Taiwan’s GDP grew the most out of Four Asian Tigers: Government data

Taiwan’s GDP grew the most out of Four Asian Tigers: Government data

2025-01-24

Last year, Taiwan’s economy grew the most out of the Four Asian Tigers, which include South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore. According to official figures, Taiwan’s GDP grew by 4.3% over the year, boosted by growth in the AI tech sector. It’s the biggest growth rate in the past three years.

Meanwhile, the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research has revised its forecast for this year’s GDP growth upwards. Amid better-than-expected performances in investment and exports, the institute expects Taiwan’s economy to grow by 3.24% in 2025. That’s 0.27 percentage points higher than its forecast in November 2024. It also raised its CPI prediction to 1.95%, up 0.08 percentage points. Inflation isn’t over yet, and electricity, water and fuel prices could put further pressure on prices.

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2024年GDP飆升至4.3% 重返亞洲四小龍之首

2025-01-24

台灣重返亞洲四小龍之首，113年受惠AI科技業，主計總處公佈去年經濟成長率4.3%，寫下近三年新高。

台經院發布最新經濟預測，由於投資和出口優於預期，2025年最新經濟成長率3.42%，較2024年11月預測值上修0.27個百分點。值得注意的是，台經院估今年CPI年增率到1.95%，上修0.08個百分點，通膨壓力仍未緩解，不只電費，水費、油價都可能對今年物價形成壓力。

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Three hospitals upgraded in Central and Southern Taiwan

Three hospitals in Central and Southern Taiwan have been upgraded after scoring well in an evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. They now have the status of medical or quasi-medical centers. Medical centers have higher status in Taiwan than mere hospitals. This means medical fees in these institutions will become more expensive for patients starting Feb. 1, to account for the higher service quality.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has unveiled the results of last year’s evaluation of medical institutions in Central and Southern Taiwan. Kaohsiung’s E-Da Hospital has been upgraded to a medical center. Meanwhile, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch and Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital in Chiayi have been accredited as quasi-medical centers.

Chiu Tai-yuan
Minister of health and welfare
E-Da Hospital had been a quasi-medical center for seven years in a row. This time, it achieved an outstanding result in the evaluation, and has therefore been upgraded to a medical center proper. It can help bring up the quality of care in the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area.

The upgrades mean medical expenses will be higher for patients.

Shih Chung-liang
National Health Insurance Administration
The main impact will be on inpatient services, such as ward rates and nursing costs. That’s due to the difference in nurse-patient ratios.

In the previous evaluation, three hospitals in Northern Taiwan were upgraded to the status of medical centers last year. The Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation says a system should be put in place for downgrades.

Lin Ya-hui
Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation
As it is now, there’s only a way up and no way down, which means there are too many medical centers. Last October we brought the matter up with the Control Yuan, urging for a correction of procedural deficiencies and lack of differentiation.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare says it began compiling views on the matter last year, and expects to draw up trial clauses in 2026. The reforms would enter effect in 2027, to focus evaluations on critical care and medical development.

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

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‘Kingdom of Toys’ brings traditional village games to new generation

A village in Pingtung’s Sandimen Township is known in Taiwan as the “Kingdom of Toys.” Here, villagers use bamboo to create classic kid’s games, allowing adults to recall their youth while teaching a new generation how to play. Tourists can also make their own torches. By making them by hand, adults and children alike can learn from the wisdom of the village elders.

Using a hook on a pole, you can roll a metal ring along the ground. But none of the kids who tried it had any luck.

This is from the “Kingdom of Toys” in Djineljepan Village in Pingtung’s Sandimen Township. The place is packed full of traditional toys made from bamboo, thrilling older visitors as they surface memories of childhood.

As the adults reminisce, the kids were excited to give them a try.

Chiu Ping-wei
Visitor
They can see a lot of cute toys here. Adults can also have a chance to reminisce about the toys they made when they were young.

Chiang Tsung-yu
Kingdom of Toys manager
We have around 100 kinds of toys here. You’ll actually find even more if you go up on the mountain. There you can find over 300 kinds.

Agriculture is difficult in Djineljepan since it’s so remote. When the county government was encouraging towns to come up with a representative product, the villagers couldn’t think of a particular crop. So they came up with making children’s toys out of bamboo and turned it into their specialty. Visitors can also come to the mountain to try making their own torches.

After splitting a bamboo pole at one end, you fit in a bundle of smaller sticks and tie them down. This is the traditional way to make a torch among Indigenous people. Children and adults alike all make their own. The kids even split the bamboo by themselves.

Visitor
I brought the kids out here to show them. For instance, if they find themselves outside, they’ll know how to make fire and a torch. It’s educational and fun.

After making their torches, they light them according to instructions from the guide. Seeing the leaping flames, they can appreciate the wisdom of the village elders.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Government announces NT$10B program for youth to go abroad

Are you young and do you have a dream? President Lai Ching-te has organized for several agencies and ministries to promote the NT$10 billion Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative. The goal is to help young people fulfill their dreams of going abroad, with a maximum subsidy of NT$2 million per project. People aged 15 to 30 can do volunteer work, professional training, or cross-cultural exchanges.

In order to help young Taiwanese realize their dreams, the Lai Ching-te administration has arranged for various ministries and agencies to jointly promote the NT$10 billion Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative.

Lai Ching-te
President
Young people are playing a leading role in this program. Dreams are the most beautiful, and with them comes hope. The dreams of young people can make the country great. If you don’t know how to draw up a project plan or briefing, deputy minister Yeh will teach you.

Yeh Ping-cheng
Deputy education minister
We will hold briefings on projects and workshops to help those who don’t know how to write a project proposal. You can look it up on the dedicated website. We also have an explanatory video. If your project proposal isn’t perfect, we can arrange for a professional to offer guidance.

Young people between the ages of 15 and 30 can take part in the program, with the education ministry allocating NT$10 billion in funding over four years. The maximum subsidy is NT$2 million per project.

Kuo Chia-yo
Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association president
In the past, society supported you. Now the nation supports you. If you want to go overseas, there will be a way, but it makes a huge difference whether someone supports you and whether society supports you. It’s a really wonderful thing to stand on the world stage and have equal and free dialogue with the world.

Lai Ching-te
President
When using education to improve your personal life or improve your professional skills, educational opportunities should not be affected by the economic situation of your family of origin. Aside from providing students with their fundamental right to an education, we also hope to fulfill their dreams.

Whether you want to go to Japan, South Korea, Europe, the US or even Taiwan’s diplomatic ally Saint Kitts and Nevis, the plan has got you covered.

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

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How to let your pet rabbit nibble while keeping your precious home intact

As Taiwan continues to fall ever deeper in love with animals, rabbits are an increasingly popular pet choice. But the little fluffballs have a secret: They love to nibble! Unwitting new rabbit owners have found that a bunny’s capacity to chew on things can be a real nuisance. But why do rabbits like to nibble? And what’s a humane way to let them follow their instinct, while keeping your precious home intact? We went to an expert to find out.

An adorable bunny rabbit. You might think they’re well-behaved, but don’t be fooled! Rabbit owners usually find that everything from electric wires to furniture and clothes can become a chew toy for their darling bunny.

Rabbit owner
He loves nibbling clothes, collars. If we bend down to play with him, he burrows in and starts chewing the collar.

Wu Wen-yi
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Bunnies look docile, but they’re unstoppable agents of destruction. Electric wires in the home need to be carefully hidden away, or they’ll be ruined like these ones.

Nibble, nibble, nibble. Bunnies will tend to rampage and chew up anything in sight – it’s just in their nature.

Lin Chiao
Taiwan Rabbit Saving Association
It’s in their nature to chew things. In the wild, they dig tunnels and dig up tree roots and chew on them. If they chew on their cage, it might be that they’re bored or they’re not getting enough time to play outside of the cage. They want to come out again or they want to interact more with their owner.

If your bunny destroys your house, try not to get angry with them. Instead, find some special toys for them to play with, like this “busy bee cushion” made with natural pasture grass. A toy like this will keep a rabbit busy for hours, giving them a great outlet for all their energy and saving your fancy furnishings from their marauding attention.

Lin Chiao
Taiwan Rabbit Saving Association
If you’re normally keeping your rabbit in a cage at home, you can put some toys they’ll like to play with in the cage, such as toys made of woven straw. And when you come home from your day, let them out of the cage to run around and let off steam. And we strongly recommend that you keep hazardous objects properly stowed away in the house. If your rabbit gnaws on your electric cables, they’re in danger of electrocution.

Keeping a rabbit might make you fear for your material assets, but no need to worry. A few simple steps to rabbit-proof the home will keep the peace between you and your furry friend.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Borough warden performs duty on heavyweight motorbike

It’s not an uncommon sight for the borough warden to patrol the neighborhood on a scooter, but have you ever seen one on a heavyweight motor bike? In Taichung’s South District, this three-wheeled beast belongs to none other than the local borough chief. When the warden turns on the warning lights after dark, from a distance it looks just like a police motorbike. It keeps the bad guys on their toes.

Wearing a reflective vest, the borough warden rides a white heavyweight motorbike to patrol the streets and alleyways. On the canopy, blue-and-red emergency lights flicker. It looks just like a police motorbike from a distance.

The rider, who locals say is a “super hard-working guy” is Yang Ming-jun. He’s Jiangchuan’s Borough Warden in Taichung’s South District. Since taking the helm two years ago, he’s patrolled around on a motorbike, day and night, keeping the neighborhood safe.

Yang Ming-jun
Jiangchuan Borough chief
People who commit crimes and do bad things feel uneasy. If they see lights approaching, they run instinctively. Like those about to run a red light. When they see us from a distance they immediately put on the brakes.

The traffic police also work on white heavyweight bikes. With emergency lights and a reflective vest, Yang looks no different from a cop. Since becoming borough warden, he no longer has time to go on rides with fellow motorcyclists, so he modified his prized possession into a patrol vehicle. It even comes with a fire extinguisher.

Yang Ming-jun
Jiangchuan Borough chief
This is a three-wheeled motorbike. It’s only 300cc, not the heaviest of heavyweight bikes. I got it brand new for about NT$230,000, I think. The emergency lights and siren and other safety features probably cost NT$20,000.

A proud owner of five heavyweight motorbikes, Yang no longer rides for fun as often as he’d like. A few modifications allow him to indulge in his hobby while on duty, keeping the neighborhood safe and residents happy.

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

2025-01-24