Pilot strike over Lunar New Year holiday to be decided on Monday

2024-01-19

Next Monday, the Taoyuan Union of Pilots will announce the results of a vote to determine whether workers will go on strike this coming Lunar New Year holiday. Travel agencies have voiced concerns that if the strike does go ahead, about 40% of EVA Air passengers could have problems getting rebooked on other flights. Transport minister Wang Kwo-tsai says there is still time to avert holiday travel problems. He says his ministry has urged the airline’s chairman to conduct rational negotiations with the union. Let’s hear from the minister.

Wang Kwo-tsai
Transport minister
The transport ministry has ordered the Civil Aeronautics Administration to create a response team. I also called EVA Air Chair Lin Bou-shiu. They are handling the matter. The Taoyuan Union of Pilots has been quite rational in the past. I still trust them, but preventing a strike from happening is our most important goal.

The union is demanding a pay raise of 20% for pilots, as well as higher allowances for stopovers overseas. It’s also asking the company to stop circumventing local laws to hire foreign pilots. It warns that a strike could be called with just 24 hours of warning. EVA Air says it will not miss out on any opportunities to discuss matters with the union.

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長榮航空機師醞釀春節罷工旅行業憂心

2024-01-19

長榮航空機師醞釀要在春節罷工，下週一就會公布投票結果。旅行業者憂心，若真的罷工，有近4成搭長榮旅客都榮，可能要臨時簽轉問題。交通部長王國材強調，目前還有一段時間，已經致電長榮董座，希望勞資理性協商，也已經要求民航局也成立應變小組因應。

[[交通部長王國材]]
“交通部有請民航局成立應變小組，也跟長榮，包括我打電話給林寶水董事長，他們事實上有在處理。機師工會他們過去是比較理性的，我想說這邊，我還是相信他們，但是我們是不讓這個事發生，為我們的最重要的目標。”

長榮航空機師爭取調薪20%、提高外站津貼，並訴求禁用違法外籍機師，最遲將會於正式發動罷工行動的24小時前提前預告。長榮航空表示，不會放棄任何與工會溝通的機會。

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Taiex surges on positive outlook shown by executives at TSMC’s earnings conference

TSMC shares surged on Friday after optimistic comments from executives at the company’s earnings call one day before. TSMC shares soared by NT$38 to hit NT$626 a share, leading the Taiex to gain 453 points and close at 17,681. Foreign investors collectively bought back NT$80.1 billion in shares, in what is the second largest net purchase in the bourse’s history.

The closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange rings, and Wall Street closes higher. Chip giant TSMC’s American Depositary Receipts rose 9.79% after company executives offered an optimistic outlook for the year. In Taiwan, the company’s shares also saw a rebound, with TSMC’s stock price soaring by NT$38 to hit NT$626. The Taiwan stock market opened high at 17,546 and closed 453 points higher at 17,681 led by TSMC.

C. C. Wei
TSMC CEO
…2024 to be a healthy growth year for TSMC. Let me assure we continue to have a technology leadership and we continue to have a world base of customers.

The CEO’s remarks have set the tone for growth. TSMC’s market value increased by nearly NT$1 trillion in one day, contributing more than 300 points to the Taiwan stock market. Across the board, shares for electronics, financial and traditional industries went up. Foreign investors collectively bought back NT$80.1 billion in shares, making for the second largest net purchase ever. Three institutional investors bought a combined total of NT$84.79 billion, pushing the trading volume to NT$423.1 billion. The Taiex is once again approaching 18,000 points.

Edward Chen
First Capital Management
In fact, this has already alleviated the risk of the Taiex bottoming out. TSMC’s earnings conference yesterday shocked the market. Looking back at Q1 of 2023, in January the Taiex rose 0.96%, while in February it hit the highest growth rate of 1.81%. I think that, in the short term, 17,151 points can be regarded as the bottom of the current stock market.

The Taiwan dollar rallied, rising by 13.1 cents to close at NT$31.44 against the greenback. Analysts are looking to see if the stock market can rally past 18,000 points before the Lunar New Year.

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2024-01-19

US officials including lawmaker Mike Gallagher to visit Taiwan in coming months

According to the Financial Times, many U.S. officials are expected to make visits to Taiwan in the coming months. Among them are pro-Taiwan heavyweights such as Republican lawmaker Mike Gallagher, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. DPP lawmaker Wang Ting-yu says there will be frequent international visits by U.S. officials this year, as supporting Taiwan has become a mainstream opinion in the U.S.

Before the election, Lai Ching-te’s campaign office was filled with visitors every day, many of whom purchased campaign merch and helped the party with donations. But the days of rushing for goodies are over now that the election is past. The campaign office is closing, and so is the memorabilia shop inside. Lai urged his supporters to head to the venue on the last day on Friday and take photos to remember the campaign by. Though the election is over, Lai’s public schedule is packed as can be.

The day after the election, the U.S. sent a bipartisan delegation of senior former officials to Taiwan. On Thursday, the Financial Times reported that more U.S. lawmakers are set to visit Taiwan in coming weeks in a show of support for Lai. Next week, the top Democrat on the House foreign affairs Indo-Pacific subcommittee Ami Bera will visit, and so will Republicans Andy Barr and Mario Diaz-Balart, who co-chair the Congressional Taiwan Caucus. They will meet with Lai, but not with defeated presidential candidates Hou Yu-ih or Ko Wen-je. The next person to visit will be Republican lawmaker Mike Gallagher.

Mike Gallagher (April 6, 2023)
Select Committee on the CCP chair
President Tsai talks about it. It’s an attempt to get us, to intimidate us and to get us to back down. Who the speaker of the house meets with in American soil is, quite frankly, none of the CCP’s business.

Last year in April, President Tsai Ing-wen met with then-U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a transit stop in the U.S. Gallagher had attended the meeting, as the chair of the Select Committee on the CCP. As a vocal supporter of Taiwan, the Financial Times notes that China is paying close attention to his Taiwan visit. The report adds that more U.S. lawmakers are expected to visit Taiwan for Lai’s presidential inauguration on May 20 as well as to mark the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act in March and April.

Wang Ting-yu
DPP lawmaker
These plans show that Taiwan-U.S. relations remain stable and continue to warm up. It also shows that supporting Taiwan is a mainstream opinion in the U.S. The U.S. is holding general elections this year, so visiting Taiwan and carrying out exchanges with Taiwan is a plus for candidates. In the coming year, there will be more U.S.-Taiwan interactions, and more exchanges with Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim.

With four months to go until Lai is inaugurated president, Taiwan remains in the international spotlight.

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2024-01-19

Investigation Bureau inaugurates cognitive warfare research center

2024-01-19

Galang Island in Indonesia may house Rohingya refugees

The U.N. estimates more than a million Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar in successive waves. And while most ended up in neighboring Bangladesh, some have taken boats to Indonesia where authorities are now considering using an island once used for resettlement of Vietnamese refugees. Voice of America’s Ahadian Utama has more.

It’s very quiet these days, on Galang Island, a small island some 40 kilometers from the main island of Batam in Indonesia’s Riau Islands, and only around 84 kilometers from neighboring Singapore.

These barracks are the only remaining structure that used to house Vietnamese refugees.

Abunawas Tanawolo
Galang islander
There used to be thousands of barracks here, but now only one remains. The others are now destroyed, because they are made of wood…

Fifty-year-old Abunawas Tanawolo was a security guard at the former refugee camp and has lived on the island since childhood. He remembers playing with Vietnamese children from the camp and was very close to one family of Vietnamese refugees.

From 1979 to 1996, this island was home to Vietnamese refugees fleeing conflict in their homeland, mostly by boat, along with some Cambodians and Laotians doing the same. By some estimates, some 250 thousand refugees once called this island their temporary home.

What remains now are crumbling empty buildings, like this former Indonesian Red Cross Hospital, an old Vietnamese Catholic Church, and a cemetery for Vietnamese refugees who died before being able to be resettled. The site is now a memorial and tourist attraction. But the island itself is now finding itself at the center of a debate about a new wave of refugees.

Indonesian authorities are now considering Galang Island to house Muslim Rohingya refugees, fleeing Myanmar by boat, and arriving in nearby Aceh Province, in the westernmost part of the Indonesian archipelago.

Some Galang islanders are concerned about the resettlement proposal.

Dewi Purwanti
Galang islander
We as locals, object to Rohingya refugees being placed here, because there will be consequences for us. Because even people in Aceh are uneasy with the presence of Rohingya refugees there.

According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the number of Rohingya refugees who entered Indonesia via Aceh since November reached more than 1,500 people.

Ahadian Utama, VOA News, Batam, Indonesia.

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2024-01-19

Beloved singer Judy Ongg has opened an exhibition of her own visual art

2024-01-19

Farmers and officials deny reports that China has reimposed ban on grouper imports

Fishers and a Pingtung County official are denying reports that China has reimposed a ban on the import of the Taiwanese grouper, a type of fish. China first imposed the ban in the middle of 2022, and just before the presidential election, it lifted the ban. Fish farmers say that currently demand in Taiwan is high ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which has driven up prices, and as a result farmers are more inclined to sell groupers in Taiwan, rather than for export.

Just 21 days before the presidential and legislative elections, China announced that it would reallow imports of Taiwanese grouper. Some reports are claiming that China reimposed a ban on their import the day after the presidential election. Fish farmers are now coming forward to clarify this is not true.

Chiang Kun-lun
Grouper farmer
It’s probably not true. We are still operating normally. Prices in Taiwan are relatively high, so we are seeing smaller export sales. Some farmers are a little worried. Demand in the domestic market is still quite strong.

China’s arbitrary decisions to impose bans or open up to imports has fish farmers worried. An official from the Pingtung County Government believes that some may deliberately spreading disinformation to force prices lower.

Cheng Yung-yu
Pingtung Agriculture Dept.
The shipping facility in Fangliao is preparing to receive more than 20,000 catties of giant grouper from fish farms. Perhaps some people or businesses with vested interests released the reports to try to force prices down.

Particularly before the Lunar New Year holiday, demand is huge, and prices of all kinds of fish appear to be rising. Among them, there is particularly high demand for giant grouper.

Cheng Yung-yu
Pingtung Agriculture Dept.
When it comes to domestic sales, demand is particularly high for fish weighing 600 grams or 1 kilogram. That’s has led to supply not being able to meet demand. Prices for 600 grams of fish have even reached NT$195.

The county government is calling on industry players not to listen to rumors or unsubstantiated reports.

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2024-01-19

Taoyuan unveils merch with ingenious designs signifying the Year of the Dragon

The Taoyuan City government has unveiled designs for its Year of the Dragon merchandise. This year, the city government collaborated with a local calligrapher to create a spring couplet wishing citizens a happy new year. Also available are lucky charms and red envelopes with ingenious designs. All the festive items can be collected for free at local government agencies and temples.

They drum up a storm to usher in happiness and fortune this Lunar New Year.

Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng and a local calligrapher draw Chinese characters together. With the Spring Festival just around the corner, the city government has unveiled its festive couplet.

Wang Yu-cyuan
Calligrapher
The characters read: “The dragon brings happiness to Taoyuan.” The first character is “dragon.” Designwise, we hope the “dragon” character will bring in grandeur.

The four-character text on the couplet is written in majestic cursive strokes. The city government hopes the work of art will bring prosperity to all in Year of the Dragon.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan mayor
“The dragon brings happiness to Taoyuan.” What that means is that, in the Year of the Dragon, everyone in Taoyuan will be better and happier. At the same time, the first two characters sound like “get together” in Southern Min language, so we hope everyone can come to Taoyuan and have a good time here. Besides commissioning renowned calligrapher Wang Yu-cyuan to brush the character, we added a golden dragon connecting the top to the bottom, and linking up the four characters. I think everyone in Taoyuan will like the couplet.

The Taoyuan city government and renowned calligrapher Wang Yu-cyuan have not just teamed up to create spring couplets. Also available are little dragon-themed charms and red envelopes.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan mayor
The design has a small mechanism. If you pull the dragon’s tongue down, you’ll be able to see it says “The dragon brings happiness to Taoyuan” on the tongue. The red envelope was designed with a lot of ingenuity. The charm has a NT$1 coin, which symbolizes a new beginning, starting anew.

The goodies can be collected for free at Taoyuan City Hall and district offices. The charms and red envelopes will be available at Taoyuan’s main temples starting from the first day of the Year of the Dragon on Feb. 10. The Taoyuan city government hopes the merch will bring everyone happiness in the new year.

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2024-01-19

ChiayiCity God Temple prepares special lucky coins for New Year

2024-01-19

Pingxi Lantern Festival boasts photography contest, prayers for the world

Pingxi Lantern Festival is almost here! The annual celebration of light will take place over two days this year, with some extra special events. On Feb. 17, revelers can head to Pingxi Junior High to watch lantern releases and live performances. On Feb. 24, which is Lantern Festival on the lunar calendar, the festivities will be at Shifen Square. Some of the special events this year include a photography contest, and a ceremony to release prayers for the world, from 100 guests of different nationalities.

A group of cheerleaders, is here in New Taipei to shoot an advert for the sky lantern festival. They walk the famous suspension bridge, check out the stalls on Shifen Old Street and Pingxi Old Street, and of course set off a lantern with prayers. One of the three is CTBC Brothers cheerleader Sammie, here to encourage visitors to attend the festival.

Yang Tszung-min
New Taipei Tourism Department head
There will be a magnificent spectacle here on Feb. 17 and 24. We have a drumming performance from local schools - junior high and elementary students – and we also have well-known singers.

Sammie
CTBC Brothers Cheerleading Team member
We will give a dance performance onstage in Shifen Square on Feb. 24. We’ll perform individually and then as a group.

Pingxi Lantern Festival has been dubbed one of the best lantern festivals in the world by international media. Now entering its 26th year, it’s offering seven major events, including a photography competition, and a simultaneous release of 100 prayer lanterns by guests of different nationalities.

Chen Chun-ching
Deputy mayor of New Taipei
We have two brand-new events this year. One is the photography competition. The other is that we sought out 100 people from around the world, who gave us 100 wishes in writing. We’re taking those messages and write or paint them on the sky lanterns. That will be the special event this year, and it’s a prayer for the whole world.

The festival is also partnering with Taiwan Railway for the first time this year, to release a limited edition of commemorative bento boxes. If you’re on a railway around the festive season, watch out for a way to bring the lanterns into your meal.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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2024-01-19

Tai Tzu-ying moves on to India Open semis after beating China’s He Bingjiao

2024-01-19

Pilot strike over Lunar New Year holiday to be decided on Monday