■ Party politics
TSU expands reach
Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Huang Chu-wen (黃主文) expressed the hope yesterday that his party will win at least 35 seats in the next legislative elections to be held late next year. Addressing the inauguration of the party's Kaohsiung County chapter in southern Taiwan, Huang said that although the TSU had only 50-odd members when it was established in August, 2001, the party won 13 seats in the 225-member Legislature in the elections held in December of that same year and grabbed 8.5 percent of all the votes cast nationwide. The TSU plans to established 27 more regional chapters.
■ Third-World Trade
Market seen in Iraq
A spokesman for the Market Information Center under the Institute for Information Industry suggested yesterday that Taiwan's information sector could seek business opportunities in occupied Iraq through contractual mechanisms for reconstruction to be led mainly by the US. The spokesman said Taiwan computer firms, usually unfamiliar with Third World markets, could consider exploring the post-war Iraqi market by seeking a role in the US-imposed reconstruction program. It is estimated that at least US$350 billion will be needed to carry out reconstruction in Iraq, he noted, adding that the country's demand for new computers is around 1 million units per year.
■ Legislative reform
Referendum still on platform
A DPP lawmaker yesterday reiterated the ruling party's support for a referendum law. Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), the DPP legislative caucus whip, said his party has never wavered in its support for giving to the public the right to referendum to have the final say on national issues which he said is a vital part of a democracy. Through referendums, the government could follow public opinion in deciding whether to go ahead with controversial major public projects such as the island's fourth nuclear plant, Chen said. Chen has not shown his hand on whether such a law should be used in settling the question of whether the country should rename itself.
■ Health
Groups write to Annan
More than 20 organizations of Taiwanese-Americans in Los Angeles sent a joint letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Saturday, urging him to support Taiwan's bids to join the World Health Organization and to attend the 55th World Health Assembly as an observer in May. The letter pointed out that the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is threatening the lives of all people in the world, but the 23 million people on Taiwan have been denied the assistance that WHO can provide.
■ Water resources
Mayor urges vigilance
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday called for continued efforts by the public in conserving water to avoid a water shortage despite the fact that the situation at the Feitsui Reservoir in Taipei County has improved recently.
Ma made the remarks at a water-conservation campaign sponsored by the municipal Environmental Protection Bureau prior to Earth Day which is tomorrow. Although the water level at the Feitsui Reservoir -- the major water provider for the greater Taipei area -- is higher compared to the same time last year thanks to last week's rainfall, Ma urged Taipei residents to continue cooperating with water-conservation efforts.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it