TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Protestors met outside the legislature on Tuesday (April 16) to denounce Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) meeting with members of a Taiwan-Israel Parliamentary friendship group.
Protestors said that Tsai had ignored the humanitarian situation in Gaza when meeting with the Israeli delegation on Monday, and labeled Israel’s military campaign in Gaza a genocide. They also called on Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱), Taiwan’s head of the parliamentary friendship group, to cut ties until an immediate ceasefire is called, and criticized Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) for his cooperation. Palestinian scholar Hazem Almassry spoke at the protest. He described losing his mother to an Israeli airstrike, and the destruction of his family home. “Today I call on you, the people of Taiwan and the international community, to recognize our suffering and to stand with us in our quest for justice and peace,” Almassry said. He said the values of human rights and justice are universal: “They are worth standing for, and worth fighting for.” The protest marks the second time Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator for Pingtung Chung has been called on to address the situation in Gaza, after a protest was held outside Liberty Square in late March. Taiwan News asked Chung's office for a response to the protest, and was provided with the following statement: "Taiwan joins peace-loving democratic partners around the world in condemning the war, calling on all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, and to resolve differences through communication to avoid the continued expansion of the crisis." Protestors gathered the day after Tsai met with the Taiwan-Israel Parliamentary friendship group's chair Boaz Toporovsky at the Presidential Office. During the meeting Tsai described “very close” ties between Taiwan and Israel, and said Taiwanese businesses hope for further cooperation with Israeli partners. Toporovsky said Taiwan and Israel are both “small but strong democracies in a harsh environment.” He also said he would “always remember Taiwan's support after the attack on Israel on October 7.” The surprise attack launched by Palestinian group Hamas claimed the lives of over 1,200 people in Israel. Israel’s response to the attack has killed over 30,000 people in Gaza, many of them children and civilians and caused a "humanitarian disaster" according to United Nations agencies. In February, UNICEF said that more than 13,000 children were among those killed, and that the malnutrition rate among children had reached nearly a third. Gaza has experienced a shortage of food, water, and medicine, while aid into the territory has been blocked by Israeli forces. The protest was organized by groups including Parallel Government and the Left Party, alongside anti-war and labor activist groups. It was organized as part of an international effort to mount “economic blockades” against the war in Gaza that involved nearly 60 protests in different countries.
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TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Workers on Wednesday (April 17) completed the tearing down of the Uranus Building in Hualien City, two weeks after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake caused it to tilt dangerously, sending residents fleeing into the streets.
One of the 17 deaths reported nationwide after the quake was a teacher surnamed Kang (康) living at the Uranus Building who went back inside to find her cat. She was trapped and killed by an aftershock shortly acter. Demolition work on the 10-story building began on April 5 but was halted several times as more than 800 aftershocks jolted the region and increased the angle at which the structure tilted forward. After members of the public spotted cats emerging from the structure, rescue actions were launched involving workers ascending to the roof to catch the animals. Chickens kept by a resident on the top of the building were also removed safely. After finishing work Wednesday morning, members of the demolition team lined up their heavy machinery and took their hats off to pay their respects to Kang. The county government said it would restore power and running water to nearby homes and businesses later in the day. Road signalization would also be completed before adjacent roads were scheduled to reopen for traffic Friday (April 19). Work was still continuing on the demolition of two other unsafe buildings in the city, officials said. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) held a press conference on Wednesday (April 17) noting the amount of marijuana seized has increased 11 times compared with six years ago.
Meanwhile, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) visited the CIB to learn more about efforts to curb marijuana use, urging anti-drug agencies to work harder to both cut off supply. According to the CIB, 1,169.3 kg of cannabis products were seized, along with 6,692 plants in 2023. It was reported 802 people were charged with marijuana use or possession. Marijuana transportation, cultivation, use, or possession is a punishable offense in Taiwan. It is classified as a category 2 narcotic. Prosecutors said marijuana users are often white-collar workers with no prior drug convictions. Furthermore, many have experience living or traveling to overseas countries where marijuana is legalized. Chen said the Cabinet launched an anti-drug action plan in 2017 with four-year funding of NT$10 billion (US$308 million), with the goal of tracking down drug sources. In 2021, a second phase of the anti-drug policy was enacted, with four-year funding of NT$15 billion. Chen said the focus of anti-drug policy will be on technology, international investigations, maritime enforcement, and border smuggling. More efforts will also be made to investigate domestic users such as teenagers and school-based drug dealing. As for drug treatment, Chen said the aim is to continue with medical treatment, counseling, and education. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A search team has recovered the body of a student from Myanmar following a NT$1,000 (US$31) bet to swim across a river in New Taipei City, reports said Wednesday (April 17).
Three men and a woman from Myanmar went to the Emerald Riverside Park in Yonghe District on Monday (April 15) evening to drink and chat. Before jumping into the water themselves, two of the students told their companion, who was known to be afraid of the water, they would give him NT$1,000 if he swam the 150 meters across Xindian Creek to Taipei City. The female student left to rest at the school dormitory, leaving her friend, surnamed Pan (版), alone in the park. When the two male swimmers returned to the site, they could only find Pan’s backpack, which they took with them to the Mass Rapid Transit station. On their way there, they found Pan’s clothes and phone were inside the backpack. They returned to the banks of the river but found no trace of him, leading them to alert their school. A search for the missing student with a boat and a drone resulted in the discovery of his body in the water on the Taipei City side of the river Wednesday noon. Pan’s relatives identified the body via video conferencing, with the authorities saying a further investigation would determine the cause of death of the 23-year-old. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A former nanny in central Taiwan was sentenced to nine years and three months in jail on Thursday (April 18) for the abuse of a 1-year-old child in her care that resulted in the toddler’s death.
The woman, surnamed Tsai (蔡), was responsible for the care of the girl surnamed Yao (姚) in Taichung’s Qingshui District in November 2022. This week, she was found guilty of inflicting injuring on the child that resulted in an intracranial hemorrhage and death. Tsai refused to confess to the charge of intentionally injuring the child. Prosecutors successfully argued that Tsai was under mental pressure due to financial difficulties and took out her stress on the toddler by hitting and shaking her repeatedly. Yao’s father and mother both testified during the trial, and called Tsai a murderer for her actions. Both pleaded for the harshest sentence possible, noting that their daughter endured multiple brain surgeries after the attack, before she passed away in the hospital. Prosecutors initially argued for a sentence of 13 to 15.5 years in jail, but the judge decided on a sentence of nine years and three months, with the possibility of appeal. Tsai is also a mother with three of her own children. In related news, cases of child abuse have become a sensitive topic in Taiwan recentky after a pair of sisters in Taipei were charged in March with torturing a 1-year-old boy to death in late 2023. The two sisters, surnamed Liu (劉), were formally indicted on charges of abuse resulting in death at the Taipei District Court on Thursday (April 18). TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The taskforce in charge of Taiwan’s indigenous submarine project will continue to function despite the resignation of its convener, Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) said Wednesday (April 17).
Harbor acceptance tests (HAT) for the country’s first domestically developed submarine, the Narwhal, are in progress, with its commissioning expected at the end of 2025. However, the project head of the Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS) working group, Retired Navy Admiral Huang Shu-kuang (黃曙光), has tendered his resignation according to reports Tuesday (April 16). The reports prompted speculation that the IDS taskforce might be disbanded and its work continued by the Navy and the Ministry of National Defense (MND) in general. However, Chiu told reporters at the Legislative Yuan Wednesday the group would continue because the submarine is a major project. The taskforce includes several active military officers who are capable of handling matters, the minister said. Huang also offered to resign his position as adviser to the National Security Council (NSC). His sister, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊), said she had learned of his plans a couple of weeks ago when they visited their mother in hospital. The former admiral reportedly thought the time was right to leave as his tasks were completed and a new president is scheduled to take over on May 20. Chiu had been invited to deliver a report about the status of the submarine project to the Foreign and National Defense Committee at the Legislative Yuan, but the session was held behind closed doors. Questions from lawmakers reportedly focused on the cost of seven future submarines, estimated at a total of NT$280 billion (US$8.62 billion) or NT$40 billion each. Criticism that they cost more than the Narwhal was not justified, because the new submarines would have different equipment, according to Chiu. The military pointed out that inflation would force the costs of some elements up, though others might become cheaper. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Even though the appointments have not been officially announced, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told foreign visitors Tuesday (April 16) that Presidential Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) would be the next foreign minister, while incumbent Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) would move to the National Security Council (NSC).
Earlier Tuesday, Premier-designate Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) presented the top economics officials taking over on May 20, but neither he nor President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has officially mentioned top foreign policy and defense appointments so far. The new functions for Lin and Wu have been mentioned by the media, but have not been confirmed by government officials. That changed when Tsai received a parliamentary delegation from New Zealand at the Presidential Office Building Tuesday morning. She introduced Lin and Wu to the guests while mentioning their functions in the next administration. Another change which has been mentioned in the media but not confirmed, was the appointment of incumbent NSC Secretary-General Wellington Koo (顧立雄) as the new defense minister. If the change goes ahead, Koo will be the seventh civilian in charge of a ministry frequently led by retired generals or admirals. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Zhulinshan Guanyin Temple (竹林山觀音寺) in New Taipei’s Linkou District held a ceremony on Tuesday (April 16) for the donation of four patrol cars and three detective vehicles to police.
The vehicles had a value of NT$7 million (US$215,000). Zhulinshan Guanyin Temple Chair Huang Huo-wang (黃火旺) said the temple has offered support to police officers to protect the community. Chu said the new patrol vehicles will allow police to shorten their response time and potentially apprehend criminals or disrupt bad activity. In recent years, the temple has also donated reflective vests to National Highway Police Bureau. New Taipei City Government deputy mayor Chu Ti-chih (朱惕之) expressed gratitude to the temple for the donation. Chu said the community is growing, making it more difficult to ensure public safety. There are about 210,000 residents in the Linkou and Taishan districts. Given the number of businesses and schools in the area, and the number of people visiting, the total population can increase to 250,000. Chu said the combined population of the two districts can put a strain on police resources. Fortunately, support from the local temple and community has provided support for police officers. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Peach Aviation denied a disabled Taiwanese passenger from boarding a flight at Naha Airport because they could not inspect the wheelchair battery.
Returning to Taiwan from Okinawa on April 5, the woman, surnamed Lin (林), was denied boarding after staff said they could not visually inspect her wheelchair’s battery. Lin’s electric wheelchair had an outer cover that could not be removed. Despite sending wheelchair documentation in advance, she was denied boarding. Peach Aviation apologized for the inconvenience and paid for Lin’s ticket to board another flight back to Taiwan. Lin has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease, which is a lifelong condition where a person’s bones easily fracture. When interviewed by reporters, she said this was the first time she was denied boarding due to her wheelchair battery. “My wheelchair is my ‘feet,’ and the way this incident was handled shocked me,” Lin said. For flight safety reasons, Peach Aviation said the company requires not only confirmation of documents but also the ability to visually inspect the battery. The wheelchair confirmation form on the website also states that wheelchairs with batteries that cannot be removed without tools will be refused, the company added. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism said it will investigate whether the airline has violated the Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities or other regulations. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's legislature on Tuesday (April 16) passed new regulations aimed at improving pedestrian sidewalk safety.
The Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of the Regulations on Pedestrian Traffic Safety Facilities (行人交通安全設施條例) that stipulates central and local governments must formulate plans for promoting and improving pedestrian traffic safety. For example, when local governments find fixed facilities hindering pedestrian passage, they are to order improvements, with a maximum fine of NT$150,000 (US$4,600) for non-compliance. According to the regulations, both central and local governments are responsible for constructing safe, unobstructed, and continuous pedestrian pathways. Responsibilities include the construction, improvement, and maintenance of pedestrian facilities and the creation of safe, unobstructed, and continuous pedestrian pathways. The law specifies that the central government should establish the policy direction and promotion plan for pedestrian traffic safety facilities, and supervise local governments in conducting surveys on pedestrian safety and improvements. This plan is to be reviewed at least once every four years, and involve experts, scholars, and private organizations. Local authorities must formulate phased construction plans for sidewalks of a certain width on roads, submit them for approval by the central government, and prioritize implementation after improvement. These plans should also be reviewed and amended at least once every four years. In addition, they must establish improvement plans for pedestrian traffic safety facilities, including adding, widening, or improving sidewalks, removing obstacles on sidewalks, posting announcements, and implementing pedestrian-friendly zones. If local authorities find fixed facilities or equipment obstructing pedestrian passage, they should notify the managing authority, owner, user, or administrator in writing. They must complete the improvement, relocation, or removal of the facility within a specified period, which shall not be less than three months, or face fines ranging between NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. If pathways are obstructed by public utility facilities, such as transformers, mailboxes, fire hydrants, or gas pressure regulator boxes, local governments must coordinate with the owners or users to choose a relocation site and require improvement, relocation, or demolition. The law also says that if the level of a covered or uncovered sidewalk is not aligned with an adjoining section of the walkway, local governments can designate specific sections for reconstruction to bring them all to the same level. If unauthorized changes hindering passage occur after the reconstruction, the owner, user, or administrator of the building will be required to make improvements within two months and failure to comply may result in fines ranging from NT$5,000 to NT$25,000 per violation. Local governments can declare designated areas around medical institutions, schools, institutions, and public transportation stations as “pedestrian-friendly zones.” Opinions will be sought from local residents through public meetings to formulate priority improvement measures. In pedestrian-friendly zones, measures such as speed limit signs or markings, speed reduction measures, part-time pedestrian-only areas, and pedestrian priority areas may be implemented to provide a conducive walking environment. To ensure local governments implement pedestrian traffic safety facility improvement plans, the regulations stipulate that the responsible central government agency, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, should annually assess and publish the effectiveness of local implementation. If performance is unsatisfactory, the central government may reduce the subsidy amount for related road traffic improvement plans. |
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