Premier Su Tseng-chang (
"We politicians should not only think about ourselves. We should think about this and see what we can do for the people," Su said, urging his colleagues to help end the protests, adding that scandals and corruption must be solved through the justice system.
"What we should do right now is figure out a way to end the protests as soon as possible, because more and more incidents are taking place and more and more people are getting injured."
Su made the remarks in response to questions from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator William Lai (賴清德) on the legislative floor yesterday about Monday's clash.
Lai told Su he was worried about the potential spread of such incidents, and the premier said that he was concerned as well.
"We 23 million Taiwanese citizens are all in the same boat. As a result, I sincerely urge my fellow politicians not to be selfish and to not only think about their own careers. We need to do something for our people and for this country," Su said.
The premier added that he had always been against the idea of expressing political ideas through protests.
"Protests create chaos and damage the economy, society and our next generations," Su said. "If the economy or society collapses, there will be no future for politicians, either."
Wang spoke in a separate setting yesterday, calling for people to remain coolheaded and to show respect and tolerance toward one other.
All politicians should share the responsibility of ironing out political differences and seeking stability and harmony for Taiwanese society, Wang said.
The legislative speaker also called for law enforcement authorities to take the clashes in Kaohsiung on Monday night as a lesson to prevent similar clashes from occurring in the future.
Wang appealed for legislators in particular to listen closer to the voices of the people and to help maintain calm in the community.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,