■ Education
Chen's resignation approved
Premier Frank Hsieh yesterday approved Council of Indigenous Peoples Chairman Chen Chien-nien's (陳建年) resignation from the position and is expected to nominate Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU) Legislator Walis Palin (瓦歷斯貝林) as the council's new head today, according to the Central News Agency (CNA). Walis is a pan-blue-friendly (NPSU) politician. Chen has been indicted for allegedly buying votes for his daughter Chen Ying (陳瑩) in last year's legislative elections. Chen Ying was elected as the first Aboriginal legislator to represent the Democratic Progressive Party in the legislature.
■ Politics
Wang hints at running
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday said that he might run for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairmanship if Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) decides not to take part in the vote among party members. Responding to questions from reporters at the Legislative Yuan, Wang said he would consider running for the party's highest post only if Lien decided not to participate. It was the first time that Wang, a vice chairman of the KMT, revealed his intent to run. As to a media report that KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun (江丙坤) might also join the contest and stands a good chance of winning, Wang claimed that he was not aware of this before reading newspaper reports. Meanwhile, aides to Chiang said he had no knowledge of the matter and called the report media speculation.
■ Politics
Bill spurs legislative reply
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) will call for cross-party negotiations to seek support for a legislative resolution voicing opposition to China's proposed anti-secession legislation. The decision was made at yesterday's plenary legislative session after the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislative caucus filed a motion asking the legislature to respond to the planned legislation. TSU caucus whip Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) said the legislature is obligated to express the public's position on the matter. "Taiwan is an independent sovereign state and not part of China. The people of Taiwan should have the right to decide their own future and destiny and pursue such common values as freedom, human rights, democracy and peace," Lo said. China's proposed law not only infringes on Taiwan's sovereignty and identity, but will also meet with opposition and abhorrence from Taiwanese people, Lo said. "China should immediately stop the passage of the law, which is detrimental to mutual understanding and cross-strait exchanges and will alienate the people of Taiwan and China," he said.
■ Politics
Legislators sue UMC chair
Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislators Lo Chih-ming (羅志明), David Huang (黃適卓), Tseng Tsan-teng (曾燦燈) and Chen Yin-ho (陳銀河) yesterday filed a libel suit against United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) chairman Robert Tsao (曹興誠). On Feb. 23, Tsao ran an open letter in various newspapers stating that members of the TSU were regarded as "clowns" by the public. The TSU decided to bring a case against Tsao. According to Lo, the TSU had uncovered illegal investment by UMC in China ahead of a probe by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. However, UMC denied any illegal investment. Tsao later admitted to having had a close relationship with China's He Jian Technology (Suzhou) Co, contradicting his earlier denial.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS