Premier Su Tseng-chang (
"We will retrieve money if necessary and punish related officials if necessary, as well," Su said. "There is no question about that."
The premier made the remarks on the legislative floor yesterday when questioned by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Alex Fai (
Fai questioned Su about the Taipei Administrative High Court's decision last week that the process for selecting contractors for the ETC system was improper, saying that the contract between the government and the contractor -- Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection Corp -- could be reviewed if necessary.
As for a NT$4.5 billion (US$138 million) investment from the China Aviation Development Foundation in the THSRC, the court decided that this investment is not "appropriate."
Fai asked Su whether the government will retrieve the NT$4.5 billion and suspend the investment.
The premier said he will do what he is supposed to do as a premier.
"I am a premier, not an enforcer. As a result, I only decide the direction that the government will go in, instead of enforcing laws or carrying out policies physically," Su said.
Su added that he has asked the Ministry of Justice to get involved in the investigation into the issues to determine whether any government officials or offices must take responsibility.
"If so, those who need to step down will step down, and the money which should be retrieved will be retrieved. It is as simple as that," he said.
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
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