Legislative Yuan 結果共124筆

Taiwan People’s Party vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu expresses disappointment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) over its handling of diplomatic challenges during COP28. Wu emphasizes the need for the government to reconsider its approach to enhance the economy and diplomacy simultaneously. She highlights the recent consensus in the European Union (EU), where over 700 members of the EU Parliament passed a motion to negotiate bilateral free trade agreements with Taiwan. Wu credits MOFA, the Legislative Yuan, and herself for raising Taiwan’s international profile.

The Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) sent their lead nominees, Han Kuo-yu and Huang Shan-shan, respectively, to draw lots for the party vote ballot order ahead of Taiwan’s 2024 legislative elections. Both candidates are seen as prominent contenders for Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions in the Legislative Yuan. The KMT aims to secure at least 12 seats, while the TPP hopes to obtain at least 10 seats. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) seeks to surpass its previous election result of 13 seats. In the draw, the DPP received ballot number 6, the New Power Party (NPP) got number 8, the KMT drew number 9, and the TPP was assigned number 12. The event saw moments of excitement, prompting a reminder to maintain order.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) vice-presidential candidate Cynthia Wu highlights her legislative achievements during her 412-day tenure in the Legislative Yuan. She proposed 15 bills, hosted five public hearings, and three symposiums. Notable bills include amendments to the Central Bank Act, the Social Medical Development Act, and the Assisted Reproduction Act, reflecting her dedication to improving Taiwan’s financial stability, healthcare system, and reproductive health policies. Wu believes that her policy platform will be built upon these legislative proposals as she prepares for the upcoming televised policy presentation and debate. The vice-presidential TV policy presentation is scheduled for December 22, 2024, while the debate will take place on January 1, 2024, as the 2024 elections approach.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed a law amendment known as ＂Housing Tax 2.0,＂ which will raise the residential property tax. The new tax will take effect on July 1, 2024, with taxation beginning in 2025. The Ministry of Finance estimates that around 4.45 million households will be affected by the revised tax, with approximately 3.1 million households benefiting from a preferential tax rate for single residency. This could potentially generate an additional revenue of NT$2.27 billion to NT$3.27 billion. Under the new system, residential properties will be categorized as ＂self-use＂ or ＂non-self-use,＂ with a national limit of up to three properties classified as ＂self-use.＂ The house tax will continue to be collected annually from May 1 to May 31, based on ownership from the prior year’s July 1 to the current year’s June 30. The amendment also requires that ＂self-use＂ residences meet household registration requirements in addition to the existing provisions regarding rental and occupancy by the owner, spouse, or direct relatives. The tax reform will have a significant impact on 10 municipalities that have not yet implemented the housing hoarding tax. To support the legislative changes, four supplementary regulations will be introduced, including differential tax rate modules, calculation formulas, principles for determining the number of household property holdings, and revisions to the organization of the Real Estate Evaluation Committees. All subsidiary regulations are scheduled to be amended by July 1, 2024.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed an amendment to the House Tax Act, known as the ＂House Hoarding Tax 2.0,＂ raising the tax rate for non-owner-occupied housing to a range of 2 to 4.8 percent, up from the current range of 1.5 to 3.6 percent. The tax rates will apply nationally to all properties owned by individuals and will be implemented by July 2025. Local governments will set their tax rate discrepancies based on the total number of residential properties owned nationwide. The amendment was approved in the Legislative Yuan session following negotiations among the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Kuomintang (KMT), and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), with dissent from the New Power Party (NPP).

President Tsai Ing-wen endorses DPP presidential and vice presidential candidates Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim as implementers of her diplomatic and defense policy, known as the ＂Tsai Ing-wen approach,＂ emphasizing stability, robustness, and trustworthiness. During a campaign event in Hsinchu County, Tsai also supports DPP Legislative Yuan candidates Chan Chi-ti and Tseng Sheng-kai, while hinting at a potential return to teaching after her presidency. Tsai highlights past projects in Hsinchu, such as the NT$2.9 billion investment in a pipeline connecting Shihmen Reservoir to Hsinchu, ensuring the high-tech industry’s resilience during droughts. She played a key role in the infrastructure upgrades, including the groundbreaking ceremony for the pipeline project. Despite opposition obstruction, the ＂Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program,＂ with a budget of NT$840 billion, was passed with DPP’s majority support. The Executive Yuan is expected to approve over NT$100 billion in funding for infrastructure projects, including extending the Wugu-Yangmei Elevated Road to Hsinchu and Toufen, and creating underground railways in Taoyuan. Tsai emphasizes the need for a parliamentary majority and urges public support for DPP’s legislative nominees.

The Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to the Controlling Guns, Ammunition and Knives Act, imposing stricter penalties for firearms offenses in public spaces. Offenders firing standard-issue firearms in or towards public areas could face a minimum of seven years in prison and fines of up to NT＄15 million. Discharging non-standard firearms in public venues may result in sentences ranging from five to twelve years and fines of up to NT＄10 million. The amendments also address loopholes by adjusting the terms for those confessing or turning themselves in, allowing judges to decide on leniency based on each case’s specifics. These revisions aim to combat gun-related crimes and strengthen social safety and order.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to the Sports Industry Development Act to combat ticket scalping. The revised law imposes fines on scalpers ranging from 10 to 50 times the ticket’s face value. The amendments also target the resale of complimentary and promotional tickets, with penalties reaching up to NT＄18,000. The use of ticket-buying bots will be met with up to three years’ imprisonment and/or fines up to NT＄3 million. These measures aim to crack down on the practice of reselling tickets at inflated prices, known locally as ＂huangniu＂ or Yellow Cow. The amended law ensures the anonymity of whistleblowers and potentially rewards them for reporting scalping activities. The updates to the legislation were led by the Legislative Yuan Education and Culture Committee, reflecting the legislature’s commitment to fair access to entertainment and sports for fans in Taiwan.

Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu expressed optimism about the nomination of the Hou-Jaw ticket, stating that it has boosted party morale and is projected to increase the party’s number of legislative constituencies by more than ten. Chu estimated that the KMT is likely to secure 14 to 15 legislator-at-large seats, which would give them an absolute majority in the Legislative Yuan. He highlighted the stable political landscape in the Taipei-Keelung area, the advantage in the Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli area, and potential progress in the southern regions, including Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pintung. Chu also mentioned the strong performance of Mayor Chang San-cheng in Taoyuan and the popularity of former legislator Li Yen-hsiu in Taipei’s 4th election district. Despite criticism over the presence of second-generation officials on the KMT legislator-at-large list, Chu defended their selection, citing their substantial contributions to the public and their professions.

The Legislative Yuan has passed the Minimum Wage Bill in Taiwan, which requires employers to meet minimum wage standards when settling wages with employees. Noncompliance with this law could result in fines of up to NT＄1.5 million and public disclosure of the offender’s name. The new legislation mandates the inclusion of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as one of the key references when determining minimum wage, linking wage adjustments more closely with the cost of living. Previously, adjustments to the basic wage were governed by lesser regulations - the Deliberation Regulations for Basic Wage, which are merely administrative orders and do not guarantee annual wage increases. Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun welcomed the passage of this legislation, expressing gratitude to labor and employer groups, scholar experts, and legislators from all parties for their support. President Tsai Ing-wen had initially proposed the elevation of the Minimum Wage from an administrative order to the force of law in her 2016 policy plan, but it took seven years for the draft to make its way through the legislative process.

The Legislative Yuan has decided to suspend its plenary and committee meetings from December 20 to December 31 in preparation for the 2024 presidential and legislative elections. This decision follows a proposal by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Caucus and is in line with the parliamentary tradition of pausing meetings during the election period. The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Caucus and the New Power Party (NPP) Caucus opposed the suspension proposal but their amendment was not accepted. The DPP’s proposal was passed, with Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Tsai Chi-Chang announcing the decision. The Kuomintang (KMT) caucus leader Tseng Ming-chung argued for a consensus through negotiation before arranging a recess, opposing the resolution’s forceful passage. DPP Caucus Director-General Ker Chien-ming cited a 30-year-old tradition of recessing before elections and emphasized that the decision only brings forward the suspension by 11 days.

Taipei’s top five reports from Monday include the indictment of an army officer on charges of defection and espionage, an investigation into a professor for engaging in technological collaboration with China, the draw for presidential and vice presidential candidate ballots, railway reforms following a train derailment, and intense debate on the Minimum Wage Act in the Legislative Yuan.

The Minister of Labor, Hsu Ming-chun, expressed hope that the draft for the national minimum wage bill will soon pass its final hurdle. The Legislative Yuan is set to vote on the bill tomorrow, after failing to reach a consensus on Friday due to issues concerning the review committee’s composition, deliberation indicators, research groups, and the exclusion of law-violating companies from government procurement. Hsu emphasized the importance of a minimum wage law, which aims to elevate the legal status of the minimum wage, enhance the review mechanism, and clarify the indicators for deliberations. Hsu called for joint efforts to pass the legislation by tomorrow, as there is broad agreement on the need for a minimum wage law after years of discussion.

Taipei (TVBS News) — Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) campaign chief Vivian Huang suggests that TPP presidential candidate Ko Wen-je should ignore daily critiques from traditional media to improve his lagging poll numbers ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Ko’s support has significantly declined, and veteran media person Huang Wei-han advises him to stop blaming institutional effects, fake news, and media blackouts, and instead acknowledge the deficit in the race. Former legislator Shen Fu-hsiung predicts that Ko may receive as little as 12% of the vote and suggests that the TPP might secure only six seats in the Legislative Yuan. However, Vivian Huang counters the negativity by emphasizing that internal polling for the TPP shows their support at around 20%. She advises against focusing on negative press and poll results from traditional media platforms, advocating instead for a concentrated effort on promoting and implementing the party’s own policies.

Former Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng expresses his efforts to invite Foxconn founder Terry Gou to join the Kuomintang’s campaign for the upcoming election. Wang has been appointed as the chairman of KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih’s nationwide campaign. Wang believes in the strength of the Hou-Kang ticket and sees it as a promising combination that could bring about a political power shift. While Wang has not had recent contact with Gou, he assures that arrangements are in place and hints at potential strategic plans. As Hou advocates for the reinstatement of the Special Investigation Division, Wang emphasizes the importance of proper legal processes and the enforcement of the law without violations.

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, the presidential candidate for the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), aims to win a total of 10 seats in the upcoming Legislative Yuan elections. He plans to maintain President Tsai Ing-wen’s foreign affairs policies while adopting a friendlier approach to cross-strait relations and emphasizing Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. Despite his pro-Democratic Progressive Party stance, Ko aims for a non-partisan approach to governance, drawing on his experience as a physician. He believes that the key to his success lies in the turnout of young voters and aspires to make Taiwan a ＂normal country.＂ Ko has been using his media platform, ＂KP TV,＂ and participating in interviews to enhance his media presence. Cynthia Wu has been chosen as the vice-presidential candidate for the TPP. Ko hinted at the possibility of involving Terry Gou, founder of Foxconn, in the campaign after discussing economic policies with Gou’s team. While Ko did not provide specific vote estimates, he mentioned that around 5.5 million votes are needed to win the presidency. He also suggested that if the TPP and the Kuomintang (KMT) were to part ways, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) might gain a majority in the Legislative Yuan.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed a bill appointing an additional deputy director to the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau (MJIB) to enhance its capacity in handling surveillance technology and combating cybercrime. The new position will focus on managing technological development, detecting computer and internet-related crimes, ensuring information security, conducting forensic science, and overseeing communication surveillance. The move comes in response to the increasing demand for expertise in these specialized areas. Currently, the MJIB operates under the guidance of two deputy directors, but the rise in sophisticated crime has led to a significant workload increase in judicial forensic investigations. By expanding the number of deputy director positions from two to three, the MJIB aims to improve the professional handling of surveillance technology and strengthen national defense mechanisms. This legislative revision demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing security landscape and elevating the nation’s defense against cyber threats.

The Legislative Yuan’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee reviewed proposed amendments to the Assisted Reproduction Act, including one that would allow a surviving spouse to use embryos for having children after the death of their partner. The Ministry of Health and Welfare is considering expanding the legislation to include same-sex couples, single individuals, and surrogate pregnancies. Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan suggested a public hearing to gather feedback due to the ethical, legal, and child welfare considerations involved. The current law only permits assisted reproduction for married couples, excluding single women and lesbian couples. Taiwan also does not currently recognize surrogacy as legal, creating unresolved issues regarding the parental status of children born through such arrangements. The debate reflects the government’s attempt to address societal changes and demographic challenges, particularly concerns about population decline.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) vice-presidential candidate Cynthia Wu clarifies that her upcoming trip abroad to participate in the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) was planned since October, refuting claims that it was an attempt to avoid controversy surrounding her nationality. Wu, who is the convener for the health and environmental committee, emphasizes that the conference is part of her pre-determined schedule and highlights her dedication to sustainability. She hopes to represent Taiwan and foster international collaboration during COP 28.

Legislators at the Legislative Yuan are demanding that the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) clearly define ＂fresh milk＂ to differentiate between imported milk and domestically-produced fresh milk in order to protect local dairy farmers. This demand comes as the 10-year anniversary of the economic cooperation agreement known as ANZTEC between New Zealand and Taiwan approaches, which will bring about a zero-tariff policy by 2025. The MOA has committed to collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) to discuss the criteria for defining ’fresh milk.’ Proposals suggest establishing a clear distinction between domestic raw milk and imported liquid milk to ensure stability in contracts between dairy farmers and milk product manufacturers. It is argued that due to high-temperature sterilization and long-distance transportation, imported milk products should be categorized differently from fresh milk produced and stocked within Taiwan. The Acting Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih stated that the storage period and processing issues for ’fresh milk’ will be discussed in consultation with the MOHW, and milk labels will be revised to emphasize ＂Taiwan fresh milk＂ for market segmentation, preserving the label exclusively for domestically produced fresh milk. Currently, the national definition of ＂fresh milk＂ refers to raw cow’s milk processed with heating, sterilization, and refrigeration for consumption without specifying a shelf life.

A campaign billboard for Kuomintang’s (KMT) New Taipei legislative candidate Ye Yuan-zhi has unintentionally become a landmark on Google Maps, attracting a large number of visitors. The billboard gained attention after the breakdown of a collaboration between KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), transforming it into a point of interest. Ye live-streamed a video showing workers altering the billboard by painting over TPP’s Ko Wen-je’s face and replacing it with that of KMT’s Hou Yu-ih’s running mate, Jaw Shaw-Kong. The video caption stated that supporters were angry and asked Ye to deal with the billboard immediately. The adjustment caught the attention of the digital community, with users on Google Maps leaving reviews describing it as ＂historic evidence of a breakup drama＂ and a ＂historic landmark＂ that may not remain for long.

Hsiao Bi-khim, a political veteran, returned to Hualien to rally support for DPP legislative candidate Chang Mei-hui despite unpleasant weather. Hsiao, who made history in 2016 by securing a majority in Hualien for the DPP, faced defeat in the 2020 legislative elections. After her loss, she was appointed to a diplomatic position in the United States. Chang emphasized the need for a representative who could continue the development work of Hsiao and her late husband, former Hualien Mayor Tien Chih-hsuan. Hualien, traditionally a stronghold for the KMT, is of great interest during election seasons. DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, Premier Chen Chien-jen, Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun, former agriculture minister Chen Chi-chung, and DPP Legislator Fan Yun also showed support for Chang.

New Taipei City legislative candidate Yeh Yuan-chih commissioned a film poster illustrator to replace the image of Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih and Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) Ko Wen-je on a joint campaign billboard. The move was made after the anticipated KMT-TPP coalition fell through and each candidate registered independently. The illustrator began transforming the ＂Hou-Ko billboard＂ early in the morning, replacing Ko’s likeness with that of KMT vice-presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong. Supporters had called for Ko’s removal from the billboard due to the failed coalition. Due to time constraints, the decision was made to hand-draw Jaw’s portrait. Yeh expressed regret over the missed opportunity for cooperation but emphasized the KMT’s nomination of Jaw maintained political vigor. The billboard, popular for photographs, will initially feature a sketched outline of Jaw before a full illustration is rendered. This unconventional approach to updating campaign material has been well-received online, highlighting the use of creativity amidst political strategy shifts.

Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng, stated that the Ministry will not interfere with general aviation enthusiasts taking photographs, but any behavior involving scaling walls to capture military installations will be considered reconnaissance activities. This announcement was made during a review of the draft ＂Military Base Security Maintenance Regulations＂ bill at the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign and National Defense Committee. According to the draft bill, unauthorized reconnaissance activities directed at military camp areas, such as measurement, filming, photography, depiction, or description, can result in fines ranging from NT＄30,000 to NT＄150,000 if they compromise national security. The committee discussed potential issues related to dash cameras unintentionally filming the area or residents of high-rise buildings next to a base. Deputy Chief of Combat Planning, Chen Wen-Hsing, clarified that the draft bill mainly targets harmful reconnaissance activities, while general photography activities remain unaffected. Minister Chiu emphasized that unauthorized photography in restricted areas is considered reconnaissance. Kuomintang legislator Chen I-hsin raised concerns about possible conflicts between existing ＂Vital Area Regulations＂ and the proposed new law, suggesting the incorporation of maintaining military base security into existing regulations as a specific chapter.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai commended Hsiao Bi-khim for her extensive knowledge of the United States and Japan, as well as her expertise in Taiwan’s foreign affairs. Chen expressed admiration for the ＂Lai-Hsiao team＂ and acknowledged Hsiao’s diplomatic skills, particularly her connections with political figures in the U.S. and Japan. He emphasized Hsiao’s familiarity with Taiwan’s foreign affairs but stressed the importance of respecting the yet-to-be-announced vice presidential candidate. Chen and Hsiao have collaborated for several years in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan.