The long-stalled arms procurement bill failed to pass the legislature's Procedure Committee for the 34th time yesterday. The pan-blue dominated Procedure Committee voted 18 to 14 to shelve the arms procurement bill as well as confirmation of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) nomination of Control Yuan members and 21 other bills proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus and its ally, the Taiwan Solidarity Union.
As there are many corruption cases awaiting investigation by the Control Yuan, DPP Legislator Cheng Yun-peng (
Yesterday marked the 16th time the committee has blocked the ratification of the president's list of nominees.
Cheng said that although he would personally support the idea of abolishing the Control Yuan, the government watchdog is required by law to perform its job before the Constitution is amended.
People First Party (PFP) Legislator Hwang Yih-jiau (黃義交) expressed his party's opposition to the confirmation of the president's selections of Control Yuan members, saying that his caucus would not accept nominees recommended by a selection committee made up of figures embroiled in controversy.
He also reiterated his caucus' strong opposition to the arms procurement plan, which he described as "unreasonable" and a plan that has been "hijacked by US arms dealers."
Greenpeace yesterday said that it is to appeal a decision last month by the Taipei High Administrative Court to dismiss its 2021 lawsuit against the Ministry of Economic Affairs over “loose” regulations governing major corporate electricity consumers. The climate-related lawsuit — the first of its kind in Taiwan — sought to require the government to enforce higher green energy thresholds on major corporations to reduce emissions in light of climate change and an uptick in extreme weather. The suit, filed by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association and four individual plaintiffs, was dismissed on May 8 following four years of litigation. The
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A tropical disturbance off the southeastern coast of the Philippines might become the first typhoon of the western Pacific typhoon season, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The system lacks a visible center and how it would develop is only likely to become clear on Sunday or Monday, the CWA said, adding that it was not yet possible to forecast the potential typhoon's effect on Taiwan. The American Meteorological Society defines a tropical disturbance as a system made up of showers and thunderstorms that lasts for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation.
DIPLOMACY: It is Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s first visit to Taiwan since he took office last year, while Eswatini’s foreign minister is also paying a visit A delegation led by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo arrived in Taiwan yesterday afternoon and is to visit President William Lai (賴清德) today. The delegation arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 4:55pm, and was greeted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). It is Arevalo’s first trip to Taiwan since he took office last year, and following the visit, he is to travel to Japan to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Arevalo said at the airport that he is very glad to make the visit to Taiwan, adding that he brings an important message of responsibility
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