Legislative Yuan delegation holds side event at OGP Global Summit

Legislative Yuan delegation holds side event at OGP Global Summit

2023-09-18

Taiwan has marked a diplomatic milestone in Estonia. A delegation from the Legislative Yuan held a side event at the Open Government Partnership Global Summit hosted by the Estonian government. During the event, the delegation met with representatives of governments and civic groups from around the world, to discuss the future of open parliaments.

Chang Hung-lin
Citizen Congress Watch director
We know that in the past, China has spared no effort in suppressing Taiwan at international conferences. Here we are talking about open governance, which just so happens to be China’s Achilles heel. For more than seven years now, the Legislative Yuan has been transparent in all of its proceedings. When proceedings are transparent, the people can hold parliament accountable. Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan was ridiculed in the past, said to be the “source of Taiwan’s chaos” and a laughingstock of the world. But I must say that in recent years, the Legislative Yuan has taken the initiative to open itself up. In doing so, it has showcased its efforts and accomplishments to the world for people to appreciate.

The Open Government Partnership Global Summit is held every two years. At this latest session, Taiwan’s side event was about how the world can maintain the momentum of the open parliament campaign. The delegation shared Taiwan’s experience in making its parliament more transparent, on public participation, congressional oversight, and civic technology.

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突破外交困境! 開放國會委員會代表團主辦峰會

2023-09-18

台灣在外交上又有新突破，立法院開放國會委員會代表團，這個月8日，在愛沙尼亞塔林的開放政府夥伴關係峰會中，舉辦大會議程中的周邊活動，代表團分享台灣面臨的挑戰和機遇，和各國的政府代表和公民團體，共同探討開放國會的未來發展方向。

[[公督盟執行長張宏林]]
“那我們知道，過去在許多國際會議裡面，中國對台灣的打壓都不遺餘力，這邊在談開放政府的工作，恰巧也是中國的罩門。在這將近七年多時間，立法院議事各項透明，都非常清楚，當議事透明之後，當然大家就可以來究責，所以我覺得台灣過去立法院都被笑說不只是台灣亂源，甚至可能是國際社會裡面引為笑柄，我必須說在這幾年來，立法院自主做這些開放工作，其實也把立法院一些努力跟成就，呈現給更多國際的一些國家民眾了解”

開放政府夥伴聯盟高峰會，每兩年舉辦一次。這次台灣代表團主辦的主題是"如何維持開放國會的動能"，代表團藉機會分享在開放國會、公民參與、國會監督、公民科技和民主參與等方面成功實踐。

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DPP slams Hou Yu-ih for China remarks in New York

As KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih continues on his U.S. tour, he’s coming under fire for his recent remarks. Addressing a New York think tank, Hou said that, if elected, he would not, quote, harbor unrealistic fantasies about Beijing’s intentions. But the DPP says Hou has always been unrealistically optimistic about Beijing, as shown by his plan to restart the cross-strait services pact. The DPP accuses Hou of making statements in the U.S. that contradict his true political stance.

Chang Chih-hao
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Hou Yu-ih claims to have a very good relationship with the U.S., but from what we can see, the KMT has a long record of stirring up doubts about America. There’s plenty of evidence to that effect. As for cross-strait affairs, the KMT has long held unrealistic fantasies and expectations.

At a Monday press conference, the DPP said that Hou Yu-ih’s visit to the U.S. may as well be to an alternate universe, because his statements have been antithetical to his political position in Taiwan.

Vincent Chao
DPP international affairs director
The KMT even boycotted and opposed multiple initiatives on asymmetric combat capabilities and military cooperation with the U.S. The KMT has long been highly skeptical of Taiwan-U.S. security exchanges, vigorously boycotting them. During this visit to the U.S., Hou is pretending that the KMT has not taken such a position on these issues.

DPP lawmakers took issue with Hou’s remarks on defense, saying his policy seemed to be based entirely on deterrence measures.

Tsai Shih-ying
DPP lawmaker
I don’t understand why Hou Yu-ih, why presidential candidate Hou, only mentioned deterrence when speaking about national defense. That’s a massive loophole in national strategy.

Hou is joined in the U.S. by Yao Ching-yu , the New Taipei government’s secretariat. The DPP accused Hou of abandoning his duties as mayor and “leading an exodus” out of his city’s administration.

Chang Chih-hao
DPP spokesman
In the U.S., you had a sit-down with young people. You did some cooking, saying that if you ever become unemployed, you’d like to come to the U.S. to flip burgers. You have neither taken leave nor resigned from your current position. You are still the mayor of New Taipei.

Hou Yu-ih (Sept. 17)
KMT presidential candidate
Secretariat Yao took leave in accordance with the relevant regulations.

The DPP blasted Hou for prioritizing his campaign at the expense of the people of New Taipei.

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2023-09-18

ITRI, hospital unveil remote-operated 5G ultrasound technology

To improve health care in remote areas, the Industrial Technology Research Institute has unveiled a remote-operated 5G ultrasound technology in collaboration with MacKay Memorial Hospital. The technology lets doctors in urban areas diagnose patients far away through a real-time 5G connection, saving patients lengthy trips to the city for a checkup. The technology was developed with support from the Administration for Digital Industries.

Here at MacKay Memorial Hospital in Tamsui, a doctor uses a robotic arm to perform an ultrasound on a patient in Hsinchu County’s Jianshi Township. This technology saves the three to four hours of travel time needed for an in-person checkup. It allows a complete liver and blood vessel checkup in just 10 minutes, giving the doctor a precise picture of the patient’s health.

Hung Ta-chuan
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We’re using a physical machine with a digital, real-time approach. The doctor can perform the check right here, diagnose the patient, and provide additional explanations on the spot, reducing the distance between the general public and medical institutions. It also increases the convenience and accuracy of medical treatment. Doctors reach a diagnosis almost 90% of the time with this.

Government data shows that in rural areas, the mortality rate from liver diseases is 3.4 higher than the national average. And for heart disease, the rate is two times higher. This new 5G remote heart and abdominal ultrasound technology also harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to make 3D reconstructions of diagnosed areas and increase the sensitivity of the probe and the robotic arm. The technology facilitates remote operations, giving doctors the feeling that they are with the patient. The low-latency 5G connection and broadband features boost the accuracy of medical care in rural areas.

Chang Chuan-yu
ITRI Service Systems Technology Center
It’s difficult for residents in rural areas to get medical treatment. So, with the support of the Administration for Digital Industries, ITRI consolidated resources from companies in the relevant sectors and verification support from a hospital. We developed this remote ultrasound technology, this remote-controlled robotic arm, which can be used for diagnosis and to reduce the time it takes for rural patients to get medical treatment.

The technology makes the heart, liver, and thoracic cavity clearly visible even through the ribs. This collaboration between the tech world and medical world is hailed as a big step forward for health equality.

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2023-09-18

Taoyuan International Airport embraces smart systems

Taoyuan International Airport has embraced a slew of smart systems designed to make life easy for travelers. If you’re heading to the airport from greater Taipei, you can complete early check-in at two major metro stations. And when you get to the airport, you can breeze through the Self-Baggage Drop machines. Perhaps most significantly, new e-Gates allow Taiwanese citizens to enter the country quicker than ever. In this post-COVID age, Taoyuan wants to reestablish itself as one of the world’s most cutting-edge and comfortable airports.

A traveler wheels luggage into the airport. Taoyuan International Airport is offering check-in services at MRT Taipei Main Station and New Taipei Industrial Park Station, so travelers can save time spent queuing at the airport.

Hsiao-pang
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You scan your members’ card or ticket, and you can complete early check-in and get your boarding pass on your phone. It’s very convenient.

Apart from check-in machines, Taoyuan also has Self Baggage Drop terminals. Just scan the code on your boarding pass to confirm your flight, and the system prints luggage tags for you to tie on your bags.

Yang Wei-fu
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We’ve installed 26 Self Baggage Drop systems in Terminal No. 2. When travelers use the system, they can quickly follow the guidance on the screen to complete the customs declarations and luggage checks. On average you can get through it in just three minutes.

Then there’s the third-generation e-Gate Enrolment Systems which integrate registration and immigration. Eligible travelers present their passport, and the gate performs facial recognition and fingerprinting. You only need to register for the e-Gate once and can then use it for swift entry forever.

Yang Chieh-chiang
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The key thing about the third-generation e-Gates is that they effectively cut the time it takes to inspect documents from 45 seconds to 12 seconds. The National Immigration Agency has a Mutual Use of Automated Immigration Clearance agreement with six countries: the U.S., South Korea, Australia, Italy, Germany and Singapore. Eligible citizens of Taiwan are welcome to use the e-Gates whenever they visit those countries.

Taoyuan International Airport has introduced many different smart systems in recent years. They’ve also brought bookstores, cafes, and popular Taiwanese snack outlets into their terminals in a drive to make air travel as easy and enjoyable as possible.

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TSMC founder Morris Chang talks semiconductors at international judge meeting

After 24 years, the International Association of Judges has returned to Taipei for its annual meeting. One highlight of the event was a keynote speech by TSMC founder Morris Chang. The tech magnate explained to judges from all around the world what makes Taiwan such a semiconductor powerhouse.

After 24 years, the International Association of Judges has held its annual meeting in Taiwan once again, convening judges from 66 countries. Also present were President Tsai Ing-wen and TSMC founder Morris Chang, who gave a keynote speech. As soon as he stepped on the stage, he transformed into Professor Chang, correcting a statement made by the emcee.

Morris Chang
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He said that TSMC made 90% of the world’s chips. He exaggerated. We actually make about 50%, however we do make 90% of the most advanced chips.

Chang spoke about the birth of semiconductors and the founding of TSMC in 1987. He listed Taiwan’s advantages in the semiconductor industry: the foundry model, the abundance of highly educated talent, and employees willing to work long hours at chip fabs.

Morris Chang
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Enough people in Taiwan are willing to work. The excellent manufacturing back in the 50s and 60s has changed, and while Taiwan has these advantages now, I think that may and probably will change in another 20, 30 years.

TSMC’s challenges in Arizona have been attributed to a clash of work cultures. Chang said that, although things may change 30 years down the line, Taiwan currently held the edge in the industry. While explaining a flowchart about the chip sector, Chang walked from end to end of the stage, pointing to parts of the chart for emphasis.

Morris Chang
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I am sorry that we have no pointer here. Maybe I should just go ahead and use my hand.

To get across the importance of semiconductors, Chang gave his audience a little pop quiz.

Morris Chang
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Do you know how many transistors a smartphone contains? Yes, please. Thirty times off. Actually it’s about 15 billion.

Chang said that about 2.5 billion people in the world use Taiwan-made chips. He said that, for Taiwan, it was crucial to maintain its global leadership in its most significant competitive industry.

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Taiwan gets boost as foreign capital flees China

China is seeing a surge of capital flight as it grapples with a slowing economy. Since this January, foreign investors have withdrawn NT$5.75 trillion from China’s stock market. Some of those funds have made their way to Taiwan. Analysts say that as China’s economic woes continue to deepen, foreign investors will increasingly seek new places to park their cash.

With China’s export orders on the decline, many factories have closed up shop, dealing a blow to worker income. The nation’s economic slowdown has promoted an exodus of foreign investment.

Chinese analyst
On one hand, foreign investors are pouring out via the Shanghai–Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen–Hong Kong Stock Connect. On the other, they’re also shorting A-shares, saying A-shares won’t make it. Though the government says there is no problem, it is still launching response measures. Even then, the market isn’t rising, so most investors don’t believe what the government says.

Chinese analyst
At this point, chanting slogans cannot fix the fundamental problems of the capital market. Institutional and retail investors have long been lying in the intensive care unit.

China’s property crisis has spilled over to many parts of the broader economy, threatening investor confidence. In August alone, foreign investors withdrew US$12 billion, or about NT$380 billion, from China’s stock market, setting a new monthly record. Over the past year, foreign investors have sold off more than US$180 billion, or about NT$5.75 trillion.

Hsien Chen-yeh
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The CCP is changing its policies daily, and its attitude to foreign investors hasn’t been especially friendly. This has all had an impact on the willingness of foreign investors to invest in the Chinese stock market. Of course in this exodus, some of the capital has been redirected to Taiwan. We can see very clearly, that this year AI-concept stocks have benefited. That’s in stark contrast to Chinese shares.

Amid China’s slowing economy and uncertain future, foreign investment is pulling out, providing a boon to Taiwan’s capital market.

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Gymnast Tang Chia-hung strikes gold at World Challenge Cup in Paris

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Kinmen couple’s hostels offer military experiences and breath of fresh air

A couple in Kinmen is providing tourists with exciting military experiences – or just a good break in the fresh air. China-born Li Feng met his wife Pan Hui through the tourist industry. Now the couple run three different uniquely themed hostels on the island. They also run military experiences and tunnel tours for guests. Positioned between Taiwan and China, Kinmen is full of the marks of past battles, and is a good vacation spot for people interested in the military.

Li Feng has been in the tourist industry for more than 20 years. He met his wife Pan Hui through work in Kinmen, and the two decided to enjoy a slow life on the outlying county.

Li Feng
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See how good the air is? There are wide open spaces, not too many people. The quality of life. From a pure and simple perspective, if you don’t have too much material ambitions, Kinmen is a great place to live.

In two years, Li created three unique hostels on the island. They want to give visitors a warm but chic home from home in Kinmen.

Pan Hui
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Our beds are so comfortable. Apart from having a pocket-spring mattress, it also has a 10-centimeter cool foam mattress topper. We want our guests to get a great night’s sleep.

Li Feng
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Our breakfast is totally homemade. If you stay 10 days, we’ll give you 10 different breakfasts.

Li offers guests a guided tour of these underground tunnels. Today we’re visiting a tunnel in Huweishan.

Li Feng
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This groove is for electricity wires. There are water drainage pipes on each side. The tunnel is cold and damp, so it was really tough for the soldiers in the old days. This is a love poem that was written by a soldier here in Hongtu Tunnel, for a Kinmen girl.

Kinmen has already been ravaged by war and bears the marks of military history. Many tourists like to play survival games at the sites of old battles.

Li Feng
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I’m grateful to Kinmen National Park, for giving us the chance, in these years, to build up our business’s survival games in Kinmen. My goal is to have my own survival games venue, where more veterans can get into khaki and go back to their days in the army, to create a deep experience.

Li loves the atmosphere of Kinmen, and hopes his work can contribute to the flourishing of the tourist industry in the county.

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

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Kaohsiung flower preservation expert passes down the magic of her art

A flower preservation expert from Kaohsiung is handing down her art with panaches. Lin Hsiao-shuang studied flower arrangement and preservation in Japan, the home of flower arts. But she’s passionate about cultivating the field in Taiwan. She makes beautiful decorative arrangements that last for years, using flowers, fruit and vegetables. She invited us into the workshop to watch how the magic happens.

This is a Halloween arrangement. All the decorations are made from real food. This fruit and vegetable box is full of real produce, as you can see. Flower arrangement expert Lin Hsiao-shuang has spent many years visiting Japan, and now uses the skills she learned there to preserve both food items and flowers.

Japanese organic dye goes into the test tube. Whole stalks of baby’s breath are placed into the tubes. Wait just 20 minutes and the snow-white flowers take on vivid colors, such as these calming sky blues and pretty pinks.

Lin Hsiao-shuang
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Actually, preserved flowers – as I’ve studied them in Japan – they can keep for at least five or six years.

Lin takes out some imported mini roses. She places them in a box of desiccant powder, then pours more powder in to perfectly cover the shape of the flower. The box is sealed for three days, and then the preserved roses emerge.

Lin Hsiao-shuang
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Fresh flowers are quite expensive – they’re not cheap. If they wilt after 10 days, I think it’s such a shame. Let’s extend their life. My first career was as a beautician. I thought, “I wonder if I can also study flower arrangement?” And while studying that, I realized that preserved flowers are also very special and attractive to me. And it certainly exists in Taiwan, but preserved flowers were first developed in Japan. So I really hope that I can bring what I learn back and pass it on to students in Taiwan.

The wall is covered with Lin’s arrangements, demonstrating the skills she learned in Japan. She’s set up her own workshop in her hometown of Kaohsiung, offering lessons to pass on the techniques and environmental protection concepts of her work, and hosting charity exhibitions. It’s all about making the beautiful last.

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