First one-year conscripts of 2024 report for duty

First one-year conscripts of 2024 report for duty

2024-01-25

The first one-year conscripts have reported for duty. More than 9,000 men will serve a year of military service in 2024, under Taiwan’s newly extended conscription program. The first cohort, of 670 men, gathered at assembly stations nationwide on Thursday. They’ll first enter eight weeks of basic training, which includes physical conditioning, combat drills, and shooting exercises.

Hung Hsin-chih
302 brigade, second battalion
Compared to the four-month conscription program, the training of the one-year conscripts is more specialized in various areas, including advanced combat, as well as rapid-reaction shooting, and first-aid in a wartime situation. These skills are all incorporated into our eight-week course.

Hsiao Meng-hui
302 brigade, second battalion
Throughout the training, I will constantly monitor their physical condition as I follow the curriculum schedule, conducting risk management and security precautions. This is so that we can make exacting demands on the recruits while maintaining safe conditions.

After basic training, each conscript will receive full combat gear and be assigned to units based on their preferences and professional expertise. During the rest of their service period, they will undergo even more rigorous training that’s aimed at improving Taiwan’s combat capabilities.

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

一年役新兵2226梯今入伍! 北.中.南共670人分批入營

2024-01-25

2024年義務役役期改為一年，今年預計徵集9127人。首批新兵2226梯共670人，週四上午在北、中、南分批入伍，將接受八週，包括體能、戰鬥教練與射擊的訓練。

[[302旅步二營長洪新智]]
“針對4個月的軍事訓練役，跟現在我們要接的一年義務役，在課程上面安排，我們有再提供更多專業領域，包含進階戰鬥，還有快反射擊，還有戰傷救護，這些都納入我們八週課表裡面，實施授課。”

[[302旅步二營火力連士官督導長蕭孟暉]]
“在整個集訓的過程當中，在訓練期間我要時刻注意他們的身體狀況，並且按照課程進度去實施授課，掌握好各項風險管控及維安防阻，讓新兵在訓練安全情況下，去嚴格要求他們。”

結訓後，入伍生將領取完整戰鬥個裝，並依專長與志願分發部隊，接受更嚴格紮實的訓練，也讓國軍戰力再提升。

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First US congressional delegation since election meets Tsai and Lai

U.S. lawmakers Ami Bera and Mario Diaz-Balart met President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei on Thursday. They are the first U.S. congressional delegation to visit Taiwan since the general election. Later in the day, the two of them met President-elect Lai Ching-te and incoming Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim. Lai reiterated his commitment to maintaining the cross-strait status quo.

Congressional Taiwan Caucus Co-chairs Ami Bera and Mario Diaz-Balart are on their second day in Taiwan. In the morning, they were warmly welcomed at the Presidential Office.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
I would hereby like to thank the U.S. Congress for its longstanding bipartisan support for Taiwan-U.S. relations. I hope a bill to expedite double-tax relief between Taiwan and the U.S. will be passed soon. Through our bilateral exchanges, we hope to expand Taiwan’s connections with other countries, to strengthen the democratic coalition, and to achieve global prosperity and development.

Mario Diaz-Balart
Congressional Taiwan Caucus co-chair
But what this delegation demonstrates clearly is that there’s absolute solid bipartisan support for Taiwan, for its prosperity and for its security. And we listen when you’ve talked about the issue of double taxation and we hope that soon we will be able to, once again, deliver good news on that front as well.

After meeting with the president, the delegation personally congratulated Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim for winning the presidential election. Lai repeated his stance on cross-strait relations.

Lai Ching-te
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China has continued to harass Taiwan with military activity and gray-zone tactics. But Taiwan has remained calm in its response. In the future, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and I will build upon the good foundation laid by President Tsai. We’ll strengthen the resilience of our society and safeguard the peaceful status quo of the Taiwan Strait. We hope the U.S. will continue to provide strong support for Taiwan.

Ami Bera
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Mr. President-elect, in your words you talked about the peace, prosperity and stability of the region, and that is exactly what we’re here to represent as the United States Congress. In the 21st century there’s no place for aggressive action, we have to learn to live together, to trade together, to work together, to solve the world’s problems together.

This is the first U.S. congressional delegation to visit Taiwan since the Jan. 13 election. Earlier this week, the U.S. Navy sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait for the first time since the election. An official statement said the transit demonstrated the U.S.’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations. It added that no member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced.

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

2024-01-25

FTV unveils ‘People of Taiwan,’ an art installation celebrating democracy

A large-scale art installation was inaugurated outside FTV’s Linkou headquarters on Thursday. Titled “People of Taiwan,” the piece consists of 35 statues, representing Indigenous people, farmers, merchants, and engineers, as well as Taiwan’s democracy pioneers. The work was created by acclaimed sculptor Fang Hui-kuang, to capture the spirit of Taiwan and its democracy.

Braving the cold, dignitaries stand in file to do the honors. There’s FTV President Dorothy Wang, FTV General Manager Liao Ji-fang, and distinguished guests including Presidential Office Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung, former foreign minister Mark Chen, and former Vice Premier Yeh Chu-lan, the widow of pro-democracy activist Cheng Nan-jung. Together, they inaugurate a public art installation titled “People of Taiwan.” It is a moment for the books.

The resonant voice of Yang lie fills the room as he sings “Formosa,” commemorating the people who paved the way for Taiwan’s democracy. The installation is the work of acclaimed sculptor Fang Hui-kuang. It’s composed of 35 figures and was unveiled to the public on Thursday.

Lin Chia-lung
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The artistry of this installation shows the eternal spirit of our forebears, which is also the spirit of Taiwan. Of course, FTV is the “Eye of Taiwan,” and the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Mark Chen
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Art can leave an impression on humanity and on future generations. Literature and the arts can be said to have an incredible influence on us.

Ye Chu-lan
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The Taiwanese people’s struggle for democracy is recorded here. This artwork at the FTV headquarters is a lasting monument that will allow everyone to understand what transpired in Taiwan’s history.

The installation is located outside FTV’s headquarters in New Taipei’s Linkou District. Rendered in lifelike detail, the statues capture the spirit of many prominent pro-democracy figures.

Dorothy Wang
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Freedom and democracy were not given to us by the heavens. They were fought for by the people. Our forebears struggled hard, and many of them have already passed. With this artwork, we can keep their spirit alive.

The sculptor Fang says the work includes not only democracy’s pioneers, but also Taiwan’s ordinary folk.

Fang Hui-kuang
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They represent Indigenous people, scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, engineers, families… There is even a person holding a child high up, so that the child can see what’s happening in Taiwan. If you look closely, you’ll notice there is an elementary school student as well as a student from Taipei First Girls High School standing at the front. If Taiwan wants to continue on a democratic path, it needs to get young people involved. Taiwan’s pursuit of freedom and democracy requires the involvement of people from every generation.

With his skillful hands, Fang conveyed his love for Taiwan. The work will stand sentry outside FTV, carrying on the spirit of democracy.

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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Meet Yuty Huang, plant stylist

Today we take you to meet Yuty Huang, a plant stylist. Before embarking on this rewarding career, she was a fashion designer. Now, she gives people advice on how to arrange plants and decorate their homes. FTV reporter Stephany Yang caught up with Huang to find out more.

Yuty Huang has tips on how to embrace the holiday season.

Yuty Huang
Plant stylist
The easiest thing is that during Spring Festival, you can go to some orchid gardens, or if you’re in Taipei, you can visit the Jianguo Flower Market. There are a lot of varieties. Don’t think about how long it will take you to grow them. Just start by experimenting.

Taiwan is globally renowned for its orchid industry, due to its many flower varieties and advanced horticultural technology. In Huang’s classes, she teaches students how to cultivate orchids, and to arrange them in the best way for each home. Huang says orchids are popular flowers because there are so many varieties. They also last a long time in a home setting.

Yuty Huang
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As I said, there are many varieties of orchids, and the varieties reproduce with each other to form unique flowers.

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Yuty Huang
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When people first take up plant cultivation, it’s usually to decorate their homes. For me, that’s like dressing up. I will pay special attention to the texture of each plant, which is like fabric. I’ll look at the texture of the petals, and whether the color matches the home. It’s like matching a sofa and looking at whether the color is suitable for a space.

First as a fashion designer and now as a plant stylist, Huang hopes to help clients appreciate nature and create a beautiful home environment.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Hengchun employs rocks to weigh items down and counter winter winds

If you’ve ever been to the far south of Taiwan in winter, you might have noticed an interesting sight. The people of Hengchun Township often weigh down their items with heavy rocks, to keep them from being blown away by the wind. Market stalls, tables, and even scooters are all at the mercy of sudden gales. The winds are caused by geography. Winter monsoon winds, blowing over the central mountain range, accelerate where the mountains dip down to the sea at Hengchun. The local people have a special name for the northeast monsoon: the “wind that comes off the mountains.”

A Hengchun night market. Each table at this stall has a big rock sitting on it. Diners are enjoying their snacks right next to the rocks, but this tourist is perplexed. She’s laughing as she films the video, wondering what on earth is going on?

Member of public
They’re heavy, stop the tables getting blown away by the wind.

The rocks aren’t here to deter would-be table-flippers. The northeast monsoon winds are too strong here in Pingtung’s Hengchun Township. This stall owner is afraid the tables might get blown away. Even the lids of the cooking pots and the signs are weighed down.

Member of public
Everyone working here has to pick things up – plates, tables – it’s a shame.

Where the central mountain range dips down to its southern end on the Hengchun Peninsula, the mountains are just 400 to 1,000 meters high. As the northeast monsoon winds blow down off the mountain range from October to April, they produce strong winds in Checheng, Mudan and Hengchun. A sudden gust can even reach “near gale” speeds, equivalent to a tropical storm.

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We have to weigh down the tables and the things on the stalls with stones. Sometimes the northeast monsoon winds here are stronger than a tropical storm.

The “wind that comes off the mountains” can even flip over scooters, which need to be weighed down too. Locals think nothing of it, but tourists might need to watch out.

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ITRI showcases forward-looking innovations, unveils first sustainability report

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On the window of this bus simulator, you can instantly see facts about passing attractions.

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It’s combined with GPS data, and there’s also eye-tracking technology – all of that is integrated.

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If you have a chance to go to Cijin in Kaohsiung, you can see it already installed on the Chi Fu No. 2 ferry. We expect this system to be introduced on the Danhai Light Rail by late January or early February.

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On Wednesday, ITRI showcased new R&D achievements of its 2035 Technology Strategy & Roadmap, which prioritizes “intelligentization enabling technologies” and the application domains of Smart Living, Quality Health, Sustainable Environment, and Resilient Society. It also unveiled its first-ever sustainability report.

Edwin Liu
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Our 2023 report will be published in 2024 – that is, by the second quarter of this year. Just as how other companies do it, we will publish the previous year’s sustainability report in the second quarter. That will help us review ITRI’s sustainable organizational development.

Through regular reporting, ITRI will evaluate its progress in various fields. ITRI President Edwin Liu said that for 50 years now, ITRI has served as a main driver of Taiwan’s economic growth. Today it’s a large entity of more than 6,000 people. As such, it must focus not only on research, but also on how to move forward toward sustainable organizational development.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Tech startup teams up with Malaysia software provider on AI dental assistant

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At dental clinics, dentist assistants and patient-facing employees have to answer the same questions hundreds of times every day. They don’t get asked hundreds of different questions. So bringing this Dental GPT to clinics can greatly alleviate manpower shortages.

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