provisions 結果共10筆

Premier Chen Chien-jen stresses Executive Yuan’s accountability in responding to Legislative Yuan inquiries, emphasizing adherence to constitutional provisions. Chen highlights the importance of rational questioning for a democratic society and pledges cooperation between the two branches for transparent governance.

The National Police Agency has denied rumors of cutting year-end bonuses for police officers, clarifying that the bonuses are distributed according to the provisions of the Executive Yuan. Police officers who are employed by Jan. 31 and still on the job by Dec. 1 would receive a year-end working bonus of 1.5 months, with no specific stipulations for police officers. Last July, the Executive Yuan approved a 15% increase in police duty allowances, the first adjustment in 30 years, benefiting nearly 70,000 officers nationwide. The agency reaffirmed its support for police officers and commitment to improving their working conditions and benefits.

U.S. military advisers have begun long-term stations in Kinmen and Penghu of Taiwan’s army amphibious camps, carrying out periodic training in the island’s special warfare camps, following the implementation of the U.S. ＂National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023＂ (NDAA 2023). The Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated that the NDAA aims to assist Taiwan in developing comprehensive training and institutional abilities. Since 2023, U.S. military advisers have supported Taiwan’s special forces in learning how to use the ＂Black Hornet Nano＂ miniature drone and have provided assistance in writing guidelines and teaching materials. Taiwan’s Aviation and Special Forces Command has expressed plans to purchase these drones. The NDAA’s provisions concerning Taiwan primarily focus on information exchange and collaboration in military training for ground forces. However, there are currently no plans to station civilian officials in Taiwan.

Taipei’s Executive Yuan Spokesperson, Lin Tze-luen, announced a budget surplus for the 2023 fiscal year, attributing the achievement to the combined efforts of civil society and the government. The surplus will be allocated responsibly to maintain fiscal discipline, primarily focusing on debt reduction and infrastructure investment. Taiwan’s economy has experienced consistent growth, resulting in a budget surplus for seven consecutive years. In 2022, the surplus reached an impressive NT$500 billion, leading to a proposed special budget of NT$380 billion. This special budget aims to enhance economic and social resilience, with provisions such as a cash payment of NT$6,000 per citizen, support for labor and health insurance programs, and assistance for Taiwan Power Company. Additionally, the special budget includes programs to aid residential loan holders from the middle class and below. Lin emphasized the government’s commitment to considering public opinion and promoting national affairs to facilitate Taiwan’s sustainable development.

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.

The Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) is considering a potential fare increase, with a plan to review the proposal in the first quarter of next year and a possible implementation in the latter half of the year if approved. The decision on fare adjustments will be made by the board of directors of the newly formed TRA company, which will be established on January 1. The board will determine the necessity, method, and extent of any price changes before submitting their proposal to the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC). Despite submitting several versions of fare increase proposals to the MOTC earlier this year, substantive discussions have not yet taken place. MOTC Minister Wang Kwo-tsai supports respecting the independent decisions of the company’s board of directors regarding fare adjustments. The transition to a company structure will decrease the direct impact of fare adjustments on TRA’s operations, and any losses incurred due to policy factors will be subsidized by the government under the provisions of corporatization. Former MOTC Minister Tan Ho-chen also supports increasing TRA’s ticket prices, arguing that it will help the railway understand its genuine operational costs and develop effective pricing strategies.

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee has agreed to include provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24 NDAA) to assist in the training of Taiwan’s armed forces. The bill, with a budget of ＵＳUS＄876.8 billion, requires the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive training and advisory program for Taiwan’s military. The program will only proceed with the consent of the Secretary of State and after consultations with Taiwanese officials. The legislation aims to enhance Taiwan’s multilayered defense capabilities, including asymmetric defense strategies and interoperability with U.S. forces. It also promotes cybersecurity cooperation and the protection of military networks. The NDAA mandates biannual reporting on China’s military developments in Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and the South China Sea. Additionally, a classified report will evaluate the absorption of U.S.-provided military capabilities by Taiwan’s armed forces. After approval by Congress, President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law, strengthening U.S.-Taiwan defense relations.

New Taipei City’s Department of Transportation is actively working to improve over 150 sections of yellow-line parking by February 2024, in response to a provisional ordinance by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) that acknowledged the scarcity of temporary parking spaces in metropolitan areas. The department has already completed over 60 conversions from red to yellow lines, prioritizing areas near MRT stations, hospitals, schools, taxi infraction hotspots, and areas with high temporary parking demands. These adjustments are carefully implemented to ensure a minimum lane width of 5 meters and avoid prohibited areas. Yellow-lined streets have a no-parking window from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., allowing only for quick drop-offs, pick-ups, or loading. The MOTC requires that every 100 to 150-meter stretch of red-line roadside have at least 10% allocated for temporary parking. Until these provisions are met, parking violators will face fines ranging from NT$300 to NT$600.

The labor minister of Taiwan, Hsu Ming-chun, has assured the public that the government-backed labor insurance will not face bankruptcy. Hsu emphasized that the government will continue to allocate supplementary funds to prevent this outcome. Concerns had arisen due to the growing imbalance between the number of pension recipients and payees, with predictions of bankruptcy by 2028. However, Hsu pointed out that the government has been providing supplementary pension funds for the past four years and assured that this plan will be maintained. She also stated that the government’s supplementary labor insurance provisions are considered part of administrative expenditures. While there are currently no provisions in place for additional government funds, Hsu suggested that it could be implemented if approved.

The annual Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage commenced in Taichung on April 21 and reached Yunlin County on Monday (April 24).