The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should move quickly to pass supervisory articles governing relations with China, academics affiliated with the Economic Democracy Union said yesterday, saying the party had failed to push a primary objective of the Sunflower movement.
“Even though the DPP promised to pass articles swiftly, they have failed to put them on the agenda,” said Chiou Wen-tsong (邱文聰), an Academia Sinica jurist who drafted the civil version of articles promoted by Sunflower activists.
National Chengchi University professor Tsai Chia-hung (蔡佳泓) said the Mainland Affairs Council’s failure to propose an official version of the legislation raised questions about the government’s determination to push for its passage.
While the legislation to increase civic and legislative oversight of negotiations with China has been on the DPP’s list of “priority” legislation over the past several legislative sessions, official committee review has yet to be completed.
National Chengchi University law professor Lin Chia-ho (林佳和) said swift passage of the articles was particularly urgent because of a likely increase in pressure after Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) finishes consolidating power at the Chinese Communist Party’s 19th National Party Congress this year.
“We are worried that without the protection of the articles to cancel out Chinese ‘united front’ efforts, international and big business pressure will eventually force the Tsai administration to sign some disadvantageous promises,” Chung Yuan University law professor Hsu Wei-chun (徐偉群) said.
“The international environment has provided breathing space for Taiwan, when we can have the advantage of not having to worry about any negotiations ‘burning our eyebrows’ as we are drafting the articles,” Chiou said, adding that failure to pass the articles this year would likely lead to them being put aside indefinitely due to local and national elections.
Tamkang University public administration professor Tu Yu-yin (涂予尹) said passage of the legislation was crucial to striking a balance between legislative and executive authority over negotiations, providing extra “bargaining chips” for talks with China.
Campaigners are to gather outside the Legislative Yuan on the anniversary of the Sunflower movement on Saturday next week to “demand an answer” regarding the passage of the articles, Hsu said.
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended an open invitation to Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled concert in Shanghai. Hamasaki, 47, had been slated to perform on Saturday before organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing “force majeure,” a move widely viewed as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday said the city “very much welcomes” Hamasaki’s return and would continue to “surprise” her. Hamasaki, who has a large global fan base, including
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
VIGILANT: Enterovirus activity remains in the epidemic phase, with the CDC urging caregivers of infected children to be on the lookout for signs of severe illness Influenza activity is rising in neighboring countries, and, with temperatures forecast to drop this week, flu cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. Hospitals reported 87,162 visits for flu-like illnesses between Nov. 23 and Saturday, which remained about the same level as the previous week, but nine deaths and 24 cases with serious flu complications were also confirmed last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said. Flu activity reached a peak in late September before declining for eight consecutive weeks, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠)
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