Peng Tso-kwei (彭作奎), former Chairman of the Council of Agriculture, released a statement yesterday, predicting what he sees as a grim future for Taiwan's agricultural industry.
Peng's statement followed Tuesday's passage of the Agricultural Development Act, which will allow construction on newly-purchased farmland by individual farmers. Peng resigned as council chairman last month after a dispute with the Legislative Yuan over the new law.
Peng's version would only have allowed collective-style construction on farm land.
In his statement, Peng lashed out at the government for succumbing to public opinion rather than creating a long-term, sustainable policy. He said the new amendments to the Act will generate an uncontrollable number of "dummy farmers" acting on behalf of conglomerates and construction companies.
The resulting chaotic construction will lay waste to much of Taiwan's farmland and pollute agricultural produce, Peng said.
The policy will take an insufferable toll on Taiwan's agriculture and environment in the long run, he added.
Meanwhile, Lin Hsiang-nung (
Lin also said the council will finalize bylaws for the act within one year.
South Korea has adjusted its electronic arrival card system to no longer list Taiwan as a part of China, a move that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said would help facilitate exchanges between the two sides. South Korea previously listed “Taiwan” as “Taiwan (China)” in the drop-down menus of its online arrival card system, where people had to fill out where they came from and their next destination. The ministry had requested South Korea make a revision and said it would change South Korea’s name on Taiwan’s online immigration system from “Republic of Korea” to “Korea (South),” should the issue not be
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