DPP chair by-election to be held on Jan. 15, registration to open Dec. 12

2022-12-07

Registration for the DPP’s leadership by-election will open on Dec. 12, with the vote to be carried out on Jan 15. Sources familiar with the matter say that all is set within the party for Vice President Lai Ching-te to run in the race as the sole candidate.

On Tuesday, Vice President Lai Ching-te attended an event at a temple in Chiayi, where he looked to be in high spirits. Just one day later, Lai confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID on a Facebook post. He says he’s currently only experiencing mild symptoms. Back at the DPP headquarters, party central decided on a timeline to elect a new chair. Registration for candidates will open next Monday, and the vote will take place on Jan. 15.

Lin Chun-hsien
DPP lawmaker
If Lai Ching-te has discussed the matter with younger people in the party, and a consensus is reached, I think it could open the door to very positive developments in the future.

Sources with knowledge on the matter say the party leadership has already agreed to let Lai take over as DPP chair. And Lai himself has allegedly told family and friends that he indeed plans to run for party leadership. Reports say factions within the DPP have also decided that they will not put forward other candidates if Lai throws his hat in. Also on Wednesday, Cheng Wen-tsan spoke on the party’s direction after its defeat in the recent local elections.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Taoyuan mayor
After the elections, there will be discussions, and there will be opportunities for all leaders to exchange opinions. The most important thing is to find out why we were defeated. That’s the only way that we can rise again.

The DPP says it will reform in hopes of drawing back supporters. All eyes are on registration day next Monday, to see who will contend to take leadership of the party.

傳新潮流內部拍板由賴清德參選黨主席

2022-12-07

民進黨中常會今天通過黨主席補選時程，下週一開始登記，1月15日進行投票。呼聲最高的賴清德，雖然今天確診了，根據民視獨家消息，新潮流定調，推賴清德參選黨主席，而且賴清德已經私下告知民間友人這消息。

前一天到嘉義城隍廟出席公開活動，副總統賴清德看起來精神飽滿，沒想到隔天，傳出賴清德確診，賴清德在臉書發文表示，他快篩呈現陽性。目前症狀輕微，請大家放心。而今天，民進黨中常會通過，下禮拜一黨主席補選開始登記，1月15日進行投票。

[[立委(民) 林俊憲]]
“如果賴清德跟黨內的重要中壯世代都談過，大家如果彼此也有共識的話，我覺得這個事情後面的開展應該就會往正面來發展”

根據民視新聞掌握的消息，新潮流內部會議中已經拍板，由賴清德親征黨主席，賴清德已經向熟悉的民間友人報告他的決定。傳出黨內各派系已經決定，若賴清德參選，將不會推人參戰。而九合一大選之後，民進黨面對各方檢討聲浪不斷，鄭文燦也有話要說。

[[桃園市長鄭文燦]]
“在選後各種檢討會，黨內的各方意見領袖其實都會有機會交換意見，最重要是要找出敗選的原因，才能夠有再起的機會”

面對檢討問題，黨內努力改進，希望可以快快拉回民心。而下周一開始的民進黨黨主席登記日，也勢必會是大家關注的焦點。

TSMC to triple investment in Arizona chip plant to NT$1.2 trillion

Chipmaking giant TSMC has announced it will triple its investment in the U.S. state of Arizona to about NT$1.2 trillion. The announcement was made at a ceremony marking the receipt of the first batch of equipment at its Arizona fab, which is scheduled to start operations in 2024. The additional investment is set to build a second fab specializing in the more advanced 3-nanometer chips.

Right after landing, U.S. President Joe Biden headed straight to TSMC’s fab in Arizona.

Accompanied by TSMC Chair Mark Liu and CEO C. C. Wei, Biden inspected the company’s facilities. The main event was a ceremony to celebrate the plant’s receipt of its first batch of equipment.

Mark Liu
TSMC chair
This state-of-the-art facility behind us is a testimony that TSMC is also taking a giant step forward to help build a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem in the U.S.

After Liu gave the opening remarks, Biden took the floor.

Joe Biden
US president
TSMC had made a US$12 billion investment here in Phoenix to build the first fab to make semiconductors in the U.S. Now the equipment is ready to move in. Next year, commercial operations are going to begin.

Biden announced that TSMC was to invest US$40 million – or about NT$1.2 trillion – to build a second fab in Arizona.

Joe Biden
US president
TSMC will construct a second fab here in Phoenix to build chips, 3-nano chips. These are the most advanced semiconductor chips on the plant. Apple had to buy all the advanced chips from overseas. Now they are going to bring more of their supply chain home. It could be a game changer.

The venue was packed with big names. They included TSMC founder Morris Chang, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Joe Biden
US president
Tim Cook of Apple. Where are you, Tim? He buys a few of these old chips. And he’s a small customer here. I hope they are treating you well.

Tim Cook
Apple CEO
As many of you know, we work with TSMC to manufacture the chips that power our products all over the world, and we look forward to expanding this work in the years to come as TSMC forms new and deeper roots in America.

Lisa Su
Advanced Micro Devices CEO
Well, everybody needs semiconductors. I think semiconductors really power all of these devices and services. So we are proud to be focused on high-performance and adaptive computing.

Jensen Huang
Nvidia CEO
We, together as an industry, have to own the cost of manufacturing together. No one company can own all the cost. We all have to share the burden of advancing technology.

Back in 2020, TSMC first announced plans to build a fab in Arizona, which is currently under construction. The fab is expected to start producing 4-nanometer chips in 2024. More recently, the TSMC has announced plans to also start producing 3-nanometer chips in 2026.

2022-12-07

Economics, NDC ministers reject claims that semiconductor sector is leaving Taiwan

2022-12-07

2023 calendar features aerial images of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies

2022-12-07

85C Bakery Cafe draws long lines at new US location in Phoenix, Arizona

Taiwanese food is becoming popular around the world, and several chains have already set up shop in the U.S. Recently, 85C Bakery Cafe opened a branch in Phoenix, Arizona, where it sells a range of Taiwanese bread. The store drew long lines at its grand opening, and business is only expected to get better.

Yang Szu-min
FTV reporter
There’s a long line at this shop in Phoenix, Arizona. People are waiting more than 10 minutes to get inside, all so they can eat Taiwanese bread like this.

Here at this Taiwanese bakery cafe, there’s everything from cheese dogs and pork floss buns to traditional pineapple buns. The shop is filled with locals eager to try something new. It’s also attracted Taiwanese expats, who rushed to this Phoenix location for a taste of home.

Customer
Taiwanese bread is softer, more fragrant. And it’s not as greasy.

Customer
They have one in Los Angeles. That’s why I tried before.

Customer
We drove by and decided to try it because the line was so long.

Fresh baked goods are packed in a box. The cashiers quickly ring up sales, sending customers out with piles of bread. Already there are 36 staff on the roster, but that’s not enough to handle the crowd. The manager plans to add 20 employees to keep up with demand. With TSMC engineers relocating to Phoenix, the future of the store is looking bright.

Monica Chua
85C Bakery Cafe area manager
Those technicians from Taiwan, they miss the flavors of their homeland. Our sales are even better than expected. We never imagined there would be so many customers.

In addition to 85C Bakery Cafe, fellow Taiwanese brand Meet Fresh sells treats in the same plaza. Elsewhere in Phoenix, two Sharetea shops sell handshaken drinks, a hit with young Americans.

He builds a drink with a skillful air, pouring rich matcha over brown sugar pearls. It’s the favorite beverage of this young local.

Customer
Like all of our hangouts are based on, “Oh, you want to hang out and get boba?” I try to get as much as I can.

Staff
A lot of our younger generation in the States are really accepting of the other cultures and foods.

All around the world, people are falling in love with Taiwanese cuisine. Food businesses are planting their flags in the U.S., to take aim at a hungry market.

2022-12-07

Defense ministry to announce plans for extending military training duration by year’s end

Details on the government’s plan to extend the duration of Taiwan’s mandatory military training could be released before the end of the year. That’s according to defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng, who on Wednesday answered lawmakers’ questions on the matter. The ministry is widely expected to lengthen the duration of training from the current four months to one year. It’s also planning on training more reservists under an updated refresher program that was launched earlier this year.

Defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng on Wednesday said he hoped an announcement will be made by the end of the year on extending the duration of compulsory military service.

Chiu Chen-yuan
TPP lawmaker
Regardless of whether the local elections were a factor in the timetable, what’s the current situation regarding the extension of conscription?

Chiu Kuo-cheng
Defense minister
Extending the period of military service would have great repercussions. Right now there is already a preliminary plan. We’ll work on the matter at full throttle, to hopefully finalize it by year’s end.

Chiu added that a government reshuffle would not bring changes to the government’s plans. He added that next year, the ministry will widen the scope of its training program for reservists.

Back in March, the government had launched a reformed reservist training program. This year, the program had 15,000 participants, a number that’s expected to go up to 22,000 in 2023. There will still be 96,000 participants undergoing the old regiment, which lasts five or seven days.

Chiu Kuo-cheng
Defense minister
After assessing the situation, we will increase the number of reservist teams and look at where we can source soldiers. That way we can increase capacity.

The 14-day training regime features 28 hours of shooting practice instead of 12. This year, 13.7% of participants passed the end-of-training exams, up from 5.9% last year. The pass rate for combat skills also went up, from 5.5% to 9.5%.

Lo Chih-cheng
DPP lawmaker
The new training program has been effective at raising our combat readiness. Why don’t we move to make it so that all reservists go through the new regime instead?

Chiu Kuo-cheng
Defense minister
Most of the instructors are new troops, and they also need to train new recruits. There’s insufficient training capacity.

Determined to boost Taiwan’s defenses, the Ministry of National Defense is working to strengthen its reservist forces to safeguard the country.

2022-12-07

Tourism Bureau launches voucher programs for international tourists

2022-12-07

Taiwanese couple designs and hand makes beautiful phone and camera accesories

Today we meet a Taiwanese couple who make colorful straps that can be attached to cameras and smart phones. The couple loves travel and photography, but several years ago they noticed that there weren’t many straps in the market to choose from. In 2008, they decided to design their own. Since then, they have branched out to make phone straps, pet collars, and more. FTV reporter Stephany Yang met the couple to find out more.

This is Sofia Huang and Maxie Lee, a couple who love travel and photography. In 2008, they searched for straps to attach to their cameras, but couldn’t find many on the market that caught their eye. So, they started to make their own. These camera straps come in different designs and colors. All the materials are from Taiwan and are suited for use in Taiwan’s climate.

Maxie Lee
Co-founder
In the beginning, it was because we really liked taking pictures, but we felt there were no appealing accessories. So we used concepts related to clothing design to make camera-related accessories. Speaking of Taiwanese characteristics, our aim when we design is not just to be only a graphics application. We all know that Taiwan is a manufacturing country. When our next generation of crafters is designing products, they have to think about how to make suitable items. We spent a lot of time studying combinations of materials and working out how to improve the straps’ usability.

Sofia Huang
Co-founder
In the process of designing, we hope to convey the warmth put into making a handmade product. When we choose the fabric, we will choose something more distinctive and suitable to the climate of Taiwan. For example, we choose vegan leather, which is suitable for Taiwan’s climate. That is, it won’t cause mold or cleaning problems. It is also relatively comfortable to use.

Before making camera straps, Sofia was a project planner, and Maxie, was a product designer. They said creating these straps was very laborious and required lots of hard work, but due to their passion for travel, they persevered, and continued with their innovative ideas and the creation of new products. In 2013, they decided to branch out and make straps that can be attached to phones. All of their products are handmade.

Maxie Lee
Co-founder
After customers came, we found that over the past few years, demand for cameras changed to demand for mobile phones, so we gradually extended our designs to different product lines. Now we have some mobile phone accessories. We know people are highly dependent on mobile phones in Taiwan. Compared to mass-produced items made by machines, we have to spend a lot more time making our products. We want each piece or leather item to be in different colors, so the time invested is longer than ordinary mass-produced products.

Sofia Huang
Co-founder
We really do it all by hand. We need to be clear about our goals and direction. When we adhere to the branding route, the quality, production, and even style and demands we place on ourselves have to be at an even higher level.

The two are also cat lovers. In 2022, they began designing collars for cats in hopes of creating comfortable and eye-catching collars for their furry friends.

Sofia Huang
Co-founder
We have cats in our family, and we couldn’t find good-looking collars that we liked for them. That’s why we created them ourselves. We used mountain climbing ropes to make it cooler for a cat to wear. Then, they’re more cat-friendly and easier to use. It is different from the traditional cat leads with the buckles.

Maxie Lee
Co-founder
Consumers in Taiwan are very friendly, and they are also very willing to try new things. They just want products with different styles or qualities. So we have started to shape a brand with a different personality in the past two to three years

The designers say they get their inspiration from their daily lives and travel. They hope to continue to make colorful and beautiful designs to help people travel both safely and fashionably.

2022-12-07

Giant Chinese chess board is a lighthearted mural for Zhongliao

2022-12-07

Preorders for Year of the Rabbit commemorative coin set to open online on Dec. 12

2022-12-07

DPP chair by-election to be held on Jan. 15, registration to open Dec. 12