MOFA releases photos, itinerary of Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim’s European visit

2024-03-24

Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim has been on a low-key tour of the U.S. and Europe to boost democratic partnerships. Over the weekend, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published photos of Hsiao with leaders of the European Parliament, as well as her itinerary in Europe, which included closed-door meetings with two presidential candidates in Lithuania. Observers say that diplomatic affairs that used to be kept low-key are now being made public, reflecting the warming of relations between Taiwan and the EU.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made public some photos of vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim together with political heavyweights from the U.S., Europe and other countries. Among them were Czech Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil, acting speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Jan Bartošek and others.

In addition to speaking at think tanks in the Czech Republic, Poland and Lithuania, Hsiao met with two presidential candidates in Lithuania behind closed doors. She was also invited by First Vice-President of the European Parliament Othmar Karas to a gathering of more than 30 European Parliament members.

Voice of Hsiao Kuang-wei
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson
This trip is the first time that a vice president-elect from Taiwan has been invited to visit Europe before taking office. It demonstrates that Taiwan and the EU are partners that share similar concepts and values. At the same time, Taiwan will refine and develop cooperation with the EU in various fields.

Originally, MOFA kept the information about Hsiao’s overseas trip under wraps. It was not until European politicians released photos of the meetings that MOFA followed suit. An observer says that things that had to be kept low-key in the past are now gradually being made public, reflecting the continued warming of relations between Taiwan and the EU.

Voice of Marc Cheng
European Union Centre in Taiwan
Politicians in some countries don’t really care, or they don’t shy away from showing their support for Taiwan and publicly expressing their welcome to Taiwanese who visit their countries. I think this is a clear trend.

The growing friendship between Taiwan and the EU is evident. At the end of last month, the European Parliament passed two annual reports that cover foreign, security, and defense policy. One resolution states that “neither Taiwan nor China is subordinate to the other.”

On March 25, Vice-President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala and head of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with China Reinhard Bütikofer will lead a delegation to Taiwan and will also meet with President Tsai Ing-wen on the same day.

Observers say Hsiao’s current trip is meant to pave the way for further diplomatic work after her inauguration in May.

Tang Shao-cheng
Institute of International Relations, NCCU
Because Hsiao Bi-khim already has a good relationship with the U.S., I think her relationship with Europe must be strengthened. There will be many foreign guests at her inauguration on May 20. If the quality and quantity of those foreign guests exceed previous levels, then it will show the results of eight years of diplomatic work.

There are many achievements that the Tsai administration made in the last eight years, and one manifestation is the support of Taiwan shown by the West.

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

戰貓訪歐拚外交! 蕭美琴會立陶宛兩總統候選人

2024-03-24

副總統當選人蕭美琴近來先後到美國、歐洲拜會重要政治人物，除了受邀到歐洲議會和副議長會晤，也密會立陶宛兩位總統候選人，外交部更公布訪歐行程的相關資訊及照片。學者分析，過去只能低調的事如今檯面化，不只象徵台歐關係持續升溫、也代表美歐等民主盟友認為台灣是志同道合夥伴、更展現對民主價值的支持。

外交部公布，副總統當選人蕭美琴，近來先後拜會美、歐等多國重要政治人物相關照片，包括和捷克參議院議長韋德齊、眾議院代理議長巴圖謝克等人。

除了受邀到捷克、波蘭和立陶宛智庫演講外，蕭美琴還密會立陶宛2位總統候選人，另外也受邀訪問歐洲議會，獲第一副議長卡拉斯及超過30名歐洲議會議員接待。

[[聲源:外交部副發言人蕭光偉]]
“此行是我國副總統當選人，首度在就職前應邀訪問歐洲，彰顯台灣跟歐盟是理念價值夥伴，同時我國將昇華跟開拓，台歐盟各項領域合作”

原先外交部對蕭美琴這趟訪外行程資訊保密到家，直到歐洲政治人物先對外公布會晤照片後，我方外交部才跟進，學者分析，過去只能低調的事，現在正一步步公開檯面化，代表台歐關係、持續升溫。

[[聲源:歐洲聯盟中心執行長鄭家慶]]
“有些國家的政治人物，並不在意或者他們不避諱地，展現出他們對台灣的支持，公開表達歡迎台灣的友人來訪，我覺得這趨勢相對來說是明確的”

台歐友好，上個月底歐洲議會才剛通過兩項對歐盟外交及安全政策的年度評估報告，內容提到"台灣與中國互不隸屬"。

而3月25號歐洲議會副議長郝塔拉，及歐洲議會對中關係代表團長包瑞翰，也將率團訪台、當天也將晉見總統蔡英文。

外界更推測，蕭美琴此趟拜會，都是為上任後的外交工作進展，預作準備。

[[政大國際研究中心研究員湯紹成]]
“因為蕭美琴她本身，跟美國的關係比較好，跟歐洲的關係我看，必須要有所加強，520當天有很多外賓，是否展現八年的外交成果，一定是如此，(觀察)外賓的質及量指標，都可能突破以往”

蔡英文執政八年外交成果豐碩，從歐美等民主國家挺台態度，可見一斑。

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Proposed amendment seeks to add retired female military officers to reserves

2024-03-24

Cockpit windshield of a Taipei-bound flight from Japan damaged before takeoff

Lion Air flight 395 scheduled to take off from Tokyo’s Narita Airport at 8:25 p.m. on Saturday was grounded after a jet bridge struck its windshield, leaving it cracked. A former pilot said the situation is very rare, and that the windshield can easily be replaced. However, since the accident occurred just before the airport’s curfew hours, no crew were on hand to carry out the repairs, leaving passengers stranded overnight. Some chose to sleep on the floor of the airport, while others booked last-minute seats on an EVA Air flight to Taipei.

Thailand’s budget carrier Lion Air was forced to cancel a Taipei-bound flight from Japan’s Narita International Airport on Saturday, after the plane was struck by a jet bridge. Passengers were forced to deplane, and some were stranded at the airport overnight.

Flight SL395 was originally scheduled to depart from Narita at 8:25 p.m. and arrive at the airport in Taoyuan at 11:30 p.m., before continuing on to Bangkok. However, ground crew noticed damage to the cockpit windshield and had the flight grounded. Commenting on the broken windshield, a former pilot in Taiwan said the situation is very rare.

Jao Tzu-chiang
Former pilot
No matter how the jet bridge moves, it’s still not oval like the fuselage. So, the fact that it can hit the cockpit window is very strange.

Since the accident occurred just before Narita airport’s curfew hours, passengers were required to move to the airport’s first floor, and there were no services available to them. Neither was there public transportation available to take people into the city. Anyone choosing to ride a taxi into the city would be faced with a fare of 25,000 yen. Some chose to purchase new airline tickets back to Taiwan through EVA Air, while others decided to sleep on the floor of the airport.

Jao Tzu-chiang
Former pilot
If there had been the needed materials and the ability to replace the glass, you could do so quite quickly. If there’s even a small crack, the plane can’t take off. It’s a very serious issue.

Some of the stranded passengers also complained that nearby hotels were fully booked, ruling out a hotel stay as a possible solution. However, ground crew said compensation from the airline would not be likely, as the incident was airport-related and not the fault of the airline.

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

2024-03-24

Hospitals say they would incur significant expense from a planned energy price hike

2024-03-24

Fitness professionals help seniors turn the tide on aging

As Taiwan’s demographic changes, older adults have become a major driving force of the fitness industry. But senior clients have unique physical limitations, and their progress may be slower compared to younger adults. To meet the needs of this group, fitness trainers need specialized training. Today in our Sunday special report, we meet certified professionals who guide seniors toward healthier and more vibrant lives.

Despite the rain, these students have gathered right on time for their 10 a.m. muscle conditioning class.

Look close and you’ll see they’re not your usual gym buffs. Many are silver-haired retirees. The average age of the class is 75.

Seniors today are more eager than ever before to take classes to stay fit. But effective instruction requires specialized knowledge.

Wan Tzu
Fitness instructor
I studied physical education in school, but I wasn’t an athlete myself. I focused on the theoretical side. In Taiwan, there are quite a few courses for senior fitness trainers, but they don’t all provide certification.

By law, fitness trainers for the elderly aren’t required to hold certification. But certification is still the main way of assessing a trainer’s abilities.

Cheng Ching-chieh
Fitness center owner
When we’re looking to hire a trainer, we look for three things. The first is at least three years of coaching experience. The second is certification as a senior fitness specialist. The third is actual experience teaching seniors.

In Taiwan, there are two types of certification for senior fitness specialists: national and private. National certification is issued by the Sports Administration. It’s been available since 2013, but is notoriously hard to pass. To date, fewer than 1,500 people have obtained it. In comparison, private certifications are more accessible and varied, with at least 10 organizations offering them.

One of them is the Health & Exercise Association ROC. It runs a two-day certification workshop for senior fitness specialists.

The final exam is two hours long, covering both theoretical and practical components. Today one of the proctors is Ruby, a trainer herself. She says the test doesn’t just assess professional expertise. It also factors in interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively.

Ruby
Senior fitness trainer
First off, how you address the students is very important. Never ever call them Uncle or Aunty. Call them Brother or Sister. After that, you’ve got your small talk: “Have you eaten?” and “How’d you sleep last night?” You have to engage with them. After that, you’ve got to play music, music that old people like. That’s a handy trick of the trade.

As more seniors take up exercise, courses for trainers are on the rise. Certified trainers enjoy a strong career outlook.

She wraps up warm and grabs her microphone. Then she’s off on her scooter, zipping through the streets and alleys.

Thirty-four-year-old Wang Ting-yuan is a traveling fitness instructor for the Taipei City government. She mainly leads aerobics classes for seniors, focusing on overall physical form.

Wang has been a fitness trainer for 15 years. In order to teach seniors, she obtained multiple qualifications, including one in senior health and wellness. She’s also certified in physical conditioning for special populations.

Wang Ting-yuan
Senior fitness trainer
I think it’s important to understand special populations and the physical conditions they might have. For example, some might have diabetes, and some might have osteoporosis or arthritis. Their bodies might be limited by these real conditions, and trainers need to understand that to a certain degree. Only then can trainers know that their students can’t do certain things. For instance, most people can lift their arms to this height, why can’t they do it? With that understanding, we can provide safer training exercises that fall within their restricted range of movement.

Even with her string of certifications, Wang says that what’s key to teaching seniors is communication and establishing trust.

Wang Ting-yuan
Senior fitness trainer
When I first started out, I was someone who could not speak Taiwanese. Ten years ago when I arrived at the first service location for seniors, I discovered that they would sometimes speak to me in Taiwanese. So when I went home I memorized the Taiwanese terms for various joints in the body. They would correct me, and I found that to be great fun. I said, “I’ll teach you how to exercise, and you can teach me Taiwanese.”

Over the years, Wang has earned trust and won hearts in her senior classes. She’s taken her students on adventures to try standup paddleboarding. To them, she’s like a beloved family member.

Student
Learning with her is great. Teacher Yuan-yuan is just go-go-go throughout the entire class. And she gets along with us so well.

Student
We’ve known Yuan-yuan for about eight years now. She’s like our own child. And she keeps us in good shape. I’m already in my 80s but I’m fit as a fiddle.

But as older adults develop chronic diseases or other medical issues, they become prone to feeling sore after exercise. That soreness can create a reluctance to keep exercising. Instead, students might seek out medication from a doctor.

Wang Ting-yuan
Senior fitness trainer
What we really want to do is create a three-part care pathway, from doctor to physiotherapist to fitness trainer. After injured seniors complete rehabilitation, they will need to start restorative training. At that point the responsibility can then fall on the fitness trainer, who works with the seniors to strengthen muscles and improve physical movements, to help adjust their fitness. I think that this is the way to provide comprehensive care.

Tseng Wen-chih
Chronic disease specialist
Taiwan’s health care system is unique. It makes medication very cheap and accessible, and so many chronic diseases are routinely treated with medication. At first one pill is prescribed, and if it’s not effective, another pill is added. You’ll find that many older adults leave the hospital like they had just gone to the supermarket. There’s a bag of medication in one hand and another bag in the other, altogether containing a dozen types of medication.

Sports medicine physician Tseng Wen-chih specializes in treating chronic diseases. Besides providing the usual clinical care, Tseng can also write “exercise prescriptions” for his patients. He believes that drugs can target diseases, but that only exercise can heal the person.

Tseng Wen-chih
Chronic disease specialist
From conducting these studies, I have found that exercise is effective, that exercise can really be a form of medication. Doctors before us have long known that medications interact with each other. If exercise is a form of medication, then it will also interact with the actual medication. Doctors have to understand the interaction of the two. They can increase the amount of exercise on the one hand, and on the other, reduce the amount of actual medication.

Tseng first asks the patient about his daily routine and medication intake. Then he writes a prescription for exercise, which the patient can take to a partner fitness center.

Leo
Trainer at partner gym
Basically, we follow the exercise prescription. Once it’s done, the data is recorded, and Dr. Tseng is consulted about whether adjustments should be made.

Through the power of exercise, seniors can not only improve their health but lighten Taiwan’s medical burden. Senior-focused trainers play a pivotal role in making that happen.

Wang Ting-yuan
Senior fitness trainer
I do feel that this job is quite hard, but through my job I can also help a lot of people. All of us trainers have a sports background. Since we have this specialty, this expertise, why not use it for good in more places, to be a ray of light for more communities in society?

As the senior fitness culture grows, more professional trainers are joining the ranks, providing a way to be active and thrive even in old age.

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

2024-03-24

Pingtung family has a beloved pet pigeon who barely leaves the shoulder

2024-03-24

Monday will still be hot before the Northeast Monsoon arrives Tuesday lowering temps

2024-03-24