President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday dismissed accusations that his administration is a lame duck, while criticizing the emphasis that news reports place on approval ratings.
Such ratings only reflect public opinion at certain periods of time, Ma told reporters at a reception in Taipei to mark the seventh year of his presidency, adding that he is focused on forging a solid foundation for national prosperity over many generations.
Ma’s comments referred to media use of a poll published yesterday by the Chinese-language Apple Daily that found Ma’s popularity ratings have slumped to 29 percent.
Photo: CNA
At the reception, Ma said that he had never been against “reasonable” national defense purchases, adding that the purchase of diesel submarines had always remained a priority.
The administration is adopting a dual-method approach to the acquisition of submarines for the Republic of China Navy, eyeing domestic production and foreign purchases, Ma said, adding that all groundwork would be prepared within his term of presidency for future governments.
The answer followed questions from reporters about the acquisition of submarines, which the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) had opposed during the administration of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
The Chen administration explored the possibility of purchasing diesel submarines from then-US president George W. Bush’s administration at a cost of NT$600 billion (US$19.6 billion at current exchange rates).
Ma said the navy’s aging submarines would limit its defensive capabilities, adding that the administration is still looking for companies interested in offering technical support for the domestic development of submarines.
Ma denied that the administration was entering a “lame duck” period with presidential orders “stopping at the gates of the Presidential Office.”
He said that the recent amendments to the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法) and the passage of the Long-term Care Services Act (長期照顧服務法) were due to his recommendations.
The government is doing its job and looking into promoting the combination of housing and real-estate taxes, Ma said, adding, however, that not everything has proceeded smoothly.
Commenting on reported public discontent over increases in fuel and electricity prices, Ma said that they were necessary measures that would save Taiwan from long-term negative effects.
“The standardization of fuel prices and electricity prices has cost me an arm and a leg politically,” Ma said, but added that he is nonetheless thankful for the public’s support, now that the prices have been standardized.
When asked whether he would lose sleep over his low presidential approval ratings, Ma said that his every action was for the nation and the public, adding that he would look into more appropriate handling of issues.
Ma said Taiwan’s relations with the US have improved significantly.
Over the past seven years, Washington has approved the sale of three arms packages to Taipei worth more than US$18.3 billion. That represents the most sold to Taiwan by the US in the past 20 years, the president said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS