The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has demanded an immediate explanation from Robin Winkler, a member serving on the EPA's Environmental Impact Assessment Committee, who it said made slanderous remarks against the administration.
The administration asked Winkler to elaborate on his comments quoted in Tuesday's edition of the Chinese-language United Evening News, in which he said the administration had done their best to cooperate with the Executive Yuan and viewed corporations as its partners.
He was quoted as saying that the administration viewed committee members as enemies.
The administration said that Winkler's comment was untrue and damaged its reputation. It vowed to seek legal action if Winkler did not clarify his statement.
In response, Winkler said yesterday he welcomed the chance to meet EPA Minister Chang Kow-lung (
He said he believed, however, that the conflict had been caused by the media, who were exploiting the situation.
He said the EPA's legal committee had repeatedly adopted interpretations disadvantageous to the environment.
"Just as the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Transportation and Communications are not neutral in what they stand for, the EPA should not be neutral in executing the Basic Environmental Law (
He said the EPA often wanted cases pushed through quickly so that its performance would be evaluated favorably by the Executive Yuan.
Tsai Lin-yi (蔡玲儀), a section chief at the EPA's planning division, said the EPA must follow government regulations.
"He wants to be a hero and I am fine with it," she said. "But he really should not attack the administration."
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
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
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
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