The Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission (OCAC), under pressure from the KMT, yesterday made public the list of the 34 commission members that had previously been withheld.
Yesterday morning OCAC Vice Minister Wu Hsin-hsing (吳新興) said the commission would release information about the 34 members -- including name, gender, where they live and the years they served on the commission -- in the afternoon.
Commission membership is an honorary, unpaid post.
Wu admitted that it was improper that the commission kept the names secret, a move, he said, which was taken in accordance with democratic procedures and the members' preferences.
Wu said the commission will submit the list of names to the legislature's Committee on Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs.
Wu's announcement came after the KMT caucus threatened yesterday morning to try to get OCAC chief Chang Fu-mei (
KMT legislative whip Lee Chuan-chiao (
Lee said it was "ridiculous and irresponsible" for the commission to withhold the names. There are 171 members of the commission worldwide.
KMT Legislator Kwan Yuk-noan (關沃暖) said it is a big joke that some commission members, whose appointments are supposed to be an honor, want to remain anonymous. Kuan asked how overseas Chinese were supposed to seek the services of OCAC members if their names are kept secret.
KMT Legislator Cheng Feng-shih (鄭逢時) asked why the names should remain unknown and wondered if these people were fugitives or wanted for some kind of economic crime.
Cheng added that the OCAC has treated the people of Taiwan like fools for making such an irresponsible decision.
The KMT caucus also agreed that the NT$150 million budget to finance the establishment of the Taiwan Democracy Foundation next year should be slashed because of the state of the economy.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS