Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien yesterday vowed to prioritize investigations into the liability of government officials in the Chinese toxic milk powder case and the collapse of Howfeng Bridge (后豐大橋).
Speaking on the sidelines of the 187th anniversary celebration of Central America’s independence in Taipei, Wang told reporters he had discussed the milk powder case with Control Yuan member Cheng Jen-hung (程仁宏), who filed an application yesterday morning to initiate a probe into the role and responsibility of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Wang said that he would ask government agencies to reinforce food hygiene control, adding that he hoped the investigation would be concluded as soon as possible to meet public expectations.
Milk powder imported from China’s Sanlu Group raised public concern after the company was recently found to have added a toxic chemical to its product.
The DOH confirmed on Friday that 25 tonnes of the milk powder in 25kg packages were imported into the country in June.
The Straits Exchange Foundation received the information about milk powder contamination via China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait on Friday evening.
Wang said the Control Yuan would also launch a probe into the liability of public officials after the collapse of Howfeng Bridge in Taichung County on Sunday. The bridge collapse because of heavy rains brought by Typhoon Sinlaku caused one death and five to go missing.
Wang said the Control Yuan had launched similar probes in the past, but the collapse of the Howfeng Bridge showed that public officials had not learned their lesson from previous tragedies resulting from natural disasters.
He said the Control Yuan was working hard to carry out its duties and hoped to publicize the results of several investigations early next month. He did not specify which cases he was referring to.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust
RSS