CIA head says Chinese leadership has doubts on ability to invade Taiwan

2023-02-27

During an interview for CBS program Face the Nation, CIA Director William Burns said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping has doubts about China’s ability to invade Taiwan. Russia’s experience in its war of aggression against Ukraine had also reinforced those doubts, he said. Let’s hear one expert’s response to that interview.

Lin Ying-yu
Tamkang University School of Strategic Studies
First of all, Chinese leader Xi Jinping remains unsure about how much foreign military intervention there would be in the event of a war in the Taiwan Strait, and about how much our military strength has grown. He’s not 100% convinced that China could achieve a sweeping victory. There’s also the issue that Russia’s military strength turned out to be seemingly far less than our assessments. The PLA faces many similar issues to those plaguing Russia’s military, and it remains to be seen whether those issues would make the PLA little more than a paper tiger.

The researcher said the PLA remains concerned about what consequences there would be of an invasion of Taiwan. Meanwhile, Taiwan is continuing to invest in strengthening its defense capabilities.

CIA局長：習與軍方對能否達成侵台仍有疑慮

2023-02-27

美國中情局局長伯恩斯，接受美國CBS專訪時透露，習近平與他的軍事幹部，對於是否能成功入侵台灣，仍存有疑慮。沒有人比習近平，更仔細關注烏俄的戰事發展，種種跡象，讓他焦慮不安，更趨於審慎。一起來聽專家的解讀。

[[淡江大學戰略研究所助理教授林穎佑]]
“第一個他(習近平)不知道外國會有多少勢力介入，還有我們國軍成長的軍力，沒有百分百把握說，他可以像是秋風掃落葉、首戰即決戰，以及我們對俄羅斯軍力的評估，應該跟實際有一定差距。解放軍也有很多類似的問題，這些問題會不會讓解放軍只是繡花枕頭？”

學者分析，解放軍相當擔心全面侵台的後果。台灣也唯有加強戰力，才能有效嚇阻中國。

COA proposes six options for solving the egg shortage

2023-02-27

Joint exercises between the US and other countries cross northern part of ADIZ

The U.S., Japan, France and Australia recently held two-week joint exercises in the Pacific, with Australia playing the role of China’s PLA Air Force. At one point the drills saw an Australian surveillance aircraft doing low-altitude maneuvers over waters near Taiwan. A retired military official says the maneuvers were meant to simulate Chinese aircraft movement, as well as to build a database of Chinese electronic signals. He said Taiwan should seek to participate in the drills in the future, and that its participation would be a valuable experience.

The Air Force recently detected incursions into the northern part of Taiwan’s ADIZ by an Australian military aircraft, which entered the ADIZ four times. Commenting on the issue, a retired Air Force official said the incursions were likely part of the Cope North joint military exercises between Australia, the U.S., Japan and France. Australia played the part of the Chinese military in the exercises.

Chang Yen-ting
Retired Air Force official
Australia is more than 5,000 kilometers from Taiwan, but it came all the way here to participate in these exercises. The Australian aircraft flew at a very low altitude – from 1,200 feet, which is under 400 meters, down to 40 meters, flying like that over the sea. It was simulating low-altitude flight maneuvers by the Chinese military. The aircraft was an AP-3C, which is a surveillance aircraft that has lots of equipment on board used for electronic warfare. It’s being used to build an electromagnetic database for signals around the Taiwan Strait. This large database will help prepare those countries to deal with China’s electromagnetic and complex electromagnetic environment in the event of warfare.

The two-week Cope North 2023 exercises centered on Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, and extended to other locations in the Pacific including the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and the Japanese island of Iwo Jima.

Chang Yen-ting
Retired Air Force official
Since the scope of the Cope North exercises include the Taiwan Strait, it’s necessary for us to try to send an observation team to the U.S. We could go participate in some of the work involved to see how it’s done. In half a month we could learn very valuable experience, because it’s a real battlefield and is close to actual combat.

With the Cope North exercises encompassing areas in and around the Taiwan Strait, the retired official says Taiwan must be included. Given increasing support for Taiwan in Washington, perhaps Taiwan’s participation in the joint exercises will be on the books in the future.

2023-02-27

Taiwan independence activist Koo Kwang-ming dies aged 96

Taiwan independence activist and Presidential Office adviser Koo Kwang-ming passed away on Monday at the age of 96. For decades, Koo has been an outspoken advocate for Taiwan’s independence from the R.O.C., being the founder of a foundation pushing for a new constitution in Taiwan. Leaders of pro-independence groups say that though Koo is no longer with them, his work will live on.

Presidential Office Adviser Koo Kwang-ming, was a vocal advocate for drafting a new constitution that does away with references to the R.O.C. in Taiwan. He did not live to see his dream become reality, as he passed away on Monday at the age of 96.

Chen Nan-tien
United Formosans for Independence
He had been in the intensive care unit for quite a long time already. When my colleague went to see him, he was already unconscious. The Taiwan New Constitution Foundation is one of the earliest advocates for the causes that the United Formosans for Independence is trying to promote. So their work of pushing for a new constitution for Taiwan will live on.

Activists in the pro-independence camp mourned Koo’s loss. President Tsai Ing-wen, Premier Chen Chien-jen, and Presidential Office Secretary General Lin Chia-lung posted eulogies on social media.

Koo Kwang-ming (March 26, 2022)
Presidential Office advisor
The happiness and safety of this generation, the next generation and generations after that is our most important mission now.

Koo was born in 1926 in Changhua’s Lukang township. His father was business tycoon Koo Hsien-jung, and one of his older siblings was Chiang Kai-shek confidant Koo Chen-fu. At the time of the 228 massacre in 1947, he was a third-year university student and happened to be traveling in Hong Kong. After the massacre, he went into exile in Japan and founded the World United Formosans for Independence, becoming a fugitive for the R.O.C. government. In 1972, he traveled in secret from Japan to Taiwan, via Thailand. He met then-Premier Chiang Ching-kuo, calling on him to lift martial law, allow for freedom of speech and lift the ban on forming political parties. After that, he was mostly known for his work to promote Taiwan’s independence from the R.O.C., publishing many materials on the matter and founding the Taiwan New Constitution Foundation. Activists say his passing on Monday marks the end of a chapter in the history of Taiwan’s pro-independence activism.

2023-02-27

‘Snow’ retires: time to rest for New Taipei’s top search and rescue dog

One of Taiwan’s top search and rescue dogs has retired after five years of honorable service. “Snow” is one of New Taipei’s most highly trained service dogs, and has taken part in many high profile rescue missions. Now, at the grand old age of 9 years old, it’s time for a rest. New Taipei is searching for an adoptive family to keep Snow company in her golden years. But as you might expect, the application process for such an honor is quite demanding.

The dog follows each command immediately, sitting and lying down happily. She’s full of life and loves to run and jump.

New Taipei City rescue dog Snow is 9 years old. The Border Collie - Labrador cross once won an award for “Cutest Dog” in a National Fire Agency competition.

But don’t let her adorable looks fool you. Snow is an elite rescue dog, trained in international rubble search and rescue skills. Within 30 minutes, she can sniff out three trapped humans in a 1,500 square meter area of rubble.

Chou Yu-sheng
New Taipei City Fire Department
Snow was exceptionally fast to train. She’s extremely talented. Apart from her search and rescue skills, her most impressive skills are seeking attention, and opening doors.

Snow spent five years in active service, climbing walls higher than an adult’s head, and squeezing through sheets of metal to sniff out clues. She took part in the search and rescue mission of the 2020 Black Hawk helicopter crash, and in searches for missing people, such as in ManyueyuanNational Forest Recreation Area and on Matcha Mountain. Now she’s getting on in years, it’s time to retire.

Gentle-natured Snow likes to lie down and roll over for tummy rubs. Now her handlers are looking for an adoptive owner who will take care of her in later life.

Wu Wei-yi
Dog handler
Their normal training involves lots of activity on mountainous terrain. That causes much more wear and tear on their spine and in the joints of their back legs than normal family pets would have.

Prospective new owners will have to undergo written checks, an in-person evaluation, and assessment of their financial and motivational fitness for the honor of being Snow’s human. Before they can officially adopt her, they’ll start with a one-month trial living together. Now that Snow is retired, New Taipei only has one advanced search and rescue dog in service. They are searching enthusiastically for up-and-coming talent.

2023-02-27

Acclaim for photos of Dajia Mazu pilgrimage at New York Photography Awards

2023-02-27

Ministry of Health and Welfare addresses medicine shortages

The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Monday held a press conference to address matters related to a recent medicine shortage in Taiwan. Patients and pharmacists say as many as 88 different kinds of drugs are currently in short supply in Taiwan. The ministry said the cause was global production problems as well as an uptick in respiratory disease cases in Taiwan. It advised the general public to switch to medications with the same active components for the time being if possible.

Over the past few days, pharmacies in Taiwan have been swept by medicine shortages. The Ministry of Health and Welfare explains why.

Victor Wang
Ministry of Health and Welfare
Machine malfunctions have caused a global shortage of this particular drug. But it’s been fixed now, so we expect imports to Taiwan will resume in early March.

For example, production of proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole had been halted due to technical issues, which have now been resolved. Amid reports that some patients were reluctant to accept drug substitutes during the shortage, an FDA official had this to say.

Wu Hsiu-mei
Food and Drug Administration
You shouldn’t think that only the original medication you were taking is effective. Taiwan’s drug factories are all PIC/S GMP compliant. That’s a really high standard for production. All the medicines produced in Taiwan are just as good as the ones produced at the original factories.

The health ministry said it would establish a drug shortage center to make medicine distribution more efficient and convenient.

Victor Wang
Ministry of Health and Welfare
The shortage is spreading to more types of medications. It’s more diverse. By working together across agencies, offices, departments and even ministries, we can address these import problems. We need to bring all these together, and not just have the Food and Drug Administration dealing with the matter on its own.

The health ministry said the shortage prevention center would work with users such as patients, pharmacies, clinics and hospitals and collect feedback from associations. It will also negotiate with manufacturers and government agencies to offer timely updated on the situation.

2023-02-27

Childcare industry faces labor shortage as childminders retire

The profession of childcare is facing a labor shortage. Childcare has been an aging industry for some time. Now more and more childminders are retiring, and experts say a crisis is looming. The Peng Wan-ru Foundation is dangling big subsidies in front of new childminders who enter the business. And the government is also relaxing rules for childcare agencies, in the hope of tempting more people to give it a try.

Looking after small children is a difficult job. Families with two parents working full time can struggle to find a childminder. That sometimes means one parent giving up their job to care for the child.

Lee Yi-hua
Childminder
At first, I had two children going to kindergarten. I looked through so many jobs, and sent off so many resumes, to find a job that could fit with the schedule I had to pick up and drop the kids off at kindergarten. But none were suitable. In the end, I applied to become a home childminder, so I could earn a stable income while looking after my children.

Working and raising children simultaneously is tough, but now a new childminders’ alliance is giving new childminders professional classes so they can start their own businesses.

Chuang Tzu-hsuan
Childminders’ Alliance member
When I worked at a childcare center, it felt like just doing a job. They take on more children at the center than they should, but that didn’t make my wages go up.

At first, Chuang Tzu-hsuan worked alone. Her friend Yu-ching would often pop in for a chat and enjoyed helping so much that, eventually, the pair became a business duo.

Chuang Tzu-hsuan
Childminders’ Alliance member
Parents have been telling us that they want to find a younger childminder, someone who’s easier to communicate with.

The childminding profession is aging. Only 40% of childminders are under the age of 50. The 60% who are 50 or over are approaching retirement soon. There are 27,000 childminders now; in 10 years, at least 10,000 of them will have retired, leaving a severe labor shortage.

Wang Chao-ching
Peng Wan-ru Foundation CEO
60% of childminders will retire in the next 10 years. So in the next decade we will see a tidal wave of turnover in the profession. It will be harder for parents to find childminders. For that reason, we believe that this is the last chance for us to bring new childminders into the world.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is making it easier to get into the job by amending the law on Family Childcare Service Agencies. They’re allowing agencies to take in more children, and increasing the number of official inspections. The Peng Wan-ru Foundation is also offering subsidies of NT$5 million to help new childminders enter the industry, in the hopes of making Taiwan a friendlier place for young families.

2023-02-27

American YouTuber brings his Mandarin-language songs on a tour of Taiwan

2023-02-27

Midnight construction works: Kaohsiung tree dug up to make space for light rail

Construction is well underway on phase two of Kaohsiung’s new circular light rail line. In February, the team completed a transplant of a massive tree, to make space for a new station. The majestic tree had to be removed at night to minimize disruption. It will be transplanted to a new home at Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. But digging it up from the middle of a busy intersection at midnight was a real challenge. We spent the evening with the team to find out what it takes to re-home a giant.

9 p.m. at a busy intersection in Kaohsiung. Traffic restrictions go into effect, as construction workers start to move this rain tree to a new home, to make space for phase two of the light rail project.

Towering above Dashun Road at more than 10 meters tall, this rain tree has stood here more than two decades. The team first pray to the tree and greet it, wishing for a smooth operation tonight. The tree is dug out of the ground, and two cranes are hard at work pruning its branches.

The plan is to place the new light rail station exactly where the tree stands now, but the team are trying to preserve as much as they can.

Chiang Ming-ching
Kaohsiung light rail phase II project manager
This is a rather old part of the city. There are lots of roads intersecting here, and the roads are curved. It’s very difficult in terms of maintaining the traffic.

Chang Po-yang
Kaohsiung City councilor
The apartment I rent myself is right next to the light rail line. Before they begin construction, they negotiate with the local borough chief and with local residents. Of course, they’re working at night – from 9 p.m. right through to 3 a.m. We want to let them finish the job with as little disturbance as possible to the traffic network in the city.

The giant cranes and forklift truck work together. As the tree falls to its side, heavy machinery is on hand as well. Everyone’s on alert to make sure there are no mishaps.

Lee Yi-lun
Landscape architecture agency
The difficult thing about working at night is you have to be fast. This is a residential area, and they want us finished by midnight. If we start at 9 p.m. we just have three hours. You have to prune the tree, package it, dig it out of the ground, load it onto the truck; and it must not be too wide or too tall to take on the exit route you’ve arranged.

The tree will take up residence at a new home in Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. There it will have plenty of space to extend its branches, bringing leafy shade to the hillside and sheltering a new generation of Kaohsiung residents.

2023-02-27

Loquat farmers expect big yields thanks to cold and wet weather

2023-02-27