Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) yesterday threw his support behind former National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Su Chi’s (蘇起) planned trip to the Boao Forum in China next month, saying the visit does not morally or legally constitute a problem for the government.
Su resigned from the NSC last month, citing health and family reasons although it was widely believed that he stepped down to take responsibility for the controversy surrounding US beef imports.
His plan to visit China raised questions because government officials with access to classified information who resigned less than three years ago are legally required to file an application for permission to travel to China a minimum of three weeks prior to the date of departure. The Boao Forum is scheduled for April 9 to April 11 in Hainan Province.
During the legislature’s question-and-answer session yesterday, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Shyu Jong-Shyoung (徐中雄) called on the government to deny Su permission to visit China.
“Is it that important for[Su] to attend the forum? It would be a grievous mistake if he goes because it could lead to deeper distrust of the government,” Shyu said.
The case is to be looked into by a joint review panel composed of representatives from government agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), the Mainland Affairs Council and the NSC.
Wu disagreed with Shyn, saying that Su will be taking part in a public forum, not discussing any secret deals.
Wu said that it would not be a problem for Su to participate in the forum “nor would it be a wrong thing to do,” though he did agree with Shyu that “it doesn’t look good from the public’s point of view.”
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS