Representative to Japan Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) is required to report to the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense committee on Thursday after his remarks about Japan’s plan to discharge water from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant sparked controversy, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Liao Wan-ju (廖婉汝) said yesterday.
Japan on April 13 announced that it plans to release treated water containing tritium from the wrecked nuclear plant into the ocean, despite protests from neighboring countries.
While he lodged a protest to Tokyo on behalf of the government, he cannot ignore that Taiwan discharges water from three nuclear power plants into the ocean, Hsieh wrote on Wednesday last week.
Taiwan discharges wastewater according to normal standards, which is entirely different from the situation at the Japanese plant, Atomic Energy Council (AEC) Minister Hsieh Shou-shing (謝曉星) told a legislative session on Wednesday, adding that Frank Hsieh is not an expert on the issue.
The KMT on Thursday reported to the National Policy Agency that it suspects Frank Hsieh of spreading disinformation.
Due to Frank Hsieh’s remarks, he would be required on Thursday to report to the committee regarding the development and prospects of Taiwan-Japan relations, said Liao, who is the committee’s convener.
The committee originally had other plans for that day, but changed the agenda because of Frank Hsieh, Liao said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and officials from the AEC, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan Power Co, the Ocean Affairs Council and the Council of Agriculture are also required to attend the meeting, the agenda shows.
Instead of speaking for Taiwan’s fisheries, the representative chose to defend Japan’s decision and even criticized his own country, which is totally unacceptable, Liao said, asking: “Does Frank Hsieh represent Taiwan or Japan?”
While Taiwan hopes to improve relations with Japan and the US, it should be done on the basis of democracy, freedom and defense assistance, rather than through such means as Frank Hsieh employed, she said.
He should attend Thursday’s meeting in person, Liao said, adding that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he should follow travel protocols that foreign visitors in business or diplomatic “bubbles” face.
Taiwan People’s Party caucus deputy convener Ann Kao (高虹安) said that her caucus also demands that Frank Hsieh attend the committee session, even if that means a videoconference while he is in quarantine.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS