Executive Yuan approves NT$5,000 a semester dorm subsidy

Executive Yuan approves NT$5,000 a semester dorm subsidy

2023-11-23

The Executive Yuan has approved a subsidy program for college dorm fees. Starting next February, each student will receive NT$5,000 per semester for on-campus housing. Students won’t need to apply for the subsidy, which will be applied automatically to their bills.

Chu Chun-chang
MOE Department of Higher Education
The interior ministry’s housing fund will transfer the funds to the Ministry of Education. We will then send 90% of the subsidy in advance to universities. The schools will subtract NT$5,000 from the student’s bill each semester. For economically disadvantaged students, NT$7,000 will be deducted. Students will only need to pay the amount that remains afterward.

At about 80% of Taiwan colleges, on-campus housing costs between NT$5,000 and NT$15,000 each semester. Only a minority of schools charge more than NT$15,000. This means that the new subsidy will take housing costs to less than NT$10,000 per semester for 80% of college students. The five-year program will cost NT$2.8 billion a year and benefit an estimated 275,000 students.

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大學生住宿補貼拍板! 每學期補助5000元

2023-11-23

繼中央擴大租金補助2.0，補貼在外租屋大學生，行政院週四拍板通過校內生住宿補貼5年期方案，每學期5000元。1年28億的補助金，從內政部的住宅基金撥款，將在繳費時抵銷，不必另外申請。

[[教育部高教司長朱俊彰]]
“住宅基金會先撥款給教育部，那我們會預撥九成的補助款先給學校，那學校就會在他們的宿舍的繳費單上面先去減計每個學期5000塊，經濟弱勢學生7000塊這樣的金額。學生是只要去繳交扣除掉補助的差額，就可以來完成住宿繳費。”

目前國內8成大學，每學期住宿費落在5千到1萬5之間，少數超過1萬5千元，等於補助後，將有8成學生，住宿負擔會低於1萬元。2024年2月上路，估計約有27.5萬名學生受惠。

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‘War is not an option:’ DPP’s Hsiao holds first international press event as VP candidat

DPP vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim held the first international press event of her campaign on Thursday. Nearly 40 foreign media outlets attended, centering their questions on cross-strait policy. Hsiao said she would stay committed to defending Taiwan’s freedom and democracy, but that war with China was, quote, not an option.

Vice presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-khim greets journalists on her fourth day in the race. She held an international press event to take questions from media.

Thirty-eight foreign media outlets were present, including CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, and AFP, as well as 12 news agencies from Japan. A key issue of inquiry was cross-strait relations. China has sanctioned Hsiao twice before. It recently said that she made the DPP ticket more pro-independence than ever. Media raised questions about her future engagement with Beijing.

Hisao Bi-khim
DPP vice presidential candidate
I will continue to forge ahead in my commitment to defending Taiwan’s democracy. I think we have reiterated our position that we remain open to dialogue and we are also committed to the status quo. Dialogue is the only way to resolve differences. War is not an option.

Hsiao stressed that war was not an option. Last week on the sidelines of APEC, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told U.S. President Joe Biden that China had no immediate plans to invade Taiwan. Responding to the remark, Hsiao said she was optimistic, but cautious.

Hsiao Bi-khim
DPP vice presidential candidate
We expect and hope that Xi Jinping was being sincere. Of course, we also sincerely hope to find the highest common denominator with the other side of the strait to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It’s like what former U.S. President Ronald Reagan said during his talks with the Soviet Union: “Trust, but verify.” We’ll accept it, but we’ll have to make sure it’s true.

Hsiao also shared her thoughts about returning to Taiwan to run in the election.

Hsiao Bi-khim
DPP vice presidential candidate
The thing that worried me most was the dark vortex that is Taiwan politics. It’s something I didn’t want to face. I had finally found a position where I could focus on serving my country without having to run in elections. But I hope that in the future, I’ll still be able to focus on serving my country.

Hsiao took every question, showcasing candor and approachability with each reply.

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

2023-11-23

DPP’s Hsiao, Lai weigh in as deadline looms for KMT-TPP joint ticket

2023-11-23

US Republican candidates united on Taiwan in primary debate

Over in the U.S., five Republican candidates took the stage this month in the party’s third primary debate. Taiwan emerged as a key focus. The candidates were unanimous in supporting Taiwan and countering China. Their united front has resonated with some internet users in Taiwan. One viewer said the debate displayed how politicians in a, quote, “normal country,” should behave.

During the third Republican presidential primary debate, candidates were asked about China and Taiwan. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley stressed the importance of arming Taiwan.

Nikki Haley
Republican primary candidate
We should be arming Taiwan, make sure they have the equipment they need, make sure they have the training they need now. There’s nothing China fears more than knowing that America will have Taiwan’s back. Let’s make sure that we show it by making sure they have the equipment they need.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that besides arming Taiwan, the U.S. should impose sanctions on China.

Ron DeSantis
Republican primary candidate
In Florida I banned China from buying land in this state. And we kicked out from all of our universities… we kicked out the Confucius Institutes out of our universities. We’ve recognized the threat and we’ve acted swiftly and decisively.

The candidates were united when it came to backing Taiwan against China. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said the U.S. should position its nuclear submarines in the South China Sea, to deter a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Chris Christie
Republican primary candidate
And if we’re going to deter China from invading Taiwan, the only way we’re going to do it is to make sure that they don’t know whether how many nuclear submarines from the United States of America are in the South China Sea and in that area, and ready to strike on them if they decide to move on Taiwan.

The debate also touched on the Chinese social media app TikTok.

Tim Scott
Republican primary candidate
Without any questions, what we should do is ban TikTok, period.

Vivek Ramaswamy
Republican primary candidate
The easy answer is actually to say we’re going to ban just one app. We’ve got to go further. We have to ban any U.S. company actually transferring U.S. data to the Chinese. Here’s a story most people don’t know. Air B&B hands over U.S. user data to the CCP.

Taiwanese YouTube channel “With Sydney” featured the Republican debate in a video. In the comments section, viewers said the debate showed how a normal country should be, with politicians banding together to combat the enemy. One viewer suggested that the Republican candidates should run for election in Taiwan. Another commented that Taiwan’s own presidential candidates should watch the video and reflect on who Taiwan’s true enemy is.

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

2023-11-23

Election gives landlords respite from the tough business rental market

The election is providing landlords with respite from the tough business rental market. Many politicians have rented out premises that have long been disused, as headquarters for their campaign activities. We spoke to a member of the team of Luo Chih-cheng, who struggled to find a short-term rental at first. But when another business collapsed, its landlord was only too happy to have the campaign move in. Meanwhile, a prominent yet long-vacant store in Taipei has been adopted as one of Terry Gou’s many petition stations.

Boxes of promotional materials are delivered to a political campaign team. This premises on Xianmin Boulevard in Banqiao District, New Taipei, was chosen as HQ by lawmaker Luo Chih-cheng for the final election push. The team was searching for over two months to find premises.

Shen Chung-hao
Luo Chih-cheng campaign manager
Honestly, a lot of landlords are very unwilling to do short-term lets. This building was occupied by another business, and it happened to have some operational difficulties, so the landlord terminated the contract. It was just at the same time as we were looking for an HQ, so we took the space on.

It’s a boon for the landlord that Luo’s team has swooped into this building. The previous tenant, a pawn shop, ran into trouble and got into rental arrears. But the upcoming election has saved this landlord from a headache. Meanwhile, lots of premises in Taipei City are sitting stagnant. But one store on a bustling street, empty for the last three years, has finally been rented by Terry Gou’s campaign team as a petition station.

Wei Hsiu-ho
Guangwu Borough chief, Taipei City
The rent is probably around NT$850,000. Since the last tenant left three years ago, it’s been out of use. We have some stores we can’t let out on Zhongxiao East Road. They’re all let to discount retailers. But now we could let this to a political candidate, and at least that means the landlord can get the rent on time.

Huang Shu-wei
Real estate rental market expert
In the revision phase, there is very little demand for this kind of high-priced unit. But we see that this short-term demand of three or six months, these temporary tenants for high prices, have certainly managed to quench the thirst of landlords in the short term.

As the election draws closer, many disused premises have found a fresh lease of life as campaign venues. The short-term rentals give landlords a break from the burden of maintaining empty buildings.

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

2023-11-23

Tsai inspects intensified training program for one-year conscripts

President Tsai Ing-wen went to a Taichung military base on Thursday, to inspect an training program for next year’s conscripts. Starting next January, the service period for military conscripts will be extended from three months to a year. The one-year conscripts will undergo an updated training program that includes field rescue missions and other battle simulations.

Gunshots and explosions ring out as soldiers in camouflage navigate the obstacle course, making their way forward. Soon this training will be mandatory for one-year military conscripts.

Wu Cheng-han
FTV reporter
One-year conscription will return starting next January. Unlike before, after eight weeks of boot camp, conscripts will undergo shell shock training. They’ll have to push forward through gunfire and explosions, overcoming their fear. The goal is to ensure conscripts are an effective combat force when their country needs them.

The training will also include missions to rescue wounded soldiers. In this demonstration, a soldier fires at the enemy, buying time for troops behind him to tend to a wounded soldier. Within 20 seconds, the casualty is taken away and the group retreats to safety. The mission acquaints conscripts with the battle scenario, while emphasizing the importance of coordination and cooperation.

Chen Chiung-lin
10th Field Army
It’s possible that the squad leader will die in battle. If that happens, the soldier assigned as deputy quad leader will take over and direct corporals and soldiers to rescue casualties. That will certainly increase the survival rate of wounded soldiers.

Hung Hsin-chih
10th Field Army
The training aims to replicate real combat scenarios. In any future battles, you’ll have to rely on your own two feet. You may have to set up camp in the wild. All of that has been incorporated.

Ahead of the Jan. 25 start date for new conscripts, military units are ramping up their preparations. President Tsai Ing-wen inspected a training ground on Thursday, led by military officers. She reiterated the necessity of one-year conscription.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
In the face of complex international situation and geopolitical changes, and in order to maintain our national security and free and democratic way of life, adjusting the duration of military service is indeed a must. We have increased the monthly salary to NT$20,320. The government will contribute to each conscript’s retirement fund and offer flexible service options for university students. Each conscript will become capable of serving in the standing garrison force and civil defense units.

Tsai listed her policies for conscripts, underscoring her commitment to national defense.

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

2023-11-23

Cooperation between Taiwan and Japan in the world of semiconductor manufacturing

Now for a spotlight on cooperation between Taiwan and Japan in the world of semiconductor manufacturing. Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua recently spoke to Japanese broadcaster NHK, offering an in-depth analysis of Taiwan’s silicon strategy. Silicon giant TSMC is currently building a new factory complex in Japan, which has sparked off hopes of closer cooperation between the two nations. It’s also had a big impact on the local area’s economy. Japanese experts are also keen for students to benefit from the wealth of expertise Taiwan is bringing to the country.

Wang Mei-hua
Economics minister
Semiconductors are an important industry for Taiwan. So when semiconductor manufacturers invest overseas, we always go through an investigation process.

Taiwan’s silicon industry is a focus of huge global attention. Shifts in the sector can prompt major changes to international economic strategy.

Akira Amari
Member of Japanese House of Representatives
Controlling semiconductors means controlling the world. A country that has semiconductor manufacturing centers could be said to have the power of life and death over the world.

Wang Mei-hua
Economics minister
If we were to ban Taiwan’s semiconductors from export to China, that would cause severe, negative consequences for them. The Taiwanese government’s strategy is to maintain the status quo between the two sides of the strait. So currently we are continuing our economic dealings.

In the face of the complex cross-strait situation, officials are especially concerned to maintain the status quo while strengthening Taiwan’s cooperation with other countries worldwide. As TSMC builds its new fab in Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture, the fab is expected to boost the local economy by ¥6.8 trillion within 10 years.

Kentaro Nishida
Kumamoto real estate agent
This is a surge in demand that we won’t see for another 100 or even 1,000 years. We can say the impact is that gigantic. But we’re quite happy about it.

And the exchange is not just in hardware. Japan’s technical colleges are learning from Taiwan how to cultivate technical expertise in semiconductor manufacturing.

Wang Mei-hua
Economics minister
Many countries would like to develop semiconductors. The no. 1 thing you need is human expertise. But cultivating talent is not something you can achieve in a day or two.

Tadahiro Kuroda
University of Tokyo professor
In the fab that TSMC is building in Japan, the skills they have are skills that do not exist in Japan. We can work together, to exchange our strengths. That’s the only way we will cover the whole immensity of the semiconductor system. So cooperation is extremely important.

Taiwan and Japan are joining together to create win-win outcomes in the world of silicon.

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

2023-11-23

ITRI, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital unveil 3D printed prosthetic jaws

The Industrial Technology Research Institute, or ITRI, has partnered with Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital to unveil Taiwan’s first prosthetic jaws. During a three-year trial, nine patients received custom-printed prosthetics. Compared to traditional reconstruction, which uses leg bone, the 3D implants achieved a better fit, improving the preservation of the patients’ facial appearance. The implants also improved the patients’ ability to chew after surgery. 3D printing marks a big leap forward in the treatment of oral cancer, which affects some 10,000 people in Taiwan each year.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute, or ITRI, and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital teamed up to provide custom prosthetic jaws to oral cancer patients, using 3D printing technology and titanium alloy powder. 3D printing was used to replace traditional reconstruction, which uses bone taken from the patient’s leg. The technology vastly improved the patients’ post-operative facial appearance and ability to chew.

Chen Yao-shen
Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital deputy superintendent
Over a three-year period, nine patients received this 3D printed metal implant. Most of those patients have begun to regain the ability to chew and swallow. More importantly, their facial appearance has been more fully preserved.

Tsau Fang-hei
ITRI Southern Region Campus general director
Our top consideration is the patient’s well-being and safety, ensuring that there is absolutely no danger. To ensure this, we had to do testing to a degree that was unprecedented in our history of working with industrial applications.

Doctors say that when tumors are located in the lower jaw, the lower jaw must be removed. But because the bone is curved, traditional reconstruction calls for cutting leg bone into sections and joining them together. This method can’t achieve the smoothness of a prosthetic produced by 3D printing. The 3D printing collaboration also yielded a number of patents that achieve stress relief, so that the prosthetics can be used longer and more effectively.

Chen Chun-feng
Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital oromaxillofacial surgeon
Over time, the fit between the implant and the lower jaw can become loose due to continuous movement. Our special patented designs allow us to distribute chewing pressure evenly over the lower jaw when the patient chews. This reduces the likelihood of the implant loosening with continuous activity.

Oral cancer ranks fifth among cancers in Taiwan. Every year, about 10,000 people are diagnosed, and more than 60% will need reconstructive surgery. 3D printing marks a big leap forward in oral cancer treatment, offering fresh hope to patients.

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

2023-11-23

80-year herbal tea store undergoes transformation

Today we take you to an herbal tea store that has 80 years of history. The store’s third-generation owner, Jovial Kuo, decided to reinvent the brand by using herbal tea to create products such as perfume, jewelry, and more. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to the Kuo to find out how she’s revitalizing the industry, while still maintaining her family traditions.

Kuo makes herbal tea, carefully pouring it into a cup. Through adjustments to the formulation and packaging of herbal tea, she hopes to reinvent the image of herbal tea, making it exquisite.

Jovial Kuo
Owner
I used to work at a luxury shoe manufacturer in China. After I came back, I wanted to transform the industry, making it to be more about gifts and luxury products. Our teas are all sourced directly from the origin. After cleaning, we dry it and process it into tea bags. It used to take a long time to brew traditional herb tea, about half an hour or more. Now through our roasting process, you can brew it directly with hot water. We adjusted the formula because many young people find traditional herb tea to be bitter and not tasty.

Kuo also made this snack using fruits grown on herbal tea farms.

Jovial Kuo
Owner
Only small farmers who do not use pesticides or fertilizers can grow herbal tea. There are also many fruits grown in tea orchards, and many of those fruits can be brought into people’s everyday lives. Pineapples roasted at low temperatures tastes very good and chewy. Citrus is cooked with rock sugar and we add honey after 60 hours. It tastes very unique. The dried longan is removed with a tool and roasted at a low temperature. Our production areas range widely. Some of the fruits are produced by small farmers who have cooperated with my grandparents for 70-80 years. We always visit the production site ourselves.

This herbal tea store has an 80-year history. Kuo, who is the store’s third-generation owner, decided to build her own brand five years ago. She worked in China for a few years and decided to come back to Taiwan to continue her family’s legacy, because she noticed the herbal tea industry slowly disappearing. Since returning to Taiwan, she’s created a fashionable herbal tea lifestyle brand. The store uses hand-picked herbal tea from Taiwanese farms to create herbal teas and products such as perfume, jewelry, and more.

Jovial Kuo
Owner
I started my business about five years ago because I found that the herbal tea industry was declining. I feared that herbal tea stores may slowly disappear in the next 10 years. I wanted to transform herbal tea, make it relevant to life, and make it easy to choose and use. For example, in the form of tea and bath tea bags. In addition, we turned herbal tea into fragrance-based products that can be used for healing. In the future, we will also develop some plant-based and herbal tea eye masks, which can be reused and are environmentally friendly. My family is very supportive of what we are doing. I hope to expand our products internationally. I hope to work on the packaging and have the opportunity to expand overseas because Taiwan is most famous for black tea and oolong tea. I hope that the good flavors of herbal tea can be promoted internationally.

Kuo hopes to continue her family’s legacy of herbal teas and one day introduce her products internationally.

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

2023-11-23