A public hearing on legislative proposals for a bill to monitor cross-strait agreements yesterday ended almost as quickly as it began, as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators contested the legitimacy of the meeting.
As a co-convener of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee, KMT Legislator Chang Ching-chung (張慶忠) scheduled the hearing to listen to proposals for the oversight bill after the legislature’s general assembly decided to forward all seven versions of the proposal to the committee for review.
DPP lawmakers questioned the legality of Chang’s decision.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
DPP Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said the DPP caucus had made a motion of reconsideration on the day the general assembly decided to forward the proposals to the committee.
“While it is true that the general assembly has decided to forward all seven versions to the committee for review, the process should not start until April 22 when the period for reconsideration of the motion is over,” Chen said. “Thus, this is not a legitimate meeting.”
KMT caucus whip Lin Hung-chih (林鴻池) disagreed, saying that the general assembly had decided to “immediately” forward the proposals to the committee, so there should be no waiting period.
DPP Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) challenged his statement, saying “immediately” does not mean that legal procedures should be overlooked.
KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) agreed that the DPP caucus’ motion of reconsideration was legitimate, “but dragging the process [for review] would go against public expectations.”
Unable to reach consensus, Chang adjourned the meeting before noon.
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
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators
RSS