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Huge waves topple crane into sea, blocking port access

Gigantic waves as tall as 10m battered Taitung on Friday, as Typhoon Champi sweeps past Taiwan. The powerful waves caused a massive crane to topple at Fugang Fishing Harbor. The crane was used to transport wave-dissipating blocks, and cost NT$10 million. It was 50m tall, and despite a weight of some 250 tons it fell right into the sea. It sank into the harbor access blocking the way for vessels to Green Island and Orchid Island.

Mr. Wang
Fisherman
It’s blocking the access now. They definitely won’t be able to lift it out until the typhoon has passed on the 25. Bigger vessels will be afraid of running aground if they’re too close to the coast. But if they go through the middle, they could hit the sunken crane.

Wang Yi-kai
Ferry operator to Green Island
The crane is now sitting at the bottom of the access, so neither passenger ferries nor cargo ships can get in or out. People on Green Island and Orchid Island can’t come over. And they can’t receive any supplies.

Wu Che-yuan
Taitung Agriculture Department
Sea conditions are unfavorable right now. The wind is too strong and the waves are too big. We can only start removal work once the weather gets better and it is safe to do so.

Sea transport links between Taitung and the two outlying islands have been suspended for three days already due to the typhoon. So getting supplies to the islands in a timely manner will be crucial once the weather clears. But with the crane now lying across the port access, no vessels will be able to get in or out. Though people hope that Champi will leave soon, forecasters say the storm might slow down even more potentially even make erratic loops near Taiwan before turning north. It remains unknown whether it will be gone by Saturday noon.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#typhoon #champi #taitung #crane #craneoperator

Time：2026-10-23

最新消息 Latest News

Green Island, Orchid Island battered by Typhoon Champi

Typhoon Champi is unleashing a powerful assault on Taiwan’s outlying islands, with towering waves smashing into homes, flooding businesses and tearing apart coastal roads. On Green Island, one grocery store alone suffered an estimated NT$700,000 in damage. Meanwhile, on Orchid Island, massive boulders and driftwood were swept onto roads and parts of a seawall were destroyed. Even without heavy rain, the sheer force of the sea has left residents facing a major cleanup.

- The wave smashed against the entrance. Oh god. It’s terrible.

A local representative woke up to a terrifying sight: rubble and bricks covering the ground at the entrance to the village. Tall and powerful waves battered the area, denting gates and vehicles. Green Island was among the first places to feel the impact of Champi, which devastated Wenquan village. The waves even broke windows and sent water flooding into homes.

- Oh my god. What a wreck.

The window at this store is gone. The shelves and refrigerators inside all lie in a pile as if it were a dump. Damage is estimated at NT$700,000.

Hsieh Hsien-yu
Green Island Township Head
We should consider raising the seawall. The coast is beautiful, but people’s lives and property are more important than sightseeing.

The front row of houses has become a disaster zone. Over on Orchid Island, the situation isn’t much better. Seawater completely flooded a stretch of Huandao Road near Jikarahem, filling the asphalt with rocks and driftwood. Part of the seawall has been destroyed.

At Iraraley, tall waves swallowed up the breakwater, endangering vehicles parked nearby. The force of the sea washed up rocks onto the road, disrupting traffic.

Voice of Hsieh Ming-chih
Head of Iraraley
It’s all chunks from the reef. Some of them weigh half a ton. Some of the bigger ones can’t be cleared easily, so we had to deploy excavators.

Repairs are underway in the sections of the road that were damaged. Though there was no heavy rain in either island, the strong winds and waves caused considerable damage.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#champi #typhoon #orchidisland #greenisland #waves

2026-10-23

Taitung is last to announce typhoon holiday in Taiwan

At first, Taitung was the only county in all of Taiwan proper that didn’t announce a typhoon holiday, leading to the County Commissioner April Yao’s Facebook being flooded with comments. It wasn’t until 6am this morning, that the Taitung County Government reversed their decision and announced emergency suspension of schools and workplaces. They claimed the typhoon’s path had changed and would last longer than anticipated.

-Didn’t you hear that today is a holiday?
You didn’t know? Haha

Like many students in Taitung, when this middle schooler heard this morning that schools were closed for the typhoon, he threw his arms in the air and danced. The news however comes as a late surprise.

- Is there a possibility to have a holiday?
- No, what are you guys thinking?

Taitung was the last county in all of the island of Taiwan to announce a typhoon holiday; the county government didn’t think that an abrupt announcement at 6am would catch the locals off guard.

Store owner
Taitung Market vendor
Our jobs require us to go out in the middle of the night; the winds are very strong at that hour making it nearly impossible to ride your motorcycle. The entire road is filled with dirt, flying everywhere. They aren’t prioritizing the safety of the locals, it’s not that I’m angry; I just think they are incompetent.

Member of public
Worries for long distance travelers
For those who have to travel far or those who already set out, and then hear it’s a holiday, it’s quite inconvenient.

Wang Chih-hui
Taitung County Deputy Commissioner
Until yesterday evening, the Central Weather Administration claimed that Taitung would see no rains. It wasn’t until 4 or 5am this morning that they updated their claims because the typhoon’s path was changing.

Taitung County Government altered their decision due to the typhoon’s changing path, since the winds in the morning were not strong, and only a few trees had fallen over, they were not sure a holiday was warranted, which has sparked discussions.

Wang Chih-hui
Taitung County Deputy Commisioner
Yesterday evening, our decision was primarily that the wind speeds hitting Taitung were around 4 on the Beaufort scale, but this morning with updated information, it suggested the wind speeds in Taitung remained at or above 6 all day.

As Austin Wang, an associate professor in Political Science, writes for The New York Times, the likelihood a mayor announces a typhoon holiday increases by 31% during an election year. Typhoons holidays remain a hot topic and with just some 30 days until the election, it seems typhoon winds are stirring up politics as well.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#champi #typhoon #austinwang #politics #taiwan

2026-10-23

Sulcata tortoise breaks free to enjoy walk before typhoon

Just because tortoises are slow doesn’t mean they can’t cause a commotion! A large sulcata tortoise was recently spotted wandering around a neighborhood in Taichung’s Beitun District. But its timing couldn’t have been worse, as it ventured out just before Typhoon Champi brought strong winds and heavy rain to Taiwan. To make matters worse, the adventurous tortoise even waddled right into the middle of the road, putting itself and passing traffic at risk. Fortunately, a police officer on patrol found it, moved it to a safe spot and tracked down its owner. Let’s hear more.

- It must have escaped from home. It’s so heavy.
- It came crawling out from that alley.
- From the alley, is it?
- It was getting closer and closer to the road.
- Hello, do you know if anyone is missing a tortoise?
- A tortoise?
- It seems to have escaped. We don’t know whose it is.
- Here.
- There?
- I saw they had a tortoise before.

Kuo Chung-ju
Police officer
The tortoise apparently broke its enclosure and let itself out via the garage. We worked with locals to return it safely home and prevent any accidents.

Despite the looming typhoon, the tortoise decided to break out of its enclosure to enjoy the calm before the storm. It wandered leisurely around the neighborhood, but thankfully it’s slow pace didn’t let it get too far. Police officers stepped in quickly to capture the runaway and return it home, bringing the adventurous tortoise back to safety.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#tortoise #taichung #walk #cute #adorable

2026-10-23

Golden Melody winners lend voices to pop classics for NTSO gala

What kind of sparks fly when classical music merges with pop hits from across the ages? Find out on Nov. 7 at the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra’s Golden Melody Gala. Featuring performances from several award-winning musicians, the event at the National Theater and Concert Hall Plaza is to culminate with a performance by the Golden Melody King himself, Ricky Hsiao. Through brand-new symphonic arrangements, this exciting event promises to give audiences a fresh take on these timeless classics.

Staying on top of a brisk rhythm and sharp intonation, Hakka singer-songwriter Hsieh Yu-wei delivers a stirring performance with his soaring vocals.

Now, a string quartet performs Golden Melody-winner Sky Wu’s hit ballad Sharing, bringing the audience on a nostalgic journey down memory lane.

Ouyang Hui-kang
NTSO director
Great music is great music. As long as it’s a classic, no matter how it’s repackaged, it won’t diminish its value. It will always be great. It becomes timeless through different renditions. That’s how classics are made. I think every song in the program is something to look forward to.

On Nov. 7, the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra is hosting a Golden Melody Gala at the main plaza of the National Theater and Concert Hall. Multiple Golden Melody winners have been invited to partake, reimagining classic pop hits through symphonic arrangements.

Ouyang Hui-kang
NTSO director
By making symphonic arrangements for these classics, we hope to pass them down. We look forward to giving a brand-new take on these incredible vocalists and compositions.

This is the third time the NTSO has held its annual “symphonic party” series. This year’s Golden Melody Gala is sure to satisfy lovers of both pop and classical music, presenting these timeless hits like you’ve never heard them before.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#NTSO #classicalmusic #popmusic #GoldenMelody #GoldenMelodyGala #symphony #RickyHsiao

2026-10-23

Mourning family accuses borough warden of stealing from deceased

A shocking theft allegation in Miaoli! A family in mourning claims their borough warden slipped into the home of the deceased while the body was still there to steal valuables. More disturbingly, the widow was right there and watched helplessly, as she suffers from dementia and is unable to speak. The warden vehemently denies stealing anything, insisting he was simply helping tidy up because the deceased was his brother-in-law. He’s now firing back, claiming the accusations are nothing more than a politically motivated smear campaign ahead of the local elections. Let’s hear more.

Voice of family member (anonymized)
Accusing borough warden of theft
The body was still in the house. We were waiting for the funeral transport to take him away. That’s when he came and stole the stuff. We thought he was just coming to offer his condolences, as wardens do. We had no idea he was trying to get our foreign caregiver out of the way by telling her to go do things.

Borough Warden
Accused of theft
The deceased was my brother-in-law. I called his kids, and told them that I’d take care of things. The table was very messy, so I grabbed a bag and straightened things out. The person accusing me of theft was actually a classmate of my election opponent.

- He said the widow was his sister.

Voice of family member (anonymized)
Accusing borough warden of theft
They’re not actually siblings-in-law, they’re cousins-in-law. He even knelt down and begged my brother and me to withdraw the lawsuit. He told prosecutors that he didn’t steal anything. But if he really didn’t steal anything, why would he feel like he needs to kneel down and beg us?

Lin Meng-kuan
Police officer
We identified the suspect and seized the relevant evidence. The case has been referred to the Miaoli District Prosecutors Office on suspicion of theft.

The incident reportedly took place earlier this month at a home in Tongxiao. It all came to light after the family could not find reading glasses of the deceased. That prompted the family to check surveillance footage, which is when they found the borough warden had entered the home. They later realized that there was five or six items missing, with a combined value of more than NT$10,000 in total. The warden maintains his innocence and claims the allegations are politically motivated. With both sides offering conflicting accounts, the truth will have to be determined through the legal process.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#theft #boroughwarden #shocking #mourning #slick

2026-10-23

Taiwan wins table tennis women’s doubles gold

Taiwan has bagged another medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asia Para Games. This time, it was in the table tennis women’s doubles event, where, Lin Tzu-yu and Tian Shiau-wen earned a gold, after beating China 3:1. Lin, who’s also won a gold at the mixed doubles and the women’s singles, has walked away with 3 golds at this year’s Asia Para Games, marking an incredible milestone for Taiwan this year.

In the table tennis women’s doubles, Taiwan’s Tian Shiau-wen and Lin Tzu-yu secured a gold medal against China.

Tian Shiau-wen
Taiwan table tennis player
When we got off, I felt like crying because I felt it’s such a huge breakthrough. I’m very grateful to my partner, who kept reminding me to relax and play calmly.

Lin Tzu-yu
Taiwan table tennis player
In the previous two games for women’s doubles, we also won silver and lost twice against the Chinese team. So this time we really had a major breakthrough, I feel incredibly happy.

This is Tian’s first gold, while Lin earned 2 golds and 1 silver at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games, missing out on a gold in the women’s doubles. This year, she finally had a breakthrough and earned a gold.

Lin Tzu-yu
Taiwan table tennis player
Having earned 3 golds, I feel is something I managed to pull through, whether it was my women’s singles, yesterday’s mixed doubles, or today’s women’s doubles. With so many games, I feel, in terms of score, it could have gone either way.

Turning the focus to badminton, particularly the SU5 final match, Fang Jen-yu secured himself a silver playing against China, and was overcome by emotion thanking his family and fans.

Fang Jen-yu
Taiwan badminton player
Thank you to my family for always supporting me, and I’m thankful to the many people who came to cheer me on today.

Having earned a bronze the previous Games and a silver this time round, Fang hopes to secure a gold next time.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#badminton #tabletennis #aichi-nagoya #asiaparagames #paralympics #su5

2026-10-23

Hospital opens clinic devoted to treating skiing injuries

Taiwan doesn’t have any ski resorts, but Taipei Veterans General Hospital, has opened a clinic to treat injuries from the sport. As the winter months approach, many people are thinking of taking a skiing trip abroad. But the risk of injury from such high intensity exercise is always there.

Donning a doctor’s coat and riding a skateboard, Dr. Yang Yi-chiang moves skillfully and seamlessly through corridors. You might not expect it, but Yang is not only an excellent skateboarder, but in his private life also loves skiing. Combining his professional expertise with his own experience, he has specially opened a sports medicine clinic devoted to skiing.

Yang Yi-chiang
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
I started looking after skiers with injuries in 2023, but initially no one knew that I could help these athletes or ski enthusiasts. This formal system allows athletes who don’t know me to find me.

Amid the increasing popularity of skateboarding and snow sports, high-energy board sports often result in serious injuries. Taipei Veterans General Hospital has pioneered a skiing sports medicine clinic, led by Yang, an attending physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Yang has integrated his many years of skiing experience with his treatment of more than 600 skiing injuries. For example, Ms. Tsai, who has 19 years of skiing experience, sprained her right knee while skiing in January this year. By using force plate testing to track her condition, she showed significant improvement in just two months.

Ms. Tsai
Had a skiing injury
At first, when I jumped and landed, I didn’t dare to put any force on my dominant right foot. But after I finished the medication and rested it for a month, when I went back to retake the force plate test, I found that the force of my right foot jumping and landing was actually better and smoother.

There’s also Chen Tzu-hui, a Taiwanese professional snowboarder, who is competing in international events with the goal of reaching the 2030 Winter Olympics. To meet the demands of high-intensity competition, the medical team, through functional assessments, and in conjunction with external training experts, planned a personalized training program for her.

Chen Tzu-hui
Professional snowboarder
Knowing how to exercise doesn’t mean you know how to control your body. I felt I couldn’t move or control my body smoothly, so I went to a doctor for an evaluation. He gave me a training plan, and I practiced it for a week. Three months later, I went to Japan for jump ramp training, and I realized that my overall athletic performance and body control had improved dramatically.

Yang covers injury diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. He has also taken the initiative to design a skiing sports medicine platform to help skiing enthusiasts and beginners alike find suitable locations, as well as provide warnings and information on how to seek assistance after an injury. This enables skiers to achieve twice the result with half the effort in their treatment after an injury.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#sportsinjuries #skiinginjuries #skiingsafety #Taiwantreatments #Taiwansports

2026-10-23

Bank offers free basketball tickets for borrowing books

As reading rates decline, CTBC Bank is hoping to encourage the habit through its “Read for Sports” campaign. By borrowing at least five books from a public library, participants have the chance to win free tickets to a basketball game. The bank invited professional baseball, basketball, and esports players to serve as ambassadors this year, hoping to bring the joy of reading back into people’s lives.

VIPs take a photo together to kick off this year’s charity reading initiative. But the most well-received people on stage weren’t the officials, but the professional basketball, baseball, and esports athletes who left their gear behind to promote reading.

Chen Kuo-en
CTBC Sports Entertainment chair
With this Read for Sports initiative, we hope to link reading and sports together in people’s minds. I believe it will genuinely help people establish a good mindset.

CTBC Bank has held this reading campaign for 11 years running, partnering with 167 public libraries and eight university libraries across the four northern cities. Readers who check out at least five books before Dec. 20 or earn at least 10 points through the reading passbook system can receive two tickets to a DEA home game. A total of 6,000 tickets are up for grabs.

Chang Liao Wan-chien
Deputy Minister of Education
We’re also enthusiastically helping libraries incorporate more diverse topics like sports, culture, and popular science. We’re expanding our holdings from our traditional focus on content for families, and gradually moving toward building a reading support network for everyone.

Lin Jen-hung
New Taipei CTBC DEA player
I feel that sports are very high-energy, while reading is quiet and calming. I read a lot myself. After doing intense physical activity, I go home and read. It’s a great choice for helping settle your mind.

Over the years, the program has encouraged the borrowing of 600,000 books and given out more than 120,000 tickets to professional basketball and baseball games. This year is no different, hoping to foster the complimentary habits of sports and reading.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#CTBCBank #reading #ReadforSports #DEA #basketball #sports #libraries

2026-10-23

Work and class cancellations as Champi draws close to Taiwan

Work and classes have been cancelled on Friday nationwide, except for the counties of Taitung and Kinmen. Typhoon Champi is approaching Taiwan, and its storm circle is only getting larger. The Central Weather Bureau issued a land warning at midday on Thursday covering the east coast and the north half of the island up to Taichung. Let’s hear from the Central Weather Administration.

Lin Ping-yu
Central Weather Administration
In the evening and in the early hours of Friday, the storm will gradually approach. It’ll be moving at a slower speed. Northern Taiwan and even mountainous areas in Central Taiwan and Hualien should prepare for the impact of heavy downpours. Yilan and the North Coast may be swept by gusts of up to 12 on the Beaufort scale. Winds of that speed could also be recorded along the coast of Central Taiwan due to the Venturi effect caused by the Taiwan Strait, and also in the Henchun Peninsula, Orchid Island and Green Island due to the topography. In Central and Southern Taiwan, the outer bands of the storm could deliver localized scattered showers.

Champi’s might was already felt in Hualien and Taitung earlier on Thursday. Huge waves battered the Xianglan Inspection Station in Taimali, sending seawater crashing into the facility and nearby homes, threatening residents’ safety. The nearby Xianglan firing range was also hit, with large amounts of seawater flooding the military site. Meanwhile, in Hualien’s Xincheng Township, strong winds toppled an 8m tall tree in the morning, crushing a betel nut stand across the street and several vehicles. Fortunately, no one was injured.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#champi #typhoon #rain #wind #storm

2026-10-22

Old woman pleads to Puma Shen over deprived state of Shezidao

During a recent visit to Shezidao, Taipei’s DPP Mayoral Candidate, Puma Shen, was approached by a woman from a local Self-help Association. Overcome with emotion, she knelt down and sobbed to Puma Shen about the decades-long construction bans in Shezidao. She didn’t think this action, would be the cause of her being smeared online. KMT Taipei City Councilor, Lin Hsing-erh accused the grandma of being a paid actor, which led to a wave of cyberbullying against the old woman. Although Lin later apologized, the old woman stood in front of the Self-help Association and announced she was filing a defamation lawsuit.

Old Woman
Local to Shezidao
My 10 years of hard work, I’m not sure how to say, really, I cannot take it anymore. And even on the television they all just say whatever, say I’m taking money, who is going to give money to me? I’m also not lacking money, really, I wouldn’t do it for NT$3,000, now the living cost is so high, what can NT$3,000 even buy, huh? Buy me?

Looking back at the Shezidao Development Project dilemma, the 76-year-old woman wasn’t able to hold back her tears. When she saw Taipei’s DPP mayoral candidate Puma Shen, she erupted into pleas and this action led to her being smeared online.

- Shezidao has many poor souls, they can’t live, when you become mayor, you have to help Shezidao.

At the time, the old woman was on the floor pleading to Puma Shen, who responded saying if he became mayor he would solve it. The 50-year construction ban in Shezidao has been a long-standing issue. KMT Taipei City Councilor, Lin Hsing-erh, mocked the grandma saying she was a paid actor. As a result, the grandma was subject to bullying online and was so angry she filed a defamation lawsuit.

Lee Hua-ping
Shezidao Self-help Association Spokesperson
In 2022, Chiang Wan-an, before he became mayor, he was very kind, very friendly, and personally helped the petition for Shezidao Self-help Association. It’s been four years since and have they met again?

Old Woman
Local to Shezidao
We’ve been lied to by so many mayors, I’ve lost my faith.

Although Lin Hsing-erh issued an apology, she emphasized that she is unafraid and advised against using the old woman for ulterior motives and political games. She criticized the Shezidao Self-help Association for blowing things out of proportion. However, members fired back and also criticized Taipei’s Mayor Chiang Wan-an for being friendly before he was elected and ignoring them after. They felt they were deceived and hope the election would change things.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#shezi #社子島 #沈伯洋 #蔣萬安 #林杏兒 #dpp #kmt #constructionban #defamationsuit

2026-10-22

Puma Shen sticker sparks political storm at Taipei theater

Renowned theater troupe Our Theatre, has gotten embroiled in a political controversy, all over a campaign sticker. The group had put up a message board to get feedback from the audience about their new play at Taipei’s Shuiyuan Theater. The problem came after someone posted a small campaign sticker for Taipei Mayoral Candidate Puma Shen on a sticky note on the board. The City’s Department of Cultural Affairs asked the troupe to remove it. The request was slammed by a DPP lawmaker. Let’s hear more.

Chang Hsin-yi
Our Theatre
Venue staff warned our team about the sticker. From the get-go, we told Mr. Tsai that it was our long-standing custom to create spaces for public expression. He later phoned me. He was very supportive about our play, Louder! but he did say that he hoped we’d take the sticker down to stay out of trouble.

Chen Pei-yu
Lawmaker (DPP)
Nobody working in the arts industry wants to face this kind of suppression. A typhoon is coming, but instead of preparing for landslides, Taipei is busy trying to stop the O’Shen wave.

Puma Shen
Taipei Mayoral Candidate (DPP)
I have a concern. The requirement for political neutrality only applies to the civil servants and the venue operators. The obligation doesn’t apply to individual vendors or theater groups. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding regarding the regulations when they spoke to each other.

Tsai Shih-ping
Taipei Cultural Affairs Department
I feel that Mr. Puma Shen doesn’t have a sufficient understanding of the rules for cultural groups. Since he wants to become mayor, he should know that Taipei has long enforced political neutrality rules at all venues. Both venues and civil servants must remain politically neutral, and the groups renting the venues should help preserve that neutrality.

The theater troupe later posted a notice next to the message board. It says that, after a “friendly reminder” from the Taipei government, participants are asked to refrain from posting explicit political slogans on the board. The notice included the contentious campaign sticker on the sticky note, as well as a graphic for Chiang’s campaign printed of the paper. The notice along with a meme making fun of the situation hints at what the troupe really things of the incident.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#politics #taipei #theater #play #culture

2026-10-22

Candidate sparks viral trend with poster doodle contest

After noticing a half-moustache drawn onto one of his campaign posters, DPP Kaohsiung city council candidate Chang Yi-li decided to fill in the other half himself. He never expected it to go viral! Since vandalizing billboards is illegal, he launched his own contest inviting the public to doodle on his campaign posters. So far, he’s been turned into Hello Kitty, Nezuko, a woman, and more, engaging Kaohsiung voters’ expansive creativity.

Each one of these campaign posters is a little bit different. If you look closely, you can see that some have moustaches and earrings, and some have moles on his face. Others were changed more dramatically. In this one, he’s become Hello Kitty.

With her signature red bow and whiskers, even a little “meow” written off to the side, this poster hanging in a shop has drawn a lot of attention.

Shop owner’s daughter
Loves drawing
I wanted to draw a bow on him. Then I thought of adding whiskers and ears.

All of these doodles were sanctioned by the candidate himself, who wanted to encourage residents to express their creative side.

Chang Yi-li
Kaohsiung city council candidate (DPP)
Parents have found these posters to be a lifesaver. When I’m out on the street, they come up to me asking for posters. There are so many great ones. Like this one. They gave me braids and lipstick, and even stuck little gems on the poster.

As a former director of Kaohsiung’s Youth Bureau, Chang is now throwing his hat in the ring to represent the Zuoying-Nanzih constituency. After discovering a half-moustache drawn onto one of his billboards, the former Red Dot Design Award-winner decided to add the other half himself. It went viral online, but since it’s illegal to vandalize campaign billboards, he started a poster doodling contest. Even other candidates have joined in the fun.

These city council candidates decided to give him pink hair like G-Dragon, and a muzzle like Nezuko from Demon Slayer.

Member of public
Kaohsiung resident
It’s a pretty unique promotional strategy.

Member of public
Kaohsiung resident
Allowing people to doodle on the posters makes him more approachable to people.

Chang Yi-li
Kaohsiung city council candidate (DPP)
I’ve given out more than 300 posters so far. We really look forward to everyone sharing their feedback and designs with us.

Doodle fever has taken over, both online and off. But officials still issued a warning that defacing campaign posters without the candidate’s consent remains illegal. With permission though, voters are having a blast with this creative campaign twist.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Kaohsiung #2026election #Changyili #creative #doodle #campaignposter #viral

2026-10-22

National Chengchi University inaugurates Abe Shinzo Library

National Chengchi University has officially opened its Abe Shinzo Library, marking the fourth anniversary of the death of the former Japanese prime minister. Taiwan-Japan Relations Association chair Frank Hsieh and Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Ho Chih-wei attended the inauguration ceremony, where Abe Akie, Shinzo’s widow, gave a moving speech.

Glass cabinets display photographs of former Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzo. To mark the fourth anniversary of his death, National Chengchi University inaugurated a new Shinzo Abe Library, with Taiwan-Japan Relations Association chair Frank Hsieh and Abe Akie, Shinzo’s widow, attending the ceremony.

Abe Akie
Abe Shinzo’s widow
My husband will not be coming back now, so to ensure that his sacrifice was not in vain, I hope to continue sharing his story and passing on his legacy. I hope especially that the younger generation can carry on his spirit and beliefs.

Frank Hsieh
Taiwan-Japan Relations Association chair
Abe Shinzo was an internationally renowned politician. His ideas were ahead of his time and very influential. More importantly, he was a good friend of Taiwan. This new library provides a tangible way to pass on his ideas and spirit.

The library is built with cypress imported from Japan, creating a space for research and reading that is connected to Japanese culture. It will be a hub for research on Abe and modern Japan, collecting materials on his philosophy, diplomacy, and policies, and even displaying legislation he signed.

Lu Yeh-chung
NCCU College of International Affairs dean
The establishment of the Abe Shinzo Library is not only a tribute to the former prime minister’s vision, but an important milestone for our college and university in advancing Indo-Pacific studies and promoting academic exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.

The library honors Abe Shinzo’s legacy, preserving records of his life and achievements. It marks a new milestone in academic cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, furthering Japanese studies in Taiwan.

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#library #ShinzoAbe #NCCU #Japanstudies #university #research #legacy #politics #internationalexchange

2026-10-22

Elder man returns with scythe to little girl’s family restaurant

A man surnamed Wu is causing more trouble in Chiayi. Earlier this week, he was reported to the police for putting an 11-year-old girl in a chokehold and dragging her away after she refused to call him “uncle.” The young girl’s family intervened as he began pushing her towards an alley and he was reported to the police on charges of coercion. But he returned to the restaurant the following day, on Thursday, threatening to pour gasoline and to scare the girl’s family.

A man is raging and carrying a large scythe shouting outside the restaurant, threatening to pour gasoline on it. Just a day before, he was pushing around the granddaughter of the owners who called the police on him. Now he’s returned to cause trouble.

The restaurant owner’s 11-year-old granddaughter was standing at the door entrance waiting for her grandparents to finish closing up, when a man suddenly grabbed her neck and pulled her towards an alley. When the grandmother found out what was happening, she stopped them.

Girl’s Family Member
Concerned about escalation
He said he came to apologize, but if you’re apologizing you wouldn’t carry a blade, which would scare away our customers. Even though my granddaughter is scared, she still goes to school and her teacher is providing her counseling.

The incident took place outside the family’s restaurant in Chiayi, the man in question is a friend of the girl’s grandfather, and claimed he was simply playing with the girl and putting his arm around her shoulder because she didn’t call him “uncle.” The family rejects this reasoning and filed a police report to get to the bottom of the matter.

Chen Chih-kai
Chiayi City Councilor Candidate
To prevent our children, and even other members of the public, from this kind of suffering and intimidation and violence, we urge the prosecution to support preventative detention measures. The prosecutor’s office should take preventative measures.

Wu Chao-yi
Chief at Chiayi City Police Department
Regarding the case of Mr. Wu and the Tsai family from the day before yesterday, the police accepted the case and transferred it to judicial authorities. It will be handled according to law. In response to public concerns, the police have increased patrols and surveillance in the area surrounding the incident site.

The police have detained Mr. Wu and taken him into custody; from there he will be transferred for further investigation. The family hopes that the police and prosecutors will detain Mr. Wu who continues to cause trouble and hope they won’t have to live in fear.

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#childabuse #predator #publicsafety #sexualharassment #chiayi

2026-10-22

Athletic trainer flips off teen at high school basketball game

An adult athletic trainer for a high school basketball team got so worked up about his team’s victory that he stormed onto the court and flipped off his opponents. The man taunted a player from the opposing team who had just fallen to the ground after attempting a three-pointer. He gave the teen the middle finger and allegedly called him a “piece of trash.” The shocking outburst sparked widespread outrage, prompting the school to fire the trainer.

A player from Dalun Junior High is attempting a three-pointer, when he loses his balance and falls to the floor. The referee blows the whistle, sealing the victory for their opponents, Jinhe Junior High. Then, a man wearing a black T-shirt storms onto the court, yells at the fallen player and flips him off.

- The athletic trainer is on the court!
He flipped off a player!
Call the parents over!

Jinhe Junior High’s athletic trainer shocked everyone rushing onto the court in the middle of the game to harass a player from Dalun Junior High. He gave the player the middle finger, shouted at him to “Keep acting,” and may have even called him a piece of trash. His actions sparked swift backlash on social media.

Hsieh Nien-tzu
Dalun Junior High coach
He insulted the kids and made rude gestures at them. Some kids heard him say “piece of trash.” He’s not even a member of staff at the school, so he shouldn’t even have been there to begin with.

Kuo Fang-chiang
Dalun Junior High Principal
I’m very upset that the three years of efforts that our kids did were stained by this provocation.

Jinhe Junior High released an apology after the incident, saying that the athletic trainer had been dismissed and would never be hired again. Dalun Junior High released a statement condemning the incident and asking the national school sport federation to investigate the matter to clarify the facts and responsibilities. The Commissioner of Miaoli County also spoke on the matter.

Chung Tung-chin
Miaoli Commissioner
It’s unbelievable. I think the school sports federation should give Miaoli an explanation on how order is maintained at games. The rules should prevent all the participants from every county from getting harassed on the court.

The commissioner says the perpetrator should apologize publicly for his actions. He stressed that both winning and losing is a part of sports, and urged athletes and their teams to show good sportsmanship by being humble in victory and gracious in defeat.

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#sports #taiwan #miaoli #basketball #sportsmanship

2026-10-22

Taichung chef receives French award for culinary excellence

Taiwan’s first Michelin-starred female chef Justine Li earned further international recognition this year for excellence in French cuisine. She was awarded the rank of Knight in France’s Order of Agriculture Merit, with the honor presented by the director of the French Office in Taipei. Li, founder and head chef of a renowned French restaurant in Taichung, has once again proven Taiwan’s culinary talent on the international stage.

Frédéric Laplanche
French Office in Taipei Director
It is my great honor to present Ms. Justine Li with this distinction from the Order of Agricultural Merit on behalf of the French Republic.

The director of the French Office in Taipei personally awarded the Order of Agricultural Merit to Justine Li, recognizing her efforts in promoting French cuisine in Taiwan for over 20 years. She founded a French restaurant in Taichung in 2004, when Taiwanese were still largely unfamiliar with French cuisine. Her delicious creations have since been praised by critics and customers alike.

Justine Li
Decorated chef
While this medal is more of a personal honor, it’s thanks to the hard work of my team that I have the chance to receive it. I couldn’t have done it alone.

Li cooks Taiwanese ingredients in the French culinary style, such as grilled mackerel from Penghu served with a clear bouillabaisse broth, or pan-seared prawns with zucchini garnish. In 2020, when Taichung was included in the Michelin Guide for the first time, Li’s restaurant earned a star.

Justine Li
Decorated chef
The whole journey has been challenging. For example, at the start, people in Taiwan weren’t familiar with French cuisine, plus finding the right ingredients was tough. I think French cuisine truly takes teamwork. It’s not something you can do alone.

Frédéric Laplanche
French Office in Taipei Director
French cuisine is an important part of French culture. We believe it’s a deeply rooted cultural element. So we are very grateful to have someone promoting it in Taiwan.

France’s Order of Agricultural Merit recognizes people for their outstanding contributions to agriculture and cuisine. From earning a Michelin star to the medal now on her lapel, Li has spent decades pursuing her dream, bringing authentic French cuisine to Taiwan.

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#Taichung #French #France #cuisine #OrderofAgriculturalMerit #award #FrenchOfficeinTaipei #Michelin #JustineLi #chef

2026-10-22

High-end wagyu hotpot restaurants offer creative dishes for fall

With the weather finally cooling down, hotpot restaurants are offering new deals to entice customers. One is serving a luxurious wagyu beef and sea urchin feast, incorporating premium sea urchin into dishes throughout the meal. Others offer creative soup base combinations, including wagyu beef and cilantro, and pomelo and pepper.

A chef adds sea urchin to a soymilk hotpot, expertly prepared. Then he dips wagyu beef inside, swishing it in the broth seven times to cook it just right.

Other dishes include thinly sliced wagyu beef wrapped around sea urchin and seared, as well as crispy sea urchin fritters. Even the ice cream incorporates sea urchin. This hotpot restaurant is offering an exclusive sea urchin and wagyu set meal for fall, featuring seven creative new dishes.

Huang Chien-chih
Restaurant group CEO
We use red sea urchins from Hokkaido for our seven sea urchin dishes. Taiwanese customers are very receptive to sea urchins and enjoy eating them.

At this other restaurant, onion and garlic sizzles in the pot. They add cilantro on top of premium wagyu beef, making this restaurant’s special cilantro and wagyu hotpot.

Su Yu-chien
Hotpot restaurant manager
Cilantro is seasonal and has a distinctive flavor. We’re promoting it to all our customers to enjoy and try something different.

Another restaurant has combined Taiwanese stone hotpot with Japanese wagyu beef, using a pomelo and pepper soup base to create a Taiwan-Japan fusion.

Member of public
Customer
Wagyu beef has a delicious flavor and aroma. The initial taste is a bit sweet. It’s quite good. I’ll have it sometimes.

Catering to those who enjoy high-end wagyu hotpot, these restaurants are adding creative twists to the dining experience, enticing customers as the weather cools down.

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#hotpot #wagyu #beef #seaurchin #surfandturf #fall #autumn #restaurant #fancy

2026-10-22

Heavy rain expected as weakening Typhoon Champi approaches Taiwan

Typhoon Champi continues to approach Taiwan from the east. Though the storm is gradually weakening, the storm circle remains intact. The Central Weather Administration expects to issue a land warning at some point during Thursday night. The storm will be closest to Taiwan on Friday, so be sure to make all the necessary preparations ahead of time. Let’s hear from a meteorologist.

Chang Cheng-chuan
Central Weather Administration
We expect the storm to reach waters off the east coast of Taiwan on Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, it will veer north in waters off the northeast coast. The projected path has been adjusted westward a bit in comparison with the predictions earlier today. That means its shift north will be a bit slower. The point at which the change in direction happens will impact how close it will get to Taiwan.

The combined forces of the storm and northeasterly winds are set to bring rainy weather to the north and east coast of Taiwan on Thursday. Stormy conditions will be felt on Friday, when Champi will be closest to the island. Northestern Taiwan could see extremely heavy rains of more than 300mm. Precipitation won’t let up until Saturday afternoon, when Champi continues its way toward Japan.

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#typhoon #storm #champi #rain #winds

2026-10-21

Taipei mayoral candidates share vastly different visions for Taipei

What will Taipei look like 20 years from now? Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an hopes the city will have a vast green park where Songshan Airport stands today. Meanwhile, DPP’s mayoral candidate Puma Shen hopes the capital will be a city where young people can afford to live and build their futures. The vastly different opinions have prompted plenty of debate both online and offline.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
I hope that 20 years from now, Taipei can be like this. Just imagine going to Songshan Airport, and finding it’s a huge green space with dense canopies.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an spoke about his vision for Taipei on a TV program. He hopes that 20 years in the future, lush foliage will cover the area where Songshan Airport is today.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
You’ll see self-driving vehicles on the road, all of them using key chips made in Taiwan. The city is full of vitality and innovation.

Puma Shen
Taipei Mayoral Candidate (DPP)
My daughter is 6 years old now. In 20 years, she’ll be 26, freshly graduated from university, or rather, from her master’s program. We hope that this future Taipei will have jobs that aren’t a struggle to land. By then I hope we’ll have a city fund that provides each child NT$500,000 when they grow into adults. I hope that my daughter can live in Taipei, at affordable housing, or at a rental not for sale.

When the DPP’s mayoral candidate for Taipei, Puma Shen, was asked a similar question, his answer considered the needs of different age groups, such as employment, childrearing and retirement. Netizens quickly slammed Chiang’s response in the comments: “Didn’t he want to build an AI park?” “You cut down trees left and right yet you want greenery?” “Chiang when he reads from a script vs. Chiang when he speaks his mind” “Is Chiang competing in an elementary school speech contest?”

Chien Shu-pei
Taipei City Councilor (DPP)
Would shutting down Songshan meet the needs of any age group? Chiang is a master of answering questions without actually answering them. Both candidates have weighed in on this important issue, and I believe the citizens of Taipei are smart enough to make the right choice.

Both candidates have different ideas about what the capital should look like in the future. With Election Day drawing closer, it remains to be seen who will sway voters.

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#taipei #election #songshanairport #housing #retiree

2026-10-21