New Japan Destinations Airlines add new destinations in Japan as international tourism heats up

New Japan Destinations Airlines add new destinations in Japan as international tourism heats up

2023-02-01

International tourism is back in full swing, now that most COVID rules at the border have been lifted. Amid rising demand for travel, airlines are adding new destinations in Japan to their offerings. Starting March 28, Peach will be operating flights between Taipei and Nagoya. It will also resume services between Kaohsiung and Osaka in August. Meanwhile, Tigerair Taiwan is adding flights to Niigata, and resuming its services to Sendai, Ibaraki and Okayama.

According to the Japan Tourism Agency, Japan had 930,000 foreign visitors in November, of whom 100,000 were Taiwanese. That’s the second largest nationality after South Korea, which sent 310,000 visitors to Japan over the month.

看好日本旅遊商機航空公司新開台北-名古屋航線

2023-02-01

國境解封，國人瘋日本旅遊，幾乎班班爆滿，樂桃航空今天宣布3/28起，開航台北(桃園機場)到名古屋的新航線，高雄到大阪也將在在8月復航。另外虎航不僅也加開桃園到新潟的新航點，也一次復飛日本三站點，包括仙台、茨城、岡山。

根據日本觀光局統計，去年11月訪日外國人數有93萬多人，台灣將近10萬人，僅次於韓國的31萬多人。看好疫後觀光潮，各航空在台灣紛紛加開航點、祭出優惠搶攻日本觀光商機。

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NATO, Japan and U.S. address security challenges in Indo-Pacific

On Tuesday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg met with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and released a joint statement on Japan-NATO security cooperation. In the statement, and during the talks, the two sides expressed serious concern over China’s military action in the region, including its coercive behavior over Taiwan. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in the Philippines on Monday night to seek access to another four Philippine military bases, in case a conflict breaks out in the region.

On Jan. 31, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Tokyo. After the meeting, the two sides released a joint statement, in which they expressed concern over reports of militarization, coercion and intimidation in the South China Sea. In his remarks, Stoltenberg criticized China’s behavior, agreeing with Japan that it’s a matter of serious concern.

Jens Stoltenberg (Jan. 31)
NATO secretary general
China is substantially building up its military forces, including nuclear weapons, bullying its neighbors and threatening Taiwan. Beijing is watching closely and learning lessons that may influence its future decisions. What is happening in Europe today could happen in East Asia tomorrow.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who arrived in the Philippines on Monday night, is slated to meet Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday to discuss expanding U.S. access to another four military bases in the country, to counter China’s growing military action in the region.

According to U.S. newspaper the Wall Street Journal, two of the four sites could be located on Cagayan Province on the northern island of Luzon, and on the Province of Palawan to the east. With only 321 kilometers between Luzon and Taiwan, the U.S. military would be able to respond quickly should a conflict erupt in the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait.

Shu Hsiao-huang
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
If the Philippines will allow access to these locations, to these bases, allow the U.S. military to effectively interfere… of course whether it’s the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea, both are important regions, and the Philippines’ location has a great strategic significance. An important aspect of U.S. deployment in the South China Sea is the surveillance of anti-submarine and underwater activity.

The Indo-Pacific Region’s security is high on the agenda of NATO, the U.S. and their allies.

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Czech politicians fire back at China’s outrage over presidential Taiwan-Czech phone call

High ranking officials in the Czech Republic have responded to China’s protests over a recent phone call between the Czech president-elect and President Tsai Ing-wen. One of them is the Czech prime minister, who said that, as a sovereign country, the Czech Republic could choose whoever it wants to call. Meanwhile, the EU’s spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy has said that the "one China" policies of the EU and its member states do not prohibit interactions with Taiwan.

Czech President-elect Petr Pavel spoke with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on the phone on Monday and said he hoped to visit Taiwan in the future. European news outlet Reuters referred to the move as a “diplomatic coup,” given the lack of formal ties between the two countries. The phone call also ruffled a few feathers in Beijing.

Mao Ning
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson
Even after China’s repeated dissuasion and demarches, the call constitutes a serious interference in China’s internal affairs. China deplores and strongly opposes this and we have made solemn demarche to the Czech side.

China says it tried to stop the call between the two presidents from happening. The Czech Republic is having none of China’s condemnations, however. On Twitter, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala responded saying that “As a sovereign state, we decide for ourselves who we call and who we meet.” Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies Marketa Pekarova Adamova further tweeted that it is important that Czechia supports partners who respect human rights and democracy. She added that she was planning to visit Taiwan in March. Asked on the matter, the EU’s foreign affairs and security policy spokesperson, Nabila Massrali, stated that the EU’s “one China” policy does not mean the union and its member states cannot interact with Taiwan.

Nabila Massrali
EU foreign affairs and security policy spokesperson
The EU and its members states remain committed to its longstanding “one China” policy, which constitutes the framework for the EU’s and its member states engagement with Taiwan. At the same time, the EU and its member states have strong ties with Taiwan and an important economic and high-tech partner in the region.

Chen Ting-fei
DPP lawmaker
Nothing can stand in the way of the friendship between the Czech Republic and Taiwan. The unity among democracies will always show our determination to demonstrate that we are not like authoritarian states.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said that, as a sovereign state, Taiwan’s interactions with other countries are legitimate, adding that China’s attempts to isolate Taiwan internationally were not conducive to the betterment of cross-strait relations. The Year of the Rabbit has only just started, but it seems that for Taiwan it may be a year of more cooperation with the EU.

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Taiwanese illusionist features on cover of Europe’s top magic magazine

Taiwanese illusionist Hanson Chien has been enchanting the world for 15 years with his magic tricks. He’s even collaborated with big names inside and outside the magic world, including pop singer Jay Chou and magician David Copperfield. Most recently, he’s become the first Taiwanese to be featured on the cover of "Magicseen," Europe’s top magazine on magic.

With just the shadow of his fingers, he turns the phone off. What a marvel. This is 31-year old Hanson Chien, who was recently featured on the cover of Europe’s top magic magazine “Magicseen.” He’s the first Taiwanese illusionist to get the honor.

Hanson Chien
Magician
I was quite surprised. I hadn’t thought that they would interview me. The magazine featured a lot of my works and my work as a consultant for many talented magicians.

But it’s not Chien’s first time on the cover of a magazine. Last year, he was the cover illusionist in three magazines about magic. In July 2022, he was a special performer at a convention held by the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Chien is a self-taught magician, and has been performing for 15 years now. Among his clients are celebrities like Mandopop singer Jay Chou, who previously used Chien’s creations and props.

Hanson Chien
Magician
I taught quite a few people. Jay Chou used what I taught him in a short video. Just yesterday Lu Chen came over to discuss magic with me. Some renowned magicians from abroad I’ve worked with include David Copperfield, who’s used some of my things.

Chien has long been a magic advisor for television shows and movies. Now he’s before the cameras to make the world of magic better known in Taiwan.

Hanson Chien
Magician
I think we can make it better known. A very important issue is that, for a long time, there has been a big gap between magic performances and audiences. I hope to be able to bridge that gap.

Big names in magic have attended Chien’s online seminars. Now, Chien is working so that his magic can enchant even more people.

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Migrating TSMC engineers and their families find Taiwanese support in Arizona

The opening of TSMC’s new U.S. fab means relocation for many Taiwanese silicon engineers and their families. Hundreds of Taiwanese citizens have newly arrived in Arizona to start a new chapter in their lives in a radically different culture. But settling in a foreign country is no easy feat. That’s why some associations are stepping in to provide support and welcome services to new immigrants. For lots of families, the most pressing concern is navigating the very complicated U.S. healthcare system. But even simple tasks can also be challenging in a foreign environment.

The opening of TSMC’s new U.S. fab has seen many Taiwanese families pack up and relocate to Arizona for a new life.

As they find their feet in a new country, the biggest worry for most is healthcare. The U.S. system is totally different to that of Taiwan. When you have a major health issue, you’re liable for potentially catastrophic costs.

Many struggle to describe their health troubles in English, or understand technical terms used by doctors. Now a U.S. healthcare and insurance provider has taken note of the growing population of Mandarin speakers in Arizona. They’re offering healthcare services in Mandarin, to support the many new TSMC expats.

Dru Bhattacharya
US Healthcare Company diversity manager
Making sure we have the interpreter services, translation services – all these kind of go together. There are many hidden costs that many immigrant families aren’t aware of.

Tina Chang
Taiwanese-American Chamber of Commerce
We hold events every now and then, and if our members have any needs, if they need help, then we have all kinds of different professionals.

With support from locals, this Taiwan-American association held a major event for Chinese speakers, with free talks and volunteers on hand to answer questions from the family members of TSMC’s new U.S. workforce. Being a newcomer in a strange land, even knowing where to go grocery shopping can be a problem. But these Taiwanese expats are supporting each other.

Fion Huo
Taiwanese resident in US
It’s very unfamiliar to me too, but I think I can tell the children that “Mommy and you are from the same country, we’re in this together, we all don’t understand, and we’ll solve this together.”

Tiff Wang
Taiwanese resident in US
When I look at how the children have grown up in this environment, with a diverse upbringing, I think it’s a totally different kind of life experience. So at first it’s very hard work and I want to encourage folks a bit.

For these families, stepping out of Taiwan and into a new life across the Pacific is a once-in-a-lifetime challenge, a door into a new world of possibilities.

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Works by award-winning sculptor Kuo Chin-chih on display at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Award-winning sculptor Kuo Chin-chih has created works using a variety of materials throughout his 50-year career as an artist. His works are now on display in a special exhibit at Taipei’s Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to Kuo to find out more about how his works have evolved over the years and his future goals as a sculptor.

Kuo’s works are made using a range of materials including stone, bronze, stainless steel, mixed media and digital prints. This work "Entrance of the Sun" is the work that he is most proud of.

Kuo Chin-chih
Sculptor
For example, the one we see behind us is called "The Entrance of the Sun." The work has been included in an archive of 20th-century sculptors from around the world. My aim with this type of piece is to achieve real creation, and not follow trends. I have established a style of my own, which is also a Taiwanese style. This is what I want to do.

A total of 48 works by Kuo are on display at an exhibition at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. Kuo originally aspired to be a writer and poet, but later decided to break into the world of visual arts as a sculptor. Throughout his career, he experimented with different types of media including stone, copper, wood, stainless steel, and bronze.

Kuo Chin-chih
Scultpor
I put many different things into my creations, including tradition and new technology, and materials such as stainless steel. I put a lot of effort into the so-called "mixed media." I later saw that internationally, there are not many successful cases of composite-media works. I am quite confident in my works.

In his second year at university, Kuo won three major art competitions: the Provincial Art Exhibition, the National Fine Arts Exhibition, and the Taiyang Art Exhibition. Later in his career, he was elected as the first chair of the Sculpture Association of Taiwan. Despite his early successes, he never lost his passion for creating.

Kuo Chin-chih
Scultpor
Because I am old now, I want to create what I like. In fact, I still have some works that I want to continue working on. The so-called mixed media is a mixture of various media, but there are many new methods that I still haven’t tried yet, but have thought about. For example, aluminum alloy is also a good material. I tried using it but I was not very successful. I hope to continue to work with it.

Kuo hopes to continue mastering the art of sculpting, and to pass on his expertise to younger sculptors in Taiwan. The exhibition will be on display at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall until Feb. 12.

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