Kumamoto governor joins Taiwan forum ahead of investment meeting with TSMC

Kumamoto governor joins Taiwan forum ahead of investment meeting with TSMC

2024-08-08

Kumamoto Governor Kimura Takashi is working to secure more investment from Taiwan’s TSMC. The official plans to visit Taiwan at the end of the month. He’s expected to meet TSMC’s top brass and to discuss the possibility of a third Kumamoto chip plant. Ahead of the visit, Kimura attended a Taiwan-based forum, where he recalled Taiwan’s kindness after the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. He said that as Kumamoto’s new governor, his top priority will be to strengthen the Japan-Taiwan friendship.

Via teleconference, Kumamoto Governor Kimura Takashi joins a forum in Taiwan. He shared a photo from eight years ago, of then-Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te and then-Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu during their visit to Kumamoto.

Kimura Takashi
Kumamoto governor
I will never forget the Taiwanese people’s warm concern. I remain filled with gratitude to this day.

Taiwan and Japan have had a strong friendship for years. In 2016, after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamato, Taiwan donated 500 million yen and showing other forms of support. Kimura said he will never forget Taiwan’s kindness. He said that as Kumamoto’s new governor, his top priority will be to deepen the bilateral friendship, and to help TSMC expand its local presence.

Kimura Takashi
Kumamoto governor
Why did TSMC decide to build in Kumamoto? Because we are within 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers of Taiwan, Shenzhen, Nanjing, and other East Asian high-tech hubs.

TSMC’s first Kumamoto plant is slated for mass production in the fourth quarter. The company will soon break ground on its second plant, with mass production expected by the end of 2027. TSMC will spend more than 3.2 trillion yen and generate some 3,400 local jobs. Due to the chipmaker’s presence, Japanese and international suppliers are flocking to Kumamoto’s Kyushu island, bringing more than 100 investment projects. This so-called “TSMC effect” will be worth 20.77 trillion by 2030, the government says.

Kimura Takashi
Kumamoto governor
These chip suppliers account for 90% of the global market. Here at Kumamoto, excellent Japanese corporations are at hand to support TSMC.

Kimura wants TSMC to build a third chip factory in Kumamoto. Earlier this year, TSMC Chair C.C. Wei said the company would consider it, if local residents supported the project. Kimura plans to visit Taiwan at the end of August, to call on TSMC executives. He aims to secure more investment for Kumamoto, to drive the high-tech renaissance of Japan’s fifth-largest agricultural prefecture.

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

積極爭取台積電三廠! 熊本知事秀8年前賴總統訪日照

2024-08-08

日本第五大農業縣熊本，因為台積電進駐、搖身變成半導體重鎮，熊本一廠Q4量產、二廠也即將動工，魏哲家曾說，若獲當地居民同意，考慮在熊本興建三廠，才剛上任的熊本知事木村敬積極爭取，預計8月底親自來台拜訪台積電，在此之前木村敬首度參加台灣論壇談到，2016年熊本大地震台灣捐款5億日圓，時任台南市長賴清德跟陳菊親自關心，熊本人永遠不會忘！

日本熊本縣知事木村敬以錄影方式參加台灣論壇，還特別找出8年前，時任台南市長的總統賴清德，以及當年的高雄市長陳菊造訪熊本的照片。

[[日本熊本縣知事木村敬]]
“我們絕對不會忘記，台灣民眾對我們這麼溫暖的關心，至今我內心都充滿感激。”

台日友好情誼，溢於言表，2016年熊本發生規模7.3強震，台灣不僅捐款5億日圓，地方政府也用各種方式打氣，這份情，讓木村敬很難忘，如今當選知事首要任務，就是延續雙邊友好的情誼，讓已經在當地設廠的台積電，繼續深耕熊本。

[[日本熊本縣知事木村敬]]
“為何台積電會決定設廠熊本? 1000到1500公里內，囊括了台灣中國深圳與南京等東亞高科技產業地區。”

台積熊本一廠，預計第四季量產、二廠即將動工，預計2027年底量產，資本支出超過3兆2千億日圓，帶來3400個工作機會，日本當地跟國際供應鏈夥伴都向九州靠攏，半導體投資案超過百件，當局預估，台積電效應到2030年將達20兆770億日圓。

[[日本熊本縣知事木村敬]]
“(半導體供應鏈) 全球市占9成，我們有這些坐落熊本的優秀日企，作為台積電設廠的後盾。”

木村敬積極爭取台積電在當地設三廠，尤其5月魏哲家鬆口，只要當地居民同意、就考慮興建，因此木村敬預計8月底親自訪台、拜訪台積高層，畢竟有了台積加持，不僅讓日本第五大農業大縣熊本搖身一變、成為半導體重鎮。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
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

Related News

Lai attends promotion ceremony for 31 military officers

For the first time since taking office, President Lai Ching-te attended a promotion ceremony for 31 military officers. Lai shook hands with each general promoted and thanked them for their service. In a speech, he underscored his commitment to boosting Taiwan’s defense capabilities to ensure that the country can survive and thrive.

President Lai Ching-te presides at his first military promotion ceremony since taking office. Striding off-stage, he shakes hands with the promoted officers, thanking them for their service.

Seven officers were promoted to the rank of two-star generals and 24 were promoted to one-star generals. They include Presidential Office Chief of Security Shao Chih-chun, who was promoted to lieutenant general; Matsu Defense Command Political Warfare Director Chu Hui-fang, now the fifth female general on active duty; and Liu Sheng-shan, the commander of the Navy’s 131st Flotilla and the first Amis person to become a Navy rear admiral.

Lai Ching-te
President
In recent years, Taiwan has been on the receiving end of constant threats and aggression from China. Taiwan will continue striving to maintain the status quo and regional peace and stability. We will stand firm to uphold our free and democratic constitutional system. We will insist that the R.O.C. and PRC are not subordinate to each other. We will continue to defend our sovereignty from infringement and our territory from annexation. We will insist that the future of the R.O.C. Taiwan rests only in the hands of its 23.5 million people.

In face of China’s threats to cross-strait peace and stability, President Lai underscored his determination to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities.

Lai Ching-te
President
Our goal is to create a robust force that can ensure the survival and development of our country. The Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict between Israel and Palestine demonstrate clearly that our military must keep up with the times in order to have strong combat power.

Incursions by PLA warplanes and vessels have nearly become routine in the Taiwan Strait. Yang Chuan-wen, who leads the Air Force’s 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, was promoted to major general on Thursday.

Yang Chuan-wen
Air Force 4th Tactical Fighter Wing
Dear friends, there is no need to worry. We will be fully prepared to ensure that the PLA doesn’t dare to intrude upon us.

Yang spoke confidently, emphasizing that Taiwan wants peace but is not afraid of war.

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

2024-08-08

Hollywood’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks Taiwan democracy at blockchain summit

Thursday was the third and last day of the 2024 Asia Blockchain Summit. One panel featured Hollywood star Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He was joined by former digital minister Audrey Tang, an American economist, and the cofounder of Ethereum. During their panel, the four discussed the potential threats that TikTok poses to Taiwan’s democracy.

Fans wait to meet Indian astrologer Abhigya Anand at the 2024 Asia Blockchain Summit. On the event’s final day, big names drew a big crowd.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Actor
I want to thank Audrey for inviting me to be here in Taiwan. It’s my first time in this country. I’ve been here for a few days with my family. I’m so happy to be here.

Hollywood actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, known for films like “500 Days of Summer” and “Inception,” attended as the founder of an online collaborative media platform. He said he felt inspired by Taiwan’s democracy.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Actor
Like you said, I, as an American who is suffering through a sort of a low-bandwidth and low-touch democracy, I take a lot of inspiration and hope.

Audrey Tang
Project Liberty Institute
I think there is a lot to be said about making civics education, like people younger than 18, having the full capacity to already set agenda for the society.

A fellow panelist was former digital minister Audrey Tang, who’s now a senior fellow at the Project Liberty Institute, a nonprofit for digital democracy. She was joined by Glen Weyl, who set the record as the youngest economics professor at the University of Chicago. Another panelist was Vitalik Buterin, the 30-year-old cofounder of Ethereum. The four discussed how social media interacts with democracy, as well as the national security concerns posed by TikTok.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Actor
Some people see this as a good thing. Some people think that TikTok is a threat to national security. Where do you come down on that? What’s your opinion of the TikTok divestment?

Audrey Tang
Project Liberty Institute
Well, I mean, when I served as digital minister, we also have a Cyber Security Management Act.

Tang said that the opacity of Tiktok’s algorithms limit users’ ability to choose what they see. She said that, privacy concerns aside, the app could be used by China to spread propaganda.

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

2024-08-08

Vegetable prices soar in wake of Typhoon Gaemi

2024-08-08

Tech farm grows vegetables in AI-controlled pool of water instead of soil

Now for a look inside a high-tech farm. A farm in Taoyuan uses a method called “deep water culture,” where vegetables grow in a carefully controlled pool of water instead of soil. The farm uses AI to keep the produce in ideal conditions and maximize harvests. Although this kind of farm might seem unfamiliar to most now, many believe it could be part of the solution for the farming crisis.

More than 10 types of lettuce are growing in this 1,800-ping greenhouse, bathing in natural light. This farm in Daxi District, Taoyuan, uses a system called “deep water culture” to grow vegetables. The lettuces aren’t growing in soil, but in water. The annual production is up to 120 tons, more than 10 times that of traditional soil-based farming.

Cheng Chu-yun
FTV reporter
Tiny seedlings like this are planted all close together in plastic foam beds, and as they grow bigger, they’re moved farther and farther back. The whole growing cycle takes four to five weeks, so there can be up to 20 harvests a year.

The greenhouse uses an AI automatic management system that can automatically adjust the temperature and humidity, as well as the balance of nutrients in the pool water, to give the vegetables the same kind of nourishment they would get from soil. It can also kill microbes and recycle them. The water only needs fully replacing once every two years. Normally, just a small amount is added each day to make up for evaporation.

Chou Ching-an
Farm CEO
At my farm in Daxi right now, we just add about 3 cubic meters of water a day, to maintain the level. In traditional soil-based farming you might need 30 to 40 cubic meters for the same surface area. We use about 10% of what they do.

This automatic foam hole punch uses laser technology to make customized beds for different types of seeds, increasing germination rates to 95%. The automatic foam planter takes just 30 seconds to plant a bed – 20 times faster than a human could.

Liu Hung-cheng
Chain convenience store marketing manager
It has high production capacity. So I think it’s very worthwhile to encourage and develop this kind of technological farming. If it provides a reliable supply and brings the price down, then consumers will be more open-minded towards it than they used to be.

Technological farms like this provide very high efficiency, without using pesticides. They not only produce safe-to-eat food, but also ease the extreme shortage of agricultural workers.

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

2024-08-08

Boxer Lin Yu-ting advances to Olympic gold medal match

Turning to Paris. A gold medal is within reach for Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting, who reached the final in the early hours of Thursday. Her semifinal match was broadcast live in New Taipei, with locals staying up late to show their support. In a video call with her fans, Lin vowed to fight her hardest to bring home the gold.

At 3 a.m. on Thursday, the New Taipei City government held a viewing party to cheer for boxer Lin Yu-ting in Paris.

Elation erupts, as Lin is declared the winner who will advance to the final. Getting to this point has been a long, hard road, her mother says.

Lin Yu-ting’s mother
I honestly haven’t been sleeping well, my heart has been breaking for her. It’s been a hard road getting to where she is. Her ID number starts with 2, so why should there be any doubts about her gender? We have to show our support for Lin Yu-ting as she fights for the gold medal.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei mayor
Overcoming challenges and standing strong despite hardships – that’s the spirit of Taiwan.

Immediately after the semifinal, Lin hopped on a video call with the crowd in Taiwan. She thanked her supporters and vowed to bring home the gold medal.

Lin Yu-ting
Boxer
I’m sorry to have made you all nervous. I will do everything I can to do well in the next match. I hope you will all continue to cheer for me then. I will bring back the gold medal.

The viewing party was attended by the boxing clubs of Yingge Junior High School and Yingge Vocational High School, Lin’s alma maters. Despite the late hours, the students stayed until the very end.

Student
Yingge Vocational High School
The mass of each punch and the distance reached have all improved. Yes, she’s also more confident. The gender controversy is baseless.

Student
Yingge Junior High School
These people are so weird. Why do they talk about her like that?

With Olympic gold within reach, Lin is well on her way to winning all four major championships in her sport.

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

2024-08-08

Miaoli coach Wu Yu-ting makes history on Paris Olympics sidelines

2024-08-08

Pay attention to smoke points: cooking oils can damage lungs

Pay attention to smoke points: cooking oils can damage lungs. That’s the message from doctors today, who call for cooks to take care with frying oils in the kitchen. That’s because of the damage smoke can have on the lungs. Rates of lung cancer are higher among Taiwanese women than in some other countries, even though tobacco consumption is low. Experts say that might be due to air pollution, but kitchen smoke could also be a major overlooked hazard. The key thing to pay attention to is the type of oil you use, and how hot your pan is. If you want to fry on a high heat, be sure to use an oil that has a high smoke point.

Member of public
Yes, olive oil is healthier, that’s reported in newspapers and magazines.

Member of public
Yes, I know. I use it occasionally.

What oil do you use to fry vegetables at home? If you ask the passerby on the street, olive oil is the No. 1 answer. People imagine to it to be a healthy, premium choice. But if you’re frying on high heat, choosing the wrong oil could, in fact, lead to health risks.

Yen Tzung-hai
Toxicologist
Extra virgin olive oil has a low smoke point. It’s fine for sauteing. But if you use it for deep-frying or frying chicken or pork cutlets, it will go over the smoke point and start to smoke.

There are lots of different types of olive oil. Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 191 degrees Celsius, while for extra virgin olive oil, it’s 199 degrees. For refined olive oil, it’s 230 degrees.

Yen Tzung-hai
Toxicologist
If you want to deep-fry, you should choose an oil with a higher smoke point. That will prevent oxidization.

For 42 years in a row, the type of cancer that claims the most lives in Taiwan has been lung cancer. People who smoke and those who have a family history of the disease are at an elevated risk. More men develop lung cancer, but women also develop it, even without smoking.

Liu Heng-hsuan
Taiwan Young Patient Association head
Lung cancer rates are higher in Taiwanese women than in women in Europe and North America, even though smoking rates are actually lower among Taiwanese women than European and American women. So experts have suggested that this may be because of smoke produced from cooking oils, or from air pollution. These are important factors leading to lung cancer for Taiwanese people.

There are many different risk factors for lung cancer, including air pollution, airborne particulates and second-hand smoke. But smoke from cooking oils is an invisible factor that may be most commonly ignored. The next time you head to the kitchen, think carefully about which oil to reach for.

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

2024-08-08

90% of dads have fantasized about escaping responsibilities: survey

2024-08-08

Montessori specialist teaches ‘stable parenting’ techniques

Henry Lo, a parenting specialist from Hong Kong, is certified as a Montessori instructor. He now holds classes and seminars to teach techniques he developed under the banner of “stable parenting.” To raise positive and confident children, Lo believes parents must first stabilize their own emotions and show love.

To show how to respond to a difficult parenting situation, Henry Lo acts like a child who likes to push boundaries. In his class, he teaches parents that to raise a positive, stable and confident child, they need to first work through their own emotions. This is what he calls “stable parenting.”

Henry Lo
Parenting coach
After calming and stabilizing the adult, then we can talk about parenting. If we can do that, the adult can not only moderate their own mood, but can use their composure to help stabilize an emotional child.

Originally from Hong Kong, Lo is certified as a Montessori instructor for children up to 6 years old. He got into early childhood education after going to studying in the U.S. at 18 and becoming an English teacher. He realized that young children need to be taught more than just language. Their entire personalities need to be cultivated.

Henry Lo
Parenting coach
When I started with the Montessori method, I learned the different developmental stages and children’s needs during each one. The kinds of methods we can use to help a child develop. When a child exhibits challenging behaviors, I look at where they are in terms of development to determine what method could help them through it.

Through holding classes, parenting seminars, teacher trainings and even publishing children’s and parenting books, Lo shares what he has learned about parenting. And in the process of helping others, he’s found it to be therapeutic for himself, too.

Henry Lo
Parenting coach
From so many years of teaching the stable parenting method, I think what I’ve gained the most is the ability to connect more to my inner self. By understanding myself better, I can better understand children and parents. The greatest reward I’ve gotten from striving to help others has been helping myself.

Lo is a father himself and uses his methods with his own child. By passing on his parenting philosophies, he has become even more certain of his career choice.

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

2024-08-08