Premier Frank Hsieh (
Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said that in reviewing accountability for the recent water-supply problem in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan, the premier had expressed the hope of soliciting a water-supply expert to replace Yiin Chii-ming (尹啟銘), vice economic affairs minister who served as convener of the ministry's water resources screening committee and water resources coordination committee before being demoted on Wednesday over the Taoyuan water-supply problem.
After Typhoon Matsa battered Taiwan earlier this month, bringing strong winds and torrential rains, water supply in Taoyuan was disrupted because of the high turbidity in the Shihmen Reservoir (石門水庫) -- the county's main water source. The water supply in the northern part of the county was not fully restored until Aug. 13.
Cho said the premier has talked with nearly 10 former officials, hydraulic-power academics and experts on how to solve the persistent water problems in Taoyuan County, although he has yet to inquire about their intention to serve as vice economic affairs minister.
Cho also said that during a regular weekly meeting with President Chen Shui-bian (
The premier had recently pointed out that none of the three sitting vice economic affairs ministers are water experts, and that their "jobs might have to be adjusted."
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) and Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) would be summoned by police for questioning for leading an illegal assembly on Thursday evening last week, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said today. The three KMT officials led an assembly outside the Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office, a restricted area where public assembly is not allowed, protesting the questioning of several KMT staff and searches of KMT headquarters and offices in a recall petition forgery case. Chu, Yang and Hsieh are all suspected of contravening the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) by holding
President William Lai (賴清德) has appointed former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) to attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican City on Saturday on his behalf, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today. The Holy See announced Francis’ funeral would take place on Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square. The ministry expressed condolences over Francis’ passing and said that Chen would represent Taiwan at the funeral and offer condolences in person. Taiwan and the Vatican have a long-standing and close diplomatic relationship, the ministry said. Both sides agreed to have Chen represent Taiwan at the funeral, given his Catholic identity and
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if the next president of that country decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said today. “We would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said during a legislative hearing. At the same time, Taiwan is paying close attention to the Central American region as a whole, in the wake of a visit there earlier this year by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lin said. Rubio visited Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala, during which he