Tomorrow’s establishment of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research is to be matched by cuts to the Taiwan Strategy Research Center’s budget to avoid overlapping spending and operations, a Ministry of National Defense official said.
The ministry is to downsize the center’s operations and expenses in response to lawmakers’ concern that the two organizations have overlapping responsibilities, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The ministry has allocated the institute, which is to be headed by former minister of national defense Feng Shih-kuan (馮世寬) as its president, a budget of NT$125.07 million (US$4.22 million).
However, several lawmakers from across party lines on the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee voted to freeze 10 percent of the institute’s funding during the review of its budget for the current fiscal year amid concerns that its work appears redundant.
The committee would unlock the money only after the ministry addresses the redundancy issue to its satisfaction, they said.
The center, which is subordinate to the General Staff, employs full-time researchers who publish materials and journals, conduct defense-related research, attend regional security conferences and interact with domestic and foreign think tanks, the official said.
As such tasks are similar to those outlined for the new institute, they would be halted to reduce the overlap, increase budgeting efficiency and avoid controversy, the official said.
Stopping work in those areas would reduce the center’s budget by NT$9.75 million, the official said.
The roles and functions of the center and the institute have been clearly delineated, the official said.
The center, as a ministry-level organization, is to focus on research relevant to military operations, while the institute would be in charge of research in the national defense and security fields, the official said.
The institute’s publications would be made available for legislators and their aides will be invited to accompany institute members when they attend regional security and defense forums, the ministry has said.
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
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
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
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