Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday rejected a bill to advance the government’s nominations of four new members of the National Communications Commission (NCC).
All nine KMT members of the legislature’s Procedure Committee voted against scheduling floor time to consider the nominations, while the committee’s eight Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members voted in favor and the one Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) member abstained.
The vote came after the Executive Yuan on Tuesday last week announced four nominees for the seven-member communications regulator, with three replacing commissioners whose four-year terms expire on July 31.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
NCC Deputy Chairman Wong Po-tsung (翁柏宗) was nominated to lead the agency, while communications experts Chen Ping-hung (陳炳宏) and Lo Huei-wen (羅慧雯), along with Department of Platforms and Businesses head Chan Yi-lien (詹懿廉) were nominated for seats on the commission.
The KMT’s move to block the nominations in committee means they are likely to remain stalled, unless negotiations can be held to ease their opposition or the government rescinds the appointments.
The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that if no deal is reached, the four outgoing NCC commissioners, including NCC Chairman Chen Yaw-shyang (陳耀祥), will remain in their positions until their successors are confirmed.
The NCC has been a frequent target of KMT criticism in the past few years, most notably for its refusal to renew the broadcast license of CTi News channel in December 2020, effectively shutting it down.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS