policy change 結果共20筆

Discover the latest on Taiwan’s refusal to rename its Lithuanian representative office, a move that underscores its commitment to sovereignty amid pressures from China and international relations dynamics.

Discover how Taiwan is moving towards normalcy with the end of its nationwide mask mandate on May 19, as announced by the CDC. Learn about the new guidelines and the emphasis on vaccination and hygiene.

Jonathan Hall of Kantar discusses steps for addressing climate change and the role of AI in achieving Taiwan’s 2050 net-zero target at the Earth Solutions 2024 conference.

Outgoing Economic Affairs Minister Wang Mei-hua praises successor J.W. Kuo for his international perspective as he prepares to take over the ministerial role, emphasizing his commitment to public service. The transition comes as President-elect Lai Ching-te prepares to take office, drawing public attention to the new cabinet selection.

Taipei’s Climate Change Administration plans to hold the third Carbon Fee Rate Review Council in late April to discuss carbon pricing, aiming to base future discussions on scientific foundations. Despite disagreements on target feasibility, the Ministry of Environment aims to establish carbon fee rates before 2030 and intends to charge for 2023’s carbon emissions by 2025.

The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Personnel Division Director in Taipei supports adding mental health leave days for civil servants. The proposal includes granting one day of mental health leave each month without wage deductions. Discussions with the Ministry of Civil Service are ongoing to modify leave regulations. Democratic Progressive Party legislator Rosalia Wu advocates for this change, emphasizing no reduction in pay for civil servants taking mental health leave.

Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, now chairman of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), discusses the new policy of free YouBike use for 30 minutes, emphasizing the need for policy discourse. Taipei City Government’s Department of Transportation announced the change effective Feb. 28. Ko highlights the shift from completely free to charging NT$5 due to recreational rather than commuting use. He stresses the original purpose of YouBike for transportation, not leisure. Ko dismisses DPP’s criticism of TPP as a ＂parasite＂ in parliament as aggressive and unworthy of attention.

A joint survey reveals Taiwan’s staggering plastic waste production, prompting concerns over packaging in supermarkets. Despite efforts to reduce plastic bag usage, statistics show high consumption rates, leading to questions about policy effectiveness. Environmental groups urge the government to implement stronger measures amid rising global environmental awareness.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has abruptly halted the solicitation of tours to China, reversing its previous policy. Originally scheduled to open on March 1, tours from Taiwan to China were limited to a daily reference cap of 2,000 people, with the possibility of adjustments based on the travel industry’s ability to attract customers. The decision to halt the tours immediately was made in response to China’s failure to organize tours to Taiwan and its unilateral change of the M503 flight route without goodwill, which poses a threat to flight safety. The Tourism Administration, a part of the MOTC, believes that given the current circumstances, it is not in the best interest of Taiwanese nationals to travel to China. They continue to appeal to China to demonstrate goodwill and promote cross-strait tourism exchange. Tours that have already been solicited and are due to depart between March 1 and May 31, 2024, will proceed as planned to protect passenger rights, but tours after June 1 are not permitted to depart. Travel companies are urged to refrain from soliciting customers to avoid potential disputes.

Taipei mayoral candidate Ko Wen-je criticizes the lack of long-term vision and planning in economic policy by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT). Despite a 120% increase in Taiwan’s GDP since 2000, real wages have only increased by 4% and the country ranks sixth in total working hours globally. Ko believes that low wages and poor living conditions are not the fault of Taiwanese people but rather the result of the government’s lack of global strategic planning. He questions what keyword might define 2024 if the DPP and KMT continue to be in power, and asserts that a change in leadership is needed. Ko suggests that he should be elected president in 2024 to address these ongoing issues, emphasizing the absence of comprehensive strategic planning as the underlying reason behind the problems.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson, Zhu Fenglian, has announced an increase in the quantity of Kaoliang liquor passengers can carry between the coast of Fujian Province and Kinmen and Matsu islands. The limit has been raised from four to six bottles, in response to the desire from residents to loosen restrictions. This is the second adjustment to the regulations, with the initial change in 2006 raising the previous limit from two to four bottles. These policy changes aim to promote an interconnected living plan between Xiamen and Kinmen, as well as Fuzhou and Matsu, contributing to the integrated development of both sides of the strait. Zhu expressed confidence that these measures will bring further benefits to the people of Taiwan, particularly the residents of Kinmen and Matsu, and emphasized China’s commitment to implementing measures that deepen cross-strait integration and enhance welfare for the Taiwanese.

During a campaign event in New Taipei City, Kuomintang (KMT) vice-presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong mistakenly referred to the election day on Jan. 13 as ’Jan. 15.’ He quickly corrected himself, stating that they would be a president-elect on Jan. 15 next year, which received enthusiastic applause from supporters. This is not the first verbal gaffe from Jaw, as he has made other slips of the tongue recently. He called out the rival Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te instead of his own party’s presidential hopeful Hou Yu-ih during a policy presentation by the Central Election Committee (CEC). Furthermore, he referred to former KMT chairman Johnny Chiang as a ’terrorist of peace for Taiwan’ instead of DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te during a campaign event in Taichung. Jaw also criticized the DPP’s governance record over the last eight years, arguing that their belief in a change of personnel and party now resonated with the DPP itself.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an celebrates his first year in office with a video message emphasizing his commitment to change and development. The video, titled ＂Everything has started, change is underway,＂ showcases the life journey of a Taipei native, highlighting key policies implemented during Chiang’s tenure. These include enhanced birth rewards, AI-powered learning spaces, the Taipei Dome, reinstatement of Chongyang respect for the elderly money, and increased support for startups. Chiang takes on various roles in the film, symbolizing his dedication to providing policy support and services at every stage of citizens’ lives. The video creatively uses different frame sizes and scene transitions to present Taipei from various perspectives, reflecting a hopeful vision for the city’s future as a sustainable and inclusive capital.

The Ministry of Labor in Taiwan has announced significant revisions to the regulations governing work permits for foreign professionals in arts and performing arts. The new regulations, which will take effect on December 20, aim to attract more foreign artistic talent to Taiwan’s cultural scene. One major change is the acceptance of documents from important international organizations, such as the United Nations, for residents of Hong Kong and Macau who are unable to obtain official recommendation or certification documents. The framework for foreign artistic professionals’ work is divided into four main types: performance and visual arts, publishing, film and broadcasting, and popular music and crafts. The qualifications for the publishing industry have been relaxed to recognize individuals with over five years of publishing experience who demonstrate originality and special performance in their field. Similarly, the qualifications for crafts-related work have been broadened to accept assistant professors or individuals with equivalent qualifications. Prior to these revisions, the application process for foreigners undertaking artistic work in Taiwan was stringent, requiring an application through an employer or by the professionals themselves if they met the necessary qualifications. As of October 2023, Taiwan had 245 self-employed foreign artists holding valid working permits, highlighting the country’s growing reputation as a hub for international art professionals.

Presidential candidate Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party has shifted his stance on allowing heavy motorcycles on national freeways. Previously, he promised to open the freeways to heavy motorcycles if elected, but now suggests that if the majority opposes it, the government should amend the law accordingly. This change comes in response to public opinion polls showing that 60% of people are against the policy change. Ko cited discussions with the Drivers Union, which strongly opposes the idea, due to safety concerns such as an increase in accidents and fatalities. Additionally, Ko proposes eliminating the two-stage left turn system for motorcycles and having motorcyclists line up behind cars at traffic signals. He believes that the decision on left turns should be based on the number of lanes on the road, taking into account the specificities of different roadways.

The Group of Seven (G7) leaders convened via video conference to discuss the Taiwan Strait, affirming its importance for international security and prosperity. They reiterated their commitment to the One China policy and called for a peaceful resolution to cross-strait issues. The G7 also expressed readiness to establish a stable relationship with China and voiced opposition to China’s militarization activities in the South China Sea. Human rights concerns in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong were also discussed. The G7 condemned North Korea’s missile testing activities and addressed various other topics such as nuclear safety in Japan, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, and climate change. The discussions highlighted the G7’s attention to urgent global crises, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the Gaza crisis.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan has decided to lower the entry standards for the national examination for nursing personnel in order to address staff shortages. The Minister of Health and Welfare, Hsueh Jui-yuan, expressed his uncertainty about the reasons for nurses’ dissatisfaction with the announcement. The goal of this policy change is to enhance the pass rate in the national examinations and boost the nursing workforce. However, the National Taiwan University Hospital Union argues that the real issue lies in the lack of conducive workplace environments to retain nurses, rather than the number of nursing licenses. They believe that both ministries have failed to adequately discuss the policy change and provide comprehensive explanations and support measures. The union urges hospital management to improve the workplace environment to better handle staffing predicaments.

Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Wang Mei-hua, has promised to address a tax cut for young workers in continued negotiation with the Ministry of Finance. Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Yang Chiung-ying has highlighted concerns over low salaries in Taiwan, noting that the median wage is NT＄42,000, the lowest among the Four Asian Tigers. To address this issue, Yang has suggested increasing the age for tax incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hiring young employees from under 24 to under 30. This policy change, according to the legislator, could significantly help young people struggling with low wages. In response, Wang stated that the government would discuss the proposal with the Ministry of Finance and emphasized their efforts to reduce taxes to tackle the issue of low wages for young workers.

The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) has announced that starting November 1st, mandatory health declarations will no longer be required for those entering or departing China. However, travelers are still obligated to report their health status to customs and cooperate with sanitary inspections. The Tourism Department of the Kinmen County Government has welcomed this policy change, hoping that cross-strait interactions can resume under normal conditions in the post-pandemic era.

Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te emphasized the significance of Taiwan’s net-zero emissions goal on Tuesday (May 23) at the 2023 Fubon Sustainability Forum, a collaborative event by Fubon Financial Holding Co. and the Risk Society and Policy Research Center.