Annual New Taipei marathon designated gold label road race

2022-11-09

The 2023 New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi Marathon has gained a Gold Medal desgination from World Athletics, an international sports governing body. It is now the only gold label road race in Taiwan. On Nov. 9 New Taipei mayor Hou Yu-ih organized a press conference with the Chinese Taipei Athletics Association to celebrate the good news. Let’s hear from them.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei mayor
This didn’t happen overnight, but only with every New Taipei resident’s effort because the certification doesn’t only signify that our tracks follow international standards, but also sufficient medical support during the race. Here we have the beauty of the mountain and the sea, and more importantly a warm, hospitable community.

Yeh Cheng-yen
Chinese Taipei Athletics Association
It is the only gold label race in the country and the best in Asia. The Gold Label designation stipulates that the race tracks must adhere to World Athletics’ standards. Second, we must also employ an internationally certified physician to oversee medical support during the race.

The Wan Jin Shan marathon was classified as bronze in 2015, then silver in 2018. In 2021, the marathon was one of a handful to still go ahead despite the pandemic. Mayor Hou said next year, when the marathon kicks off on March 19, it will also strive to be a green race to reduce its environmental impact.

國際認證! 2023萬金石馬拉松升級"金標賽事"

2022-11-09

新北市萬金石馬拉松，賽事升級，世界田徑總會公布，2023萬金石馬拉松，符合金標賽事資格，新北市長侯友宜，邀請中華民國田徑協會，來市府共同見證，萬金石馬拉松，成為全國唯一金標賽事。

[[新北市長侯友宜]]
“這一路走來這不是一朝一夕，是所有新北市民的努力，因為每一個標籤的認證，除了我們賽道要標準以外，以及我們醫療配備要完善。有山海之美，更重要有濃濃的人情味。”

[[中華民國田徑協會理事長葉政彥]]
“全國唯一也是在亞洲第一。金標籤主要的規範是賽道必須要合乎世界田徑總會的一個要求。第二個就是我們也要聘請我們的醫療的，國際認證的醫療的主任。”

萬金石馬拉松一路從銅標籤，升級到銀標籤，現在更獲得金標籤，尤其2021年還得兼顧防疫，是國際上少數成功舉辦的實體馬拉松賽事。2023萬金石馬拉松3月19號在萬里開跑，侯友宜也宣示，會落實環境永續，減少對環境的衝擊。

Taiwan to ease mask mandate in three stages starting as early as this month

2022-11-09

Premier orders investigation into why Chinese drones were used in National Day show

For this year’s National Day celebrations, the night sky above Chiayi was lit up with hundreds of drones forming the national flag. The show delighted spectators, among whom was President Tsai Ing-wen herself. Now, a KMT lawmaker is slamming the event, saying the drones posed a security risk, as they were made in China.

Lu Ming-che (Nov. 8)
KMT lawmaker
I can’t believe that the people at the central government were stupid to this extent with the drone show. The drones in the formation were made in Shenzhen, in mainland China. They’re the new generation model of drones, the EMO model.

The lawmaker says the frame, batteries, control system and flight patterns were all made in China, saying the only Taiwanese thing about them was the power source. He says the fact is an embarrassment for Taiwan.

Lu Ming-che (Nov. 8)
KMT lawmaker
You get a drone in Kinmen and rush to destroy it at all costs. But you get 500, or 600 drones flying above the president and the legislative speaker, and nobody knows it. You treat the drones as part of Team Taiwan. This is not our country. It’s a national disgrace.

Su Tseng-chang
Premier
If that’s the case, then it may be better to not have a show at all.

Premier Su Tseng-chang said an investigation would be launched to find how the Chinese drones had ended up in the celebration. Separately, the minister of defense dispelled concerns that the availability of China-made civilian drones in Taiwan could pose a security risk if the military were to use them.

Chiu Kuo-cheng
Defense minister
Our military drones are developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. We can use civilian drones too, and we have incorporated some into the military. But in that case, there are several rules. The first is that they cannot be made in China. The second is that anything related to classified information must follow our regulations.

Chang Chung-cheng
National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology has strict rules. We don’t allow Chinese funding or China-made products.

The defense minister and the military R&D center said there was no risk of China-made drones accidentally making it into Taiwan’s defenses.

2022-11-09

Activists release numbers of candidates that signed pledge against capitulating to China

A group of activists on Wednesday announced the most recent numbers of a campaign to gauge the pro-China or pro-Taiwan leanings of politicians up for election. In the campaign, they asked candidates to sign a pledge to promise that they won’t capitulate to China. All DPP candidates running for mayor or commissioner have signed the pledge, as well as two candidates from the New Power Party. But so far, none of the KMT or independent candidates have signed.

In recent days, groups of activists have asked candidates of the upcoming local elections to sign a pledge saying that they won’t capitulate to China, and will stand up for Taiwan. The activists on Wednesday gave an update on the campaign.

Richard Chen
World United Formosans for Independence
All of the people in the DPP signed the pledge. But in the KMT, not a single person signed it. What are they all afraid of? They don’t dare sign it? Or they can’t sign it?

All 21 DPP candidates in the race for mayor or commissioner signed the pledge, as well as two candidates from the New Power Party. But outside of the two parties, there have been no signatories. As for councilor candidates, only two KMT candidates and two Taiwan People’s candidates signed the pledge. That’s in stark contrast with dozens of DPP and Taiwan Statebuilding Party candidates.

Fan Yun
DPP lawmaker
Chiang Wan-an said that signing the pledge was a stupid thing to do. Meanwhile, during an interpellation with Premier Su Tseng-chang, Wu Sz-huai from the Foreign and National Defense Committee said the pledge was dumb. Of course, we should elect leaders and representatives that the people trust to be able to protect democracy.

Lin Ying-meng
Independent Taipei councilor
Ko Wen-je knows nothing about civil defense. He even mocked me, telling me, “Yeah, whatever, piss off.” Between war and surrendering, even if you chose surrendering, there would be war at the end. The KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party don’t dare to speak out on this. So that means that they’ve surrendered already. Will this surrender bring peace?

Activists urged politicians not to bow down to China, calling on voters to choose their representatives wisely.

2022-11-09

Yilan night market gives coupons to people with 1 in their birthday, ID number

2022-11-09

Canopy of golden gingko trees delights visitors to Wuling Farm

2022-11-09

US and Taiwan sign MOU to strengthen international development and humanitarian assistance

The U.S. and Taiwan are strengthening their ties in international development and humanitarian assistance. The American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. signed an MOU, where the two countries will jointly provide international humanitarian assistance to other countries, and conduct research together. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the details.

The U.S.’ de facto embassy in Taiwan, and Taiwan’s de facto embassy in the U.S. have signed an MOU to strengthen their cooperation on international humanitarian assistance and international development.

Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Under the MOU, Taiwan and the U.S. have established a common basis by which the USAID and the Taiwan ICDF can work together to advance international developments, humanitarian assistance projects, and joint research initiatives. I firmly believe that with our combined efforts through this MOU, we will not only enhance our bilateral cooperation, but also contribute to the international community.

The U.S. Agency for International Development and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund will cooperate to enhance climate and disaster resilience in the Pacific Region. Taiwan ICDF will contribute up to US$600,000 to a U.S.-Taiwan partnership under USAID’s Pacific American Fund.

Timothy Hsiang
ICDF secretary-general
As the official development agency of Taiwan, the cooperation between the Taiwan ICDF and the USAID first kicked off after an inaugural Pacific Islands Dialogue between Taiwan and the U.S. in October 2019. We have since made much progress in our joint efforts for like-minded beneficially countries and citizens to build an open and prosperous indo-pacific region. The Taiwan ICDF and the USAID have established regular dialogues on climate, cyber security, and health. Which are the most vital topics for our collaboration.

Sandra Oudkirk
AIT director
This MOU is a testament to the continued expansion of both the breadth and depth of ties between the U.S. and Taiwan. Taiwan is a trusted friend and partner. We applaud Taiwan’s contributions to the international community. In times of distress or disaster, the U.S. has been fortunate to work with reliable partners including Taiwan to provide assistance and relief. Whether dealing with the impact of the global COVID pandemic or sharing its extensive experience in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, Taiwan has shown time and again that it is willing and able to share its expertise and help those in need.

USAID and Taiwan ICDF will also provide support for small and medium-sized enterprises in Paraguay.

Sandra Oudkirk
AIT director
We are proud to work with Taiwan on development cooperation. This MOU will enable our experts to work together on projects and programs to build capacity and bolster economic resilience around the world. For example, USAID and ICDF will provide support for market access and product diversification for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses in Paraguay. Across the Pacific islands, the U.S. and Taiwan will award grants to enhance climate and disaster resilience through our joint Pacific American Fund.

Through the signing of the MOU, Taiwan and the U.S. hope to continue to work together and with other like-minded partners to provide international development and humanitarian assistance.

2022-11-09

J&V Energy Technology shares soar after Dwight Howard joins Taoyuan Leopards

2022-11-09

Doctors’ union calls for labor rights protection for employed physicians

Ahead of Taiwan’s Doctor’s Day on Nov. 12, the Taipei Doctors Union held a press conference on Wednesday calling for labor rights protection for employed doctors. Under Taiwanese law only resident physicians, or postgraduate trainee doctors, are protected under labor law, leaving more than 90% of physicians without any labor rights protection. The activists called for the amendment of the Labor Standards Act to include employed doctors as employees, too.

Placard in hand, doctors’ union representatives and DPP lawmaker Hung Shen-han call for legal protections for employed physicians. Of all doctors in Taiwan, over 90% are contractors to whom the Labor Standards Act does not apply.

Chen Liang-fu
Taipei Doctors Union secretary-general
Even if the Labor Standards Act’s stipulation on working hours could not be applied to physicians, they should at least be protected by other legal standards. The more than 90% of people to whom the Labor Standards Act does not apply should be given some protection.

Compared to regular employees who are protected by labor law, many employed physicians often have to deal with arbitrary transfers and contract non-renewals. They face heavy penalties for breach of contract, and if they wish to terminate employment, they are often required to give three months’ notice. In one example given at the press conference, the Taipei Doctors Union revealed that one particular practitioner reported being slapped with a NT$1 million penalty after leaving the job. Only after a two-year litigation was the penalty lifted.

Liao Hui-fang
Lawyer
Even if a physician were employed, they would still not be given any employment or contract protection as stipulated in the Civil Code. In that case the employer could treat the physician as an independent contractor and thereby ridding the employer of any legal responsibility.

Hung Shen-han
DPP lawmaker
Doctors who are supposed to be in hospitals to give them all in treating and caring for patients, many of them are faced with problems regarding contract terms and employment terms, so they’re going in-and-out of courtrooms instead.

Currently only resident physicians in Taiwan, numbered at 4,000, are protected under the Labor Standards Act, representing fewer than 10% of all medical practitioners. The doctors’ union urged the government to amend either the Labor Standards Act or the Physicians Act accordingly, to recognize physicians’ employee status and thereby provide rightful protection to employed doctors.

2022-11-09

Nurse groom-to-be shines in hospital weight loss competition

2022-11-09

Miaoli borough keeps alive the traditional art of beach-seine fishing

2022-11-09