CECC comments on Biden’s remarks that COVID is ‘over’ in the US

2022-09-20

Many countries around the world are gradually lifting COVID restrictions and slowly returning to normalcy. In Taiwan, CECC officials on Tuesday were asked to comment on remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden, who on Monday proclaimed that the COVID pandemic was “over” in the U.S. Let’s hear what happened.

Joe Biden
US president
The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with COVID. We’re still doing a lot of work on it. The pandemic is over.

Eric Topol
Cardiologist
It’s only really defined when you look backward, and you say, “Hey, we went several months, and things were in good shape. We had some outbreaks, but we didn’t lose a lot of people, and we didn’t have a monstrous number of infections.”

Chuang Jen-hsiang
CECC
Medical experts in the U.S. say that Biden’s words can be confusing when taking into account the U.S.’ current COVID efforts. That should be determined using more scientific methods.

The CECC added that the U.S. was still promoting COVID policies, such as encouraging vaccination with next-gen shots and drawing up budgets for COVID relief.

拜登宣稱"疫情已結束"! 引醫界.美媒齊撻伐

2022-09-20

各國紛紛解封，期待恢復正常生活，美國總統拜登甚至登高一呼，宣布COVID-19大流行疫情結束，但引起醫界及媒體撻伐。台灣的疫情指揮中心也對此回應。

[[美國總統拜登]]
“(新冠)疫情已經結束，我們還是有新冠的問題，我們持續做了很多努力，不過疫情已經結束了。”

[[心臟病學家托波爾]]
“真正定義(疫情結束)，只有當你回過頭看的時候發現，我們持續好幾個月狀態良好，我們有出現零星爆發，但我們沒有失去很多人，而且沒有暴增的病例出現。”

[[疫情指揮中心發言人莊人祥]]
“(當地)醫療專家也認為說，他的說法事實上會跟目前美國在做COVID-19抗疫的努力，會有混淆不清的部分，應該是說需要有一些更科學的方式來做判斷。”

指揮中心也提到，目前美國還在推動BA.5雙價疫苗的接種，美國政府目前也和國會進一步要求224億美金來作為抗疫之用，這些都不是疫情結束的說明。

President Tsai addresses Concordia Summit, advocates for Taiwan’s inclusion in UN

President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday addressed the 2022 Concordia Annual Summit in New York, just as leaders from around the world gathered in the city for the United Nations General Assembly. In her prerecorded message, Tsai stressed that Taiwan would not give in to Chinese pressure, urging countries around the world to stand up against authoritarianism. She also advocated for Taiwan’s inclusion in the United Nations, saying that Taiwan’s participation could help the world better face any future challenges.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
At this moment, democracies and the rules-based world order are facing the greatest challenges since the Cold War.

President Tsai Ing-wen gave a prerecorded address at the annual summit of Concordia, a New York-based nonprofit organization. In the video, Tsai told representatives from around the world, that Taiwan would not give in to China’s authoritarian pressure.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
In recent years, Taiwan has been confronted by increasingly aggressive threats from China, from military intimidation and gray zone activities to influence operations. We did not shy away from the challenge of authoritarian interference. Instead, we met it head-on. It is only when we work together and support one another that we can succeed in fending off the expansionist goal of authoritarian regimes.

The United Nations General Assembly opened this week, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the main topic of discussion. Tsai’s speech at the Concordia forum marked the first time that she gave a public address at a major event in New York while the U.N. General Assembly was in session. She took the opportunity to advocate for Taiwan’s inclusion in the U.N. to political, business, and academic leaders from all around the world.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Taiwan donated facial masks and medical equipment, and shared information on the COVID-19 virus. Even though Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, we have been consistently helping the world on resolving many crises. With the inclusion of Taiwan in the U.N. system, I am confident that we can work even more closely to face future challenges.

Tsai underscored how Taiwan had offered help to its international friends, while urging the world to see what Taiwan can contribute.

2022-09-20

US official says the White House is not walking back Biden’s remarks, aims for stability

The White House says its stance on Taiwan had not changed, moments after U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.S. would defend Taiwan in a Chinese attack. Media reports had suggested the White House was walking back Biden’s remarks at the interview. A White House official refuted the reports, saying that the White House’s aim was simply to maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, a Taiwanese lawmaker on Tuesday argued that the Biden’s comments could not have been an error, saying that the president would have prepared answers for the interview’s questions beforehand.

Scott Pelley
Journalist
Would U.S. forces defend the island?

Joe Biden
US president
Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack.

During an interview on CBS program 60 Minutes, U.S. President Joe Biden clearly expressed an intent to commit U.S. troops to the defense of Taiwan.

Scott Pelley
Journalist
U.S. forces, U.S. men and women would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?

Joe Biden
US president
Yes.

Following Biden’s comments, the White House said its policies toward Taiwan had not changed. Some media reports argued that this was the White House walking back the president’s remarks.

Kurt Campbell
Asia security council coordinator
I do not believe that it is appropriate to call the remarks that came from the White House today as walking back the president’s remarks. The primary goal is the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, to secure and stabilize the status quo.

Mao Ning
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson
China deplores and firmly opposes the remarks made by the U.S. president and has made stern representations with the U.S. China reserves all options of taking necessary measures.

After the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Biden had sought to assure allies that the U.S. would respond to any invasion of a NATO ally. The president followed this by saying the U.S. would do the same for Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Since that interview, Biden has reiterated this stance three times.

Anderson Cooper (October 2021)
CNN host
So are you saying that the United States would come to Taiwan’s defense, if China attacked?

Joe Biden (October 2021)
US president
Yes, we have a commitment to do that.

Reporter (May 2022)
Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if it comes to that?

Joe Biden (May 2022)
US president
Yes.

Reporter (May 2022)
You are?

Joe Biden (May 2022)
US president
That’s the commitment we made.

A Taiwanese lawmaker says that Biden’s comments could not have been made in error, and that they represent a clear change in the U.S.’ strategy for Taiwan.

Wang Ting-yu
DPP lawmaker
President Biden would have received the questions ahead of the interview, so there’s no possibility of him having made a slip of the tongue. The purpose of the comments was to deter China from engaging in disruptive activities.

The lawmaker believes Biden’s comments show that the Taiwan-U.S. relationship is making progress. Despite the White House’s statements that its China stance has not changed, some argue that the U.S. president’s commitment to Taiwan is clear.

2022-09-20

Student unions call on local election candidates to pay attention to young people

Many candidates are playing the youth card ahead of key municipal elections in November, which has not gone unnoticed by university students. Student unions on Friday called on the 18 mayoral candidates for Taipei, Taoyuan and New Taipei to take part in a student-organized forum. The students say the forum can be a place for candidates to share their youth platforms and commit to addressing problems that young people face. The union says it will also organize other activities ahead of Election Day, including the release of a white paper on young people’s issues.

Holding placards and shouting slogans, the National Students’ Union of Taiwan and various individual student associations jointly announced a series of events they have planned before the upcoming local elections.

Huang Ting-wei
NSUT
I hereby invite you to take part in the youth forums and sign a letter of intent to work with youth to plan and shape Taiwan’s future.

The students on Friday issued an invitation to 18 mayoral candidates from the three major municipalities of Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan to attend a youth forum to speak on their youth policies. They are asked to RSVP by Sept. 30. A representative from National Taiwan University said that candidates should not just make empty promises, but also pay real attention to the difficulties facing young people who have moved to the island’s north.

Sun Yu-chien
NTU Student Association
There are many young people who are facing difficulties with labor and housing, but have not given up on their studies. They have also not given up on participating in public affairs. Whether housing justice for young people can be achieved depends on policies offering special housing and rental subsidies for young people. How can young people who lack resources survive independently? Can labor conditions be improved?

The student representatives called on the candidates to put out policies to capture the youth vote. The NSUT says it will soon release a policy white paper to fully express the views of young people.

Chen Su-yu
NSUT
It includes some food for thought regarding first-time voters, encouraging young people to go and reflect on how we can change the future of our hometowns, as well as the cities where we grew up. It makes us think about how we can make them all even better.

The NSUT is calling on on mayoral candidates to take the initiative to incorporate the views of young people in their policies for the younger generation. It says it hopes candidates and voters can have in-depth dialogue and discussion on issues that young people care about, so that policies for younger people don’t just become empty political slogans.

2022-09-20

Government puts technology in rural schools to foster kids’ self-learning

Rural schools in Taiwan typically have fewer resources, and that means fewer learning opportunities. Now, the education ministry hopes to change that by bringing tablets and fast internet to these schools. The government hopes that through technology, students will have access to more information, and will be motivated to learn more on their own. Today we visit one rural school to see this program in action.

Students at Shih Gang Elementary School in Nantou’s Puli Township prepare for a math class with teacher Lee Yu-ling.

During the class, the teacher uses a digital learning platform, encouraging students to develop self-study skills. With digital technology becoming a growing part of rural school life, educators hope to narrow the rural divide.

Lin Wen
Elementary school student
I love using the LoiLonote and Xuexi Ba apps in class. With the tablet and the Chromebook I can look up lots of information. It’s really fast and convenient.

The education ministry is pushing digital study tools, and aims for every class to have internet access and tablets for students to use. In rural areas, there will be one tablet for each student, and internet access will be fully upgraded.

Shih Chun-chieh
Shih Gang Elementary School
Our school is a rural school. So if every student gets a tablet, upgrading our internet connection to 500 megabytes allows our six-class school to have a smooth experience in using these learning platforms.

Lee Yu-ling
Teacher
In this information age, it’s impossible to teach everything. However, if we teach in this way, imparting self-learning skills on the students, hopefully in the future they will be able to apply that to all their studies, and to every moment. In this way, learning will be something fun and enduring for them.

The education ministry has budgeted NT$14 billion to purchase mobile devices and network infrastructure for schools over the next four years. They hope the investment will pay off in the form of students that are motivated and capable as self-learners.

2022-09-20

Shaking approaching its end, but aftershocks possible over next few weeks: CWB

More than 160 earthquakes with magnitudes of at least 3 have rocked Taiwan since Saturday, as the foreshocks and aftershocks of a 6.8 quake on Sunday afternoon. Seismologists say the shaking is beginning to subside, and that temblors should become less and less frequent and intense over the next few days. Experts say the location for the next big earthquake could be the Chiayi-Tainan Plain, where pressure has been building up without a release for some time already.

One day before the main quake on Sunday, Taiwan was rocked by a 6.4 tremor. Initially, the Central Weather Bureau had thought that was the main shock. But as the shaking continued, and the strength didn’t weaken, seismologists realized something was up. It wasn’t until the main 6.8 quake struck on Sunday that the frequency and intensity of the tremors started going down, except for a 5.9 aftershock on Monday. The Central Weather Bureau says the end of the shaking is coming soon.

Chen Kuo-chang
Central Weather Bureau
This stretch of frequent earthquakes is coming to an end. The aftershocks will come at longer and longer intervals. But there will still be aftershocks for at least a month. Perhaps one every few days.

According to the weather bureau, 162 earthquakes of magnitudes between 3 and 6 were detected from Sept. 17 to 9 a.m. on Sept. 20. That’s excluding the main tremor.

Chen Kuo-chang
Central Weather Bureau
When the foreshock struck, I said that we wouldn’t rule out quakes of magnitude 5 in the following two or three days. If we count from the main earthquake, today is the second day. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow could still see aftershocks of magnitude five. But the chances of that happening are quite low.

The scholar says the next place in Taiwan that may experience a strong earthquake is the Chiayi-Tainan Plain. The weather bureau says it is indeed monitoring the area closely.

Chen Kuo-chang
Central Weather Bureau
There is a high density of active faults in that area. And it has been a long time since there was any movement here. So the accumulated pressure could be quite high. There are three or four fault lines that we’re watching particularly closely. In our seismic observation work, the Chiayi-Tainan Plain is our highest priority.

The central weather bureau advises the public to remain alert for earthquakes and have the necessary preparations in place in case a big one strikes.

2022-09-20

TRA launches replacement bus services in Taitung and Hualien after quake

2022-09-20

Forestry Bureau expands scheme to pay citizens who protect Taiwan’s ecology

The Forestry Bureau is expanding a successful scheme which pays citizens to protect endangered animals. Under the scheme, citizens who protect the habitats of species like the leopard cat can receive up to NT$160,000 payment a year. Now the Formosan black bear is going to be added to the scheme. Council of Agriculture minister Chen Chi-chung is hoping to expand the budget.

The Council of Agriculture minister and the head of the Forestry Bureau join together to promote the ecological payment program for endangered species and important habitats. In less than two years, more than 1,700 citizens have taken part, across 10 counties and cities and in 63 townships.

Chen Chi-chung
Council of Agriculture minister
This has been so much hard work. But it’s so important, because it’s contributing to the sustainability of the earth and the long-term development of the whole planet. In the future we will ask the Forestry Bureau and its director Mr. Lin to expand the scope here even more.

Nantou residents installed these automatic cameras in rural buildings, and managed to catch almost half the local leopard cats on camera. In its efforts to protect the habitats of endangered species, the Forestry Bureau is prioritizing four species — the leopard cat, eastern grass owl, otter, and pheasant-tailed jacana. Ecological payment programs pay citizens to assist habitat protection efforts. The Formosan black bear will be added to the program in October. Citizens can earn up to NT$160,000 a year through the program.

Chen Chi-chung
Council of Agriculture minister
Starting next year, we will carry out trials in all the locations where black bears are found. We will offer an ecological payment set in comparison to the four other endangered species. Anyone willing to apply for this can make a proposal to the Forestry Bureau.

The total budget for ecological payments is almost NT$200 million. Chen Chi-chung plans to apply to the Executive Yuan for even more funds, allowing more citizens to dedicate themselves to the protection of Taiwan’s natural world.

2022-09-20

Taipei announces Top 15 best night market food stalls in the city

2022-09-20

National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan pays tribute to Dr. George Mackay

2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Dr. George Leslie Mackay in Taiwan, where he was the first Presbyterian missionary. During his time in the country, Mackay didn’t only spread the gospel, he also offered free medical services like dentistry to locals. To celebrate his life, the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan held concerts in his honor on Sept. 17 and 18. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to the organizers to find out more about the production.

To celebrate the life of Mackay, the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan produced a musical titled "Mackay the Trekker — A Love Letter to Formosa." The story is narrated by three actors who play Mackay’s widow, daughter, and first disciple.

The performance combined traditional Beiguan music, which was popular in the 17th and mid-20th centuries, Taiwanese Opera, and modern day music, allowing the audience to better understand the story of Mackay through different generations of music. The story was also inspired by Mackay’s diary to bring to light the joys and hardships Mackay faced during his mission.

Hsu Hsiu-nien
Actor
The war had already started, and Mackay ran back to save a foreign soldier. It was a very touching story. Whether it was a Taiwanese or a foreigner, when he saw someone injured, he wanted to save them. During that scene, I almost burst into tears.

Cheng Hai-yun
Singer
My personal feeling for him is that his concern for people was as wide as Mount Guanyin. When I saw the mountain scene, it reminded me of Mackay’s heart and mind. He is currently in a cemetery in Tamsui, resting peacefully on our land. I am very moved by that, because he is not Taiwanese, but he did so much for this land.

Datian
Actor
Our modern life has become very easy. We can go anywhere, for example, by plane, and reach anywhere on earth in 24 hours or less. But during that era, people had to travel by boat to get here. I wonder how long it took to travel from Canada to Taiwan by boat. If it took a year and a half to arrive, there would definitely be times when the sea was rocky. I’m very moved that he was motivated by his beliefs to come here. Those beliefs will be passed down from generation to generation.

George Leslie Mackay was the first Presbyterian missionary in Northern Taiwan. During his time there he learned Taiwanese for his missionary work, and also contributed to the development of medical education in Taiwan. He traveled throughout the country, offering free dentistry services and spreading the gospel.

Lee Hsiao-ping
Director
We tell his story from every angle. Later in his life, before he turned 57, he contracted malaria that lasted for two years. He said that he had trouble acclimatizing. That’s what he wrote in his diary. Nevertheless he settled here and stayed. He never criticized the environment he found himself in, but instead said that if he had trouble adapting, it must have been a trial placed upon him by God.

Throughout his mission in Taiwan, Mackay established churches, hospitals, and educational institutions. He died in Taiwan in 1901, but his legacy is still honored and remembered today, 150 years later.

2022-09-20

Once native to the Amazon rainforest, abius are now cultivated in central Taiwan for tourists

2022-09-20