US critical of China’s attempts to change status quo via patrols

US critical of China’s attempts to change status quo via patrols

2024-03-18

Once again, Washington has called for “restraint” in the Kinmen-Xiamen area. Speaking over the weekend, a spokesperson urged all parties to refrain from unilaterally changing the cross-strait status quo. He was responding to China’s ongoing patrols in Taiwan’s restricted and prohibited waters. On Monday, Taiwan’s foreign ministry thanked the U.S., for pointing out China’s unilateral attempts to change the status quo.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has asserted that its patrols near Kinmen are legitimate law enforcement efforts. Analysts predict that China will expand its encroachment, eventually trespassing into airspace near Kinmen. They say these intrusions will be used to test Taiwan’s limits and to gather intelligence on Taiwan’s military.

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中國海警越界金門水域美國務院:試圖片面改變現狀

2024-03-18

中國海警船上禮拜兩度闖入我國金門禁限制水域，美國國務院認為，北京持續挑釁、對台施壓的動作，是試圖改變現狀，喊話要克制！外交部發感謝美方明確指出中國片面改變現狀。

國台辦聲明強調，這是維護海域正當之舉，新聞稿用字也從廈金海域改為金門附近海域。學者分析，中方持續灰色地帶作戰，不只海域，未來可能進一步也對金門空域宣稱擁有管轄權，面對中方逐步試探我方底線，更要防範藉由頻繁侵擾，藉機蒐集國軍應變反應。

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Lai wants Taiwan’s next 7 submarines to be built in one go

President-elect Lai Ching-te reportedly wants to speed up submarine production. Sources say that earlier this month, he asked for all seven planned submarines to be built in one go, instead of in batches. Building them all together would require an increase to the national defense budget. DPP lawmakers have expressed approval, saying the change is in the interests of national security.

Earlier this month, President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te observed the delivery of the Yunlin patrol vessel. It was the first time they jointly attended a ceremony for a domestically built military vessel. It symbolized the handing over of a legacy.

Tsai Ing-wen (March 9)
President
Today’s ceremony symbolizes the progress in our domestic shipbuilding program, which continues to move forward.

That same day, Tsai and Lai reportedly conducted a secret inspection of the Narwhal, Taiwan’s first domestically built submarine prototype, receiving a confidential briefing. At the time, the head of the indigenous defense submarine program Huang Shu-kuang, and representatives from CSBC Corporation, had proposed building the next seven vessels in three batches, in configurations of three plus two plus two or two plus three plus two. With the May 20 inauguration drawing closer, Tsai deferred the decision to Lai, who asked for all seven vessels to be built in one go.

Lin Chu-yin
DPP lawmaker
This country belongs to all of us. Regardless of what happens in the Legislative Yuan, national security is not just an issue for the DPP or the KMT. Security isn’t about party affiliation. Security is something we all have to work toward. So we hope that the program can proceed as planned, so that submarine production can continue.

But if Lai were to request additional funding for the additional submarines, he could hit resistance in the Legislative Yuan.

Hung Sun-han
DPP lawmaker
Our stance as the ruling party is to complete the project as soon as possible. This shows our commitment to national security and national defense. The funds and the budget for the program have to be allocated properly. We hope that the opposition parties will also be committed to the same goals.

Hsu Chiao-hsin
KMT lawmaker
We will only support transparent, corruption-free, and efficient domestic shipbuilding programs. We will support anything that is in the interests of the R.O.C.

With tensions rising in the Taiwan Strait, the government hopes to speed up efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s marine defenses.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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DPP to launch livestreamed show to connect with young voters

The DPP is set to launch a livestreamed show this Wednesday, in an attempt to reach young voters. The show’s rotating hosts will be DPP spokespeople, and its guests will include lawmaker Rosalia Wu and DPP Chair Lai Ching-te.

DPP Spokesperson Justin Wu and DPP Center for Media Innovation Director Chan Ho-shun chat up a storm, even poking fun at party chair Lai Ching-te.

Chan Ho-shun
DPP Center for Media Innovation
Our boss told us to start a livestream, so whether it’s before or after his inauguration, he should come and make an appearance.

Justin Wu
DPP spokesperson
True. You can’t set us up like this and not even show up yourself.

The DPP is launching its first-ever livestreamed show. The first episode is scheduled for Wednesday evening. Future episodes will be hosted in turn by different DPP spokespeople and each will have a special guest. The goal is to discuss issues important to young people in an entertaining and relaxed manner, and to create a channel of communication.

Justin Wu
DPP spokesperson
Hearing voices within the DPP or even simply seeing the faces of DPP members is very important. In the future, we hope to have people like Lai Ching-te or politicians within the DPP who are usually very careful about their public image. We hope the show can be a place that they let their hair down.

The hosts will take queries from the internet, and encourage guests to express themselves freely. The show will be on every Wednesday on YouTube. The first guest will be lawmaker Rosalia Wu, who will discuss the ins and outs of working in the Legislative Yuan.

Chan Ho-shun
DPP Center for Media Innovation
The episodes on Wednesday will address all the things that happened the previous week. Discussing matters like this may sound a bit dry, but I’m sure that Justin Wu will be able to make the show interesting and interact with the guests to make the show enjoyable.

The show is also set to venture outside the studio. It will make stops at cities and counties, exploring local snacks and sights to form deeper connections with locals around the country. Since the Jan. 13 elections, the DPP has ramped up efforts to reach young people, aiming to win over young voters and swing voters ahead of 2026.

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TSMC to build two IC packaging plants in Chiayi

Vice Premier Chen Wen-tsan revealed that TSMC will build two advanced IC packaging plants in Chiayi. TSMC will be the first to set up shop at the Chiayi Science Park, which is still under construction. Chiayi County’s commissioner and local lawmakers welcomed the news, saying they’ll do all they can to support the project.

Cheng Wen-tsan
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We can confirm that TSMC expects to build two advanced packaging factories using CoWoS tech at Chiayi Science Park.

Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan, economics minister Wang Mei-hua and technology minister Wu Tsung-tsong converged in Chiayi on Monday to break the news. Joining them were Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang, lawmakers Tsai Yi-yu and Chen Kuan-ting, and former lawmaker Chen Ming-wen.

Tsai Yi-yu
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For Chiayi, this is a gamechanger. We never could have imagined such news.

Weng Chang-liang
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I’d like to thank TSMC for choosing Chiayi as an investment site after its evaluation process. This project will promote development across the board in Chiayi. The TSMC project will serve as a flagship, and it will have a huge impact on our economy and industry.

The Chiayi Science Park broke ground just last May. Nine months on, it’s attracted TSMC as a tenant, beating out more established parks in other regions.

Cheng Wen-tsan
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It’s not about winning or losing. Investments in other cities and counties are being assessed carefully at the moment. The urban planning and environmental assessments were completed last year, as well as the utilities planning. It’s only after these tasks were completed that the land was leased from the Southern Taiwan Science Park administration and that the relevant licenses were applied for. Construction is scheduled to start this year.

The Chiayi Science Park will cover an area of 88 hectares. The two TSMC plants will take up about 20 hectares. The company’s construction permits are in final review, and are set to be the first ever issued by the park. Once the paperwork is in order, construction will start later this year, with mass production slated for 2028.

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Japanese high schools seek exchanges with Taiwanese schools

More and more Japanese high schools are taking school trips to Taiwan. And in recent years, an exchange with a Taiwanese school has become a highlight of that kind of program. Teachers say that an exchange across national borders can broaden students’ worldviews and help them see their own education in a new light. FTV dropped in on one such exchange in Taipei to find out more.

When Japanese high school students come for a school trip to Taiwan, an unmissable part of the schedule has to be visiting a Taiwanese school.

Student of Asuka High School, Japan
Taiwanese students are very nice. The exchange conference was run very smoothly and I feel very lucky.

Student of Asuka High School, Japan
All the students here are lovely and easy to talk to. We became friends immediately. The information they presented to us was interesting. I could see the differences between the facilities here and at a Japanese school, for example. I found that very appealing.

Here, students from Taipei Municipal Dazhi High School show Japanese students around their campus and introduce them to Taiwanese culture.

In recent years, more and more Japanese high schools are conducting overseas school trips to Taiwan. In 2019, Japanese people made 2.17 million trips to Taiwan. Sixty thousand of those visitors were on high school trips.

Yang Yi-chiang
Taipei Municipal Da’an Vocational High School principal
What a vocational school focuses on is experiential learning. We want to enable students to learn through many different types of classes. The main goal of educational travel is a classroom exchange. We hope to change our classes to help lots of our students understand more about what Japanese students study. We can look at the differences that we have between us, and dedicate ourselves to progress.

Chang Ya-hsiu
Travel agency CEO
It’s about developing international talent and an international worldview. That satisfies the Japanese needs for international exchange. As much as possible, we try to achieve a win-win for both parties.

International exchanges like this will lay the foundations for lifelong friendships between Taiwanese and Japanese students, broadening their horizons and building bridges of understanding over national borders.

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Beautician from Vietnam is passionate about promoting beauty, independence and education

Today we meet a beautician from Vietnam who’s passionate about promoting beauty, independence and education. Nguyen Boi Nhu came to Taiwan many years ago for marriage, and established a successful beauty treatment business. She was inspired by the help she received from friends to start supporting others. She now supports other immigrant women to start businesses and develop financial independence. She also teaches Vietnamese language and culture, and is also taking new training courses to expand her skills.

This beauty massage offers customers a skin treatment and helps release tension. Nguyen Boi Nhu became a beautician because she loved beauty herself and wanted to help others beautify themselves.

Nguyen Boi Nhu
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People are very tired by their work these days. Every job has different pressures. So I want to use beauty treatments to help people look pretty and take good care of their skin. If I do a relaxing massage, I can also include essential oils, to help the customer relax.

When Nguyen arrived in Taiwan, her Mandarin wasn’t perfect, but a Taiwanese friend coached her to improve her accent. Now Nguyen passes that kindness on by helping other immigrant women to start and run their own businesses. She has a Level 2 beautician certificate and a qualification in postnatal lactation coaching, among other qualifications. She’s passionate about continuing her education, and finds meaning in learning and passing on skills.

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Over more than 10 years, I’ve helped many customers. Some have become friends or loved ones. So I’ve got so much from it. They go from being a housewife to being able to start their own business, earn money and have a stable income. That gives me a sense of achievement.

Alongside supporting other women in business, Nguyen has also won accolades for her beautician skills. She uses her spare time to prepare classes, and teaches Vietnamese language and culture in schools.

Nguyen Boi Nhu
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It’s a way to pay society back, for me, because I love children. But that’s different from it being your fate to have children. If we don’t teach our own children, we can teach other people’s children.

Nguyen doesn’t have kids herself, but she enjoys sharing her love with her many customers and students. Whether in the classroom or the treatment studio, she always gives her all, and hopes that her work isn’t just creating external beauty, but also revealing inner beauty and its strength.

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

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Kaohsiung City councillor promotes Indigenous culture and ecosystem protection

A former Kaohsiung City councillor is creating a haven for Indigenous culture and ecosystem protection on Tieben Mountain. After completing his term of public office, the councilor decided to focus on his ancestral village of Lavulang. His family are creating a forest classroom and kitchen on the mountain, and restoring ancient Indigenous paths through the woods. They welcome guests to their project, teaching them about local Indigenous traditions, as well as the forest ecology.

This is a cleyera japonica, or sakaki. The tree is frequently found growing near Shinto shrines in Japan, and the name sakaki indicates that it’s “a tree of the gods.” It’s a native Taiwanese evergreen tree from the theaceae family, and it helps to clean the air.

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Former Kaohsiung City councillor
This tree is called sakaki, and also the tree of the spirits. When this tree is here, bad spirits leave us.

After completing his term on Kaohsiung City council, Indigenous leader Istanda Paingav Cengfu returned to his ancestral village of Lavulang in Taoyuan District. Here he and his family have created a Forest Culture Classroom, restored ancient pathways through the forest, and built by hand this wooden house as a forest kitchen.

Wife of Istanda Paingav Cengfu
I pickled the plums and prepared them. We can enjoy the greenery here and see Formosan black bears, and you can admire the scenery – see how beautiful it is.

A feast of charcoal-cooked soup with spare ribs and bamboo shoots, chicken with plums, vegetables and wild aiyu jelly. All the ingredients are local. The forest even has a two-tiered barbecue oven.

This is a 1,000-year-old Taiwan crab-apple. Its fruit is sundried and then used in the menu – a flavor you won’t find anywhere else.

Tourist
I think it’s very soothing. You come in and straight away really feel the pace has slowed down, and your heart and mind can settle.

Istanda Paingav Cengfu
Former Kaohsiung City councillor
In coming back to this place, our priority is to protect the ecosystem, and then to restore the culture. So we hope that Lavulang can become a place for a renaissance of Indigenous village culture.

The former councilor has a calling. The project began from scratch four years ago. Slowly, the family are creating something special here, and passing down new stories about Tieben Mountain.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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