Executive Yuan to request reconsideration of controversial legislative power bills

2024-06-06

A set of controversial bills to expand legislative powers has been delivered at the Executive Yuan. Premier Cho Jung-tai says the Cabinet may seek a reconsideration of the bills by the Legislative Yuan to potentially get them withdrawn. If the lawmakers uphold the bills again, the DPP says it will request a ruling on whether they are constitutional. The bills had triggered sharp backlash from the public when they were passed last month, putting significant pressure on KMT and TPP lawmakers.

Last month on May 28, the Legislative Yuan passed several bills to expand its powers. On Wednesday, the bills were delivered at the Executive Yuan. Premier Cho Jung-tai has asked Minister Without Portfolio Lin Ming-hsin to evaluate whether to seek remedies in accordance with the Constitution. The matter was added to the Executive Yuan’s agenda for Thursday, to decide whether to send the revisions back to the Legislature for reconsideration.

Chen Shih-kai
Executive Yuan spokesperson
As the country’s highest administrative body, we must act in accordance with laws and we have the responsibility of defending constitutional order and safeguarding the basic rights of the people.The purpose of the reconsideration is not to further escalate tensions between ruling and opposition parties. We hope that by invoking this constitutional process, the Legislative Yuan will reconsider the contents of the bill to achieve a consensus that’s in line with the Constitution and in the best interests of our nation.

According to the Constitution, if the Executive Yuan deems a resolution passed by the Legislative Yuan difficult of execution, it may request the Legislative Yuan to reconsider the resolution, within 10 days after its transmission to the Executive Yuan. That means the request must be made by June 14.

Hsu Chiao-hsin
KMT lawmaker
If the Executive Yuan requests reconsideration, it would be quite unacceptable, in my opinion. Our demands are very simple. That is, officials summoned for interpellation should not tell lies. They should tell the truth as it is. Isn’t that what the people want?

Ker Chien-ming
DPP lawmaker
If the reconsideration isn’t successful, we will call for a constitutional interpretation. We will absolutely do so. We must demonstrate our commitment to upholding a constitutional government.

If the request for consideration goes ahead, the Legislative Yuan will have 15 days to reach a final resolution on the bill, which must be agreed on by at least half of all lawmakers. If upheld, it must then be accepted by the Executive Yuan and sent to the president to be announced and enter effect. The DPP legislative caucus says if that happens, it will request a constitutional interpretation.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

收到"國會擴權"法案函文! 行政院將正式提出覆議案最晚期限6/14

2024-06-06

立法院5月28日三讀修正通過國會擴權法案，行政院證實昨天(5日)已收到立院函文，院長卓榮泰指示研議是否提出救濟。今天(6日)行政院會臨時新增討論事項，認為立法院職權行使法部分條文等兩案有窒礙難行的地方，將正式提出覆議。由於國會擴權法引發公民反彈，藍營選區立委承受不小壓力，就看有沒有機會成功。

上個月28日，立院職權行使法三讀過關。行政院5日收到國會職權修法的立院函文，行政院長卓榮泰請政委林明昕研議是否依照憲法程序提出救濟。6日行政院會排入議程，將依照憲法程序研議是否提出覆議。

[[行政院發言人陳世凱]]
“作為國家最高行政機關，必須依法行政，也有責任捍衛憲政秩序，守護人民的基本權利。本次提出覆議的目的，絕不是要升高朝野對立與衝突，而是希望透過憲政運作的過程，請立法院藉由再次審議法案的內容，找出符合憲法，以及國家利益的最大共識。”

根據憲法增修條文規定，假如行政院對立法院決議的議案有疑慮，送達行政院10天內，可以移請立院覆議。根據時程推算，行政院最晚必須要在6/14之前提出。

[[立委(國) 徐巧芯]]
“行政院這次提出覆議，其實我覺得我滿不能接受的，我們要求很單純，就是我們所有備詢官員都不應該說謊，都應該據實陳述，這不是本來就是民眾所期待的嗎？”

[[民進黨立院黨團總召柯建銘]]
“覆議不成功的時候再提釋憲，本黨也會提釋憲，我們一定這樣做。憲政態度的維護必須展現出來。”

針對行政院的覆議案，立法院必須在15天內作成決議，覆議時必須經過二分之一以上同意，最後由總統公布，法案生效。民進黨立法院黨團是否提出釋憲，就先看覆議是否能逆轉。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

US defense contractors take part in closed-door defense conference in Taipei

A recent report by Reuters revealed that the U.S. state department has agreed to sell Taiwan spare and repair parts for F-16 fighter jets. The news was a shot in the arm for Taiwan’s Armed Forces. It also shows that new defense minister Wellington Koo has his sights set on getting things done, which includes exchanges like Thursday’s closed-door US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference.

Former commanding general of the Marine Forces Pacific Steven Rudder led a delegation of U.S. defense contractors to Taipei, where the 40-member group took part in the annual U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference. More than 100 Taiwanese defense contractors also attended the closed-door conference. Issues covered included aerospace, shipbuilding, information security, and national defense logistics.

Liu Kuan-hua
ChenFull Precision
In Taiwan we have good manufacturing ability and capacity. And we also are excellent in terms of delivery time and quality, so we’ve made them be able to have even more confidence in us.

Ma Wan-june
Aerospace Industrial Development Corp
We want to be able to help ourselves, because we believe that the spirits above help those who help themselves. So this is why we’ve worked so hard at developing our own domestically-built military airplanes; I’d say this shows our own defense autonomy. Companies have different cultures, and, to me, I want them to really get to know what we’re about.

Key topics at the conference included domestically developed warships and fighter jets, utilization of AI national defense technology, and drone technology. These types of technology show the close connection the armed forces of the U.S. and Taiwan have with one another.

Wellington Koo
Defense minister
This is the culture of how private companies interact with one another. But I don’t think there’s any real connection between this aspect and the process of the defense ministry’s own arms purchases.

Koo also stressed the importance of Taiwan needing to strengthen its own self-defense capabilities. Becoming part of the U.S.’ Indo-Pacific strategy can effectively deter China’s military threat.

Wellington Koo
Defense minister
Of course, the primary focus is still on us strengthening our own self-defense capabilities, and by being part of the U.S.’ Indo-Pacific strategy we’ll become an important link in the entire chain, which will provide effective deterrence; this is our main focus. As for the armed forces of the U.S. and Taiwan working together, we do work together, but we just can’t divulge it.

Koo’s words have given the public a lot of room for imagination when it comes to exchanges between the armed forces of the U.S. and Taiwan.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-06

Taiwan top choice for expansion: Supermicro founder

2024-06-06

Taiwanese mayors are striving to make their cities home to Nvidia’s supercomputers

Nvidia has overtaken Apple to become the world’s second most valuable company. The AI giant’s CEO Jensen Huang is currently in Taiwan, where he’s been spotted at Computex, night markets, and restaurants. Also seeking out Huang are nine mayors and county commissioners, who are vying to make their municipalities be home to Nvidia’s supercomputers.

Jensen Huang, the “godfather” of AI chips, has been spotted again. In the morning, Huang was seen at Nvidia’s Taipei headquarters, and by lunchtime he was back at the same traditional Taiwanese restaurant that he recently took supply chain partners to.

Jensen Huang
Nvidia CEO
I will leave on Saturday morning. I will definitely come again before the year is over.

During Huang’s trip to Taiwan, wherever he goes fans follow. Nine of those fans include Taiwanese mayors and county commissioners, who are doing everything in their powers to attract Nvidia to their municipalities.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
After both parties have talked, we’ll then offer the best conditions and benefits that we can; it’ll be an all-out effort. We want to be proactive about winning over Nvidia.

Chen Chi-mai
Kaohsiung mayor
Our ocean views are unrivaled. And there are dock spaces as well; going out to sea is a great way to relieve stress. Our transportation is also fantastic. We have the basic yet essential aspects that industries need.

Huang Wei-che
Tainan mayor
Our city has some diplomacy agendas that we’d already finalized back in March and April. Back then we didn’t know that Jensen Huang and Lisa Su would be coming to Taiwan’s Computex. Jensanity has swept over the island, but, to be frank, we need to stay here and take care of our own city affairs.

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che even canceled a trip to Thailand in order to court companies to invest in his city. Jensen Huang revealed his company’s new R&D center might just be located near Taipei, but despite this many municipality leaders have not given up in their pursuit of Nvidia. And now the tech CEO has provided his location considerations.

Jensen Huang
Nvidia CEO
We need more power in Taiwan, so we will put our AI supercomputers where there’s abundant energy. But we will put the supercomputers in the right place.

In 2022, Taipei’s Neihu District became the home of Nvidia’s first R&D center, which currently has about 400 workers. But Huang is yet to confirm whether this center will be expanded in size or if a second R&D center will be built. With the future up for grabs, municipality leaders are striving to curry favor with the godfather of AI chips.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-06

Taiwanese southpaw Lin Wei-en signs with Oakland Athletics for NT$43.5 million

2024-06-06

Wei Chuan Dragons cheerleader Lee Dahye shows off talents

2024-06-06

Fifth death reported in Polam Kopitiam food poisoning cluster

One more death has been reported that’s linked to the Polam Kopitiam food poisoning cluster in Taipei. The victim was a woman in her 50s who had eaten at the restaurant’s Xinyi branch on March 22. She had been in need of a liver transplant and suffered from multiple infections that ultimately caused her death. That brings the total number of fatalities to five.

The food poisoning cluster at Polam Kopitiam has claimed one more life, a 53-year-old woman who had eaten fried rice noodles with eggs at the restaurant’s branch in Taipei’s Xinyi District on March 22. She felt unwell after the meal, and was admitted to the intensive care unit at Tri-Service General Hospital on March 25. She died on June 5, from multiple infections.

Voice of Chen Yen-yuan
Taipei health department head
Bongkrekic acid caused liver failure, after which the infections got out of control. Being at the intensive care unit can easily lead to multiple infections. The infections plus the administration of the maximum dosage of cardiotonic drugs made her situation unmanageable, which led to her death.

It is the fifth death linked to the food poisoning cluster. One diner remains hospitalized.

Voice of Huang Chien-hsien
Shink Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital
The treatment may involve intravenous infusions and cardiotonic injections. The patient may also be intubated, such as in cases of respiratory failure. Under normal conditions, without tubes, germs won’t cause infections. But when you are intubated, the germs can more easily access the body, causing infections.

Victims who recovered after a close call with death have been left with huge medical bills and no compensation yet. Reports say that some of them had to borrow money from relatives and friends to cover the expenses. Victims of the cluster have had to rely on themselves. The Consumers’ Foundation will file a class action lawsuit on their behalf, with a press conference to be held on the matter on June 13.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
We provided as much assistance as we could from the very beginning. The relatives have agreed to the class action lawsuit and they’re willing to go ahead and have the assistance of the Consumers’ Foundation act on their behalf.

With compensation stalling, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city government will provide all the assistance necessary, adding that the relevant procedures to provide compensation are already underway.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-06

Keelung announces revitalization plan for Chaojing Park businesses after landslide

2024-06-06

Annie Chen is new spokesperson for World Vision in their work for refugees

Celebrated actor Annie Chen is the new spokesperson for World Vision in their work for refugees. The actor recently went to Bangladesh to visit Kutupalong refugee camp, the world’s largest refugee camp. There she met a number of displaced families, just a tiny fraction of the one million residents of the camp. She shared about her impressions of refugee life, as well as her memories of going through the Jiji earthquake as a child, to encourage viewers to join in the charity’s 30 Hour Famine project.

30 Hour Famine spokesperson Annie Chen recently visited the largest refugee camp in the world. It’s one twentieth the size of Taipei and has 1 million residents. She met a family of six who live in a home of less than 2 ping – a situation that broke her heart.

Annie Chen
30 Hour Famine spokesperson
Actually, just looking at how much rice they had, it was about five mouthfuls of rice for an adult. And on the side, maybe three or four cloves of garlic. That was the entire meal for the whole family. That was hugely shocking to me.

Just NT$10 is assigned to each refugee a day. Almost all the children living here are malnourished. Annie Chen became a kids’ favorite in the camp, doing her best to bring out a smile for her audience. She also shared her own story of living through the 1999 Jiji earthquake as a child.

Annie Chen
30 Hour Famine spokesperson
Through various means, we made our way over a series of mountains and we reached a high place. I looked down at Dongshi, a place I knew so well, and thought “How has it turned into such a ruin?” I think I was a third or fourth grader at the time. It was such a shock. So I thought, “When I grow up, I want to be able to contribute something.”

Li Shao-ling
World Vision Taiwan director
Right now, the number of refugees worldwide has grown to almost 110 million, and 40% of them are children. Preschool children represent the majority.

Chen’s experience of the camp had a huge impact on her, and she’s calling on more people to support the 30 Hour Famine project, to reach out a hand of support for the children she met.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-06-06

Microalgae protein extract proven to combat viruses

2024-06-06

Kaohsiung French Festival from June 7 till June 9

2024-06-06

Executive Yuan to request reconsideration of controversial legislative power bills