■ Defense
US concerned over arms
US officials have expressed concern over the delay in the arms procurement plan, saying it threatened Taiwan's security. During recent meetings with a group of visiting Taiwanese journalists, many US officials, members of Congress and academics raised similar questions regarding what they see as Taiwan's inability to reach a consensus on the arms procurement plan and show the US its resolve to defend itself from a Chinese invasion. The Cabinet-proposed NT$480 billion (US$15.33 billion) arms procurement package -- which includes 12 P-3C maritime patrol aircraft, six Patriot PAC-III anti-missile batteries and eight diesel-electric submarines -- has been blocked by the opposition-controlled legislature for two consecutive sessions. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party have picked at the high price tag of the deal and the way the procurement is budgeted.
■ Cross-strait ties
Fruit export talks to be held
The government will hold unofficial talks with China on Taiwanese fruit exports, local media reported yesterday. "The World Health Organization [WHO] will hold a working meeting in Hong Kong next month. Taiwan and Chinese representatives will hold unofficial talks on fruit export to China," Broadcasting Corp of China (BCC) quoted Tai Cheng-yao (戴振耀), deputy director of the Department of Agriculture, as saying. "Through the consultation, we hope to sign an agreement with China on the export of Taiwan fruits to China," Tai said. China made a series of goodwill gestures to Taiwan after two opposition leaders visited Beijing in late April and early May. China's offer included two giant pandas, allowing the import of fruits and letting Chinese tourists visit Taiwan. China said it would open its market to 18 kinds of fruit and exempt tariffs on 12 of them.
■ Politics
KMT, PFP to work together
A Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) official suggested yesterday that the nominees of the KMT and its People First Party (PFP) ally for the year-end city and county chief elections coordinate with each other to produce a joint candidate for each city and county. Liao Feng-teh (廖風德), director of the KMT's Organization and Development Committee, made the suggestion when he spoke on how to coordinate the candidates of the KMT and the PFP. Both parties have decided to start to talk about cooperation in the year-end elections on June 22, when the two parties will have decided their candidates for the elections. Liao said that the KMT has prepared its own integration mechanism for the two parties and that it will consider whether to conduct public and party opinion polls or consult opinion leaders among the candidates of the two parties.
■ Politics
DPP to work on consensus
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will invite mayors and commissioners from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as well as the heads of the DPP chapters in cities and counties around the country to a tea party on Tuesday, a lawmaker said yesterday. Lai Ching-te (賴清德), a DPP legislative whip, said the informal meeting at the Taipei Guest House is aimed at forging intra-party consensus on strategy for the year-end local government chiefs elections. President Chen has organized four similar meetings with DPP legislators since May 18 to explore lawmakers' views on major policy issues.
EVA Air is prohibiting the use of portable chargers on board all flights starting from Saturday, while China Airlines is advising passengers not to use them, following the lead of South Korean airlines. Current regulations prohibit portable chargers and lithium batteries from check-in luggage and require them to be properly packed in carry-on baggage, EVA Air said. To improve onboard safety, portable chargers and spare lithium batteries would be prohibited from use on all fights starting on Saturday, it said. Passengers are advised to fully charge electronic devices before boarding and use the AC and USB charging outlets at their seat, it said. South
Hong Kong-based American singer-songwriter Khalil Fong (方大同) has passed away at the age of 41, Fong’s record label confirmed yesterday. “With unwavering optimism in the face of a relentless illness for five years, Khalil Fong gently and gracefully bid farewell to this world on the morning of February 21, 2025, stepping into the next realm of existence to carry forward his purpose and dreams,” Fu Music wrote on the company’s official Facebook page. “The music and graphic novels he gifted to the world remain an eternal testament to his luminous spirit, a timeless treasure for generations to come,” it said. Although Fong’s
WAR SIMULATION: The developers of the board game ‘2045’ consulted experts and analysts, and made maps based on real-life Chinese People’s Liberation Army exercises To stop invading Chinese forces seizing Taiwan, board gamer Ruth Zhong chooses the nuclear option: Dropping an atomic bomb on Taipei to secure the nation’s freedom and her victory. The Taiwanese board game 2045 is a zero-sum contest of military strategy and individual self-interest that puts players on the front lines of a simulated Chinese attack. Their battlefield game tactics would determine the theoretical future of Taiwan, which in the real world faces the constant threat of a Chinese invasion. “The most interesting part of this game is that you have to make continuous decisions based on the evolving situation,
Actor Lee Wei (李威) was released on bail on Monday after being named as a suspect in the death of a woman whose body was found in the meeting place of a Buddhist group in Taipei’s Daan District (大安) last year, prosecutors said. Lee, 44, was released on NT$300,000 (US$9,148) bail, while his wife, surnamed Chien (簡), was released on NT$150,000 bail after both were summoned to give statements regarding the woman’s death. The home of Lee, who has retreated from the entertainment business in the past few years, was also searched by prosecutors and police earlier on Monday. Lee was questioned three
RSS