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Mobile internet to be disrupted for military drills in August

If you are the kind who can’t go a minute without checking your phone, you definitely want to jot this down. For the first time ever, Taiwan’s military will conduct a drill simulating a disruption to mobile internet services this August. The drill will be held as part of the Han Kuang military exercises, which run from Aug. 5 to 14, and will cover 14 cities and counties across Northern and Central Taiwan. But officials are stressing that this is not actually a complete internet shutdown. Let’s hear more.

I would also like to take the opportunity to explain the drills to everyone. Mobile internet services won’t be cut off fully. The connection speed will be slowed down, to simulate a disruption as caused by a natural disaster or a large-scale cyber attack. If you require a connection you can use fixed lines, or Wi-Fi. Taiwan isn’t the first in the world to conduct a drill of this kind. Democracies such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and some European countries have conducted drills where they simulate power outages or cyberattacks on internet communications systems. It’s common practice, as these simulations enhance the resilience of democratic countries.

During the drill, mobile phones will still be able to make voice calls and send SMS messages. Emergency services, including 110 and 119, will also remain fully operational, while disaster warning text messages will not be affected. The Central Taiwan drill will take place from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. on August 10. In Northern Taiwan, the disruption will take place at the same time on Aug. 13.

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

#drill #phone #internet #connection #network #data

Time：2026-07-21

最新消息 Latest News

Lone macaque running amok caught after watermelon theft

Locals in Kaohsiung were treated to a tense yet entertaining standoff between a couple dozen humans and one macaque on a city trip. The monkey had apparently been taking in the local sights for three days, checking out popular tourist spots like Liuhe Night Market. But the primate’s trip was cut short on Tuesday morning at Sinsing District. After the monkey stole some pieces of watermelon from a woman, the local borough warden called police to take it away, resulting in an amusing spectacle.

What is happening? Police officers holding batons stand on the road, and a crowd of onlookers forms a semicircle. Even passing motorists stop to watch. The tension is palpable. Look up a bit and… it’s a macaque! Perched on the building’s façade looking over downtown Kaohsiung.

- Have you ever seen one before?
- Never! It’s so weird.

- It must be someone’s pet. Or maybe it was looking for food.

The monkey sits still, leisurely observing the movements down below. It stands and strolls around, yawning and chilling, even going as far as going to the toilet on a shop sign. Agriculture officials finally arrive, and after a long stare-off with the animal, they decide to shoot it with a tranquilizer gun.

Right on target! But instead of succumbing to sleep on the spot, the monkey started running amok and fell to the ground, baring its sharp teeth to anyone that got in the way. The final struggle is worthy of an epic.

Some people grab traffic cones to catch the monkey, while others rush forward with a net. Finally, sweet victory for the humans, as the group subdues the monkey. This macaque had been terrorizing Kaohsiung for three days.

Lee Hung-tan
Dongpo Borough Warden
It ripped off a piece of watermelon from a customer. While it was eating it over in the alley, I called the police over.

Voice of Chen Hsiu-fen
Kaohsiung agriculture official
We determined that the macaque strayed away from the pack in Chaishan.

The areas surrounding Chaishan and Shoushan Zoo are packed with macaques. It is unknown why one of them decided to venture into the city, where it was spotted making the trip to the Neiwei Arts Center, the popular Liuhe Night Market, and finally Linsen 1st Road, which is at least 6km away. The Kaohsiung Agricultural Bureau says the sightings are indeed the same monkey, a macaque that has been taken for a checkup at the zoo and will be released at a future date. With monkeys traveling deeper into the city, the question now is how to strike a balance of coexistence.

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

#monkey #macaque #funny #lol #kaohsiung #news #taiwannews

2026-07-21

Job market shifts south as AI boom fuels hiring surge

For decades, job-seekers all over Taiwan have been moving north, but that trend seems to be slowly reversing. According to a job bank survey, the number of job openings in Southern Taiwan increased by 10% in the first half of the year, compared with the first half of 2025. That’s a much steeper increase than the 5.8% increase in the North and the 5.1% increase in Central Taiwan. This new trend could be fueled by AI, semiconductor expansion, and the gradual formation of a tech corridor stretching from Chiayi to Pingtung. Let’s hear more.

Chung Chia-pin
Lawmaker (DPP)
Hsinchu Science Park isn’t the hottest thing anymore. Now the Southern Taiwan Science Park is in. This tectonic shift is making Southern Taiwan increasingly important, especially since historically, we’ve had plenty of water, power and land.

Hou Shuhn-Shyurng
Kun Shan University
We’ve established an AI college that the whole university is promoting. We have direct connections with more than 3,700 universities including TSMC, ASE and Innolux. Students can obtain professional certifications such as via the iPAS.

Lee Chien-I
National University of Tainan
We often hold events for alums. Thanks to their feedback, we can make adjustments to our curriculum. Every single student must take AI-enabled courses in their first year.

Universities and companies in the South are joining forces to retain talent locally. Fourteen universities have formed an alliance to work with tech companies and expand into hot fields ripe for AI such as long-term care and agriculture. With the support of major semiconductor giants, and with companies offering perks such as flexible work schedules, the North no longer seems so attractive as a career choice.

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

#jobs #taiwan #career #semiconductor #chips #tech #agriculture #south #southern

2026-07-21

Expensive artisan menu board for tofu pudding shop raises questions

While preparing to open a shop in Tainan, an entrepreneur approached an artisan to carve the menu out of wood in the traditional inlay style unique to the old capital. For a shop selling inexpensive tofu pudding and grass jelly, spending over NT$100,000 on the menu board seems to be an odd contrast, although somehow fitting for the over-the-top city.

Carving tool in hand, an artisan focuses intently on chiseling floral patterns to fulfill her commission. This is no ordinary carving, but a special kind of wood inlay craft unique to Tainan. An entrepreneur hired a specialist to create this menu board for his future tofu pudding shop.

Wang Yu-chien
Woodcarver
We usually just print it like normal. Using a craft special to Tainan for the menu will make this place unique.

Items on the menu include tofu pudding and grass jelly, all for only NT$30, yet the custom board alone will easily run into the hundreds of thousands. Only someone from Tainan could be crazy enough to wrap something so ordinary in pure luxury.

Liu Chin-wen
Woodcarver
I was surprised. You’re selling tofu pudding for NT$30, but this board will be over NT$100,000. Do you really want to do it? But he figured that reflecting the history was more important.

The order came by introduction from a friend of Liu Chin-wen who works in the food industry. The entrepreneur opened a well-known restaurant in Tainan that has received Bib Gourmand recognition for many years. Now, he’s preparing to open a tofu pudding shop. As the location happens to be next to the birthplace of this carving style, he decided to integrate it into the design.

Chou Jung-tang
Restaurateur
The innovative part is carving my photograph directly into the menu board in the special Tainan style. We hope to be able to hand it down through the generations.

It’s not cheap to make a menu board this exquisite, which has left people wondering: If prices go up, will they have to remake the sign? Chou said the specially crafted board isn’t just to drive business—more importantly, he hopes it will hang proudly over the old street as a part of Tainan’s rich history.

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

#Tainan #tofupudding #craftsmanship #culturalheritage #woodcarving #artisan

2026-07-21

Group of veteran cabaret musicians form band to benefit seniors, children

Wei Jung-tai, celebrated in the horticultural industry as an expert on foxtail orchids, served as a band director for numerous variety shows in his earlier days. In recent years, he’s assembled a team of musicians who used to headline all kinds of concert halls and cabaret shows into their own band. They go around the country performing charity concerts for audiences to enjoy and reminisce about the bygone heyday of Taiwan’s cabaret culture.

The classic Taiwanese folk song “High Green Mountain” is brought to life by Western wind instruments and Eastern drums.

The conductor waving his baton is Wei Jung-tai. He directs this charity band composed of senior instrumentalists.

Every musician on the stage was once a highly sought-after performer for cabarets and nightclubs in the 1970s. Many years later, Wei brought them all together to form this ensemble.

Wei Jung-tai
Band director
Restaurants, TV shows, and music halls all used to have big bands. We hope that TV channels will bring back variety programs backed by live music. This would elevate our musical standards while giving new life to Taiwan’s jazz music scene.

Wei currently serves as the chair of a successful orchid enterprise specializing in rare foxtail orchids, alongside operating a highly successful restaurant venture. He began studying the piano at four years old and later switched to the keyboard, eventually working as a musical director at various performance venues. His biggest wish was to form a group that would allow his former colleagues to take the stage together once more.

Wei Jung-tai
Band director
I’m bringing these older musicians back to give charity shows together. After deducting our basic expenditures, all remaining proceeds are donated to help orphans, foster homes, and elderly people who live alone.

Giving back through their musical expertise, the group opens their concerts free of charge to elderly people living alone and vulnerable children. These musicians are proving that passion knows no age, as they reignite the creative spark of their golden years.

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

#concert #seniors #bigband #jazzband #WeiJungtai #charity #cabaret #varietyshow

2026-07-21

Ex-TSMC manager indicted for leaking secrets to Chinese firm

A former manager at TSMC surnamed Chen has been indicted for trying to leak company secrets to China. The incident came to light during an investigation into a Chinese espionage group headed by Ding Xiaohu, a Hong Kong national. After joining the group, Mr. Chen made illegal copies of 21 secret documents and drafted a project to recruit Taiwanese talent to advance China’s semiconductor industry. TSMC discovered the activity and reported it. The investigation concluded on July 20, and prosecutors are seeking seven years in prison for Mr. Chen for violating the National Security Act as well as the Trade Secrets Act.

The case follows another alleged leak involving former TSMC engineers Chen Li-ming, Chen Wei-chieh and Wu Ping-jun, who were accused of stealing and leaking key TSMC technology to Japan’s Tokyo Electron. This time, however, the technology was allegedly intended for China. Experts say China currently cannot legally obtain the world’s most advanced EUV equipment. They say that, even with aggressive recruitment and infiltration efforts, it would be difficult for any firm to successfully replicate advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes.

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

#spy #espionage #tsmc #tech #technology #leaks #engineering

2026-07-21

TSMC-NYCU semiconductor summer camp welcomes Ukrainian students as teachers

As the AI wave is here to stay, science education is taking root at a younger age. National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University is hosting a semiconductor summer camp, which this year welcomed students from Ukraine who communicated with the participants entirely in English. The curriculum also incorporates interactive devices designed in Taiwan, transforming difficult chipmaking principles into interactive activities that students can actually touch and play around with.

Holding an interactive device as she looks at the electrical current on the screen, a high schooler from Hsinchu uses English to explain the principles of voltage, current, and short circuits to the class. Her voice never wavers, showing remarkable stage presence.

Each summer, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and TSMC work together to organize the Be Light AI Semiconductor outreach program. This year, they also partnered with a Ukrainian K-12 education project to bring Ukrainian students on board. After first receiving training on semiconductors and AI, Ukrainian and NYCU students teamed up to guide students from Hsinchu Girls’ Senior High through experiments and coding.

Liya
Ukrainian student
I feel really grateful and excited and happy. I’m becoming a teacher myself, and it’s good that you see how the way you teach and the way kids are—their response to this.

Liza
Ukrainian student
I know when their lectures become boring and the students tune out. And I feel like this helped me to create better materials.

Professor Wen, who designed the program, and Lora Ho, a former senior VP at TSMC, are both former students of Hsinchu Girls’ Senior High. They also hope to expose more students to AI early in their education.

Bella
Hsinchu Girls’ Senior High student
I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to finish the program with the assistance of these teachers.

Yang Po-hsuan
Hsinchu Girls’ director of academic affairs
First of all, Professor Wen is an alumna of our school—and a distinguished one at that. At the moment, high-school textbooks don’t have anything on semiconductors. Coming here to teach our students about semiconductors, and having Ukrainian students guide them, makes the topic into an opportunity for international exchange.

Taiwan is incorporating semiconductors into the curriculum ahead of schedule, giving students the chance to enter the industry on more solid footing.

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

#semiconductors #TSMC #NYCU #highschool #summercamp #AI #BeLightAI #Ukraine #internationalexchange

2026-07-21

Campus ambassadors selection receives over 250 applications

The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund just turned 30 recently, but it’s holding a new program for the first time: the Campus Youth Ambassadors selection. Over 250 young people applied, and students who made it into the second round were interviewed in both Mandarin and English. Next up for those who are selected is a 5-day stay in either Eswatini or Saint Lucia, where they’ll witness development diplomacy in action.

Getting out their IDs, these students have gotten to the second stage of the TaiwanICDF’s campus youth ambassador selection.

Su Yu-ting
Student applicant
Being able to go to a diplomatic ally like this, for me it’s something that feels like a rare opportunity. Before this interview today, I’d been trying to learn some words. Also, in the past I studied abroad in the US for a year. So, I’m thinking that having those skills from living abroad might be able to help me at this event.

These students have put in a lot of prep time for their interview, which involved them using Mandarin to share their knowledge about international cooperation. But that’s not all; their communication skills and ability to think on their feet were put to the test during an interview in English. Applicants also had to team up with other students to create a one-minute video; their planning, filming techniques, and ability to express themselves were all evaluated.

Student
Applied for Campus Youth Ambassadors
I wanted to tell our story to lots of people around the world.

Fu I-chin
Student applicant
Through this activity I can do an exchange in Africa. I came up here from Kaohsiung, so I’ll definitely be really happy if I’m chosen, because I rushed here from such a faraway place.

Peifen Hsieh
Taiwan ICDF Deputy Secretary General
It’s important to show that you care about international affairs, as well as putting your skills into practice and having the ability to tell a story through a video. But, of course, your passion is the most important thing of all. You’ll be able to see first-hand Taiwan’s soft power, to see exactly what our ICDF technical teams are doing in these countries.

This is the first time the Taiwan ICDF has held a campus youth ambassador selection event like this, which had over 250 applicants. Students who are selected will head to one of two diplomatic allies, either Eswatini or Saint Lucia, where in late August they will stay for 5 days as part of their job shadowing experience.

Donya Francis
Ambassador of Saint Christopher and Nevis
As you hope to travel as one of TaiwanIDCF’s campus ambassadors to Saint Lucia, where my grandfather is from, or to the Kingdom of Eswatini, I believe this is a great opportunity for all of you to learn more about Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.

The Taiwan ICDF has created a path for youth to visit diplomatic allies, where they’ll be able to achieve their dreams of diplomacy while experiencing first-hand the assistance Taiwan is bringing to its friends abroad.

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

#diplomacy #Eswatini #SaintLucia #youth #ambassador #dreamsarebeautiful

2026-07-21

Alert for barrier lake in Hualien is causing nearby crops to wither

The alert level for the Wanli Creek barrier lake is about to reach week 3, and so while many Hualien residents may still be worrying about a potential flood, local farmers are now dealing with an unintended consequence: a drought. Even though melon and rice fields are in desperate need of water, fears of flooding have resulted in irrigation canals being closed.

Lying on this black tarp are white water-starved watermelons that are basically knocking on death’s door. Melon farmers here are heart-broken, knowing that their hard work has likely gone to waste. It’s especially hard to comprehend over in this field near Jianying Bridge, an area that’s often overflowing with water, yet the withering watermelon sprouts here are now dying from thirst.

Mr. Yeh
Melon Farmer in Fenglin Township
The temps are really high. For that rocky area, when there’s no water the melons can’t take it. They’ll just end up dying.

Mr. Liu
Rice Farmer in Fenglin Township
There’s no water for us to irrigate our crops. Even if we were to have water, let’s say we start planting now, well we won’t even have vines until 3 weeks later. But right now we don’t even have water, so there’s nothing to talk about. There’s nothing.

Farmers in Hualien are finding the situation hopeless, as the alert for the Wanli River barrier lake is now on day 20. Making matters worse is the farm fields are in the evacuation zone, so the irrigation canals and flood gates have all been closed, meaning the farmers can’t get in and the water can’t get out. Knowing that melon and rice farmers are seeing their crops wither, along with their livelihoods, the authorities are seeking solutions.

Chen Shu-wen
Hualien Agriculture Department director
The alert for the Wanli Creek barrier lake has been extended, so when it comes to obtaining water, this is a rather difficult situation. And, of course, the most important thing is ensuring the safety of human life.

Lai Chih-feng
Hualien Irrigation Agency
If we’re allowed to enter the area, in under three days we’ll be able to open up the natural inlets in Lintianshan and Wanrong so that water can flow in from them.

The authorities are not taking any chances since Wanli Creek is still at a red alert level, meaning the barrier lake could overflow at any time. That’s why the local government is trying to think up solutions that will both save crops and not endanger human lives.

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

#thirsty #barrierlake #Hualien #irrigation #flood

2026-07-21

Introducing three of Beitou’s most famous tea shops

Beitou in northern Taipei is famous for its hot springs, and drinking tea has also become a popular pastime there. But there are so many tea shops, it’s hard to know which one to pick. FTV checked out three of the biggest ones to find out what makes Beitou tea so special.

Many people come to Beitou to enjoy the black tea there, but locals still debate which shop has the best kind. There’s a popular tea shop in the market called Cai Yuan Yi, one that sells 3-kilogram bags of tea called Gao Ji, and another popular one on Guangming Road called Ming Quan.

A long line like this is a hallmark of the Gao Ji Tea Shop. About 10 employees stay busy inside. On a good day, the shop sells around 3,000 cups.

Mr. Chung
Gao Ji Tea Shop owner
We brew the tea and carefully select the leaves. There are lots of details about what kind of tea should be brewed at what temperature, and how much should be used.

Popular picks at Gao Ji include its affordable black tea and “worry-free tea,” with regulars often opting for the bagged version. Cai Yuan Yi says its half-sugar and full-sugar drinks best capture the taste of traditional black tea. Xu Jia Tea often sells out, while Mingquan Tea, which has only one location, is well-known for its milk and honey drinks.

Mr. Chung
Gao Ji Tea Shop owner
There might be more people selling it these days. Locals had it first, then visitors tried it and found the quality was pretty good. With the internet so big now, word spreads quickly, and everyone thinks that coming to Beitou means you should have black tea.

Beitou’s black tea culture dates back to the Japanese colonial era, when tea plantations covered Datun Mountain. As demand grew, local farmers began growing black tea, and by the mid-1970s, production shifted from export markets to domestic consumption. But as for which shop is the best—that’s still up for debate.

Member of public
Has a favorite
Since I was young, I’ve always had Cai Yuan Yi. I always get their tea. It has more flavor.

Member of public
Has a favorite
There are lots of tea shops around here. We usually go to Ming Quan. We think their black tea is better, it’s a little more traditional.

It’s really a matter of personal preference, so why not try them all and see which one you like the most?

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

#tea #Beitou #hotsprings #blacktea #teaculture #drink #tradition #teashop

2026-07-21

Taiwan shares close lower after rollercoaster trading day

After a historic crash last Friday, Taiwan shares had a rollercoaster day on Monday, with a swing of more than 1,100 points between the intraday high and the low.

The market opened sharply higher, with most stocks making gains. But the strong start was just that, as sentiment quickly reversed and sent the index plummeting below 42,000 points. UMC, Watsco and Holystone Enterprise closed limit-down, while passive component giant Yageo saw its price get cut in half. Near closing time, a rebound in tech and traditional industry shares helped trim some of the losses. Ultimately the Taiex plunged by 221 points at 42,449, on trading volume of NT$985.1 billion.

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

#taiex #stocks #shares #umc #watsco

2026-07-20

Six flights delayed after cracks found on runway

Flights at Kaohsiung International Airport were on Monday morning after cracks were discovered on the runway during a routine inspection. Authorities immediately shut down part of the runway for emergency preventive repairs to ensure flight safety, delaying six flights, with the longest delay lasting more than two hours. Officials say days of heavy rains may be to blame.

Maintenance crew at Kaohsiung International Airport inspect the runway thoroughly to fix the cracks in the tarmac. Days of heavy rains are thought to have damaged the pavement in several spots, posing a risk to flight safety. But the repairs came at the cost of flight delays.

- How long is the delay?
- I think about 50 minutes.

Passengers were left playing the waiting game, seeing that their scheduled departure times were long past. One passenger says their 8:30 flight to Hong Kong didn’t take off until 11:00. The airport announcements explained that the runway was damaged, making landings impossible. Airport staff discovered cracks on the runway on Monday morning, and rushed to make preventive emergency repairs, which lasted from 10:15 to 11:25. The work affected four international flights and two domestic flights.

Voice of Lin Yi-hsing
Kaohsiung International Airport
We issued a notice to airmen and informed all the affected airlines. Six flights were affected.

Traveler
Wasn’t affected by delays
Takeoff and landing are the most risky parts of any flight. It’s the right decision to make for the sake of safety.

The repairs delayed six flights, one of which was pushed back by more than two hours, at 136 minutes. A former pilot says even small cracks can be dangerous.

Voice of Lawrence Rau
Former pilot
Airplanes are extremely heavy, so any cracks or uneven pavement can have an impact on the tires during takeoff and landing. In general, operations are forbidden under those conditions.

Officials say the damage may have been caused by heavy rains, or possibly a lightning strike. Ultimately, they decided to close down the runway for repairs, as no compromises can be made when it comes to aviation safety.

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

2026-07-20

Bookstore owners and DPP lawmakers rally behind arrested HK employee

Freedom of expression is once again at the center of growing cross-strait tensions. Taiwan’s independent booksellers and pro-democracy lawmakers on Monday rallied behind a bookstore employee who was arrested by police last week in Hong Kong. Lawmakers and bookstore owners say the case is about more than just one arrest, arguing argue it reflects Beijing’s broader efforts to silence free expression. Among the participants were DPP lawmakers Wu Pei-yi and Chen Pei-yu, who joined the event to show their support.

Wu Pei-yi
Lawmaker (DPP)
In effect, China is burning books. We just didn’t think that China would go as far as banning books and suppressing the freedom of bookstores regarding what books they choose, display and sell. As lawmakers from the ROC’s Legislative Yuan, we must condemn the Chinese government on behalf of Taiwan. It’s also a time to remind everyone that since China has passed its “ethnic unity” law, this kind of “red terror” could spread to other free countries.

Chen Pei-yu
Lawmaker (DPP)
We’ve all seen many people in the KMT and TPP collaborating with China. They don’t proclaim it out loud, but by pushing for budget cuts and complying with the CCP, they are suppressing all sorts of possibilities in Taiwan. If we don’t stand up today, if we stay quiet because we are not the victims this time, we will be the victims one day.

The lawmakers co condemned what they described as Beijing’s suppression of even the freedom to choose and sell books. They also accused Taiwan’s opposition parties of working in step with China, through passing budget cuts to cultural ends. They urged the public to support the government and Taiwan’s cultural workers to help safeguard the Taiwan’s democratic freedoms.

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

#taiwan #hongkong #bookstore #china #freedom

2026-07-20

Yunlin’s roasted corn so popular that China claims

Grown in Taiwan and processed in Taiwan, this roasted corn snack is so delicious that it even became a hit in Japan. A purchasing agent saw the business opportunity in a local brand that had sold 2 million bags, but sometime during its international adventure across the Taiwan Strait and into China the roasted corn’s packaging had its country of origin changed to Taiwan, China.

Yunlin County Commissioner Chang Li-shan and the secretary-general of Taishi Farmer’s Association are selling locally made Taiwanese food products during a live video. In their hands is a roasted corn brand that’s gotten so popular in Japan that now even Taiwanese are lining up to buy it.

- Customers need about two months to receive their order. Right now, on average, we sell over 10,000 bags a day.

As of now, over 2 million bags of this salty snack have been sold. Seeing a great business opportunity, an exporter brought the product to China, where its original packaging had a small silver sticker placed over each bag’s country of origin, which now says “Taiwan, China.”

This roasted corn should say it’s made in Taiwan, but once it started being sold in China, the snack’s bags had their country of origin changed to China. It’s another example of Chinese origin laundering.

Tsai Yung-fu
Yunlin County Council
Falsifying the country of origin like this, we think it should be investigated thoroughly, because it’s harmful to Taiwan’s own national dignity.

Member of public
Shocked by this incident
It’s really strange. Something that’s Taiwanese has been labeled as Chinese. Won’t other people think this is really bewildering?

Who stuck on these stickers? One culprit could be the purchasing agent, but no one knows where the snack was being sold in China. Roasted corn isn’t the only Taiwanese snack that had its identity stolen; Jiaxian Farmer’s Association produces preserved plums that are sold in China. These Kaohsiung plums also had their country of origin changed to China. When news about the roasted corn went viral, Taishi Farmer’s Association clarified that this popular roasted corn snack is only sold in Taiwan.

Lin Li-ying
Taishi Farmer’s Association
All of our bags use printing. We don’t use stickers, so this is the work of an individual.

A product made and sold in Taiwan was somehow brought to and sold in China, where someone had tried to change the identity of a salty snack that Taiwan is proud to call its own. But the only thing covering up the truth is a sticker.

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

#corn #snack #corny #salty #healthysnack #yummy #yum #madeintaiwan #eatlocal

2026-07-20

Two Changhua towns are giving out free cash to their residents

Who doesn’t love free money? A township in Changhua is handing every registered resident NT$6,000 in cash, but the timing is raising eyebrows. While many locals are happy to pocket the money, critics argue that distributing public funds just months ahead of an election risks blurring the line between economic relief and vote-buying. Let’s hear more.

Employee
Huatan Township Office
I’m from Taichung.

- How do you feel seeing locals get NT$6,000?

Employee
Huatan Township Office
Super jealous.

- How much cash did you count?

Employee
Huatan Township Office
About NT$1.7 million. I wish I were registered in Huatan.

Resident
Huatan
I got the money, but I don’t think it’s a good thing. In the upcoming elections, we should be picking a capable candidate, and not let them buy our votes with cash.

Resident
Huatan
If course it could be a political stunt. But the most important thing is to have a clear mindset.

Ku Sheng-min
Huatan Mayor
We’re giving back the surplus tax to our residents, and cash is best. It can help them make ends meet.

With a population of 42,000 people, the payments will cost Huatan about NT$258 million. Distribution started on Monday. The office says that the program is funded through savings from personnel cuts and higher tax revenues. And somehow, it’s not the only place in Changhua handing out cash. Nearby Xianxi Township is giving residents NT$2,500 each, using Taipower community funds and budget surpluses, benefiting more than 15,000 people.

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

#changhua #budget #revenue #tax

2026-07-20

Company’s AI-powered eyeglasses can identify cooking ingredients

With AI, cooking has never been easier. A home electronics brand has launched AI cooking eyeglasses. When you wear them, they can be activated by your voice to identify ingredients, recommend recipes and guide you step by step through the cooking process. An accompanying AI-powered smart seasoning dispenser, can precisely measure the exact amounts of seasoning needed. Let’s take a look at these amazing new AI technologies.

Toss the scallions, garlic, and mushrooms into the pot, stir-fry, then add heavy cream, stock and white rice. No need to lift a finger—the AI stir-fryer does the cooking while you relax!

- Hello, Master Chef! With these AI cooking glasses, you can effortlessly identify ingredients, get step-by-step cooking guidance and ask for recipes on the spot.

When paired with an AI-powered smart seasoning machine, it can also record preferences and customize flavor adjustments.

Wu Li-hsiang
Taiwan head of electronics brand
Through the design of AI glasses and our smart seasoning containers, AI technology and related equipment enables everyone to easily enjoy cooking in the kitchen.

After you’ve eaten and drunk to your heart’s content, you don’t need to worry about dirty dishes. Another company has launched a “built-in sink dishwasher” that uses ultrasonic vibrations to instantly remove dirt. It can wash dishes, remove pesticide residue from fruits and vegetables and even clean eyeglasses.

Yeh Wen-cheng
Dishwasher vendor
Ordinary dishwashers use water spraying, so you have to arrange them properly so the spray can reach them to clean. Our method is to soak them in water and use the water to vibrate them, generating more than 20,000 to 40,000 vibrations per second to dislodge the grime.

Modern people lead busy, fast-paced lives. Businesses are sniffing out opportunities presented by AI trends, aiming to bring smart devices into every household.

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#smartdevices #AIdevices #homeappliances #easycooking

2026-07-20

Traffic chaos after dump truck loses two rear wheels

A terrifying scene unfolded on a busy road in Taoyuan after a dump truck suddenly lost not one, but two of its rear wheels while driving. The runaway tires bounced through traffic like deadly projectiles, smashing into a taxi and a factory gate while narrowly missing another truck at a busy intersection. Miraculously, no one was injured, but the dramatic incident was all caught on camera.

The rearview camera on this taxi captured the moment that, not one, but two wheels of a massive dump truck became loose and rolled off to then tear through traffic.

The wheels rolled along, bouncing over bumps and heading straight into other vehicles, turning the road into a game of Frogger. One of them smashed straight into a taxi, while the other reached the intersection and barely just missed a cement mixer truck.

Shen Chien-lin
Police officer
The momentum kept the tires rolling forward. They crashed into a taxi and the front door of a building. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

The hair-raising scene took place last Thursday afternoon in Taoyuan’s Luzhu District, as the driver of the dump truck, Mr. Lu, was driving along Nankan Road. Sec. 2. The wheels flew off the vehicle without a warning, but fortunately, they caused no injuries.

Shen Chien-lin
Police officer
Regarding the tires falling off, the truck driver faces a fine of between NT$1,000 and NT$6,000, in accordance with the relevant traffic law.

The two tires became dangerous projectiles tearing through the road, but luckily, no harm came to anybody. One smashed against a taxi, and the other against a building’s door, damages which the driver will have to provide compensation for.

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#traffic #taiwan #mayhem #wheel #tire




2026-07-20

Discarded trash piles up around Hsinchu clothing recycling bins

Recently, large amounts of trash have piled up by clothing recycling bins in Hsinchu. The litter includes lots of waste as well as old clothes, making the job of the organization responsible for collecting the clothes much more challenging and even subjecting it to fines. The organization reported the issue to police in hopes of catching those responsible for illegal dumping.

A mountain of bags is piled up by a clothing recycling bin in Hsinchu. Even though this facility is only meant for recyclable clothes, there is lots of trash inside these bags.

Huang Pei-sheng
Hsinchu disability employment association head
It’s really serious. It happens every week. It could be that vendors have taken away the good clothes. It’s a real hassle, especially when we have to come back and sort everything out. Each trip is a long drive, and our trucks aren’t very large, so if one-third of the load is garbage, the burden on our staff is huge, not even counting fuel costs.

Clothing recycling bins in Hsinchu County’s Xinfeng Township and Zhubei City have recently been filled with unusable clothes and even trash. It’s possible that recycling companies discarded the items after taking the more valuable pieces, but this leaves the disability support groups that manage the bins with a heavier burden and possible fines.

Volunteer
Helps with trash
We handle a lot of trash. We collect it twice a week and it smells terrible.

The association reported the matter to police, but the dumping often occurs after dark, and many collection bins are in secluded areas without surveillance, making it difficult to catch those responsible.

Liao Ying-ying
Hsinchu Environmental Protection Bureau deputy director
Dumping trash around clothing collection bins is subject to a NT$6,000 fine according to the Waste Disposal Act.

It’s illegal to dump trash by recycling bins, and authorities are working together to try and stop this egregious behavior.

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#clothing #recycle #trash #illegaldumping #illegal #garbage #Hsinchu #litter #fine

2026-07-20

Octogenarian keeps traditional fish counting trade alive in Tainan

Across the aquafarms of coastal Tainan, fish fry traders used to rely on professional counters, who tallied the young fish with the help of a rhythmic fish-counting song. Although modern advancements have nearly wiped out the practice, in Tainan, there still one who carries on the tradition. The 87-year-old counter continues to teach young people about early life along the Tainan coast, drawing upon his wealth of experience to teach an all-but-forgotten part of Taiwan’s fishing culture.

Newly hatched milkfish fry swim around in a barrel as a fish counter uses a bowl to quickly sort and tally them. As he works, he sings the fish counting song, a tradition among the coastal villages of Tainan.

Lin Ssu-ping
Fish counter
You need good eyesight. Once you’re used to it, it becomes second nature. You can’t make a single error. For every one you’re off, you need to compensate for 10 fish.

-He’s very accurate and very fast.

-His voice flows so seamlessly. I don’t understand it, but it sounds like a folk ballad.

At 87 years old, Lin Ssu-ping is the last fish counter in Taiwan. Drawing on his lifetime of experience, he guides parents and children to try out traditional seine fishing on bamboo rafts, teaching them how to use the nets and catch fry.

Member of public
Seeing it once is better than a hundred lessons. You can remember it so much better after experiencing it yourself.

Tsai Chun-feng
Ecotourism development association chair
Fish counting used to be done manually. It required a ton of labor. They could count 100,000 to 200,000 in one morning.

Unusual for someone who couldn’t read or do math, Lin decided to pursue a living as a fish counter. His uniform: a distinctive brown apron tied around his waist.

Lin Ssu-ping
Fish counter
If you need to cross a river or a canal, your lower half will get soaked. The apron is more breathable.

These days, it’s computers that count milkfish fry, driving traditional fish counters out of a job. But this passionate octogenarian proves that although times change, there’s still space for traditions to be passed on to future generations.

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#milkfish #fishcounting #traditional #Tainan #coastaltown #fishing #aquaculture #heritage #folksong

2026-07-20

Mother-of-pearl inlay artisan teaches craft to inmates

Mother-of-pearl inlay is a centuries-old craft that involves shaping thin pieces of iridescent shell and embedding them into objects. This traditional art is in danger of disappearing as artisans age without apprentices to take over. But one artisan has been teaching at Hsinchu Prison, inspiring many inmates to take an interest. Chen Fu-chiang hopes this beautiful art can help them regain a sense of purpose and hope in life.

Using a grinding wheel, an artist carefully sculpts seashells into a flower and inlays it onto a wooden board, creating a beautiful work of art.

A master at this kind of mother-of-pearl inlay work, artisan Chen Fu-chiang is also an attentive teacher. The art form involves shaping thin pieces of shells and embedding them into objects. But this highly delicate and intricate craft is in danger of disappearing. Now that he’s found more interested students, Mr. Chen sees hope for the future.

Chen Fu-chiang
Shell inlay artisan
The warden really values this tradition, so he invited me to the prison to teach it. They exceeded my expectations. They selected people who had artistic backgrounds or were skilled with their hands, and they learned very quickly.

Invited to teach at Hsinchu Prison, Mr. Chen does not treat these students any differently just because they’re inmates. He gives each one an equal opportunity to learn.

Chen Fu-chiang
Shell inlay artisan
I often tell him, that student, if you don’t know, then just ask.

Han Chih-hsiang
Hsinchu Prison officer
It’s important that those who come are willing to learn and can sit still. Of course, during the process, some students discover that it’s too tiring and challenging, so they might choose to leave the class.

Under Mr. Chen’s patient tutelage, many inmates have found a sense of accomplishment from learning a beautiful art form they never thought they would have the chance to try.

Inmate
I’ve learned to focus and work diligently, and it’s helped me manage my bad temper and negative thoughts.

Inmate
We have to do each step very meticulously and carefully, to the best of our ability, before we can move on to the next one. I think the same principle should apply to life in the future as well.

Studying mother-of-pearl inlay helps these inmates find a sense of accomplishment and unlearn bad habits, giving them and their teacher new hope for the future.

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#prison #art #teacher #artist #motherofpearlinlay #tradition #motherofpearl #shellinlay

2026-07-20