This Week in Taiwan 0502-0508
May 3: In response to the dispute surrounding the algae reef referendum, the Executive Yuan announced some changes to the extrapolation plan of the CPC Corporation's third natural gas terminal. The government plans to push out the industrial port by an additional 455 meters, or approximately 1.2 kilometers from the shore, without dredging or damaging the algal reef. But project completion will be delayed by 2.5 years and supply natural gas June 2025, with an increased budget of NT$15 billion (about US$541 million).
However, referendum petitioner Pan Chung-cheng stated that the extrapolation plan cannot solve the problem of poor sea conditions, and large-scale development in a ecologically sensitive area still poses concerns of damaging the local habitat.
May 4: Zhou Xian, a 33-year-old mainland Chinese man, crossed the Taiwan Strait from Shishi, Fujian Province, using a military-grade rubber boat and reached Taichung Port in 13 hours. This is the first instance of illegal travel by a rubber boat across the strait from mainland China to Taiwan. Zhou was discovered by workers at Taichung Port. Zhou claims that he is drawn by Taiwan's freedom and democracy and bought a rubber boat from Taobao to come to Taiwan. After interrogation by the prosecution, he is currently detained in isolated quarantine.
On May 4, the Coast Guard caught a mainland smuggler in Kinmen who also used a rubber boat purchased online. But the man was tracked by inter-shore radar throughout the process, and the Coast Guard was already waiting for the man on the shore before he landed.
May 4: Senior police officials, including Chief Chen Jia-chang of the Taipei Police Department, attended a dinner reception for volunteer police on May 3 in Zhongshan District, Taipei. The event was attended by some 700 people. Two men in black went to the lobby counter and threw two bags containing thousands of cockroaches before they escaped. The "chaos of cockroaches" became a national spotlight. Police investigation found that the suspected act may be due to money disputes involving the business owner. Five suspects were arrested on May 4.
May 4: The Halifax International Security Forum (HFX) headquartered in Washington announced President Tsai Ing-wen as the winner of the 2020 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service. President Tsai stated that her award does not represent her individual but is the glory of all Taiwanese people. She emphasized that democracy and freedom are medals upon which Taiwan stands in the world.
The government of Canada, worried about angering China, threatened to cancel its annual sponsorship of $3 million CAD to the organization. With the support of the Canadian House of Representatives, the prime minister decided that the sponsorship would continue.
May 5: The involvement of Chao Chie-yu, a former representative of the Taipei branch of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in a drug scandal is hurting the party's image. In her capacity as DPP chairwoman, President Tsai Ing-wen apologized. She stated that the existing anti-gangster clauses were not properly implemented, allowing unqualified members to join the party and causing social tumult.
Chairman Yu Ing-lung of the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation indicated that President Tsai has served as DPP chairwoman for nine years now. The issue of gang members within the party happened during her leadership of the party. If she is really sorry, then Tsai should take the initiative to resign as chairwoman in order to assume responsibility.
May 6: In a cabinet meeting, the Executive Yuan passed expanding infertility subsidies, increasing the number of birth tests to 14 times, and raising subsidies for non-paid maternity leave to 80 percent. The government plans to invest a budget of NT$10 billion (about US$370 million) to respond to the demographic crisis of declining birth rates.
May 6: On April 16, men wearing black broke into the Zhongrun precinct in Songshan District, Taipei, and destroyed computers containing evidence, but the surveillance footage was deleted by the precinct director, stirring public uproar. On May 2, the Taipei City Police Department released to the public three video footages, containing key video of 10 men in black carrying metal chairs smashing the computers on the police duty desk and being evicted by the police.
The precinct director and deputy director involved in the case were submitted to further investigation for destroying evidence, and the 10 men wearing black were also submitted to the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office for obstructing governmental operation. Because the police previously shook hands to reconcile with gang members following the incident, city council members are asking the Taipei City Government to conduct a thorough investigation.
May 6: In the communique after their meeting on May 5, foreign ministers of Group of Seven (G7) countries expressed support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) forums. The Senate of France also passed a unanimous resolution on May 6 with 304 votes in favor to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations. This is the first time that a pro-Taiwan bill passed unanimously in the French Senate.
May 7: Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) on May 24 will be held by video conference. In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States called upon Director-General Tedros Adhanom of the WHO to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer. According to Blinken, Taiwan provides valuable experience in epidemic prevention, and the exclusion of 24 million people from participating in the WHA only undermines global health objectives.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the government, Congress, and people of the United States for supporting Taiwan's participation in the WHO and invites more countries to work together with Taiwan to surpass politics and jointly defend the health and safety of humankind.