US ‘monitoring’ fishing boat incident, Taiwan again urges China to release crew

US ‘monitoring’ fishing boat incident, Taiwan again urges China to release crew

2024-07-04

Washington says it’s “closely monitoring” an incident in which China seized a Taiwanese fishing boat. The boat was catching squid in Chinese waters during a no-fishing period. Taiwan’s National Security Bureau chief says the boat may have been seized as an assertion of sovereignty over Taiwan. Speaking on Wednesday, a White House spokesperson urged the two sides to reach a peaceful resolution.

Karine Jean-Pierre
White House press secretary
We encourage all sides to maintain open lines of communication, so they can get to a resolution and that’s what we call for.

Tsai Ming-yen
National Security Bureau director-general
This is indeed an unusual case. In detaining the boat and meting out the subsequent administrative penalties, does China seek to assert its jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait and weaken our government’s sovereign status? Does it seek to apply pressure on Taiwan’s government? We need to further assess these possibilities.

Chiu Chui-cheng
Mainland Affairs Council minister
We hope that the competent authorities in China will release the facts of this case as soon as possible, release our boat and its crew, and ensure their safety. We do not assent to the incursion of Chinese fishers into our waters. Our Coast Guard units have been instructed to protect the rights of our fishers.

With tensions high across the strait, Taiwan’s Coast Guard is advising fishers to exercise caution at sea and to steer clear of risky waters.

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中國扣押台漁船"白宮關注" 陸委會喊:盡速查明放人

2024-07-04

澎湖籍漁船大進滿88號，在金門外海捕撈小管，卻中國海警強行登船扣押。國安局長蔡明彥認為，不排除對岸想藉此宣示主權。陸委會下午也喊話中國，盡速查明真相放人，強調台灣也不同意中國漁民越界捕魚。而這起扣船案，也已經引起美國白宮關注，喊話和平解決。

[[白宮發言人卡琳·尚皮耶]]
“我們鼓勵雙方保持開放的溝通管道，以便讓他們達成解決方案。”

[[國安局長蔡明彥]]
“確實是一個比較不尋常的案例。到底有沒有要透過這樣的一個漁事的扣押，後續行政裁罰，來展現中國對台海的管轄權，藉由這個事件來弱化政府的一個主權地位，或是對政府來進行施壓，這部分我們還要來進行分析。”

[[陸委會主委邱垂正]]
“(期望)陸方主管機關能夠盡速公布事件的一些事實狀況，釋放我方的人船，並確保人員的平安，我方也不同意陸方越界捕魚，請我們的海巡單位加強護漁。”

台海局勢緊張，現階段除了加強護漁外，海巡署也只提醒漁民出海作業務必小心，避開風險水域。

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With a declining birth rate and an aging population, more people are set to grow old without family support. Yet hiring a caregiver can be challenging. In most cases, it’s contingent on passing a Barthel Index assessment.

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The first time it was more difficult, because my mother was under 80 years old. They should have relaxed the requirements earlier, and this policy should enter effect as soon as possible. If a caregiver can’t be found, we’re forced to sacrifice their careers to look after our elders. This comes with a huge social cost.

Ministry of Labor says it will further ease requirements for hiring a foreign caregiver. It will exempt three groups of people from a Barthel Index assessment: Those at least 80 years old and who have a long history of medical conditions, who have disabilities due to irreversible medical conditions, or who have disabilities and a history of medical visits in remote areas. The exemption will enter effect as early as September, benefiting 55,000 people.

Wu Hsi-wen
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We will continue to optimize the evaluation process for those who need professional evaluation. Anyone who needs it, regardless of age, can apply for a home evaluation. This also applies to people living in remote areas and people who can’t go to a medical center due to severe conditions.

The health ministry endorsed the change. The Barthel Index requirement has long been criticized for being too strict. Based on the Barthel scale, a higher score reflects a higher degree of independence. To qualify for full-day care, people under 80 years old can score no more than 35 points, or get a doctor’s authorization if they exceed it. People aged 80 and up must hit the Barthel standard for “severe dependency.” As for people aged 85 and up, they must meet the standard for a “mild dependency.”

Chang Shin-fang
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People with physical disabilities or conditions like Parkinson’s or other degenerative motor diseases can apply if the individual is considered to have a severe disability. We doctors conduct a detailed assessment of their condition and their physical state. If we feel that the individual meets the criteria, in principle, we follow the established process to handle their case.

Voice of Wu Ching-ju
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Caring for people with severe conditions requires labor, and not just one person. It’s not something that can be done by one person alone. So what can we do? If we are still not tackling the core issues, how can families in more difficult positions benefit from the loosening of rules?

With an aging population, elder care and caregiver issues are demanding urgent government action.

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The coach holds a racquet and demonstrates a basic stance. The children line up, eager to give it a try.

He throws balls for them to take a swing. The kids are complete beginners and not yet in their groove, but that doesn’t stop them having fun.

Almost all the children are refugees from Ukraine who are currently in Romania. They’ve found a temporary harbor here, but are still in urgent need of support. The family of Warren Chang, from Taiwan, has set up a summer tennis camp for refugees here in Romania, to give these young people a chance to enjoy sport this summer.

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The tennis coach is happy to take the learners at a slow and steady pace. For kids whose fathers are in the Ukrainian army, sport can be therapeutic.

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Stay in different cities, and now he’s in the military. I don’t know.

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I prefer my family to be in Romania and safe.

While the horrors of war continue to unfold, ordinary people are reaching out to support each other across national borders. This Taiwanese family’s initiative is helping refugees learn a new skill, and bringing a ray of joy into the darkest hour of these children’s lives.

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AI-powered scan gives insights on stress levels, heart rate, and more

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She looks into the camera and stands still for one minute. She’s not posing for a photo, but getting an AI-powered physical exam.

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