The transfer of Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) from his post as chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) to work as the country's de facto ambassador to the US has affected the consideration of the council's budget for last year, half of which has been frozen for more than a year.
"We demand an explanation for the unexpected appointment and will not consider unfreezing the budget before a new MAC chairman is assigned," People First Party (PFP) Legislator Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) said in the legislature's Procedure Committee yesterday.
Chang motioned to block from the legislative agenda a request from the council to unfreeze its budget.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) supported the block.
Pan-blue legislators said the MAC was too slow in working towards opening cross-strait relations further. In January of last year, pan-blue lawmakers cut one-fifth of the council's proposed budget for that year and froze half of its approved budget.
The PFP said at last Tuesday's Procedure Committee meeting that the party would consider lifting its opposition, but yesterday it decided to continue its boycott.
Meanwhile, the four amendments proposed by the government following the name change of state-owned Chunghwa Post Co (
The company's board of directors passed a proposal last month to change its name to the Taiwan Post.
The change, however, requires four amendments to the regulations governing postal administration and the Chunghwa Post itself.
The government has launched a campaign to rename state-owned enterprises to speed up "desinicization," but it has met with opposition from the Legislative Yuan, where the pan-blue camp has the majority.
In addition to the four stalled amendments, this year's budget for the Taiwan Post was frozen during a preliminary review in the legislature on Monday.
Meanwhile, the pan-blue camp also blocked a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-introduced amendment that would block people convicted of corruption from running for president.
KMT Legislator Pan Wei-kang (
"It's an amendment good for the country and not aimed at Ma alone. Is there anything bad in passing an amendment to be sure of the integrity of whoever assumes the presidency?" DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-fang (蔡啟芳) said in response.
Tsai told KMT lawmakers that Ma "is not as clean as you think."
Tsai accused Ma of accepting US$2 million in the late 1990s from fugitive Wang Chin She-ying (
Wang Chin She-ying and her husband, Wang You-theng (王又曾), chairman of Rebar Group, fled overseas after having allegedly embezzled huge assets.
Prosecutors have sought a 30 year prison sentence and an unprecedented fine of NT$1.71 billion (US$52.13 million) for Wang You-theng for the embezzlement.
also see story:
Editorial: Mr Wu goes to Washington
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS