Despite the setbacks the "small three links" policy has met, the Cabinet's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission (
Premier Chang Chung-hsiung (張俊雄), however, said that the proposal to allow gambling in Kinmen and Matsu had not been finalized.
"We will see how the `small three links' policy goes before any discussion of other proposals [for construction on Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu islands] are made," Chang said yesterday afternoon.
Chang added that the Cabinet would make a conclusion on the proposal in the near future once related government agencies resolved their disagreements about it.
No further discussion on the issue took place at yesterday's weekly Cabinet meeting.
The research commission's chairman, Lin Chia-cheng (
"Taiwan can use Hong Kong and Macau as examples, and turn Kinmen and Matsu into another `mini Hong Kong,'" Lin was quoted as saying yesterday morning.
Lin said that the "small three links" policy for Kinmen and Matsu was a top priority for the commission and would be regularly reviewed.
Lin went on to say that it was time for the Cabinet to start evaluating the feasibility of opening up gambling on Kinmen and Matsu, adding that the government should further explain its "small three links" policy to local residents on the island so that they could better benefit from its potential.
KMT legislator from Kinmen, Chen Ching-pao (
"Many Kinmen residents have strongly opposed such plans," Chen told the Taipei Times.
Chen added that "gambling would definitely have a negative impact on the former-battlefield districts."
Chen urged the DPP government to consult with residents of Kinmen and Matsu before drafting any measures to follow up implementation of the "small three links" policy.
Chen pointed out that as religious groups could soon be able to travel directly from Taiwan to China -- if approved by the Mainland Affairs Council -- Kinmen and Matsu could benefit from being stopover points for pilgrims.
He said that the government should create opportunities for religious adherents to stay overnight, which would boost their expenditures while staying on the islands and thus benefit the local economy.
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
One of two tropical depressions that formed off Taiwan yesterday morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. The weather system is expected to move northwest as it builds momentum, possibly intensifying this weekend into a typhoon, which would be called Mitag, Lee said. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is forecast to approach the southeast of Taiwan on Monday next week and pass through the Bashi Channel
RSS