Minister of Budget Taiwan 結果共12筆

Discover how Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare, Lin Ching-yi, addresses concerns over National Health Insurance reform, emphasizing a balanced approach to maintain high-quality healthcare without increasing the financial burden on citizens.

Explore the concerns over delayed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, highlighting the establishment of a ＂Tiger team＂ to address delivery issues, discussions in the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, and the involvement of Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo in military matters.

Discover how Taiwan’s Minister of Transportation and Communications, Wang Kwo-tsai, unveils three comprehensive revitalization plans for Hualien following a devastating earthquake. These initiatives aim to support the local tourism industry, provide accommodations for victims, and offer subsidies to tourists, with an estimated budget of NT$3 billion. Learn more about the impact of the April 7.2 magnitude quake on Hualien’s tourism, including hotel closures and layoffs, and the government’s efforts to rejuvenate the area in the coming months.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warns of the potential consequences if the United States abandons Ukraine, highlighting the implications for Taiwan’s security amid China’s aggression. Wu emphasizes the interconnectedness of global authoritarian threats and stresses the importance of U.S. support for countries facing such challenges. The story delves into the proposed budget for countering China in the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on military aid to Taiwan and the ongoing geopolitical dynamics following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Wu also addresses China’s dissemination of false information in alignment with Russian narratives, underscoring the complex web of international relations at play.

The Minister of the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics in Taiwan clarifies that there will be no general cash distribution from tax surplus this year, despite speculation. The surplus, amounting to NT$386 billion, will not lead to a repeat of last year’s NT$6,000 distribution due to financial considerations and the need for special legislation.

Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) faces a potential financial crisis by year-end without government aid or electricity price hikes, warned Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua. An upcoming electricity price review may see rates for ultra-high-voltage users surge by over 10%. Wang emphasizes the need for discussion in the committee meeting and assures efforts to minimize impacts on the public. Taipower’s efficient management has helped curb price spikes and inflation, with plans in place for financial support and program development. Current electricity costs for major consumers stand at around NT$1.63, while Taipower’s generation cost, pre-tax, is NT$3.93, expected to surpass NT$4 post-tax.

The Minister of Economic Affairs, Wang Mei-hua, plans to help Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) seek budgetary support from the Executive Yuan to alleviate its financial distress. Taipower reached out to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) for assistance, citing escalating international fuel prices caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. Other global power companies, such as Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), and Électricité de France (EDF), have already experienced significant price hikes. Taipower’s rates are relatively low compared to the cost of power generation, resulting in policy-driven losses. As of 2023, Taipower has accumulated losses of NT$382.6 billion due to absorbing price increases to protect Taiwan from global inflation. The MOEA disclosed that Taipower and the CPC Corporation have discrepancies in predicting natural gas prices, leading Taipower to observe international coal prices for cost estimates in 2024. While mitigating Taipower’s financial woes in the short term poses challenges, Wang aims to prevent further losses. The MOEA will assist Taipower in lobbying the government for budget support once financial situation estimates are finalized. The decision to adjust electricity prices will be made by the Electricity Price Review Committee.

Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare, Hsueh Jui-yuan, has announced significant increases in subsidies for dedicated pediatricians starting in 2024. The ＂2023 Plan to Optimize Pediatric Medical Care＂ aims to improve the quality of pediatric care and attract more young practitioners to the field. The subsidy for physicians specializing in the care of each young child will double from NT$500 to NT$1,000. The optimization plan, with a total budget of NT$2.8 billion, will run from 2021 to 2024, with NT$2 billion allocated for 2024 alone. The implementation of the dedicated pediatrician system across the nation underscores the investment made in this critical healthcare sector. Currently, 22 counties and municipalities have implemented the dedicated pediatrician system for children aged 0 to 3, and since November, it has expanded to include newborns. There are currently 1,882 dedicated pediatricians serving over 184,000 young children across 1,048 medical institutions, bringing the national coverage rate to 40.5%.

The Ministry of the Interior in Taiwan has announced that it will allocate NT＄10 million for the implementation of the Provisional Act Governing Religious Groups Registering Real Estate in the Name of a Natural Person. This legislation aims to address issues surrounding properties acquired by religious groups but registered under individual names. Minister Lin Yu-chang made the announcement during a visit to Bali Zihuang Tianyi Zhenqing temple, emphasizing the outreach to temples across Taiwan to communicate the details of the Act. In addition, the Ministry plans to increase government subsidies for temple activities, committing an additional NT＄15 million to support these communities, a significant increase from the previous annual subsidy of NT＄420,000. The Department of Religious and Ceremonial Affairs, established last year, will administer these initiatives, with the new budget allocations facilitated through local governments to ensure a seamless implementation and the preservation of Taiwan’s religious landscape.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) may face obstacles in establishing a factory in Germany due to a shift in German subsidies. Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua has confirmed that the German government is actively addressing the budget issues involved. The recent ruling by Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court, which deemed the diversion of pandemic funds for the ＂Climate and Transformation Fund＂ unconstitutional, has raised concerns about the fulfillment of financial promises to TSMC and other tech giants like Intel Corporation. If Germany decreases its subsidies, TSMC may need to renegotiate or even abandon its plans for the factory. The Taiwanese government is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to provide support if necessary. This investment dispute has significant implications for the global supply chains and the semiconductor industry, as TSMC’s advanced semiconductors are in high demand worldwide.

Taiwan’s exports for 2023 are projected to exceed US＄400 billion, making it the third-highest on record. Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun expressed confidence in the sustained positive trend, with monthly exports in the fourth quarter expected to surpass US＄30 billion each. The country has accumulated US＄355.1 billion in export figures for the first ten months, putting it on track to achieve the forecast. Year-end stockpiling needs, emerging technologies, and opportunities in artificial intelligence contribute to cautious optimism for November and December’s export performance. Taiwan’s full-year exports are anticipated to trail behind the US＄446.4 billion seen in 2021 and the US＄479.4 billion in 2022. Since 2017, Taiwan’s annual exports have consistently surpassed US＄300 billion, a significant increase from the figures prior to 2016. The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics forecasts a 6.3 percent export growth rate for the coming year.

Taiwan’s Minister of Science and Technology Council (MOST) has acknowledged the country’s investments in high-temperature plasma and fusion research. While recognizing the potential of collaborating with overseas partners for the development of fusion power plants, the Minister stated that the current high cost of research funds makes it unfeasible at present. The issue was raised during an inquiry at the Executive Yuan Education and Culture Committee by Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislator Jang Chyi-lu, who expressed concerns about Taiwan’s ability to invest in nuclear fusion research. Jang highlighted the global interest in fusion power as a clean energy source. The Minister confirmed that Taiwan is actively advancing in controlled fusion research, particularly in magnetic confinement fusion, which aids in reducing carbon emissions. However, he cautioned that commercializing nuclear fusion may take 20 to 30 years. Kuomintang legislator Cheng Li-wun pointed out that the budget allocated for net-zero emissions research this year is significantly larger than the funds allocated for nuclear fusion research. Minister Wu acknowledged that Taiwan’s investment efforts in this area are conservative compared to other countries but did not rule out the possibility of participating in future global research opportunities.