Executive Yuan approves 7% hike for social welfare payments

Executive Yuan approves 7% hike for social welfare payments

2023-09-14

The Executive Yuan has approved an increase to social welfare payments. Starting next year, there will be a 7% raise for eight types of benefits, including living subsidies for low-income households, national pensions, and old-age allowances for farmers. Let’s hear from a spokesman.

Lin Tze-luen
Executive Yuan spokesman
Starting Jan. 1 of next year, National Pension Insurance payments and old-age farmers’ allowances will be adjusted by the mechanism established by law, in accordance with the CPI growth rate, in order to improve protection for disadvantaged groups and older farmers.

The increase will range between NT$143 and NT$1,190 a month. An estimated 3 million people are expected to benefit. About a third of them are people who receive national pension payments, which will rise from NT$3,772 to NT$4,036. Half a million beneficiaries receive old-age farmers’ allowances, which will increase from NT$7,550 to NT$8,080.

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老年津貼.國民年金等社福津貼行政院會拍板調增

2023-09-14

行政院會今天(14日)拍板，通過「113年8+1項社會福利津貼調整」報告，將調增低收入戶生活補助、國民年金、老農津貼等給付，調升7%，估計逾308.6萬人受惠。

[[行政院發言人林子倫]]
“明年1月1日起，國民年金給付，以及老年農民福利津貼，將依法定機制，參照消費者物價指數CPI成長率，調增給付額度，以增加對弱勢對象及老年農民的保障。”

這次各項津貼調增，調增143到1190元，受益人數最多的是老年年金，從現行3772元增加到4036元，影響超過116萬人；老農福利津貼也從7550元來到8080元，預估54萬人受益。

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Terry Gou picks ‘Wave Makers’ actress Tammy Lai as running mate

Independent presidential candidate Terry Gou has announced his running mate as Tammy Lai, an actress known for her role in a Netflix political drama. Speaking at the press reveal, Gou hailed his new running mate as the best person for the job. Lai she accepted the offer due to policy failures, such as the 2016 five-day work week law.

Hon Hai founder Terry Gou has announced his running mate for 2024: Tammy Lai, an actress who played a successful presidential candidate in the Netflix show “Wave Makers.”

Tammy Lai
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I’m sure me standing here will make many people’s jaws drop in shock. They probably wonder what on earth I’m doing, why I’m getting involved in this mess when poll ratings are so low. In 2016, a new five-day work week law was passed. Since then, I have seen formerly prosperous businesses close one after the other. We need people with expertise and experience to formulate good policies.

Terry Gou
Independent presidential candidate
She’s the only one I reached out to officially. We chatted three or four times.

Gou said Lai was the sole person for the job. The 60-year-old actress holds a doctorate in law from Jinan University and has studied at Harvard Kennedy School. Besides her singing and acting career, she’s written books and served as a self-professed spiritual mentor. She’s also been an assistant professor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. But as a newcomer to politics, many are wondering what she’ll bring to Gou’s ticket.

Tammy Lai
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Gou is a person whose nerves are always tense. I can cheer him up a bit, help him relieve stress. That will make him happier and smarter.

Terry Gou
Independent presidential candidate
It’s precisely because we are both newcomers without any political baggage that we can dare to bring about bold changes.

Gou has maintained that he’s running for president in order to unite the opposition. But amid his low poll ratings, there’s a good chance he could quit the race, leaving his new running mate out in the cold.

Tammy Lai
Vice presidential candidate
“A noble man brings out the virtues of others.” So whatever position I may have is not important. I don’t necessarily have to have a certain post. I can offer my help at any time.

The next step for Gou and Lai is to register their candidacy with the Central Election Commission by Sept. 17. Then they’ll have to collect 290,000 signatures in support of their bid. How long the alliance will last remains to be seen.

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2023-09-14

Gou’s rivals react to his surprise pick for running mate

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DPP’s Lai vows to reform health care system reform

DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te says that if elected, he will reform the health care system to ensure sustainability. Speaking at a campaign event, Lai said that the NHI system was in a predicament, and that the time for reform was now. The event was organized by a campaign coalition of doctors in Northern Taiwan.

The DPP’s Lai Ching-te attended an event organized by a doctors’ support group in Northern Taiwan. He said it was an honor to be back among physicians and to have the support of the medical community.

Lai Ching-te
Vice president
It is extremely significant for me as a doctor to have the support from the medical community. It is a great honor. I’d like to offer a bow of gratitude for your support.

The support group includes physicians from Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan, and Yilan, as well as members of a grassroots medical association. In attendance were prominent medical professionals, including former health minister Hou Sheng-mao . Hou spoke about how Lai fought to amend the communicable diseases act as a legislator. Lai said his efforts were driven by SARS.

Lai Ching-te
Vice president
I couldn’t bear to see the damage that SARS had inflicted on the medical field. I hoped we could learn from it and amend the Communicable Disease Control Act. Little did we know that 20 years later, we’d be up against COVID-19.

Lai said that public satisfaction with Taiwan’s health care system stood at 92%, but that the time for reform was now.

Lai Ching-te
Vice president
We must ensure that the health insurance system is sustainable. The system is currently in a predicament. As president, my mission will be to reform the system.

Chiu Tai-yuan
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We fully support Dr. Lai, and we truly believe that as president, he’ll continue to work with the medical community and work to ensure everyone’s wellbeing.

Speaking before the medical community, Lai laid out a vision for health care ahead of the 2024 election.

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2023-09-14

Widowed philanthropist gives millions to support 588 families

Single mothers were recently honored at an event held by a lifelong philanthropist. The Chair of the Winter Plum Foundation, Chen-yang Li-jung, raised her children alone. When her finances improved, she dedicated herself to helping other women in similar circumstances. Over 52 years, she has given substantial financial support to almost 600 families. Now 88, Chen-yang is as passionate as ever about encouraging and celebrating mothers who are going it alone.

At this ceremony for single mothers, Winter Plum Foundation Chair Chen-yang Li-jung presented 20 prize-winners from Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan with a bouquet of flowers and a red packet worth NT$35,000, and offered each one a warm embrace.

Single mother
This is a significant amount of money. For a family, it’s worth a single mother’s whole monthly salary.

Chen-yang Li-jung
Winter Plum Foundation chair
All of these mothers are very strong. It’s wonderful to work honestly to earn a living and support the family.

Each of these 20 mothers has a moving story to tell. Chen-yang can relate, having lost her husband much too early. She was left to bring up their two children with difficulty. She vowed that if she became able, she would do whatever she could to help others in a similar situation.

Wu Yi-ching
Taiwan Fund for Children and Families
Once she had saved up NT$1 million, she would start to help others in the same predicament. She reached NT$1 million in savings in 1971, and in 1972 she started this work.

Chen-yang may be extremely generous as a philanthropist, but she lives a very frugal life, abstaining from air conditioning, and calling a NT$10 drink a luxury.

Wu Yi-ching
Taiwan Fund for Children and Families
I went to her home, and grandmother was very hot. She doesn’t use air conditioning. That’s the kind of heart she has, always caring about other people.

Chen-yang has now been helping other mothers for 52 years, donating a whopping NT$12.6 million to 588 mothers in an impressive lifetime of philanthropy. Her greatest hope is that all single mothers will find the courage, perseverance and strength they need to see them through any challenge.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Dutch pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen to perform in NSO’s opening concert

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Dutch piano sensations Lucas and Arthur Jussen have performed with world-renowned orchestras including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra. Now the brothers are in Taipei, to perform with the National Symphony Orchestra. Celebrated German conductor Jun Markl, who became the National Symphony Orchestra’s music director in January 2022, will conduct the performance.

Lucas Jussen
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We are playing two pieces that are very French-inspired. One is the double concerto from Francis Poulenc. It is a very happy and energetic piece perfect for a season opening if you ask me. The other piece we are playing is a piece by Toru Takemitsu, a rather modern piece but with a lot of impressionistic details in it as well because it is based on La Mer from Claude Debussy. I think it is very nice to combine a more old traditional classical piece with a new style. Also, for the audience because they hear both the styles.

Arthur Jussen
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We are so happy to be here in Taipei to play with the wonderful orchestra and the maestro. We look forward so much because a few years ago we were in Kaohsiung. It was a great experience. The people were so warm to us and so welcoming. We felt so at home although we were on the other side of the world. We look forward hugely to come back here and we are looking forward to the concert.

National Symphony Orchestra’s music director Jun Markl says the upcoming concerts for the 2023-2024 season will focus on music from Eastern Europe and nature.

Jun Markl
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You can expect a lot of more of the great orchestral works, not only by Richard Strauss but by other composers next week. We focus more on Eastern Europe. We get a lot of the great soloists of the world. We have a series we called “The Great Violin Concerto.” Some of the very fine soloists for the wonderful first-class violin concertos like Mendelssohn, like Brahms, like Beethoven.

NSO’s first concert for this season will kick off on Sept. 17 at the National Concert Hall in Taipei.

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Largest-yet Taipei aerospace and defense fair kicks off

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It’s the grand opening of the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition. Organizers and officials strike up a pose symbolizing Taiwan’s aerospace industry taking flight. On display are drone innovations by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, along with Taiwan-made rockets and satellites. The defense show is back after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic. It offers nearly 1,000 booths and 280 exhibitors from Taiwan and abroad, making it the largest show yet.

James Huang
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Due to the pandemic and geopolitical shifts, there’s been great global attention on our defense industry as well as our drone industry. So the timing here is very, very good. We’re showing the world the considerable progress that our country has made in recent years.

According to the expo’s organizer, drones, low-earth orbit satellites, and aerospace technologies have been national priorities. By 2030, the global drone market could reach US$55 billion, while the space industry could be worth US$280 billion, offering tremendous business opportunities.

AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk led a tour of the USA Pavilion.

Sandra Oudkirk
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It reflects the rapid development of Taiwan’s aerospace and defense industry, as well as the growing international attention. The United States and Taiwan have a long and robust history of partnership in the aerospace and defense sectors.

Fisher Huang
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My company wishes to forge licensing agreements with Taiwanese manufacturers and defense factories to produce domestically, to localize our production chain. We hope to consolidate military and defense resources, the NCSIST, the AIDC, etc. and to localize our production capabilities.

Taiwan’s semiconductor and aerospace supply chains were showcased at the event, which drew visitors from around the world. Taiwan’s efforts in homegrown defense were also on full display.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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US war game finds need to reduce economic engagement with China

U.S. lawmakers have completed a war game, exploring the financial impact of a Chinese attack of Taiwan in 2028. The exercise was held with financial and business executives in New York. Speaking on the top takeaways, Congressman Mike Gallagher said the U.S. must reduce its economic engagement with China, or else it will have limited options in the event of a crisis.

At a symposium held by Washington-based think tank, U.S. House China committee chair Mike Gallagher previewed a new Taiwan war game.

Mike Gallagher
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… I interpreted is to identify the bipartisan center of gravity, identify a set of policy and legislative proposals that can put us on a better path to competing effectively with China, and things that can pass even in divided governments.

The war game was held with financial and business executives, to simulate the effects of a Taiwan Strait conflict in the year 2028. If China were to blockade Taiwan, the global economy could face a loss of trillions of U.S. dollars, according to U.S. lawmakers. Therefore, the exercise focused not on missiles and torpedoes, but on economic sanctions, the SWIFT Banking system and strengthening supply chains. The goal was to explore what measures could mitigate a future crisis.

Mike Gallagher
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As China confronts serious economic and demographic issues, Xi Jinping could get more risk-acceptant and could get less predictable and do something very stupid.

According to Gallagher, it is imperative for the U.S. to cut off funding to China. Measures such as redirecting supply chains and cutting off U.S. capital in key industries could put the U.S. in a more advantageous position. He said that letting Beijing control key technologies and supply chains was like providing China with weapons to use against the U.S.

Mike Gallagher
US House representative
I don’t think anyone can defend the idea that we should be allowing American retirees to invest in Chinese military companies that are building things designed to kill Americans in a future conflict.

Gallagher said Wall Street wasn’t paying enough attention to the China threat, and that the Biden administration’s investment restrictions for China weren’t comprehensive enough. Taking preventive measures will be the only way to prevent a Chinese attack on Taiwan, he said.

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Thai language teacher attracts students fascinated by Thai movies and TV

Now we meet a language teacher from Thailand who embraces popular culture. Teerayudh Somwatee came to Taiwan seven years ago for graduate school. He found many of his classmates were fascinated by Thai movies and TV, and were keen to learn the language. That’s how his career in teaching began. And he stays true to his students’ interest, incorporating popular music and idol show references into class. His hope is to tempt more students to the challenge of cross-cultural exchange.

Originally from Chiangmai, Teerayudh Somwatee has been in Taiwan for seven years. He first came here to study, but in the last few years the popularity of Thai “BL” stories has meant a surge in demand for Thai language classes. It wasn’t what he expected, but now he finds himself teaching Thai.

Teerayudh Somwatee
Thai language teacher
I realized there were people who were interested in Thai current affairs. So I found some news articles, translated them to Chinese, and posted them on fan pages online. Then some people were interested in the Thai language, so I took some Thai language materials or simply Thai words or sentences and put them in as references. Then people private-messaged me asking if I taught Thai. I like teaching Thai. I think it’s a great job. And I also like the lifestyle and the living environment here.

Somwatee’s teaching style incorporates current affairs, and he treats his students like friends. They go to the cinema and even follow celebrity news together. His fun classes make easy the arduous work of language learning.

Teerayudh Somwatee
Thai language teacher
Lots of Thai people are studying Chinese now, actually. I want more and more Taiwanese people to study Thai. That way we can use each other’s languages to understand different cultures better.

With his experience of life in both Thailand and Taiwan, Somwatee can easily bring the Thai language into everyday life for his students. His greatest wish is to bring more people into a genuine cross-cultural exchange.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

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Bike lovers converge on Hualien for vintage scooter convention

Bike lovers recently descended on Hualien for a vintage scooter convention. More than 60 vintage bikes were at the event, including a large cohort of ‘80s-style bikes with a distinctive silhouette. In the ‘80s, a new type of scooter with unusual features was the hottest thing on the block. But many of those models have been out of production for decades. Only bike aficionados, who held onto old wheels and maintained them carefully all these years, can still enjoy the ride. The event was a huge hit of nostalgia for hundreds of bikers.

A stream of “mingliu名流”bikes from the ‘80s roll in.Their headlights look like the bonnets of race cars, with a steep sloping front piece and a foot brake… Thirty years ago, these were the wheels of a heartbreaker. This bikers’ convention in Hualien attracted almost 60 of this rare type ofbike.

Wu Shih-yi
Event organizer
Back in the day, the forms of these bikes were quite avant-garde, quite eye-catching, and pretty good for picking up girls!

The convention attracted bikers from all over Taiwan. Most of the“mingliu” bikes have 20 or 30 years’ history. Their proud owners mustdiligently collect parts to continuously repair wear and tear, and keep the bike on the road year after year.

Mr. Kuo
Motorcyclist
It can take three or four years just to collect the materials. Yeah, because they’re hard to find, and you have to find repair shops who can fix them up for you.

And alongside the “mingliu”bikes, the event attracted other vintage models such as FZR and Di bikes.There were even vintage Jeeps. Generation X bike lovers were out in force to enjoy reminiscing over the old days.

Mr. Yu
Member of public
It’s the memories… You don’t see this anymore. If you didn’t collect and preserve a bike like this, then basically it’s impossible for a bike like this to just appear nowadays. It just happens that today there’s a chance to come and see the bikes from the old days… It brings up certain memories.

The convention was atrip down memory lane for many bike lovers, who maybe haven’t seen this silhouette roar down the street for 30 years, but still remember it like it was yesterday.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat 1 am on Channel 53

2023-09-14