NT$45 million earmarked for antiques procurement was yesterday frozen temporarily from the National Palace Museum's (
The funds will remain frozen until disputes surrounding exhibits have been resolved.
The freezing of the funding for purchasing artifacts was proposed by DPP lawmaker Chen Chin-jun (
On numerous occasions in the legislature in recent months, Chen has expressed doubts over the academic ability of museum researchers and the museum's purchasing process.
On June 19, Chen questioned the authenticity of a stone palette supposedly from the Shang Dynasty and two "Neolithic period" jade ornaments, all exhibited at the museum.
While museum researchers have never responded to his queries, he said at a legislative meeting last Thursday that the quality of at least 400 items on display was questionable.
The total value of these exhibits reaches into hundreds of millions of NT dollars, he said.
During yesterday's budget-review session at the legislature, Chen suggested freezing the museum's NT$45 million antiques procurement budget for the time being, until the museum submits a complete report to clear up the controversy.
Chen's suggestion was endorsed by independent lawmaker Josephine Chu (朱惠良), PFP lawmaker Diane Lee (李慶安) and KMT lawmaker Mu Ming-chu (穆閩珠).
Responding to the proposal, deputy director of the museum Shih Shou-chien (
After the seminar, Shih said, the museum would present a detailed report to be reviewed by lawmakers.
Shih also said that in a bid to prevent such a controversy from occurring again, the museum would publicize procurement details on the its Web site.
"By making the buying procedures and contents transparent, we aim to avoid contention of this kind in the future," he said.
NEXT GENERATION: The four plants in the Central Taiwan Science Park, designated Fab 25, would consist of four 1.4-nanometer wafer manufacturing plants, TSMC said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to begin construction of four new plants later this year, with the aim to officially launch production of 2-nanometer semiconductor wafers by late 2028, Central Taiwan Science Park Bureau director-general Hsu Maw-shin (許茂新) said. Hsu made the announcement at an event on Friday evening celebrating the Central Taiwan Science Park’s 22nd anniversary. The second phase of the park’s expansion would commence with the initial construction of water detention ponds and other structures aimed at soil and water conservation, Hsu said. TSMC has officially leased the land, with the Central Taiwan Science Park having handed over the
AUKUS: The Australian Ambassador to the US said his country is working with the Pentagon and he is confident that submarine issues will be resolved Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd on Friday said that if Taiwan were to fall to China’s occupation, it would unleash China’s military capacities and capabilities more broadly. He also said his country is working with the Pentagon on the US Department of Defense’s review of the AUKUS submarine project and is confident that all issues raised will be resolved. Rudd, who served as Australian prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and for three months in 2013, made the remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado and stressed the longstanding US-Australia alliance and his close relationship with the US Undersecretary
‘WORLD WAR III’: Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said the aid would inflame tensions, but her amendment was rejected 421 votes against six The US House of Representatives on Friday passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal 2026, which includes US$500 million for Taiwan. The bill, which totals US$831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote. According to the bill, the funds for Taiwan would be administered by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency and would remain available through Sept. 30, 2027, for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. The legislation authorizes the US Secretary of Defense, with the agreement of the US Secretary of State, to use the funds to assist Taiwan in procuring defense articles and services, and military training. Republican Representative
TAIWAN IS TAIWAN: US Representative Tom Tiffany said the amendment was not controversial, as ‘Taiwan is not — nor has it ever been — part of Communist China’ The US House of Representatives on Friday passed an amendment banning the US Department of Defense from creating, buying or displaying any map that shows Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The “Honest Maps” amendment was approved in a voice vote on Friday as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for the 2026 fiscal year. The amendment prohibits using any funds from the act to create, buy or display maps that show Taiwan, Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, Wuciou (烏坵), Green Island (綠島) or Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) as part of the PRC. The act includes US$831.5 billion in
RSS