■ Politics
TSU backs appointing heads
The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) yesterday said it supported the appointment of village heads and township mayors rather than their election. TSU Secretary-General Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said the party would propose a revision to the law and ask for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) support. The government plans to hold elections for city mayors, county commissioners and councilors simultaneously with a referendum determining whether elections for village heads, township mayors and local councilors should be ended. Chen said a national development conference in 1996 agreed that village heads and township mayors should be appointed, but that the DPP had yet to move on the matter after five years in office. He said that the Executive Yuan had already raised the matter of a simultaneous election and referendum, but that the DPP argued it was not feasible.
■ Defense
French plane sales worrying
The air force will feel the pinch if China acquires French-made Mirage 2000-9CS jet fighters, the Air Force General Headquarters chief of staff said yesterday. Lieutenant General Peng Sheng-chu (彭勝竹) was answering a question from People First Party Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) at the Legislative Yuan on a media report that China will purchase 210 Mirage 2000-9CSs from France after the EU's arms embargo is lifted. Because the Mirage 2000-9CSs are newer than the Mirage 2000-5 jet fighters Taiwan acquired in the 1990s, Peng said the newer aircraft are believed to be able to outperform Taiwan's version of the plane in combat capabilities and range. If China does obtain Mirage 2000-9CSs, Peng said, the air force will be under considerable pressure. With a view to upgrading air defense capabilities, Peng said the military was collecting information that may lead to the purchase of new aircraft.
■ Agriculture
No sales for prize orchids
Colorful butterfly orchids from Taiwan received two awards at the Sakoliki International Flower Show in Moscow, organizers said yesterday. Joseph Wu (吳祚雄) and his wife, Peng Hsi-nan (彭希男), who are both well-regarded in the global floral community, had to transport 500 pots containing the orchids to Moscow for display at the Sakoliki flower trade fair held from Thursday to Sunday. It marked the first time Taiwan had participated in the noted international floral trade fair. At Sunday's closing ceremony, organizers presented the Best Flower Art Award and the Best Floral Design Award to the Wus in recognition of their work promoting orchid cultivation and improving floral technologies. "It's a great honor for us to receive the awards. We take great pleasure in bringing Taiwan's most beautiful `angel' to Russia on a cultural and artistic exchange," Wu said after the presentation ceremony. Their booth attracted a large crowd of visitors, but few bought the orchids. The Wus said they were a little disappointed about the lukewarm response from the market. Nevertheless, they said they will not be daunted by the setback and will devote more efforts at studying consumer tastes in the Russian floral market. In recognition of their professionalism in orchid cultivation, the Wus have been invited to take part in a professional flower show to be held in Moscow from tomorrow through Sunday.
Taiwan is stepping up plans to create self-sufficient supply chains for combat drones and increase foreign orders from the US to counter China’s numerical superiority, a defense official said on Saturday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, the official said the nation’s armed forces are in agreement with US Admiral Samuel Paparo’s assessment that Taiwan’s military must be prepared to turn the nation’s waters into a “hellscape” for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated the concept during a Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday. He first coined the term in a security conference last
Prosecutors today declined to say who was questioned regarding alleged forgery on petitions to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, after Chinese-language media earlier reported that members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Youth League were brought in for questioning. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau confirmed that two people had been questioned, but did not disclose any further information about the ongoing investigation. KMT Youth League members Lee Hsiao-liang (李孝亮) and Liu Szu-yin (劉思吟) — who are leading the effort to recall DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) and Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) — both posted on Facebook saying: “I
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
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