Transportation

Taiwan Expands Motorcycle Riding Lessons To Help Curb Traffic Deaths

Published
Updated

By TaiwanPlus

Open in App

Taiwan is planning to strengthen training for motorcyclists in an effort to improve road safety. Beginning next year, people learning to ride motorcycles will be offered an additional five hours of instruction at private driving schools. The extra training will include both closed-course practice and on-road riding experience. While authorities are encouraging more people to take the courses, the program will remain voluntary and will not be required to obtain a motorcycle license. Motorcycles are a common form of transportation in Taiwan and are involved in more than half of the country's traffic-related deaths.

China Interrogates More Taiwanese Civil Servants

==  
REPORTER:
Taiwan is urging civil servants to exercise caution when traveling to China, after four more were interrogated there. One had previously worked as a nurse at a military hospital.

Liang Wen-chieh (DEPUTY MINISTER, MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL):  
This particular case is relatively unusual.  
It’s the first time a nurse who’d worked  
at a military hospital has been interrogated.  
They want to understand  
how military hospitals operate.  
It shows they are deeply informed about us.  
This nurse had worked at a military hospital  
many years ago.

The other three interrogated worked in the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the tax office and a hospital linked to the health ministry. The Mainland Affairs Council, which handles relations with China, has told government agencies to control employees’ travel to China and report those who were questioned. Over a dozen civil servants have been questioned while visiting China since January 2024.  
[==SOT]##

---  

More Taiwanese Civil Servants Interrogated in China

==  
REPORTER:
Four more Taiwanese civil servants have been interrogated during trips to China, continuing a trend of Chinese authorities probing visiting Taiwanese government employees. One of those interrogated had previously worked at a military hospital.

Liang Wen-chieh (DEPUTY HEAD, MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL):  
These cases are special.  
It’s the first time a nurse who’d worked at a military hospital was interrogated.  
The Chinese communists are interested in all departments of the military.  
They want to understand how military hospitals operate.  
It shows they are deeply informed about us.  
This nurse had worked at a military hospital years ago  
but was still interrogated.  
It shows there’s nowhere in Taiwan Chinese communists won’t infiltrate.

The other three interrogated worked in the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the tax office and a hospital affiliated with the health ministry. The Mainland Affairs Council, in charge of ties with China has told government agencies to tightly control employees’ travel to China and for those subject to interrogation in China to follow proper reporting procedures once back in Taiwan.  
[==SOT]##