Hualien council speaker voices support for Fu Kun-chi recall

Hualien council speaker voices support for Fu Kun-chi recall

2025-04-02

And things are getting interesting in Hualien, where lawmaker Fu Kun-chi is facing a potential recall. The latest comes from the speaker of Hualien’s County Council, Chang Chun. The politician pulled a half-page cover advertisement on the Keng Sheng Daily News saying that he supports recalling Fu, despite not supporting mass recalls. He also urged the KMT to keep its distance from Fu, saying that if not, the party would meet its end with Fu. Let’s hear more.

Chang Chun
Hualien County Council speaker
Some officials from KMT party central have called to express their concern. They are not afraid of Fu Kun-chi getting recalled, in fact, they hope the recall goes forward quickly. In the next few days, I will work together with the civic groups involved to try and push for more signatures for the second stage of the petition.

Chang Mei-hui
Hualien councilor (DPP)
Today a local came to my service office saying that his family was very moved after seeing the message. He had brought 10 petition forms for the campaign.

The recall team’s morale has got a significant boost. With just about a month left in the second phase of the petition, they’ve collected about half of the signatures they need to initiate a recall vote. Now that Chang has thrown himself behind the campaign, they think his influence will help move the campaign forward. In response, the KMT has released a statement with heavy criticism of the council speaker, pointing out his criminal background and his ties with the DPP. The statement also referred to him as a “poisonous tumor,” adding that the public would not be fooled.

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

#recall #taiwanpolitics #Hualien #taiwan #taiwannews

震撼彈! 花蓮議長支持罷傅張峻:不切割國民黨將泡沫化

2025-04-02

罷免傅崐萁，花蓮縣議長張峻表態了！他在花蓮更生日報頭版，刊登半版廣告，說他反對大罷免，但支持罷免傅崐萁，再不切割他，國民黨將走向泡沫化，並成為傅崐萁的陪葬品！民進黨花蓮縣議員認為，這會激發更多人出來挺罷免。

[[花蓮縣議長(無) 張峻]]
“中央那部分的一些長官，有打電話來關心，不是說怕傅崐萁被罷免，是希望趕快把他罷免，過幾天我會跟公民團體一起合作，就是想辦法把這個第二階段，連署衝出來”

[[花蓮縣議員(民) 張美慧]]
“今天我的服務處一早就有一個鄉親，他說他看到這個訊息，他們全家歡呼非常感動，所以他帶了十張這個連署書，就來到我的服務處”

罷免團隊士氣大振，因為第二階段剩下一個月，連署書卻還差一半，現在有地方勢力雄厚的張峻登高一呼。對於反傅勢力集結，國民黨花蓮縣黨部發出新聞稿，痛批議長張峻黑道前科累累，長期與綠營親近，誰才是毒瘤，人民的眼睛是雪亮的。

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1,043 authors express support for recall campaigns against KMT

More than 1,000 writers and literary figures have come out in support of recalls targeting KMT lawmakers. The campaign was started by Yang Shuang-zi, who recently won a National Book Award in the US. Among the writers joining the cause are prominent figures such as Li Ang and Akio Chen. On Wednesday, they gathered at the Legislative Yuan to urge support for the recall campaign.

Forty authors of different generations and styles have come together in a rare show of unity in support for a recall campaign initiated by the US National Book Award-winning author Yang Shuang-zi.

Yang Shuang-zi
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In many countries, the first lesson in civil defense is to learn about your country’s culture.

Yang Shuang-zi read out the text of the petition. She was joined by translator of Polish literature Lin Wei-yun and Amis writer Cidal, who spoke up in support of the initiative.

Cidal
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The Indigenous people of Taiwan have since time immemorial been the rightful owners of this land. We are not part of China.

Another writer, Li Ang returned to Taiwan from France just in time for the event. She shared how Taiwan’s situation is perceived abroad.

Li Ang
Author
Some people straight-up asked me “Why doesn’t Taiwan have a voice?” Taiwan’s dangerous situation is chilling to think about. Those people cutting our budget are intentionally trying to prevent us from going abroad to talk about Taiwan’s situation.

Li spoke about the challenges that Taiwan’s literary scene faces and urged everyone to speak out. In the first round of the recall petition, 201 writers threw themselves into the campaign. Now in the second phase, 1,043 literary figures have joined. They say there is a silent majority that far outnumbers them.

Akio Chen
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To pick up a pen and write, is to write the contents of your heart, to write about this land. How can we not speak out? I know at least 20 people who’ve picked up their pens to write.

Yang Shuang-zi
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If the award I won means anything, it is that it is OK to speak out when we see injustice, or when we realize that there is something that could hamper the development of Taiwan’s literature and culture. With the voice I have, it is important to stand up.

Jewel Tsai
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Using freedom to destroy freedom, and using democracy to destroy democracy. The consequences of such things are frightening. This is just the beginning, a tsunami could be on the horizon.

Earlier this year, the opposition-controlled legislature enacted cuts and freezes to the national budget that writers say will deal a blow to Taiwanese literature just as it was beginning to carve out a spot for itself on the international stage. Now, the authors are aiming to remove the relevant lawmakers from office.

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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OCAC joins Taiwanese business community in Myanmar to deliver aid

Myanmar’s earthquake-stuck areas are desperately in need of aid from both home and abroad. However, it’s been reported that the Burmese military junta has been blocking aid to disaster-stuck areas. Still, the Taiwanese government is doing all it can to help, by joining forces with the overseas business community.

Ms. Yang
Burmese-Overseas ROC student, NTNU
Now we in Myanmar cannot save ourselves at all, so we still hope…

Tearing up before she could finish her sentence, this is Ms. Yang, a student enrolled in a preparatory program for overseas ROC students at National Taiwan Normal University. Being so far away, she was anxious but helpless about her home country’s misfortune.

Mr. Hsu
Burmese-Overseas ROC student, NTNU
We can’t go home to our family to deal with the consequences of this disaster together. I don’t want aid to be blocked.

Mr. Hsu is also a Burmese student enrolled in the program. His thoughts never left his country, and how it’s now being reported that the Burmese military junta is blocking desperately needed aid for earthquake victims.

In Mandalay, the second-largest city of Myanmar, schools and residential buildings alike have been reduced to rubble. Meanwhile, the bodies of deceased victims were left to rot under temperatures as high as 40°C, posing public sanitation risks. The Overseas Community Affairs Council is working with the local Taiwanese business community to deliver aid to disaster-struck areas.

Hsu Chia-ching
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When helping, it’s not that you’ll be able to help just because you want to help. Because if our channels are exposed, we’ll get blocked. Everyone here knows why, I don’t even need to say it. There’s only one adversarial force that will shut out Taiwan.

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Around 30% of the buildings over in Madalay have collapsed, and around 80% of buildings in Sagaing have collapsed. We know there are more than 2,000 deaths so far, but what about the ones we don’t know yet? How many more have yet to be found in there? That we still don’t know.

The OCAC is joining hands with the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce to deliver much needed aid to disaster areas in Myanmar, as well as provide relief to Burmese-Overseas ROC students in Taiwan. Once again, the government is taking action to show how “Taiwan can help!”

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Taiwanese restaurants open around TSMC’s Arizona factory

After TSMC opened a factory in the US State of Arizona, the surrounding area has become more and more Taiwanese. Many Taiwanese restaurants have opened, catering to the increasing number of expats who miss the taste of home. One stir-fry restaurant makes customers feel like they’ve returned to Taiwan as soon as they step inside.

A savory, grilled fish is brought to a table already filled with a collection of Taiwanese dishes and cans of Apple Sidra. This is an authentic Taiwanese stir-fry restaurant, but it’s located in Phoenix, Arizona.

The owner, Chang Wen-chuan, grew up in Miaoli. He originally opened a restaurant in New Mexico, but came to Arizona after TSMC opened a factory there, turning the surrounding area into a little Taiwan.

Chang Wen-chuan
Restaurant owner
70% of our customers are TSMC employees, and the other 30% are local. What’s crazy is that one customer came five times in four days. He came for lunch, and then another group of friends invited him back for dinner.

To make sure the dishes are authentic, the restaurant owner asks his family in Taiwan to ship ingredients for pickled cabbage, mutton stew, and soup dumplings. Not only is the food authentic, but the owner even added karaoke, making customers feel like they’re really back in Taiwan.

Everyone at this table is employed by TSMC suppliers. They gather here on weekend nights to unwind together. As construction on TSMC’s factory continues to progress, business here keeps growing.

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Of course I’m happy! After all, there are cultural differences when it comes to food, and I’m still used to Taiwanese flavors.

Chang Wen-chuan
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This is a happy place. I try to make friends with them so they can feel like home. Outside the door it’s America, but in here, you’ll feel like you’re back in Taiwan. There are several people working together to turn this square into a little Taiwan.

With the success of his stir-fry restaurant, Chang has the confidence to open a second restaurant, specializing in Taiwanese-style steak. The smell of Taiwanese food may soon fill this desert city.

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Scripture readouts, lottery winners and complaints at Tainan’s 1999 hotline

The operators at Tainan’s citizen hotline have their work cut out for them, not only responding to citizens’ complaints but also dealing with strange calls. The hotline receives 20,000 calls every month that mostly have to do with noise complaints and animal-rescue issues. But every now and then there is a surprise. From dinner invitations by lottery winners to routine recitations of sacred scriptures, every day is different at the 1999 hotline.

The phone rings off the hook at Tainan’s 1999 citizen hotline from early in the morning. But among the reports and queries, there are plenty of weird calls too.

This caller, known as Mr. Scripture, is a frequent caller who phones in to recite scriptures and read the newspaper out loud.

Hsieh Shu-ling
Tainan 1999 Citizen Hotline
He recites scriptures to us, and when he reaches the end, he hangs up. Sometimes he recites the scriptures to us in the morning and in the afternoon he reads news articles to us.

Some other callers have become close friends with the employees here.

Hsieh Shu-ling
Tainan 1999 Citizen Hotline
One time, a person called in to tell us they’d won the lottery and wanted to treat us to a meal. Others have called to sing us Christmas carols. Or when it’s Mother’s Day, they wish us a happy Mother’s Day. There’s all sorts.

From January to March, the 1999 hotline received more than 48,000 calls. Of course, most of them are complaints or reports of problems in the city, so operators have brought in trinkets to balance out the negative energy.

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When I see these things, I feel better. They are so cute, I like them a lot.

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In broad daylight, this unscrupulous monkey swaggers into Nantou’s Shoutian Temple. Ignoring the people around him, he deftly grabs an offering from the table.

Even though the staff yell at him to stop, the monkey is unafraid. He takes his spoils and jumps up into the rafters to feast. He even knows to peel the orange, leaving a pile of trash in his wake. The temple staff have to climb up to clean it for him.

Temple staffer
Visitors will often come and ask where their fruit went. How did it just disappear, they’ll ask. Sometimes we don’t really know what to say.

Just like in Journey to the West, when Sun Wukong steals immortal peaches from the Queen Mother of the West, these monkeys are wreaking havoc in Mingjian Township’s Shoutian Temple, seeking to steal the birthday peaches offered to Xuantian Shangdi. Not even the packaged offerings are safe.

Temple staffer
They’ll tear it open to get what they want and then run away. So it might not really be possible to salvage, but we’ll help the worshipers mind it.

Worshiper
It’s interesting. But if they attack people, it wouldn’t be good.

Worshiper
We’ve already taken over too much of their habitat, so they’ll start engaging in this kind of behavior.

The temple reminded visitors to be careful to avoid conflict with the animals. It’s best to package fruit offerings in boxes to keep them from becoming a primate feast.

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Andreea Medar’s works preserve memories of a Romanian village

Today, we take you to see the works of Romanian artist Andreea Medar. In her new exhibition in Taipei, she displays her embroidery works made with different materials. The works are inspired by the village she grew up in. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look!

Andreea Medar utilized hand embroidery techniques and materials such as fluorescent pigments, polycarbonate, aluminum, glass beads, epoxy and more to create these works. Her works reference Racoți Village in Romania where she grew up. She stitched plants and people.

Sisy Wang
Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts curator
Andreea Medar has a PhD in painting, but she uses her painting skills in the media she creates with now. She uses a lot of embroidery and plastic sheets. Later, she expanded to aluminum sheets. Embroidery and plastic sheets are closely related to her family’s memories because her works explore the family’s home and her hometown over several generations. Her hometown is in a village called Racoți in southern Romania. Over the past 150 years, this village has gone from prosperity to decline and has experienced a period of social change, which affected the people living in it. Why is embroidery important? Because at that time, when war broke out, the men in the village were conscripted to the battlefield, and the women had to support the family. They would make embroidery to support the family.

Medar’s art spans various mediums, including embroidery, sculptures, video, and media installations. Her works explore themes like family history, rural communities, and societal changes. Medar’s first solo exhibition in Taipei delves into her family and Romanian history, as well as women’s rights. It is accompanied by a timeline of her family’s history and Romania’s history from WWI to WWII. There are also precious photos and documents from her home. She hopes to preserve her village’s precious memories through her works.

Sisy Wang
Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts curator
She projected giant plants and also sewed portraits of her grandmother or relatives. Why plants? Because there are many plants near her village, and the plants are slowly disappearing. She told me something that moved me very much. She said that she was the last caretaker of this garden. She wants to continue this mindset through artistic creation. The artist also brought precious historical materials from their family, including old photos and documents related to her family and the government.

Her exhibition titled "Since the Wood of Your Window Has Been Blooming" is organized by the Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts and Mind Set Art Center. It is now on view until May 18 at the Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts in Taipei.

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