TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Here's five things you need to know from Monday. First, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office moved last month to indict an army officer on charges of alleged defection and espionage.
On Nov. 27, Lt. Col. Hsieh Meng-shu, an aviation officer from the Aviation and Special Forces Command, was accused of attempting to flee to mainland China in a helicopter, in exchange for a staggering US$15 million (around NT$471 million).
In a related matter of national security, Ger Ming-der, a professor from the Chung Cheng Institute of Technology at National Defense University, is under investigation for setting up a company to engage in technological collaboration with China.
Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng condemned Ger's actions as treacherous after multiple trips to China led to a transfer of his case to legal authorities by the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
In the political arena, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has conducted the draw for the presidential and vice presidential candidate ballots.
The Taiwan People's Party's (TPP) Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu drew number one, the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim drew number two, and the Kuomintang's (KMT) Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong received number three.
Furthermore, following the 2021 Taroko Express train derailment, President Tsai Ing-wen announced railway reforms that will transform the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) into a corporation effective New Year's Day.
Experts have identified three major challenges facing the new company: staffing shortages, potential fare adjustments, and the implementation of a safety culture.
Lastly, the Legislative Yuan is bracing for intense debate and votes on the Minimum Wage Act. Critical points such as the composition of the labor representative council and the benchmark for minimum wage adjustments remain unresolved.