China conducts military drills, enters Taiwan’s waters and ADIZ

China conducts military drills, enters Taiwan’s waters and ADIZ

2025-04-01

China on the first day of April conducted another round of military drills that could be likened to “Joint Sword 2025 A.” The exercises were similar in nature to the two Joint Sword exercises last year that had the PLA cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Only this time, the PLA did not give the exercise a moniker that would’ve been a hint to other countries in the region. The PLA and Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered restricted waters near Matsu. The defense ministry held a press conference in the afternoon to condemn the PLA. Let’s hear more from Taiwan’s officials.

Hsieh Jih-sheng
Defense ministry headquarters
There were 13 vessels belonging to the PLA forces, and 4 vessels from their coast guard. The Shandong carrier fleet was at around 220 nautical miles southeast of Eluanbi. There were also 71 aircraft—principal and auxiliary war planes, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, among which 36 entered our ADIZ.

Tung Chih-hsing
Defense ministry joint combat planning department head
At this stage, we will maintain the combat readiness of normal forces to implement response measures, prevent and control the threat of possible blockade by the enemy, as well as any subsequent escalations from exercise to combat.

Karen Kuo
Presidential Office spokesperson
As a member of the region, China has recently continued to carry out military provocations and maritime gray zone harassments in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. Such unilateral actions have undermined regional security and stability, unilaterally escalated regional tensions, and openly challenged international order. China is recognized by the international community as a troublemaker. The Presidential Office strongly condemns this.

The Ministry of National Defense says it had a full grasp on the movements, and national security officials are paying close attention to any developments.

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

中無預警對台軍演國軍偵獲71機.13艦.4海警船

2025-04-01

四月第一天中國發動對台軍演，國軍派機艦與飛彈部隊應對，總長梅家樹進駐緊急應變中心，中國海警也配合解放軍，侵擾馬祖限制水域，軍方下午召開臨時記者會說明。

[[參謀本部情報參謀次長謝日升]]
“海上的兵力共艦計有13艘，海警船的部分有4艘，西太平洋山東號編隊，大概在我們鵝鑾鼻的東南220浬位置，空中兵力主、輔戰機，直升機還有無人機一共是71架次，其中有36架次進入我們的應變區”

[[參謀本部作計次長室聯戰處長董冀星]]
“現階段仍保持以常態部隊的戰備兵力，來實施應處，防治敵可能實施封鎖的威脅，以及其後續由演轉戰的各項行動”

[[總統府發言人郭雅慧]]
“中國作為區域一員，近日持續在台海周邊及印太區域，以軍事挑釁海上灰色地帶襲擾，等單邊行徑破壞區域安全穩定，也片面升高區域情勢，公然挑戰國際秩序，這是國際社會公認的麻煩製造者，總統府對此嚴厲譴責”

軍方強調所有狀況都在掌握中，國安高層繃緊神經，密切注意台海狀況。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
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A Taiwanese woman is believed to have perished in last week’s earthquake in Myanmar, making her the first confirmed Taiwanese death in the disaster. The woman had been trapped under rubble of the Great Wall Hotel Mandalay for more than two days. Though she had initially been able to communicate with her husband through a walkie talkie, by Monday evening, a rescue team announced they could no longer find signs of life. Rescuers are trying to locate her body, which will be cremated before it is transported to Taiwan.

Mr. Lin
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My wife has been confirmed to have perished today. Though it marks the end of her life, it is also a new beginning.

Wearing a white T-shirt and with a pained expression of his face is Mr. Lin, who had been travelling in Myanmar with his wife when the powerful earthquake struck. Though he managed to escape, his wife ended up trapped under the rubble of the Great Wall Hotel Mandalay, making her the first Taiwanese casualty.

Mr. Lin
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I hope my wife’s ashes can be transported back to Taiwan. These few days, I’ve seen the efforts from volunteer groups, digging up rubble with their bare hands. They don’t have equipment, helmets, or face masks. They don’t have anything. We are very lucky in Taiwan.

The Lins had frequently visited Myanmar for charity work related to orphans. This time around, they had traveled to the country as a group totaling nine people. Seven of them had already left the country before the Lins, who had stayed behind to get acupuncture treatment only to get caught in the quake.

Hsiao Kuang-wei
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We have been informed by relatives of the victim that rescue teams have reported that there are no signs of life at the scene. We will assist the family with any necessary arrangements.

Officials from Taiwan’s representative office in Myanmar have arrived in Mandalay to offer condolences and assistance to the victim’s husband. Mr. Lin appears to be in good health and spirits, and says he hopes to soon be reunited with his wife.

Voice of Lo Cheng-hua
Myanmar Taiwan Business Association
The rescue team brought rescue dogs and searched for signs of life, but by the time it was evening, they reported they found none. Officials from Taiwan’s representative office have arrived and are coordinating efforts to continue searching for her body. There is still a possibility that she is alive.

After a long history of charity work in Myanmar, the couple’s travels together came to an abrupt end last week.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Uproar after thumbtack found in grass jelly dessert

A diner in Tainan was in for a prickly surprise, after finding a thumbtack in a bowl of grass jelly. The customer posted, then deleted a photo of the incident online, which sparked an outrage over food safety standards. Tainan authorities headed to the ice shop in Yongkang District for an inspection, only to find it shut. They say another inspection will be carried out in the future to ensure quality control standards are being met.

The image of a thumbtack found in a bowl of grass jelly has shocked the internet, leaving many people wondering how the object could’ve ended up in the dessert.

Shocked local
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Shocked local
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Tainan’s Public Health Bureau and consumer protection officials headed to the shop to conduct an inspection, only to find it shut. Even during business hours, the store was empty.

Inspector
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We may come back another day, but then we won’t notify them in advance.

Even if the pin accidentally fell into the jelly during cooking, its presence in the served meal has raised uproar. If swallowed, the thumbtack could have caused serious medical problems. Officials say they’ll conduct inspections at unspecified times.

Lin Pi-fen
Tainan Public Health Bureau
After receiving the report, the bureau immediately dispatched staff to inspect the restaurant’s environment and quality control procedures. If shortcomings are found, the business will be required to make improvements within a specific time frame.

Health officials say they will try to determine how the pin ended up in the grass jelly. The business will then be required to make the necessary improvements ahead of a future inspection.

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Taiwan promotes regionaltourist destinations each month

Working together with Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, the Tourism Administration introduced 100 spotlights of Taiwan tourism last November. Theyalso collaborated with singer Sandy HXM, who released a song in March about traveling around Taiwan with loved ones. Since last November, the agency has featured different regions every month. In April, the spotlight turns to Miaoli and Lienchiang counties.

From crystal-clear waters to emerald green mountains, Taiwan’s diverse landscapes showcase its unique beauty. The Tourism Administration is working with each city and county to showcase 100 of Taiwan’s unique tourist destinations, promoting different regions each month.

Chou Yung-hui
Tourism Administration Director-General
Through the 22 city and county governments, we hope to present local specialties. In April, we will focus on Matsu and Miaoli.

Through her music, singer Sandy HXM takes the audience on a journey around Taiwan, visiting famous sights and introducing hidden destinations. In April, the spotlight turns to Lienchiang and Miaoli counties. Tourists can admire Matsu’s bioluminescent phenomenon known as blue tears or journey to the Nangan Matsu Temple. During summer vacation, there will also be concerts, a youth island carnival, and exciting survival games.

Wang Chung-ming
Lienchiang County Commissioner
Every island has its own unique characteristics. So we tell our friends, if you only visit Matsu once, you won’t really know it. If you only visit during one season, you won’t really know it. You need to visit four times, in summer, spring, fall, and winter, to really experience Matsu.

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In addition to the tung blossom festival in the beginning of April, the religious festival related to it, the Baishatun Matsu Pilgrimage, will also kick off.

As flowers bloom with spring’s arrival, the tung blossom festival will begin in Miaoli. Anyone can join this romantic festival, experiencing the beauty of Taiwan.

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50+ false killer whales prey on humpback whales near Kenting

On Monday afternoon, two large pods of false killer whales—a type of dolphin and an apex predator—preyed on two humpback whales in the same vicinity just off the coast of Kenting. The magnificent scene left tourists and water leisure operators awe-struck. A biology professor and cetacean expert also exclaimed in excitement when he saw the footage, saying it’s rare to see the dolphins going after a humpback whale, let alone two.

A commotion on the waters off Kenting comes from whale watchers when they spot a humpback whale.

The humpback whale spouts and flaps its tail, creating huge splatters and delighting tourists. Meanwhile, a pod of false killer whales—a type of dolphin—encircles the humpback whale and refuses to leave the whale alone.

Voice of Mr. Chu
Ship captain
It looks like they’re preying on the whale, because the whale seems not to be too energetic. Usually when a greater number of dolphins come close to a whale, the whale will flap its tail, perhaps to send them off.

Meanwhile, a diver who spotted a false killer whale recorded a video footage of the animal, which also clearly captured its whistling on the prowl.

Wang Hao-veng
Professor of Life Sciences, NCKU
There were two pods of false killer whales, and adding them all up, there were a little over 50. There were also two humpback whales. The dolphins separated the two and have chosen them as prey.

The footage of the hunting dolphins was taken in the waters just a stone’s throw off the shore between Kenting’s South Bay and Houbihu. Everyone who witnessed the scene, including several water leisure operators, all recorded it in excitement.

Wang Hao-veng
Professor of Life Sciences, NCKU
It’s my first time to see something like this. My heart was racing in excitement, yeah. The main reason being it really is rare to witness a scene of preying in nature.

Although some may feel nervous for the humpback whales, the professor who commented on the footage reminds the public that there’s no need to interfere when nature takes its course.

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The 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games recently wrapped up in Turin, Italy. Peng Zhen and Lin Chia-hsin, who are both from Yuli High School in Hualien, took home two golds and three bronzes for Team Taiwan in the short track speed skating event. Peng returned to her home in Wanrong Township today where she received a heroine’s welcome.

Wearing the light blue uniform of Team Taiwan is Peng Zhen from Hualien’s Yuli High School. Here at the 777-meter short track speed skating event, the 17-year-old pulls away far ahead of her rivals, finally bagging a gold medal for Taiwan.

On the winners’ podium, she is all smiles. Speaking to reporters afterward, the speed skating teen said she was very excited when she won, and thanked her parents for their encouragement.

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I’m very happy and hope that she can continue to forge ahead.

Another person who returned home with something to show is Lin Chia-hsin, who is an older schoolmate of Peng at Yuli High School. Few people realize that the taxing physical training that the two girls underwent only focused on basic skating skills. Since there is no ice skating rink in Hualien, the whole team makes special trips to Taipei to train together and hone their skills on ice.

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Yuli high school teacher
Because there is no ice skating rink in Yuli, we first practiced by using inline skates instead of ice skates.

Liang Kuang-ming
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I’d like to wish her further breakthroughs. Keep working hard, strive for higher prizes, and win glory for Wanrong Township.

Despite the lack of resources and a skating rink to train in, these national team athletes had been practicing diligently using inline skates. They only changed into ice skates for some last-minute practice before the competition in Italy. In the face of hardship, they never gave up, ultimately becoming a source of pride for Taiwan.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Kaohsiung promotes electric fences to keep monkeys off farms

Clever macaques are always finding new ways to get into farmers’ orchards to feast on stolen crops. But Kaohsiung’s Agriculture Bureau has found that electric fences keep monkeys out nearly 100% of the time. So far, electric fences have been installed on 58 sites, with very promising results. The bureau is offering subsidies to encourage more farmers to install electric fences to protect their crops.

This fence may look ordinary, but the warning sign indicates that high voltage runs through it. The Kaohsiung City Government is promoting electric fences like this, designed to keep out the very monkeys shown on the warning sign.

Lee Li-kuei
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Before I installed the fence, maybe two-thirds of the area would be damaged. After I installed it, the damage is zero. The current is low and the voltage is high, so when monkeys touch it, they are startled and feel a little pain. The purpose of the electric fence is to drive them away, not to kill them. Electric fences are actually quite safe.

Macaques in Taiwan are very intelligent. They find all sorts of ways to sneak into orchards and steal crops, significantly impacting harvests. But with the electric fences, farmers can really feel the difference.

Voice of Lee Li-kuei
Guava farmer
With electric fences, regardless of whether we are harvesting that day, we’ll always keep it on. The monkeys are very smart. They come to test it every day. Their scouts will report back to them, so they won’t return to this area. Previously in an area without a fence, maybe I could only harvest 20% of the crop. But in the area with an electric fence, I can harvest at least 50%.

Many farmers have found these fences work very well. But to ensure the monkeys give up their coveted farms, all the neighboring farmers should install electric fences together. The Kaohsiung City Government is subsidizing the installation cost to encourage farmers to do just that.

Liang Ming-hsien
Kaohsiung Agriculture Bureau Deputy Director
We have already subsidized 58 areas, covering 95 hectares. Applications are already open for this year’s electric fence subsidy. The government can subsidize three-quarters of the cost, and farmers need only handle the remaining quarter. At most the subsidy can cover two hectares, and its maximum amount is NT$230,000.

The government hopes that these successful cases will encourage more farmers to apply for the subsidy, preventing agricultural loses and ensuring that farmers’ hard work pays off with fruitful harvests.

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