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Lai wants Taiwan’s next 7 submarines to be built in one go

President-elect Lai Ching-te reportedly wants to speed up submarine production. Sources say that earlier this month, he asked for all seven planned submarines to be built in one go, instead of in batches. Building them all together would require an increase to the national defense budget. DPP lawmakers have expressed approval, saying the change is in the interests of national security.

Earlier this month, President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te observed the delivery of the Yunlin patrol vessel. It was the first time they jointly attended a ceremony for a domestically built military vessel. It symbolized the handing over of a legacy.

Tsai Ing-wen (March 9)
President
Today’s ceremony symbolizes the progress in our domestic shipbuilding program, which continues to move forward.

That same day, Tsai and Lai reportedly conducted a secret inspection of the Narwhal, Taiwan’s first domestically built submarine prototype, receiving a confidential briefing. At the time, the head of the indigenous defense submarine program Huang Shu-kuang, and representatives from CSBC Corporation, had proposed building the next seven vessels in three batches, in configurations of three plus two plus two or two plus three plus two. With the May 20 inauguration drawing closer, Tsai deferred the decision to Lai, who asked for all seven vessels to be built in one go.

Lin Chu-yin
DPP lawmaker
This country belongs to all of us. Regardless of what happens in the Legislative Yuan, national security is not just an issue for the DPP or the KMT. Security isn’t about party affiliation. Security is something we all have to work toward. So we hope that the program can proceed as planned, so that submarine production can continue.

But if Lai were to request additional funding for the additional submarines, he could hit resistance in the Legislative Yuan.

Hung Sun-han
DPP lawmaker
Our stance as the ruling party is to complete the project as soon as possible. This shows our commitment to national security and national defense. The funds and the budget for the program have to be allocated properly. We hope that the opposition parties will also be committed to the same goals.

Hsu Chiao-hsin
KMT lawmaker
We will only support transparent, corruption-free, and efficient domestic shipbuilding programs. We will support anything that is in the interests of the R.O.C.

With tensions rising in the Taiwan Strait, the government hopes to speed up efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s marine defenses.

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

2024-03-18

DPP to launch livestreamed show to connect with young voters

The DPP is set to launch a livestreamed show this Wednesday, in an attempt to reach young voters. The show’s rotating hosts will be DPP spokespeople, and its guests will include lawmaker Rosalia Wu and DPP Chair Lai Ching-te.

DPP Spokesperson Justin Wu and DPP Center for Media Innovation Director Chan Ho-shun chat up a storm, even poking fun at party chair Lai Ching-te.

Chan Ho-shun
DPP Center for Media Innovation
Our boss told us to start a livestream, so whether it’s before or after his inauguration, he should come and make an appearance.

Justin Wu
DPP spokesperson
True. You can’t set us up like this and not even show up yourself.

The DPP is launching its first-ever livestreamed show. The first episode is scheduled for Wednesday evening. Future episodes will be hosted in turn by different DPP spokespeople and each will have a special guest. The goal is to discuss issues important to young people in an entertaining and relaxed manner, and to create a channel of communication.

Justin Wu
DPP spokesperson
Hearing voices within the DPP or even simply seeing the faces of DPP members is very important. In the future, we hope to have people like Lai Ching-te or politicians within the DPP who are usually very careful about their public image. We hope the show can be a place that they let their hair down.

The hosts will take queries from the internet, and encourage guests to express themselves freely. The show will be on every Wednesday on YouTube. The first guest will be lawmaker Rosalia Wu, who will discuss the ins and outs of working in the Legislative Yuan.

Chan Ho-shun
DPP Center for Media Innovation
The episodes on Wednesday will address all the things that happened the previous week. Discussing matters like this may sound a bit dry, but I’m sure that Justin Wu will be able to make the show interesting and interact with the guests to make the show enjoyable.

The show is also set to venture outside the studio. It will make stops at cities and counties, exploring local snacks and sights to form deeper connections with locals around the country. Since the Jan. 13 elections, the DPP has ramped up efforts to reach young people, aiming to win over young voters and swing voters ahead of 2026.

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

2024-03-18

Ices shaped like adorable toy poodles go on sale in convenience stores

A new trend has hit Taiwan! Ice lollies shaped like adorable toy poodles recently went on sale in convenience stores. The charming treats are proving to be a sensation. You can see lots of photos of pets posing with the treats online. But these poodles are not the only pet- inspired desserts on the market.

An adorable toy poodle sticks out a little pink tongue. The lines of its curly fur are clearly marked out. Could you bear to eat such a cute ice lolly? And it’s not just poodles, but also equally lifelike peanut-flavored French bulldogs.

Hu Yu-wei
Ice treat maker
Our team has always loved animals, so we thought, “Why don’t we make ice lollies that look like our own pets?” We tested the 3D shapes and molds quite a few times, wasting a lot of molds and designs.

The 6-year-old company started with soft serve ice cream and then diversified. They spent 6 to 12 months testing and retesting molds for these ice pops. Each one takes 15 to 18 hours to make by hand, using three or four separate molds. After two weeks on sale in convenience stores, they’ve caused a splash.

Hu Yu-wei
Ice treat maker
Lots of people go and buy them and pose their dogs with the ice pop in a photo. Some people bite off the dog’s ear, or something like that, all kinds of things.

Meanwhile, another ice treat maker has moved into the industry from a career in design. He’s also inspired by his own pets and has created cute French bulldogs and bunny rabbits, so cute you want to pet them.

Chen Shuo-cheng
Ice treat maker
They’re so lifelike. How can you bear to eat them? Some people start by eating a hand or a foot, or the head. But the important thing is to take a photo first.

These amazing popsicles are a delight for the taste buds but perhaps even more for the heart.

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

2024-03-18

TSMC to build two IC packaging plants in Chiayi

Vice Premier Chen Wen-tsan revealed that TSMC will build two advanced IC packaging plants in Chiayi. TSMC will be the first to set up shop at the Chiayi Science Park, which is still under construction. Chiayi County’s commissioner and local lawmakers welcomed the news, saying they’ll do all they can to support the project.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Vice premier
We can confirm that TSMC expects to build two advanced packaging factories using CoWoS tech at Chiayi Science Park.

Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan, economics minister Wang Mei-hua and technology minister Wu Tsung-tsong converged in Chiayi on Monday to break the news. Joining them were Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang, lawmakers Tsai Yi-yu and Chen Kuan-ting, and former lawmaker Chen Ming-wen.

Tsai Yi-yu
DPP lawmaker
For Chiayi, this is a gamechanger. We never could have imagined such news.

Weng Chang-liang
Chiayi commissioner
I’d like to thank TSMC for choosing Chiayi as an investment site after its evaluation process. This project will promote development across the board in Chiayi. The TSMC project will serve as a flagship, and it will have a huge impact on our economy and industry.

The Chiayi Science Park broke ground just last May. Nine months on, it’s attracted TSMC as a tenant, beating out more established parks in other regions.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Vice premier
It’s not about winning or losing. Investments in other cities and counties are being assessed carefully at the moment. The urban planning and environmental assessments were completed last year, as well as the utilities planning. It’s only after these tasks were completed that the land was leased from the Southern Taiwan Science Park administration and that the relevant licenses were applied for. Construction is scheduled to start this year.

The Chiayi Science Park will cover an area of 88 hectares. The two TSMC plants will take up about 20 hectares. The company’s construction permits are in final review, and are set to be the first ever issued by the park. Once the paperwork is in order, construction will start later this year, with mass production slated for 2028.

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

2024-03-18

Record-breaking Mazu procession heads for Yunlin

Two local Mazus have embarked on their annual march from Miaoli to Yunlin. Their palanquin burst out of Gongtian Temple early Monday morning, embarking on a nine-day journey. Nearly 180,000 pilgrims are following the Mazus this year, setting a new record.

This flowery palanquin carries Shanbian Mazu from Houlong Township. As she has for centuries this time of year, the goddess heads to the Baishatun Gongtian Temple to meet the local Mazu. After their ritual encounter, they are placed on the same palanquin and rushed out of the temple gate at 1:11 a.m. on Monday.

Together, they lead a parade of nearly 180,000 pilgrims, setting a new record. The procession is now on a nine-day trek to Chaotian Temple in Beigang, Yunlin. By Monday afternoon, the procession had arrived at Yuanli, Miaoli. It made the rounds in the neighborhood.

It stopped at Yuanli’s vegetable market, which was destroyed by a fire five years ago and has since struggled to rebuild.

Liu Yu-yu
Yuanli Township head
It warms our heart that they came to our market’s construction site. It’s a tremendous morale boost.

Mazu devotees include the Chen family, whose three children were in a serious car accident.

Great-grandmother to Chen siblings
We ask the Mazus to save them. My dear little ones, you have to come back.

The palanquin is set to pass through Shenkang, Changhua on Tuesday. The Chens plan to kneel at the site of the accident, to seek protection for two sisters still in a coma.

On Feb. 23, the three Chen siblings were struck by a car while crossing a road after school. The two girls remain in critical condition. The older sister opened her eyes several days earlier, but the younger girl’s condition has yet to improve.

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

2024-03-18

Japanese high schools seek exchanges with Taiwanese schools

More and more Japanese high schools are taking school trips to Taiwan. And in recent years, an exchange with a Taiwanese school has become a highlight of that kind of program. Teachers say that an exchange across national borders can broaden students’ worldviews and help them see their own education in a new light. FTV dropped in on one such exchange in Taipei to find out more.

When Japanese high school students come for a school trip to Taiwan, an unmissable part of the schedule has to be visiting a Taiwanese school.

Student of Asuka High School, Japan
Taiwanese students are very nice. The exchange conference was run very smoothly and I feel very lucky.

Student of Asuka High School, Japan
All the students here are lovely and easy to talk to. We became friends immediately. The information they presented to us was interesting. I could see the differences between the facilities here and at a Japanese school, for example. I found that very appealing.

Here, students from Taipei Municipal Dazhi High School show Japanese students around their campus and introduce them to Taiwanese culture.

In recent years, more and more Japanese high schools are conducting overseas school trips to Taiwan. In 2019, Japanese people made 2.17 million trips to Taiwan. Sixty thousand of those visitors were on high school trips.

Yang Yi-chiang
Taipei Municipal Da’an Vocational High School principal
What a vocational school focuses on is experiential learning. We want to enable students to learn through many different types of classes. The main goal of educational travel is a classroom exchange. We hope to change our classes to help lots of our students understand more about what Japanese students study. We can look at the differences that we have between us, and dedicate ourselves to progress.

Chang Ya-hsiu
Travel agency CEO
It’s about developing international talent and an international worldview. That satisfies the Japanese needs for international exchange. As much as possible, we try to achieve a win-win for both parties.

International exchanges like this will lay the foundations for lifelong friendships between Taiwanese and Japanese students, broadening their horizons and building bridges of understanding over national borders.

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

2024-03-18

Beautician from Vietnam is passionate about promoting beauty, independence and education

Today we meet a beautician from Vietnam who’s passionate about promoting beauty, independence and education. Nguyen Boi Nhu came to Taiwan many years ago for marriage, and established a successful beauty treatment business. She was inspired by the help she received from friends to start supporting others. She now supports other immigrant women to start businesses and develop financial independence. She also teaches Vietnamese language and culture, and is also taking new training courses to expand her skills.

This beauty massage offers customers a skin treatment and helps release tension. Nguyen Boi Nhu became a beautician because she loved beauty herself and wanted to help others beautify themselves.

Nguyen Boi Nhu
Beautician and Vietnamese immigrant
People are very tired by their work these days. Every job has different pressures. So I want to use beauty treatments to help people look pretty and take good care of their skin. If I do a relaxing massage, I can also include essential oils, to help the customer relax.

When Nguyen arrived in Taiwan, her Mandarin wasn’t perfect, but a Taiwanese friend coached her to improve her accent. Now Nguyen passes that kindness on by helping other immigrant women to start and run their own businesses. She has a Level 2 beautician certificate and a qualification in postnatal lactation coaching, among other qualifications. She’s passionate about continuing her education, and finds meaning in learning and passing on skills.

Nguyen Boi Nhu
Beautician and Vietnamese immigrant
Over more than 10 years, I’ve helped many customers. Some have become friends or loved ones. So I’ve got so much from it. They go from being a housewife to being able to start their own business, earn money and have a stable income. That gives me a sense of achievement.

Alongside supporting other women in business, Nguyen has also won accolades for her beautician skills. She uses her spare time to prepare classes, and teaches Vietnamese language and culture in schools.

Nguyen Boi Nhu
Beautician and Vietnamese immigrant
It’s a way to pay society back, for me, because I love children. But that’s different from it being your fate to have children. If we don’t teach our own children, we can teach other people’s children.

Nguyen doesn’t have kids herself, but she enjoys sharing her love with her many customers and students. Whether in the classroom or the treatment studio, she always gives her all, and hopes that her work isn’t just creating external beauty, but also revealing inner beauty and its strength.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

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

2024-03-18

Kaohsiung City councillor promotes Indigenous culture and ecosystem protection

A former Kaohsiung City councillor is creating a haven for Indigenous culture and ecosystem protection on Tieben Mountain. After completing his term of public office, the councilor decided to focus on his ancestral village of Lavulang. His family are creating a forest classroom and kitchen on the mountain, and restoring ancient Indigenous paths through the woods. They welcome guests to their project, teaching them about local Indigenous traditions, as well as the forest ecology.

This is a cleyera japonica, or sakaki. The tree is frequently found growing near Shinto shrines in Japan, and the name sakaki indicates that it’s “a tree of the gods.” It’s a native Taiwanese evergreen tree from the theaceae family, and it helps to clean the air.

Istanda Paingav Cengfu
Former Kaohsiung City councillor
This tree is called sakaki, and also the tree of the spirits. When this tree is here, bad spirits leave us.

After completing his term on Kaohsiung City council, Indigenous leader Istanda Paingav Cengfu returned to his ancestral village of Lavulang in Taoyuan District. Here he and his family have created a Forest Culture Classroom, restored ancient pathways through the forest, and built by hand this wooden house as a forest kitchen.

Wife of Istanda Paingav Cengfu
I pickled the plums and prepared them. We can enjoy the greenery here and see Formosan black bears, and you can admire the scenery – see how beautiful it is.

A feast of charcoal-cooked soup with spare ribs and bamboo shoots, chicken with plums, vegetables and wild aiyu jelly. All the ingredients are local. The forest even has a two-tiered barbecue oven.

This is a 1,000-year-old Taiwan crab-apple. Its fruit is sundried and then used in the menu – a flavor you won’t find anywhere else.

Tourist
I think it’s very soothing. You come in and straight away really feel the pace has slowed down, and your heart and mind can settle.

Istanda Paingav Cengfu
Former Kaohsiung City councillor
In coming back to this place, our priority is to protect the ecosystem, and then to restore the culture. So we hope that Lavulang can become a place for a renaissance of Indigenous village culture.

The former councilor has a calling. The project began from scratch four years ago. Slowly, the family are creating something special here, and passing down new stories about Tieben Mountain.

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

2024-03-18

Yuanta Funds 00940 ETF reportedly raises NT$200 billion in five days

The frenzy for ETFs, or exchange traded funds, continues in Taiwan. Recently Yuanta Funds announced its 00940 ETF, which has reportedly raised NT$200 billion in just five days, a record high. People continued to rush to buy the ETF on Friday, which was the last day that subscriptions were available before its launch on April 1. A financial expert, however, warns that although ETFs have a reputation of stability, risks still exist. Let’s hear from him.

Chen Wei-liang
Finance expert
When the ETF goes on the market, if there is fluctuations and corrections, some subscribers may jump ship, as many of them likely don’t have any experience in stocks or they are more conservative with their finances. Such a reaction could lead to turbulence that only grows faster and more violent.

Voice of Chen Chiu-yueh
Financial Supervisory Commission
ETFs invest in the stocks they are constituted of. If one of those shares rallies or falls, that could affect the trajectory of the ETF, which in turn could potentially affect investment returns. We are considering measures on the matter.

The popularity of the 00940 ETF has prompted the Financial Supervisory Commission to consider control measures, including introducing caps on how much can be raised by a single ETF. We’ll know on April 1 whether the ETF frenzy will indirectly rattle Taiwan’s stock market.

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

2024-03-15

DPP holds press conference ahead of 10th anniversary of Sunflower Student Movement

The 10th anniversary of the Sunflower Student Movement is coming up on March 18. On Friday, the DPP held a press event featuring some of the participants who took part in the Anti-China protests back in the day. One scholar says that, had the movement failed to stop a cross-strait service trade agreement, Taiwan’s economy would now be stagnating like Hong Kong’s. Meanwhile, a lawmaker criticized some of the movement’s leaders for having switched sides to the KMT.

On March 18, 2014, student protesters occupied the Legislative Yuan to protest the proposed Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement. Now, 10 years on, the movement’s participants say they are glad Taiwan took the right path.

Frida Tsai
National Chi Nan University professor
The issue of restarting the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement is not just a political matter, but something that will affect all of our livelihoods. Hong Kong’s economic integration with China has led to Hong Kong’s decline. We should ask ourselves, do we want things to be that way here?

Frida Tsai drew a comparison between Hong Kong and Taiwan. In 2015, the city signed a services trade agreement with China. In the decade since, Taiwan’s GDP has grown at an average of 3.0%, while Hong Kong’s has lagged at 1.0%. Taiwan has also posted better figures than Hong Kong for direct foreign investment and service trade income.

Wang Guo-chen
Chung-hua Institution for Economic Research
Last month, Hong Kong’s and China’s stock markets made huge losses, whereas other markets rallied.

Jiho Chang
Keelung councilor (DPP)
The Sunflower Student Movement was the first time that the people of Taiwan were able to engage in debate at the very front lines. It proved to us that, no matter what, the people will take back the power of anyone who dares try to sell out Taiwan.

Meanwhile lawmaker Wu Pei-yi says she can’t bear to see some of her former protest comrades now supporting the KMT in the Legislature as the party calls for restarting talks on this agreement.

Wu Pei-yi
DPP lawmaker
It’s especially the case in the Internal Administration Committee. We’ve seen the KMT make all sorts of ridiculous speeches parroting Chinese rhetoric. Some of our partners in the student movement, such as movement leader Huang Kuo-chang, have chosen to back the KMT in the Legislative Yuan multiple times. To me, it’s a betrayal of the ideals of the movement.

A decade on from the movement, Taiwan still remains at a critical juncture.

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

2024-03-15

Pacific allies react to final security pact funding approval

Long-awaited critical funds to counter China in the Pacific have been approved for three U.S. allies: Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. Over the weekend, U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law $7 billion over 20 years in funding for the Compacts of Free Association as part of a partial government funding bill, as VOA’s Jessica Stone reports.

With this vote in the U.S. Senate, partial funding flows to the U.S. government. For the tiny Pacific nation of Palau -- a U.S. ally -- it’s a lifeline.

Surangel Whipps Jr.
Palau president
It’s not Oct. 1, but it’s at least within this fiscal year, and really just in time.

Palau maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but its economy relies on Chinese tourists, who dropped by more than 50% in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, tanking the nation’s economy. Whipps says he recently met with investors from Singapore and Japan to chart a more sustainable direction.

Surangel Whipps Jr.
Palau president
Opening up new markets so that we’re diversified and more resilient, not so dependent on the Chinese tourism, which could be weaponized.

Palau’s funds come through an agreement that provides US$7 billion dollars in economic aid over 20 years to Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. In exchange, the U.S. gets exclusive access to a broad swath of the Pacific – and the right to turn others away, including China.

Kathryn Paik
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Simply having the freedom of navigation through this part of the Pacific is really critical, and if we lose that, we also lose direct access to our allies in the Philippines and Australia.

The agreement was renewed and signed last fall, but Congress took five months to fund it. The delay raised doubts about Washington’s commitment to the Pacific, warned Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine.

Hilda Heine
President of the Marshall Islands
Our nation has been a steadfast ally of the United States, but that should not be taken for granted.

In a video message on Facebook, Wesley Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, or FSM, acknowledged the long wait:

Wesley Simina
President of the Federated States of Micronesia
At the end of the day, the FSM and the U.S. reached an agreement, on an outcome that I’m confident will benefit both our nations.

An agreement, these leaders say, that provides new motivation to deepen economic and security cooperation in a part of the world that’s critical to American security.

Jessica Stone, VOA News Washington.

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

2024-03-15

Baked goods of all shapes and sizes on show at Taipei International Bakery Show

The Taipei International Bakery Show is on with more than 350 companies represented in 1,550 booths. President Tsai Ing-wen attended the event Friday, checking out the baking equipment on display and sampling the products. But still there is one bakery item that stands head and shoulders above the rest in her heart. Let’s find out what it is.

The smell of freshly-made Berliner-style jam donuts fills the air. Also on the table is a gigantic loaf of roggenbrot, a kind of rye bread.

Ms. Chiu
German bakery owner
I think that over the past 10 years, Taiwanese people have become more interested in European-style breads. Now that the pandemic is over, costs have gone down slightly, and sales have recovered somewhat.

This bakery owner says that during the pandemic, the price of flour skyrocketed by 70%. Fortunately, the prices are coming back down again. Taiwan’s baked goods industry was valued at around NT$79 billion in 2023, a rise of 8.76% from the year before. Another bakery is introducing Taiwan to the flat croissant, a snack that’s caused a sensation in South Korea.

Cheng Yao-chung
Croissant shop operations head
You take a croissant and press it flat. It’s become the most popular and best-selling flat croissant in the world.

They pose for a photo with President Tsai Ing-wen, who was not to miss the event. She strolled around the exhibits trying a bite here and there. She’s a fan of tasty bakes.

The mention of bagels brought back memories of a viral video starring her.

During a U.S. transit in 2019, Tsai presented her bagel purchase to reporters in a clip that was widely shared online. Now, the president confirms that bagels are indeed her favorite.

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

2024-03-15

Presidential Office opens staff canteen to public on monthly open days

It’s not quite eating like a king, but ordinary people can now eat like the staff of the Presidential Office. The staff cafeteria now offers its fare to the public on its monthly open house. The meal options include a big bowl of succulent beef noodle soup at NT$120 a pop. Presidential Office Secretary General Lin Chia-lung has touted the cafeteria’s dumplings and hot and sour soup as being delicious. Let’s go take a look inside.

This bowl of nutritionally balanced beef noodle soup comes from the Presidential Office’s Collegial Cafe.

President Tsai Ing-wen pays a visit. Actually, this is the Presidential Office staff cafeteria.

Richard Quentin Paul Camille
French YouTuber
We’re going to check out their employees’ cafeteria. It looks pretty similar to our typical breakfast shops. Let’s order a set.

French YouTuber Richard Quentin Paul Camille from the channel “Ku’s dream” orders from the touch screen. He didn’t only come here for breakfast. He’s then joined by Presidential Office Secretary General Lin Chia-lung to enjoy dumplings and hot and sour soup recommended by netizens.

Richard Quentin Paul Camille
French YouTuber
Quite nice. Very tasty. And as for the soup, foreigners don’t usually like this type of soup.

Lin Chia-lung
Presidential Office Secretary General
This pairs well with rice. A bit sour and spicy.

The Presidential Office Collegial Cafe is run by a private company. It offers simple and home-cooked-style meals.

Shen Shih-fu
Then-head chef
We use warm organic chicken. We don’t use battery hens. The ingredients here are rarely purchased from elsewhere. We do it all ourselves.

Because of all the tight security that surrounds presidents, normally there’s only one opening to the public a month and only then does the general public get the opportunity to eat these presidential but affordable meals. If you’d like to try them out, there are only two more opportunities left this year -- April 4 and May 11. Starting in June, the Presidential Office will undergo renovations and currently there are no plans to open it to the public at this time. If you’d like this novel experience, don’t miss the opportunity.

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

2024-03-15

Lin Pei-rong, crowned “Miss Taiwan” in December, to compete in international pageant

Lin Pei-rong, who was crowned Miss Taiwan late last year, will represent Taiwan this October in a major international beauty pageant based in Japapn known as Miss International. Lin won over the judges in December with her mastery of the guzheng, a large Chinese zither. In addition, Lin and her four runners-up will go to Kosovo, Albania, and other European destinations starting in May, promoting their unique skills and styles to win international recognition for Taiwan.

Twenty-three year-old Lin Pei-rong plays a guzheng with great flair. Last December, she was crowned Miss Taiwan 2023. Her four runners up will also win glory for Taiwan.

Julia Chen had delivered beautiful and professional singing during the contest, winning the favor of the judges. Another contestant, 23-year old Hsieh Pei-i was good at performing K-Pop and playing the piano.

Hsieh Pei-i
No. 5 in Miss Taiwan pageant
I’m from Changhua, where people dress more simply. And the way people get dressed up there is a little different from Taipei dwellers. I will rent a dance studio with mirrors. I hope I can find my best look to promote Taiwan and win glory.

Lin Pei-rong
Miss Taiwan
I have been playing the guzheng for about 10 years and I’m professionally qualified. If I go to Japan, there’s no way I can take the guzheng with me. But Japan has the Japanese koto, it’s a little bit like the Japanese version of a guzheng. I will do my best, I hope I can do my personal best and learn as much as I can.

Lin will go to Japan in October to represent Taiwan in the world’s third-largest beauty pageant. For Taiwan, it’s the largest one it is qualified to take part in.

Huang Shu-hui
Miss Taiwan pageant international director
When Miss Taiwan goes out to compete, she promotes our country, and at the very least lets people know where Taiwan is. What I hope the most is that they win the Miss Friendship award. It’s the only award that can’t be manipulated by the organizers.

Starting in May this year, the top five contestants in the Miss Taiwan pageant will go one by one to Albania, Kosovo and other places in southern Europe to win glory for Taiwan, showing off their best looks so that the democratic island gains more international recognition.

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

2024-03-15

More than 800 ballroom dancers to take part in competition in Taipei Arena

Taipei Arena will be hosting a major ballroom dance competition on March 30. The 2024 King’s Cup Taipei Open to the World is expected to see more than 800 participants from 30 countries including the U.S., Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The world’s 24 top-ranked professional dancers will be among the competitors this year, as well as modern dance champions and Latin dance stars. Let’s hear from the organizers.

Wang Hsueh-fu
Taiwan Dancesport Development Association
We have invited the globe’s elite dancers. For example, the top two dancers in the world will come to the Taipei Arena to perform and compete. That is the biggest highlight.

Wang Hung-hsiang
Taipei Department of Sports
It can put Taipei and Taiwan on the map. With everyone’s efforts and the work of the organizers, we hope the event will be held at the Taipei Dome in the future. We will provide all the assistance and encouragement we can so that ballroom dancing can take root and grow.

The Taiwan Dancesport Development Association says it hopes to hold the tournament at the new Taipei Dome one day, so that ballroom dance can attract as much attention as baseball. The Taipei Department of Sports says it is happy to host high-calibre competitions in the capital, adding that the event could help local dancers hone their skills.

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Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-03-15

Offshore wind: the many interconnecting fields involved in wind turbine construction

A "nuclear-free homeland" has been a core policy of the Tsai administration. Offshore wind has played a large role in green energy policy, with 293 turbines already constructed around Taiwan. But have you ever wondered what it takes to build an offshore wind farm? Today we look at some of the many interconnected fields involved in wind farm construction. And we ask what it might take, if you’re looking to get into the industry.

Offshore wind will play a vital role in global green energy transition. Taiwan has many good sites for wind farms, and has successfully attracted many firms to construct wind farms here, putting Taiwan in the running for the status of the offshore wind center of the Asia-Pacific region.

But hold on. Let’s not count our chickens too fast. First we need to lay the basis for offshore wind technologies to thrive, by creating a comprehensive industrial chain for wind power.

There are many environmental assessment criteria to meet, such as air quality, soil quality, noise pollution and vibration. All these must be audited and monitored, to examine how the development of wind farms is truly impacting the ecosystem.

There’s a lot of interaction between each step of the process. A minor oversight in one area could have big consequences. When a firm has obtained development rights, it’s just a foot in the door. It needs to employ many related companies to construct the actual farm, including the underwater foundations that will hold up the vast turbines. That takes a lot of expertise.

The field of offshore wind relies on international cooperation between experts. It’s best if professionals develop multilingual skills and interdisciplinary professional knowledge.

Lin Ming-hung
Century Wind Power Co. strategy head
In the field of regenerative power, we are also attending to costs. So how can we take costs into consideration? Does everyone have basic financial concepts, economic concepts, concepts about risk?

Offshore wind is an industry that transects many professional fields. Each turbine is mainly composed of its blades, nacelle, and pylon, as well as secondary systems. Monitoring and power generation systems turn the motion of the turbines into electricity. Substations at sea or on land transform the voltage of this electricity to feed it into the grid. From there it can be transmitted to homes. If you go into the industry, no matter which field you specialize in, you have to remember that the ultimate goal is a regenerative system that can be sustainable.

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

2024-03-15