Vote on contested legislative package could take place next Friday

Vote on contested legislative package could take place next Friday

2024-06-12

A vote on a hotly contested legislative package could take place as early as next Friday. In a formal motion, the Cabinet has asked lawmakers to reconsider the package, which expands the legislature’s supervisory powers over the executive branch. The motion will appear on the legislature’s agenda on Friday. If all goes smoothly, the Cabinet will be invited to next Tuesday’s session, to make its case against the package. A vote to nullify the package could be held next Friday.

But clashes between the ruling and opposition parties could put a wrench in the schedule. Legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu has called a round of talks on Thursday, to hash out terms and procedures acceptable to all parties.

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國會擴權法覆議案排入14日院會議程 13日朝野協商

2024-06-12

行政院提覆議案，週三經立法院程序委員會討論，確定排入週五院會報告事項，可能下週二召開全院委員會，邀行政院長卓榮泰報告，下週五進行表決。

不過也不排除全部程序擠在這週五完成，一切得看朝野協商結果。立法院長韓國瑜下午也發出開會通知，確定週四早上9點進行朝野協商。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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Taiwan investigates Chinese man who breached Tamsui River

The National Security Bureau is investigating a Chinese man who entered the Tamsui River by speedboat last Sunday. Intelligence officials are determining if the man, who claims to be a retired PLA naval officer, was sent by Chinese authorities. Over the past three years, Taiwan has detected two other such incursions. According to NSB Director-General Tsai Ming-yen, these incidents may be part of a Chinese gray-zone operation.

Last Sunday, a Chinese national drove a speedboat into a harbor near the mouth of the Tamsui River. The Coast Guard and other national security units faced heavy criticism for failing to stop the boat earlier. On Wednesday, Premier Cho Jung-tai apologized for the incident and pledged a thorough review.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
This was an unexpected situation, but it’s a life lesson. I will ask the defense ministry and the Ocean Affairs Council to launch a rigorous review immediately. We sincerely apologize for any worry or unease this incident has caused among the public.

Over the past three years, there have been two other incidents in which Chinese nationals forced their way to Taiwan proper by speedboat or fishing boat. That’s not to mention the incursions into Kinmen County. In this latest incident, the Chinese national is a self-proclaimed PLA officer who had served as a boat captain.

Tsai Ming-yen
National Security Bureau director-general
This case is quite special. This most recent case in Tamsui marks the first time the perpetrator admitted a military background. Much of the information we have about him aligns with his statements. So we can’t help but wonder if there is organized and systemic planning behind all of this – behind the use of watercraft to approach our outlying islands and the waters and ports of Taiwan proper.

According to Tsai Ming-yen, head of the National Security Bureau, the recent incursions may be part of a gray-zone operation by Beijing.

Tsai Ming-yen
National Security Bureau director-general
Although China’s gray-zone harassment has put us under considerable pressure, it’s also providing us with many opportunities for international collaboration. To counter China’s recent gray-zone tactics, we are sharing intelligence with the global community and formulating joint responses.

Given the Chinese national’s claim to a military background, the National Security Bureau has launched an investigation to determine if China sent him. In the wake of the incursion, Taiwan is also reevaluating its coastal defense and warning systems.

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

2024-06-12

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A graduation lesson in perseverance: the one-armed pushup stunt

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HPA encourages young people to consider child raising in life plans

The Health Promotion Administration has an educational campaign to encourage young people to reflect on whether or not they want to become parents. It recently released a booklet to encourage university and high school students to reflect on marriage and child-raising as part of their long-term life plans. Officials say that for many young people, it might be useful to hear how others have considered related questions, so they can make the choices that are right for them. As Taiwan’s birthrate continues to decline, the government wants to make sure that those who want to have children will be able to do so.

Hu Ning-jui
Banqiao Senior High student
When I think about issues like marriage and having children, I feel like I have no idea about anything.

A high school student shares her uncertainty about the future. The Health Promotion Administration invited students to this press conference to share their personal experiences relating to planning their life journey.

Hu Ning-jui
Banqiao Senior High student
There are older girls around me, and I do notice that they are having some difficulties with the idea of having children.

Lin Chu-ying
NTNU student
After I finished reading the booklet, I thought that having children isn’t such a scary thing. If I put it into my career plan in advance, then actually it will work.

The booklet shares real people’s life experiences, and touches on questions like: “Is it a woman’s duty to have children?” “What role should a man play in a partnership?” And most important of all, the idea that a career plan isn’t just about studies, jobs and marriage plans: whether or not to have children is also something to plan ahead for.

Kao Sung-ching
Xingling Medical Foundation CEO
Whatever you decide is the right choice for you, whether you decide you want to have children or don’t want to have children. That’s what we mean by “reproductive sovereignty.” The point of education is to let you know how other people have come to make their decisions, that’s the real purpose of our education.

Wu Chao-chun
Health Promotion Administration director
Our main target audience is high school and university students. Of course, it’s also very suitable for us to introduce to slightly older people, young adults in the workplace, the concept that in your life plans, you can include love, marriage and family. Everyone is particularly clear about the issue of reproduction because of the falling birth rate.

The clearest indicator of a person’s probable fertility is their age. The HPA recommends that people who know they want to have children plan to have kids in the “golden” age range if possible, which is age 20-35 for women and under the age of 40 for men.

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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Economics chief says power supply sufficient for AI boom

The economics chief says there’s nothing to worry about, despite a news report warning that Taiwan’s electricity issues could hinder the global chip industry. Speaking at the legislature on Wednesday, economics minister J.W. Kuo denied claims that the government was "struggling to meet the island’s energy needs." According to Kuo, precise calculations confirm that Taiwan’s power supply is enough to keep up with the AI boom.

As Taiwan rushes headfirst into AI, it’s set to see a massive surge in power consumption. Taipower has adjusted its forecast for annual growth from 2% to 3%, but some say that even this estimate is too conservative. Japan projects that AI will increase power use by 10%. A CNBC report notes that Taiwan has had three major outages in the last seven years. It says a power crunch in Taiwan could spell trouble for global chip markets.

J.W. Kuo
Economics minister
If there’s a power shortage, of course global industries would suffer. But I would like to assure you all that we have enough electricity.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said repeatedly that Taiwan is the center of the AI revolution. Nvidia is building an R&D center in Taiwan, and plans to hire 1,000 engineers. To support the AI boom, Taiwan’s economics minister has pledged to train 200,000 AI professionals within four years.

Chiu Yi-ying
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Will all of the hires be domestically trained, or will some of them be recruited from overseas?

J.W. Kuo
Economics minister
Talent in specialties like large language models must be recruited internationally. We’ve told the larger foreign investors that they should bring over at least half the talent they need. Nvidia needs 1,000 engineers, so we’ve demanded that they bring over 500 people.

Paul Liu
National Development Council minister
Yes, it does appear that we need to review our immigration policy to ensure international competitiveness. We need to liberalize our regulations, so that we have a chance at attracting talent.

The economics chief said he talked details with major global investors last week, during the Computex trade show. According to the National Development Council, the AI industry will depend not just on Taiwanese talent, but recruits from abroad. Lawmakers said the government should liberalize immigration and add tax incentives, to ensure that Taiwan keeps pace with the AI boom.

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

2024-06-12

EasyCard company launches custom EasyCards to warm welcome

The EasyCard company has launched customized EasyCards for the first time, and the product has received a very warm welcome. More than 10,000 custom cards have sold in just a few weeks. Card holders are mostly choosing to print their cards with photos of popstars, family members or pets. The cards are available from just a few of Taipei’s busiest MRT stations. FTV went down to one station, to find out what folks queuing for a card hope to get from the experience.

A huge queue has formed at this MRT station. What’s the big event?

Member of public
I’ve printed this brand-new custom EasyCard, with a photo of the K-pop idol Minnie from the group (G)I-DLE.

Member of public
I printed a card of an idol, Yujin from IVE. This is Yeh Shu-hua from (G)I-DLE.

The EasyCard company collaborated for the first time with a printing company to launch custom cards on May 20. In this first trial period, the printing machines are only available at MRT Nanjing Fuxing station, Zhongxiao Fuxing station and Zhongshan station.

Meng Chia-mei
FTV reporter
It’s really simple to print your custom EasyCard. You just need to scan a QR code, upload a photo of your favorite idol, and in less than two minutes, you can get back your own personalized card.

They’re so popular that the company has issued a limit of five cards per customer. A normal EasyCard features a cute cartoon design and sells for NT$100. These custom cards are almost four times as expensive, but many fans think that’s a steal if they can get a card with their fave on.

Member of public
EasyCards are cheaper than something that would be issued by the government, like in South Korea they have transport cards.

Member of public
I think it’s worth it, for an EasyCard to have something you like on it.

Member of public
I’m getting an EasyCard for my child today, as a commemorative thing. And I’m getting one for my close friend. When he sees it he’ll think of how I gave it to him, so it will feel sweet.

The custom card frenzy has swept in from South Korea, where the super-popular Namane cards are available from machines at all the top tourist destinations.

Tang Yuen-chun
Marketing expert
The EasyCard is a ubiquitous item in the handbag, and it’s become a top way to express your individuality. You don’t want to be the same as everyone else. So that will create, in the short term, a trend of huge demand for these custom cards. An expense like this is considered quite reasonable by people who really care about expressing their individuality.

Stats from the EasyCard company suggest that people like to print cards with photos of idols, pets and family members. The age of the one-size-fits-all card is long gone.

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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New Taipei holds contest to celebrate bamboo shoot farmers

May to July is bamboo shoot harvest season, and farmers are vying to show off their produce. New Taipei recently held a contest, where 100 farmers competed to be crowned the "Bamboo Shoot King." Lots of top chefs were also invited to the event to show off some of the many culinary possibilities of this versatile veggie. New Taipei is perfect for growing fresh and sweet bamboo shoots, and the city hopes to help its farmers gain new customers all over Taiwan.

Bite down and enjoy the crunch. A fresh bamboo shoot has been deep-fried in the Hong Kong “typhoon shelter” style. Next up is a thick, clear soup made with aged chicken and big pork bones simmered for eight hours. On the side, fresh bamboo shoots and mussels. And this creative take on Western cooking from a top chef is bamboo shoot pizza, with cheese and Boston lobster.

Chien Wei-lun
Jia Yan Chinese Restaurant chef
We wrap the thick slices of bamboo shoot in a special dough and deep fry them. Then we wrap them in the “typhoon shelter” style. They taste salty and aromatic on the outside and fresh and sweet inside.

Su Chuan-hui
Moon Palace executive chef
The champion bamboo shoots chosen by New Taipei City are great quality, big and very curved.

These top chef’s dishes all feature bamboo shoots to match the theme of the big day. In 16 different zones, 100 farmers were competing to show off their produce. They went through a series of evaluations for different categories. In the end, Sanxia District was crowned the winner. The head of Sanxia Farmers’ Association was delighted to share with viewers a secret to choosing the best bamboo shoots at market.

Chang Yung-chu
Sanxia District Farmers’ Association
The simplest trick is to remember “short and fat.” You want a big head and a curve like a golden ox horn. The most important thing is to avoid any green color. Bamboo shoots with green will be bitter. We consider Level 6 sweetness to be extremely sweet. This year we have 6.4 level sweetness.

Chen Hsi-hui
New Taipei Agriculture Bureau deputy head
At this year’s Bamboo Shoot King contest, we want to find the best, the tastiest, the freshest New Taipei bamboo shoots, to recommend to people nationwide.

With its soil full of sandy loam and wet climate, New Taipei is a prime location for growing bamboo shoots that are more fibrous, fresh and sweet. It’s peak season now and New Taipei hopes events like this one will encourage more people to search out the best shoots of the 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

2024-06-12

‘Elephant arm’ girl returns to Taiwan for middle school

When she was two, Reachny Mich was brought to Taiwan from Cambodia to treat a massively swollen "elephant arm." Fourteen years later, she returned to Taiwan to attend middle school. Being an art lover, Mich is gradually developing her voice by teaching herself piano and drawing.

Today’s gym class is badminton. Since Reachny Mich doesn’t have the strength in her right arm to hold the racket, she’s particularly adept with her left, managing to serve one-handed.

Reachny Mich
Middle-school student
I can’t drop the birdie and then hit it. I can just drop it and then hit it with the same hand.

Although she’s from Cambodia, Mich speaks and writes Mandarin fluently. Astute and sociable, she fit in quickly with her classmates and has made some close friends.

Lin Ying-yue
Mich’s classmate
The first time I spoke to her, I for some reason struck up a conversation right away. It was really easy. I also thought she was really adorable. Also kind, good to people and thinks of others.

Since she attended elementary school in Cambodia, Mich says her math skills aren’t very good and she’s still trying to catch up. But her teacher can vouch for her desire to learn.

Chen Chien-ming
Homeroom teacher
Her level wasn’t the best when she started in the first year, but she’s slowly caught up. It’s a very clear improvement. I think before long she’ll be up there with all her other classmates.

In 2010, Mich was diagnosed with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, a congenital vascular disorder. With help from Yu Tzu-hsun, director of the Formosa Budding Hope Association, she was brought to Taiwan for treatment. Her arm that was 32 centimeters in diameter was successfully reduced to 14.5 centimeters and Yu became like a second mother, establishing her connection with Taiwan.

Yu Tzu-hsun
Mich’s guardian
When she was born, her entire community thought she was a monster, so no one was looking after her. The first time I saw her and heard her story from her mother, I felt horrible. I thought no matter what, this is a child. This is a person.

The compassion of this one social worker was able to turn life around for Mich. Now she is bursting with creative potential, teaching herself piano and how to draw.

Lively and carefree, Mich also serves as a cultural ambassador for her classroom, often sharing words in Khmer with her teachers and classmates.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

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

2024-06-12