23 PLA aircraft, 5 vessels detected near Taiwan

23 PLA aircraft, 5 vessels detected near Taiwan

2024-05-09

With just under two weeks to go until Inauguration Day, China is continuing to ramp up its pressure on Taiwan. On Wednesday, 23 PLA aircraft and 5 vessels were spotted in airspace and waters near Taiwan. Reports say the PLA also conducted a verbal exchange with a U.S. military aircraft flying east of Orchid Island.

Also on Wednesday, the U.S. destroyer USS Halsey completed a transit of the Taiwan Strait. The 7th Fleet says the transit aimed to assert the U.S.’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation as per international law. Taiwan’s defense ministry says the military had a full grasp of the destroyer’s movements from north to south in the strait, saying it was a routine transit.

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

美艦因520通過台海? 國防部:美軍自由航行

2024-05-09

距離520新政府就職只剩不到兩星期，中國持續加大對台施壓，週三派23架軍機、5艘軍艦現蹤台灣周遭海空域，還傳出在蘭嶼東部空域驅趕美國軍機。

美方也派伯克級飛彈驅逐艦哈爾西號通過台海，第七艦隊指出依國際法享有公海航行和飛越自由。國防部表示，美艦由北往南行經台海，軍方全程掌握，狀況正常，這屬於美方例行性的自由航行。

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Related News

Joseph Wu says no way to Lithuanian president’s suggestion for name change

The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania made history by being the first office in Europe to have the name Taiwan in it. But recently Lithuania’s president suggested that the Taiwanese office undergo a name change in order to appease China. Taiwan foreign minister Joseph Wu fired back, saying that Taiwan will stand firm on the office’s name and that Taiwanese officials are closely monitoring China’s diplomatic gamesmanship.

In November 2021, Taiwan opened its de facto embassy in Lithuania, as it’s the first office in Europe to have Taiwan in its name. But now Gitanas Nauseda, the Baltic country’s president, has raised the issue of potentially changing the representative office’s name in order to bring stability to his nation’s relations with China. So, is the de facto embassy about to undergo a name change?

Joseph Wu
Foreign minister
This issue involves a bilateral agreement. So, if he says they’re really going to sign a new agreement between us, then I don’t think we in Taiwan can accept this. There’s something else I want to say about this; they’re not a presidential system, they’re a country with a parliamentary system. In October they’ll be having parliamentary elections. They won’t form a new government until the results of the parliamentary elections are in. Our relations with Lithuania won’t encounter any problems, and our representative office there won’t be undergoing a change.

Wu was resolute that the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania won’t have its name changed. But with Lai Ching-te winning the election earlier this year, China is clearly on the offensive; Nauru cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, and many worry that China could be planning another diplomatic attack that may be launched before the May 20 inauguration.

Joseph Wu
Foreign minister
We’ve recently being evaluating our relations with our diplomatic allies. I can honestly share with everybody that we aren’t experiencing any diplomatic problems. But I am worried to see China behaving in these ways.

In the short-term, Wu doesn’t foresee any diplomatic issues, but he still admitted that he has some concerns.

Joseph Wu
Foreign minister
Let me give an example: let’s say there’s a nation that’s been dealing with unrest for a long period of time. Currently, our diplomatic ties absolutely don’t have any problems, because they know that we’re still helping them, and they’re extremely grateful for that. But if things in their country keep going the same way as before, I do worry a bit. There is also another diplomatic ally of ours that China is using neighboring nations to infiltrate the left wing extremists and thereby bring about internal turmoil. For this I must be honest that this creates concerns that are long-term in nature.

One of the countries Wu seems to be referring to is Haiti, which has been dealing with instability for a long time because of powerful gangs and political unrest. As for the other, Tuvalu and Guatemala were both suggested as possibilities. Taiwan is in a perpetual diplomatic dilemma, and so any small issue could turn into a big problem.

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

2024-05-09

Biden slams Trump’s failed Foxconn project in Wisconsin

Taiwan’s semiconductor industry continues to be a key matter of discussion in the U.S. On Wednesday, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo warned that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would deliver a devastating blow to the U.S. economy, which buys more than 90% of its cutting-edge chips from TSMC. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden pointed to a failed Foxconn project in Wisconsin while announcing the establishment of a Microsoft artificial intelligence data center in the state.

Speaking at a House hearing on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo put the focus on Taiwan and chip security.

Jake Ellzey
House representative
What happens if China invades Taiwan and locks down the South China Sea to American commerce, and takes over TSMC?

Gina Raimondo
US secretary of commerce
It would be absolutely devastating.

Raimondo said that losing Taiwan would be a disaster, as one-third of global trade passes through the Taiwan Strait. She also underscored that the U.S. is highly reliant on Taiwan chips.

Gina Raimondo
US secretary of commerce
I’m not commenting on whether that’s going to happen, how it’s going to happen, if it’s going to happen. But what I can tell you is that right now the United States buys 92% of its leading-edge chips from TSMC in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s chipmakers have become a key link in global supply chains, which is influencing geopolitics and even the U.S. presidential election.

Joe Biden
US president
The [Trump] administration promised a US$10 billion investment by Foxconn to build a new manufacturing complex, create 13,000 new jobs. Foxconn turned out to be just that, a con.

A few years ago, the Trump administration had touted a plan to establish a US$10 billion LCD Foxconn fab in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The project never materialized. Now on the campaign trail for reelection, U.S. President Joe Biden is using the failed project as ammunition against his challenger Donald Trump.

Joe Biden
US president
Literally holding a golden shovel, promising to build the eighth wonder of the world. Are you kidding me? Look what happened. They dug a hole with those golden shovels and then they fell into it.

Biden has compared the Foxconn project with a new US$3.3 billion investment by Microsoft to build an artificial intelligence data center in the state. The project is expected to upgrade manufacturing in Wisconsin and create 2,000 permanent jobs. The data center will be located at the same site of the failed Foxconn project. According to recent polls, Biden and Trump are neck-and-neck in the state, with just 2 percentage points separating them.

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

2024-05-09

CWA’s Triton satellite to be linked up with Formosat-7 to provide more accurate forecast

This afternoon temperatures returned closer to what Taiwan expects in late spring, but it looks like May showers may be raining on Mother’s Day celebrations this year. The Central Weather Administration is forecasting that a front will be passing through on Sunday and Monday, so expect some cold and wet weather. The CWA also announced that it’ll be linking up its own satellites in order to provide more accurate forecasts when typhoons come towards Taiwan.

After a chillier than normal morning temperature, the mercury started to rise this afternoon. But it looks like good weather will only grace Taiwan for a couple days, as a front will be coming to Taiwan on Sunday and Monday. This front along with strengthening northeastern monsoon winds will likely make this year’s Mother’s Day a wet and cold occasion.

Lin Po-tung
CWA forecaster
The weather in Taiwan will be affected by the front that’ll be passing through on Sunday and Monday as well as the northeast monsoon. By looking at this image we can see that the weather will be changing a lot. Every area is more likely to experience rain, especially in central, northern and northeastern Taiwan. These places will be more likely to have heavy rains.

The Central Weather Administration forecasts that next week the public will not have to put up with extended bouts of plum rains. As part of an effort to provide more accurate forecasts, last year the CWA launched its self-made satellite Triton, which is nicknamed Wind-Hunter in Chinese. In June the satellite will be linked up with Formosat-7. The CWA will then be able to predict the weather 6% to 10% more accurately, as reflections from the ocean’s surface as well as information from the satellites will be recorded. The cone of uncertainty of 72-hour predictions for typhoon routes will be able to be reduced by 5%.

Cheng Jia-ping
CWA director-general
Formosat-3 and Formosat-7 provide vertical profiles from the atmosphere, so, in general, they’ll give us temperature, humidity, and, of course, we can derive pressure from satellite data. For this Triton satellite, it provides ocean surface data at a lower elevation. What makes the Triton special is that it can measure wind. It can measure higher wind speeds, which is especially important for when there’s a typhoon.

Taiwan will soon be taking precautions for the upcoming typhoon season. But with Taiwan’s first self-made weather satellite, the CWA is hoping to provide more accurate forecasts so that the public will be able to get ready well before a tropical storm makes landfall.

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

2024-05-09

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TMU hosts New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program

Young adults from Southeast Asia began a six-month study program last year at Taipei Medical University. The program has offered a chance to learn from doctors and professors at the school. The participants also got to experience life in Taiwan and learn Mandarin Chinese. FTV reporter Stephany Yang met some program participants to hear about their experience.

In a study abroad program hosted by Taipei Medical University and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participants have toured the Dadaocheng, Kenting, Alishan, Taipei 101, Jiufen, and Pingxi. They’ve enjoyed Taiwanese opera and even learned how to make pineapple cakes. One participant, Chris Indradmojo, hails from Indonesia. His background is in emergency medicine.

Chris Indradmojo
Program participant
I aim to broaden my connections and enhance my knowledge and skill in the medical emergency and for my institution and my country. I aspire to bring insight into medical education and health systems in developed and modern countries like Taiwan.

Another participant is Mi Mi Aung, a dentist from Myanmar.

Mi Mi Aung
Program participant
I was working as a general dentist in our country at a private clinic for about four years. I applied this program because I tihnk this program is not only related to medical health subjects, not only enhance my background knowledge in dental health but also other fields like public health,nursing nutrition. I think it is very holistic.

Rosemary Cerdan Tan is from the Philippines. She previously worked at the Department of Health in the Philippines. After this program, she plans to get her master’s at TMU.

Rosemary Cerdan Tan
Program participant
I was working in the Department of Health in the Philippines at the ICT office. It is the IT office of the Department of Health. I decided to join the program to gain more exposure and be immersed in the ICT practices in healthcare here in Taiwan because Taiwan is known for maximizing the use of ICT in health as well as the very comprehensive health care insurance in your country. It is really fascinating to see how you use modern healthcare technologies in the facilities because we visited several hospitals here in Taiwan. Mainly Taipei Medical University Hospital and also the other hospitals affiliated with TMU.

In August 2023, 15 professionals from Southeast Asian countries joined TMU’s study abroad program. Applicants with a background in health care, biological sciences, laboratory work, and data analysis were selected. During the six-month program, they’ve taken part in eight hours of medical-related courses and six hours of Mandarin courses a week. They’ve also visited scenic attractions, taken cooking courses, and participated in other cultural experience activities.

Rosemary Cerdan Tan
Program participant
So far, apart from the lectures and healthcare topics that we had, we had several cultural expeirnce actiivties. We went from Taroko National Park to Alishan. Even to Pintung, the southernmost part of Taiwan. But I guess the most memorable that I would have would be just the simple daily YouBike trips to the campus and going back to the dormiatiory. I really loved the transportation and also the use of YouBIke here in Taiwan.

Mi Mi Aung
Program participant
We visited Dadaocheng old street. We wore a traditional Chinese costume called qipao. We all dressed up and also did makeup. We walked around the old street and visited a tea house and some temples. I felt very happy at that time. Everyone on the street at that time was looking at us. It was quite memorable.

TMU’s study abroad program aims to support the Tsai administration’s New Southbound Policy, by deepening people-to-people exchanges in the health care sector.

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

2024-05-09

Runaway ostriches taking morning stroll cause commotion in Taichung

An amusing surprise in the form of two ostrich escapees became a morning highlight for locals in Taichung’s Wuri District on Thursday. The two gigantic birds of unknown origins were spotted taking a stroll alongside traffic, without any company. Police officers rounded up the birds at a car park-turned-enclosure before calling professionals to take them elsewhere. One local says the sighting was an omen of good things to come.

Who let the ostriches out? Two majestic birds stroll down the road, giving a surprise to motorists passing by, who keep their distance just in case.

To prevent traffic accidents, police rounded up the two ostriches with the help of the local borough warden and fenced them off at a car park by using a makeshift divider. With a pole in hand, two police officers stood guard over the mighty captives.

Tsai Min-yang
Nanli Borough warden
We followed them along the road, to keep traffic moving. When we got here they went into this space and I blocked the exit with my car.

The two ostriches were spotted taking a stroll near Xiwei Bridge in Taichung’s Wuri District just after 7 in the morning. Police were called to the scene and guided the birds along to a small alley to finally corral them, much to the amusement of locals.

Member of public
They’re very cute. You rarely get to see something like this.

Member of public
It’s rather unusual. I take it as an omen for happiness and good luck.

Taichung’s Agriculture Bureau called specialized personnel to relocate the ostriches.

They used a black fabric bag to cover their heads and slowly loaded them onto a truck.

Mr. Yu
If you don’t feel nervous, they won’t get nervous. If you get tense, they’ll get very skittish. It’s best to get an expert to catch them, otherwise you’ll get a kicking.

Hu Pai-tsan
Wuri Precinct
In the event of poultry, livestock, or pets running on roadways without proper care and thereby impeding traffic, the owner or persons responsible shall be fined from NT$300 to NT$600.

Fortunately, the runaways didn’t cause any traffic accidents. It is currently thought that the birds made their way to the area from a nearby town, and their owner is yet to be identified.

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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