Several representatives of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) yesterday met with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at her official residence in Taipei to present recommendations on how to handle environmental problems facing the nation gleaned from the groups’ annual meeting on Saturday.
The groups visited Tsai at about 3pm yesterday and presented their suggestions for dealing with this year’s top 10 environmental issues, which were voted on during Saturday’s meeting.
The most urgent issue was considered to be the protection of algal reefs and first-level protected coral, Polycyanthus chiashanensis, that might be damaged by the construction of the third liquefied natural gas terminal proposed by state-run CPC Corp, Taiwan at Taoyuan’s Guantang Industrial Park (觀塘工業區).
After the meeting, Taoyuan Local Union director-general Pan Chong-cheng (潘忠政) said that officials responsible for energy policy have not provided Tsai with the correct information, therefore the proposal by environmental groups to build the terminal at another venue has not been seriously considered.
He proposed to Tsai that the government hold a hearing on the gas terminal project, Pan said, while quoting Tsai as saying that she would gather information for further discussion about a hearing.
He said he had invited the president to join the groups on Ketagalan Boulevard in Taipei on Saturday next week for a concert to call more attention to the protection of these species, and quoted Tsai as saying that she would check her schedule to see if she could attend it.
Kao Cheng-yan (高成炎), who represented the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union in the meeting, advised Tsai that the new Shenao Power Plant to be opened in New Taipei City’s Rueifang District (瑞芳) should use geothermal power instead of the coal-fired power proposed by state-run Taiwan Power Co (Taipower).
Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance director Kao Ju-ping (高茹萍) urged Tsai’s administration to push Taipower to reveal more information about the nation’s energy use.
According to the groups, Tsai said she would ask the Ministry of Economic Affairs to study the potential of geothermal power and agreed that Taipower should be more open to public supervision.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
Shih Hsin University President Chen Ching-he (陳清河) yesterday issued a public apology for comments made in his commencement speech last week, stating that he has asked the school to suspend his duties and halt his wages for two months as a show of contrition. At the commencement ceremony on May 30, Chen said, “If you don’t manage your time well, or your own emotions, or your health, then I am telling every one of you — put a quick end to ‘you,’ because the world has no need for ‘you.’” The comments have sparked significant controversy online, and Chen through an open
RSS