policy report 結果共13筆

KMT legislator Chang Chia-chun advocates for government subsidies for egg freezing to combat Taiwan’s declining birthrate, emphasizing the need for women’s reproductive autonomy and equal rights. Despite a national crisis, only three cities offer such subsidies, and a central government report remains unevaluated after a year. Chang calls for swift action from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

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.

Lin Chia-lung, Presidential Office Secretary-General, is set to become Taiwan’s new foreign minister under President-elect Lai Ching-te’s administration, leveraging his diverse experience, U.S. and Japan expertise, and steady diplomatic approach to cross-strait relations.

The second session of the 14th National People’s Congress in China opened with Premier Li Qiang setting a GDP growth target of around 5%. Last year’s GDP growth was 5.2%, ranking among the top of the world’s major economies. Li outlined key development goals, including job creation and environmental improvements. The premier acknowledged challenges in China’s economic recovery, emphasizing the need for effective demand. The decision to discontinue post-congress press conferences by the premier has raised speculation about policy transparency.

The Executive Yuan unveils plans for the Taiwan Community Emergency Response Team (T-CERT) in a recent policy report, aiming to establish 320 teams with 8,000 members within five years. Training will involve various sectors, drawing parallels to the civilian defense concept of the Kuma Academy. Despite opposition from Kuomintang legislators, the initiative focuses on disaster response, not military operations, in line with Taiwan’s Disaster Prevention and Protection Act. The teams, inspired by FEMA recommendations, are supported by the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of National Defense.

Kuomintang legislator Wu Tsung-hsien pushes for a special report on food safety at the Legislative Yuan, sparking political tensions among Taiwan’s major parties. Premier Chen Chien-jen’s administration faces scrutiny as cross-party consultations falter, delaying the proposed review. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) expresses concerns over procedural delays and politicization of the issue. Stay tuned for updates on the unfolding legislative drama in Taipei.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu plans a multi-party meeting to discuss Premier Chen Chien-jen’s food safety report proposal. Expectations are for the 11th legislative term to begin on Feb. 20, with a focus on food safety issues under the DPP’s eight-year tenure. The KMT and DPP are engaging in discussions, with the TPP expressing support for the report.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip, Ker Chien-ming, has urged the Kuomintang (KMT) to avoid excessive showmanship in response to their request for an extraordinary session at the Legislative Yuan on February 17th. Ker emphasized that extraordinary sessions are typically held during recess periods and that there is no need for an additional meeting since the new session of the Legislative Yuan officially began on February 1st. The KMT caucus had called for an early meeting and invited Premier Chen Chien-jen to give a special report on the issue of ractopamine being detected in Taisugar’s sliced pork. They warned that any delay could obstruct the inaugural policy address. To convene an extraordinary session, the KMT’s Han Kuo-yu must first hold party group consultations, according to Ker. He suggested that once that is done, Premier Chen could be invited to provide a ＂food safety special report＂ on February 20th.

Newly elected Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu has announced that the parliamentary session will begin on February 20th, taking into account the Lunar New Year holiday and allowing time for staff preparation. Han plans to invite Premier Chen Chien-jen and department heads to deliver policy reports and answer questions. He emphasized his commitment to sincerity and enthusiasm in his role as Speaker, urging all members to consider the future and fostering mutual trust and cooperation between political parties. Han made the decision after the first cross-party consultation, where proposals were made for either February 16th or 20th. Han and Johnny Chiang were elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, on February 1st.

Following the victory of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan’s presidential election, a report by the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) suggests that Beijing might escalate activities in gray zone areas. The report highlights Taiwan’s increased geopolitical prominence and its pivotal role in semiconductor manufacturing, making the stability of the Taiwan Strait a key concern for the U.S. and other Western nations. The report also notes that Vice President Lai Ching-te won the election by over 40% of votes, breaking the trend of switching ruling parties every eight years since direct presidential elections were implemented in 1996. The victorious DPP aims to strengthen Taiwan’s defenses and relations with like-minded nations while resisting negotiations with Beijing. Additionally, the party seeks to reduce Taiwan’s trade dependency on China and strengthen ties with significant partners such as Australia, Europe, and Japan. With no party securing a majority in the legislative assembly, the DPP faces a ＂minority government and majority opposition＂ scenario, which could hinder the government’s legislative and budgeting process and impact Taiwan-U.S. ties. Despite the election, cross-strait relations and regional tensions are unlikely to undergo fundamental changes. Taiwan’s vital position in semiconductor manufacturing and geopolitics ensures its continued rise in importance, with the U.S. and Western nations playing a crucial role in maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait. The upcoming U.S. presidential election in November is expected to significantly impact the U.S.-China-Taiwan triangle, and a potential return of former President Trump to the White House might please Beijing, according to the report.

The Taipei City Government is urging YouBike users to sign up for coverage to obtain additional protection, following a report stating that 812 YouBike accidents have occurred from last year to the end of November this year. Transportation Management Division Chief Chu Chen-tso indicated that most accidents involved riders cycling too fast or being unable to brake in time while going downhill, leading to falls and injuries. With injury insurance, compensation for fractures or serious accidents can reach up to NT$1 million, and hospitalization claims amount to NT$1,000 per day. However, minor scrapes and bruises are generally not covered. Since the initiation of a free public bicycle injury insurance policy in 2018, the insurance rate has risen from 49.4% to 63.5%. Despite this improvement, surveys reveal that 37% of individuals are unaware of public bicycle injury insurance, 30% believe they do not need the insurance, and 20% are reluctant to go through the insurance application process. Additionally, about 60% of users do not understand that each YouBike card requires separate insurance coverage. Taipei boasts 1,325 YouBike 2.0 stations and 15,047 bicycles.

Bank of Japan (BOJ) officials expect Japan’s negative interest rate policy to continue due to insufficient wage growth, according to informed sources. BOJ will hold a monetary policy meeting in December 2024, with additional meetings planned for January, March, and April. After meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda expressed the challenges ahead, possibly signaling a revision to the massive monetary easing policy. This led to a surge in the yen’s exchange rate, reaching a high of 141.6 yen to the dollar.

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.