Legislators yesterday passed the second reading of draft proposals to boost government spending for industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to NT$630 billion (US$22.55 billion).
The proposed amendments to the Special Act for Prevention, Relief and Revitalization Measures for Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens (嚴重特殊傳染性肺炎防治及紓困振興特別條例) next proceed to the final phase of cross-party negotiations.
They are to be considered for a third reading on May 31, the final day of the current legislative session, Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) said.
Photo: CNA
The proposals would raise government spending to NT$630 billion for industries affected by the pandemic, up from the current cap of NT$420 billion, while also extending the spending deadline to June 30 next year. The current bill is set to expire on June 30.
A report accompanying the proposal said that the additional spending and extension were needed to spur economic growth, as more businesses are affected by COVID-19 with a recent increase in local infections.
“The outbreak situation is affecting industries and families, and the public needs relief and economic revitalization to protect people’s livelihoods and maintain social stability,” it said.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
Legislators also passed amendments to the Criminal Code to address inconsistencies in punishments for people found guilty of traffic infractions that resulted in injuries and who fled the scene of the incident.
Under the amendment, offenders are to receive jail sentences from six months to five years, while those whose actions resulted in death or serious injuries are to receive prison terms of one to seven years.
Meanwhile, the Legislative Yuan yesterday tested holding sessions through videoconferencing during the morning session, which You said was a “historic” moment.
Although 80 of the 113 legislators have been set up to connect to the videoconferencing system through computers or iPads, only 36 participated in the test.
“It felt OK to operate the system. If the COVID-19 outbreak continues, it would be better to use videoconferencing for our meetings,” Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Mei-hui (王美惠) said.
On Thursday last week, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) said that the KMT did not support the idea because of security concerns, adding that electronic devices might contain surveillance programs.
Meetings at the Legislative Yuan have been suspended for a week starting today amid a surge in locally transmitted COVID-19 cases.
The decision was made following interparty negotiations on Thursday afternoon.
Several committee meetings have been canceled since Saturday last week, when the Central Epidemic Command Center raised the COVID-19 alert to for Taipei and New Taipei City to level 3, which has since been applied to the entire nation.
Additional reporting by CNA
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
ALIGNED THINKING: Taiwan and Japan have a mutual interest in trade, culture and engineering, and can work together for stability, Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan and Japan are two like-minded countries willing to work together to form a “safety barrier” in the Indo-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium in Taipei. Taiwan and Japan are close geographically and closer emotionally, he added. Citing the overflowing of a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in September, Cho said the submersible water level sensors given by Japan during the disaster helped Taiwan monitor the lake’s water levels more accurately. Japan also provided a lot of vaccines early in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
RSS