Taiwan officials urge caution when traveling to Hong Kong after passing of Article 23

Taiwan officials urge caution when traveling to Hong Kong after passing of Article 23

2024-03-22

On Tuesday, Hong Kong passed a new national security law referred to as Article 23, which expands the government’s powers to crack down on many forms of dissent. Under the new law, people found guilty of treason, secession, incitement of rebellion or subversion of the government can be punished with life sentences. On Friday, DPP lawmaker Hung Sun-han held a press conference on the matter, voicing support for the people of Hong Kong. Let’s hear from him.

Hung Sun-han
DPP lawmaker
In comparison with the national security law of 2020, Article 23 uses vaguer language that allows authoritarian leaders to further abuse their power.

Vawongsir
Hong Kong cartoonist
I am an artist and I don’t know what would be crossing the line. Article 23 severely restricts our freedom to create works and our freedom of speech. If I publish a book, I could be targeted. But I am just a regular person. All I do is convey my feelings about Hong Kong. But still, step by step they are eroding our freedoms.

Tong Wai-hung
Hong Konger in Taiwan
You interviewing me means you have already committed the crime of inciting rebellion. If you don’t report me now, and I am here getting interviewed - if you know my situation and don’t report me, you could go to jail for 17 years, and I could be imprisoned for life. If the Hong Kong government thinks you are guilty, you are guilty.

Article 23 contains vague definitions for crimes and unclear procedures for law enforcement, which could potentially put foreign nationals at risk. Taiwan National Security Bureau head Tsai Ming-yen urges travelers heading to Hong Kong to be careful with what they say. Online comments or text messages that contain criticism of the Chinese government or China’s economy could give rise to problems at the Hong Kong border. Meanwhile, transport minister Wang Kwo-tsai has called on the general public to avoid traveling to Hong Kong unless absolutely necessary.

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

不只港人! 外國人曾批評中國.香港情勢也恐被定罪

2024-03-22

香港政府19號通過"基本法第23條"，未來只要被港府認定有叛國、分裂國家、煽動叛亂、顛覆政府等行為，就可能被判刑、最重是終身監禁，民進黨立委洪申翰等人周五在立法院召開記者會，隔海聲援香港。

[[立委(民) 洪申翰]]
“相比於2020年，港府一樣通過的國安法，(第23條)法律使用的範圍更加模糊，更加可以被極權者拿來濫用”

[[香港政治漫畫家 vawongsir]]
“我做藝術的，找不到紅線在哪，23條通過會嚴正影響我們的創作自由、言論自由，我出書也要被攻擊，我只是個普通人，只是說說我對香港的感受而已，但他們還是要一步一步，剝奪我們的自由”

[[在台港人湯偉雄]]
“現在妳訪問我，妳就已經犯了煽動的罪名，現在如果妳不通報我，我現在在這邊做訪談，妳是知情不報，妳就是關17年，我就有機會是終身監禁，只要它(港府)覺得你是，你就是”

香港基本法第23條，罪行定義籠統、執法界線模糊，外國人也可能被定罪，國安局長蔡明彥特別提醒，民眾假如要入境香港，一定要特別注意自己有沒有在網站或手機上留下批評中國政治、經濟情勢的文字，避免入境香港後遭無端入罪。交通部長王國材更是直接建議民眾，為了自身安全，非必要，還是別飛香港了。

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Before he takes office on May 20, President-elect Lai Ching-te is holding exchanges with local industries. He started out at the Hsinchu Science Park, where he met with semiconductor industry players. He then went to Chiayi County to visit the UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center.

Lai Ching-te
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More than 20 drone manufacturers were present, and Lai listened to them and explained his ideas. This was not only because he deeply understands that drones are widely used in various industries, but they also play an important role in national defense.

Lai Ching-te
President-elect
National defense and economy are two pillars that support the survival and development of the country. In order to have a seamless transition and let the country continue to progress steadily, I will make good use of my previous time before May 20 to quickly have a grasp of matters relating to national defense and national security.

Industry players at the meeting displayed a variety of commercial drones that can be used by the military. They also told Lai that they hoped that his new government can continue to inject resources into this industry and strengthen national defense capabilities. Last month, Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim paid a visit to this drone center, showing that both she and Lai attaches great importance to 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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Hello Taiwan sets up office in Taipei to boost Taiwan’s international presence

New York-based NGO Hello Taiwan has opened a new office in Taipei. The organization, which was founded by Taiwanese American Ming Chiang, is seen as a powerful promoter of people-to-people diplomacy between the U.S. and Taiwan. Since founding the organization in 2018, Chiang had always wanted to set down roots in Taiwan by establishing the NGO’s headquarters here.

Ming Chiang
Hello Taiwan founder
Whether you are a business, an artist, a scholar or just a regular Taiwan lover, Hello Taiwan welcomes you.

Hello Taiwan is an organization founded by Ming Chiang, a Taiwanese American. The group has now announced the opening of an office in Taipei.

Ming Chiang
Hello Taiwan founder
When I founded Hello Taiwan in New York, the plan was to set up headquarters in Taiwan within five years. We want to grow Hello Taiwan’s mission from Taiwan to the world.

Randy Feenstra
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I want to congratulate you all on officially opening the Taipei office of Hello Taiwan. Through your hard work and advocacy, Hello Taiwan has organized and sponsored over 100 events around the U.S. to educate the American people about Taiwanese culture and history.

Due to Taiwan’s unique international status, there are many limits to what the country can do in an official capacity. That’s where many NGOs step in. Hello Taiwan’s founder Chiang has used his business connections in New York to promote people-to-people diplomacy between Taiwan and the U.S. His efforts have won support from politicians in the U.S., and it’s thanks to his help that events such as art exhibitions and the Mets Taiwan Day are held.

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Due to Taiwan’s international situation, there is no fast way for the government to link up with other governments. But with civic groups like Hello Taiwan, people connect with people first, and then governments connect later. It’s a process that’s very familiar to us in Taiwan, and it’s also the quickest path to do so.

Doong Sy-chi
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While setting down roots in Taiwan, it can help build consensus, a sense of identity and confidence. It allows the people of Taiwan to help Taiwan.

Chiang hopes the NGO will help Taiwan have more of a global presence, so that people from all over the world can appreciate what Taiwan has to offer.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Spotlight on one of Taiwan’s top orchestral conductors and his passion for cycling

Now, we take a look at one of Taiwan’s rising orchestral conductors - and his passion for cycling. Tseng Wei-yung is a busy professional conductor with lots of prizes under his belt. But after a habit of working late led to health problems, he realized that something had to change. Now he spends 15 hours a week on his bike, and competes in major amateur cycling races. He says the flow state he enters while cycling is similar to how it feels to work with an orchestra.

The cyclist grips the handlebars, full steam ahead. The magnificent views all around Taiwan are part of what makes cycling a passion for Tseng Wei-yung. His career as a conductor is hectic, but he spends at least 15 hours a week training on the bike, maintaining his physical and mental health. In October 2023, he rode up to Wuling Pass on Mount Hehuan, winning the amateur trophy in the Taiwan KOM Challenge.

Along the way, he rode with fellow cyclists from many different walks of life, which spurred him on his way. He says that all the time spent alone in the saddle helps him to get to know himself better and provides inspiration for his creative work.

Tseng Wei-yung
Conductor
It feels just like when you’re up against a great piece of art. “How shall I interpret this orchestral piece?” It’s like when I’m cycling, and I think “How shall I interpret this competition?” So it’s very interesting, when you’re riding, it’s like you’re also conducting.

Whether it’s a conductor’s baton or handlebars in his hands, in the auditorium or rolling down a highway in the wind, conducting and cycling are one for Tseng.

Tseng Wei-yung
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When we travel to perform in townships all over the country, they’ve got to take their cellos. I only need to take my baton, so I can take my bike along. They have the cellos and I have my bike.

Years ago, Tseng frequently worked late into the night, and didn’t prioritize his health. That once led to disaster in an important international competition. It was a big wakeup call for Tseng. He spent prize money from conducting on a bike that cost over NT$200,000, and began to train every day. He realized that cycling brings him into a flow state, which is good for his health and, he says, brings him spiritual energy.

Tseng Wei-yung
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Cycling is very solitary. When you face a tough training session, or a difficult competition, you need enormous willpower to confront yourself. And it’s the same with conducting. When you face the orchestra, you’re alone with the score – it’s a conversation with yourself.

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For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – typically an underwater rainbow of color. Now parts of it are a spotted canvas of white.

It’s called a coral bleach – a symptom of soaring ocean temperatures that can lead to the death of a reef and the species who live there.

Derek Manzello
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Marine heat waves are unfortunately increasing in frequency, magnitude and severity. This is directly due to climate change and global warming.

The high levels of heat stress mapped in 2023 prompted the United States’ National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, to update its coral bleaching alert maps. In December, NOAA added three new levels, with Level 5 predicting “near complete mortality” for reefs.

Marine ecologist Manzello says that the world is on the brink of a historic coral mass bleaching event, the fourth in history.

Species like tuna – a key food source and top export here in American Samoa. Manzello says he’s already helping the U.S. territory monitor the worst-hit reefs in their waters.

Derek Manzello
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Ana Maria Micu
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The first image that starts this series is about me crawling from an enclosure It is a place of comfort. I absolutely must get out of there in order to follow my dreams and do what I want to do.

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Ana Maria Micu
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Scaffolding comes from this lingering memory that I have of watching many years ago the movie "The Agony and the Ecstasy" which portrays the life of Michelangelo. I remember the difficulties that he had to face to climb the wood scaffolding that was constructed for him to paint on the ceiling. The personal message for the exhibition is that you should somehow overcome the limitations of your situation.

Micu is a visual artist from Romania. She graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Arts and Design of Cluj-Napoca in Romania. This is Micu’s fourth exhibition in Taipei.

Ana Maria Micu
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I did a mural here on site. It is about the expansion of the soul, about providing a background for an existing painting that I did in my studio. We are thinking that the installation is immersive. The viewers could experience some sort of feelings in front of it. I hope they will come and see.

Micu’s solo exhibit will be held at the Mind Set Art Center till April 27.

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