In honor of Kaohsiung’s centenary, the Chinese-language Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) recently published a reflection on the city’s dynamic growth and emergence as a prosperous hub in southern Taiwan, expressing hope for its continued success into the next century.
Kaohsiung is unique in Taiwan, encompassing mountains, rivers, airports and ports, as well as MRT and high-speed rail systems, all within its city limits. Over the past few years, the central government has invested considerable resources in the city’s development. Despite concerns about rising housing prices, there is still widespread agreement that Kaohsiung is an increasingly attractive proposition.
In April 2018, during then-president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration, the Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) was established in Kaohsiung — the first government ministry to be set up in the southern region. Situated near the Port of Kaohsiung, the council symbolizes the government’s commitment to investment in marine-related initiatives.
However, since then, the region has not attracted any additional Cabinet-level agencies. The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA), established in 2022, was envisioned as a science and technology-driven, innovative agency with no specific restrictions for its office location. However, a report by the National Audit Office showed that MODA’s preparatory task force had intentionally limited its base to Taipei.
That said, we should shift our focus to future development. Creation of a ministry for sports was a key campaign promise of President William Lai (賴清德). It is expected to be officially established next year with a projected budget of NT$20 billion (US$626.9 million) by 2027.
In the wake of Taiwan’s achievements at the Paris Olympics, there has been considerable discussion regarding the new ministry, but its exact location remains unclear.
Kaohsiung is spacious with convenient transportation, and is already home to the National Sports Training Center and the Taiwan Institute of Sports Science, both on Shiyun Boulevard in Zuoying District (左營). A new ministry of sports in the same area would be highly significant, and the establishment of a second government ministry in the southern region would be a notable achievement for the Lai administration.
Today’s advanced communications technology would ensure effective coordination with other central government agencies, similar to what the OAC has achieved.
Furthermore, the Sports Administration on Zhulun Street in Taipei could be repurposed for MODA, which is still seeking a permanent office in the capital. This solution kills two birds with one stone, and saves public funds.
Lo Cheng-chung is a professor and director of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology’s Institute of Financial and Economic Law.
Translated by Nicole Wong
To The Honorable Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜): We would like to extend our sincerest regards to you for representing Taiwan at the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on Monday. The Taiwanese-American community was delighted to see that Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan speaker not only received an invitation to attend the event, but successfully made the trip to the US. We sincerely hope that you took this rare opportunity to share Taiwan’s achievements in freedom, democracy and economic development with delegations from other countries. In recent years, Taiwan’s economic growth and world-leading technology industry have been a source of pride for Taiwanese-Americans.
Next week, the nation is to celebrate the Lunar New Year break. Unfortunately, cold winds are a-blowing, literally and figuratively. The Central Weather Administration has warned of an approaching cold air mass, while obstinate winds of chaos eddy around the Legislative Yuan. English theologian Thomas Fuller optimistically pointed out in 1650 that “it’s always darkest before the dawn.” We could paraphrase by saying the coldest days are just before the renewed hope of spring. However, one must temper any optimism about the damage being done in the legislature by the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), under
As Taiwan’s domestic political crisis deepens, the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have proposed gutting the country’s national spending, with steep cuts to the critical foreign and defense ministries. While the blue-white coalition alleges that it is merely responding to voters’ concerns about corruption and mismanagement, of which there certainly has been plenty under Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and KMT-led governments, the rationales for their proposed spending cuts lay bare the incoherent foreign policy of the KMT-led coalition. Introduced on the eve of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the KMT’s proposed budget is a terrible opening
US President Donald Trump on Monday gave his inauguration speech. Although mainly directed at US citizens, his words were subject to global scrutiny by leaders and others wanting to understand more about his intentions for his second term. The US has been Taiwan’s strongest ally since the end of World War II and Trump’s first term brought many welcome advances in Taiwan-US ties. Still, many Taiwanese are concerned about what Trump’s second term will mean for the nation, especially after comments he made concerning Taiwan’s national defense and semiconductor industry. During Monday’s address, Trump said that the US “will once again consider
RSS