Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
The legislature's Procedure Committee yesterday set the agenda and the schedule for reviewing and voting on President Chen Shui-bian's (
Lin, now the deputy auditor-general of the ministry, was named to replace the 80-year-old Su Chen-ping (蘇振平), who had served in the position for three six-year terms since 1989.
Lawmakers will have a plenary question-and-answer session with Lin tomorrow and a confirmation vote is scheduled for Friday.
In related developments, negotiations on a schedule for screening and voting on nominees for the Council of Grand Justices remained stalled because of objections from the People First Party (PFP).
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
The Democratic Progressive Party has claimed that the PFP was withholding its confirmation of grand justice nominees as a bargaining chip in separate negotiations over Chen's new nominees for Control Yuan members, an allegation that the PFP has denied.
It was rumored that the PFP had recommended two of its legislators -- Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) and Feng Ting-kuo (馮定國) -- as well as party Deputy Secretary-General Ma Chieh-ming (馬傑明) for inclusion in the president's Control Yuan nomination list.
Legislative Vice Speaker Chung Jung-chi (
Wang said that the legislature could handle confirmation hearings for Control Yuan members and for grand justices at the same time.
In response, Deputy Presidential Office Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai (
As for the president's choice for Control Yuan members, Cho said that Chen would take different opinions into consideration and decide on the matter as soon as possible.
Chen has nominated incumbent Grand Justice Lai Ying-jaw (
Eight candidates have also been selected for grand justice positions. They are Yeh Sai-ying (
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
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