DPP lawmakers call for TSMC to set up advanced fab in Kaohsiung

DPP lawmakers call for TSMC to set up advanced fab in Kaohsiung

2023-10-20

A group of DPP lawmakers representing constituencies in Kaohsiung held a press conference Friday urging TSMC to set up shop to the southern port city. The presser comes just days after TSMC abandoned plans to build its most sophisticated chip fab in Taoyuan’s Longtan District. The lawmakers say Kaohsiung can provide all the resources necessary for TSMC, which plays an invaluable role in global chip supply chains.

Shouting their support for TSMC, DPP lawmakers representing constituencies in Kaohsiung on Friday held a press conference in the Legislative Yuan, stating that they would make every effort so that the chipmaker could set up a plant in Kaohsiung.

Lai Jui-lung
DPP lawmaker
If Longtan doesn’t want TSMC, then Kaohsiung wants it. To win these TSMC-related semiconductor industries, the most critical factors are land, electricity, water and resolve from the local government involved. Kaohsiung has made complete preparations for these four items and they have all been set up in advance. The Kaohsiung city government team led by Mayor Chen Chi-mai is fighting for this, making every effort to win over TSMC and eliminate each difficulty.

TSMC recently announced it had dropped plans to build a fab using 1.4-nanometer processes in Longtan Science Park, shocking the public. When the news first broke, it wasn’t just Kaohsiung, but also several other counties and cities that were vying to host the proposed fab, including Tainan and Miaoli. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai immediately expressed his position, saying he wouldn’t waste time talking and instead get down to work to attract the firm.

Hsu Chih-chieh
DPP lawmaker
From this incident, we can see the different government styles in the DPP and KMT. We in the DPP work hard to attract investment and we fight for the economy and take the initiative. Particularly with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, he has worked very hard with our Kaohsiung legislators to attract investment. Kaohsiung already has experience in setting up related supporting administrative facilities. It is Taiwan’s fastest and most proactive city. The KMT only cares about elections, and destroys hard-won results of investment promotions.

Lee Po-yi
DPP legislative candidate
The Kaohsiung City Government’s other renovated factory areas, and another three districts were renovated and opened up for bids in August this year. Currently companies are setting up shop in these areas, one after another. It so happens that this is happening at the same time as TSMC calling off its plans for a 1.4-nanometer process fab in Taoyuan.

Observers say the canceled plans for Longtan could cost the area 5,000 job opportunities and cause housing prices to collapse. Over in the south, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai and DPP lawmakers are working their hardest to lure TSMC to the city.

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

龍潭不要我要! 高雄向台積電招手快來這設廠

2023-10-20

台積電日前宣布，1.4奈米製程晶圓廠不再考慮進駐桃園龍潭，計畫喊卡，這是台積電首次在台尋覓建廠土地受挫，震驚各界。今天(20號)民進黨籍的高雄立委趙天麟、賴瑞隆、許智傑等人召開記者會，強調高雄科學園區具備良好設廠條件，歡迎台積電到高雄設廠，更痛批國民黨為選舉、忽視得來不易的招商成果。

喊出力挺"護國神山"台積電，民進黨高雄立委們在立院召開記者會，表態要全力爭取讓台積電，改在高雄設廠。

[[立委(民) 賴瑞隆]]
“台積電龍潭不要高雄要，爭取到這些台積電相關半導體產業，最關鍵的就是土地、電、水，還有地方政府的決心，這四項高雄都已經做了萬全準備，而且都是超前佈署，陳其邁市長率領的高雄市府團隊，在爭取這部分，用盡全力在爭取台積電，也排除各項困難”

台積電日前宣布，原本打算在桃園龍潭科學園區打造的1.4奈米製程晶圓廠，進駐計畫受阻喊卡、震驚各界，消息一出不只高雄，包括台南、苗栗等多個縣市也想爭取設廠，但高雄市長陳其邁第一時間就表態，強調"我現在先不講、努力做就對了"！

[[立委(民) 許智傑]]
“從這事件就可以看出，藍綠兩黨執政的差別，我們民進黨努力招商拚經濟主動出擊，尤其我們高雄市陳其邁市長，和我們高雄的立委都非常努力招商，相關的行政配套，高雄市已經有經驗，是全台灣速度最快，也最積極配合，國民黨只顧選舉，摧毀得來不易的招商成果”

[[高雄立委參選人(民) 李柏毅]]
“高雄市政府其他的整治廠區，另外三區是在今年八月，已經進行整治招標完成，目前陸續進廠中，剛好搭上桃園1.4奈米放棄的這件事”

外界評估台積電不進駐桃園，將導致龍潭丟失5千個工作機會，房價也可能面臨崩盤。從高雄市長陳其邁到黨籍立委上下一心，要全力爭取，護國神山進駐。

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Locals are frustrated, and the borough warden gets complaints nonstop. Locals report that even before Formosa Plastics Group moved in, long lines would form at bus stops, and spaces on buses would be scarce. The company has released a statement saying that, since April this year, it has been in talks with the Taipei city government to increase the number of buses servicing the area. In addition, it offers shuttle bus services to 480 employees and flexible working hours to stagger out commutes.

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We are drawing up plans and reviewing proposals to update road layouts, YouBike docks and bus connections.

Formosa Plastics Group moved out of its almost 50-year-old building in Dunhua North Road to Neihu, bringing in over almost 5,000 employees. The extra burden has only worsened traffic in the area, with residents asking for solutions from the government and the company.

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

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What’s it like to work at a real estate agency with a four-day week?

A major petition in May called for Taiwan to adopt a four-day work week. Although it received many signatures, it was rejected by the Executive Yuan as too difficult to implement. However, a small number of businesses have voluntarily adopted the system. Testimonies from their employees have sparked fierce debate online. Today, we head to a real estate agency with a four-day week, to find out from the manager and the employees what it has done for workplace culture, and for work-life balance.

Most real estate agents in Taiwan have long working hours, and lots of stress. But unlike most, in this agency, they only work 9-5 four days a week.

It’s written in big letters on this job advert outside the agency: “Real Estate Agents Wanted, Four-Day Working Week, 9-5, No Experience Required, Guaranteed Monthly Salary NT$40,000.” The big benefit touted for new hires is the four-day week.

Real estate agent
It’s not that I was envious. It was more like, “How is that even possible? How can a company be so great?”

Ho Chun-ta
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Lots of real estate agents can do the job. But they can’t do it for long. They get exhausted after a few years, or they can’t take good care of their family. So I thought, a four-day week was a way to allow colleagues to take proper care of their families while working. The number of days off our colleagues get each month went from six to eight and now to 12. And actually, our productivity has grown every year the last few years.

The branch manager claims that since the four-day week was adopted, profits have been unaffected, while overall productivity has increased. In May of this year, a petition called for Taiwan to promote the four-day week. Although it was eventually shot down by the Executive Yuan, a small number of companies did quietly decide to adopt the system.

Member of public
You need to see whether those three days off are really totally off work. Because some will say it’s a three-day weekend, but actually they still give you something to do, so you’re just working at home.

The workplace culture can be quite grim in many Taiwanese companies. Even if the three days off are not over one big block, and even if the salary is reduced, many employees would jump at the chance to take a four-day week.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Taiwan’s Queen of Badminton Tai Tzu-ying has achieved the 500th win of her career. It was a Round of 16 match at the Denmark Open, where she defeated her opponent from Thailand 2-0. If we count her wins in women’s singles games only, the game was Tai’s 497th win. That means, that if she makes it to the final of the Denmark Open and wins the title, she’ll have achieved 500 singles wins.

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Tai has amassed 500 victories over her career, according to the data from the Badminton World Federation available online. The tally includes her wins playing single and doubles events, but not team events or wins in junior competitions. On Facebook, Tai thanked her fans saying that every victory was hard-won, and that she was thrilled to have reached another milestone. She thanked fans for their support along the way, adding that she would continue to work hard and cherish every moment on the court.

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Two weeks ago, Orchid Island off the coast of Taitung was devastated by Typhoon Koinu. Many houses were severely damaged and more than 70% of boats anchored at the island’s Kaiyuan Port sunk or suffered heavy damage. Technical experts from various companies are now traveling to Orchid Island to inspect the damaged boats. They are also planning to set up a repair center on the island.

A large amount of daily necessities are packed in boxes. Two weeks ago, Typhoon Koinu ravaged Orchid Island, isolating it from Taiwan proper. Fortunately, donations from many kind-hearted people and companies have allowed local residents to take a breather and see light at the end of the tunnel. However, now new difficulties are putting them to the test.

Engine company technical expert
Currently the damage to vessels is quite serious. In particular, their engines have been flooded with water and hull damage is also very serious.

Powerful wind gusts of more than 61.2 meters per second caused more than 70% of vessels in Kaiyuan Port to sink and suffer damages. In just one night, the residents’ money-making tools were completely destroyed. Technicians from various companies have since travelled to Orchid Island to inspect the wrecked boats.

Engine company technical expert
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In 2017, he founded a studio that not only showcases works by talented artists, but also serves food and organizes talks. FTV reporter Stephany Yang met Reyes and Taiwan-based Filipino artist Michael Vincent Manalo, who is exhibiting his works at the studio.

Michael Vincent Manalo explains the series of artworks "Chasing Dreams." This painting was inspired by his art residency in Poland. The painting utilizes augmented reality. After downloading an app and swiping the QR code, the painting is presented on the visitor’s mobile phone through animation or video. This is a new exhibition at The Studio. Manalo is a digital painter and photographer from the Philippines, but he is now based in Taiwan.

Michael Vincent Manalo
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The things that I saw were so different it kind of shook me to the core. I was very shocked because everything was just like what I saw on the magazines or on the Internet. Everything was so different. This represents that I am just a small person seeing something so different from what I used to see. There is always just this glint or beam of hope as represented in the light shining through the trees.

This art studio was created by Cesar Reyes. He grew up in Hawaii and graduated from Wheaton College and Columbia University in New York. After graduation, he worked at Columbia University. In 2005, he moved to Taiwan and started teaching art in Taiwan. In 2017, he began hosting art dinners at his own house, where he invited friends over to have meals and appreciate art. In 2018, after finding a permanent space and redecorating the place, he established The Studio, in hopes of combining his shared passion for art and food.

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In 2005, I started to have a vision for how those things might be combined. Teaching at Taipei American School really honing my skills as a teacher, and then in the process of doing all that, realizing there is a space and niche here in Taiwan for art and food. Then, started doing art dinners in about 2017. At the time we were doing the art dinners, I got a lot of feedback saying," This is really good. This is very enjoyable. This is not like a normal type of dinner. It is not like a Michelin type of dinner. It is not a gallery." It is a good combination where conversation emerges. That was one my goals was to create a space that would build conversations about art, about artistic things, and about creative people.

Aside from showcasing the works of talented artists, the space also holds talks and serves a variety of customers. The studio also provides catering.

Cesar Reyes
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It ranges from a Taiwanese set menu. Western menu. We also serve Indian food. We have people come in to talk about art and art history. We regularly have dinner related to art. It is called the Artist Open House. We invite people to come and dine as artists and commune together. Both of my cofounder and I really love Taiwan a lot. Such that we want to contribute with a space like this that is unique. Special for artists, and for diners and people who appreciate art in general.

By combining art and food, The Studio hopes to create a platform for talented artists and to also provide art lovers a space to dine and converse about art.

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

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