lawmakers 結果共24筆

Discover how Japan’s robust participation in Taiwan’s presidential inauguration highlights strong bilateral ties. Over 140 Japanese guests, including 37 lawmakers, will attend, underscoring the deep respect between the two nations.

Three U.S. lawmakers have urged the International Olympic Committee to end the ＂unfair＂ treatment of Taiwanese athletes, who must compete as ＂Chinese Taipei＂ without their national flag or anthem, challenging the IOC to uphold the Olympic Charter’s principles of equality and political neutrality.

Explore the debate in Taipei as lawmakers advocate for sales tax exemption on menstrual products, facing opposition from the Ministry of Finance over concerns of insufficient consumer benefits and potential NT$380 million annual revenue loss. Amidst discussions on gender wage gaps and period poverty, the ministry highlights the challenges of tax exemption policies and the broader implications for the tax system.

Taiwan’s Minister of Interior, Lin Yu-chang, underscores the importance of the National Land Planning Project during a legislative interview, addressing concerns raised by lawmakers. The project, set to be implemented next year, requires local governments to submit zoning maps to the Ministry of Interior by June. Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan will hold a meeting to discuss a possible timeline extension. Lin also touches on the ＂Pedestrian Traffic Safety Facilities Act,＂ aiming to enhance pedestrian safety and environment. Central government emphasizes the significance of local government compliance with the bill.

Chaotic scene at Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan as KMT and DPP lawmakers clash over child abuse case. Tensions rise as DPP questions impartiality of committee chair, leading to physical altercation. Fracas ends with senior party figures’ intervention, allowing health minister’s report to proceed.

Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang extends an invitation to MPs from Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union member countries to Taiwan’s 2025 Annual Meeting. Chiang emphasizes Taiwan’s commitment to addressing regional issues like climate change and economic development. Taiwan will host the APPU conference for the 11th time in 2025.

Chen Yaw-shyang, commissioner of the National Communications Commission (NCC), faces scrutiny from lawmakers over a report deemed stale and lacking in original content. Calls for a rewrite ensue amidst accusations of insufficient Mandarin language competency and vague content. Legislative skepticism persists as NCC officials defend the report’s recurring information, citing ongoing supervisory responsibilities and recent developments like the Internet Broadcasting Office. Personnel matters, including the potential appointment of NCC Deputy Director Wong Po-tsung as chairman, remain subject to legislative decision-making.

Lawmakers and health advocates in Taipei call for gender equality in cancer prevention policy, pushing for junior high school boys to be included in the public HPV vaccination program. Data shows higher rates of oral HPV infections and head and neck cancer in males. Taipei City has already allocated funds for HPV vaccinations for boys, with calls for nationwide implementation. Suggestions include using increased tobacco health surcharge revenue to fund vaccinations. Calls for equal opportunities in cancer prevention measures for all students and a focus on lowering cancer risks for children.

The European Parliament has suspended all missions to Taiwan until the end of the current legislative term, with Deputy Spokesperson Delphine Colard citing the finalization procedures and upcoming EU elections as key reasons. Despite this pause, the EU remains focused on democracy and foreign interference issues in Asia, particularly Taiwan.

U.S. Congressman Mike Gallagher, along with a team of American lawmakers, visited Taiwan and expressed support for the island’s resistance against China’s influence. The delegation praised Taiwan’s successful development and voiced commitment to deepening U.S.-Taiwan relations for peace and stability in the region. Senator Marco Rubio also reiterated his support for Taiwan during a separate meeting with Taiwan’s ambassador to Paraguay.

The initial round of voting for the Legislative speaker in Taipei has concluded, with Han Kuo-yu from the Kuomintang (KMT) and You Si-kun from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) advancing to the second round with 54 and 51 votes respectively. The KMT nominated Han Kuo-yu and Johnny Chiang, while the DPP put forward You Si-kun and Tsai Chi-chang. The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) proposed Huang Shan-shan as their candidate. KMT lawmakers used open balloting to prevent defection, resulting in Han Kuo-yu receiving 54 votes, You Si-kun receiving 51 votes, and Huang Shan-shan receiving seven votes. One vote was invalidated due to ink stains. The KMT’s open ticket strategy proved successful. A second round of voting will take place in the afternoon, with the TPP not participating.

The 11th session of the Legislative Yuan commenced on February 1, with legislators taking their oaths of office under the supervision of Grand Justice Lu Tai-lang. Before the inauguration, the lawmakers gathered for group photos and exchanged congratulations. Following the oath-taking, each legislator signed their pledge, which was then sent to the Judicial Yuan for record-keeping. A group photo was taken to commemorate the occasion. The day’s events also included a vote for the speaker of the Legislative Yuan, with the counting of votes expected to begin at noon. These solemn ceremonies serve as a reminder to legislators of their responsibilities and commitments as representatives of the people.

Kuomintang (KMT) legislative speaker and deputy speaker candidates, Han Kuo-yu and Johnny Chiang, are scheduled to meet with Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) caucus and eight lawmakers on January 29. The dialogue is expected to last approximately 35 minutes and will be followed by a media conference. The TPP has emerged as a key minority party after the legislative elections on January 13. However, the party has not declared its support for either the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidates or the KMT for the legislative speaker race. The TPP has launched four demands for parliamentary reform, emphasizing transparency and openness in political values.

Legislative Speaker You Si-kun met with a Lithuanian delegation led by Matas Maldeikis, chairman of the Lithuania-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group. The meeting highlighted Taiwan’s recent election, which had a voter turnout of over 70%, as a clear message from the Taiwanese people to defend democratic freedom and national sovereignty. The delegation included three deputy speakers of the Lithuanian parliament and eight other cross-party lawmakers. Speaker You noted that 2024 is a ＂super election year＂ globally, with Taiwan being the second country to hold elections this year. He also expressed his wishes for Lithuania’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in May and October 2024. The speaker emphasized that elections represent the ＂possibility of choice,＂ ＂freedom to participate in politics,＂ and ＂protection of speech,＂ which are rights unfathomable under authoritarian rule. He called on global democratic allies to unite in facing authoritarian challenges and safeguarding democracy and prosperity worldwide. Speaker You expressed gratitude for Lithuania’s support and highlighted the countries’ cooperation on humanitarian aid, particularly in helping Ukrainian students return to school.

The Kuomintang (KMT) has proposed the Absentee Voting Act in response to the need for voting rights for citizens unable to return to their hometowns for elections. The 2021 census revealed that nearly 2 million people work or study outside their home regions, making an absentee voting system necessary. KMT lawmakers argue that this system would increase voter turnout, deepen democracy, protect constitutional voting rights, and is vital for further legislation. The delay in implementing absentee voting in Taiwan has put the country behind other developed nations that have already adopted this global trend.

Recently elected Democratic Progressive Party President Lai Ching-te shares his experiences and expectations with newly inaugurated legislators, urging them to act as a bridge between the government and the people. Lai emphasizes the importance of hard work and teamwork in driving national development, and gives three pieces of advice to first-time lawmakers. He encourages them to become a new force for the nation, stay true to their original intentions, engage in professional questioning, and implement their ideals. Lai draws from his personal experience as a legislator, highlighting the importance of learning from others’ experiences and continuously improving professional expertise.

The U.S. Air Force is actively exploring options to expedite the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, with 136 upgraded aircraft already delivered and the final three on the way. An additional 66 new jets are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2026. Concerns were raised by over 20 Republican members of Congress that the promised deliveries to Taiwan might be delayed due to commitments to Ukraine, Israel, and global security issues. Taiwan’s existing F-16 upgrade program has already faced significant delays due to a lack of crucial parts, and the delivery of the new jets has been postponed by over 15 months due to software development complexities. Lawmakers are committed to collaborating with the Pentagon to ensure the timely delivery of the jets, especially in light of China’s frequent military drills near Taiwan.

President Tsai Ing-wen expresses gratitude to lawmakers for passing the central government’s record-high budget for 2024, highlighting achievements in salary increases, tax cuts, and welfare improvements. The budget prioritizes social welfare, with a significant increase in long-term care funding. Education, science, and culture spending also receive attention, including a plan to reduce private university tuition fees. The national defense budget reaches a historic high, and efforts towards achieving ’net-zero emissions by 2050’ are emphasized. The administration has successfully reduced debt and improved fiscal discipline, with the debt repayment next year reaching a 23-year high. Taiwan’s overall economic scale has grown under President Tsai’s leadership, with GDP expected to exceed NT＄23 trillion this year.

In Taiwan, an increase in egg freezing among women aged 35 to 39 sparks discussions on amending the Assisted Reproduction Act as lawmakers push for inclusive reproductive rights amid low egg utilization rates and a declining birth rate.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced that all presidential and vice presidential candidates in Taiwan’s upcoming elections have submitted consent forms for nationality verification to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One candidate, Cynthia Wu of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), has come under scrutiny for allegedly retaining her U.S. citizenship. Lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) have called on Wu to provide proof of her nationality status. The CEC aims to finalize the list of candidates by December 5 and announce the official roster on December 15. The DPP has nominated Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim, while the TPP has put forward Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu. The KMT has endorsed Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong. The focus now shifts to transparency and eligibility, with citizenship concerns becoming a central issue in the political discourse. The CEC’s timeline allows for any issues to be resolved before the formal candidate list is published, ensuring a fair and democratic election process.

Japanese scholar Yoshiyuki Ogasawara predicts that Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate, is likely to win Taiwan’s presidential race. However, Ogasawara cautions that the DPP is unlikely to gain a majority of legislative seats. Opposition parties have attracted public attention by coordinating candidate discussions, leading to diminished public exposure for Lai. Additionally, recent scandals involving extramarital affairs among DPP incumbent lawmakers have put the party on the defensive. Ogasawara’s prediction makes him the first Japanese election observer to suggest that the ruling DPP may not secure more than half of the legislative seats.

Kuomintang’s presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih discusses law enforcement and national security during a meeting with U.S. Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The conversation focuses on Taiwan-U.S. relations and cross-strait issues.

Estonian legislator Marko Mihkelson highlights Baltic lawmakers’ visit to Taiwan, aiming to enhance cooperation amidst global security concerns. Discussions include digital development, cybersecurity collaboration, and economic partnerships. TSMC’s global expansion also spurs optimism. Learn more about this significant diplomatic effort.

The controversy surrounding ByteDance’s TikTok app continues as the U.S. Congress pushes to ban the popular video-sharing platform, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before lawmakers.