This Week in Taiwan 0927-1003
September 28: A Taiwanese fishing boat named "Hsin Ling Po No. 236" from Yilan was collided by a Japanese official vessel on the afternoon of September 27 at 12 nautical miles west of the Diaoyutai Islands, resulting in damage. The Coast Guard Administration, Ocean Affairs Council, sent a ROCS Kee Lung to escort the Taiwanese fishing boat back. Fishermen demanded that the government take a harder stance. Premier Su Tseng-tsang demanded an explanation by Japan, while Japanese media reported that the Taiwanese vessel illegally entered waters within 12 nautical miles.
September 28: The mayors of Taiwan's six major municipalities, including Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, protested in a statement against the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) for listing the cities under "China." Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that thanks to the efforts of concerned parties, GCOM has corrected the membership names according to the original submitted documents.
September 29: At the Legislative Yuan, Kuomintang Chairman and Legislator Johnny Chiang pointed out that according to the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, the cabinet-wide Executive Yuan Report on Food Safety, which is responsible for coordinating, overseeing, promoting, as well as preventive food safety, should be held at least once every three months. But since June of last year, Premier Su has failed to convene any meeting. Su stuttered at one point during the interpellation.
September 30: The cooperation between Taiwan and the United States entered a new milestone. In a press conference, the Executive Yuan stated that the two sides signed on September 17 a framework for infrastructure development in third countries. Taiwan and the United States will deepen official cooperation and introduce private sector resources in order to jointly develop regional infrastructure in the Americas and Southeast Asian countries.
October 1: This year marks the centennial of the establishment of Taipei City. The Taipei City Government held an exchange and sharing event featuring seven former Taipei mayors, including former presidents Chen Shui-bian and Ma Ying-jeou. The former mayors unanimously called for political reconciliation between the ruling and opposition parties as well as between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
October 1: Fifty (50) United States senators sent a joint letter to the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, stressing that Taiwan is a long-term economic partner and security ally and calling for negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement between Taiwan and the United States to commence as soon as possible.
October 1: The U.S. Department of Labor published on September 30 a List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, which is released every two years. For the first time, fish caught by Taiwanese ocean-going fleets were included on the list. In the future, seafood caught by such fleets will face serious trade restrictions. Unless proof can be provided demonstrating that forced labor was not involved, the seafood caught by these fleets may be barred from import to the United States.