China launches drills in Taiwan Strait ahead of Tsai-McCarthy meet

China launches drills in Taiwan Strait ahead of Tsai-McCarthy meet

2023-04-05

China has launched a joint cruise and patrol operation in the northern and central parts of the Taiwan Strait. The drill was announced Wednesday morning by the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration, before a high-stakes meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Responding on social media, President Tsai said she had convened an emergency video conference with top security officials and the Executive Yuan. She assured the public that relevant units would keep on top of the developing situation.

Also on Wednesday, the Presidential Office confirmed that Tsai met U.S. lawmakers last week during her New York stopover. Tsai sat down with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. She also had breakfast with senators Mark Kelly, Dan Sullivan, and Joni Ernst. During her meetings, Tsai expressed gratitude for U.S. support, particularly from the Biden administration. She emphasized the need for ongoing security cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan.

蔡麥會即將登場中國啟動台灣海峽聯合巡航行動

2023-04-05

在總統蔡英文，即將與美國眾議院議長麥卡錫會晤之際，中國福建海事局，宣布啓動"台灣海峽中北部聯合巡航行動"，不過並沒有公布，詳細演練地區。蔡總統臉書也貼出與坐鎮台灣的國安會、行政院等官員召開視訊會議，說已請相關單位持續掌握周邊情勢，要國人放心。

另外，總統府週三也證實，日前過境紐約，當時蔡總統與眾議院民主黨領袖傑福瑞斯會面，也與三位美國參議院跨黨派參議員蘇利文、恩斯特、凱利一同早餐會。蔡總統感謝美方的安排，也特別提到拜登政府上台後對台灣的協助，期盼台美未來能夠能夠在安全的議題上，繼續合作。

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Analysts weigh in on Tsai-McCarthy meet

At 1 a.m. on Thursday, Taiwan time, President Tsai Ing-wen will meet with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other lawmakers for bipartisan discussions in southern California. Later in the day, the participating lawmakers will hold a press briefing to express their support for Taiwan. Analysts say the meeting is a breakthrough moment that carries extraordinary significance. Let’s hear from them.

Ahead of the U.S. House speaker’s meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, scholars weighed in on its significance.

Chen Shih-min
NTU politics professor
Since the severing of diplomatic ties with the U.S., this is the highest-level political figure our president has met with on American soil. This is a breakthrough moment for Taiwan-U.S. relations.

Yeh Yao-yuan
University of St. Thomas professor
Following Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, this is another high point for Taiwan-U.S. relations. This event will certainly further solidify our relationship, our partnership with each other.

It will be the first-ever public meeting between a Taiwan president and a U.S. House speaker on American soil. China has lodged its objection. Last week when Tsai was in New York, protesters were reportedly paid US$200 each to picket outside her hotel. New reports suggest they will be paid US$400 each, or NT$12,000, to protest outside the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where she is expected to meet McCarthy.

Yeh Yao-yuan
University of St. Thomas professor
In the past, China would mobilize protesters through its consulates in major U.S. cities. But for just US$200, many people will be reluctant to participate in such a protest, because the risk of being seen as spies would be too high. The U.S. would see such protesters as having a particular political agenda.

China hasn’t been alone in protesting Tsai’s transits. The United Daily News Group’s World Journal, which is distributed in California, ran a full-page ad expressing opposition to Tsai’s U.S. stopovers. The ad was signed by more than a hundred Taiwanese American organizations. But the list was fraudulent, according to lawmaker Wang Ting-yu. He said that many of the organizations denied signing the petition, raising suspicions that the list was inflated.

Ken Wu
Formosan Association for Public Affairs
Later on, we found that some of these expats were furious to find their companies listed in the advertisement. Some are considering legal action.

Arthur Ding
National Chengchi University professor
I don’t think this was a spontaneous initiative. It’s absurd to exploit the freedoms of an open society for such an action. It’s highly ironic.

As Taiwan-U.S. ties continue to build, China is ramping up its undermining tactics.

2023-04-05

Taiwan to open new consular building in Los Angeles in 2024

President Tsai Ing-wen is already in Los Angeles, ahead of her historic sit-down with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The city is home to a significant Taiwanese American population, and it will soon be home to a US$1 billion consular building owned by the Taiwanese government. Slated to open next year, this standalone facility will replace the rented office space that Taiwan has used for three decades.

Taiwan’s representative office in Los Angeles is located on the third, fifth and seventh floors of this building.

Taiwanese expat
Parking is a big problem. If we have to do something here, we sometimes have to park very far away.

Taiwanese expat
This building is just like a regular office building, so many people don’t know our representative office is here.

Locals say finding a parking space or the office itself is not easy. Taiwan’s representative office has rented this space for more than three decades. It pays several millions of U.S. dollars a year, a rate that’s only set to get higher. In 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs purchased a building 1.6 kilometers away from the current location. At a cost of more than US$1 billion, the price would pay for itself in 20 years. The relocation was supposed to happen in 2021, but it’s been postponed due to the pandemic.

Chen Yen-ling
FTV reporter
Next year, Taiwan’s representative office in Los Angeles, will move to this location, which cost US$1 billion. The building has five stories, each with floor space of more than 100 ping.

It’s not the first time that Taiwan switched from renting to buying in the U.S.

Chen Yen-ling
FTV reporter
The first switch from a rental to an owned property in the U.S. was in New York. In 2003, MOFA purchased a unit in Manhattan for US$1.7 billion. The property’s value has since doubled and has saved the ministry US$100 million a year in rent.

The New York office is 17 stories tall and has about 100 staffers. On President Tsai Ing-wen’s visits to the city, she uses the space to host the U.N. ambassadors of Taiwan’s allies, as well as members of the Taiwanese American community.

2023-04-05

COA launches response measures as pork prices surge

2023-04-05

How to store medicines at home safely: pharmacists explain

Today we’ve got a masterclass in storing home medicine. Pharmacists say that lots of people store drugs in the wrong places, and for too long. For example, older adults may think the fridge is the best place to keep eye drops, but it can actually be the worst place. And how long can you keep a product before it goes bad? We spoke to two pharmacists to get the facts on these and other dilemmas.

A patient squeezes out some eye drops. They don’t want to waste the rest, so they put it in the fridge for safe keeping. But pharmacists say that’s the wrong move.

Su Po-ming
Pharmacist
Your typical eye drops can be stored at room temperature. If you put them in the fridge and take them out again, the crystals might not be able to melt back into their original liquid state, and when you put them in your eyes, they could damage the cornea.

The majority of medicines can be stored at room temperature in a cool place, unless your doctor or pharmacist specifically tells you to put it in the fridge. It’s best to avoid keeping drugs in kitchens, bathrooms, window sills and vehicles, as those places can cause medicines to go bad. But above all, avoid decanting a drug from one container to another.

Yi Li-chen
Pharmacist
The principles of storage for medicines are, avoid light, humidity and heat. This bottle is opaque, to keep the medicine away from light. Some bottles contain a desiccant which you can see when you open it; that’s helping keep the product dry. If you put a medicine like this into a medicine dispenser, it immediately starts a chemical reaction with the water particles in the air, and it starts to become sticky.

Medicines that have been packaged in a pharmacy can usually not be kept for more than six months.

Yi Li-chen
Pharmacist
Things that are packed up like this can generally only be kept for three to six months - if you’re keeping it at normal room temperature or below, and the humidity is no higher than 60%. If, after three to six months, you start feeling suspicious, you can take it to a pharmacist to assess whether it has gone bad.

Pharmacists say that you only need to specially dispose of packaging for controlled substances, like injection solutions, antibiotics, anticancer drugs or hormone supplements. Other medicines can be simply thrown away in general trash.

2023-04-05

Terry Gou to make second bid for Taiwan president

Hon Hai founder Terry Gou is making a second run for Taiwan’s presidency. Just hours after flying back from a U.S. tech tour, Gou held a press conference near the Taoyuan airport, where he said he would pursue the KMT’s nomination. The tycoon apologized for quitting the party four years ago, when he lost the KMT’s presidential primary. At Wednesday’s news conference, Gou said he was committed to serving Taiwan’s people and to ensuring the survival of the Republic of China.

Terry Gou
Hon Hai founder
I’m willing to give everything I’ve got to seeking the KMT’s nomination and engaging in a gentlemen’s contest with Vice President Lai Ching-te.

Hon Hai founder Terry Gou is back in Taiwan, after cutting short his 10-day U.S. trip. He landed at 5 in the morning and appeared at a press conference at 10, to announce his bid for the KMT’s presidential nomination.

Terry Gou
Hon Hai founder
I am grateful to KMT Chairman Eric Chu and KMT Vice Chairman Sean Lien for publicly recognizing me as an important asset to the party. I also want to apologize for leaving the party out of anger four years ago, causing disappointment for many people. To my friends in the KMT, I would like to offer my deepest apologies.

Gou bowed deeply in an apology to his supporters. He promised that this time, he would not leave the party if he failed to win its nomination.

Terry Gou
Hon Hai founder
If I am nominated by the KMT, I will do my best to unite all the non-green political camps. However, if Mayor Hou Yu-ih has a higher approval rating than I do and the party decides to nominate him, I will fully support the mayor.

Gou said he was committed to standing behind his party. He said he was also committed to the survival of the Republic of China.

Terry Gou
Hon Hai founder
Although I’m a seasoned businessman, I am a novice in politics. Taiwan has the potential to become the key force in resolving the U.S.-China conflict, so long as we an internationally respected leader who is committed to peace. I am willing to be a servant to the 23 million people of Taiwan. I will dedicate my life to fight for the survival and development of the Republic of China.

Ahead of the 2024 elections, Gou is back in politics, ready to take his second shot at the KMT nomination.

2023-04-05

COVID-19 pandemic impacts children’s physical and movement development

A new survey from the Hsin-Yi Foundation has found that children’s movement abilities have been affected by the pandemic. After three years of disrupted education, as well as mandates to stay indoors and wear masks, many children don’t have the physical skills that would normally be seen in their age group. But experts encourage parents to be optimistic. Kids benefit from being given lots of encouragement to get active. Parents who make movement fun can help their kids develop in their own time.

Children follow their teacher in a dance routine. The moves have been specially designed by early childhood education specialists.

Wang Tzung-teng
Physical Education Department, University of Taipei
Basic movement skills are extremely important for the future development of exercise for a child. What that means is, if parents can give children some more chance to practice, when they’re small, and give them a bit of extra encouragement, and some guidance, then the child’s future movement development will be much easier.

Over the last three years, children’s movement capacities have dropped on average, due to spending large amounts of time wearing masks or having to stay indoors. Overall mental and physical health has suffered too. Two surveys by the Hsin-yi Foundation looked at the movement skills of kids aged 2-6, from the perspective of both parents and kindergarten teachers. With a sample of more than 8,000 respondents, they found that exercise can promote children’s physical capacities, as well as cognitive and emotional development. The more parents actively participate in their kids’ movement and offer encouragement, the more kids’ capacities improve.

Liao Jui-wen
Hsin-Yi Foundation COO
Early childhood educators notice that children’s physical skills have indeed deteriorated from before the pandemic to after the pandemic. There is a bit of falling behind on the development of some movement capacities. But we also want to encourage parents not to worry too much, because physical movement skills develop gradually as children get older.

For parents’ reference, the foundation has compiled a comparison table of physical and movement skills, organized by age. Parents are advised to adopt a variety of games and strategies to encourage kids to get active in developmentally appropriate ways, building health and strength for the future.

2023-04-05

A century-old rice shop in Taipei undergoes a makeover and welcomes visitors with event

Today we will take you to a rice shop on Taipei’s Dihua Street. Built in 1923, the shop is 100 years old this year and is currently run by its fifth-generation owner. The store recently underwent a makeover and is now an award-winning retail space. In order to attract new customers, it even partnered with a costume rental shop to allow patrons to wear qipaos and tour its historic facilities. Our reporter Stephany Yang spoke to the Yeh family to find out how they plan to revitalize the family store while retaining its history.

At first glance, it’s hard to believe this space is actually a century-old rice mill shop. In order to attract a new generation of visitors, the fifth-generation owner of the store, Yeh Yen-ting, partnered with a costume rental shop to allow patrons to rent qipaos and tour its historic shop. Visitors can learn about Taiwanese rice culture and rice farming. The shop is also holding exhibitions to help visitors understand its 100-year history.

Yeh Yen-ting
Shop owner
Why we need those kind of milling machines? Since 1923, in Dadaocheng, we purchased a lot of rice from the middle of Taiwan and south of Taiwan. They will use two types of transportation. One is railway and the other way is through the ships at Danshui river to Dadaocheng. The first process, they will do the drying all the rice grain. That is the first step. The second step after drying the rice grain, they will send to the rice milling factory. That is what they Yehjinfa Museum, the factory used to do those kind of business.

Shahad Huang
Costume rental owner
We are very happy to provide a modified Western-style qipao from the early years of the R.O.C. We also allow all visitors to experience the Japanese yukata experience. We want to provide the summer kimono experience because the history of Dadaocheng can be traced back to the Japanese colonial period. Many local cultural relics are preserved here.

In the past, the northern section of Dihua Street was an important town for selling rice and daily necessities in Taipei. The Sunrice Yehjinfa is a family-run rice mill that was founded by the Yeh family in 1923. In addition to being a rice milling shop, it was also the residence for the owners, as well as a traditional Chinese medicine store. Back then, more than 60 people lived here. The century-old rice mill shop is now run by the family’s fifth-generation owner Yeh Yen-ting and has been transformed into a museum. Yeh says, running the family business is not that easy.

Yeh Yen-ting
Shop owner
The difficulty is how we market this place. How we collect history material from the Yeh family. We do documentation research from libraries. Most important thing is how to run the museum like break even. We need to think about where the income comes from. Right now, we cooperate with a lot of schools. They do the education. We will also promote courses to teach everybody how to make rice.

Hoping to tell the story of rice milling factories in the early days of Taipei’s Dadaocheng area, Yeh hired designers to renovate the space, in a bid to draw in visitors. The architects designed wooden trusses that can stand on their own. The team is also constantly developing new innovative products to cater to its patrons, he said.

Yeh Yen-ting
Shop owner
We use rice material to produce some rice crackers. For the people, they will know how to make rice crackers. We try to do the education. Since in Dadaocheng, there are a lot of elementary schools or a lot of schools will come to this place and try to know the rice milling industry in Dadaocheng.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
Besides the rice tour, you can also come to the second floor and play on this self-playing piano that is 103 years old.

Yeh Yen-ting
Shop owner
The piano is one of a collection from a very famous American musical called the Wizard of Oz.

The Yeh family hopes that their historical space can be preserved and reused. They also hope to tell the stories of their ancestors so that everyone can learn more about the golden age of the rice trade in Dihua Street.

2023-04-05

Rainy weather to return starting Thursday

2023-04-05