Plum rain season not expected to hit Taiwan until the end of May

Plum rain season not expected to hit Taiwan until the end of May

2023-04-28

Taiwan saw mild weather on with sunny skies islandwide and highs of 33 degrees in central and southern regions. The Central Weather Bureau says that another weather front will gradually pass across Taiwan on Saturday night, bringing localized short showers to central and northern regions, and to mountainous areas in the south. Meanwhile, the eastern half of Taiwan could see localized heavy downpours.

Taiwan is seeing its driest spring season in two decades, and forecasters say the dryness might linger over the plum rain season. Forecasters expect normal to low levels of precipitation in May and almost normal levels in June. Heavy, constant rainfall typically associated with the plum rains is not expected until the end of May or early June. It seems there’s still some time to wait until reservoirs in the drought-stricken south get some relief.

中南部解渴再等等! 梅雨5月下旬有望報到

2023-04-28

今天全台天氣穩定，各地都能看到太陽露臉，中南部高溫甚至來到33度左右，但氣象局提醒，週六晚上鋒面逐漸通過，受到東北季風影響，中部以北、南部山區，將有局部短暫陣雨，東半部還會有局部較大雨勢。

回顧今年春雨總雨量，是20年來春雨最少的一年，對於今年梅雨季展望，氣象局分析，五月雨量將介於正常值到偏少，六月雨量接近正常值，不過大範圍持續性降雨，預估要到五月底、六月初才來，中南部水庫想解渴，恐怕還要再等等。

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No Nuclear Weapons for South Korea

The United States and South Korea signed a landmark agreement Wednesday. The agreement gives Seoul a greater decision-making role in U.S. contingency planning against a possible North Korea nuclear attack. That’s in exchange for Seoul agreeing not to pursue its own nuclear weapons program. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from the White House.

President Joe Biden affirmed the U.S. commitment to defend against North Korean aggression as he welcomed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a pomp-filled state visit, just the second such visit of his administration.

Joe Biden
US president
Look, a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partisan – partners – is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action.”

Pyongyang has “greatly increased its missile launch activities” this year and last, the United Nations says. Under the new Washington Declaration, the two allies will bolster defenses against Pyongyang. The United States will set up a Nuclear Consultative Group to allow greater information sharing and give Seoul a greater voice in deliberations over U.S. weapons deployment. In return, Seoul will maintain its non-nuclear status in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty it ratified in 1975. Yoon, on Wednesday, welcomed the agreement.

Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korean president
In the event of North Korea’s nuclear attack, and [our countries] promised to respond swiftly, overwhelmingly and decisively, using the full force of the Alliance including the United States’ nuclear weapons.”

Biden said the two presidents also discussed security beyond the Korean Peninsula.

Joe Biden
US president
We discussed our work together on promoting peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and beyond. Excuse me. I also affirmed – we together affirmed our shared commitment to stand with the people of Ukraine against Russia’s brutal assault on their freedom or territorial integrity and democracy.

The U.S. and South Korea have been allies since the end of the Korean War, 70 years ago, but analysts say there are questions in South Korea about the strength and credibility of the agreement.

Scott Snyder
Council on Foreign Relations
It takes it off the table the possibility of any kind of South Korean development of an indigenous nuclear capability, and it really bolsters the idea that the U.S. and South Korea are going to address North Korea together.

But, Snyder added, the potential for cooperation continues to grow, including in space. On Tuesday, Yoon and Vice President Kamala Harris explored the two nations’ growing ties in space exploration and security, with a tour of a NASA facility near Washington. That’s a sign, he said, that this partnership may go to a new frontier. Anita Powell, VOA News, the White House.

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Ma’s title changed once again at Delphi Economic Forum

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TPP Chair Ko Wen-je makes presidential ambitions clear after returning from US tour

TPP Chair Ko Wen-je on Friday returned to Taiwan after a 20 day visit to the U.S, where he told reporters he planned to register as a presidential candidate. He did not appear to be interested in responding to a call from KMT leader Eric Chu to join forces with the KMT. He’s expected to formally announce his presidential bid at a press conference before May 20.

Upon hearing people address him as “president,” TPP Chair Ko Wen-je was all smiles. He arrived in the international airport in Taoyuan after a nearly three-week tour of the U.S. He received a warm welcome, and among them was a surprise guest, his wife Peggy Chen.

Peggy Chen
Wife of Ko Wen-je
I missed you a lot. It was OK for the first week, but after two weeks I felt it was a bit weird being all by myself. By the third week, I missed you so much.

During Ko’s trip to the U.S., he was seen going in and out of the AIT headquarters three times, and he also met former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. It was obvious that he was pleased with his efforts and had met the people he needed to meet. Recently, KMT leader Eric Chu has called for cooperation with other parties to take down the DPP, giving rise to speculation that he intends to cooperate with the TPP. Ko, however, is not having it.

Ko Wen-je
TPP chair
I’ve said before that I don’t agree with this kind of thing. Why remove the DPP or form a non-DPP alliance? Taiwan belongs to everyone. You can’t say that one political group needs to be eliminated. I still advocate a coalition government that can unite Taiwan.

Ko rejected Chu’s proposal once again. When asked what he thought of the New Taipei City Council changing its time table to push forward the question time for New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, Ko had all his guns blazing.

Ko Wen-je
TPP Chairman
I don’t think this is right. In order to get an individual out of trouble, the general question time has been moved ahead of the question times for each city government department. I don’t think what the KMT is doing here is right, it’s not right to accept this situation. I think they are losing points for this.

Ko seems to clearly have presidential ambitions. And, when asked if he would get a presidential registration form, Ko did not evade and rewarded reporters with a straight answer.

Ko Wen-je
TPP Chairman
I’ll go and do it tomorrow. After out party ratifies it, I’ll hold a formal press conference. It should be before May 20.

Ko seems determined to take part in the presidential election in 2024 with no space for cooperation with the KMT.

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NTCH Ideas Lab explores ‘emo’ through a variety of art forms

The National Theater and Concert Hall’s Ideas Lab is an annual experimental project that combines theater, music, and dance. This year’s theme is "emo." FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a sneak peek.

Blind dancers and other dancers dance together in the dark, combining movements with sounds produced by different objects. The dancers challenge the idea of how dances can be perceived and understood without sight. This is one of the groups performing for the National Theater Concert Hall’s Ideas Lab. Idea Lab is an annual experimental project that combines theater, music, and dance.

Chang Ke-yang
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The question that our work is tackling is, in the absence of vision, how do we feel the kinetic energy of a dance or a movement and know what the dance is about? Half of the dancers are blind, while the other half is not.

Another show invites the audience to witness police drills and their training. Through interviews and literature research, the creators hope to unveil the training process that police go through, bringing to light the systemic violence and the high-pressure environment in which they live.

Li Ao-sen
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Over the past few years, situations overseas have created a relatively negative image of the police. But in theory, the police are the executors of public power. After precise training, they enforce the law and detect crimes and so forth. During the interview, we found that the police face huge internal and external pressures. They face many moral problems that run opposite to public opinion.

This year’s Ideas Lab project centers on the term “emo.” Emo, which is short for “emotional,” is a term used by youth in Taiwan. The term originated from the U.S.’ hardcore punk music culture of the 1980s. This year, NTCH Ideas Lab invited five artists to express the word “emo” through their works.

Liu Yi-ruu
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The popular term on social media right now is “emo,” which seems to describe being a little helpless and angry about things. But nothing is being done on social platforms. What we see from these artists is that their complaints or anger about injustices and the world are turned into attempts to provide an answer or interpretation through their works. Or they provide a direction to move toward. That’s what’s special about the NTCH Ideas Lab. The spirit of the NTCH IDEAS Lab is “I may have lost, but I am never afraid. When I see a goal, I persevere.”

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United Ukrainian Ballet prepares for Asian debut of ‘Wartime Elegy’ in Taiwan

The United Ukrainian Ballet is in Taiwan, ready for the Asian debut of its latest performance this weekend. “Wartime Elegy” is a collection of dances meant as a love letter to the people of Ukraine. The performers say it has not been easy to produce a new ballet, amid Russia’s attacks on their country. After fleeing Ukraine and regrouping in the Netherlands, the ballet hopes to advocate for peace with their entrancing production.

A ballerina in a white tutu glides over the stage, performing the romantic pas de deux from “Giselle,” and mesmerizing the audience. This weekend will mark the first time that the United Ukrainian Ballet performs in Taiwan, and rehearsals are on.

Another impassioned duet, but this time from “Spartacus.” You can’t take your eyes off the dancers. This is the ballet’s newest performance, “Wartime Elegy,” which will be making its Asian debut in Taiwan.

Its choreographer is Alexei Ratmansky and it’s his first work since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It intends to convey the optimism of the Ukrainian people. The performers shared their pain for their country with reporters.

Oleksii Kniazkov
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In Ukraine as you know it is quite complicated to do our work, our job. People should go to the shelters when there is an alarm. It’s a crazy situation. I don’t wish anyone to feel anything like this.

The 62 dancers in the troupe all left their homeland due to the war. They regrouped in the Netherlands, and are now touring the world to highlight the importance of peace. Now in Taiwan, they say unity is crucial for smaller countries.

Oleksii Kniazkov
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I think that people should appreciate each other, respect each other, and try to unite. I think what Ukrainians did when the war began and it, I think, helped us to survive.

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Without saying anything specific, I don’t think big neighbors should invade little neighbors.

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New Taiwanese free diving record of 93 meters set by Afa Zhang

Have you ever heard of free diving? The sport involves diving deep under the water without any breathing apparatus. Yes, that means surviving on just one breath of air. The sport has taken off worldwide in recent years, and Taiwan’s divers have also embraced the challenge. Now diver and coach Afa Zhang has a set a new national record, for the deepest free dive in Taiwan. He chatted to FTV about how free diving helped him find himself again in a world full of noise.

Afa Zhang bobs up and down in the water. He’s carefully regulating his breathing. The countdown to the start of the competition begins. He takes in one final breath of air, then dives under the water, kicking his powerful tail to dive deeper.

He leaves the audience behind at the surface, along with all sounds. In just over a minute, he reaches 93 meters below the surface, the target depth. He picks up a white tag to prove his accomplishment, then turns around and begins the ascent. By his side swims an attendant to make sure he’s safe.

And then he’s back above the surface, exhaling and inhaling again. He signals he’s OK to the judge, who confirms he completed the dive. Then applause breaks out all around. By achieving 93 meters in this contest, Zhang has set a new Taiwanese record.

The professional free diver is also a mermaid performer. His agility and grace mesmerize audiences.

Afa Zhang
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Free diving is a place where I have no burdens and no stress. But actually the pressure is greater in the water – because of the laws of physics, the water pressure is very high. But you just go down with one breath, and then there’s nothing left except yourself. There can often be too much noise in life. Everywhere you go there’s the sounds of other people, and even the environment can have a big impact. But in the water all that’s left is your heartbeat. Or sometimes, when it gets even quieter, it can feel like you can hear the fish talking to you. That’s something really fascinating about free diving, I think. Because I can do whatever I like in the water, just like a fish.

After a period feeling lost and directionless, Zhang found free diving when he graduated from university. Diving helped him find himself again. Though it may seem like a dangerous extreme sport to some, for him it’s a path of getting to know the sea, getting to know himself, and mastering the knowledge of the sport. The rewards are priceless.

Afa Zhang
Free diver
You go through breath training again and again, and you realize, “Wow, I’m more capable than I imagined!” And you want to see where your limits are, or how far or how deep you can swim. Water sports are always something that take some getting to know. Everyone says the sea is dangerous, but what’s actually dangerous is that you don’t know how to assess the risks and you haven’t got to understand it.

Free diving is not just a way to have fun. It’s a chance to get to know the ocean, get closer to yourself – and maybe even discover a whole new perspective on life.

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