Former vice president Shieh Tung-min (
Shieh was the first ethnic Taiwanese to serve as Taiwan provincial governor and vice president.
Shieh was admitted to Taipei's Veterans General Hospital on Jan. 23 following a mild heart attack. His condition had fluctuated since then, but steadily worsened after he lapsed into coma on Sunday. He died at home surrounded by his family.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and opposition KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Chen and Lu lauded Shieh as the embodiment of Taiwan's development history. They especially noted that during his tenure as Taiwan provincial governor, Shieh advocated cottage industries, supported the domestic processing of agricultural products and took care of low-income families. Shieh had also served as a senior adviser to Chen.
Born on Jan. 25, 1907, in Changhua, Shieh went to study in China in his youth and returned to Taiwan after the end of World War II. Shieh served at different times as Kaohsiung county magistrate, director of the Department of Civil Affairs and speaker of the Taiwan Provincial Assembly.
Shieh suffered serious injuries to both hands when a parcel bomb sent to his office blew up on Oct. 10, 1966. The bomb was sent by Wang Sing-nan (王幸男), who is now a DPP legislator, to highlight the cause of Taiwan independence.
Wang said yesterday that he had no remorse for what he did at the time to protest the KMT's authoritarian rule.
Shieh was assigned to serve as Taiwan provincial governor in 1972 by then premier Chiang Ching-kuo (
Shieh was vice president from 1978 to 1984 under Chiang Ching-kuo, and continued to be influential in the KMT after stepping down.
Shieh was one of the KMT heavyweights who often helped mediate in the party's fierce internal strife over policies and ideology under Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) chairmanship.
RESPONSE: The transit sends a message that China’s alignment with other countries would not deter the West from defending freedom of navigation, an academic said Canadian frigate the Ville de Quebec and Australian guided-missile destroyer the Brisbane transited the Taiwan Strait yesterday morning, the first time the two nations have conducted a joint freedom of navigation operation. The Canadian and Australian militaries did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Ministry of National Defense declined to confirm the passage, saying only that Taiwan’s armed forces had deployed surveillance and reconnaissance assets, along with warships and combat aircraft, to safeguard security across the Strait. The two vessels were observed transiting northward along the eastern side of the Taiwan Strait’s median line, with Japan being their most likely destination,
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The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
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