Congress passes US$95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan

Congress passes US$95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan

2024-04-24

The U.S. Congress has passed a US$95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The package cleared the House over the weekend, and the Senate has passed it 80 to 19.

Ben Lujan
Senator
The yeas are 80, and nays are 19. Three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, the motion is agreed to.

Chuck Schumer
Senator
We tell our allies: We stand with you. We tell our adversaries: Don’t mess with us. We tell the world: The United States will do everything to safeguard democracy and our way of life.

Mitch McConnell
Senate minority leader
Alliances matter. Foreign nations’ respect for American interests depends on our willingness to defend them.

The package of bills includes US$61 billion for Ukraine and US$26 billion for Israel. Another US$8 billion will be used to support Taiwan and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The package also includes a ban on TikTok in the U.S., if its Chinese owner doesn’t sell its stake within a year.

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

美參院通過援烏.以.台法案! 拜登:將立即簽署立法

2024-04-24

美國援助烏克蘭、以色列和台灣總額950億美元的包裹法案，今天稍早在參議院成功越過門檻，順利過關。

[[參議員魯詹]]
“贊成的有80票反對的19，經選舉宣誓的參議員有3/5，經投贊成票同意該議案”

[[參議院多數黨(民主黨)領袖舒默]]
“我們告訴我們的盟友，我們將與你們站在一起，我們告訴我們的對手，不要惹我們，我們告訴世界，我們將盡一切努力捍衛民主，和我們的生活方式”

[[參院少數黨(共和黨)領袖麥康納]]
“聯盟很重要，外國對美國利益的尊重，取決於我們捍衛它們的意願”

包含四案的包裹法案，有610億美元將提供給烏克蘭，260億支援以色列，另有80億美元規劃給軍援台灣以及維持印太地區和平穩定，並強制影音平台TikTok與中國母公司"字節跳動"斷開連結。

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President-elect Lai meets bipartisan US congressional delegation

A bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress is visiting Taiwan. It’s led by Secretary of the House Republican Conference Lisa McClain, and it was received by President-elect Lai Ching-te on Tuesday. During the meeting, Lai thanked the U.S. Congress for its recent pro-Taiwan legislation. McClain said Taiwan was a linchpin for regional stability, adding that China was not a friend of the U.S.

Ahead of the presidential inauguration on May 20, Secretary of the House Republican Conference Lisa McClain has led a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan. The group met with President-elect Lai Ching-te on Tuesday.

Lai Ching-te
President-elect
In the future, in addition to implementing the four-pillar plan for peace I mentioned previously, my administration will continue the efforts of Tsai Ing-wen to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We will also collaborate more with likeminded nations such as the U.S. and promote deeper Taiwan-U.S. ties.

Waves of U.S. lawmakers have visited in recent weeks to show support for Taiwan. McClain had high praise for Taiwan’s people on Tuesday.

Lisa McClain
House Republican Conference secretary
The people of Taiwan have built a vibrant democracy, a thriving economy. Their success stands as testament to the power of freedom and the indomitable human spirit. It’s a linchpin of stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Dan Kildee
US Congressman (Democratic Party)
… to get the Taiwan Relations Act approved by Congress 45 years ago. The U.S. Congress and the American people stand with the people of Taiwan. There’s no disagreement between Republicans and Democrats on this point.

McClain also spoke on U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China.

Lisa McClain
House Republican Conference secretary
My hope would be that he talks about the importance of peace. China’s not our friend, economically, educationally and militarily. We need to make sure that we stand strong as a leader.

Amid China’s frequent provocations in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and East China Sea, U.S. officials voiced hope for closer cooperation with Taiwan and other likeminded countries to safeguard stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

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

2024-04-24

KMT bill seeks to extend lifespan of nuclear power plants

The KMT wants to prolong nuclear power generation in Taiwan. It’s pushing a bill that will make it possible to extend the lifespan of nuclear power plants, by removing the deadline for extension applications. The bill is drawing strong opposition, with civic groups set to stage a protest on April 27. A DPP lawmaker slammed the proposal, saying the KMT was being irresponsible over the issues of nuclear waste and nuclear safety.

Broadcasting Corporation of China Chair Jaw Shaw-kong and KMT lawmakers rally in support of nuclear power.

Jaw Shau-kong
BCC chair
How many outages have there been in Taoyuan? They have also happened in Taipei’s Eastern Shopping District, and in Tainan. There isn’t enough electricity. Haven’t we had a lot of earthquakes recently? They struck Hualien hard. Were the nuclear power plants affected? The lifespan of the first, second, and third nuclear power plants should be extended, and construction should resume on the fourth plant after an expert evaluation.

Taiwan has already decommissioned its first and second nuclear power plants, based in New Taipei’s Shimen and Wanli, respectively. Two units at the third plant in Pingtung are slated for decommissioning this July and next May, when their 40-year licenses expire. Under current regulations, applications to extend the service of nuclear power plants must be submitted five years before a license expires. The KMT argues that there should be no time limit on renewal applications, and that nuclear units should be allowed to operate as long as safety conditions are met. But environmental groups have repeatedly demonstrated over issues including nuclear waste storage, the functionality of aging units, and their seismic resistance.

Hung Sun-han
DPP lawmaker
The KMT is focused on using nuclear power. But they aren’t showing a responsible attitude about problems including nuclear waste. That is everyone’s biggest concern. Since Taiwan is in an earthquake-prone area, how can we ensure nuclear safety?

Chen Tung-yang
Nuclear Safety Commission
We will of course respect any amendments passed by the Legislative Yuan.

With the KMT advocating for extending the plants’ lifespan, civic groups plan to demonstrate outside the Legislative Yuan on April 27 to voice their opposition.

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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Success for project to hatch fireflies in Tianmu, Taipei

April is firefly season, and there’s a new location in Taipei where the glowing insects can be seen. A project to hatch fireflies outside an office in Tianmu has been a big success. Local people are amazed to find fireflies on their own doorsteps for the first time. The project is a collaboration between the National Training Institute for Farmers’ Organizations and New Taipei Farmers’ Association. They hope the population of fireflies will remain and become part of the local ecosystem.

Tiny green lights flicker and flash in a sea of black. Visitors are delighted by these fireflies dancing in large groups. Even if you’ve seen them before, you probably haven’t seen them in Taipei City.

Member of public
It’s a real surprise, because I think it’s very hard to cultivate fireflies here in Tianmu. They have a green light on their bum, so we call them “green bums.”

Member of public
I think it’s surprising. We used to go Jingtong and that area to see them.

These ponds are outside the National Training Institute for Farmers’ Organizations. They realized the ponds might be suitable for firefly larvae, because they had fresh running water and snails. In March, 1,000 aquatica ficta fireflies were hatched in the area. Come April, the clouds of dancing “green bums” are visible every night after sundown.

Hsi An-hung
National Training Institute for Farmers’ Organizations spokesperson
We hope to achieve an ecological equilibrium, and for it to be environmentally sustainable. With the support of New Taipei City Farmers’ Association, who have been guiding us through it, we brought in some firefly larvae and set them free here. There’s the good water quality they need, and plenty of food, so they were able to grow into maturity successfully. It’s a wonderful surprise for our own employees to find the fireflies flying like this in our own city.

The association has set up an information sign next to the hatching pond, to warn visitors not to use strong lights or camera flashes when they admire the fireflies, as these will scare them away.

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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School back in session in Hualien after earthquake cluster

Hualien residents went back to school and work on Wednesday, following a string of earthquakes the day before, which are believed to be aftershocks of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake on April 3. At Hwa-Gang Junior High School, the temblors left cracks on the walls and on a basketball court. School administrators plan to offer psychological support, to help students process their emotions after the quakes.

Lee En-ming
Hwa-Gang Junior High School principal
This was caused by the April 3 earthquake, but the quakes on April 23 made it worse.

Here in a school restroom, large cracks cover the walls, and broken tiles litter the floor.

Lee En-ming
Hwa-Gang Junior High School principal
We are on top of a fault zone. So whenever there is a movement, we get running cracks like these.

There’s damage even at an outdoor basketball court. Large fissures run across the surface, and a large hole renders the court unusable.

Lee En-ming
Hwa-Gang Junior High School principal
This crack was caused by the earthquakes on April 23.

After a day’s suspension, class was back in session on Wednesday. Students seemed unfazed by the recent seismic activity, but for parents, it was a different story.

Parent
Of course I’m worried, because the earthquake left heavy damage in our area. We live on Gongzheng Street. Now, I tell my kid to hurry back to our shop after class, and to avoid going to dangerous places.

Following the recent cluster of quakes, the school plans to ramp up its disaster response education.

Lee En-ming
Hwa-Gang Junior High School principal
We carry out routine disaster drills. Today, we also plan to reinforce proper disaster response concepts. It’s especially important after an earthquake. We need to remind our students routinely of these things. Besides that, one of our top priorities is helping students process any psychological distress they may have.

Following multiple earthquakes, the people of Hualien are returning to normalcy. Across the county, infrastructure repairs are underway, to restore peace of mind to the community.

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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ITRI wins 1 gold, 3 silvers at 2024 Edison Awards

The winners are out for this year’s Edison Awards, which are known as the "Oscars of Innovation." The Industrial Technology Research Institute, or ITRI, claimed its highest number of awards yet: one gold and three silvers. It won gold for its pioneering eye drop therapy for glaucoma. ITRI said the awards are a testament to Taiwan’s strengths in biomedical, textile, and display technologies.

It’s an eye drop that effectively reduces eye pressure. This first-in-Taiwan technology, known as the Novel Dual-Targeted Therapy for Glaucoma, is shown to be three times more effective than existing medications on the global market. It also comes with fewer side effects. Already patented in Europe and the U.S., the therapy earned a gold medal at the 2024 Edison Awards, a first for any ophthalmic innovation from Taiwan.

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This award is proof of Taiwan’s research capabilities in developing new medications. We hope to break into a new ophthalmic drug market and compete at an international level.

Another award-winning technology is the Key Functional Cell Identity. Designed to support allogeneic cell therapy, it is a precise and standardized screening platform that quickly filters out unsuitable therapeutic cells. This technology can be applied to treat more than 40 medical conditions, including myocardial infarction and diabetes. It won a silver at this year’s Edison Awards.

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Being recognized by the Edison Awards is no small feat. It requires not just innovative research and development, but most importantly, the ability to reach the commercial market.

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You’re like an innovation factory. And you take not just the product that you’re looking at, but you’re looking at the entire process and how it fits within the supply chain, how it’s making people’s lives better. We couldn’t be happier for your attendance this year as well.

This is the eighth consecutive year that ITRI was honored at the Edison Awards. This year, the awards received nearly 400 submissions from around the world. ITRI won a gold and three silvers, its highest number of medals yet. The accolades testify to Taiwan’s strengths in biomedical, textile, and display technologies.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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