The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee today voted to freeze NT$30 million (US$950,781) in funding for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with the funds to remain frozen until the bank responds and the Ministry of Finance reports to lawmakers.
The committee today continued its review of the Ministry of Finance’s expenditure budget and financing arrangements under the central government’s budget for this year.
The ministry has budgeted NT$126.84 million this year for “contribution expenditures,” all of which are to be given to funds associated with the ADB, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) said, adding that this is an increase of NT$44.26 million from 2024.
Photo: screen grab from the Asian Development Bank Web site via CNA
Considering ADB’s change of Taiwan’s membership designation to “Taipei,China” and the lack of any concrete improvement despite Taiwan's protests, as well as rising national defense spending, Lai proposed cutting NT$3 million from the allocation.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) was one of the founding members of the ADB, yet its membership designation has been downgraded, Lai said.
Aside from the annual fee of NT$1 million, “nothing else should be paid,” he added.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Lee Kuen-cheng (李坤城) and Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) also proposed freezing NT$2 million of a NT$33.196 million allocation for the ADB Domestic Resource Mobilization Trust Fund, citing Taiwan’s downgraded membership designation since 1986 under Chinese pressure.
The funds should not be released until the Ministry of Finance submits a written report within two months, they said.
As the ADB unfairly singles out Taiwan with its designation, Taiwan should stop funding the bank until the designation is corrected, DPP Legislator Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡) said.
Taiwan has repeatedly raised the issue of its designation with ADB, Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun (莊翠雲) said.
Apart from the name, Taiwan has not been treated differently, Chang said, adding that it is more important to continue substantive participation than risk being shut out.
Donations are made in line with other contributing countries, with each contribution increasing by 0.4 percent compared to the previous one, which is why the total has risen by more than NT$40 million, Department of International Fiscal Affairs Director Lee Ming-chi (李明機) said.
If Taiwan does not contribute, the Asian Development Fund could gradually shrink in size, potentially affecting its use by diplomatic allies such as Palau, Lee said.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
Shih Hsin University President Chen Ching-he (陳清河) yesterday issued a public apology for comments made in his commencement speech last week, stating that he has asked the school to suspend his duties and halt his wages for two months as a show of contrition. At the commencement ceremony on May 30, Chen said, “If you don’t manage your time well, or your own emotions, or your health, then I am telling every one of you — put a quick end to ‘you,’ because the world has no need for ‘you.’” The comments have sparked significant controversy online, and Chen through an open
RSS