Dangerous traffic in Taipei
Thank you for your excellent newspaper, which gives very detailed information about Taiwan. The Taipei Times is indeed a great tool for everyone who wishes to understand society and the political scene in the country.
Thank you for also letting diverse opinions be expressed in your letters section. Contradictory debates are a must in a democratic society.
I want to reply to Shane Johnson (Letters, Aug. 19, page 8) and say how much I agree with his letter. Yes, Taiwanese have a strong sense of civility and it is amazing how safe we feel in the streets or on public transportation at all times (I invite anyone to ride the metro late at night in my hometown, Paris, where on certain lines and destinations, you have to count on luck to remain safe!).
Yet, when Taiwanese get in their cars or ride their scooters, a metamorphosis operates on their personality. All of a sudden, they seem to become blatantly unaware of the presence of pedestrians or fellow neighborhood residents. Of course, not all drivers act with such ruthless and dangerous behavior, but the bad examples sadly outnumber the good ones.
I love Taiwan, and Taipei particularly, after having spent about two years here during my university studies, and ever since I graduated I have kept coming back to vacation. It gives me the opportunity to notice the great changes and improvements the city has made in terms of infrastructure, cultural events, facilities and information for visitors.
Taipei, with its modernity, while preserving its traditions and heritage, has become a unique capital of a developed country, yet it saddens me when I see that its undisciplined traffic and congestion still give it aspects of a Third World country.
I dream of someday seeing a mayor working with the government to eradicate this plague that is a serious issue for people’s health and the environment. It is probably more dangerous to walk on the streets during peak hours than smoking a cigarette!
The time has come to change old habits if Taiwan wants to show its sincere concern about the well-being of its citizens.
ALEXIS SANDERS
Paris, France
Taiwan faces complex challenges like other Asia-Pacific nations, including demographic decline, income inequality and climate change. In fact, its challenges might be even more pressing. The nation struggles with rising income inequality, declining birthrates and soaring housing costs while simultaneously navigating intensifying global competition among major powers. To remain competitive in the global talent market, Taiwan has been working to create a more welcoming environment and legal framework for foreign professionals. One of the most significant steps in this direction was the enactment of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) in 2018. Subsequent amendments in
After nine days of holidays for the Lunar New Year, government agencies and companies are to reopen for operations today, including the Legislative Yuan. Many civic groups are expected to submit their recall petitions this week, aimed at removing many Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers from their seats. Since December last year, the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) passed three controversial bills to paralyze the Constitutional Court, alter budgetary allocations and make recalling elected officials more difficult by raising the threshold. The amendments aroused public concern and discontent, sparking calls to recall KMT legislators. After KMT and TPP legislators again
US President Donald Trump on Saturday signed orders to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China effective from today. Trump decided to slap 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada as well as 10 percent on those coming from China, but would only impose a 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy products, including oil and electricity. Canada and Mexico on Sunday quickly responded with retaliatory tariffs against the US, while countermeasures from China are expected soon. Nevertheless, Trump announced yesterday to delay tariffs on Mexico and Canada for a month and said he would hold further talks with
Taiwan’s undersea cables connecting it to the world were allegedly severed several times by a Chinese ship registered under a flag of convenience. As the vessel sailed, it used several different automatic identification systems (AIS) to create fake routes. That type of “shadow fleet” and “gray zone” tactics could create a security crisis in Taiwan and warrants response measures. The concept of a shadow fleet originates from the research of Elisabeth Braw, senior fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Council. The phenomenon was initiated by authoritarian countries such as Iran, North Korea and Russia, which have been hit by international economic