China, US react to VP Lai’s upcoming US transits

China, US react to VP Lai’s upcoming US transits

2023-07-18

Washington confirms that Vice President Lai Ching-te will transit in the U.S. during his trip to Paraguay next month. The day before, Taiwan’s government announced that Lai will attend Paraguay’s presidential election, transiting in the U.S. along the way. China has responded with anger. Its foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said China firmly opposes any form of official exchange between Taiwan and the U.S. At a Monday press briefing, the U.S. secretary of state warned China not to react provocatively. Let’s hear from him.

Antony Blinken
US secretary of state
The potential transit of Vice President Lai of Taiwan – we expect that he will transit the United States, on both the incoming and outgoing legs of the trip that he plans to take. There is no reason for the PRC to use this transit as a pretext for provocative action. We are committed to preserving peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait. It’s critical to region – and for that matter, global security – as well as prosperity.

Earlier this year, China staged war games around Taiwan after President Tsai Ing-wen made transit stops in the U.S. Ahead of Lai’s planned stopover, the U.S. secretary of state emphasized that it was, quote, very routine.

賴副總統循例過境美國布林肯籲中國勿藉機挑釁

2023-07-18

副總統賴清德8月中將出訪南美洲友邦巴拉圭，參加巴國總統當選人貝尼亞的就職典禮，美國國務卿布林肯證實往返都將過境美國。中國外交部發言人毛寧表示，中方堅決反對任何形式的美台官方往來，但布林肯警告中國，沒有理由藉故挑釁。

[[美國國務卿布林肯]]
“有關台灣賴副總統可能的過境，我們預期他計畫的出訪行程，在往返時都將過境美國，中國沒有理由利用這次過境，作為挑釁行為的藉口，我們致力維護台海和平穩定，這點對區域和全球的安全與繁榮，非常重要”

先前蔡英文總統過境美國，中國挑釁發動環台軍演，這次賴副總統過境，布林肯特別強調是依循往例，要中國別反應過度。

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VP Lai hails JET Opto for keeping roots in Taiwan

Vice President Lai Ching-te stopped by JET Opto, a world-leading maker of in-car entertainment systems. In just 13 years, JET Opto has skyrocketed to the top of its industry, directly supplying to companies like Porsche, Lamborghini, and Bentley. During his tour, Lai hailed the company’s commitment to manufacture in Taiwan.

Vice President Lai Ching-te gives this racing game a go. But he’s here not just to play. He’s at the office of Jet Optoelectronics, to applaud its pioneering work with in-car entertainment systems.

Jerry Lin
JET Opto chairman
Right now in Europe, we directly supply to Porsche, Lamborghini, and Bentley. We can make everything on these cars. Early on, before people even had a clear idea – a clear idea of what car electronics are – we were already making them.

JET Opto Chairman Jerry Lin is a scion of the famous Lin family, which founded Tatung Company in 1918. He’s also the brother-in-law of singer Jolin Tsai. His wife, Jolin’s sister Jo Tsai, was there by his side during Lai’s visit.

Jerry Lin
JET Opto chairman
It was around 2010, after the financial crisis. My parents wanted to step back from business, so they told us younger folk to figure something out. So in 2010, I founded JET Opto. Why did I want to go into automotives? Because I’ve loved cars since I was small. I threw myself into the world of car displays. We’re preparing to go public next year.

Lai Ching-te
Vice president
JET Opto excels in every segment of its operation, so no wonder it’s hailed as the “invisible champion” of the in-car entertainment system industry. If its manufacturing base were outside of Taiwan, I’d give it a score of 80%. But it’s based in Cianjhen Technology Industrial Park, where it has a smart factory. So I will give it a full score.

Last year, JET Opto set up a factory in Kaohsiung’s Cianjhen Technology Industrial Park, as part of a wave of returning Taiwanese investment. Lai said he was confident in Taiwan’s economic future.

Lai Ching-te
Vice president
It is when the global situation changes that Taiwan has opportunities. So in the future, I very much hope for the chance to bring together talent from various fields. I want to direct us all toward building a future of hope and making Taiwan a country of democracy and peace, a country of innovation and prosperity.

From touring companies to blueprinting national strategy, Lai is working a full schedule to prove his political chops.

2023-07-18

Taiwan Foundation for Democracy celebrates 20th anniversary

The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy marked its 20th anniversary on Tuesday, with an event that brought together democracy advocates from around the world. President Tsai Ing-wen spoke at the celebration, highlighting the strength of Taiwan’s democracy despite the Chinese threats. Also in attendance was the head of the U.S.’ National Endowment for Democracy, Damon Wilson, who presented Tsai with the Democracy Service Medal.

With the song “Stand Up Like A Taiwanese,” the band kicks off the 20th anniversary celebration of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. President Tsai Ing-wen and foreign minister Joseph Wu were among the officials present.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Taiwan has been confronted by increasingly aggressive threats from the other side of the Taiwan Strait. From military intimidation and economic coercion, to cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. But even under these constant threats, the Taiwanese have never shied away from confronting the challenges of authoritarianism.

President Tsai stressed the Taiwanese people’s unwavering resolve to defend democracy, and she thanked partners around the world for their support. Also at the ceremony was the president of the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy, Damon Wilson, who presented Tsai with the organization’s Democracy Service Medal.

The award is conferred to people who have contributed to democracy. Its recipients include former President of Poland Lech Walesa and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Damon Wilson
National Endowment for Democracy president
In recognition of President Tsai Ing-wen’s achievements and contributions to the advance of democracy and human rights in Taiwan and around the world. By honoring Presidents Tsai’s leadership we spotlight Taiwan’s democratic success and our commitment to the people of Taiwan so that they can determine their own destiny.

With democratic partners from all around the world, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy celebrated 20 years of advocacy. Tsai shook hands with each of the attendees, each handshake further warming the ties forged by democracy.

2023-07-18

Han Kuang drills: C-130 transport plane, F-16 fighter jets rehearse at Taitung Airport

2023-07-18

Yunlin siblings take on family watch business and revitalization of rural economy

The watch industry has been through tough times in the last 20 years. Once a common accessory, the watch is now a niche interest. But two siblings are swimming against the tide to keep their family watch business afloat. They’re the third generation to manage the watch shop in Yunlin’s Tuku Township. Customers come in for repair services and a cup of coffee, and the Tings hope to make a creative case for the watch in 2023. Revitalizing the rural economy is a big interest for both. Let’s go to Yunlin to see how watches keep pace with the times.

Here on Zhongzheng Road in Yunlin’s historic Tuku Township, many special old businesses live on. One of them is this remarkable watch shop. Customers come here for a leisurely cup of coffee and a chance to admire the watches in their glass cases, taking a step back in time to a different era.

In 1948, Ting Ting-fang’s grandfather founded this, the first watch shop in Tuku. As the times changed, there were more and more places to buy watches, while demand for repairs shrank. Gradually, the industry withered, but Ting Ting-fang has come back to her old hometown to breathe fresh life into the family business. And in her repertoire is her own personal passion: coffee.

Ting Ting-fang
Third-generation clock industry owner
A woman of 60 or 70 asked me, “What’s this?” I said, “This is a coffee machine.” She said, “You’re making coffee…?! This is too complicated.” At first, people weren’t very positive about the coffee industry in this small town. It was kind of a novelty.

While Ting Ting-fang brews a cup, her brother Ting Chien-fu is in the back repairing a customer’s watch. The siblings used to watch and learn from their grandfather and father, learning the ropes of the watch industry as children. Ting Chien-fu even qualified as a watchmaker. They both moved back to Tuku after time away, hoping to offer their loyal customers immaculate service and attract new demographics to the shop.

Ting Chien-fu
Third-generation clock industry owner
I guess you would say it’s the changing times. It’s an irreversible trend. Everyone is using smartphones and lots of digital products. So I was very lucky that my sister came back home, and by combining it with the coffee, we’ve got people more interested in what we’ve changed through our transition. We want to incorporate more unusual materials to create unique, creative clock products.

Job opportunities can be limited in the countryside, which makes many young people hesitate to settle in their rural hometowns after growing up. But the Tings have not only taken on the family business. They’re invested in revitalizing local culture, and want to encourage more people to join the community.

Ting Ting-fang
Third-generation clock industry owner
I think everything’s possible now. Coming home to the country, things aren’t as convenient, and information isn’t so advanced. But we’re in the internet age now, and the age of online retail. So many things are actually unlimited, without national borders. So I think there are opportunities for entrepreneurship wherever you go.

The brother and sister duo are finding innovative ways to make this traditional shop relevant. As third generation owners, they’re bringing a breath of fresh air into an old industry, and helping carve out a wholly new path for their community.

2023-07-18

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2023-07-18

Taipei residents aged 65 and up to receive NT$1,500 from city government

Eight years after being discontinued, Taipei’s Double Ninth Festival cash gifts are making their return. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced a NT$1,500 gift for older adults, to be disbursed starting Aug. 8. Eligible residents can collect it as a bank transfer, cash, or credit in their senior citizen cards. As for where the money will come from, the mayor stressed that the city won’t be incurring debt to finance the program.

Crouching down in greeting, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an brings out a smile from a woman in her 90s. After an eight-year hiatus, Taipei’s Double Ninth Festival cash gift is making a comeback.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
I would like to officially announce that I am fulfilling my campaign promise last year. Taipei will once again give older adults a cash gift of NT$1,500 for Double Ninth Festival.

This year’s Double Ninth Festival lands on Oct. 23. Taipei residents aged 65 and up will be eligible to collect the cash. The first wave will go out on Aug. 8 and can be redeemed with a senior citizen card at top-up machines. A second batch will be sent on Oct. 3 in the form of bank transfers. People who prefer cash will have to wait until mid-October to collect it at select service points.

The program was discontinued by former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je. But as Ko runs for president, he appears to have softened his stance.

Ko Wen-je
Taiwan People’s Party chair
If you’ve got the money, you might as well spend it. It’s just that I don’t know if this money… if Mayor Chiang Wan-an is able to justify this expenditure to city council, then there’s no problem.

Huang Ching-ying
Taipei councilor (TPP)
During interpellation sessions at city council, I reminded Chiang Wan-an many times that he should respect the city government’s overall fiscal discipline and plans. I hope Mayor Chiang didn’t just hear me, but actually listened to me.

Councilors fear the gift will come at the expense of welfare programs. Just before leaving office, Ko had approved the reinstatement of a NT$1,200 gift. Mayor Chiang added another NT$300, bringing the total to NT$1,500. But where is the money coming from?

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayor
All the relevant budgets were approved by the city council. There’s no problem here, we won’t be getting into debt for this.

Chiang is bringing back the cash for his first Double Ninth Festival as mayor. But finding a balance between honoring seniors and juggling city finances will be a test for his administration.

2023-07-18

Volunteers plant saplings to bring back old growth forest on the Dadu Plateau

A major project to bring back old growth forest is underway on the Dadu Plateau. The mountainous area is just a short drive from central Taichung. It was once home to a forest of exceptional biodiversity. But after being overplanted with Acacia trees, it lost its original health and splendor. Now the Taiwan Reforestation Association is determined to help it regenerate. After many years’ work, it recently celebrated planting 10,000 saplings on the plateau. They’re all from native species that will help bring back a rich and vibrant ecosystem.

Volunteers are hard at work planting saplings under the midday sun on Dadu Plateau.

Lin Yu-teh
Volunteer tree planter
We’ve destroyed the environment a lot, so we need to protect it now. That includes the global warming or extreme climate events of the last few years. Lots of that is because the environment can’t cope with the pressures we’re putting on it.

The saplings include about 20 species native to the plateau, such as Taiwan Adminandra and Taiwan Maesa trees. The team hopes they’ll put down deep roots and help increase the diversity of the forest here, bringing back the kind of old growth forest that covered the plateau 100 years ago.

Tsai Chih-hao
Taiwan Reforestation Association
This biodiversity, having so many tree species, means the timing of the flowers blossoming is staggered. That’s the only way to give our wild bees a chance to survive. It’s also an important reason why we’re promoting the regeneration of natural forests.

Many years ago, large numbers of Acacia trees were planted on the Dadu Plateau, which harmed its original biodiversity. Lots of buildings have popped up here recently, too, biting further into the old growth forest. Only about 20 of the original tree species are left. But the Taiwan Reforestation Association wants to bring the ancient ecosystem back to life. It compiled a list of plants native to the area from specimens and documents left by Japanese colonial-era scholars. Now a team of volunteers has tramped many kilometers over Baguashan, Toukeshan and Huoyanshan to find seeds of those old species. The seedlings have been carefully cultivated and now it’s time to plant them.

Tsai Chih-hao
Taiwan Reforestation Association
The social costs of each tree are NT$1,000, from cultivating the seed into a sapling to planting it.

It’s a long and arduous process. But after years of hard work, more than 10,000 saplings have been planted. The team hope that many decades from now, the branches and roots of these trees will still be nurturing new life on the plateau.

2023-07-18

A beginner’s guide to Indian clothing: the sartorial world beyond the sari

When you think of Indian clothing, what comes to mind? Probably it’s the image of a sari. The national dress of India is famous worldwide. But in fact, the country has a whole wardrobe of different styles of dress, for each occasion. Today we have a beginner’s guide to the outfits of India, from a Taiwanese collector. Lu Li-hui is a veteran traveller with many years’ experience of visiting India. She’s gathered a wardrobe spanning many different fabrics and styles. Let’s peek into the sartorial world beyond the sari.

Lu Li-hui performs a move from the Indian spiritual dance tradition, Odissi. Her elegant movements match the magnificent sari she’s wearing.

The sari is what comes to mind when we think of classical Indian dress: with its elegance, poise, and delightful colors, it’s the national dress of India.

Women in India often use a pin to hold the sari in place, allowing for many different styles. A sari of 5 meters can easily be worn in a dozen different ways.

Lu Li-hui
India travel expert
There are also different types of clothing for different festivals. Among three-piece sets, there is the Anarkali, which is a kind of long, wide skirt, which we normally call the Punjabi Suit.

This ankle-length, turquoise skirt is called a lehenga. It’s covered in hand-stitched decorations, and is the most common dress seen in performing arts. This pink dress is the Anarkali. Its fluttering skirt brings youthful romance to a dance performance.

Lu Li-hui
India travel expert
On the street, you see men and women wearing this kind of pure cotton clothing. This longer style is called the kurta.

Finally, we come to the most common forms of dress seen in India: the shalwar kameez and the kurta. Its loose under-trousers are easy to move in. And a scarf is a must-have accessory for all these different outfits.

Lu Li-hui
India travel expert
In India, women don’t want their bodies to be easily seen by men, so they wrap the scarf around themselves. If it’s too sunny, you can take the scarf and use it as a headscarf.

As a lover of Indian culture, Lu has collected more than 60 saris. The most expensive, she bought in India for more than NT$10,000. When it comes to the beauty and artistry of Indian dress, our catwalk today was just the tip of the iceberg.

2023-07-18

Taiwan bags first premier division medal at Sepaktakraw World Championship

2023-07-18