This Week in Taiwan 0524-0530

May 26: The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that face masks will be open for sale starting June 1, and if no additional coronavirus (COVID-19) cases are reported through June 7, current restrictions related to the pandemic will be further relaxed. Consumption vouchers of NT$3,000 (about US$100) are tentatively set to be exchanged for cash payment of NT$1,000 (about US$33) per person. Low and middle-income households and minority groups will be able to obtain the vouchers free of charge.

May 26: The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which came into force in 2010, is due to expire in September amid fears that mainland China will threaten to suspend the pact and restrict trade and economic ties with Taiwan. President Zhang Zijun of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), who is also a member of the National People’s Congress, stated that ECFA was not easy to achieve, and neither side would like such an important achievement to be lost, despite persistent obstruction by forces supporting Taiwan independence. Zhang stated that both sides of the strait will continue to expand economic exchanges in the new year. This is the first time that the president of the ARATS has made a public statement on the expiration of ECFA.

May 29: The Constitutional Court of the Judicial Yuan held in Interpretation No. 791 that the crime of adultery in Article 239 of the Criminal Code is unconstitutional. In addition, Article 239 of the Code of Criminal Procedure providing that withdrawal of a complaint against a spouse shall not be considered to be a withdrawal of a complaint against the other adulterer was also held unconstitutional because it violates the right of equality. Both provisions immediately lapsed. Taiwan, like countries in Europe, no longer punishes marital infidelity with criminal law. Legal experts point out that although adultery is no longer criminally liable, the victimized spouse may still claim damages through civil means.

May 29: In response to the passage of the national security legislation on Hong Kong by the National People’s Congress of mainland China on May 28, the Legislative Yuan issued a cross-partisan statement condemning the mainland for breaking its promise of self-rule to Hong Kong. The statement asked the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration to, under the pretext of safeguarding national security, provide necessary assistance to Hong Kong people who experience emergency threats to their safety and freedom due to political reasons. The Mainland Affairs Council expects to roll out within a week a plan for humanitarian relief operations supporting Hong Kong, to be implemented by the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Cooperation Council.

May 30: The recall election of Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu will be held within a week. In a televised information session, the activist group in favor of recall mocked the mayor for shying away from his duties and held a “rehearsal” of about 1,000 people in preparation for the recall election. On the other hand, Mayor Han inspected the damage to agriculture caused by a recent storm. Han said that he will strive to govern the city well, will not mobilize supporters, and asked political heavyweights of the Kuomintang (KMT) not to come to Kaohsiung because he does not want to see partisan confrontation. He hopes that Kaohsiung remains a harmonious and happy city as he awaits Kaohsiung citizens make their decision on June 6.

May 30: Taiwan has not added any new coronavirus cases for 48 days. The CECC announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ministry of Health and Welfare, “conditionally approved” the importation of U.S. drug Remdesivir to ensure that seriously ill patients may be treated with medication. FDA Director-General Wu Shou-mei stated that, for the first batch, Taiwan will be seeking from American pharmaceutical companies supply for 1,000 people by July.