Plum rains refill reservoirs, adding 37.4 million tons to Feitsui

Plum rains refill reservoirs, adding 37.4 million tons to Feitsui

2024-05-27

Taiwan’s reservoirs are recovering from drought after last week’s plum rains. The greatest gains were at New Taipei’s Feitsui Reservoir, which received 37.4 million tons over seven days. It’s followed by the Techi Reservoir in Taichung, with an impressive 8.6 million tons. Currently, only two reservoirs in the nation, Shihkang Dam and Baihe Reservoir, are still under red alert due to low water levels.

Kuo Yaw-cheng
Water Resources Agency northern branch official
As of this afternoon, the situation at Shihmen Reservoir is making a turn for the better. Besides providing water for household and industrial use, we will be able to fully support rice transplanting and other crop needs for the rest of the February to May season. Over the month of June, we estimate that 37 million tons of water will be used.

Water officials will use cloud seeding to top up the Shihmen and Second Baoshan reservoirs, to ensure a steady supply for the summer months.

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梅雨季大補水德基水庫灌水866萬噸僅次翡翠水庫

2024-05-27

上周首波梅雨，讓全台主要水庫大豐收，翡翠水庫7天灌水3741萬噸為最多，德基水庫也有866萬噸，目前全台只剩兩個水庫，石岡壩、白河水庫，拉紅色警報。

[[水利署北區水資源分署副分署長郭耀程]]
“石門水庫截止到今天(5/27)下午，水庫的水情逐步在好轉之中，民生、產業，我們的供水之外，今年的一期作從2月份到那個5月底，會完成包括整田插秧，以及期作的用水的供應。6月份一整個月的一個供水的水量，我們預估會使用到3700萬噸的這樣的水源。”

水利署北水分署，也以人工增雨的方式，替石門及寶二水庫補水，要保持安全蓄水率，確保民生、農業，用水無虞。

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Taiwan delegation protests WHA exclusion in Geneva

2024-05-27

More than 7,000 people across 85 countries back Taiwan’s WHA inclusion

Despite Chinese objections, support has only grown for Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Assembly. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 7,000 people across 85 countries have backed Taiwan’s bid to participate. This year, 11 official allies signed a petition to put the Taiwan issue on the WHA’s agenda.

New Taipei City Councilor Evalyn Chen joined the “Walk the Talk: Health for All” challenge in Geneva last Sunday. During the event, she ran into World Health Organization Director-general Tedros Adhanom. She asked if he supported Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHO.

Tedros replied that the WHO does work with Taiwan. Chen asked if Taiwan had a chance of joining the WHO this year. Tedros said the decision must be made by WHO member states. This year, the call for Taiwan’s inclusion has been louder than ever.

The American Institute in Taiwan issued a public appeal, calling it “crucial” to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHO as an observer. It said Taiwan’s exclusion ran contrary to the spirit of mutual participation and cooperation. This year’s World Health Assembly opened in Geneva on Monday. One day before, Taiwan hosted a reception, where its allies expressed strong support for its inclusion.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan’s inclusion bid has won support from more than 7,000 people from 85 countries’ government agencies, medical teams, and think tanks. In addition, 11 formal allies have signed a petition to put the Taiwan issue on the WHA’s agenda. Supporters of Taiwan’s campaign include U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, and top officials from Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and France.

Hsu Chih-chieh
DPP lawmaker
International support for Taiwan has grown over the years, showing that our foreign policies have been quite successful. There are more allies ready to engage with China in two-on-two debates over the issue of Taiwan’s inclusion in global organizations.

Despite obstruction from Beijing, Taiwan has remained undeterred, pushing ahead to build global support for its inclusion.

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

2024-05-27

President Lai receives delegation from US Congress

President Lai Ching-te received the first U.S. congressional delegation of his term on Monday. The group was led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, who sharply criticized China’s recent exercises surrounding Taiwan. Lai thanked the U.S. for its support, and said he drew inspiration from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s policy of “peace through strength.”

Just a week into his term, President Lai Ching-te received his first delegation from the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, appointed by U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, congratulated Taiwan’s new president.

Lai Ching-te
President
You are the first U.S. congressional delegation to visit since my inauguration. Your visit demonstrates your support for the new government and the people of Taiwan. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you all.

McCaul’s delegation will be in Taiwan until May 30. The group includes Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Chair Young Kim, Congressional Taiwan Caucus co-Chair Andy Barr, House Republican Joe Wilson, and House Democrats Chrissy Houlahan and Jimmy Panetta. The delegation includes members of foreign affairs and national security committees, making the visit especially significant.

According to U.S. media, the delegation discussed matters including a US$8 billion military aid package for Taiwan and ways to address delays in arms deliveries. Earlier, China’s foreign ministry protested against McCaul’s visit, saying that the U.S. would suffer consequences. Yet McCaul remained undeterred. On Monday, he strongly criticized China’s military exercises around Taiwan.

Michael McCaul
US House Foreign Affairs Committee
Demonstrating that they are not interested in taking Taiwan by peaceful means, as agreed to in the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979. For all democracies must stand together against aggression and tyranny, whether it’s Putin in Russia, the ayatollah in Iran or chairman Xi next door to us in China. An unholy alliance is eroding peace around the world, and not since World War II, my father’s war, have we seen such blatant violence and naked aggression.

McCaul said the U.S. remained committed to the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances.

Michael McCaul
US House Foreign Affairs Committee
We must make sure that no one in their right mind would try to upset the peace that lets you thrive. America is and always will be a reliable partner, and no amount of coercion or intimidation will slow down or stop the routine visits by the Congress to Taiwan.

Lai Ching-te
President
I admire former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s policy of “peace through strength.” As such, I will promote defense reforms to enhance our national defense capabilities and show the world the Taiwanese people’s resolve to defend our homeland.

Following large-scale PLA exercises around Taiwan, the U.S. Congress is expressing support for Taiwan, reaffirming the rock-solid ties between the two nations.

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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Paris Olympics may be last for badminton ‘golden duo’

Men’s badminton pair Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin brought home the gold at the Tokyo Olympics. This July, they plan to do the same in Paris. Wang says he will cherish every moment on the court with his doubles partner, as it very well could be their last. Fans are also hoping the golden duo can pull off a repeat performance this summer.

They earned the title “golden duo” after winning gold in men’s doubles at the Tokyo Olympics. Three years later, Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin are returning to the Summer Games, although this time could be their last playing together.

Lee Yang
Badminton Olympian
It suddenly feels like a countdown. Personally, I feel happy. If I can finish this off well—my badminton career, my sports career—I figure I will have done everything I set my mind to and exceeded all expectations.

Twenty-eight-year-old Lee said this year would be his last playing badminton professionally. Although the Olympics might be his final competition, it’s also the largest. Wang said he’d cherish every last moment as his partner.

Wang Chi-lin
Badminton Olympian
Whether it’s our final competition or not, I’ll cherish it all. I hope that on astage as huge as the Olympics, I can play at my full strength to ease the pressure on Lee a little.

Wang said it’s often his fault when a game goes awry, and hopes to hold his own. As for whether he would snag another gold to close out his career, Lee has his own plans.

Lee Yang
Badminton Olympian
I alwaysexpect the worst. I’ll think up something bad, so that if it ends up better, I’ll feel like I’veearned it. Sports are exciting because you can never guess the outcome.

Regardless of whether it’s the golden duo’s last outing or not, badminton fans can look forward to some new faces on Team Taiwan.

Lee Chia-hsin
Badminton Olympian
Honestly, people keepcongratulating me on getting to the Olympics and it still hasn’t hit. At this point, of course I’d like to win a medal.

Going up against the best players in the world, Lee Chia-hsin and mixed doubles partner Yeh Hong-wei are looking to bring their best performance.

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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Taiwan’s first preventative veterinary center opens doors

Taiwan’s first preventative veterinary center has opened its doors. The center provides the latest technology to make sure pets stay healthy, allowing their owners to avoid steep treatment costs down the line. The health center is just one more business in the pet health sector, which is set to be worth more than NT$8 trillion globally by 2026.

A dog sits on the examination table as the vet gives it a thorough checkup.

An X-ray machine is pulled downward to snap shots of a cat’s heart and lungs in action. There’s also a CT scanner that can be used to take a close look at the cardiovascular system. Its specifications are just as advanced as for human CT scans.

Wang Yu-ping
Veterinarian
We can use it for preventative medicine, to look at the whole body, the thoracic cavity, and the abdomen, for example. We can also use it to take exceptionally clear images of the heart.

More than 2.4 million people in Taiwan have registered as cat and dog owners, meaning that the pet services sector is booming. Now, Taiwan’s first preventative veterinary medical center has opened its doors.

Huang Ko-wei
Veterinary hospital superintendent
Through early detection and early intervention, we can effectively alleviate the suffering pets may experience due to health conditions, reducing the physical toll on them.

Ms. Tseng
Pet owner
The fee for preventative checkups is much lower than any potential treatment costs down the line. If you find something during a checkup, you can deal with it sooner. If you wait until your pet is 16 years old, and you find a tumor, you might have to operate or provide palliative care, which can set you back more than NT$10,000 each time.

Taiwan’s pet population is increasing year by year. In 2019, it surpassed the population of newborn babies for the first time. In 2023, the number of pet dogs and cats increased by more than 307,000. That year, only 135,000 babies were born, meaning there were 172,000 more pets than people.

Tang Shun-chen
Veterinary hospital
In general, without preventative care, the average lifespan for a dog is around 10 years. But with thorough preventative medicine, it’s entirely possible for dogs to live to 20 years.

Taiwan’s pet care industry is set to be worth more than NT$6 billion. Globally, the sector continues to grow, and is expected to reach US$252 billion by 2026. That’s about NT$8 trillion. As more and more people take in cats and dogs, animal health care has become a top priority for pet parents.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Tainan chestnut fields disappear amid labor shortage

Guantian District in Tainan has the most water chestnut fields in the country. But despite prices remaining stable, more farms are closing as the labor-intensive job is affected by an aging population and labor shortages. Jacana birds also rely on the farms to raise their young, but are threatened by invasive Thai snakeheads and poisonous frogs. Facing these challenges, the future of Guantian’s chestnut fields is uncertain.

A farmer stands waist-deep in water, skillfully gathering water chestnuts. But the hard part is finding young people to join her.

Chen Su A-mei
Farmer
It’s really hard to find workers. If you get people who don’t know how, you’re asking for trouble. Young people don’t do this these days. Who wants to be out in the sun?

Her daughter is also skilled at chestnut picking, but she doesn’t want her own children to continue such backbreaking work.

Ms. Su
Farmer
I’ve been doing it since I was little, but I hope my kids can go into tech, not go the farming route. At least stay out of the sun.

At its peak 20 years ago, there were over 400 hectares of water chestnut farms in Tainan’s Guantian District. By 2020 it had fallen to 300, and again to 212 last year. This year, it’s expected to fall below 200 hectares.

Lin Ting-yi
Guantian Farmers’ Association
The farmers’ association is using product tracing and guaranteed pricing to attract more young people to the business. You can actually make a lot of money with water chestnuts, but it’s hard work.

The disappearance of the chestnut fields also affects pheasant-tailed jacana, which are facing the double threat of invasive species, especially Thai snakehead fish and banded bullfrogs.

Lee Wen-chen
Jacana Ecological Education Park
Snakeheads can jump up and swallow baby jacana birds in one bite. The worst I’ve ever seen is 10 eaten out of 20 in total.

Jacanas mate and raise their young in Guantian’s chestnut fields, charming people with their elegance. They just need a few leaves to support a nest, but it all depends on the gifts of the chestnut field.

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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