Biden administration requests US$100 million for Taiwan in 2025 budget

Biden administration requests US$100 million for Taiwan in 2025 budget

2024-03-12

The White House has requested a total of US$7.26 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year. The proposal includes US$100 million, or about NT$3.1 billion to assist Taiwan in strengthening deterrence and to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Let’s hear from U.S. officials.

Avril Haines
Director of national intelligence
We expect the PLA will field more advanced platforms, deploy new technologies and grow more competent in joint operations with the particular focus on Taiwan and the western Pacific.

Richard Verma
Deputy secretary of state for management and resources
We must employ all the tools at our disposal to outcompete China wherever possible. The FY25 request will allow us to continue to invest in the foundations of our strength at home, align with likeminded partners to strengthen our shared interests and address the challenges posed by the PRC.

Lai Ching-te
Vice president
I will be inaugurated president on May 20. In the future, we hope to work together with the Center for American Progress to promote Taiwan’s progress in various fields and allow Taiwan to assist the international community in these areas.

In related news, a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Rafael Peralta, made its first port call at Japan’s Ishigaki Island on Monday. According to Japanese reports, the U.S. is intentionally showcasing the strong alliance between Japan and the U.S. in the Sakishima Archipelago close to Taiwan to deter Chinese military action.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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白宮2025年總預算編列1億美元助台海安全

2024-03-12

白宮公布2025財政年度預算案，總額高達7.26兆美元，重點除了增進美國全球嚇阻力，國務院還請求編列1億美元，約新台幣31億，持續投資增加台灣安全。

[[美國國家情報總監海恩斯]]
“我們預期解放軍將部署更先進的平台，部署新技術，增強聯合作戰能力，特別針對台灣和西太平洋”

[[美國管理與資源副國務卿維爾馬]]
“我們必須運用所有工具贏過中國，2025財年的預算規劃將繼續投資於我們在國內的實力基礎，結盟志同道合的夥伴，加強我們的共同利益，應對中國帶來的挑戰”

[[副總統賴清德]]
“我5月20日就即將接任總統，未來我也非常希望跟美國進步中心共同合作，在這幾個領域裡面推動台灣進步，也讓台灣可以在這幾個領域裡面，協助國際社會”

事實上，隸屬第七艦隊的勃克級飛彈驅逐艦「裴拉塔號」，11日也首度在石垣島靠港。根據日媒報導，美方是刻意在距離台灣較近的先島群島，宣傳日美同盟堅不可摧，來牽制中國的軍事行動。

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Pro-Taiwan NGOs oppose shorter naturalization process for Chinese spouses

A KMT bill proposal is calling for the naturalization process of Chinese spouses to be shortened from six years to four. Today, almost 300 people from pro-Taiwan NGOs got together to protest this proposed change, because they fear that Taiwan is following in the footsteps of Hong Kong. The DPP’s Huang Jie is proposing stricter naturalization requirements, which include an oath of allegiance to Taiwan.

Pro-Taiwan groups have slammed KMT proposal to shorten the naturalization process for Chinese spouses from six to four years. The New Party has dismissed the protests as discriminatory, but pro-Taiwan NGOs have fired back, saying that Chinese spouses are receiving preferential treatment.

Chen Li-fu
Taiwan Association of University Professors
Only in Taiwan can someone advocate for us to be fair and open to all countries, even enemies. Do these people have 40 to 50 years of special contributions to Taiwan? Here in Taiwan only people with special contributions can have dual citizenship. We need to be sure that these people will be loyal to our society, that they won’t betray Taiwan; if we can be absolutely sure of this, then we can start discussing about changing it from six years to four.

Lo Chun-hsuan
Taiwan Society North deputy head
Starting in 1997, Hong Kong has slowly taken in more Chinese. And now isn’t Hong Kong’s medical system on the brink of collapse? It takes one year and four months just to get an MRI done; there’s one year and eight month-waits for a CT scan. Would we be able to handle hardships like this?

Lo Chun-hsuan is worried that Taiwan is following in Hong Kong’s footsteps. From a medical perspective, he warns that the relatives of Chinese spouses can come over to use the resources of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system. Nearly 300 people from pro-Taiwan NGOs got together to protest legal changes that would allow China to dilute Taiwan’s population.

Lee Chuan-hsin
Taiwan Society head
These spouses don’t need to forfeit the citizenship of their own country, but people from all other countries need to do so, and these Chinese spouses don’t need to take a test. They can even enjoy the right to use the resources of our national health insurance system. And they can even bring their parents to live in Taiwan. Their children who are under the age of 12 can even come to live in Taiwan. This is a classic example of population cleansing.

In order to be fair, these pro-Taiwan NGOs are demanding that Chinese spouses be treated the same as spouses from other countries. As it so happens, DPP lawmaker Huang Jie has just proposed a bill that would require Chinese spouses to fulfill two requirements before they are allowed to naturalize.

Huang Jie
DPP lawmaker
A naturalization oath would be added as well as a naturalization test. The terms of this oath would have legal force. The legal consequences of this oath would mean that if you violate any part of the oath then your household registration would be revoked.

Huang pointed out that Chinese spouses should be required to swear an oath of allegiance to Taiwan before becoming naturalized. With pan-green and pan-blue lawmakers engaged in a battle of words over this proposed bill, Huang’s requirements reflect that both sides have different expectations for Chinese spouses.

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

2024-03-12

ITRI and Largan Precision team up to tap into fast charging battery market

Green energy is a global trend, and one aspect of it is batteries that can charge fast. The Industrial Technology Research Institute has developed a new kind of battery anode material that can get lithium batteries to full charge in just 5 minutes. That’s considerably faster than the 2 to 4 hours it would take a regular battery. To enter the market, ITRI has jointly founded a company with Largan Precision in order to tap into the multi-billion dollar industry.

Taking aim at business opportunities in the energy sector, ITRI and Largan Precision have joined forces with a new company to develop fast-charging lithium battery anode materials. Over the past few years, optoelectronic component giant Largan Precision has been growing its investments outside of its core business, and now it’s setting NT$450 million aside to break into the green energy sector.

Huang Yeo-chih
Largan Precision
Green energy is a great industry with a bright future. As the world looks to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions, the green energy market will only grow larger. Our founder had studied chemical engineering, so our company has long been interested in basic materials.

Chiou Chyou-huey
Ministry of Economic Affairs
The industries are different, but Largan Precision can handle it all the same. It can utilize its competitive edge in materials to combine different sectors and open up new markets.

The invention has been hailed as the fastest-charging lithium battery in the world. They use niobium titanium oxide, which allows the battery to reach full charge in just 5 minutes, if the voltage conditions allow it. The cells have a battery life of 20 years. Industry players are optimistic that the technology can be applied in fast-charging electric buses, energy storage systems, hybrid vehicles and drones. Trial production is expected to start this year, with 24 tons in an initial production period and 600 by 2026.

Chen Jin-ming
New jointly founded energy company
The con of traditional materials is that they aren’t suitable for fast charging. When you try to use them for fast charging, they heat up. The advantage of the anode material we are launching, niobium titanium oxide, is that it can charge a battery fully in 5 minutes.

Chang Pei-zen
ITRI executive vice president
ITRI strongly encourages its colleagues to establish new companies. It has a great effect in terms of tech pricing, licensing and staff transfers.

According to a McKinsey survey, business opportunities in the global lithium-ion battery market will reach US$450 billion or about NT$10 trillion in 2030. It’s no wonder that optoelectronics component firms like Largan Precision are branching out into the industry.

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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Taiwanese travelers to Japan witness bed bugs in hotels and subway cars

An inter-city bed bug disaster is brewing in Japan, with crawly critters being found on hotel blankets and even in the seats of metro carriages. To make matters worse, these super bed bugs seem to be resistant to ordinary pesticides. But not all is lost for Taiwanese travelers, because by following a few travel tips and simple medical advice they should be able to overcome the creatures that might be waiting for them in Japan.

On a trip to Japan, a Taiwanese traveler was not pleased to find that parasitic guests had already checked into his room, which resulted in him quickly changing rooms. So, what were waiting on the sheets of the hotel bed? Bed bugs that bite — literally.

But these biting bugs aren’t just hiding in hotel rooms, as they’ve even been found taking free trips on Japan’s metro system. With the bed bug disaster spreading around places like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kanagawa, Japanese netizens have unleashed their worries on their keyboards, saying they won’t go anywhere near a subway carriage. Local cleaning experts have even worse news: regular pesticides are hardly a match for this wave of super strong bed bugs.

943
Travel writer
Don’t underestimate this type of bed bug because of its small size. They’re actually really good at crawling, so if you don’t inspect your luggage or if your bags are made of fabric, or if you don’t have them closed tightly, then these bugs could potentially crawl into your bag by going through the zipper, and then head back to Taiwan with you.

This travel aficionado provided a helpful bed bug briefing: these crawly critters like to get into mattress cracks and small spaces between chair and sofa cushions. So before checking into a hotel, tourists should first inspect their accommodation’s interior. She also suggested that clothing that has been worn should be washed in hot water and then put in a dryer.

Tsai Yi-shan
Dermatologist
The first thing is hurry up and get a cold compress on it. Now, the second thing is, if there are bites on your hands, then you can apply a slightly stronger topical anti-itch cream or possibly some mint. Or doctors could prescribe you some steroid-based ointments. You can try out all of these options.

If rashes or blisters form because of bed bug bites, the skin doctor reminded people to never scratch the bumps, as this could potentially break the skin. If symptoms persist for more than a week or if the swelling doesn’t subside, visit a doctor.

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

2024-03-12

Central government to contribute NT$3 billion to buy 10 carriages for Taoyuan Metro

Since the launch of the TPASS monthly transport ticket in northern Taiwan, ridership on the Taoyuan Metro has gone up by 15%. The central government now says it is hoping to expand the system by subsidizing the purchase of 10 more carriages. Under the plan, the central government would pay for half of the total bill of NT$6 billion. On Tuesday, transport minister Wang Kwo-tsai said more promotions will be launched in April to encourage more people to take public transport.

On weekdays, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Station on the Taoyuan Metro is packed with commuters. Last July, the government launched the monthly transport pass TPASS, which was adopted by many. Since then, ridership has gone up by 15%.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Vice premier
Real estate agents looking to sell houses in Linkou, Guishan, Luzhu and Qingpu can tell prospective buyers to get the NT$1,200 transport pass.

The Executive Yuan led an inspection of the Taoyuan Metro on Tuesday. The occasion brought together Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan and Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng, a rare joint appearance by the former and current mayors of the city.

Wang Kwo-tsai
Transport minister
The Highway Bureau is also putting together a plan to expand promotion and marketing in April, in hopes of boosting ridership further. Premier Chen Chien-jen has mentioned before that the program will continue beyond 2025. So I think there won’t be problems regarding the budget.

The TPASS program launched last July with a budget of NT$20 billion. The transport pass has helped the Taoyuan Metro turn its losses into gains, making a profit of NT$120 million last year.

Wang Kwo-tsai
Transport minister
We hope to combine administrations and functions into one. So we hope to transfer the management of the Taoyuan Airport Line, including three major development projects at stations A8, A9 and A19, to the Taoyuan City Government. We are also looking to transfer and increase the number of carriages. We hope to reach a decision soon.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Vice premier
We’re looking to purchase 10 carriages for about NT$6 billion. The central government would subsidize half of the cost, or NT$3 billion. We’ll negotiate the matter with the Taoyuan City Government and the Taoyuan Metro as soon as possible.

With international travel on the rise after the pandemic and the wide adoption of TPASS, the government hopes to make improvements for travel in Northern Taiwan.

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

2024-03-12

Miaoli temple offers blessing lamps for pets to cater to the age of pet-mania

In this age of pet-mania, you can even find religious services for animals. A temple in Miaoli is offering blessing lamps for pets, to bring them protection through the coming year. Lighting blessing lamps has become popular around Lunar New Year in recent decades. But religious experts caution that loving pet owners shouldn’t get a blessing lamp frivolously. Make sure you read up on the customs around blessing lamps, and take them seriously, even if their beneficiary has four paws.

This list of pets’ names is not a database of the clients of a pet store. A temple is offering to light blessing lamps for pet owners’ fur babies.

The name is entered into the system and then stuck onto the lamp. With the support of the deity, the creature will be blessed and protected. This temple in Miaoli’s Zhunan Township offers the unusual service for local animals.

Pet owner
If you have a pet you’re bound to love it and hope it stays safe.

Lin Wen-hsiang
Temple guardian
Some dogs and cats don’t have health insurance and vets’ fees can be very expensive. We want to light blessing lamps for them, or peace lamps, to pray for their safety.

As people have fewer and fewer children, pets are becoming more prominent members of the family. That’s created an unexpected income stream for this temple. But pet owners should pay attention to the traditions and taboos around blessing lamps, lest their badly-formed prayers prove counterproductive.

Yang Teng-ko
Folk custom expert
Blessing lamps are for living pets. They are not suitable for deceased pets. Blessing lamps must be kept alight for the whole year, and cannot be blown out. That would represent the end of the blessing. And you cannot replace the pet’s name with a fake human name to smuggle it into a temple which does not offer blessing lamps to animals.

LED lamps have replaced traditional yellow lightbulbs, making blessing lamps more of a multi-coloured spectacle. The towers of lamps also revolve, creating a truly technological atmosphere. But how is a believer supposed to find their lamp among all this glitz and sparkle?

You can enter your phone number to find the code of your lamp, which tells you exactly where it is. The onward march of technology is bringing fresh customs even into temples.

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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