Premier Yu Shyi-kun's English skills were tested to the limit yesterday at the legislature when TSU lawmaker John Wang (王政中) quizzed him in English during an interpellation session.
"I heard from abroad that MOFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] is arranging a meeting between the first lady and the first lady of the US, Laura Bush. Is this a correct assumption?" Wang asked in fluent English.
The legislator, representing overseas Chinese communities, was referring to the recent itinerary of first lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍), who is visiting Washington.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Failing to understand the question, the premier looked perplexed.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新), who stood next to Yu, came to his rescue and gave Yu a translation.
Yu then replied in Mandarin that he had had a bumpy educational process and that his skill in languages was not as good as most people's. "[Therefore] my English is very bad, I only speak a little English," Yu added, in English.
"This is quite OK because I think it is important that you try as a leader of the nation. I think it is a good start," Wang said.
Wang, who grew up in the US and has a very limited Mandarin ability, said the reason he questioned the premier in English was to remind people to improve their command of English as part of Taiwan's globalization drive.
"Leaders such as Yu or President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) should take the lead," he said.
The lawmaker is the son of Kenjohn Wang (王桂榮), chairman of the Taiwanese-American Foundation, a pro-independence group in the US.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS