Taiwan Premier Inspects Flood Damage; Official Slams Legislature Over Budget Cuts

Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai visited Pingtung County on August 22 to inspect damage from recent heavy rains, which caused flooding in low-lying areas and submerged farmland. The visit came amid scrutiny of the government's disaster response after some lawmakers questioned Premier Cho's remarks about budget cuts limiting his inspection itinerary.

During the inspection of the Linluo drainage improvement project, Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi voiced strong support for Premier Cho, directly challenging the Legislative Yuan. "Why is the Legislative Yuan cutting even the budget for site inspections?" she demanded, her frustration evident as she spoke about the anxieties of residents affected by the continuous downpours.

Chou emphasized Pingtung's vulnerability to water-related disasters due to its numerous rivers and waterways, particularly under extreme weather conditions. She stressed the urgent need for robust flood control engineering, stating that the region suffers the most during typhoons and heavy rains. "We must face flood control engineering realistically," she urged, highlighting the necessity of central government support to navigate these challenging times. She pleaded with the legislature not to further reduce budgets, warning against actions that could destabilize the government.

Addressing criticism that recent flood damage was due to "tofu-dreg" construction, Chou defended the public servants' hard work. She explained that the Linluo drainage system, designed for floods up to 400 millimeters, was overwhelmed by over 500 millimeters of rain on June 25. Emergency repairs are underway, with a new emergency engineering project scheduled for bidding and awarding by September 1. Chou called for unity in facing extreme weather and supporting farmers, urging against online sarcasm and schadenfreude.

She thanked Premier Cho for his difficult journey to Pingtung, acknowledging the over 1,300 millimeters of rain in the mountains over five days, equivalent to more than half a year's rainfall, and expressing concern about potential landslides. Chou reiterated the need for collective effort and strong central government backing for urgent flood control projects in areas like Linbian, Jiadong, Donggang, and Nanzhou. She requested that local leaders widely promote the message that on-site inspections are not always necessary, reducing the need for legislative coordination, and thanked the Premier for understanding the hardships of the people.