New Grand Hotel head aspires to Michelin Guide nod

New Grand Hotel head aspires to Michelin Guide nod

2024-08-30

The Grand Hotel in Taipei is getting a new chairwoman, who’s deeply familiar with tourists and their needs. It’s Yeh Chu-lan, who last month stepped down as head of the Taiwan Visitors Association. You may better know her for being a former transport minister and former vice premier. Let’s hear from her.

Yeh Chu-lan
Grand Hotel chairwoman
The road ahead is long, hard and full of challenges, but the Grand Hotel allows us all to appreciate the endless beauty of Taiwan. This is something that I am looking forward to, so I am not worried. As the head of the Taiwan Visitors Association, I have had interactions with people from every country.

Lin Yu-sheng
Former Grand Hotel chairman
In 2020, we were No. 1 for occupancy out of 15 hotels. I would really like to thank all our directors and supervisors, as well as our colleagues, for your unwavering support. The Grand Hotel will only get better, and I hope everyone will show support for the new chairwoman, Ms. Yeh.

Yeh is 75 years old, and is confident that her experience will help her lead the 72-year-old hotel to new highs. Her two main goals are to get the hotel listed on the Michelin Guide, and to let more international travelers see the institution.

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"圓山大飯店"董事長交接葉菊蘭走馬上任定2大目標

2024-08-30

剛卸下台灣觀光協會會長的葉菊蘭，曾任交通部長和行政院副院長，今天(30)在交通部次長林國顯的見證下，葉菊蘭接下圓山飯店董座的棒子。

[[圓山大飯店新任董事長葉菊蘭]]
“任重道遠、戰戰兢兢，這個圓山它可以讓你一窺整個台灣的各方面的美好，這是我期待的部分，所以我不擔心，因為我過去在台灣觀光協會，這麼多年也跟非常多的國家有互動”

[[卸任圓山大飯店董事長林育生]]
“我們在2020年成為15家飯店的住宿率第一名的飯店，我真的要感謝我們所有的董監事，我們的同事的支持。圓山會更好，我再一次希望大家支持我們葉董事長”

現年75歲的葉菊蘭有著豐富的資歷，表示有信心帶領72歲的圓山飯店，再創高峰。葉菊蘭也立下兩大目標，除了希望飯店拿到米其林認可，也期盼讓更多國際旅人看見圓山飯店。

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Government appoints first female Judicial Yuan president

Taiwan may soon to see its first female Judicial Yuan president. At a press conference on Friday, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim announced seven nominations for Constitutional Court judges, including Chang Wen-chen, a distinguished professor at National Taiwan University’s College of Law. Chang is simultaneously also the first woman to be nominated to be Judicial Yuan president. The vice presidential nominee is former Legislator Yao Li-ming. If the opposition-dominated Legislature approves these nominations, the proportion of women among Constitutional Court justices will hit a record high.

Hsiao Bi-khim
Vice president
We nominate Ms. Chang Wen-chen as a grand justice and Judicial Yuan president, and Mr. Yao Li-ming as a grand justice and vice president.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is the convener of a committee charged with head hunting Constitutional Court justices for the Judicial Yuan. She personally announced the new list of nominees, seven in all.

Hsiao Bi-khim
Vice president
Ms. Chang Wen-chen is the first female nominated to be a Judicial Yuan president. Mr. Yao Li-ming has rich experience in participating in constitutional reform and clearly understands the overall context of the development of Taiwan’s democracy. We look forward to this new generation of justices that transcend the political aisle and will lead the promotion of judicial reform, with progressive values and concepts that are compatible with our people’s sense of fairness.

Seven of the 15 serving judges on the Constitutional Court will see their terms expire on Oct. 31. Under President Lai Ching-te, a new list of nominees was announced in accordance with additional provisions of the Constitution. Among them, the nominee for Judicial Yuan president is Chang Wen-chen, a distinguished professor at National Taiwan University’s College of Law. She had been involved in interpreting the Constitution when same-sex marriage was being legalized and adultery was decriminalized. The nominee for vice president is Yao Li-ming, a former legislator and current chairman of a foundation dedicated to monitoring the Legislature. If the appointments are approved by the Legislature, close to half of all the Constitutional Court justices will be women, the highest number in Taiwan’s history.

Chang Wen-chen
Judicial Yuan president nominee
The first time President Lai asked me to serve as Judicial Yuan president was the first time we met. He told me he had been observing me for a long time, and I would like to give him my wholehearted thanks for his faith in me. If I gain the trust and approval of the Legislative Yuan, as Judicial Yuan president, my most important task will be to build social trust in our courts and defend human rights and the rule of law in our democratic Constitution.

The nominations represent a push towards gender equality. Hsiao said she hoped that the nominations could win the Legislature’s approval, so that the functions of the Constitutional Court could continue to flourish and the progress of the constitutional system could be promoted.

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2024-08-30

Lai Confers awards on non-commissioned officers

President Lai Ching-te on Friday morning made a special visit to the defense ministry to hand out awards to model non-commissioned officers and squads in celebration of Armed Forces Day. In his speech, he vowed to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty and freedom and democracy. However, he also said Taiwan should become the world’s “helmsman” for global peace. He noted that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are indispensable to global prosperity.

Lai Ching-te
President
Each member of our national military, and each unit, is an indispensable force in defending national sovereignty. I wish you all a happy Armed Forces Day.

In his capacity as commander-in-chief, President Lai Ching-te was accompanied by defense minister Wellington Koo, as he conferred awards on model soldiers.

Lai Ching-te
President
Admiral Chiang’s son has been exposed to the military since he was a child. He is about to become a freshman at the Air Force Academy. The baton has been handed from one generation to another for the nation. Private First Class Chung’s mother has no way of being here as she is undergoing chemotherapy, but I hope mother Chung knows that to be recognized as a role model in the nation’s military, he must have performed extremely well.

President Lai listed the non-commissioned officers who received awards one by one for their efforts in protecting the nation, and he did not forget to mention their spouses and children. In his address, he mentioned his defense and diplomatic policies, as he insisted on defending national sovereignty. He also stressed Taiwan’s determination to use its utmost strength to protect peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Lai Ching-te
President
Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are an indispensable element in global security and prosperity. Taiwan must be the helmsman of peace. We will uphold the four pillars, jointly protect our cherished democracy and freedom, insist on defending national sovereignty to protect Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, and let the Taiwan Strait develop peacefully.

Lai invites all Taiwanese to support the nation’s military and the government has taken the lead in increasing the nation’s defense budget because a “true peace” cannot be reached without strength.

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2024-08-30

Asian American voters culturally, politically diverse

Since 2020, Asian Americans have been the fastest-growing group of eligible voters in the U.S., according to Pew Research Center. In 2022, California had the most eligible Asian American voters in the U.S., followed by New York and Texas. From Houston, Texas, VOA’s Elizabeth Lee has more on the potential and challenges of the Asian American vote.

For flavors from Asia, Houston, Texas is a one-stop-shop. The foods found here reflect the melting pot of Asian cultures living in the counties that make up the Greater Houston region. One of them is suburban Fort Bend County, where Asians make up more than 21% of the population. It’s also where Chinese American immigrant JJ Clemence lives.

JJ Clemence
Chinese American
I think for either party, they really cannot, cannot afford to ignore the Asian community.

Asian Americans are among the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the U.S., according to Census data. Voter turnout among this group has also seen record increases in the past two presidential elections. The Democratic nominee for president, Kamala Harris, has taken notice and recently released two ads targeting Asians. More Asian Americans call themselves Democrat than Republican. One reason: More than half of Asian American voters are immigrants.

Becky Kim
Korean American
I think Trump’s policies hurt minorities a lot.

Richard Murray
University of Houston senior research fellow
A lot of his policies not only took aim at illegal immigrants from Mexico or South America, but also restricted legal immigration.

Still, a 2024 survey of Asian American voters found that 22% identify as Republicans.

Daniel Wong
Chinese American
Less government is what Asians want. You know, more freedom and less tax.

The survey also found 31% of Asian American voters identify as independents. But 42% of Asian American voters surveyed say they have not been contacted by political candidates or a political party. Daniel Wong, who had served in local elected office, says Asian American voters are partly responsible.

Daniel Wong
Chinese American
We are not organized; we don’t understand the American political system. That’s why we don’t know how we’re going to energize to put our energy together to shoot for whatever common goal, which we don’t have.

The projected 15 million Asian Americans eligible to vote have roots in different countries. During the last presidential election, close to 60% of Asian Americans voted. Political activists say forming relationships with new Asian-American citizens and educating them about the political process will mobilize them to get involved.

Elizabeth Lee, VOA News, Houston

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Xiao Xiang-wen bags Taiwan’s first medal at Paris Paralympics

Taiwan has won its first medal at the Paris Paralympics, and its first medal ever in taekwondo at the event. The medal winner is taekwondo practitioner Xiao Xiang-wen, who competed in the men’s K44 58-kilogram division. Xiao says his next goal is to win gold at the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.

Xiao Xiang-wen and his coach Wu Yen-ni trot around the ring hoisting Taiwan’s Paralympic flag. Xiao’s bronze medal is Taiwan’s first at the Paris Paralympics. It is also Taiwan’s first ever medal in taekwondo at this competition. In the semifinal, Xiao had been up against Israel’s Asaf Yasur, the top seeded fighter. He lost the match 16-6, leaving him in the match for bronze against Spanish rising star Joel Martín Villalobos.

Xiao put on an outstanding offense, winning the match 16-8 and bagging bronze. Though he hadn’t achieved his goal of winning gold, he says the bronze was not a bad result. As a university student, Xiao had been intending to join Taiwan’s national taekwondo team. But before the qualifiers, he was injured in a car accident that damaged a network of nerves in his right arm. Now 25, he has made it to the Paralympic team, and won a bronze to boot. He had his coach to thank.

Xiao Xiang-wen
Taekwondo practitioner
Coach, I love you. Thank you for being with me on this hard journey. It has been exhausting to try to earn points to get on this stage and we had to constantly go abroad for competitions. That left her with very little time to spend with her family.

Wu said she was very aware of the tremendous effort Xiao had made to win the bronze medal.

Wu Yen-ni
Xiao Xiang-wen’s coach
It is already extremely hard for able-bodied people to achieve this. And especially for him, having emerged from a low point in life. The injury in his right arm made things more difficult, as it impacted his ability to write and type. So studying and handing in homework became more difficult, but he overcame all the obstacles in his way.

The duo now have their sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, where Xiao hopes to turn his bronze to gold.

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The government’s earthquake early warning system is getting an overhaul. Starting September, warnings will be expanded to include areas where the predicted intensity of the tremor is as low as 3, provided its magnitude is at least 6.5. In related news, meteorologists expect rain and temperatures this autumn to be within a normal range. However, they also don’t rule out warmer weather and rains heavier than average.

A 7.2 earthquake struck Hualien on April 3, shaking the ground in many areas of Taiwan. Its intensity reached a 4 in greater Taipei, which is in theory high enough for the government to send an early quake alert. But no warnings were sent out, giving rise to much controversy. Now, the system’s standards are getting an update.

Wu Chien-fu
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The biggest energy release during the April 3 earthquake happened at the 16 to 17 second mark. Under the current system, we only send out warnings when the intensity hits the threshold at level 4. But after these adjustments, we can send a warning earlier, so that when the strong shockwave hits, everyone has two to three more seconds to react.

Under current rules, early warning messages are only sent out when an earthquake’s magnitude is 5 or more and its predicted intensity in the area is at least a 4. Starting Sept. 1, warnings will also be dispatched when the predicted intensity is 3 or more, provided the quake’s magnitude is at least 6.5. In related news, the Central Weather Administration says temperatures this autumn will be average or slightly warmer than usual. Precipitation is expected to be either within normal levels or more abundant.

Chen Yi-liang
Meteorologist
Usually, some low pressure systems form, and low pressure bands remain in the vicinity. When that happens, there is a possibility of rains all over Taiwan. After October, we’ll see some changes to low-pressure currents to the south of Taiwan, and northeasterly winds will start prevailing near Taiwan.

The meteorologist said that starting October, rains will mainly be concentrated in Northern Taiwan. He urged residents in Central and Southern Taiwan to conserve water, as the area could experience droughts.

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2024-08-30