Latest news with #Taipei
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Taiwan to hold recall election for lawmakers that could reshape parliament
TAIPEI: Taiwan will hold a recall vote for around one quarter of parliament's lawmakers — all from the main opposition party — next month, the election commission said on Friday, a move which could see the ruling party take back control of the Lai Ching-te won the presidency last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its parliamentary majority, leaving the Kuomintang (KMT) and the much smaller Taiwan People's Party with the most KMT and the TPP have passed a series of measures, including swingeing budget cuts, angering the DPP, though the campaigns to gather enough signatures for the recalls were led by civic opposition has 62 of parliament's 113 seats and the DPP holds the remaining 51. The recall votes for 24 KMT lawmakers will take place on July 26, the election commission DPP has given full support for the recalls, releasing a video this week calling on people to vote yes and 'oppose the communists' — a direct reference to China and what the party says is the opposition's dangerous cosying up to KMT has vowed to fight what it calls a 'malicious recall' that comes so soon after the last parliamentary election in January 2024.'The KMT calls on the people of Taiwan to oppose the green communists and fight against dictatorship, and vote 'no',' the party said in a statement after the recall vote was announced, referring to the DPP's party KMT says its engagement with China, which views separately-governed Taiwan as its own territory, is needed to keep channels of communication open and reduce has rejected multiple offers of talks from Lai, branding him a 'separatist,' and has increased military pressure against the campaigns against DPP lawmakers failed to gather enough valid the recalls to be successful, the number of votes approving the measure must be more than those opposing it, and also exceed one-quarter of the number of registered voters in the constituency, so turnout will be the recall votes are successful, there will be by-elections later this year to select new next parliamentary and presidential elections are not scheduled until early 2028.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Taiwan to hold recall election for lawmakers that could reshape parliament
TAIPEI, June 20 (Reuters) - Taiwan will hold a recall vote for around one quarter of parliament's lawmakers - all from the main opposition party - next month, the election commission said on Friday, a move which could see the ruling party take back control of the legislature. While Lai Ching-te won the presidency last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its parliamentary majority, leaving the Kuomintang (KMT) and the much smaller Taiwan People's Party with the most seats. The KMT and the TPP have passed a series of measures, including swingeing budget cuts, angering the DPP, though the campaigns to gather enough signatures for the recalls were led by civic groups. The opposition has 62 of parliament's 113 seats and the DPP holds the remaining 51. The recall votes for 24 KMT lawmakers will take place on July 26, the election commission said. The DPP has given full support for the recalls, releasing a video this week calling on people to vote yes and "oppose the communists" - a direct reference to China and what the party says is the opposition's dangerous cosying up to Beijing. The KMT has vowed to fight what it calls a "malicious recall" that comes so soon after the last parliamentary election in January 2024. "The KMT calls on the people of Taiwan to oppose the green communists and fight against dictatorship, and vote 'no'," the party said in a statement after the recall vote was announced, referring to the DPP's party colours. The KMT says its engagement with China, which views separately-governed Taiwan as its own territory, is needed to keep channels of communication open and reduce tensions. China has rejected multiple offers of talks from Lai, branding him a "separatist", and has increased military pressure against the island. Recall campaigns against DPP lawmakers failed to gather enough valid signatures. For the recalls to be successful, the number of votes approving the measure must be more than those opposing it, and also exceed one-quarter of the number of registered voters in the constituency, so turnout will be important. If the recall votes are successful, there will be by-elections later this year to select new lawmakers. Taiwan's next parliamentary and presidential elections are not scheduled until early 2028.
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan car show model dies after ‘milk injection' for insomnia by ‘Godfather of Liposuction'
A Taiwanese car show model has tragically died after receiving a so-called 'milk injection' – the anaesthetic propofol – from the renowned 'Godfather of Liposuction' in an attempt to treat chronic insomnia, triggering widespread outrage and sorrow across social media. Cai Yuxin, in her 30s, boasted over 32,000 followers on Facebook. A beloved figure at car shows, she was affectionately compared to Lin Chi-ling, a famous Taiwanese actress, thanks to her striking looks and impressive height of 5 feet 7 inches (170cm). Having long battled insomnia, Cai sought sleep therapy on May 25 at the recommendation of a friend and underwent a procedure known as the 'milk injection' at Fairy Clinic in Taipei. The term 'milk injection' refers to propofol treatment – a potent, short-acting intravenous anesthetic commonly employed for sedation and anaesthesia in clinical settings, named for its distinctive milky appearance. Cai was a beloved figure at car shows, thanks to her striking looks and impressive height of 5 feet 7 inches (170cm). Photo: Facebook/@Cai Yuxin The injection was administered by Wu Shaohu, the clinic director and a prominent cosmetic doctor, often referred to as Taiwan's 'Godfather of Liposuction.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
China Sends Warplanes Near Taiwan After US Lawmakers Visit
(Bloomberg) -- China sent the most warplanes toward Taiwan since October, a move that follows US lawmakers visiting a top military figure and both the UK and Japan sailing warships through the strait separating the two sides. Security Concerns Hit Some of the World's 'Most Livable Cities' One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing JFK AirTrain Cuts Fares 50% This Summer to Lure Riders Off Roads NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports Taser-Maker Axon Triggers a NIMBY Backlash in its Hometown Some 46 People's Liberation Army aircraft crossed the median line in the strait in the 24 hours to Friday morning, the defense ministry in Taipei said in a statement. The ministry added that it monitored and 'responded accordingly' to the moves, without providing more details. Another 15 such warplanes were spotted later, the ministry said. China was 'conducting air-sea joint training along with' naval vessels, it added. Those flights included Su-30 fighters and KJ-500 surveillance aircraft. The flights into sensitive areas around Taiwan come after a group of US lawmakers held a rare publicly disclosed meeting with Defense Minister Wellington Koo on Tuesday in Taipei. Beijing vehemently opposes nations it has official ties with — such as the US — from having official contact with Taiwan. China views Taiwan as territory that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary. Taipei rejects that stance, and the US militarily backs the democracy of 23 million people. Beijing defended the flights on Friday, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun saying at a regular press briefing in Beijing that 'the Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.' The Chinese military activity comes with the US deciding whether to attack Iran. On Thursday, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te told his national security team to have a full grasp of the geopolitical situation. Officials in Taipei have long worried that the PLA may act more aggressively if the US is distracted by crises in other parts of the world. In April, the US ordered the Carl Vinson carrier strike group to the Middle East after it completed exercises in the Indo-Pacific. Separately, Japan sailed a destroyer through the 180 kilometer (110 mile) wide strait last week, Kyodo News reported. That was the third known passage by a Japanese naval vessel, all of which have come over the past year, it said. Earlier this month, Japan said it observed two Chinese aircraft carriers and supporting warships operating simultaneously near remote Japanese islands in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, underscoring Beijing's advancing naval capabilities. Also on Friday, the PLA said in a statement that the UK sent a naval vessel through the strait. Beijing condemned the UK transit on Wednesday as a 'provocation,' saying it undermines peace and stability in area. The Chinese military said its forces would remain on high alert and 'resolutely counter all threats.' The voyage by the UK warship comes as London sends an aircraft carrier and other vessels into the Indo-Pacific. Port visits to Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea were planned. Regarding the warships, Guo, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, said that his nation 'respects the freedom of navigation of all countries but we oppose any country using it as a pretext to provoke or infringe upon China's sovereignty or security.' --With assistance from Cindy Wang and James Mayger. (Updates with more details and comment from China's Foreign Ministry.) Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? How a Tiny Middleman Could Access Two-Factor Login Codes From Tech Giants ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
Washington Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
China sends scores of planes across central line in Taiwan Strait
TAIPEI, Taiwan — China sent 74 warplanes toward Taiwan between late Thursday and early Friday, 61 of which crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that unofficially divides the sides, an unusually large number as tensions remained heightened in the region. It wasn't clear why so many planes were scrambled between late Thursday and early Friday, as tabulated by Taiwan's Defense Ministry. The planes were sent in two separate tranches, it added. China considers Taiwan its own territory and uses such deployments to advertise its threat to encircle and possibly invade the self-governing island. China also hopes to intimidate Taiwan's population of 23 million and wear down its equipment and the morale of its armed forces. On Thursday, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs 'confirmed and welcomed' the transit of the British Royal Navy's off-shore patrol craft HMS Spey through the Taiwan Strait a day earlier. The ship's transit, the ministry said, 'once again (reaffirmed the Strait's) status as international waters.' 'Such transits by the U.K. and other like-minded countries are encouraged to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific,' the Foreign Ministry said. Britain's representative office in Taipei said in a statement that the Spey had conducted a navigation of the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law and rights provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 'Wherever the Royal Navy operates, it does so in full compliance with international law and exercises its right to Freedom of Navigation and overflight,' the statement added. China responded angrily, saying the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army 'organized troops to monitor and guard the entire process and effectively responded and dealt with it.' The British ship's action 'deliberately disturbed the situation and undermined the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,' the Eastern Theater Command said in a statement. The bustling Taiwan Strait lies in international waters, but China objects to any transit or activity within it by foreign military vessels. It wasn't clear if the large number of Chinese warplanes sent on Thursday and Friday were related to the earlier sailing of the British ship. Six military ships accompanied the Chinese planes, which ranged from drones to fighter jets and early warning and other support aircraft. Taiwan deployed ships, fighter interceptors and land-based missile systems in response.
