Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said he is a representative of central government policy in response to criticism over his visit to Hong Kong this week.
Saying he was sick, Fu skipped a legislative negotiation on Tuesday, although it was later revealed that he flew out that night to attend the Hong Kong International Travel Expo.
On Facebook yesterday, he said he was home in Hualien during the meeting that afternoon to recover from a severe cold before flying out.
Photo: Hua Meng-ching, Taipei Times
During his trip, which he attended alongside a delegation of Hualien tourism officials and representatives, Fu said he was “representing Taiwan’s central government” and dined with several pro-China Hong Kong lawmakers.
His trip has led to anger from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, including caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤), who yesterday accused Fu of taking orders from Beijing.
“What orders or edicts did Fu receive in Hong Kong this time? Or is he asking [China] to help save the KMT from recalls?” Wu asked.
Wu also drew a connection between Fu’s activity in the legislature, such as introducing controversial bills, and his prior trips to China and Hong Kong.
“I represent the central government’s policies wherever I go,” Fu told reporters today in Hualien.
As a member of the Legislative Yuan, developing the tourism industry and attracting tourists to Taiwan “are part of my responsibilities,” he added.
Fu said that if the DPP, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) or President William Lai (賴清德) no longer support tourism from Hong Kong, then they should say so.
To aid the tourism industry, Taiwan should be welcoming to international travelers, he said, calling on the DPP to not be narrow-minded about building connections abroad.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
Democratic Progressive Party caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu, front, grabs the pennant in a dragon boat race hosted by Qu Yuan Temple in the Shuanghsi River in Taipei’s Beitou District yesterday.
RSS