Taiwan unveils delegation to Cultural Olympiad

Taiwan unveils delegation to Cultural Olympiad

2024-06-26

A program called the Cultural Olympiad will be held alongside the Summer Olympics in Paris. Taiwan unveiled its delegation to the event at a Wednesday press conference attended by Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim. Let’s hear from her.

Hsiao Bi-khim
Vice president
I’m very pleased to be able to witness such beauty and artistry. The organizers told my aides to pick a color from the rainbow to wear today. I’m so glad I’m not clashing with anybody today. I’ve always thought that it’s the green leaves that really bring out the beauty of blossoms and bananas.

Li Yuan
Culture minister
The world will see Taiwan’s culture and how free, diverse, gender-crossing, and progressive it is.

House of Wind
Nymphia Wind has always hoped to pursue a path of diplomacy after winning the drag race, so we’ll focus mainly on helping more people learn about Taiwan.

Abao
Singer
It’s about representing the Indigenous people. Besides me, there will also be other groups, a total of seven. They hail from the Paiwan, Bunun, Sakizaya, and Amis tribes. There is also one musician from Argentina.

Taiwan will send more than 100 artists to the Cultural Olympiad. The delegation includes Golden Melody Award-winning singer Abao, drag queen Nymphia Wind, DJ Elvis Lin, the Taipei Puppet Theater, and the Rom Shing Hakka Opera Troupe. They’ll compete against delegations from around the world, showcasing Taiwan’s diverse cultural heritage.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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巴黎奧運倒數副總統蕭美琴為文化奧運代表團授帶

2024-06-26

運動與文化，一動一靜，將在2024巴黎奧運首次完美結合，法國推出"文化奧運"，台灣團隊受邀出席，將帶來四大主題表演，副總統蕭美琴特地出席記者會，為文化奧運代表團授帶，一襲綠色連身裙的她，透露服裝的巧思。

[[副總統蕭美琴]]
“那這一次我們很高興，能見證更多的美麗，更多的藝術，主辦單位透過我的幕僚告訴我說，要挑一個彩虹裡面的色彩，我很高興今天沒有跟任何人撞色，但是我一直相信要有綠色的葉子，可以襯托出更多美麗的，藝術花朵跟香蕉”

[[文化部長李遠]]
“全世界能看到台灣的文化，是多麼地自由多元跨性別，多麼進步”

[[妮妃雅瘋家團隊]]
“妮妃雅一直希望，在他奪冠後能做的事情，就是承襲他的外交官路線，所以我們會比較多著墨在，如何讓大家更認識台灣”

[[歌手阿爆]]
“這次其實是代表原住民的部分，所以就是希望除了我以外，可以多一點不同的族群，總共是七人制的編制，除了排灣族、布農族、撒奇萊雅族跟阿美族，還有一位阿根廷的樂手”

包括金曲歌手阿爆、變裝皇后妮妃雅團隊，還有DJ林貓王、臺北木偶劇團、榮興客家採茶劇團等，總計22組團體，超過100位藝術工作者，將與捷克、巴西、加拿大等10個國家同場較勁，展現臺灣的多元價值與文化自信。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
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Economics chief leads delegation to SelectUSA Investment Summit

Economics minister J.W. Kuo is at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland. So far, he’s connected with tech giants like Nvidia, urging them to send U.S. talent to Taiwan. He’s also met U.S. lawmakers and officials, to lobby for the passage of a double-taxation relief act. Kuo is attending the summit with more than 120 leaders of Taiwan’s tech industry.

Economics minister J.W. Kuo led a large group of tech leaders to the SelectUSA Investment Summit. Of the 80 global companies invited to the event, nine were Taiwanese.

Marisa Lago
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With over 100 participants, Taiwan’s delegation is one of the largest.

J.W. Kuo
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The U.S. views semiconductors as the most important hardware of the 21st century. Accounting for 60% of the world’s semiconductor production, Taiwan has formed an active partnership with the U.S. Commerce officials from over 36 state governments attended this event and met with Taiwanese businesses.

Vivienne Ke
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So, are you competing with different states?

Colin Sears
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Of course, yeah, we’re one of the handful of most competitive states for semiconductors. We have 9% of the semiconductor workforce in the U.S., and about 60% of our state’s exports are semiconductors.

Wang Chih-li
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I think that most people know that in the U.S. production costs are higher, but we also need to understand the culture here when it comes to intellectual property rights, which we call IP in Taiwan. They have more respect when it comes to this aspect.

Kuo also met U.S. Department of Commerce officials and lawmakers, to lobby for the passage of a U.S.-Taiwan double-taxation relief act. The legislation would lower costs and taxes for investors.

J.W. Kuo
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Regardless of which party wins the U.S. presidency, the bill on double-taxation relief will most likely be passed.

Kuo also met with U.S. tech giants such as Nvidia, thanking them for increasing their investments in Taiwan. He urged them to send U.S. tech talent to Taiwan to address manpower shortages in advanced manufacturing.

J.W. Kuo
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Now I say, don’t worry about it. Just come and invest in Taiwan, and we’ll welcome you with open arms. But it is our hope that companies from abroad will bring 500 engineers with them.

Vivienne Ke
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The 120-plus people in the delegation led by Kuo have backgrounds in fields such as semiconductors, chemical engineering, and electronics. The group hopes to use this opportunity to further solidify the supply chain relationship between Taiwan and the U.S.

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

2024-06-26

TSMC plans to build advanced packaging plant in Pingtung: report

2024-06-26

ASE predicts accelerated growth in second half, plans capex increase

ASE Technology, a leading chip packager and tester, held its shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday. The company predicted that revenue growth will accelerate in the second half of the year, driven by the AI boom. ASE plans to increase its capital spending, putting the bulk of it into the packaging business to meet surging demand.

ASE Technology, a leading chip packaging and testing services provider, held its shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday. Due to the global economy’s slow recovery in 2023, ASE posted consolidated revenue of NT$581.9 billion last year, down 13.3% from 2022. Its profit from operations fared worse, declining by nearly 50% to NT$40.3 billion. But on Wednesday, top executives said that the global chip sector was rebounding, bolstered by AI and robotics. They projected that revenue will recover in 2024.

Tien Wu
ASE Group chief operating officer
CoWoS packaging has been a highlight in the market. This company has built its advanced packaging business for many years. We expect this business to account for a higher revenue share, and to accelerate revenue recovery. We will significantly increase our capital expenditure for 2024, putting the bulk of capex into the packaging business.

According to market rumors, high demand for Nvidia’s GB200 super AI chips has led to additional orders at TSMC. Industry analysts believe that this will drive orders for backend testers like ASE.

Tien Wu
ASE Group chief operating officer
ASE and TSMC have long been close partners, and this relationship will continue. If TSMC is expanding, it has its reasons. If ASE expands, we have our own reasons. Our collaboration depends entirely on market demand.

ASE addressed its global expansion, saying that it’s considering production bases in Malaysia, Japan, and Mexico. ASE Group Chief Operating Officer Tien Wu said that a new California facility will be launched July 12, to strengthen ties with the North American market.

Tien Wu
ASE Group chief operating officer
Many of our clients will attend the launch ceremony. There will be people from the American Institute in Taiwan and the Washington office of the CHIPS and Science Act. In the chip testing business, when business is bad, you buy land and build factories. When business is good, you focus on expanding business and building machines.

Anticipating strong demand from AI, ASE projected that growth will accelerate in the second half 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

2024-06-26

Tai, Chou leading Taiwan’s shuttlers to Paris Olympics

There’s just over a month left to go before the opening of the Paris Summer Olympics. This year, Taiwan’s badminton team is to be led by veterans Tai Tzu-ying and Chou Tien-chen, as well as the dynamic duo looking to defend their title, Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin. In mixed doubles, Lee Chia-hsin and Ye Hong-wei have high hopes. They’re currently making final preparations at the National Sports Training Center. This is to be the last hurrah for Tai and Lee, who are hoping for a medal to cap their illustrious careers.

It’s the final countdown before the Summer Olympics. Over at the National Sports Training Center, Taiwan’s badminton queen Tai Tzu-ying is getting ready. This is set to be her fourth Olympics.

Chou Tien-chen is also here, training for his third appearance at the games. He says he’s recently begun a secret training regimen, hoping to perform at his best for a shot at the podium.

Chou Tien-chen
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I’ve tried so many different training styles. Recently I met a coach from Japan with a special training regimen. I think every athlete’s dream is to win a gold medal.

Then there’s Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin, the men’s doubles duo who won gold in the last Summer Games. Although they’ve been in a bit of a slump, they’re slowly getting their groove back and hope for a repeat performance in Paris.

Lee Yang
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When standing on that Olympic court, we’re representing Taiwan. I hope we can win another medal for Taiwan. That’s the highest honor. It’s really the greatest honor you can have.

Wang Chi-lin
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I hope that on the court, I can play as usual and make few mistakes.

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Lee Chia-hsin
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We paired up later than most players, so there are a lot of issues we have to face. We definitely have to prepare more than others for such a huge competition, since most of our adversaries have competed in the Olympics before.

Taiwan is putting forward the best of the best for Olympic badminton this year. Tai and Lee have already said this will be their last dance. Of course, they both hope for a medal to bring their careers to the perfect conclusion.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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New wave of COVID-19 sweeps nation, coinciding with summer flu outbreak

The sixth wave of COVID-19 has hit Taiwan. According to the Taiwan CDC, 817 domestic cases were reported last week. That’s nearly 200 more than the week before. Officials expect cases to continue rising until mid-July. Vulnerable groups, including people aged 65 and above, are advised to get the latest COVID booster as soon as possible.

Clinics like this are seeing a flood of patients, as Taiwan grapples with its first summer flu outbreak in seven years. Not only that, a new wave of COVID-19 is sweeping the nation.

Member of public
I had a cold recently and so I took a rapid test. I just wore a mask, drank more water, and saw a doctor.

Member of public
Like when I go to a traditional market to buy produce, I always wear a mask, and then I wash my hands right after I get home.

Taiwan’s public is on edge. Data from the Taiwan CDC shows that there were 817 new domestic COVID cases last week, which is 193 more cases than the week before. There were also 40 COVID-related deaths, with 90% being people 65 and older. The Taiwan CDC predicts that cases will peak in mid-July. The dominant variant, the JN.1, does not usually cause severe symptoms, but it’s also highly contagious.

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Recently, a lot of people are showing classic flu symptoms but they actually have COVID-19. This may be because after May 20, the central government lifted its mask mandate for public spaces and medical institutions.

Hospitals are under strain from the influx of patients. At National Taiwan University Hospital, nearly 100 patients were in the emergency room waiting for beds on Tuesday. The hospital has restored its pandemic-era measures. Taipei Veterans General Hospital said that cases had risen slightly, but that the situation was under control and its emergency room was not overcrowded. Even so, the hospital urged staff to wear masks. Vaccination is also vital, says a pediatrician.

Wei Chih-ming
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Willingness to get the XBB vaccine is already low. As for the older vaccines people got, their protection has already worn off. With people going around without masks on, of course we’re seeing a new wave of infections.

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ITRI showcases AI assistant, endoscopy robot at Smart Healthcare Summit

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Organized by the economics ministry, the 2024 Smart Healthcare Summit put the spotlight on AI applications. The world’s biomedical leaders were invited to participate, to give Taiwanese firms a chance to connect and collaborate.

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Taiwan is not only a medical device user, but also inventor as well as a producer. The forum brought every essential factors, players together.

With support from the economics ministry’s Department of Industrial Technology, ITRI invested R&D resources in pursuing AI health care opportunities.

This is a generative AI assistant that works as doctors converse with their patients. Using speech recognition, it converts audio containing both English and Chinese, as well as medical terminology, into medical records, helping to ease the physician workload. AI can also be applied to lung examinations and procedures. During a traditional endoscopy, a thin tube is moved down to the lungs, in a process that relies on physician experience. AI-assisted image recognition can be used to guide the endoscope to problematic tissue, making the procedure safer and more efficient.

Rodolphe Katra
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You need good universities, good talent, good health care systems, government support, and recognition of international intellectual property participation. … It makes Taiwan a very good candidate for participating in the global space for health care, using AI.

The biomedical industry will be the next “sacred mountain” that protects the nation, ITRI said. It urged Taiwan to harness its medical and tech strengths to shine bright on the global stage.

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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Jhubei builds Taiwan’s first‘interstellar’ basketball courts

Jhubei City in Hsinchu County has a population of 210,000, and nearly 60,000 of whom exercise regularly. Recently, Mayor Cheng Chao-fang decided to revamp Jhubei’s old basketball courts on Bo’ai South Road. Not only did they add a roof to protect the new courts from wind and rain, but they also chose the colors gray, brown, blue, and green to give them an interstellar feel. People who have used the new courts say they are bright and well-designed.

Jhubei Mayor Cheng Chao-fang puts on his jersey and joins residents on the court for a game of basketball.

These are the basketball courts on Bo’Ai South Road, which are the most popular courts in Jhubei. Since they are used so often, they were showing signs of wear and tear, so Cheng applied for subsidies from the central government to renovate them.

Cheng Chao-fang
Jhubei mayor
We are the first in Taiwan to design courts using an interstellar, technological concept. It’s designed to let light in, so playing sports here is really comfortable and refreshing. Many tech workers bring their kids here when they get off work. By renovating these courts, we can show our residents that we’re improving the city’s aesthetics.

Jhubei has a population of 210,000, and more than 57,000 exercise regularly, so there is high demand for sports venues. More than NT$40 million was spent renovating four old basketball courts using an interstellar, technological design. They added a roof to protect from the wind and rain, and incorporated a cool, metallic feeling by using a muted scheme. Many tech professionals and designers have praised the newly renovated courts.

Resident
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Resident
It’s not bad. Hsinchu built some decent courts, and they should be proud.

Jhubei is also planning to build tennis courts in the future, filling this technological city with life and improving its look.

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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Sichuanese immigrant leads tours of Donggang fishing culture

Originally from Chengdu, China, Shao Limei now lives with her husband in his hometown of Donggang in Pingtung. Although they originally worked in the tech industry, they returned to Donggang to take over his parents’ fishing business. Shao soon started learning about all the different kinds of fish. Now an expert, she leads tours introducing the culture of this famous port.

Originally from Chengdu, Shao Limei leads tourists around the Donggang fish market. Her husband Lin Wen-feng grew up here and they returned together five years ago. Shao started leading these tours not only to satisfy her own intellectual curiosity, but also to give tourists the chance to see the fishing industry with their own eyes.

Shao Limei
Tour guide
I talk about tuna the most. Most people think there is only one kind of tuna, but there are actually lots! At Donggang there are three main kinds: bigeye, yellowfin and black tuna. People think that the tuna used in sushi is always the same, but that’s not the case.

In addition to giving tours of the port, they also cooperate with local groups to organize cultural tours of fishing villages.

Shao Limei
Tour guide
Donggang is already famous for its seafood, but no one is really offering these kinds of tours. I find it really moving how people are genuinely interested in this port’s culture. It makes the work meaningful.

Shao and Lin used to be managers in the tech industry, but became business owners when they returned to Donggang. Originally intending to start a retail delivery service, they unexpectedly entered the souvenir market. They renovated their store to make it stylish and redesigned the branding and packaging, gaining recognition from many public departments.

Shao Limei
Tour guide
Every store in Donggang sells fresh products, so how can you get more people to see you or buy your products for gifts to increase their value? On the one hand, I feel more pressure and want to do even better, but on the other hand, I think we should continue to pursue this path.

Love inspired Shao to forgo her previous path and start a new life with her husband in Taiwan. Love also transformed her from someone without confidence into a woman sure of herself. In her new hometown of Donggang, she is writing the next exciting chapter of her life.

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

2024-06-26