Presidential race likely to be close contest between Lai and Hou: analyst

Presidential race likely to be close contest between Lai and Hou: analyst

2023-12-04

There’s just over a month to go before the presidential election. In an analysis of five recent polls, a Japanese political scientist says the DPP still has a comfortable lead. Notably, the TPP’s Ko Wen-je has slipped to third place, while the KMT’s Hou Yu-ih has surged to second.

This sets the stage for a close contest between the DPP and KMT. Lai’s campaign office says it’s fully prepared for a tough battle, with Lai keeping a rigorous campaign schedule of more than 10 stops a day. The analyst predicts that Lai will see a surge of support in December.

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小笠原欣幸預測"可能進入肉搏戰" 賴辦:不會鬆懈

2023-12-04

距離總統大選剩下一個多月，日本政治學者小笠原欣幸，拿11月五份民調數字分析，民進黨總統參選人賴清德仍穩居第一，預測他12月會有所回升。

他也指出，柯文哲下滑至第三名，侯友宜的支持率大幅提升，躍升至第二名，賴清德可能與國民黨總統參選人侯友宜支持度進入"貼身肉搏戰"。賴清德競總主委姚立明強調，賴蕭配沒有鬆懈，1天都能跑到10個行程以上。

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US won’t interfere or pick sides in Taiwan election: AIT director

AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk gave her end-of-year policy speech at National Taiwan University on Monday. In her address, she reiterated that Washington’s support for Taiwan was rock solid. She also stressed that the U.S. would not interfere or pick sides in the January election, stressing that Taiwan voters should be the ones to decide their next leader.

AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk gave her end-of-year policy speech at National Taiwan University on Monday. She addressed issues such as cybersecurity and disinformation, as well as the deepening of Taiwan-U.S. cooperation. She emphasized democracy as a value shared by Taiwan and the U.S.

Sandra Oudkirk
AIT director
The United States enjoys a robust, unofficial relationship with Taiwan. We will continue to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the international community, and we will work to deepen our economic ties, all consistent with our "One China" policy.

The event was co-hosted by NTU and the AIT. Among the attendees were Digital Affairs Minister Audrey Tang and representatives from the DPP, KMT and Taiwan People’s Party. With the 2024 presidential election fast approaching, Oudkirk reiterated that the U.S. will not interfere in the elections or take sides.

Sandra Oudkirk
AIT director
I want to emphasize that the United States has deep confidence in Taiwan’s electoral processes and democratic system. We believe it is for the Taiwan voters to decide their next leader, free from outside interference. The United States is not taking sides in Taiwan’s election. We do not have a preferred candidate. U.S. policy on Taiwan will remain the same regardless of which party is in power.

Oudkirk stressed that the U.S.’ Taiwan policy would be unchanged regardless of who wins Taiwan’s presidential election. She also took questions from NTU students. One asked whether the U.S. would, quote, abandon Taiwan when its interests in China take precedence.

Sandra Oudkirk
AIT director
I would say the answer to that is no. So the U.S. policy toward Taiwan, the U.S. “one China” policy has persisted now for decades. The policy is not changing. U.S. support for Taiwan remains rock solid, principled, and bipartisan.

With Taiwan-U.S. ties at their warmest in years, the AIT director said that no matter what political changes take place, bilateral relations would remain rock solid.

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2023-12-04

Tsai inaugurates training facility for battle and natural disaster response

A state-of-the-art disaster response training center has launched, after six years of planning and construction. President Tsai Ing-wen and top defense officials attended the inauguration ceremony. The center can simulate combat situations and natural disasters using artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality technologies. Tsai said the center would improve the combat capabilities of Taiwan’s military, while educating the general public on disaster response.

Defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng, National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo, National Defense Medical Center President Chen Yuan-hao, and President Tsai Ing-wen launch a new disaster training center.

After six years of planning and construction, the center was completed in July. Using artificial intelligence, the facility can produce simulations for training in combat scenarios, vehicle care, severe disasters, hazardous environments and material rescue. The center is also equipped with simulators of Black Hawk helicopters, AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles and Humvee ambulances to provide enhanced rescue operation training to soldiers.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
The building we’re inaugurating today has a multifunctional rescue operation training environment that uses technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality to create realistic battlefield scenarios. We believe that in the future, the center will help improve the capabilities of rescuers responding to battlefield casualties and emergency rescue operations. This will afford greater protection to our military.

Tsai said the facility would enhance the care and protection of soldiers in battle and improve the combat effectiveness of Taiwan’s military. She said that through joint projects with the private sector, the training center would also improve society’s response to battle scenarios and major natural disasters.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
This year, the Medical Service Training Center started a team rescue course and trained almost 3,800 people. Besides strengthening the rescue capabilities of our military, it is a way to maintain their overall combat capabilities. The Medical Service Training Center does outreach events at schools and different groups to raise awareness about emergency rescue operations. Over the past few years, several NGOs have been formed to train the general public in tending to war casualties. All these efforts have helped raise awareness about the importance of civil defense.

In the future, the new facility will join forces with the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency and various medical institutions. It will also reach out into the community to integrate military and civilian rescue procedures and educate the general public on civil defense concepts.

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2023-12-04

Study finds decline in ‘media and aesthetic literacy’ among young people

A new study on the internet habits of under-18s has found a decline in “media and aesthetic literacy” among young people. The research looked at students from third grade to the end of high school. It found that young people spend on average 26 hours a week online on their phone. But their capacity to navigate with agency through the minefield of online data has declined. The study was conducted by National Central University researchers, together with Cyber Angel’s Pick, an advocate for children’s safety online. Lawmakers and broadcasting regulators say that more should be done to create accountability for the producers of online media.

Head down, endlessly scrolling: It’s a bad habit for many people. And it’s no longer just adults. Young people are using electronics more and more, and the age of users keeps dropping.

Huang Wei-wei
NCU College of Communication professor
The information they receive is short videos. We did a study on aesthetic literacy, and we found a significant decline in young people’s ability to search about, and to understand, information on local Taiwanese culture and art.

Scholars have seen a sharp rise in the length of time students spend on their phones each week. But media literacy has not risen in tandem. The study results show that, on average, young people engage in physical exercise for seven hours a week, watch TV for six hours a week, and spent 26.2 hours a week online on their phones.

Chen Yi-mei
Satellite Television Broadcasting Association
Offshore enterprises get more than NT$40 billion in digital advertising revenue from Taiwan – tens of billions. But do they shoulder the costs of labor? Do they cultivate an ecosystem? That’s before we get onto all the piracy.

Short videos became a big phenomenon in recent years. Transnational video platforms have made a big impact in Taiwan. Often with no age restrictions, attention-grabbing videos full of sexual or violent images and scams are everywhere. They earn a lot of ad revenue, without accepting social responsibility.

Chiu Chih-wei
DPP lawmaker
I think this is something executive departments need to work hard on. In terms of policy, we can guide and support industry to have more motivation and capacity to produce more material on aesthetic education.

The internet throws up fresh novelties every day. Lawmakers are calling on public bodies to do more to regulate the internet in a fair way, to ensure it doesn’t become a threat to public safety.

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Liver disease foundation hosts free health check in a cafe

The Liver Disease Prevention & Treatment Research Foundation offered free health exams last Sunday at cafe in Hsinchu. The health checks targeted the liver, spleen, and kidneys, using blood tests and ultrasound scans to assess cancer risk. The cafe was once home to a famed hospital. It was also the childhood home of Sung Juei-low, known as the “father of liver disease research.”

The needle goes in for a quick blood draw.

The blood test process is smooth and simple at this unique clinical setting. It’s not a hospital, but a cafe with warm lighting and a cozy atmosphere.

Clinic patient
It’s very comfortable, very vintage. It feels like going back in time.

Clinic patient
I’m here to get myself checked out, to see what my physical condition is. This chance came up so I thought I would participate.

The Liver Disease Prevention & Treatment Research Foundation held a free clinic last Sunday at a cafe in Zhudong, Hsinchu. The health check targeted organs like the liver, pancreas, and kidneys, offering blood tests and ultrasound scans to assess their function and cancer risk.

Sung Wen-pin
Founder of Sung Chan-ho educational foundation
The rate of liver disease has not declined significantly. That’s because many people don’t do ultrasounds and rely only on blood draws. That’s not enough. Professor Hsu Ching-chuan strongly promotes liver examinations across Taiwan.

The cafe was once the site of Chang Chun Hospital, and it’s where liver disease pioneer Sung Juei-low spent his childhood years. Sung’s father and uncle founded Chang Chun in 1908, as the first and only hospital in the area.

Hsu Ching-chuan
Liver disease prevention foundation chair
After the death of Professor Sung Juei-low, I succeed him as chair of the foundation. At the time I was quite daunted by the role, because eradicating liver disease in Taiwan is such a tremendous responsibility.

Sung Wen-pin
Founder of Sung Chan-ho educational foundation
Professor Sung Juei-low’s most treasured protege was always Professor Hsu Ching-chuan, who has inherited his mentor’s mission of eradicating liver disease.

Hsu Ching-chuan says he’s committed to promoting ultrasound scans, and to achieving his mentor’s goal of eradicating liver disease in Taiwan.

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2023-12-04

NTU professor and microbe expert Roland Kirschner shares love for traditional arts

There’s a German professor at NTU whose love for classical Chinese culture makes him really stand out. Professor Roland Kirschner is an expert on microbial ecology and fungi. Taiwan’s rich ecosystem was part of what led him to settle here. But perhaps even more than that, it was his love of calligraphy and painting, and the warmth of Taiwanese people. Students say he always comes to class at NTU wearing traditional Chinese clothing. We caught up with Kirschner to hear how this “new immigrant” has made Taiwan his home.

Wearing a Tang suit and speaking fluent Chinese, Roland Kirschner answers his student’s questions. The NTU forestry school professor was born in southern Germany. His interest in Chinese culture led him to start studying Mandarin at university. He first visited Taiwan more than 20 years ago, and soon fell in love with the country.

Roland Kirschner
NTU School of Forestry and Resource Conservation
I spent half the day learning Chinese at National Taiwan Normal University Mandarin Training Center. Then in the afternoon I would come and do research at the botanical department of NTU. After a year of that, I was meant to go home, and I felt so sad, because I already loved this place.

Kirschner eventually moved to Taiwan to work here. He teaches in Mandarin and practises calligraphy. His research lab is covered in spring couplets that he wrote himself, as well as his own Chinese-style paintings.

Roland Kirschner
NTU School of Forestry and Resource Conservation
I paint when I have time. I found a teacher for calligraphy, because I think it’s a very advanced art. I go to my calligraphy class every week, and I’m gradually learning.

When his research and teaching duties are fulfilled, he spends his free time practicing with the brush. He’s won many prizes in calligraphy competitions.

A ceramic cup is adorned with paintings of lingzhi and umbrella mushrooms, reflecting Kirschner’s research expertise. As for what led him to settle in Taiwan, he cites the rich and diverse ecosystems here as well as the friendliness of Taiwanese people.

Roland Kirschner
NTU School of Forestry and Resource Conservation
People are very warm towards Westerners. If I’m standing on the street and obviously looking for something, people will come up and ask, “Can I help you?” That doesn’t happen so often in Germany.

After 12 years here, Kirschner calls himself a “new immigrant.” In the future, he wants to continue exploring Taiwan’s beautiful natural landscapes and classical Chinese arts.

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2023-12-04

Second-generation immigrant spreads Burmese culture through tea

Burmese people love to drink milk tea, and it’s usually prepared hot. Second-generation immigrant Ted Yu has found a way to integrate the tradition with Taiwan’s popular drink culture to create a unique iced version. By opening a shop in the tea battleground of New Taipei City’s Yonghe District, Yu hopes to introduce more people to Burmese milk tea.

Authentic Burmese milk tea is made from strong Yangon tea, mixed with the perfect ratio of condensed milk and milk.

Ted Yu
Burmese second-generation immigrant
The biggest difference between Burmese and Taiwanese milk tea is the strength of the tea. You can taste the slightly astringent flavor of the leaves.

Ted Yu was born in a multicultural household to a Burmese-Chinese father and a Burmese-Indian mother. Growing up, this background made him the target of bullies.

Ted Yu
Burmese second-generation immigrant
When my classmates came over, they saw my dad wearing this kind of long skirt. They didn’t say anything right away, but the next day at school, everyone called my dad gay. My mom is part Indian, so she eats with her hand. While at my house, everyone just played video games or read, then the next day said my mom is uncultured and doesn’t use chopsticks. So after a while it made me reject this part of myself and I tried to hide it.

One day at an event on Myanmar Street in Jhonghe District, Yu was deeply moved by an older man struggling to recite something in Burmese. As he had recently been let go by a restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic, he took his familiarity with the industry as an opportunity.

Ted Yu
Burmese second-generation immigrant
Burmese milk tea is so delicious, I thought it should branch out from Myanmar Street so more people could try it. In the end I had to open here, but my shop is in a style familiar to Taiwanese so it’s more approachable.

From a drink that’s traditionally served hot, Yu makes it iced and adds sago, jelly, pudding or falooda. Although a familiar dessert to Burmese, it stands out amid the tea shop battleground of Yonghe.

Ted Yu
Burmese second-generation immigrant
I hope that Burmese milk tea can one day become as common in Taiwan as Thai milk tea.

Although his shop is small, Yu has filled the walls with items from Myanmar. Every day he puts a new Burmese fact or word on the blackboard. Today’s word, “working hard,” reflects Yu’s aspiration for sharing his culture while inching closer to his dream of being an entrepreneur.

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

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2023-12-04

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