Lawmakers yesterday preliminarily approved the mutual recognition of tertiary-level qualifications with the Holy See, the first official agreement between Taiwan and its only ally in Europe in their 70-year relationship.
The agreement in the field of higher education and on the recognition of studies, qualifications, diplomas and degrees between the Vatican and the Republic of China, signed in December last year, is pending approval in the plenary session before it can take effect.
With the agreement in place, Taiwan recognizes 156 Catholic universities, as well as other Catholic higher-education institutions and ecclesiastical universities and faculties associated with the Holy See in 25 countries, while the Vatican acknowledges higher-education academic credentials issued by local colleges and universities accredited by the Ministry of Education.
Lawmakers across party lines were by and large in support of ratifying the agreement when it was reviewed at a meeting of a joint legislative committee attended by officials from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, some Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers had concerns over the frequently circulating rumors that the Holy See has been seeking to sever relations with Taipei in favor of Beijing.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tung Kuo-yu (董國猷) said the likelihood of the Vatican switching its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in the near future was low, mainly because China is not a country that respects religious freedom.
The agreement was signed by officials of both sides, Tung said.
“The Vatican would not have bothered to sign the agreement with Taiwan if it considered its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan unstable,” Tung said.
Some DPP lawmakers raised concerns about local theological colleges and seminaries having difficulties getting accreditation from the Ministry of Education.
DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) demanded that Deputy Minister of Education Lin Tsong-ming (林聰明) explain continuing delays in approving applications for accreditation filed by many local theological colleges and seminaries."A majority of local theological colleges and seminaries are widely recognized in overseas countries, but not domestically,” Tsai said. “It is ironic that many Taiwanese who graduate from local theological colleges and seminaries earn master or doctorate degrees in foreign countries, but their undergraduate credentials are not recognized by the Taiwanese authority.”
In response, Lin said it hinges on the “willingness” of educational institutions to apply for accreditation or not, because “not all of them have filed applications.”
Lin added that some applicants are still under review for eligibility requirements in terms of faculties, facilities, funds and library services.
Dissatisfied with Lin’s reply, the joint committee approved a resolution, initiated by DPP lawmakers, demanding that the Ministry of Education review the appropriateness of the requirements and actively assist applicants in fulfilling the standards.
SAFETY IN REGULATION: The proposal states that Chiayi should assess whether it is viable to establish such a district and draft rules to protect clients and sex workers The Chiayi City Council passed a motion yesterday to assess the viability of establishing a regulated red-light district. The council yesterday held its last session of the year, at which its fiscal 2024 budget was approved, along with 61 other proposals. The proposal to assess the viability of establishing a red-light district was put forward by independent Chiayi City Councilor Molly Yen (顏色不分藍綠支持性專區顏色田慎節). The proposal cited 2011 amendments to the Social Order Maintenance Act (社會秩序維護法), which stipulate that city and county governments can pass autonomous regulations on the sex trade to manage the industry and guarantee industry workers’ rights. A ban on the
STABILITY AND CHANGE: Flagging in recent polls, Ko this week pledged to maintain President Tsai’s foreign policy, with an emphasis on improving China relations Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday reiterated that he is “deep-green at heart” in response to accusations that he is pivoting his campaign to align closer with the ideology of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the face of flagging polls. Ko made the remark at an agricultural policy conference in Taipei, repeating his comments from an interview with CTS News a day earlier. Ko told the CTS host that he would continue to pursue President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) national defense and foreign policy in general, but with an emphasis on establishing a rapport with
CHINA illness surge: Of 88 travelers from China, Hong Kong and Macau with respiratory symptoms who were encouraged to get tested upon arrival, 70.6% had the flu Two hundred and sixty people with COVID-19 were hospitalized and 31 deaths related to the virus were reported last week — the highest numbers in four weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday, adding that cases are expected to peak next month. CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said that of the 260 people hospitalized last week with moderate to severe COVID-19, 98 percent had not received the Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccine. Among the people hospitalized this year, 78 percent were aged 65 or older, while most of the those who were hospitalized or died have or had
Taiwanese who have recently traveled to China for tourism, to visit friends or relatives or for business reasons have been interrogated, detained and faced other forms of unreasonable treatment from Chinese officials, a source said on Sunday. Among them was a Taiwanese who was detained for eight hours at an airport in China due to their research, which is related to religion, while others have had their travel documents for China canceled for a number of reasons, the source said. In July, China expanded the scope of its counterespionage law, and recently announced a draft amendment to the law on the protection
RSS