A local biologist yesterday urged the government to strengthen its management of the Spratly Islands to assert its sovereignty claim over the disputed archipelago in the South China Sea.
Jeng Ming-shiou (鄭明修), a research fellow at the Academia Sinica's Research Center for Biodiversity, said that Taiwan, which currently occupies Taiping Island (
Unlike Taiwan, Malaysia has turned Swallow Reef -- that it occupies -- into a tourist attraction by developing a holiday resort, desalination plant and wind-power plant there, Jeng said.
With the large number of beautiful marine creatures and coral reefs around the Spratlys, the government should value the tourist potential of Taiping Island and conduct a comprehensive environmental impact assessment before going ahead with its plan to build an airport on the island so as not to damage its plants and marine resources, he said.
Vice Minister of National Defense Huo Shou-yeh (霍守業) confirmed on Thursday that the government will build an airport on Taiping Island but emphasized that the airport is not intended for military use but for humanitarian purposes, such as emergency rescue efforts by the Coast Guard for sick or injured sailors or fishermen.
The Spratly Islands, which consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs surrounded by rich fishing grounds and oil deposits, are claimed either entirely or partially by Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
The claimants have stationed small numbers of military personnel on some of the islands.
Jeng said that the government and people of Taiwan have not paid enough attention to the country's maritime sovereignty and the importance of the sustainable development of maritime resources.
For example, Jeng said, the Spratly Islands and Pratas Islands are home to some of the world's most precious and biodiverse coral reefs, but they are very often left out of the government's policy-making process.
He suggested that the government step up its marine-life survey in the South China Sea and establish a ministry of maritime affairs to promote cooperation with other countries to conserve the maritime resources of the Spratly Islands.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan would issue a decision at 8pm on whether to cancel work and school tomorrow due to forecasted heavy rain, Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said today. Hsieh told reporters that absent some pressing reason, the four northern cities would announce the decision jointly at 8pm. Keelung is expected to receive between 300mm and 490mm of rain in the period from 2pm today through 2pm tomorrow, Central Weather Administration data showed. Keelung City Government regulations stipulate that school and work can be canceled if rain totals in mountainous or low-elevation areas are forecast to exceed 350mm in
China Airlines Ltd (CAL) yesterday morning joined SkyTeam’s Aviation Challenge for the fourth time, operating a demonstration flight for “net zero carbon emissions” from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok. The flight used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a ratio of up to 40 percent, the highest proportion CAL has achieved to date, the nation’s largest carrier said. Since April, SAF has become available to Taiwanese international carriers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport and Taoyuan airport. In previous challenges, CAL operated “net zero carbon emission flights” to Singapore and Japan. At a ceremony at Taoyuan airport, China Airlines chief sustainability
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