Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) yesterday questioned the motives behind President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) apology to the nation’s Aborigines, saying it was either a formality or a politically motivated gesture.
Speaking at a “mobile” meeting of the KMT Central Standing Committee in Taitung County yesterday afternoon, Hung blamed the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) boycotts and resistance as the main reasons that some draft legislation the KMT had pushed for when it was in power benefiting Aborigines failed to clear the legislative floor.
“The KMT made unreserved efforts to take care of Aborigines when it was in office, such as the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law (原住民基本法), the passing of a four-year infrastructure development scheme worth NT$50 billion [US$1.57 billion at the current exchange rate] and revitalizing the Comprehensive Development Fund for Indigenous Peoples,” Hung said.
Photo: Chang Tsun-wei, Taipei Times
The KMT had also worked with the legislative and administrative branches to push for the passage of the draft indigenous self-rule temporary regulations to govern traditional Aboriginal customs and the draft indigenous people’s land and ocean act, she said.
Given that the stalled passage of the draft indigenous people’s land and ocean act was a direct result of a DPP boycott, Hung said she could not help but wonder whether the apology Tsai made on behalf of the government on Monday was simply for the sake of appearances.
“Is Tsai serious about helping Aborigines, or does she have ulterior motives?” Hung asked.
Delivering on a campaign pledge, Tsai made the unprecedented apology following a ceremony in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei on Indigenous People’s Day, with representatives of Taiwan’s 16 recognized Aboriginal communities in attendance.
Hung later yesterday visited an Aboriginal community in Taitung, at which she said Aborigines have been the KMT’s best friends and adamant supporters, vowing to continue efforts to improve their quality of life.
“What Aborigines need is not an apology, but a government that is capable of accomplishing actual deeds,” Hung said.
Hung also visited fruit farms that were last month severely damaged by Typhoon Nepartak, calling on the public to offer more help to people affected by the storm.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong effective from 5:30pm, while local governments canceled school and work for tomorrow. A land warning is expected to be issued tomorrow morning before it is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, the agency said. Taoyuan, and well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties canceled work and school for tomorrow, as well as mountainous district of Taipei and New Taipei City. For updated information on closures, please visit the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Web site. As of 5pm today, Fung-wong was about 490km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point.
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
Almost a quarter of volunteer soldiers who signed up from 2021 to last year have sought early discharge, the Legislative Yuan’s Budget Center said in a report. The report said that 12,884 of 52,674 people who volunteered in the period had sought an early exit from the military, returning NT$895.96 million (US$28.86 million) to the government. In 2021, there was a 105.34 percent rise in the volunteer recruitment rate, but the number has steadily declined since then, missing recruitment targets, the Chinese-language United Daily News said, citing the report. In 2021, only 521 volunteers dropped out of the military, the report said, citing
Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals. Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said. Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury
RSS