The Executive Yuan approved the 2009 budget statement yesterday, with the budget for national defense the only one to suffer cuts.
The brief version of the budget statement said national defense spending would be NT$10.4 billion (US$331 million) lower than the amount earmarked for this year.
“This is because we are still negotiating the arms procurement deal [with the US],” Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) Minister Shih Su-mei (石素梅) said without elaborating.
Shih would not say whether she was referring to the US$11 billion arms package or a plan to purchase 66 F 16C/D fighters at an estimated cost of US$5 billion.
“We write the budget to reflect reality, but for confidentiality reasons I cannot provide details,” she said.
The central government’s budget estimates from next year stated that cash inflow would increase by NT$84.9 billion to NT$1.7052 trillion, while spending would go up NT$118.3 billion to NT$1.7117 trillion.
“The increased spending will focus on education, technology, culture, the economy and benefits for the poor,” Shih said.
The budget earmarked for the “i-Taiwan 12 projects,” one of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) major economic plans was NT$107.3 billion, NT$65.3 billion of which would go toward building a transportation network around the country.
Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) said yesterday that because of limited budgets, the Cabinet had incorporated as many items from the i-Taiwan 12 plan into the statement as possible.
Meanwhile, the government estimated that state-owned firms would suffer a loss of NT$27.3 billion next year because of the increase in electricity prices.
Ma’s election platform proposed putting NT$3.99 trillion into the ambitious “i-Taiwan 12 projects” over the next eight years to boost the economy.
The 12 infrastructure projects include linking rapid transit networks in cities and counties across the country, enhancing flood control measures, forestation, revitalizing farmland and marine areas, and turning Taoyuan into an “airport city.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
RSS