The opening session of the Constitutional Amendment Committee at the legislature in Taipei got off to a rocky start yesterday, with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers storming out soon after it began.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers gathered for the inaugural session at 9am while their KMT counterparts arrived shortly afterward, followed by Taiwan People’s Party representatives.
KMT members said that they objected to DPP Legislator Chou Chun-mi (周春米) being chosen as convener before they entered.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
They accused the DPP of breaching legislative regulations governing committee meetings.
DPP Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) said that proceedings had conformed to the regulations and members had reached quorum, so he and DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) raised the motion to nominate Chou, which was approved by those who were present.
KMT Legislator Jessica Chen (陳玉珍) said her party members were only one minute late.
KMT members then exited the meeting in protest, saying that it was a DPP ploy to breach the regulations, derailing the process of constitutional amendments.
“We had quorum and complied with regulations to nominate a convener,” Chung said. “Were the KMT in charge, we would abide by the procedures, allowing it to nominate a convener.”
“As members of the ruling party, we respectfully listen to suggestions and opinions of opposition members, so I ask that the KMT members return and do the work at this committee,” he said.
Later yesterday, the KMT at a news conference accused the DPP of not wanting the meeting to get started, so it orchestrated a way to halt proceedings while blaming the KMT.
The caucuses on Sept. 14, 2020, agreed to set up the committee amid calls to amend the Constitution, including a proposal to lower the voting age from 20 to 18.
The 39 members of the committee were named after seats were allotted to parties based on their proportion of seats in the legislature.
Additional reporting by Chen yun and CNA
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS