Campaigning heats up for Taipei legislative by-election

Campaigning heats up for Taipei legislative by-election

2022-12-08

The DPP’s and KMT’s candidates for the Taipei legislative by-election are in full campaign mode ahead of the vote on Jan. 8. The DPP’s candidate, Enoch Wu, on Thursday voiced a proposal to convert Songshan Airport into a park. Meanwhile, the KMT’s Wang Hung-wei says she will push for postponing the decommissioning of nuclear power plants 2 and 3 in New Taipei, saying that the public is concerned about electricity shortages.

The race is on for the Taipei legislative by-election. DPP candidate Enoch Wu says his top policy proposal is to close down Songshan Airport.

Enoch Wu
Taipei by-election candidate (DPP)
We expect that by 2030, the third runway at Taoyuan airport will be completed. So my plan is that, once the third runway opens, we transfer over the operations from Songshan Airport and turn the space into a park.

Meanwhile, the KMT’s candidate, Wang Hung-wei stood at a busy intersection in Zhongshan District to greet passersby.

Some people approached her and rolled down their car windows to show their support. One of Wang’s proposals is to postpone the decommissioning of nuclear power plants No. 2 and No. 3 in New Taipei. On Thursday, she addressed criticism that she hadn’t discussed the matter with New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih.

Wang Hung-wei
Taipei by-election candidate (KMT)
Many, many people are worried about electricity shortages, and rising electricity rates. Politicians should be able to think for ourselves. I don’t need to consult anyone except the public.

The New Taipei mayor responded saying that having strict checks and standards for the plants was the most important thing, especially regarding nuclear waste. He called on the central government to take action and find a solution to dispose of the nuclear waste piling up in the plants.

吳怡農首場政見發表會提出遷建松山機場

2022-12-08

民進黨參選人吳怡農今天(8日)舉行首場政見發表會，提出遷建松山機場，全區保留作為公園。而對手國民黨參選人王鴻薇先前則是拋出核二、核三廠延役，卻被質疑沒跟新北市長侯友宜商量過，王鴻薇表示，政治人物應該獨立判斷，不需要問誰，只需要問人民。

台北市立委補選戰況激烈，參選人吳怡農提出第一個政見就是松機遷移。

[[台北市立委補選參選人(民) 吳怡農]]
“這我們預估2030年桃園機場第三跑道就會準備好，我主張現在就規劃好，一但桃園機場第三跑道上線了，我們就把松山機場遷移，全區保留作為公園”

國民黨立委補選參選人王鴻薇，則是來到中山區人潮眾多的路口向通勤族問好。

路過民眾上前鼓勵，也有汽車駕駛搖下車窗回應王鴻薇，針對自己日前拋出核二、核三廠延役的政見，卻被質疑沒跟新北市長侯友宜商量過，她也強硬回應。

[[台北市立委補選參選人(國) 王鴻薇]]
“非常多民眾都擔心缺電問題，電價漲價問題，一個政治人物應該獨立判斷，我不需要問誰，我應該問人民”

對此，侯友宜表示，以最嚴格標準把關是最重要，尤其核廢料擺了很久都沒處理，希望中央趕快處理，這是新北市民的期待。

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Chinese Culture University outsources dormitories to nearby hot spring hotel

Chinese Culture University has an innovative solution to housing students. They’ve signed a contract with a nearby hot spring hotel to provide rooms as dormitories. From January, 250 students will move into the hotel, each paying as low as NT$17,000 per semester for the rooms. We paid a visit to the hotel in question. Could this be the future of university life?

This room feels like a classic hot spring hotel suite. But it’s soon to become a dorm for Chinese Culture Uni students.

The university is working with a nearby hotel to provide 250 beds over 125 new rooms, from next semester.

Yang Hsiang-chun
Chinese Culture University
We want to create a second living area for Chinese Culture University, here in Beitou. It’s only a tiny bit more expensive than student dormitories. So we must stress that residents will have to pay extra to use the hot springs or other hotel services.

Three types of rooms will be available at the hotel: a double room of 7.5 ping, costing NT$19,800 per person per semester; a smaller five ping room for NT$17,000 per person per semester; or more expensive single rooms at NT$28,800 per semester. All those prices include water and electricity. The university dorms cost less, at NT$10,000-NT$15,700 per semester depending on size; but they’re further out from the city center. A room in a shared apartment might be more modern and comfortable, but could easily cost NT$30,000-40,000 per semester.

Chinese Culture University student
The price difference with private apartments is enormous. When I was in my second year, I lived in an apartment for two people, with bunk beds, and the beds were smaller than these ones here.

Transportation is another big factor. Getting from CCU to Taipei generally means an almost hour-long bus journey. And the buses are often packed. But the hot spring hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the Xinbeitou MRT Station.

Chinese Culture University student
We have to take the bus down to Taipei, but it’s always packed with people, weekdays or weekends. But here it’s very convenient – if we want to go into Taipei, there’s an MRT station just next door.

The hotel is 50 years old and its amenities rather outdated, but all the basic facilities are fine – and the MRT station is a big plus. The 250 beds were quickly snapped up by CCU students keen to try the new dorm.

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Changing globalization trends factor in TSMC’s decision to expand in US: analyst

TSMC has caught the attention of many, after the firm’s decision to expand in the U.S. TSMC founder Morris Chang has said that it had long been his dream to open a fab across the Pacific, something he had previously opted against due to high costs and an assortment of labor and cultural issues. Experts say that, TSMC’s U.S. expansion is a symptom of the changing trends in globalization. And that, although problems still remain, the investment in the U.S. could bring new businesses opportunities to Taiwan.

At TSMC’s ceremony for its fab in the U.S. state of Arizona, it was all big names in the tech sector. Beside’s TSMC’s chairman, CEO and founder, there was also Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su and even U.S. President Joe Biden, who hailed the moment as the return of American manufacturing.

Morris Chang (Dec. 6)
TSMC founder
My dream of 25 years ago will now be fulfilled by Mark.

Previously, high costs, labor problems and cultural differences had made investing in the U.S. a nightmare for TSMC founder Morris Chang, who had said investing in the U.S. was a costly affair and a wasted effort. Since then, his stance has done a full 180.

Morris Chang (Dec. 6)
TSMC founder
Globalization is almost dead. Free trade is almost dead. And a lot of people so wish they will come back. But I really don’t think they will be back for a while.

Lee Chun
Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research
You’ve got to imagine it as if the world were spilt in thirds, each with its own tech companies and trade investment groups. It’s a revised version of globalization. In the past, production was concentrated in China and Taiwan. In the future, production will be spread in many different areas. So when countries turn into themselves and Taiwan goes out to service them, that brings Taiwan a lot of new opportunities.

The analyst says globalization has changed, in part due to the U.S.-China tech war. Taiwanese companies are having to follow their clients to other parts of the world, which according to him, is an opportunity for growth. But for TSMC, producing chips in the U.S. comes with costs about 50% higher than in Taiwan. The chipmaker has announced a total investment of US$40 billion in Phoenix, Arizona, with US$12 billion in the first phase and US$24 billion in the second. By 2026, the fab is expected to have an annual production capacity of about 600,000 chips in 2026, a minute amount compared with Taiwan’s output.

Chai Huan-hsin
Semiconductor industry analyst
Building up supply chains takes a long time. And in the U.S. there is more intrusion from non-economic factors. So if you want the fab in Arizona to make profits closer to fabs in Taiwan, I’m afraid that will take a very long time, more than five years.

Amid a changing geopolitical landscape, TSMC has expanded in the U.S. despite the higher costs. Even if orders pour in, will the firm’s profits be affected? It remains to be seen.

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Older adults fulfill their dreams with round-island motorbike trip

Have you ever thought of chasing a dream before you feel too old to do so? Since 2007, the Hongdao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation has been holding motorbike trips around Taiwan for adults aged 60 and up. In 2012, the foundation released a documentary called "Go Grandriders," featuring the stories of 17 older adults who embarked on the round-island motorcycle trip. FTV reporter Stephany Yang caught up with two of them to find out more about their life-changing journey.

"Go Grandriders" is a documentary that follows the story of 17 older adults, with a median age of 81, who embarked on a 730-mile, 13-day motorcycle trip around Taiwan. Of the 17 participants, two were cancer survivors and eight had coronary diseases. All 17 had some degree of joint degeneration. Despite their condition, they weren’t deterred from going on the ride. Two of the riders that went on the trip were Chang Hung-tao and Chang Chen Ying-mei, who were 70 and 71 years old at the time.

Chang Chen Ying-mei
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Chang Hung-tao
Rider
I think it was very adventurous. On the right is the sea. If you’re not careful, you may accidentally fall into a deep hole, into the sea. On the left, it’s all big rocks. I was nervous, but it was very thrilling. I also saw the kindness of Taiwanese people, which was very touching.

Now, the two are 86 and 87 years old. Although the trip was 15 years ago, they still remember it as if it were yesterday. They say they are happy to have been able to fulfill their lifelong dream of a round-island trip of Taiwan. The event also opened up other opportunities for them, such as traveling to the U.S. for a road trip in 2013.

Chang Chen Ying-mei
Rider
We rode from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It was Route 9, the most beautiful one. In the past, I hardly left the house. I am very happy. I used to ride a bike, but now I’ll ride a motorcycle.

Chang Hung-tao
Rider
I think that we should walk a straight path in our lives, and not look right or left. We should concentrate on the path that should be taken, and not take the wrong path. I was very touched by this event. I met these people and fulfilled dreams in my life. I think it is very meaningful.

Since 2007, the Hongdao Welfare Foundation has held the round-island ride to encourage older adults to chase their dreams and enhance the public’s views and attitudes towards aging. So far, the event has been held 11 times, with more than 350 participants. In 2012, the association released the documentary short film "Go Grandriders," which follows their journey.

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After the film was released, it topped the box office as a documentary and even had the opportunity to be shown in Hong Kong, South Korea, and the U.S. A good event can change the life of an older adult, a family, and a community. If you want to create a bigger impact, films can really convey the message. We now see that Taiwanese people view older adults very positively. Compared to 10 years ago, there’s been very good progress.

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The journey around the island is a bit like the journey of life. You may think that older people cannot move around, but in fact, during the process of filming, I discovered that older people can do a lot more than everyone thinks. Even grandparents can accomplish a round-island trip. The purpose of this film is to encourage older adults to do what they like. Some participants from the ride even climbed Yushan. It gave them the confidence to do things they thought they would be unable to achieve.

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