Government 結果共525筆

Taipei City Councilor Chen You-cheng criticized the Taipei City Government for its inaction against online ticket scalpers. He discovered that scalpers were selling tickets for the Taipei Dome’s inaugural test match at prices as high as NT$600, despite the tickets being intended to be free. The test match, scheduled for November 18, sold out 13,000 tickets in just 90 seconds. Chen received numerous complaints from the public, questioning the oversight mechanism of the city government and its restraint over Farglory, the Dome’s operator. He speculated whether the authorities were negligently allowing illegal activities to occur. Chen also highlighted that the city government reported 505 cases of ticket scalping incidents from June to October this year, yet no penalties were imposed. He criticized the city government for its laissez-faire approach, describing it as a clear dereliction of duty. Chen further criticized the city government for seemingly indifferent to implementing punitive measures against these infringements, as scalped ticket sales continue to occur for the Dome’s test match.

The commencement of visa-free travel for Taiwanese tourists to Thailand marks a significant boost in tourism relations between the two countries. This policy, effective until May 10, 2024, promises increased travel ease and a surge in tourism activities, especially during Thailand’s peak season from November to February. The Thai government is evaluating the impact of this initiative and its potential for permanent implementation.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) reassures that Taiwan has sufficient land for the semiconductor industry, despite concerns over shortages in land, water, energy, labor, and talent. Media reports claimed that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TSMC) had abandoned its Longtan plant, highlighting potential issues in the semiconductor industry. However, the MOEA states that it is actively working on land allocation and expansion plans in science parks and industrial parks. The government aims to meet all land requirements for industry expansion and new factories, while providing full services to manufacturing businesses. The MOEA is fully committed to assisting semiconductor companies in developing in Taiwan, with the goal of maintaining Taiwan’s dominant role in global semiconductor manufacturing.

President Tsai Ing-wen emphasized Taiwan’s commitment to protecting freedom, democracy, and regional peace at the 2023 Taipei Security Dialogue. The event focused on key issues including China’s challenge to the global order and democracy, the influence of the Ukrainian-Russian war on global relations, and China’s expanding global influence. Tsai discussed strengthening self-defense capabilities, restoring compulsory military service, increasing the defense budget, and highlighted Taiwan’s first domestically produced submarine prototype. She drew examples from Ukraine’s resistance against Russian invasion and conflicts in the Middle East to highlight the impact of ＂grey zone＂ activity on stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Other attendees included high-ranking officials from Taiwan’s government and diplomats and experts from various countries.

Taiwanese billionaire and independent presidential candidate Terry Gou addressed the talent drain in Taiwan and its impact on the tourism industry. He highlighted how the lack of qualified personnel has affected the competitiveness of the industry, leading to a decline in domestic travel. Gou also linked this talent drain to the fertility crisis in Taiwan and the issue of female employment. He suggested that remote working could help parents balance work and family life, and called on the government to invest in software and hardware developments to support remote job positions. Gou criticized the ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party, for its failure to propose effective strategies for economic growth and emphasized the need for industrial upgrades to sustain Taiwan’s competitiveness in export-driven industries.

The Taiwanese government is set to launch a new subsidy program in February 2023, providing consistent allowances to college students living in dormitories. The program, initiated by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), aims to alleviate economic burdens on students and allow them to focus on their future. Approximately 260,000 students are expected to benefit from the program, which will require an annual expenditure of NT$20 billion to NT$30 billion. The subsidy is estimated to range from NT$1,200 to NT$1,500 per month and will be submitted to the Executive Yuan for examination. The government emphasizes its commitment to youth welfare and ensuring equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their living arrangements.

Vice President Lai Ching-te announces government’s plan to improve equipment and faculty at vocational schools to boost clothing industry. Also, free tuition for high school and vocational school students! #Education #IndustryDevelopment

Over 60% of U.S. military sales owed to Taiwan consist of traditional capabilities, with F-16 fighter jets and M1 tanks accounting for over half of the total amount. This is according to data compiled by the Washington D.C.-based Cato Institute. The total U.S. arms sales backlog to Taiwan is NT＄617.2 billion, as per data from the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The Cato Institute further breaks down the U.S. arms sales backlog into three main categories: conventional, asymmetric, and munition capabilities, making up 63.2%, 22%, and 14.8% of the total backlog respectively. Uncompleted deliveries of traditional equipment amount to around NT＄390 billion, while delayed asymmetric capabilities total about NT＄135.9 billion, and munition accounts for approximately NT＄91.3 billion. The dominance of traditional arms in the backlog consumes a large part of Taiwan’s limited defense resources, despite the U.S. government not officially releasing a detailed breakdown of the weapons sold to Taiwan.

Taiwan’s government is ramping up traffic safety measures. With increased fines and a focus on uncontrolled intersections, they aim for zero fatalities.

The Taipei City Government has agreed to cover the remaining bill of NT$190 million for the completed Taipei Music Center. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an made the decision in order to avoid the city government spending NT$800,000 per month on interest. The city councilors supported the decision but emphasized that the final payment responsibility still needs to be clarified. The Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Tsai Shi-Ping, has promised to submit a complete report within two weeks. Councilor Chien Shu-pei supported the prepayment but also highlighted the need for continued coordination with the Department of Cultural Affairs, which may involve litigation. If litigation is lost, further discussions will be necessary to determine who will bear the legal expenses.

The story discusses how Kaohsiung school meals will now only use domestically produced eggs, addressing concerns about imported egg use. Two egg producers, Tai Nong Egg Products and Sin Sing Eggs, faced fines and legal scrutiny from the city government for their refusal to provide import and export documents, creating uncertainty around the distribution of 4.25 million eggs. This issue prompted a special inquiry report on egg imports in Kaohsiung, which Mayor Chen Chi-mai and officials from the Department of Health and the Agriculture Bureau attended. Mayor Chen revealed that both companies have been heavily penalized, accumulating fines of NT＄11.3 million.

DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te asserts that repairing the roof of his family home in Wanli is a resident’s ＂right＂ rather than a ＂privilege＂ after multiple typhoons. Lai calls attention to the housing problems faced by residents in mining areas and urges local governments and relevant departments to address these issues. Lai’s response comes after criticisms from TPP presidential campaign director Huang Shan-shan and Professor Hsu Shih-jung for not paying taxes and focusing only on his own house. Lai rebuts these comments, stating that similar situations exist in Jinshan and Ruifang within New Taipei City.

The Ministry of Education in Taiwan has proposed a monthly subsidy of NT$1,200 to NT$1,500 for students living on campus, starting in February 2024. This initiative is expected to benefit approximately 260,000 students residing in public and private universities. The Education and Culture Committee of the Legislative Yuan examined the ministry’s budget for 2024, with some legislators suggesting the extension of the rent subsidy program to include on-campus students. The central government had previously expanded the rent subsidy policy for off-campus students in July, offering a monthly subsidy of NT$2,400 to NT$3,600. Additionally, legislators are interested in discussing a special program for college students with the Ministry of the Interior. The Department of Higher Education has confirmed its intention to provide a defined monthly subsidy to on-campus resident students, initially planning to offer NT$1,200 to NT$1,500 per month.

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.

President Tsai Ing-wen’s public address on Facebook praising Taiwan’s LGBTQ+ community and their rights to start families without discrimination sparked a backlash. Critics accused the government of having double standards by not extending the same rights to same-sex couples from China. The Ministry of the Interior expanded same-sex marriage to transnational couples from countries where it is not yet legalized, but couples from China were excluded. The Mainland Affairs Council stated that scheduling opportunities for cross-strait same-sex marriage were hindered by differing legal measures and China’s lack of approval. Despite the government’s promise to fulfill its commitment, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups highlighted the unequal treatment of transnational couples in the expansion of same-sex marriage rights.

The Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau has fined four hotels in Taiwan between NT＄10,000 to NT＄50,000 for increasing room rates during Coldplay’s concerts on November 11 and 12 at the Kaohsiung National Stadium. To prevent the tourism and accommodation industry from exploiting such opportunities, the Tourism Bureau conducts proactive inspections of hotel room rates. Reports indicate that four hotels were found to have inflated their prices, with one hotel seeing a 60% increase, resulting in a fine of NT＄50,000. The Kaohsiung City Government is making efforts to establish the city as a major global concert destination, with performances by international and domestic acts scheduled for 2023. While these events stimulate the tourism economy and increase demand for hotel accommodations, some operators take advantage of the situation by raising room prices. The director of the Tourism Bureau, Kao Min-Lin, has urged industry operators not to inflate prices during festivals, major events, or concerts. The Tourism Bureau will continue to inspect hotel room rates, maintain tourism and accommodation quality through strict supervision, inspections, and fines, and protect consumer rights and interests.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te inaugurated his campaign headquarters in New Taipei City, receiving strong support from Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen. Tsai criticized the Blue-White coalition as a self-interest alliance and urged citizens to work together for Taiwan’s benefit.

The Travel Agents Association Chairman, Hsiao Po-jen, has announced that the Taiwanese government may lift travel group bans to China before Chinese New Year in 2024. Minister Wang Kwo-tsai of Transportation and Communications and Mainland Affairs Council revealed that the MOTC Tourist Administration Director General, Chou Yung-Hui, confirmed plans to lift restrictions on Taiwanese travel groups just before the holiday next year. The ban on private arrangement of group tours to China has been in place since the Covid-19 pandemic, making this decision a significant move to enhance diplomatic relations between the two states. The MAC has also announced plans to restore cross-strait group tours, initially allowing 2,000 visitors per day from China. The lift on travel restrictions may come earlier than expected if China expresses goodwill to welcome tourists from across the Strait.

Over half of Taiwan’s residents believe that the country’s president and majority of legislators should come from different political parties, according to a poll conducted by Shih Hsin University’s Institute of Knowledge Economy Development. The poll showed that 51.8% of respondents held this view. Additionally, the poll found that 77.7% of participants supported the president giving a State of the Nation address to the Legislative Yuan. However, only 28.8% of participants were aware that an annual report to the legislature was a presidential responsibility. In terms of party cooperation, 53.5% of respondents backed the idea of the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People’s Party taking turns in the Presidential or Premier posts. Within this group, 36.1% were ＂somewhat supportive＂ and 17.4% were ＂strongly supportive,＂ while 30.2% opposed such a proposal. Furthermore, 34.5% of participants believed it would be best if the president and the majority of the Legislative Yuan were from the same party. This opinion was more prevalent among university graduates (59.3%) and those with postgraduate degrees (52.3%). The poll also revealed that 36.8% of respondents support the current government led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), while 45.8% oppose it, and 17.4% did not express an opinion.

Presidential candidates in Taiwan have unveiled energy policies that prioritize renewable energy and low-carbon gas as bridging fuels. Taipower, the national power company, has announced plans to accelerate the construction of gas turbine units across the country. The Hsieh-Ho Power Plant, which supplies electricity to the northern region, is currently undergoing an environmental impact assessment. Shifting from oil to gas can reduce air pollution by 96% and greenhouse gas emissions by 52%. In recent years, the government, private sector, and Taipower have made significant efforts to increase the capacity of renewable energy devices. As of September this year, the cumulative capacity of photovoltaic installations exceeded 11.55 million kilowatts, and wind power reached 2,583,000 kilowatts. By prioritizing green energy and using gas, Taipower has reduced air pollution emissions from thermal power plants by 60%, dropping from approximately 107,000 metric tons in 2016 to about 42,000 metric tons in 2022.

Taiwan’s tourism industry is facing a significant labor shortage, prompting the government to consider introducing migrant workers into the hospitality sector. However, no specific timeline has been set for this proposal. Scholars and citizens have expressed concerns about potential job displacement and the negative impact on wages for local workers. Calls have been made for more efficient solutions to alleviate employee workload, rather than solely relying on wage increases. Professor Cheng Chih-yu of National Chengchi University (NCCU) emphasized that even with higher wages, the demanding nature and long hours associated with hospitality work may not attract job seekers. Similarly, Associate Professor Hsin Ping-lung of National Taiwan University (NTU) noted that the labor shortage has intensified workload in the hospitality industry, yet it has not attracted more workers. Professor Cheng suggested a cautious approach to the introduction of migrant workers, considering it as a last resort after exhausting all other means to address the problem. He expressed concerns that if the policy is relaxed, companies may opt for cheaper foreign labor, leading to the displacement of local workers and wage suppression. Additionally, the labor market for older workers and women seeking a second career could be affected.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has confirmed ongoing discussions for the establishment of a representative office in Estonia. While the move is significant for strengthening ties between the two nations, a shared consensus has not yet been reached. MOFA expressed gratitude towards the Estonian Government for engaging in continued negotiations and displaying an open approach. They emphasized the shared values of freedom and democracy that unite Taiwan and Estonia. Estonia’s government has reportedly agreed to allow Taiwan to establish an economic or cultural representative office in Tallinn under the name ’Taipei.’ MOFA stated that they will respond to foreign media reports of Taiwan’s Foreign Minister visiting Estonia at an appropriate time. The ministry highlighted the stable development of the bilateral relationship, citing the Estonian health minister’s support for Taiwan at this year’s World Health Assembly. Estonia is seen as a valued partner with common principles, highlighting the potential for deepening ties in future diplomatic endeavors.

A survey conducted by the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) revealed that Japan ranks last in terms of employees’ physical, psychological, social, and mental health conditions at the workplace. The survey evaluated the health conditions of over 30,000 employees from 30 countries, with Japan scoring a mere 25%. Turkey, India, and China topped the ranking with scores of 78%, 76%, and 75% respectively.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) has revised Taiwan’s third-quarter GDP growth forecast to 2.32%, down from the previous estimate of 2.54%. The revision is attributed to a slowdown in private capital formation, including government and public enterprises’ fixed investments and stock changes. However, the DGBAS official, Wang Tsui-hua, stated that Taiwan’s economy is still improving, with a third-quarter GDP growth rate of 10.47% on a seasonally adjusted annual rate (saar). If fourth-quarter forecasts are maintained, this year’s GDP will be revised downward to 1.55%.

As Taiwan’s January elections approach, Democratic Progressive Party nominee Lai Ching-te is determined to secure the nation’s future. With extensive government experience and a focus on peace and prosperity, Lai’s commitment remains unshaken. Learn more about his dedication to Taiwan’s presidency.