Taiwan returns bodies of Chinese fishermen in Feb. 14 incident

Taiwan returns bodies of Chinese fishermen in Feb. 14 incident

2024-07-31

Taiwan has returned the bodies of two Chinese fishermen killed in a capsizing incident earlier this year. The two men drowned on Feb. 14, after a collision with a Taiwanese Coast Guard vessel. Following months of negotiations, Taiwan and China announced a settlement deal on Tuesday. Taiwan agreed to return the victims’ bodies and their detained vessel, and pay each of their families NT$6.8 million.

Coast Guard Administration Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin and other officials stand on a pier in Kinmen, as a ship departs for China with the bodies of two deceased Chinese fishermen and their seized vessel.

On Feb. 14, a Chinese fishing boat capsized, killing two crew members. One hundred and sixty-six days and 16 rounds of negotiations later, China and Taiwan have finally reached a settlement. At a memorial service on Tuesday, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh bowed in respect to the victims. Coast Guard Administration Director-General Chang Chung-lung apologized for the lack of video evidence in the case.

Chang Chung-lung (July 30)
Coast Guard Administration director-general
The Coast Guard Administration would once again like to offer a public apology for the suffering of the families of the victims.

Lee Chaohui (July 30)
Quanzhou City Taiwan Affairs Office deputy director
We hope the relevant authorities in Taiwan will shed light on the incident and ensure that such malicious incidents do not occur again.

Hsieh Ching-chin (July 30)
Coast Guard Administration deputy director-general
We have entrusted a neutral third party to conduct an investigation. This was purely a law enforcement incident.

Sources say that during the settlement talks, one sticking point was the matter of apologies and “saving face.” Initially, both sides of the strait refused to relent, resulting in a stalemate. Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling played a key role in resolving the impasse. She helped to soften Taiwan’s stance from an assertion of sovereignty and a defense of law enforcement operations, to a position based on humanitarianism and respect for the deceased.

Chiu Chui-cheng (July 30)
Mainland Affairs Council minister
The negotiations between the two parties and the consensus reached today provide positive and substantial help to the progress of judicial procedures.

According to Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the settlement talks were, quote, between the two parties involved. Some observers speculated that this could become the new format for cross-strait communication. In response, Chen Binhua from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said that cross-strait negotiations may only resume on the basis of the so-called “1992 Consensus.”

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管碧玲扮關鍵角色金門翻船案順利落幕

2024-07-31

金門漁船翻覆事件，兩岸僵持近半年，終於在昨天(30號)達成共識，我方歸還漁民遺體及扣留船隻、並給兩人家屬各680萬撫慰金。陸委會副主委梁文傑表示，這次協商是"當事人對當事人"，外界也觀察是否會成為兩岸協商新模式。

海巡署副署長謝慶欽和我方官員，在金門碼頭，目送載著罹難漁民遺體和扣留船隻，返回中國。

0214中國漁船翻覆兩死意外，在經歷166天、共16次協商後，終於達成共識，讓事件落幕。前一天告別式上，陸委會副主委梁文傑還親向罹難者鞠躬、我方放低姿態，海巡署長張忠龍，也為沒蒐證錄影，公開致歉。

[[海巡署長張忠龍(7.30)]]
“對於家屬所受的煎熬，海巡署願意再次公開表達歉意”

[[中國泉州台辦副主任李朝輝(7.30)]]
“希望台灣有關方面，能盡快公布事件真相，確保今後不再發生類似這樣的惡性事件”

[[海巡署副署長謝慶欽(7.30)]]
“事實真相我們交給公正的第三方調查，這起事件是單純的執法事件”

知情人士透露，過去談判癥結點就在該怎麼道歉的"面子"問題，兩岸都有鷹派鼓動，導致陷入僵局，而海委會主委管碧玲扮演關鍵協調角色，讓我方從原本的"互不隸屬、執法正當"的態度，轉為人道優先、死者為大，讓事件終於圓滿落幕。

[[陸委會主委邱垂正(7.30)]]
“雙方的協商過程，以及今天的達成共識，對於司法進展提供了一個，正面及實質程度的幫助”

陸委會透露，這回協商是"當事人對當事人"，外界分析難道這是兩岸協商新模式，國台辦發言人陳斌華表示，只有回到九二共識政治基礎，協商談判才能恢復。

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The AI technology, known as large language models, may soon be on everyone’s computer and smartphone.

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In the past, it might have taken several hours to go through more than 1,000 pages of documents at the office. But using a large language model, you can gather the key points in less than a second.

Not only is Google developing AI features, ChatGPT creator OpenAI has just dropped SearchGPT. This AI-powered search engine can summarize key points, write short texts, and give direct answers to user queries, all in the blink of an eye. Generative AI is now major driver for the economy. According to Google, its data centers contribute more than US$4.9 billion a year to Taiwan’s GDP. That’s about NT$161 billion. But amid the industry’s rapid growth, professionals are hard to find.

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The falling birth rate has caused a severe drop in enrollment at schools. Currently we are proactively working with the National Development Council, which recently announced that Taiwan issued its 10,000th Employment Gold Card. We hope to continue attracting more world-class talent to Taiwan.

Leading firms are recruiting high-tech talent in Taiwan and abroad. Google says AI has tremendous growth potential in Taiwan, with output value set to reach NT$3.2 trillion by 2030.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Folding smartphones with a second outer screen are more and more common

When was the last time you used a folding phone? Smartphones that can fold and have a second outer screen are more and more common. Most of the big smartphone companies have released a folding phone. The one conspicuous exception is Apple. Many people still find the idea of a folding phone unappealing, maybe because it reminds them of the flip phones of the 2000s. But the new generation of folding phones are a different kettle of fish. Let’s take a look at some of the new folding phones and the state of this growing market.

More and more phone brands are offering folding models. No need to open the phone to view this 4.01-inch outer screen, on which you can read messages, reply using a full keyboard, make phone calls or watch YouTube videos.

They’re also convenient for taking selfies. This 50 megapixel Leica lens easily handles backlighting and dark environments.

Wang Lu-hsuen
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The outer screen and the inner screen have the same resolution, 1.5K. They have the same 3000 nit peak brightness. When you try them out, you don’t find the outer screen to be lacking in resolution or brightness.

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The biggest problem with folding phones is their bulkiness. If they could be thinner and lighter, consumers would definitely be more open to them. And small-sized folding phones are actually already growing quite fast in Taiwan.

Another brand shows off a different selling point: a folding phone can easily turn into an automatic translator, with each screen giving translations in a separate language. Global sales of folding phones set a six-quarter high this quarter, and all the big brands want in on the act.

The Motorola folding phone has a 4-inch outer screen. Its axle has been tested to withstand 600,000 opens. The Xiaomi international flip phone has made its debut in Taiwan, with an outer screen of 4.1 inches. Its USP is that you can use apps without needing to open the phone. Samsung has already released many generations of folding phones, and is incorporating more apps and functions, the most exciting of which is that two-sided translator. But what about Apple?

Liao A-hui
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Apple tends to be a late starter. They usually wait until a product is more mature or there are more applications, before they launch it. It’s possible that we’ll first see a folding tablet or a folding computer from Apple. I think they won’t get going with the phones so fast.

Apple launches its iPhone 16 range in September, but it doesn’t include a folding phone. Recent reports have suggested that a folding phone is in development at Apple, but it won’t see the light of day until 2026 at the earliest. Apple addicts are already on the edge of their seats.

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These shops near campus are all shuttered up. Signs for student accommodation have faded in the sun. Tungfang Design University is about to become history, and nearby businesses are struggling.

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Some are sad. Others think that it’s time to let go and look for another job.

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The Ministry of Economic Affairs has expressed interest in taking over the administration of TransWorld University. Now we’re waiting for a decision from the Executive Yuan’s committee on the matter. We will respect any decision from the Ministry of Education and the Executive Yuan.

Outside TransWorld University, a screen reads “We’re graduating! Goodbye!” And with that, another school signs off before fading from Taiwan’s education landscape.

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The economics ministry held an exhibition in Tainan, where local businesses shared their transformation journeys. On display were 13 technological advancements.

Over the last three years, the economics ministry has supported more than 400 Tainan enterprises with technological upgrading, generating nearly NT$15 billion in output value. The results were clear at Tuesday’s exhibition.

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Ministry-affiliated research units – such as the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Metal Industries Research and Development Centre, Food Industry and Development Institute – have helped drive the net-zero and digital transformation of Tainan’s small and medium-sized enterprises and traditional industries.

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Essential tremor is a disorder that causes involuntary shaking. A team led by National Taiwan University has discovered that the cerebellum calculates the frequency of the shaking.

Pan Ming-kai
NTU Associate Professor of Pharmacology
We are focused on a disease called essential tremor, which is the most prevalent motor disease in humans. People don’t know how it comes. Specifically when you are shaking your hand, there is a specific frequency. For example, you shake your hand four times a second. It means 4 Hz. We don’t know how the brain calculates it. This study actually solves this problem to understand that first of all, it comes from the cerebellum. The cerebellum calculates this frequency. Second of all, we know how the neurons do this. It usually uses a very elegant way where thousands and thousands of neurons to calculate one thing so it will be very precise.

The team experimented with transcranial alternating current stimulation and found that it improved tremor symptoms in mice. Transcranial stimulation may have the potential to treat patients in the future.

Pan Ming-kai
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The third thing is that because we know how the cerebellum calculates the frequency. We can actally cancel the frequency using a technique called transcranial alternating current stimulation. It initiates a revolution because for the first time, we start to know how our biology, how nerve system do calculations, do math. This is actually not just for essential tremors. It is just a specific case. We actually know how the neurons calculate your movments and motions. So by knowing this, we can cure all the other types of motor disease.

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Because there are so many tremor patients, but each of them can have different causes. In precision medicine, in current therapy, you need thousands of different treatments to cure a single patient because you don’t know which cause it is. If we know where the frequency comes from, you can cancel the frequency to cure all these types of patients with one mechanism. This has already passed the animal testing and validating in humans. We are starting to do human trials.

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A political aide demonstrates how to use the flying rings. A DPP lawmaker cleared out some space in her office to create this mini kids’ playground.

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In a normal office, there’s no space for kids to run around. If they’re getting restless, their parents start feeling tense. They might not be able to explain issues well. So that’s why I wanted this space where kids can read books and play. Some children might have ideas they want to share, and in a relaxed environment, while playing, they will be able to share those ideas.

Before taking office, Ariel Chang was secretary-general of an NGO called “Taiwan Parks and Playgrounds For Children By Children.” She’s made the best possible use of this limited space to welcome families in, and serve voters who come to the office. Alongside the exercise equipment, there are children’s picture books and other toys.

Ariel Chang
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The pictures in here are different from the usual style, so children quite like flicking through this one. Everyone can play with this, but people think this one is very beautiful. It’s a child’s artwork. Before, a child put them together flat in the shape of a fox. You can let kids create their own art.

This little playground is small but perfectly formed. Chang says there’s more in the kitty to buy extra toys. Meanwhile, at the office of DPP lawmaker Asenay Daliyalrep, the legislator has inherited a bar top from her predecessor Alex Tsai. She’s converted it into a coffee bar: the perfect space to welcome guests into.

Asenay Daliyalrep
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When we have meetings, we need to brew coffee for everyone. See how many kettles we have! I bought these with my own money for everyone to use. And this too, because lots of guests need disinfectant.

Inside the cupboard is a panoply of brewing paraphernalia, as well as various different flavors of coffee. When visitors come over from the Executive Yuan, they can sort out important matters over a relaxing cup.

Asenay Daliyalrep
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We have more types of coffee beans here than you’d get in most cafés. We’re arguing back and forth every day in the Legislative Yuan, and sometimes people get very stressed. So I welcome everyone I know in parliament and in different departments to come here. And you can drink however much you like, always.

Legislators are often leaders in another field before taking office, and when they build up their parliamentary base, their space reflects their life experience. It can improve the quality of lawmaking, but also provide a window into their personality.

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