A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opinion poll showed more than 70 percent of respondents thought Department of Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川) had acted inappropriately when he chided protesting Taiwanese students in Geneva.
Yeh lost his cool when the protesters asked him how Taiwan was invited to be an observer at this year's World Health Assembly (WHA.)
The survey, which questioned 1,191 people aged 20 and above, showed that 71.5 percent — including 60 percent of pan-blue supporters in the poll — also felt it was inappropriate for Yeh to shout back at the students, said Chen Chun-lin (陳俊麟), director of the DPP's poll center.
PHOTO: PATRICK LIN, AFP
The poll also showed that 43.5 percent of respondents said the government should have used “Taiwan” as its designation at the WHA. Only 15.1 percent approved of the title “Chinese Taipei.”
Chen said the poll also showed that more than 70 percent of the public could not accept the WHO listing Taiwan as a “province of China” on its official Web site, and roughly the same percentage said Taiwan's participation in international organizations should not be contingent on approval by Beijing.
Yeh's speech and conduct were ill-befitting of a ranking government official and he should apologize for his behavior, DPP Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said.
Cheng added that the health minister should step down for failing to stand up for Taiwan's sovereignty by avoiding the topic in an international setting.
The DPP's anti-government rally last weekend also drew a positive response in the survey.
Chen said 72.4 percent of those interviewed by telephone in the last two days said the rally was “disciplined and responsible” and that 66 percent of swing voters in both pan-blue and pan-green camps had a positive impression of the rally.
The survey suggested that 2.9 percent of the population participated in the rally, which translates into more than half a million people out of the 17.5 million citizens eligible to vote in Taiwan.
The attendance far surpassed the estimate of 40,000 to 80,000 provided by Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), Chen said.
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