The Presidential Office said yesterday that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) would recite “Long Live the Republic of China” during the Double Ten National Day celebrations on Oct. 10.
Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said that while the National Day Celebration Committee had yet to flesh out the activities that make up the celebrations, Ma would recite both “Long Live the Republic of China” and “Long Live Taiwan’s Democracy.”
Wang made the remark in response to a report in the Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday, which said that the National Day Celebration Committee had decided on Monday that “Republic of China” would appear on the backdrop at the celebrations, but that there would be no military review and that Ma would not lead the crowd in reciting “Long Live the Republic of China.”
IMPORTANT
A number of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators yesterday emphasized the importance of the president leading participants in chanting “Long Live the Republic of China.”
KMT Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) said chanting the slogan would help demonstrate the president’s promise to maintain the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait, adding that it would also give pan-blue supporters a sense of comfort.
“There is nothing to be afraid of. You [Ma] should clearly assert your status as president of the ROC. There is no need to hesitate,” KMT Legislator Shuai Hua-ming (帥化民) said. “Since you [Ma] are president of the ROC, what else should you chant other than “Long Live the Republic of China”?
KMT Legislator Lee Hung-chun (李鴻鈞) offered a different view. He said that what the public cared about was political stability and the state of the economy rather than whether the slogan should be chanted during the celebrations.
BUDGET
The organizing committee for the Double Ten celebrations said on Monday that the budget for this year’s festivities had been set at NT$45.09 million (US$1.48 million), including NT$11 million for fireworks.
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), the chairman of the organizing committee, said that although the budget for this year’s celebrations was lower than in previous years, “this year’s celebration will be as festive.”
As is the custom, the committee will hold a rally in front of the Presidential Office on Oct. 10. The fireworks display will be held at the Chiayi Botanical Garden, during which 6,300 rounds will be fired.
It said, however, that because of environmental concerns and budget constraints, high-altitude fireworks would not be used.
A national day evening gathering will be held at a stadium in Hualien County.
The organizing committee will also work with the Taichung City Government to hold a National Day concert, Wang said.
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) was sentenced to six months in prison, commutable to a fine, by the New Taipei District Court today for contravening the Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法) in a case linked to an alleged draft-dodging scheme. Wang allegedly paid NT$3.6 million (US$114,380) to an illegal group to help him evade mandatory military service through falsified medical documents, prosecutors said. He transferred the funds to Chen Chih-ming (陳志明), the alleged mastermind of a draft-evasion ring, although he lost contact with him as he was already in detention on fraud charges, they said. Chen is accused of helping a
SECURITY: Starlink owner Elon Musk has taken pro-Beijing positions, and allowing pro-China companies to control Taiwan’s critical infrastructure is risky, a legislator said Starlink was reluctant to offer services in Taiwan because of the nation’s extremely high penetration rates in 4G and 5G services, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said yesterday. The ministry made the comments at a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, which reviewed amendments to Article 36 of the Telecommunications Management Act (電信管理法). Article 36 bans foreigners from holding more than 49 percent of shares in public telecommunications networks, while shares foreigners directly and indirectly hold are also capped at 60 percent of the total, unless specified otherwise by law. The amendments, sponsored by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
The eastern extension of the Taipei MRT Red Line could begin operations as early as late June, the Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems said yesterday. Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said it is considering offering one month of free rides on the new section to mark its opening. Construction progress on the 1.4km extension, which is to run from the current terminal Xiangshan Station to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, was 90.6 percent complete by the end of last month, the department said in a report to the Taipei City Council's Transportation Committee. While construction began in October 2016 with an
RSS