Lai to stop over in Hawaii before Pacific state visits

Lai to stop over in Hawaii before Pacific state visits

2024-11-29

President Lai Ching-te is set to depart for his first state visits this Saturday. His itinerary starts off with a 2-night transit stop in Hawaii, followed by state visits to the Marshal Islands and Tuvalu. He’ll then stopover in Guam for another day before visiting Palau and returning to Taiwan on Dec. 6. Speaking at a religious ceremony in New Taipei on Friday, Lai said he hoped the visits would prove fruitful. Let’s hear from him.

Lai Ching-te
President
I am going to visit the Marshal Islands, Tuvalu and Palau - three of our diplomatic allies in the Pacific. These will be my first state visits since assuming office. In addition to accepting the warm invitations extended to us by the three Pacific allies, I hope that these visits and face-to-face exchanges will allow us to explore new avenues of cooperation, to strengthen the relationships between Taiwan and these countries.

And of course, Lai will be taking gifts representing Taiwan with him. They include a set of coloring pencils featuring Alishan’s steam engine, pencil cases with local eats such as bubble tea and braised pork rice and a Presidential Office gaji bag.

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

明將出訪南太友邦賴總統:與友邦交流尋求合作

2024-11-29

賴總統周六將展開任內首次出訪，將先過境美國夏威夷停留2晚，依序訪問馬紹爾群島共和國、吐瓦魯後，過境關島停留1天，再訪問帛琉，12/6返抵國門，今天賴總統出席新北市賀聖宮參加祈安大典，致詞時也提到希望這次的出訪平安順利。

[[總統賴清德]]
“我要出發前往馬紹爾群島共和國，吐瓦魯國、帛琉共和國這三個國家，我們在太平洋的三個邦交國，這是我上任以來第一次出訪，除了要回應這三個太平洋友邦的熱情邀請，我也希望透過實地參訪、當面交流，我們能持續發掘合作機會，讓台灣和這些國家的感情更好”

賴清德還在網路上搶先開箱三樣飄濃濃台灣味的伴手禮，包括阿里山蒸汽火車彩色鉛筆、畫上珍奶、魯肉飯等台灣小吃的筆袋，以及總統府的茄芷袋。

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Countries around the world are bracing for economic upheaval as incoming US President Donald Trump threatens massive tariffs, especially on China. The uncertainty has left governments and businesses struggling with how to respond. VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.

During his first term, Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on China, shaking the global economy. Ahead of his return, Trump is vowing even more drastic measures – 10% tariffs on all imports to the US and a staggering 60% on goods from China. While China hasn’t commented directly on Trump’s threats, it has warned against further trade tensions.

Mao Ning
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There’s no winner in a trade war, nor will the world benefit from it.

Any Trump tariffs could especially hurt economies that depend on exports but an expanded US-China trade war could also create opportunities. Many countries have benefited as production shifts away from China to avoid tariffs. Thailand’s commerce minister recently told VOA’s Thai Service his country has seen an influx of US companies relocating factories from China.

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We should be able to weather this. I actually see these problems as benefits for Thailand. I believe that we can be an investment destination for every country.

Much of the uncertainty stems from Trump’s unpredictability. During his first term, he often used the prospect of tariffs as a bargaining tool, before eventually striking individual trade deals, analyst Jayant Menon says.

Jayant Menon
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Trump is not a protectionist, I think, right? He’s a dealmaker. That’s what he likes to present himself as – you know, the art of the deal and all that. So he likes free trade agreements that he has a role in.

Menon says countries targeted by Trump could push for new trade agreements, instead of tit-for-tat tariff escalations that could harm themselves and the global economy. Not all of Trump’s proposals point toward increased protectionism. He has also suggested rolling back subsidies for US-made electric vehicles – subsidies put in place by the Biden administration.

Jayant Menon
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He’s already called them silly in a podcast with Joe Rogan. So he’s probably going to roll them back. And that’s a positive in terms of the distortions that affect the global economy.

Both risks and opportunities as the world figures out how to respond to the return of an unpredictable U.S. president.

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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

2024-11-29

Government mulls mental health leave for public servants

The issue of mental health has become a hotly debated topic in Taiwan, after the suicide of a labor ministry worker that was reportedly caused by workplace bullying. Earlier this year, the government rolled out mental health leave at school campuses, and it’s hoping to expand the plan to civil servants in the future. But many unresolved issues remain, such as whether the leave will be paid or not.

Lai Ching-te
President
The government must take the lead to bring change to workplaces, campuses and every corner of society. We will do our utmost to work with the private sector so that no one falls through the cracks.

At a meeting of the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, President Lai Ching-te stressed that the government needed to take care of the people’s physical and mental wellbeing. The comments come after a suicide suspected to be caused by workplace bullying at the Ministry of Labor. Lai said the government will take the lead in discussions on instituting mental health leave for public servants.

Lin Ching-yi
Ministry of Health and Welfare
The instructions given to us by the Executive Yuan will be discussed by the head of the Directorate General of Personnel Administration and we will provide the relevant support so that public servants can take care of their health with mental health leave.

How public servants will apply for mental health leave and whether it will be paid leave or not needs further discussion. What do workers think?

Member of the public
If public servants get to have it, then for the sake of fairness, private companies should also offer it.

Member of the public
It all depends on the boss. But if it is really good for your health, then we should get it too.

Member of the public
Hospitals are probably in great need of this. You can’t see it, but the pressure is enormous.

In Taiwan, mental health leave is already in place for students. Last February, a total of 127 colleges and universities began permitting up to three days of mental health leave each semester. Each time students apply, it can be for half or a full days leave. Senior high schools and vocational high schools followed suit in August. In addition, the government is expanding its free counseling services.

Lai Ching-te
President
This year we expanded our mental health support program, which originally covered people aged 15 to 30. Now it will also cover people aged 15 to 45 years old, to provide more support to that demographic.

The program offers three free consultations per year. In the first three months since the program began, a total of 21,000 people have used its services 48,000 times.

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TSMC founder’s memoir shoots to No. 1 in a day

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The second installment of TSMC founder Morris Chang’s autobiography hit bookstores on Friday. Many people rushed to buy it on the first day of its release, hoping to understand the story of the company, known locally as the holy mountain that protects the nation.

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I want to learn about the second half of his career, because I’m in the semiconductor industry myself, and I want to learn from his experience.

Member of the public
I’m quite interested in TSMC’s stocks.

The book also includes rare photos, including Chang’s youthful visage aged 18 and his wedding to Sophie Chang in 2001. There’s also a photo of the couple with outgoing US President Joe Biden taken in 2022. Fans had waited 26 years for the second installment, which takes some two hours to read.

Member of the public
I quite admire Morris Chang, so I’m glad I was able to get a copy on the first day.

Member of the public
My husband asked me to buy a copy for him and take it back to the US for him.

Chang founded TSMC in 1985 and in 1994 took it public, with each share costing NT$90. Today the stock price has increased over 10 times. From mobile phones and cars to the AI of today, the entire globe needs TSMC’s chips.

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This has been the most exciting and enjoyable 30 years of my life, being able to work with everyone to achieve such a great undertaking.

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It’s such a thick book but every single word he wrote himself.

As soon as Chang’s memoir was published, it topped Taiwan’s list of bestsellers. The story behind Taiwan’s high priest of semiconductors is profound and moving to read.

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Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Taiwanese travelers love visiting Japan. But stopping by for a holiday is very different from working and living there. Few people know the difference as well as Chen Wu-fu, the former chair of the Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. After working in Japan for 30 years Chen says that, though difficulties are hard to overcome at first, success can be achieved. Thanks to his unrelenting efforts, Chen started holding a Taiwanese festival at Tokyo Tower, and introduced tropical fruits from Taiwan to Japanese supermarkets. During his time in Japan, he’s seen a beautiful friendship develop between the two countries.

Chen Wu-fu
Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry honorary chair
Of every 10 students that go to study in Japan, only one stays in the country. That’s because they can’t adapt to the lifestyle.

Having worked in Japan for 30 years, Chen Wu-fu recounts the hardships of trying to make a living in a foreign land. He shared his experiences on a FTV program, going into the differences of living in Taiwan and Japan. Next to him, Riria Infinity from Japan nods in agreement.

Riria Infinity
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In the workplace, Japanese employees have to be very careful about hierarchy. Maybe that’s reflected in having to come to work early. Work hours are for work, so you might have to come in half an hour or even one hour early to prepare for the work day.

Japan’s work culture is very different from Taiwan’s. Chen says that it took him many years of daily grind in order to become established in Japanese business circles. As the former chair of the Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he brought together the power of Taiwanese business people in Tokyo to hold the Tokyo Tower Taiwan Festival. The event aims to help overseas Taiwanese cope with homesickness while promoting Taiwan abroad. He’s also helped Taiwanese fruits, such as pineapples, bananas and sugar apples make their way to Japanese supermarkets, resulting in an additional 10,000 tons of pineapple sales ever year.

Chen Wu-fu
Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry honorary chair
It was very difficult to break into the Japanese market due to price differences. But thanks to the growing friendship between Taiwan and Japan in recent years, Japanese people have been willing to pay premium prices for Taiwanese pineapples in order to support local farmers. You can truly see who your friends are in times of hardship.

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Since Taiwan helped Japan so much in the past, my friends and relatives in Tokyo are willing to buy pricier produce from Taiwan. Once you eat Taiwanese pineapple, you’ll never forget it.

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Customers often face long wait times at checkout when buying bread, and so these students from Dong Guang Junior High School created an AI checkout system.

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The International Exhibition for Young Inventors was established in 2003 to showcase inventions by children 6 to 19 years old. The Taiwanese team was among the 234 exhibitors from 21 countries around the world. Their inventions received 13 gold medals, 16 silver medals, 20 bronze medals and 20 special awards.

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Competition categories include technology for special needs, green technology, education and recreation, foods and agriculture, health and safety, and disaster response and prevention.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Mercury hits 7.8 degrees in New Taipei as winter approaches

The district of Shiding in New Taipei hit a chilly 7.8 degrees on Friday morning, marking the lowest temperature on Taiwan proper. A continental cold air mass is ushering in wintry weather to Taiwan, which is only further exacerbated by radiative cooling. With December right around the corner, forecasters say that the weather this winter will be within a normal range. That’s unlike the current autumn season, which has been the warmest on record in more than 300 years.

As the weather gets cold, piping hot salty soy milk is selling like nobody’s business. Paired with soup dumplings, it’s a hearty meal to keep warm in the chill.

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When it gets cold, a bowl of salty soy milk with a fried dough stick is a must to have energy for the day.

A continental cold air front and radiative cooling have sent temps plummeting. In the early hours of Friday, the Central Weather Administration issued a cold surge alert in several areas of Taiwan, as lows hit 7.8 degrees in Shiding, New Taipei and 8 degrees in Guanxi, Hsinchu.

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According to the CWA, the average temperature this fall season has been 26.3 degrees, marking Taiwan’s hottest autumn since 1651. Precipitation was 80% higher than the average.

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This low pressure system created a higher number of autumn tropical storms than usual, which resulted in Taiwan receiving more rainfall. There were a total of 15 named storms during this period, which is higher than the climactic average of 10.8 storms.

Winter is just around the corner, and according to forecasters, it’s looking like it won’t be a mild one, as there’s a lower chance of La Niña conditions developing.

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Judging from the current situation, and according to the latest forecast, the most likely scenario is that this year’s winter will be within a normal range. As for rainfall, it’s looking like it will be within a normal range or somewhat drier than usual.

The CWA says that the normal range indicates lows of 16 degrees in Taipei, 16.6 degrees in New Taipei, 17.6 degrees in Southern Taiwan and 18.1 degrees in Eastern Taiwan. Rainfall is expected to taper off in February, meaning water conservation measures may be introduced around the Lunar New Year.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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