Better buses for Taipei
As a Taipei resident, buses are my second-most convenient form of public transportation after the MRT. With several lines and frequent services, buses are a crucial part of Taipei’s road network. Therefore, it is vital to ensure road safety for buses.
The government has been looking to find ways to increase the number of bus drivers, but its measures seem poorly thought out. It seems that even a 23-year-old with very little experience can be a driver.
Having a standard car license for two years does not represent sufficient driving skills or experience. The training and testing for obtaining a bus license are unrealistic and outdated.
Taiwan’s transportation authorities should learn from the practices of other countries. In regards to the road test, South Korea utilizes virtual reality, focusing on handling intersections and pedestrian safety, as part of its train driver education. Taiwan could apply the same strategies and include more comprehensive road tests.
The government should take care of drivers’ physical and mental health. In Australia, bus drivers must comply with legal work and rest hours. They record their hours in electronic logbooks to avoid fatigue-related accidents.
Just as fines for not yielding to pedestrians has had a positive impact on my daily life, I hope the government imposes similar penalties on bus companies that do not follow the regulations.
Road safety is a shared responsibility between drivers, pedestrians and the government. Taiwan could make its roads safer for everyone by implementing better training, keeping an eye on the health of its drivers and imposing harsher fines.
Chen Sheng-ya
New Taipei City
Gender in boxing
After I read an article about boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) (“World Boxing says Lin was eligible to compete,” Nov. 29, page 3), I felt very angry and sad about the situation.
Before the Paris Olympic Games, Lin had been the subject of a gender eligibility row due to an abnormality of gender biochemical detection last year.
Although this caused doubts and humiliation from the public, she still practiced hard and won Olympic gold for herself and Taiwan. As a girl like her, I felt angry about these people.
Boxing is a sport that differs greatly by gender, but this does not mean we can make arbitrary comments or irresponsible remarks about her. No matter what gender you are, everyone deserves respect.
I really like Lin. I want to tell her: Ignore what others say and just be yourself.
Claire Yeh
Taipei
Two major Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-People’s Liberation Army (PLA) power demonstrations in November 2024 highlight the urgency for Taiwan to pursue a military buildup and deterrence agenda that can take back control of its destiny. First, the CCP-PLA’s planned future for Taiwan of war, bloody suppression, and use as a base for regional aggression was foreshadowed by the 9th and largest PLA-Russia Joint Bomber Exercise of Nov. 29 and 30. It was double that of previous bomber exercises, with both days featuring combined combat strike groups of PLA Air Force and Russian bombers escorted by PLAAF and Russian fighters, airborne early warning
For three years and three months, Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has remained stalled. On Nov. 29, members meeting in Vancouver agreed to establish a working group for Costa Rica’s entry — the fifth applicant in line — but not for Taiwan. As Taiwan’s prospects for CPTPP membership fade due to “politically sensitive issues,” what strategy should it adopt to overcome this politically motivated economic exclusion? The situation is not entirely dim; these challenges offer an opportunity to reimagine the export-driven country’s international trade strategy. Following the US’ withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
On Tuesday, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) issued a statement criticizing Song Siyao (宋思瑤), a student from Shanghai’s Fudan University, saying she had offended the sensibilities of Taiwanese. It also called for the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation — established by former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) — which had organized the tour group, to remind group members to be careful with their statements. Song, during a visit to a baseball stadium in Taichung, said that the tour group “would like to congratulate China, Taipei team (中國台北隊) ... we wish mainland China and Taiwan compatriots can be like the team Chinatrust Brothers and
“Integrated Diplomacy” (總和外交) is the guiding principle of Taiwan’s current foreign policy. It seeks to mobilize technology, capital and talent for global outreach, strengthening Taiwan’s international connections. However, without a robust information security mechanism, such efforts risk being reduced to superficial courtesy calls. Security clearance serves as the “entrance examination results” for government agency personnel in sensitive positions, qualifying them to access sensitive information. Senior aides in the US Congress must also possess security clearance to assist lawmakers in handling classified budgets. However, security clearance is not an automatic right or a blanket necessity for accessing sensitive information. Access is granted only
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