Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmaker yesterday criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government over the nation’s declining population, calling it Taiwan’s top national security threat.
The National Development Council on Friday said that Taiwan’s population would fall below 20 million by 2045.
The prospect of a declining population is immediate and real, threatening Taiwan’s economy, finances, healthcare, social welfare and national security, KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said yesterday.
Photo: CNA
The decreasing workforce would come under increasing pressure to support the National Health Insurance program, pay taxes, provide people to defend the nation and care for a growing population of elderly people, Hsu said.
The DPP government is not truly aware of the pressures facing the younger generation, she said, citing real-estate prices, stagnant wages, surging commodity prices and low savings.
The Executive Yuan’s decision not to countersign the Taiwan Youth Development and Future Account Act (台灣兒少成長及未來帳戶條例) passed by the Legislative Yuan earlier this month is evidence that the DPP government is oblivious to the issue, she said.
President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration is calling on people to marry and have children, but fails to understand that doing so involves costs ranging from housing and childbirth to child-rearing, daycare and education, Hsu said, adding that education is an expense for more than two decades for most people.
Many couples spend every waking minute weighing decisions against the pressure of rent, mortgage, baby formula and daycare expenses, she said.
Lai has failed to fulfill campaign pledges to build more social housing, she said.
When the prospect of a stable life is constantly assaulted by fresh waves of anxiety, it is difficult to muster the courage to bring another life into this world, Hsu said.
KMT Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) said the DPP government over the past eight years has allocated nearly NT$600 billion (US$18.97 billion) to address the low birthrate, but has failed to reverse the trend.
Young adults cite high housing prices, the cost of raising children and an unwillingness to change their lifestyles as the top three reasons for not having children, Lee said, adding that their collective decision is bringing Taiwan closer to a population crisis.
The number of births in 2012 was 230,000, but fell to 108,000 last year and is expected to be below 100,000 this year, she said.
The government should convene a national affairs meeting on the birthrate issue, she said.
If the trend cannot be reversed, Taiwan risks going from a thriving and prosperous technological place to somewhere devoid of people, she added.
Heavy rain is expected to continue across much of Taiwan through tomorrow morning, with torrential rainfall likely in southern and southeastern areas due to strong southwesterly winds and multiple weather systems in the area, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The CWA issued a warning today for torrential or extremely torrential rain in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung County and Taitung County, and for extremely heavy to torrential rain in Chiayi County, Hualien County and on the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島). Heavy to extremely heavy rain is also expected through tomorrow in Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi City, Yilan County, Green Island (綠島), Penghu
Typhoon Saudel has shown signs of weakening but is still expected to affect Taiwan when it comes closest to the nation on Friday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The radius of Saudel shrank to about 220km as of 8am today from 250km a day earlier, and its maximum sustained winds were down to 155kph from 184kph previously, the weather agency said. As of 8am, Typhoon Saudel was 980km east of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 18kph, it said. Under the influence of a Pacific high pressure system, the storm is moving northward, meaning it is less likely to make landfall in Taiwan,
Minister of Sports Lee Yang (李洋) today said the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) has been urged not to undermine Taiwan’s credibility in international competitions, after a Taiwanese team advanced to the semi-finals of the 45th William Jones Cup over the Philippines last week due to a controversial new rule guaranteeing a semi-final place to the host team. The Republic of China Blue team advanced to the semi-finals after winning just one game in the group round due to a “host guarantee” spot, overtaking the Philippines, who held a 5-1 record ahead of the semi-finals. The Blue team finished the tournament
Typhoon Saudel is expected to pass closest to Taiwan on Thursday and Friday as it moves over waters to the north, having already progressed to a strong typhoon, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The typhoon is not expected to make landfall in Taiwan, but its path remains unclear, it said. Saudel strengthened into a strong moderate typhoon this afternoon with sustained winds near the center reaching 183.6kph, although it is expected to weaken somewhat by Wednesday, it added. Storm-force winds are expected to affect northern Taiwan and Lienchiang County, while northern Taiwan and mountainous areas of central Taiwan should
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