■POLITICS
DPP-Wu talks continue
Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday the party and its former secretary-general Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) have not reached a conclusion in ongoing talks to have him return to the party as secretary-general. After considering Wu’s seniority in the party and his rich experience in handling party affairs and organizing election campaigns, Tsai yesterday said she would like to ask for Wu’s help in the local government election at the end of the year. Tsai said she would make a formal announcement as soon as an agreement is reached.
■POLITICS
Ma mum on anniversary
Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) yesterday said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had no “plan” to speak on Saturday, the fourth anniversary of the enactment of China’s “Anti-Secession” Law. The Presidential Office would make its position known on that day, adding it would do so under the principle that “the sovereignty of the Republic of China is protected” and “Taiwan’s dignity is maintained,” Wang said. Wang made the remarks in response to a media inquiry about speculation that Ma would keep a low profile on this year’s anniversary. The Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) reported yesterday that Ma, who was vocal on the piece of legislation during his term as Taipei mayor and during his election campaign, would keep quiet on Saturday and have the Presidential Office issue a press release instead.
■POLITICS
NSB head ‘quits’ over health
The Presidential Office yesterday dismissed speculation that the recent resignation of National Security Bureau (NSB) director-general Tsai Chao-ming (蔡朝明) resulted from a power struggle within the government’s intelligence branch. Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) had approved Tsai’s resignation for health reasons and that Ma accepted the resignation with reluctance. To express his gratitude for Tsai’s contributions, Wang said Ma decided to confer Tsai a medal in the near future. Wang dismissed the theory that political infighting was behind Tsai’s resignation, saying that it was groundless and pure speculation. Wang said since Tsai had been hospitalized several times, their understanding was that Tsai tendered his resignation for health reasons. Wang said Tsai had offered to resign on several occasions, but Ma had refused to let him go. Regarding Tsai’s successor, Wang said Ma had not reached a decision.
■TRAVEL
Shoe check in effect
Flight passengers heading to the US from Taiwan are now required to take off their shoes and coats for safety inspections, effective at 9:30pm yesterday. Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said the Transportation Security Administration of the US Department of Homeland Security issued an emergency amendment on Monday requiring all passengers leaving for the US to start following the same safety inspection practice within 72 hours of the amendment being announced. In the past, the practice was only enforced when passengers were about to leave the US, not before they entered the US. Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport early to avoid delays, the CAA said. Electronic devices must be taken out of baggage for inspections as well.
■ENVIRONMENT
Twelve factories fined
The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) last week used helicopters to capture photographic proof of air and water pollution by 12 factories in the Greater Taipei area, the agency told a press conference yesterday. From the air, EPA inspectors were able to shoot images of several factories along the Tahan River (大漢溪), the Taliaokeng River (塔寮坑溪) and in Wugu Township (五股), emitting air pollutants and dumping wastewater and solid wastes into the river. The violators received fines of NT$100,000 to NT$149,200, the EPA said.
■WEATHER
Cold front coming
A continental cold air mass is expected to move into the country, bringing showers to most parts of the island and sending temperatures down, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday. The bureau predicted that temperatures in northern, northeastern and central Taiwan could drop to as low as 11°C on Saturday and Sunday, with the daytime highs varying between 16°C and 21°C. Southern and southeastern Taiwan would see slightly warmer weather on those two days, with lows of 14°C to 15°C and highs of 20°C to 25°C.
■GOVERNMENT
No decision on postal bank
Chunghwa Post chairman Wu Min-yu (吳民佑) said the government had not reached a decision on Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Sean Chen’s (陳冲) proposal to turn the post office’s savings department into an independent postal bank. If the government does decide to set up a postal bank, it would only handle low-risk bank business, Wu said. He added that should Taiwan follow the examples of Japan and Germany, Chunghwa Post would remain the largest shareholder of the postal bank.
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
MILITARY AID: Taiwan has received a first batch of US long-range tactical missiles ahead of schedule, with a second shipment expected to be delivered by 2026 The US’ early delivery of long-range tactical ballistic missiles to Taiwan last month carries political and strategic significance, a military source said yesterday. According to the Ministry of National Defense’s budget report, the batch of military hardware from the US, including 11 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 64 MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, had been scheduled to be delivered to Taiwan between the end of this year and the beginning of next year. However, the first batch arrived last month, earlier than scheduled, with the second batch —18 sets of HIMARS, 20 MGM-140 missiles and 864 M30
Representative to the US Alexander Yui delivered a letter from the government to US president-elect Donald Trump during a meeting with a former Trump administration official, CNN reported yesterday. Yui on Thursday met with former US national security adviser Robert O’Brien over a private lunch in Salt Lake City, Utah, with US Representative Chris Stewart, the Web site of the US cable news channel reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. “During that lunch the letter was passed along, and then shared with Trump, two of the sources said,” CNN said. O’Brien declined to comment on the lunch, as did the Taipei
A woman who allegedly attacked a high-school student with a utility knife, injuring his face, on a Taipei metro train late on Friday has been transferred to prosecutors, police said yesterday. The incident occurred near MRT Xinpu Station at about 10:17pm on a Bannan Line train headed toward Dingpu, New Taipei City police said. Before police arrived at the station to arrest the suspect, a woman surnamed Wang (王) who is in her early 40s, she had already been subdued by four male passengers, one of whom was an off-duty Taipei police officer, police said. The student, 17, who sustained a cut about
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