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The Taiwan Higher Education Union (THEU) has criticized the government for playing a false game with wage increases. While civil servants, including military and education personnel, are set to receive a 4 percent pay increase next year, over 21,000 technical and administrative staff at universities, about 70 percent, remain unsure of their raises. This uncertain group includes employees at private universities. The THEU believes that the government should not leave salaries of non-certified staff to the discretion of universities, as it causes division and lowers morale. Only around 9,000 public employees out of the approximately 31,000 full-time staff members at universities and colleges are certain about their pay rise next year. The THEU is concerned that the hardships of grassroots workers in tertiary education institutions are being overlooked amidst the upcoming presidential elections. They urge that national wage increases should apply to all university staff, with appropriate subsidies provided.

Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified two batches of Japanese strawberries as non-compliant due to pesticide residue issues. The strawberries, imported from Fukuoka and Tochigi, failed to pass border inspections and will now undergo 100 percent batch inspection. Out of the 1,084 batches of Japanese strawberries inspected this year, 19 were found to be non-compliant, accounting for a rate of 1.75 percent. The FDA will continue to conduct thorough inspections until April 30, 2024, to ensure compliance with pesticide residue regulations.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te defended his party’s energy policy against criticisms from the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on Tuesday (Dec. 26), reiterating that the ’2025 Non-Nuclear Homeland’ is not forcible termination. The plan, launched by President Tsai Ing-wen, is not meant to abruptly end the operation of existing nuclear power plants. The Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant’s No. 2 Reactor will cease operations by 2025 in accordance with the law. Lai praised Tsai’s initiative in developing the renewable energy industry and questioned the stance of KMT’s presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih and TPP’s presidential candidate Ko Wen-je on nuclear power. Lai also cast doubts on the candidates’ proposals to resurrect the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, questioning the disregard of the referendum’s legal effects. He announced plans to invest NT＄900 billion by 2030 in motivating corporate investment for the goal of ’carbon neutrality by 2050.’ Lai emphasized the importance of aligning with international standards, establishing carbon trading systems, promoting green electricity, reducing carbon emissions from the Taiwan Power Company, and addressing climate change’s impact on industrial development. He dismissed concerns about future green energy supply sufficiency, citing the Taiwan Power Company’s prediction of an electricity demand increase to 7 million kilowatts by 2030, with supply surpassing 9 million kilowatts. Lai predicted an end to power shortages and the advent of a diverse green energy era.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te reaffirms President Tsai Ing-wen’s commitment to delivering 200,000 units of social housing. Lai outlines his plans for the future, including the construction of 130,000 new housing units and the management of another 170,000 units, bringing the estimated total to 300,000. He clarifies that contracts for over 120,000 units have already been put in place, with more than 80,000 units available for rent under management. Lai also highlights his plans for residential developments in New Taipei’s Wen Tzu Tsun, where he aims to provide nearly 10,000 additional units by using only 5% of the available land. He suggests that the necessary land for these developments could be provided by the central government or through zoning requisitions and city re-planning by local governments.

Deputy Trade Representative Yang Jen-ni of Taiwan’s Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) criticized China’s recent trade barriers against Taiwan, highlighting four major concerns. Yang pointed out that China’s investigation process is biased, unfair, nontransparent, and not in line with international norms. Documents such as applications, comments, respondent summaries, and non-confidential data were undisclosed or restricted to foreigners. Additionally, Yang condemned China for bypassing the Taiwan government during the investigation, prioritizing political objectives over economic ones. She also accused China of misinterpreting trade policies and creating a false narrative that Taiwan is unwilling to address disputes. Lastly, Yang criticized China for producing inflated and unverifiable data in its impact assessment, without solid evidence to support its claims. Yang urged China to abandon its one-sided political manipulation and suggested initiating consultations through the World Trade Organization (WTO) mechanism to resolve trade disputes.

A renowned Taiwanese traditional restaurant in Taipei’s Songshan district has been ordered by the Taipei District Court to vacate its premises due to rent arrears of five and a half months. The establishment, favored by non-partisans in its early years, temporarily closed after the founder’s death in February 2022 but reopened on Renai Road in May of the same year. However, due to structural irregularities in the kitchen, the restaurant relocated to Bade Road in 2021. The landlord claimed that the eatery had been persistently defaulting on rent, accumulating a debt of NT＄760,000. After receiving no response to a notice of lease termination, the landlord filed a lawsuit demanding the return of the premises, compensation for the owed rent, and a monthly rental payment of NT＄140,000 until the property is surrendered. The court ruled in favor of the landlord, terminating the lease agreement and ordering the restaurant to vacate the premises and continue paying rent until it does so.

The Fire Bureau of Changhua County reported 53 emergency medical cases in the last 24 hours, including five instances of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), possibly linked to a sudden dip in temperatures due to an extreme cold wave in Taiwan. The OHCA victims, aged 65 to 87, had yet to have the exact causes determined. Although the number of emergency cases is consistent with the daily average of 54, the number of non-responsive patients increased from three to five. The CHFD advises older adults, those with cardiovascular diseases, and others susceptible to cold weather to dress warmly. The Changhua County Public Health Bureau urges anyone experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest tightness to seek immediate medical care.

The Hsinchu City Government has confirmed that a farmland owned by Taiwan People’s Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je in Hsinchu has been rented out as a parking lot for tour buses. The government has given a 30-day deadline for improvements to be made. Ko has stated that he has contacted other landlords and businesses for car relocation and hopes the land can be restored to its original condition. An inspection has revealed that the farmland is being partially used for non-agricultural purposes. The authorities are demanding correction and restoration for agricultural use within 30 days, with potential fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$300,000 if not complied with. The Hsinchu City Government is also investigating whether income tax has been paid on the rent collected from the land.

KMT vice presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong criticizes DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te’s family house in Wanli District, questioning its legality and the presence of military police. Jaw also accuses Lai of neglecting housing issues in mining areas and highlights the DPP’s disregard for non-urban planned lands. The controversy surrounding the Wanli property reflects the intense scrutiny candidates face over personal and family matters during elections.

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.

A new poll by ETtoday reveals a tight race in the upcoming 2024 presidential election in Taiwan. The Democratic Progressive Party’s Lai-Hsiao ticket, consisting of Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim, leads with 35.9% support, slightly ahead of the Kuomintang’s Hou-Jaw ticket, comprised of Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong, at 34.7%. The Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko-Wu ticket, featuring Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu, trails behind with 19.6% support. Despite the close percentages, 44.3% of the public expresses confidence in the Lai-Hsiao ticket’s ability to win, compared to 30.1% for Hou-Jaw and 13.8% for Ko-Wu. Conversely, 40.5% of voters are certain they will not vote for Lai-Hsiao, while 27.3% reject Hou-Jaw and 20.6% turn away from Ko-Wu. In terms of non-constituency legislators, the KMT leads with 35% support, followed by the DPP with 31.3% and the TPP at 14.5%. The poll highlights public concern over Taiwan’s economic ties with China, particularly due to recent trade restrictions viewed as trade barriers and the suspension of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) measures. Additionally, 47.1% of respondents worry that a Lai Ching-te presidency could worsen cross-strait economic and people-to-people exchanges, while 16.4% hold the same concern for Hou Yu-ih and 11.6% for Ko Wen-je. The poll, conducted from December 18 to 19, surveyed 1,224 respondents with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8%. Compared to the previous poll from December 14 to 15, support for the Lai-Hsiao ticket dropped by 2.6 percentage points, while the Hou-Jaw ticket saw a minor decline of 0.4 percentage points, and the Ko-Wu ticket remained unchanged. The number of undecided voters increased to 9.8%, indicating the undecided nature of the electorate ahead of the presidential vote.

According to a recent survey by Yes123 job bank, 71% of Taiwanese workers expect to receive a year-end bonus, with 21.1% predicting a larger payout compared to last year. Dissatisfaction with bonus amounts could lead 64.2% of office workers to consider resigning. However, 70.9% of employees anticipate receiving their 2023 bonus before the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday, which is a five-year high. Reasons for not expecting a bonus include company profit declines (15.8%), non-full-time employment status (5.2%), insufficient tenure (4.7%), and personal performance (3.4%). Among those expecting a bonus, 18.6% believe they will receive less than last year, while 60.3% expect a similar amount. The main intended uses for the bonuses are savings (45.5%), honoring parents (43.2%), loan payments (40.5%), handing out red envelopes (39.3%), and investing (31.4%). Workers believe that the ideal distribution of bonuses should be proportionate to personal performance (41.9%), equitable for all employees (32.6%), or tied to company profit (25.5%). Factors that could impact the size of year-end bonuses include company profits (69.2%), personal performance (52.3%), moods of bosses or major shareholders (51.4%), years of service (50.4%), job rank (26.7%), and relationships with bosses or supervisors (25.5%).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesperson expressed gratitude for the concern shown by friends in the U.S. Congress regarding Taiwan’s security. The U.S. military has observed increased provocative actions by China around the Taiwan Strait ahead of the Taiwanese presidential election. Admiral John Aquilino, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, has called for restraint from China, perceiving these actions as pressure tactics. U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher urged the Pentagon to provide a classified briefing on assisting Taiwan in deterring China. Taiwan is committed to bolstering its self-defense capabilities and pursuing peace through dialogue with Beijing authorities. Despite pressure, Taiwan will maintain a non-provocative stance while defending national sovereignty and democratic freedom. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret over China’s threats of countermeasures against U.S. firms involved in arms sales to Taiwan and emphasized the need for the U.S. to fulfill its security promises.

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).

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.

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U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns urges parties to refrain from interfering in Taiwan’s upcoming elections and emphasizes the U.S.’s desire for a free and fair electoral process. He quotes President Biden in reaffirming unchanged U.S. policy towards Taiwan. Burns describes U.S.-China relations as ＂hopeful＂ and ＂realistic,＂ highlighting Beijing’s commitment to tackling the fentanyl crisis and the eagerness to restore military communication. He advocates for a realistic and hopeful approach to U.S.-China ties, aiming to mitigate risks rather than decoupling.

Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) will add eight additional train services from Dec. 29 to Jan. 2 and 12 additional train services from Jan. 5 to Jan. 7 to accommodate the anticipated surge in travelers during the New Year holiday. THSR will operate a total of 113 extra services, with 53 heading south and 60 going north. Passengers without reserved seats can access real-time updates on station crowd control indicators on THSR’s official website. The availability of non-reserved seats at each station will also be provided. THSR has urged travelers to make way for those disembarking and to be cautious of the gap between the train doors and the platform. Additional staff will be deployed to ensure smooth operations throughout the holiday period. Tickets for the additional services will go on sale on Saturday (Dec. 16) midnight.

The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) has concluded its investigation into Taiwan’s ban on importing certain products from the mainland, deeming it a trade barrier. The investigation, conducted under the Foreign Trade Law and Foreign Trade Barrier Investigation Rules, found that the ban hinders cross-strait trade relations. The ban, which covers 2,455 Taiwanese goods including agricultural products, minerals, chemicals, and textiles, was announced by Beijing in April. Originally scheduled to release the findings on October 12, 2023, MOFCOM extended the deadline to January 12, 2024. Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian criticized the ban, stating that it goes against the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which aims to reduce or eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers between the two sides. Zhu emphasized that such restrictions harm the interests of both sides and pledged support for measures based on the investigation’s results.

Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) is set to undergo corporatization on January 1, 2024, with the aim of improving punctuality and reducing delays. The agency believes that this transformation, along with the introduction of new trains next year, will enhance its competitiveness in the transport market. The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) has experienced increased passenger numbers recently, leading to capacity shortages and overcrowding in non-reserved seating. Concerns have been raised about the decline in THSR service quality, with some referring to it as ＂high-speed rail becoming like local trains.＂ Under the new Taiwan Railways Corporation, TRA plans to offer services on the eastern main line and support the western short-to-medium-haul network, creating a cooperative yet competitive relationship with THSR. TRA aims to enhance the passenger experience by updating ticket gates and passenger information systems across all railway stations in Taiwan over the next three years. To address the capacity issue, TRA plans to provide shuttle services at Changhua Station and improve inter-rail transfer services. The establishment of the TRA corporation aims to clarify its market positioning, including strengthening intercity transport service between the eastern and western main lines and improving regional commuting transport on the western line. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has established a debt repayment fund to address TRA’s short-term debt of around NT$170 billion, with the goal of making TRA debt-free by 2025 and profitable by 2028. Post-corporatization, TRA plans to increase revenue and optimize asset management through flexible approaches such as joint development initiatives and land rights establishment.

A story about the capture of a record number of 400 green iguanas in southern Taiwan has sparked online discussion. One photo, in particular, shows a green iguana kneeling before a Mazu temple in Neipu, Pintung, leading to humorous comments suggesting the iguana was ＂applying to be a divine steed.＂ Experts clarified that while green iguanas pose no threat to humans, they do cause problems for farmers by nibbling on crops. To protect local agriculture, the government has intensified measures to remove these non-native creatures and maintain ecological balance.

Kuomintang Chairman Eric Chu announces a narrow margin of 0.2% between the KMT’s Hou-Kang ticket and the DPP’s Lao-Hsiao ticket in the latest internal polls. Chu expresses confidence in the KMT’s ability to gain ground against the DPP. He defends the rights of non-ruling parties in Taiwan’s democratic system and criticizes attempts to confiscate opposition parties’ assets by the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee. Chu challenges TPP candidate Ko Wen-je to assist in returning assets to retired party workers. Chu responds to Ko’s labeling of KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih as ＂pro-unification in a hurry with China＂ by asserting that anyone not supporting independence is unfairly tagged as pro-unification by the DPP.

Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih has unveiled a new housing policy aimed at helping young people in Taiwan purchase their first homes. The initiative is targeted at individuals under 40 years old who have never owned property and face income restrictions. Under the plan, qualified buyers can receive a loan of up to NT＄15 million with no down payment required. They will also enjoy a 0.5% subsidy on their mortgage interest rates, with public banks cutting the rates in half after five years. The policy will last for five years and includes restrictions on reselling the purchased properties for a maximum of ten years to address housing market speculation concerns. Hou criticized the current New Residential Loans Policy for its lack of age and income restrictions, allowing affluent individuals to benefit and non-first-time buyers to take advantage of policy perks. The plan aims to ensure fairness and accessibility for those in genuine need of support in purchasing their first homes.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu’s campaign office has announced that they are working with the Central Election Commission (CEC) to handle the declaration of her foreign spouse’s assets. This is the first time a vice presidential candidate in Taiwan has a non-Taiwanese spouse. The registration process has faced challenges due to deadlines and complexity, resulting in some assets not being managed promptly. However, the campaign office assures the public that all matters will be handled in accordance with the law. Wu’s husband is Belgian lawyer Reinout van der Elst, and they celebrated their wedding in Europe in September.

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.