TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Santiago Pena Palacios of Paraguay is expected to attend next week’s presidential inauguration, reports said Tuesday (May 4).
Before taking office, Pena visited Taiwan in July 2023, while Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) led the Taiwanese delegation to Pena’s presidential inauguration the following month. The president of Paraguay was also the first ally to congratulate Lai on his victory in the Jan. 13 presidential election. Pena will lead his country’s delegation to attend Lai's May 20 inauguration as president and Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) as vice president, the report said. Paraguay is the only of Taiwan’s 12 diplomatic allies to be located in South America. Pena has used several public occasions to emphasize his country’s support for Taiwan and cross-strait peace and stability, including at a meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio earlier this month. Other diplomatic allies, including the Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu, Eswatini, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and Belize are also expected to send their head of state or head of government to the inauguration, the report said.
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TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The discharge from the military has been completed for an active-duty officer held by China since he strayed into Chinese waters near the outlying island of Kinmen in March, the Army said Tuesday (May 14).
The military called on China to allow the officer named Hu (胡), 25, to return home. The Chinese coast guard detained him and a fellow angler after they got lost in the fog during a fishing trip on March 17. The other man, who was not part of the military, was returned to Taiwan a week later, while China accused Hu of having hidden his background. The Kinmen Defense Command said Tuesday that Hu’s relatives had applied for his discharge from the military, with the procedure completed on May 8. Discussions will continue with the assistance of the Kinmen County Government to persuade China to let Hu return home for humanitarian reasons, according to the Army. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Tuesday (May 14) confirmed that the Navy took part in joint drills with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific in April.
Following a report by Reuters that the two navies conducted drills in the Western Pacific last month, MND spokesman Major General Sun Li-fang (孫立方) said that due to numerous uncertainties at sea, to prevent mutual interference during encounters at sea, routine drills were carried out under the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES). This term refers to the safety measures and protocols that naval vessels or aircraft from different countries should adopt when encountering each other unexpectedly at sea. These measures and protocols are aimed at reducing mutual interference and uncertainty and facilitating communication. Reporters cited sources as saying this exercise did not involve dynamic operational maritime maneuvers and only simulated communication linkages and similar actions. The MND emphasized that this is not the first time CUES has been carried out after encountering U.S. naval vessels. According to report, “multiple military assets” were involved, but the drills were dubbed “unplanned sea encounters.” The exercises reportedly consisted of half a dozen navy ships from both countries, including frigates and supply and support vessels. The drills reportedly lasted for days and were meant to train in “basic” operations covering communications, refueling, and resupply. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Legislative Yuan Tuesday (May 14) passed amendments to stop the public reporting of several minor traffic violations.
The third reading of amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例) passed the legislature limiting the number of violations the public can report, but retaining categories such as riding scooters without helmets, parking violations on sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, and occupying designated parking spaces for the disabled. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said the new regulations would go into effect as early as June. Last June, new traffic regulations allowed the public to report 13 traffic violations, leading to opposition from professional drivers such as taxi drivers due to stricter point systems. On March 7, the Cabinet approved draft amendments proposed by the MOTC, which excluded 10 minor violations that incurred fines of NT$1,200 (US$37) or less from public reporting. Infractions that can no longer be reported include riding a scooter while holding a mobile phone, smoking by drivers affecting others' road safety, reversing without displaying lights or paying attention to pedestrians, and reversing large vehicles without someone guiding from behind. The amendments also specify that temporary parking will not be subject to public reporting in various locations, including on bridges, in tunnels, at roundabouts, facing obstacles, or on express lanes. The public can also not report vehicles temporarily parked within 10 meters of intersections and bus stops, five meters from fire truck entrances, and in front of entrances or fire hydrants at airports, stations, docks, schools, entertainment venues, exhibitions, sports venues, markets, or other public places. The amendments specify that violation penalty points will be restricted to instances where the police can confirm the driver's identity on the spot and exclude direct reporting, traffic enforcement technology, and public reporting. It also amends the frequency of point deductions for attending road traffic safety lectures from deducting two points once a year, to subtracting four points twice a year. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Aviation Police Bureau announced on Tuesday (May 14) that a Canadian woman was detained at Taoyuan International Airport with 25.3 kg of ketamine in her suitcase.
The street value of the category III narcotic was estimated to be worth more than NT$10 million (US$310,000). The Aviation Police Bureau said the woman declared her visit to Taiwan was for sightseeing. Aviation police said the woman is suspected of being part of a larger drug trafficking syndicate that makes use of foreign nationals to bring illicit drugs into Taiwan. Aviation police added that the 23-year-old woman was caught on March 23. Upon interrogation, aviation police learned that the woman was paid approximately NT$600,000 to bring the drugs into Taiwan in her checked luggage. After getting off the plane, she was instructed to check in at a hotel and await instructions from the drug trafficking group to deliver the drugs. Aviation police said that the woman thought the ketamine would go undetected. Security and customs personnel spotted drugs as soon as she entered the country, with the case now transferred to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for investigation. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Representative to the U.S. Alexander Yui (俞大㵢) called for more international economic integration with Taiwan during an event on Monday (May 13) at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.
Yui said that in the face of a potential Chinese invasion, Taiwan not only needs to strengthen its defense and asymmetric warfare capabilities, but its economic links with the world. He added the more economic integration there is, the safer Taiwan will be. Yui pointed out that Taiwan recently completed negotiations with the U.S. on the second phase of the 21st Century Trade Agreement. Taiwan also hopes to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity established by President Biden. In terms of security, Taiwan has significantly increased its defense preparedness and investments, the representative said. This year's defense budget accounts for 2.5% of the nation’s GDP, Yui said. Taiwan is developing its own missiles, ships, submarines, and other weapons and is willing to join the U.S. defense supply chain, he added. Yui reiterated that Taiwan is already a sovereign country, so there is no need to declare independence. Instead, Taiwan will maintain the status quo and not create problems, he said. Hopefully, the international community will recognize Taiwan's status, Yui said, adding that Taiwan needs its international space to contribute to the world. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) appealed to opposition lawmakers and leaders across Taiwan to attend the inauguration of President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on May 20.
Chen said the Presidential Office invited both ruling and opposition parties, and elected heads of counties and cities, to the inauguration. He said the event symbolizes Taiwan’s freedom and democracy, which should be celebrated by all political parties. Chen presided over an opening ceremony for the National Highway 1 System Interchange in Taichung on Monday (May 13). He also responded to other questions from local media, saying there was no timetable for further negotiations with China after the deaths of two Chinese fishermen on February 14. Chen added that China’s provocative actions in Taiwan's waters continue to attract international attention. He called upon China to stop such behavior and advocated for cross-strait exchange. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former transport minister and ex-Taichung mayor Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) will become Taiwan’s new foreign affairs minister, though one scholar believes foreign policy will be steered by more experienced Cabinet members, following in the same direction as President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
The Yale-educated Lin will replace Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) as Taiwan’s chief diplomat on May 20, following President-elect Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) inauguration. He will join a Cabinet of foreign affairs heavyweights, including Wu, who will move to the national defense portfolio, and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), Taiwan’s former representative to the U.S. Assistant Professor of Political Science at Taipei’s Soochow University Chen Fang-yu (陳方隅) told Taiwan News he believes Hsiao and Wu will dominate foreign affairs during the Lai administration, and policy will follow in the direction set under Tsai. “Lin won’t play a very big role in the foreign policy,” Chen said. Chen, who provided the DPP with foreign policy advice before the election, said Lin may have ambitions to rise through party ranks. In addition, Chen said Lin may position himself for the next general election, so he is unlikely to make significant policy changes. Chen said Lin, if not pulling the strings behind the scenes, will follow in Wu's footsteps as Taiwan's international spokesperson. As foreign minister, Wu gave frequent English language interviews to foreign media to make the case for Taiwan’s sovereignty and global status. Chen said Lin may need time to learn how to communicate Taiwan’s story to international media, which he will do with the help of think tanks and foreign ministry staff. “Joseph Wu knows the importance of propaganda and international communication very well, and I think Lin Chia-lung will continue this – there’s no reason to stop,” he said. The number of countries that hold diplomatic relations with Taiwan has dropped from 17 to 12 during Wu’s time in office. In an interview on Thursday, Wu said losing more diplomatic allies to China is a long-term concern. Lin will have little scope to control this issue when he becomes foreign minister, according to Chen. He said Taiwan cannot change the “China factor,” as the country is too powerful. “They will do their best to prevent the loss of diplomatic ties, but it’s not dependent on Taiwan. It all depends on U.S-China competition,” he said. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) New Taipei City Councilor Chang Chia-ling (張嘉玲) inspected a section of the Taipei MRT Circular Line damaged by the April 3 earthquake, which has resulted in the suspension of service between Banqiao and Zhonghe.
Civil engineers and MRT staff accompanied Chang on Monday (May 13) as she inspected the damaged track, including displaced steel box girders. Chang said no one can absolve themselves of responsibility associated with the damaged track, urging more accountability, saying a scientific, systematic inspection of the entire line had yet to be carried out. Chang told reporters that the number of seismic measuring instruments at Circular Line stations was insufficient and unable to detect earthquake information. She recommended more exchanges with countries like Japan, which has an extensive subway system and is also prone to earthquakes. Chang said there were 137 reports of damage on the line from Jingan Station to Banxin Station, including damage to support pads, track base, track gaskets, expansion joints, sound insulating walls, track deformation, and fractures. The time frame for completing repairs was initially set at one year, though an appraisal from an impartial third party is still underway. New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems Construction Division Deputy Director-General Chen Chih-ming (鄭智銘), who accompanied Chang, said the cause of the damage is still under investigation and it has yet to be determined if structural problems or natural disasters were the main cause of service disruption. If beams and columns need replacement that would further increase repair time. Taipei and the New Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems have agreed that New Taipei will restore Circular Line service. Initial repair costs are expected to be NT$442 million (US$13.6 million), which will be initially covered by the New Taipei City Government's disaster reserve fund, and later, a detailed expense plan will be sent to New Taipei’s Finance Department for review and allocation of funds. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan High-Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) on Monday (May 13) refuted social media posts from China claiming that people using umbrellas on rail platforms could be electrocuted or “sucked” into the overhead wires.
THSRC clarified the overhead wires operate at 25 kV at 60 Hz, which is the standard overhead power supply and normal grid power frequency, reported Taiwan FactCheck Center. The company said passengers can stand on the platform with an umbrella behind the yellow warning line without risk of electric shock. There has been a resurgence of videos online about the danger of using an umbrella on high-speed rail platforms, suggesting that doing so during rainy weather could result in electric shock or being “sucked” into high-voltage wires. THSRC said the video first appeared on a Chinese social media platform in 2016 despite debunking and clarifications. Taiwan FactCheck Center said the video was filmed at a high-speed rail station in China and had simplified Chinese. THSRC acknowledged the risk of electric shock if objects are held too close to the wires over the platform, and said to refrain from bringing long objects within a two-meter radius of the wires. The FactCheck Center said the likelihood of electric shock depends on distance, and the closer one is to the source, the higher the risk of electric shock. |
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