The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met for only three minutes early this morning to discuss the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法), as debates continue about proposed amendments.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) led legislators into the meeting room as soon as doors opened at dawn, with fellow KMT Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍) acting as this session’s committee chair.
Chen scheduled debates for Oct. 7 and 21, as well as further reviews for Monday, today and tomorrow to debate the 22 proposals currently under review.
Photo: CNA
None of the drafts were submitted by the Executive Yuan.
The proposals seek to increase the proportion of taxes that go to local governments, rather than the central government, which could reduce its ability to control national finances and fund major projects related to infrastructure, social welfare and defense.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) said that the KMT “occupied” the meeting.
The DPP’s stance is that such an important law such as the one in question requires consensus from the counties and cities, as well as the central government, Lin said.
The DPP in prior meetings has had plenty of opportunities to speak, Chen said, adding that she wishes the session could be conducted peacefully.
Dozens of KMT legislators gathered at the committee room early shouting slogans, followed by Taiwan People’s Party lawmakers arriving with signs that called for more equitable resource allocation, causing DPP lawmakers to condemn the disruption of proceedings.
Chen arrived at the committee at 5:40am, with the meeting scheduled to start at 9am.
When it did commence, she read through the proposed amendments, and after no consensus was reached, adjourned the meeting at 9:03am.
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
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,
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
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
RSS