The governments of Taipei City and Taipei County yesterday exchanged accusations about the chaos surrounding Taiwan's first ever sea burial service, which took place on Monday night.
Ku Yen-ling (
The burial at sea was supposed to be held on Monday morning about 6km from Taipei County's Sanchi Township, but funeralgoers were left stranded after county government officials said that they had not yet decided on where sea burials could be legally performed. They also said that the boats did not meet safety regulations.
The families who brought their loved ones' ashes to participate in the service were disappointed about the officials' interference.
Huang Meng-king (黃滿金), one of the family members who took part in the ceremony, said the service had to be carried out on Monday, because they were afraid that the flour they had mixed with their father's ashes to feed the fish would start to go bad.
"We don't care about the political issues. We just want to follow my father's wishes," Huang said.
After negotiating with the county government and the ship owners, the service was finally held offshore from Yehliu (
"I think the Taipei County Government just found fault with us on purpose. We feel we encountered unnecessary obstacles set by the county government," Ku said yesterday at a news conference.
The county government's Bu-reau Director of Civil Affairs Chang Hung-lu (張宏陸) said yesterday that the county government's stance regarding the issue has not changed since this November, when the city government first sought cooperation with the county government on sea burials.
"We do not oppose the sea burials. On the contrary, we think it is a good alternative that meets the concept of environmental protection, since Taiwan has limited land resources," Chang said.
"But currently the relevant laws are incomplete and many issues must still be settled, such as the problems of safety and the preservation of fishery resources," he said.
He said he did not understand why the city government insisted on holding the service, since the county government has clearly expressed its position.
According to Chang the county will complete its regulations on burials at sea by March.
Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (
"I hope our public officials could serve our people and that they will have the courage to solve their problems," Su said.
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
Tigerair Taiwan and China Airlines (CAL) today announced that several international flights were canceled or rescheduled due to Typhoon Ragasa. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has maintained sea and land warnings for the typhoon. Its storm circle reached the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) on Taiwan's southern tip at 11am today. Tigerair Taiwan said it canceled Monday's IT551/IT552 Taoyuan-Da Nang, IT606/IT607 Taoyuan-Busan and IT602 Taoyuan-Seoul Incheon flights. Tomorrow, cancelations include IT603 Seoul Incheon-Taoyuan, as well as flights between Taoyuan and Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo Narita, Okinawa, Fukuoka, Saga, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya, Asahikawa and Jeju. On Wednesday, the IT321/IT322 Kaohsiung-Macau round-trip would also be canceled. CAL announced that today's