■Immigration
Lawmakers look to limit vote
DPP lawmakers yesterday urged the government to deny immigrants from China the right to vote until years after they have acquired ROC citizenship. DPP legislators Tang Huo-shen (湯火聖), Chien Chao-tong (簡肇棟) and Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) said citizens from across the Strait should be denied the right to vote until they have been citizens for seven years. They suggested attaching the measure to the rules governing cross-strait exchanges that are in the process of being overhauled by the legislature. Tang argued that Beijing's constant attempts to annex Taiwan and continued propaganda to achieve that aim warrant the delay. "Over 570,000 Chinese immigrants, long exposed to Beijing's communist propaganda, need more time to assimilate to Taiwanese society," he said. Su echoed the view, saying the delay would ease worries over national security arising from the rapid influx of Chinese immigrants.
■ Zanadau scandal
Su's release to be appealed
Kaohsiung Chief Prosecutor Lin Ching-tsung (林慶宗) yesterday said that he will appeal the Kaohsiung District Court's ruling to release Zanadau suspect Su Hui-chen (蘇惠珍) on Christmas Eve. The appeal will go to the Taiwan High Court's Kaohsiung Branch. Prosecutors requested the detention, saying Su played a major role in the alleged scandal and they needed her to clarify questions. Prosecutors are able to appeal within 20 days after receiving an official copy of the court order. Lin did not elaborate on when he would appeal. Su, the majority shareholder of Zanadau Development Corp, was summoned by prosecutors on Monday for interrogation. After being questioned for more than 24 hours, Kaohsiung prosecutors decided to file a request to the court to detain Su on charges of breach of trust. However, the court decided to release Su without charges.
■ Pornography
CPC to investigate charges
Chinese Petroleum Corp (CPC) chairman Kuo Chin-tsai (郭進財) yesterday morning promised to immediately look into allegations by PFP Legislator Ke Shu-min (柯淑敏) that a number of the company's gas stations were selling pornographic VCDs, Chinese-language media reported yesterday. According to the lawmaker, several CPC stations in central Taiwan sell pornographic VCDs at low prices in order to attract customers. Those who refuel at these stations can pay NT$49 (US$1.40) for a VCD. "No wonder my son always goes to CPC stations these days," she complained, demanding that the CPC look into the problem.
■ Justice
Suspect lives it up
Stock market player Huang Jen-chung (黃任中), who was detained for owing NT$1.4 billion to the National Tax Administration, appeared relaxed in court yesterday, eating peanuts and drinking soda prepared by his girlfriends. Huang, son of former Judicial Yuan president Huang Shao-ku (黃少谷), was summoned before the Taipei District Court (台北地方法院) to explain his role in the Taiwan Pineapple case. Huang was indicted along with 19 other people in February 2000 for alleged illegal speculation on the Taiwan Pineapple Group. Huang -- as though sitting in his own living room -- enjoyed snacks, a fast-food breakfast and soda in the courtroom, not forgetting to invite his friends and journalists to share in the feast.
Theaters and institutions in Taiwan have received 28 threatening e-mails, including bomb threats, since a documentary critical of China began being screened across the nation last month, the National Security Bureau said yesterday. The actions are part of China’s attempts to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty, it said. State Organs (國有器官) documents allegations that Chinese government officials engage in organ harvesting and other illegal activities. From last month to Friday last week, 28 incidents have been reported of theaters or institutions receiving threats, including bomb and shooting threats, if they did not stop showing the documentary, the bureau said. Although the threats were not carried out,
HEALTHCARE: Following a 2022 Constitutional Court ruling, Taiwanese traveling overseas for six months would no longer be able to suspend their insurance Measures allowing people to suspend National Health Insurance (NHI) services if they plan to leave the country for six months would be abolished starting Dec. 23, NHIA Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said yesterday. The decision followed the Constitutional Court’s ruling in 2022 that the regulation was unconstitutional and that it would invalidate the regulation automatically unless the NHIA amended it to conform with the Constitution. The agency would amend the regulations to remove the articles and sections that allow the suspension of NHI services, and also introduce provisional clauses for those who suspended their NHI services before Dec. 23, Shih said. According to
‘GRAY ZONE’ TACTICS: China continues to build up its military capacity while regularly deploying jets and warships around Taiwan, with the latest balloon spotted on Sunday The US is drawing up contingency plans for military deployments in Japan and the Philippines in case of a Taiwan emergency, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported. They would be incorporated in a first joint operation plan to be formulated in December, Kyodo reported late on Sunday, citing sources familiar with Japan-US relations. A US Marine Corps regiment that possesses High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems — a light multiple rocket launcher — would be deployed along the Nansei Island chain stretching from Kyushu to Yonaguni near Taiwan, Kyodo said. According to US military guidelines for dispatching marines in small formations to several locations,
As Taiwan celebrated its baseball team’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12 on Sunday, how politicians referred to the team in their congratulatory messages reflected the nation’s political divide. Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei (中華台北隊), made history with its first-ever Premier12 championship after beating Japan 4-0 at the Tokyo Dome. Right after the game, President William Lai (賴清德) congratulated the team via a post on his Facebook page. Besides the players, Lai also lauded the team’s coaching and medical staff, and the fans cheering for them in Tokyo or watching the live broadcast, saying that “every
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