The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday occupied the podium during the opening of the legislative session, saying that the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic demanded an apology.
KMT caucus whip William Tseng (曾銘宗) and others stood in the middle of the hall holding signs and shouting slogans saying that the government’s processing of vaccine compensation claims was slow and that there were “shady deals” behind the procurement of vaccines.
The administration lacked transparency in its purchase of COVID-19 vaccines early in the pandemic and disparaged the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, which had purchased vaccines to donate for public use, Tseng said.
Photo: Liao Chen-hui, Taipei Times
People who were harmed by COVID-19 vaccines also had no recourse for compensation, he said.
“More than 10,000 people in Taiwan have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic started,” he said. “Where is the administration’s apology?”
At about 11am after occupying the podium for about an hour, Tseng said that the KMT had reached a consensus with other parties following negotiations called by Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?).
The KMT legislators vacated the podium, but due to time constraints, Premier Su Tseng-chang’s (蘇貞昌) policy report scheduled for 10am was put off until a remedial session on Tuesday, with only additional agenda items discussed yesterday.
In an agreement signed with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), the KMT demanded that Su apologize to the families of those who died from COVID-19 or from a reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine.
It also demanded that the Ministry of Health and Welfare increase the number of personnel processing applications from people seeking compensation after a harmful reaction to a vaccine, as well as a simplified and expedited review process for those seeking COVID-19-related relief funds, with reports submitted to the legislature every six months about compensation claims.
The rules stipulate that meetings of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program be convened under the ministry’s supervision, with claims to be completed within six months of submission.
In the event that more time is required, the review period can be extended once for no longer than three months.
The New Power Party, which did not sign the deal, objected to putting off Su’s policy address and asked for a vote.
However, the vote also backed rescheduling the address.
In a statement released following the session, the KMT said that although it reached an agreement with the DPP and the TPP on its pandemic-related demands, it would continue to supervise the administration, and would hold Su and the ministry accountable.
Additional reporting by CNA
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan yesterday was an independent event and part of a stress-adjustment process. The earthquake occurred at 4:47pm, with its epicenter at sea about 45.4km south of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 5.9km, the CWA said. The quake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in several townships in Yilan and neighboring Hualien County, where it measured 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the CWA said. Lin Po-yu (林柏佑), a division chief at the CWA's Seismological Center, told a news conference
RSS