Jackie Chan's (成龍) next movie should be banned in Taiwan because of his remarks about last month's presidential election, a senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) figure said yesterday.
During a news conference in Shanghai last month, the action star called Taiwan's disputed election "the biggest joke in the world." It was unclear which aspects of the election Chan was criticizing.
Parris Chang (
"We want to propose a motion at the legislature to ask the government to ban showings of Jackie Chan's new movie," Chang said.
The action star's latest Hollywood film, Around the World in 80 Days, is set to open here in June.
Chang also said the actor should be barred from Taiwan and suggested Taiwanese people should consider retaliating by not traveling to Hong Kong.
While sharing Chang's concerns, some of the lawmaker's colleagues were less than enthusiastic about taking action against the popular star.
"We do not agree with all statements by individual party members, but we can respect their freedom of speech," DPP caucus whip Tsai Huang-liang (
Chan, who is married to a Taiwanese actress, is a frequent visitor to Taiwan, where he has appeared in commercials for humanitarian causes.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) won the March 20 vote by a narrow margin, but the pan-blue camp claims the vote was marred by irregularities, though it has provided little proof.
The High Court is working out how to conduct a recount, tentatively scheduled for next month.
The opposition also alleges that an election-eve shooting that lightly wounded Chen and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) unfairly gave the president sympathy votes.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Many Japanese couples are coming to Taiwan to obtain donated sperm or eggs for fertility treatment due to conservatism in their home country, Taiwan’s high standards and low costs, doctors said. One in every six couples in Japan is receiving infertility treatment, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare data show. About 70,000 children are born in Japan every year through in vitro fertilization (IVF), or about one in every 11 children born. Few people accept donated reproductive cells in Japan due to a lack of clear regulations, leaving treatment in a “gray zone,” Taichung Nuwa Fertility Center medical director Wang Huai-ling (王懷麟)
PROXIMITY: Prague is closer to Dresden than Berlin is, so Taiwanese firms are expected to take advantage of the Czech capital’s location, the Executive Yuan official said Taiwan plans to boost cooperation with the Czech Republic in semiconductor development due to Prague’s pivotal role in the European IC industry, Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said. With Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) building a wafer fab in the German city of Dresden, a Germany-Czech Republic-Poland “silicon triangle” is forming, Kung said in a media interview on the weekend after returning from a visit to Prague. “Prague is closer to Dresden than Berlin is, so Taiwanese firms are expected to take advantage of the Czech capital’s location,” he said. “Taiwan and Prague have already launched direct flights and it is