chen Shen-hsien (
PHOTO: HSIEH WU-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Throwing his backing behind Ho, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip William Lai (
"Everybody should just shut up and help the government solve the problem," he said.
After yesterday's briefing, Chen confirmed that he had offered his resignation in person to his superviser, Ho, in the morning, but was asked to stay in his post.
Chen revealed that it was not the minister's fault that Premier Frank Hsieh (
With Taoyuan County Commissioner Chu Li-lun (朱立倫) looking on, Hsieh yesterday apologized to county residents for making an empty promise during an inspection trip to Shihmen Dam (石門水庫).
Chu asked the premier to pressure the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Water Resources Agency and Taiwan Water Supply Corp tell the county exactly when they can expect the water supply to be fully restored. He also asked the national government to fix the county's regular water supply problems, which usually occur in the wake of a typhoon.
Upset by the premier's false promise, opposition People First Party (PFP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucuses yesterday jointly requested the resignations of Hsieh and Ho.
"The premier should step down for making defamatory remarks about Chu, who speaks up for his residents and asks for help from the government," said KMT caucus whip Cho Po-yuan (
KMT Legislator Tsai Chin-lung (
Chin Hui-chu (
She also said that Chu might want to give up his plan to ask the government to include Taoyuan in the eight-year flood-fighting package, because the root of the county's water supply problem is not a lack of money, but rather the government's incompetence and inefficiency.
Yang Wei-fu (
also see story:
Anger mounts as water woes continue
MAKING WAVES: China’s maritime militia could become a nontraditional threat in war, clogging up shipping lanes to prevent US or Japanese intervention, a report said About 1,900 Chinese ships flying flags of convenience and fishing vessels that participated in China’s military exercises around Taiwan last month and in January have been listed for monitoring, Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) said yesterday. Following amendments to the Commercial Port Act (商港法) and the Law of Ships (船舶法) last month, the CGA can designate possible berthing areas or deny ports of call for vessels suspected of loitering around areas where undersea cables can be accessed, Oceans Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said. The list of suspected ships, originally 300, had risen to about 1,900 as
Japan’s strategic alliance with the US would collapse if Tokyo were to turn away from a conflict in Taiwan, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said yesterday, but distanced herself from previous comments that suggested a possible military response in such an event. Takaichi expressed her latest views on a nationally broadcast TV program late on Monday, where an opposition party leader criticized her for igniting tensions with China with the earlier remarks. Ties between Japan and China have sunk to the worst level in years after Takaichi said in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese
MORE RESPONSIBILITY: Draftees would be expected to fight alongside professional soldiers, likely requiring the transformation of some training brigades into combat units The armed forces are to start incorporating new conscripts into combined arms brigades this year to enhance combat readiness, the Executive Yuan’s latest policy report said. The new policy would affect Taiwanese men entering the military for their compulsory service, which was extended to one year under reforms by then-president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in 2022. The conscripts would be trained to operate machine guns, uncrewed aerial vehicles, anti-tank guided missile launchers and Stinger air defense systems, the report said, adding that the basic training would be lengthened to eight weeks. After basic training, conscripts would be sorted into infantry battalions that would take
DEEP-STRIKE CAPABILITY: The scenario simulated a PLA drill that turned into an assault on Taiwan’s critical infrastructure, with the launchers providing fire support Taiwan yesterday conducted this year’s first military exercises at Longsiang Base in Taichung, demonstrating the newly acquired High Mobility Artillery Rocket System’s (HIMARS) ability to provide fire support and deep-strike capabilities. The scenario simulated an attack on Penghu County, with HIMARS trucks immediately rolling into designated launch areas and firing barrages at the Wangan (望安) and Cimei (七美) islands, simulating the provision of fire support against invading forces. The HIMARS are supposed to “fire and leave,” which would significantly increase personnel and equipment survivability, a military official said. The drill simulated an exercise launched by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern
RSS