■ Crime
Police allege drunk-driving
Hsieh Yao-kuan (謝耀寬), an aide to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko Chun-hsiung (柯俊雄), was pulled over on suspicion of drunk-driving, then yelled at police, saying he was Ko's aide. Police said Hsieh was driving Ko's Mercedes when he ran a red light in Taipei on Sunday. Police eventually pulled him over and suspected that Hsieh had been drinking, so officers asked him to take a breath test. Hsieh refused, yelled at the officers, stated he was Ko's aide in the legislature and asked the officers to let him go. Instead, he was arrested, taken to the police station and issued a NT$60,000 ticket while other officers impounded the car. Later, Ko called the chief at the police station, and allegedly asked whether he could give Hsieh "a break," but he was turned down.
■ Health
Pregnant women face fines
Pregnant women who smoke may soon face fines of up to NT$50,000, according to the latest draft of the Tobacco Control Act (菸害防治法). According to the draft, pregnant women who smoke, as well as people or stores that sell tobacco products to pregnant women, will both be fined between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000. The draft expands the list of tobacco-free areas to include school campuses and indoor swimming pools. Anyone who smokes in the prohibited areas will also be fined. According to the Bureau of Health Promotion, smoking has a negative effect on the health of a fetus. The miscarriage rate of pregnant women who are smokers is 1.6 times higher than for non-smoking ones, the bureau said. Anti-smoking groups lauded the draft for protecting the health rights of fetuses.
■ National security
Anti-terror defense unveiled
The Coast Guard Administration unveiled its Secret Service Company yesterday in a bid to strengthen anti-terrorism warfare in Taiwan's waters. Director of the Coast Guard Administration Syu Huei-you (許惠祐) said the agency will hold a drill in May, in which the newly established company will rescue a civilian ship occupied by terrorists. He said the 72 members of the company had all volunteered for service. They will be dispatched in four different units around the nation in charge of the special mission. The company yesterday displayed their combat skills to reporters. They dived for more than three minutes without any equipment and also demonstrated the rescue of two men from a helicopter.
■ Diplomacy
HK to consider Taiwan office
Donald Tsang (曾蔭權), Hong Kong's acting chief executive, said yesterday Hong Kong is considering setting up an economic and trade office in Taipei in order to facilitate exchanges between the two sides. It is the Hong Kong government's first positive response to the proposal of establishing a trade office in Taipei. The Mainland Affairs Council, which is also in charge of Taiwan's affairs with Hong Kong and Macau, has repeatedly called on Hong Kong to open a trade office in Taipei. Tsang told the Central News Agency that he is willing to do anything that is beneficial to exchanges between Taiwan and Hong Kong, but noted he also has to abide by Beijing's cross-strait policies. Tsang said it is a good idea to open a trade or cultural office in Taipei, adding the Hong Kong government has been circumspect in dealing with Taiwan because of the sensitive nature of the two sides' relations.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan and its Pacific ally Tuvalu on Tuesday signed two accords aimed at facilitating bilateral cooperation on labor affairs, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The governments inked two agreements in Taipei, witnessed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and visiting Deputy Tuvaluan Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone, MOFA said in a news release. According to MOFA, the agreements will facilitate cooperation on labor issues and allow the two sides to mutually recognize seafarers’ certificates and related training. Taiwan would also continue to collaborate with Tuvalu across various fields to promote economic prosperity as well as the well-being of their
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious
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