Newly sworn in Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator-at-large Liu Shu-pin (劉書彬) — who replaced former TPP legislator-at-large Wu Chun-cheng (吳春城) following his resignation — on Monday questioned a National Science and Technology Council official about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s investments in the US and its core chip manufacturing technologies. However, she consistently misspoke throughout her inquiry, saying meter (米) instead of nanometer (奈米).
When reporters attempted to ask her about the mistake, Liu said: “I was just speaking too quickly. You didn’t hear me clearly.”
I happened to be eating lunch at a street stall when I saw the report on the news the following day. I nearly spit out my food.
Liu was actually speaking quite clearly. She said “meter” — and not very quickly, either. From her debut, it was evident that this legislator-at-large had not done her homework, and that lying comes quite easy to her — is this the kind of lawmaker that the TPP carefully selected as Wu’s replacement?
If Liu were a member of a different party, there is no doubt that former TPP chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) would have criticized her no end, calling her anything from a cockroach to a rat.
Some lawmakers benefit from the public’s resources, yet live in their own bubbles, completely oblivious to the costs we bear while using our livelihoods to accomplish nothing. It is truly disappointing.
This kind of figure will only harm the TPP’s reputation further — the original video went viral and garnered online mockery, with comments such as “a chip that large ... are they going to carve it with a plow?”
Liu has already become a laughingstock.
Fang Fu-chuan is an international trader.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
The cancelation this week of President William Lai’s (賴清德) state visit to Eswatini, after the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius revoked overflight permits under Chinese pressure, is one more measure of Taiwan’s shrinking executive diplomatic space. Another channel that deserves attention keeps growing while the first contracts. For several years now, Taipei has been one of Europe’s busiest legislative destinations. Where presidents and foreign ministers cannot land, parliamentarians do — and they do it in rising numbers. The Italian parliament opened the year with its largest bipartisan delegation to Taiwan to date: six Italian deputies and one senator, drawn from six
Recently, Taipei’s streets have been plagued by the bizarre sight of rats running rampant and the city government’s countermeasures have devolved into an anti-intellectual farce. The Taipei Parks and Street Lights Office has attempted to eradicate rats by filling their burrows with polyurethane foam, seeming to believe that rats could not simply dig another path out. Meanwhile, as the nation’s capital slowly deteriorates into a rat hive, the Taipei Department of Environmental Protection has proudly pointed to the increase in the number of poisoned rats reported in February and March as a sign of success. When confronted with public concerns over young
Taiwan and India are important partners, yet this reality is increasingly being overshadowed in current debates. At a time when Taiwan-India relations are at a crossroads, with clear potential for deeper engagement and cooperation, the labor agreement signed in February 2024 has become a source of friction. The proposal to bring in 1,000 migrant workers from India is already facing significant resistance, with a petition calling for its “indefinite suspension” garnering more than 40,000 signatures. What should have been a straightforward and practical step forward has instead become controversial. The agreement had the potential to serve as a milestone in
China has long given assurances that it would not interfere in free access to the global commons. As one Ministry of Defense spokesperson put it in 2024, “the Chinese side always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight entitled to countries under international law.” Although these reassurances have always been disingenuous, China’s recent actions display a blatant disregard for these principles. Countries that care about civilian air safety should take note. In April, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) canceled a planned trip to Eswatini for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s coronation and the 58th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic
RSS