Despite its tiny size, the TSU legislative caucus has adopted a formidable agenda for the new session that is due to open on Tuesday. It has vowed to push for technology protection and referendum rules, among other controversial items that sit atop its priority list.
Both bills stand slim chance of being passed, as KMT and PFP lawmakers are bound to obstruct their advancement and the DPP has made preserving harmony its top goal in the run-up to next year's presidential polls.
In two previous sessions, the TSU caucus made 29 attempts to place the referendum bill on the legislative calendar, but to no avail.
The proposal would allow the people to have the final say, through a democratic process, on all policy issues -- including planned changes to the nation's status, symbols and constitution. Under the plan, only government budgets, taxes and salaries for public servants would not be voted on.
TSU Legislator Lo Chih-ming (
According to Lo, a separate referendum bill sponsored by DPP Legislator Trong Chai (
But at the request of President Chen Shui-bian (
The TSU has expressed disappointment at its DPP allies recently over various issues such as the Cabinet's plans to allow domestic chipmakers to move across the Strait. It also frowns on the government's media reform plans, saying they would allow pro-unification media greater control of the market.
Chen has asked all DPP officials to dispose of their stakes in any media organizations in keeping with the party's effort to free the media from political influence.
Lo said he found the move poorly thought-out, as publications with Chinese capital have made inroads into the domestic market in recent years.
He singled out Next magazine and the incoming Apple Daily for criticism, saying they are devoted to scandalizing Taiwanese politicians and celebrities.
Hong Kong-based American singer-songwriter Khalil Fong (方大同) has passed away at the age of 41, Fong’s record label confirmed yesterday. “With unwavering optimism in the face of a relentless illness for five years, Khalil Fong gently and gracefully bid farewell to this world on the morning of February 21, 2025, stepping into the next realm of existence to carry forward his purpose and dreams,” Fu Music wrote on the company’s official Facebook page. “The music and graphic novels he gifted to the world remain an eternal testament to his luminous spirit, a timeless treasure for generations to come,” it said. Although Fong’s
China’s military buildup in the southern portion of the first island chain poses a serious threat to Taiwan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, a defense analyst warned. Writing in a bulletin on the National Defense and Security Research’s Web site on Thursday, Huang Tsung-ting (黃宗鼎) said that China might choke off Taiwan’s energy supply without it. Beginning last year, China entrenched its position in the southern region of the first island chain, often with Russia’s active support, he said. In May of the same year, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) force consisting of a Type 054A destroyer, Type 055 destroyer,
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) was questioned by prosecutors for allegedly orchestrating an attack on a taxi driver after he was allegedly driven on a longer than necessary route in a car he disliked. The questioning at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office was ongoing as of press time last night. Police have recommended charges of attempted murder. The legally embattled actor — known for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代) — is under a separate investigation for allegedly using fake medical documents to evade mandatory military service. According to local media reports, police said Wang earlier last year ordered a
Taiwan is planning to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based X-ray imaging to customs clearance points over the next four years to curb the smuggling of contraband, a Customs Administration official said. The official on condition of anonymity said the plan would cover meat products, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, large bundles of banknotes and certain agricultural produce. Taiwan began using AI image recognition systems in July 2021. This year, generative AI — a subset of AI which uses generative models to produce data — would be used to train AI models to produce realistic X-ray images of contraband, the official
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