VP Lai sits with Palau president, attends reception at congress on Day 1 of state visit

2022-11-01

Vice President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday set off for Palau, one of Taiwan’s last remaining diplomatic allies. Lai will be in the island nation for three days, to boost bilateral ties, tourism and cooperation. The state visit comes weeks after a visit of Palau’s president to Taiwan in October, during which he invited Taiwan’s presidency to his country. Let’s hear what Lai said before departing from Taiwan.

Lai Ching-te
Vice president
Taiwan has opened up its borders and it is ready to reconnect, not just with the Republic of Palau, but also with the rest of international society. Taiwan and Palau are both ocean countries. With this visit, I hope that we can boost the economy and tourism in the post-pandemic era. I look forward to increasing cooperation between the two countries, on the front of diplomacy, tourism, medical care, education, culture or any other aspect. I hope we can develop a step further on all fronts, and work toward further deepening our work on democracy, freedom and human rights.

Lai touched down in Palau at 1 p.m. Taiwan time, after which he sat down with Palau’s president. He then attended a reception at the Palau National Congress. After that, he took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for a new road project, spoke with the technicians working on the project and attended a state banquet. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to visit the Rock Islands with Palau’s president. His itinerary for the third and final day includes a plaque unveiling ceremony for a Taiwanese telemedicine center and a donation of equipment for the Palau Major League.

啟程訪帛琉賴清德期許完成蔡總統交付3任務

2022-11-01

台灣友邦帛琉總統惠恕仁，10月初訪台，邀請總統蔡英文到帛琉振興觀光。總統蔡英文指派副總統賴清德率團訪帛琉，今天啟程，展開為期3天2夜的訪問行程，賴請德出發前在桃園機場發表談話，重申訪團能達成三大核心目標，分別是"連結"、"觀光"和"合作"。

[[副總統賴清德]]
“邊境開放的台灣已經做好準備，不僅僅要直接連結帛琉共和國，同時也要進一步連結國際社會，台帛兩國都是海洋國家，我這趟訪問，希望能夠帶起疫後，一起拚經濟，一起拚觀光，我們非常期待經由這次訪問，能夠增進兩國之間的合作，不管是在外交或者是觀光，醫療教育文化跟其他面向，都能夠有更進一步進展，深化民主自由人權的價值”

賴清德一行在台北時間下午1點抵達帛琉，隨即拜會總統惠恕仁，接著出席帛琉國會歡迎會，隨後出席新都道路工程動土典禮，視察我國技術團以及出席帛琉國宴。隔天由惠恕仁總統導覽洛克群島，第三天見證兩場儀式，包括新光醫院與帛琉合作的遠距醫療中心揭牌、以及捐贈帛琉大聯盟棒球物資。

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2022-11-01

President Tsai inspects progress of F-16 maintenance and repair company

A domestic F-16 maintenance and repair company in Taichung is now able to repair over 100 components of F-16 fighter jets. President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday inspected the company’s progress, and heard from the company on plans to expand with a new facility. Tsai said the company’s achievements meant Taiwan would be able to reduce military expenses, and would be better prepared to face the threat from China.

President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday inspected progress at a company that repairs and maintains F-16 fighter jets, and listened to plans for a new repair facility.

F-16 repair facility representative
Lockheed Martin has agreed to a technology transfer, so we are planning to build a new facility next year in Kaohsiung’s Renwu Industrial Park.

The Taichung-based company established an F-16 maintenance facility in 2020, with Tsai making a trip to Taichung to attend the facility’s inauguration. Now, two years later, the company says it has been working with National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, and is now able to repair more than 100 F-16 components.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
This will bring improvements to our F-16 fleet. We won’t need to deal with long delays, high prices and high failure rates when replacing the components of these aircraft. The new facility will give us the capability to repair and maintain these things on our own, thereby reducing the time and cost expenditures. This will be very important for our military equipment supply chain.

Repairing components locally means they no longer need to be sent far off to other countries when they break. This will ensure Taiwan’s military can better operate, and can be better prepared in the face of threats from the Chinese military.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Defense self-sufficiency is never an easy path. In the face of China’s expansionist ambitions, Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with democratic partners, working together in the defense of shared values. I must stress that the more prepared we are, the less chance we have of being invaded.

A total of 11 domestic companies are now involved in the maintenance of the military’s aircraft, thereby contributing to Taiwan’s defense self-sufficiency, and enhancing its position in the aerospace supply chain.

2022-11-01

Lawmakers found Taiwan-Italy Parliamentary Amity Association

Lawmakers from several parties on Tuesday held an inauguration ceremony for the Taiwan-Italy Parliamentary Amity Association. The group aims to boost bilateral ties between Taiwan and Italy. At the event, members of the association voiced hope for deeper economic exchanges and cooperation between the two countries to pursue common interests.

Lawmakers at the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday held the inauguration ceremony for the Taiwan-Italy Parliamentary Amity Association. The event was attended by lawmakers from several political parties as well as Italy’s deputy representative to Taiwan.

Wang Ting-yu
Taiwan-Italy Parliamentary Amity Association
Relations between Taiwan and Italy are at a critical juncture right now. So here, at Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, to have this association be founded at this point in time is just the natural course of action. The time was ripe for this to happen.

Lucio Malan
Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group
I am looking forward to work with you. We have so much in common. And so many interesting things to share and to exchange among us. Our two peoples, our two countries have all the interests to work together and this is what we are going to do.

The head of Italy’s parliamentary friendship group for Taiwan addressed the participants in a prerecorded video message. Taiwan’s association will be headed by DPP lawmaker Wang Ting-yu. Its deputy chairs are New Power Party lawmaker Claire Wang, DPP lawmaker Lin Ching-yi, independent lawmaker Freddy Lim, KMT lawmaker Chen Yi-hsin and Taiwan People’s Party lawmaker Chiu Chen-yuan.

Chiu Chen-yuan
Taiwan-Italy Parliamentary Amity Association
Taiwan’s commerce hasn’t yet established a representative agency in Italy. We hope that we can further push for closer economic ties between Italy and Taiwan through diplomatic means and with the help of deputy representative Robert Della Sala, and promote the establishing of a trade organization for Taiwan businesses there.

Lin Ching-yi
Taiwan-Italy Parliamentary Amity Association
After going through the pandemic together, I think everyone is trying to cooperate more, and find more opportunities for exchanges. I really look forward to the so-called post-pandemic life.

Chen Yi-hsin
Taiwan-Italy Parliamentary Amity Association
I think the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should strengthen its Italian language training for staff. I look forward to more events related to Italy being held here.

After COVID, Italy and Taiwan are hoping to boost bilateral economic and tourism exchanges. The establishing of the association marks the beginning of more and bigger things to come.

2022-11-01

Animal feed sellers rise prices amid weakening new Taiwan dollar

With the new Taiwan dollar continuing on its downward trend, the price of many imports is going up. In particular, several animal feed dealers have announced a price increase of NT$0.5 per kilogram starting Tuesday. That’s expected to send ripples down to poultry and egg prices, which could rise in the near future.

At the wholesale market, everyone is working nonstop. Unlike in previous years, prices haven’t fallen back since the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Pork butcher
Since the Mid-Autumn Festival prices have been getting more and more expensive, hitting new highs. One kilogram goes for NT$80 or NT$90.

Member of public
The price has gone up by several thousand NT every month. Vegetables are also more expensive.

Sellers and buyers alike complain about the prices. Over the past two months, the wholesale price for pork has gone up, from NT$82.63 per kilogram on Sept. 1 to NT$88.37 on Oct. 31. That’s 6.9% more expensive. In retail, 600 grams of pork belly or pork shoulder now cost NT$180. In contrast, chicken prices have gone down, from NT$120 for 600 grams to NT$105, a drop of 12%. With the new Taiwan dollar continuing on its depreciation against the U.S. dollar to more than NT$32 to the U.S. unit, some animal feed companies decided to raise their rates on Nov. 1 by NT$0.5 per kilogram. The gradual rise in costs has left some sellers worried.

Mr. Yang
Poultry seller
Many restaurants have started placing large orders, which lowered the price somewhat. But now, if the costs rise, I think they’ll have to come and negotiate again.

The price of eggs could also go up in the near future. Currently, prices stand at between NT$45 and NT$50 per 600 grams, down NT$2 from Oct. 1. But with feed rates up, prices could soon bounce back.

Chen Chiu-chih
Egg farmer
It’s having a huge impact. It means we have to spend NT$150,000 more every month.

Chiang Wen-chuan
Council of Agriculture
Businesses in the industry could purchase stocks earlier to have a basic amount in reserves. Foreign geopolitical factors and the depreciation of our currency are resulting in a higher risk.

The Council of Agriculture says it has launched response measures, while reminding farmers that it’s better to stock up on reserves sooner than later, in case the NT continues on its downward slope.

2022-11-01

Amusement park facilities for older adults

As Taiwan transitions to a "super-aged society" by 2025, it is estimated that at least 20% of the population will be over the age of 65. To cater to that demographic, amusement parks are adding facilities and services that are accessible for older adults in hopes of providing a safe environment for them to enjoy. FTV reporter Stephany Yang visited an amusement park in Taipei to find out what parks are doing to ensure a safe ride for older adults.

Volunteers carefully push Grandma Huang up the ramp and onto the Ferris wheel. She is 100 years old, and has been living in Shilin for nearly 50 years, but has never been to the amusement park. In order to help her pursue her lifelong dream of riding the Ferris wheel, the Huashan Social Welfare Foundation brought Grandma Huang and a dozen other older adults on a trip to the amusement park.

Grandma Huang
I finally came here for my 100th birthday. Yes, this is my first time riding a Ferris wheel. It is very beautiful.

Chen Yen-ping
Huashan Social Welfare Foundation
We brought them to visit the amusement park. Many of these older adults have never been here. For example, Grandma Huang has lived here for more than 50 years, but she had never come here.

Other than riding the Ferris wheel, the guests also went on the merry-go-round. For many of them, it was their first time visiting an amusement park. Others who have been to amusement parks before said they felt like they were reliving their childhood.

Older adult
I’m so happy. Even though I’m older, I feel like a child again.

Older adult
I didn’t ride this when I was a kid. I’ve become a child again today. The experience was very new.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
As Taiwan enters an aging society, amusement park operators are adding senior-friendly facilities such as a wheelchair and removable ramp so that seniors also go on the Ferris wheel.

This amusement park in Taipei says that older adults only account for approximately 10% to 20% of all visitors, but the park is improving its facilities and services to cater to the older population. Aside from providing wheelchairs and removable ramps for older adults or those with disabilities, the park also provides seats for people waiting to go on the rides.

Chu Chao-yang
Amusement park head
This is an amusement park suitable for all ages. We also welcome visitors that are older or have disabilities to come have fun at the park. If someone is unable to stand for long periods while waiting, we provide seats at each facility. That way, people can rest when they are waiting for their ride. In addition, for visitors who are in wheelchairs or those with limited mobility, rides such as the Ferris wheel, the monorail, and the merry-go-round have spaces which allow wheelchairs to directly enter. The park also offers wheelchairs if needed.

Taiwan is set to become a super-aged society by 2025. To cater to the needs of older adults, amusement parks are hoping to provide a friendly environment for people of all ages to enjoy.

2022-11-01

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2022-11-01

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Ministry of Culture takes back Golden Bell Award for Best Theme Song

2022-11-01

Charity founder funds social work with stock market earnings

Today we meet one of Hsinchu’s most inspiring philanthropists. At the age of just 32, Liu Chih-ping runs a social charity that helps those most in need. He earns the money for the “Sprouts of Love” association on the stock market. And he spends his free time doing all he can to help the most vulnerable people in society. We spoke to Liu to find out what motivates him.

Boxes of drinks and instant noodles are piled on the table. Liu Chih-ping is packing them up to distribute to people in need.

When the basics are taken care of, he puts on his counselor’s hat. Here he’s showing a homeless person how to bake a sweet potato using a thermometer. And that’s not all.

Three computer monitors show stock market websites. Liu is managing his investments. Each month he can make NT$1 million like this, and once earned NT$10 million in stocks in one year. But he puts 40% of that straight into charity causes, to take care of people in need. And he spends his time visiting rural areas with his wife to offer what help they can.

Liu Chih-ping
Sprouts of Love secretary general
Why am I committed to charity? Because when I was in the third grade, and when I started high school, some massive changes happened to my family. I started to come in contact with lots of social workers, and to spend time with counselors.

Liu’s father had to undergo dialysis when Liu was a child, and the family was hard up. But they got a lot of help from people in the community, and that’s when the first seeds of Liu’s future career were planted. Now 32, Liu originally studied engineering at college, before switching to social care. As for the stock market, he started getting into investing while still in high school. With all that stock market experience, and with a solid income from it, he could found the association.

Liu Chih-ping
Sprouts of Love secretary general
Actually, how much money I have is just a number going up and down for me. If I spend it on the charitable causes that I serve then the feeling in my heart is that it has enormous value. Because when I see the people I’m serving, I see that help is at their moment of desperation.

Liu says chasing wealth is no way to fulfillment. It’s only helping others that makes life joyful. With all his interests and talents, it’s being in service that never fails to inspire him.

2022-11-01

VP Lai sits with Palau president, attends reception at congress on Day 1 of state visit