Lawmakers yesterday held disparate opinions on whether or not the Web site of the Government Information Office (GIO) should adhere to the formal designation of Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC).
But the director-general of the GIO Arthur Iap (葉國興) defended the current practice of inserting "ROC on Taiwan" on the front page of the GIO Web site, saying "ROC on Taiwan" was adopted long before the arrival of the DPP administration.
"As early as 1987, when the late president Chiang Ching-kuo (
"And perhaps I should consult with former GIO chief Shaw Yu-ming (邵玉銘), asking him why he followed Chiang's instructions," Iap said.
Shaw served as the KMT government spokesman from 1987 to 1991.
Iap made the remarks after being grilled by PFP legislator Sun Ta-chi (孫大千) for the lack of appearance of Taiwan's formal designation, the ROC, on the front page of the GIO's Web site.
Sun said he found it unacceptable that Taiwan's formal designation did not appear on the official Web site.
DPP legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (
She said that the GIO should alternate the use of Taiwan and ROC, and preferably adopt Taiwan first, while it reaches out to the international community.
"I hope that the GIO can use Taiwan, and then make proper use of ROC, especially when facing Taiwan's diplomatic allies," Hsiao said.
The GIO in January announced that it would ditch its decade-long emblem that features an image of China.
The new emblem features a bridge, symbolizing the GIO's role as a bridge between the government and the public, officials said.
The then GIO chief Su Tzen-ping (
The former GIO emblem, which had featured the ROC national flag and a map of China, was first used in 1988 under the instruction of former GIO chief Shaw.
The National Immigration Agency (NIA) said yesterday that it will revoke the dependent-based residence permit of a Chinese social media influencer who reportedly “openly advocated for [China’s] unification through military force” with Taiwan. The Chinese national, identified by her surname Liu (劉), will have her residence permit revoked in accordance with Article 14 of the “Measures for the permission of family- based residence, long-term residence and settlement of people from the Mainland Area in the Taiwan Area,” the NIA said in a news release. The agency explained it received reports that Liu made “unifying Taiwan through military force” statements on her online
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck off Taitung County at 1:09pm today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 53km northeast of Taitung County Hall at a depth of 12.5km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Taitung County and Hualien County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Nantou County, Chiayi County, Yunlin County, Kaohsiung and Tainan, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of damage following the quake.
Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢), a Taiwanese businessman and deputy convener of the nation’s National Climate Change Committee, said yesterday that “electrical power is national power” and nuclear energy is “very important to Taiwan.” Tung made the remarks, suggesting that his views do not align with the country’s current official policy of phasing out nuclear energy, at a forum organized by the Taiwan People’s Party titled “Challenges and Prospects of Taiwan’s AI Industry and Energy Policy.” “Taiwan is currently pursuing industries with high added- value and is developing vigorously, and this all requires electricity,” said the chairman
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) is to begin his one-year alternative military service tomorrow amid ongoing legal issues, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday. Wang, who last month was released on bail of NT$150,000 (US$4,561) as he faces charges of allegedly attempting to evade military service and forging documents, has been ordered to report to Taipei Railway Station at 9am tomorrow, the Alternative Military Service Training and Management Center said. The 33-year-old would join about 1,300 other conscripts in the 263rd cohort of general alternative service for training at the Chenggong Ling camp in Taichung, a center official told reporters. Wang would first