■Immigration
Lawmakers look to limit vote
DPP lawmakers yesterday urged the government to deny immigrants from China the right to vote until years after they have acquired ROC citizenship. DPP legislators Tang Huo-shen (湯火聖), Chien Chao-tong (簡肇棟) and Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) said citizens from across the Strait should be denied the right to vote until they have been citizens for seven years. They suggested attaching the measure to the rules governing cross-strait exchanges that are in the process of being overhauled by the legislature. Tang argued that Beijing's constant attempts to annex Taiwan and continued propaganda to achieve that aim warrant the delay. "Over 570,000 Chinese immigrants, long exposed to Beijing's communist propaganda, need more time to assimilate to Taiwanese society," he said. Su echoed the view, saying the delay would ease worries over national security arising from the rapid influx of Chinese immigrants.
■ Zanadau scandal
Su's release to be appealed
Kaohsiung Chief Prosecutor Lin Ching-tsung (林慶宗) yesterday said that he will appeal the Kaohsiung District Court's ruling to release Zanadau suspect Su Hui-chen (蘇惠珍) on Christmas Eve. The appeal will go to the Taiwan High Court's Kaohsiung Branch. Prosecutors requested the detention, saying Su played a major role in the alleged scandal and they needed her to clarify questions. Prosecutors are able to appeal within 20 days after receiving an official copy of the court order. Lin did not elaborate on when he would appeal. Su, the majority shareholder of Zanadau Development Corp, was summoned by prosecutors on Monday for interrogation. After being questioned for more than 24 hours, Kaohsiung prosecutors decided to file a request to the court to detain Su on charges of breach of trust. However, the court decided to release Su without charges.
■ Pornography
CPC to investigate charges
Chinese Petroleum Corp (CPC) chairman Kuo Chin-tsai (郭進財) yesterday morning promised to immediately look into allegations by PFP Legislator Ke Shu-min (柯淑敏) that a number of the company's gas stations were selling pornographic VCDs, Chinese-language media reported yesterday. According to the lawmaker, several CPC stations in central Taiwan sell pornographic VCDs at low prices in order to attract customers. Those who refuel at these stations can pay NT$49 (US$1.40) for a VCD. "No wonder my son always goes to CPC stations these days," she complained, demanding that the CPC look into the problem.
■ Justice
Suspect lives it up
Stock market player Huang Jen-chung (黃任中), who was detained for owing NT$1.4 billion to the National Tax Administration, appeared relaxed in court yesterday, eating peanuts and drinking soda prepared by his girlfriends. Huang, son of former Judicial Yuan president Huang Shao-ku (黃少谷), was summoned before the Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) to explain his role in the Taiwan Pineapple case. Huang was indicted along with 19 other people in February 2000 for alleged illegal speculation on the Taiwan Pineapple Group. Huang -- as though sitting in his own living room -- enjoyed snacks, a fast-food breakfast and soda in the courtroom, not forgetting to invite his friends and journalists to share in the feast.
AGING: While Japan has 22 submarines, Taiwan only operates four, two of which were commissioned by the US in 1945 and 1946, and transferred to Taiwan in 1973 Taiwan would need at least 12 submarines to reach modern fleet capabilities, CSBC Corp, Taiwan chairman Chen Cheng-hung (陳政宏) said in an interview broadcast on Friday, citing a US assessment. CSBC is testing the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤, Narwhal), which is scheduled to be delivered to the navy next month or in July. The Hai Kun has completed torpedo-firing tests and is scheduled to undergo overnight sea trials, Chen said on an SET TV military affairs program. Taiwan would require at least 12 submarines to establish a modern submarine force after assessing the nation’s operational environment and defense
A white king snake that frightened passengers and caused a stir on a Taipei MRT train on Friday evening has been claimed by its owner, who would be fined, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) said yesterday. A person on Threads posted that he thought he was lucky to find an empty row of seats on Friday after boarding a train on the Bannan (Blue) Line, only to spot a white snake with black stripes after sitting down. Startled, he jumped up, he wrote, describing the encounter as “terrifying.” “Taipei’s rat control plan: Release snakes on the metro,” one person wrote in reply, referring
The coast guard today said that it had disrupted "illegal" operations by a Chinese research ship in waters close to the nation and driven it away, part of what Taipei sees a provocative pattern of China's stepped up maritime activities. The coast guard said that it on Thursday last week detected the Chinese ship Tongji (同濟號), which was commissioned only last year, 29 nautical miles (54km) southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan, although just outside restricted waters. The ship was observed lowering ropes into the water, suspected to be the deployment of scientific instruments for "illegal" survey operations, and the coast
An inauguration ceremony was held yesterday for the Danjiang Bridge, the world’s longest single-mast asymmetric cable-stayed bridge, ahead of its official opening to traffic on Tuesday, marking a major milestone after nearly three decades of planning and construction. At the ceremony in New Taipei City attended by President William Lai (賴清德), Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) and New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), the bridge was hailed as both an engineering landmark and a long-awaited regional transport link connecting Tamsui (淡水) and Bali (八里)
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