The Legislative Yuan and the Executive Yuan yesterday decided against calling on the president to declare a state of emergency.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said after a meeting with Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) and the three legislative caucuses that they believed the government could handle disaster and relief procedures based on the provisions listed in the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act (災害防救法).
Wang told reporters that the officials also agreed that there was no need for the Executive Yuan to file a special budget request for reconstruction because the Cabinet still has NT$40 billion (US$1.2 billion) at its disposal for relief work and reconstruction.
PHOTO: CNA
But the speaker said the Cabinet promised to have its subordinate organizations estimate the budget they need for reconstruction.
If the Cabinet decides to propose a special budget, legislators across party lines will hold an extraordinary session to complete the review within a short period, Wang said.
Speaking about the decision, Liu said: “At this stage, we don't think an emergency decree is necessary. We compared the emergency decree and the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act and found that the act already covers what is written in the decree.”
The Act was promulgated after the Sept. 21 Earthquake in 1999.
Liu said he respected President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) authority to choose to implement the decree or not.
Asked about mounting complaints that the government failed to act promptly to rescue victims, Liu said he did not agree.
“In contrast with the disaster relief after the 921 Earthquake, we acted swiftly this time. I didn't enter the earthquake-affected areas [as vice premier then] until Sept. 28 when comprehensive relief work was launched,” he said.
“It is unavoidable that there be complaints, and we will make improvements,” the premier said. “But overall, we have acted swiftly.”
“If you interview local commissioners, they would say the same thing,” Liu said.
Liu said that weather conditions impeded rescue efforts, and that delays were not the result of government not sending enough military personnel, equipment and vehicles.
Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔), the secretary-general of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus, said earlier yesterday the legislature was ready to hold an extraordinary session.
With the death toll from Typhoon Morakot rising and hundreds of people still stranded in areas wiped out by mudslides, lawmakers questioned President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) leadership and the government's disaster relief effort.
KMT Legislator Tsao Erh-chang (曹爾忠) said the whole administrative network should be dedicated to disaster relief, adding that the absence of senior government chiefs at disaster-hit areas was “unacceptable.”
KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) said the president should have ordered full military involvement in disaster relief.
“I expect President Ma to exercise his power as commander-in-chief as soon as possible,” Lo said.
KMT caucus Legislator Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟) said the government's disaster relief policy was problematic and should be reviewed.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) questioned Ma's leadership, saying that only about 8,000 soldiers had been mobilized since the typhoon struck.
Huang Huang-hui (黃煌煇), vice chancellor of Cheng Kung University in Tainan, told the KMT Central Standing Committee the only way to get the government to understand the situation would be to flood the Presidential Office.
Ma said yesterday that the Executive Yuan would decide today whether to request a special budget for disaster relief.
Visiting Cishan Township (旗山) in Kaohsiung County, Ma said government agencies had been assessing the potential cost of reconstruction. If current budgets were not enough, Ma said the Cabinet could enact an extraordinary decree to request a special budget.
Unlike Tuesday, when petitioners were blocked by police and bodyguards, the families of victims were able to approach Ma and tell their stories.
While some held up a banner reading “Retarded government, cold-blooded murderers,” a tearful grandmother spoke about losing her fish farm, telling Ma she had no fish to sell and “would die” because she owed a lot of money.
Another woman cried out: “President Ma, please help,” while another asked Ma to distribute money as soon as possible.
Ma acknowledged the severity of the destruction caused by Morakot, but said it was unnecessary to declare a state of emergency.
“I am not saying that the situation is not serious. It is very serious,” he said.
Ma said the government declared a state of emergency after the 921 Earthquake in 1999. The decree covered 11 issues, which were later enshrined in the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act, which sanctions the recruitment of private sector resources and simplifies administrative procedures.
“As the law is applicable to minor and major disasters, we don't have to declare a state of emergency when disaster strikes,” he said.
While victims' families criticized the rescue efforts as too slow, Ma said the rescue mission would continue, weather permitting, adding that the government must evacuate and had the right to evacuate residents against their will.
He also asked Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) to help evacuees find housing and consider subsidizing their rental fees.
Compensation for agricultural losses will be made in accordance with the Agricultural Natural Disaster Relief Regulations (農業天然災害救助辦法), he said, and could be dealt with on a case-by-case basis if reimbursements are insufficient.
MISINFORMATION: The generated content tends to adopt China’s official stance, such as ‘Taiwan is currently governed by the Chinese central government,’ the NSB said Five China-developed artificial intelligence (AI) language models exhibit cybersecurity risks and content biases, an inspection conducted by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The five AI tools are: DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Tongyi (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶), the bureau said, advising people to remain vigilant to protect personal data privacy and corporate business secrets. The NSB said it, in accordance with the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), has reviewed international cybersecurity reports and intelligence, and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Bureau to conduct an inspection of China-made AI language
BOOST IN CONFIDENCE: The sale sends a clear message of support for Taiwan and dispels rumors that US President Donald Trump ‘sold out’ the nation, an expert said The US government on Thursday announced a possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet parts, which was estimated to cost about US$330 million, in a move that an expert said “sends a clear message of support for Taiwan” amid fears that Washington might be wavering in its attitude toward Taipei. It was the first announcement of an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The proposed package includes non-standard components, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, as well repair and return support for the F-16, C-130 and Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft,
CHECKING BOUNDARIES: China wants to disrupt solidarity among democracies and test their red lines, but it is instead pushing nations to become more united, an expert said The US Department of State on Friday expressed deep concern over a Chinese public security agency’s investigation into Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) for “secession.” “China’s actions threaten free speech and erode norms that have underpinned the cross-strait ‘status quo’ for decades,” a US Department of State spokesperson said. The Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau late last month listed Shen as “wanted” and launched an investigation into alleged “secession-related” criminal activities, including his founding of the Kuma Academy, a civil defense organization that prepares people for an invasion by China. The spokesperson said that the US was “deeply concerned” about the bureau investigating Shen
‘TROUBLEMAKER’: Most countries believe that it is China — rather than Taiwan — that is undermining regional peace and stability with its coercive tactics, the president said China should restrain itself and refrain from being a troublemaker that sabotages peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks after China Coast Guard vessels sailed into disputed waters off the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) in Taiwan — following a remark Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made regarding Taiwan. Takaichi during a parliamentary session on Nov. 7 said that a “Taiwan contingency” involving a Chinese naval blockade could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, and trigger Tokyo’s deployment of its military for defense. Asked about the escalating tensions
RSS