Goddess of the sea Mazu finds new home in landlocked Bhutan

Goddess of the sea Mazu finds new home in landlocked Bhutan

2025-09-11

The goddess of the sea Mazu is taking part in a historic cultural exchange with the landlocked kingdom of Bhutan. A Mazu statuette that derives its power from the Mazu at the Beigang Chaotian Temple has found a new home in the Himalayas. The deity’s figurine was installed at a temple for world peace after a six hour flight and a unique multicultural ceremony.

Bhutan is often referred to as “the last Shangri-La,” a legendary land akin to a paradise on earth. The country is known for its stunning mountain landscapes and is often near the top of the list in the world happiness index. The head of the Chaotian Temple says the exchange is more than just about religion. It’s also about sharing a piece of Taiwanese culture with the world. He says he hopes that visitors to Bhutan can get to know Mazu and perhaps even go on a pilgrimage to Taiwan too.

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#religion #culture #folkreligion #bhutan #shangrila #mazu #matsu

北港媽祖駐駕"最後的香格里拉" 分靈金身安座不丹

2025-09-11

雲林北港朝天宮媽祖「分靈」，經過6個小時的飛行，抵達位於喜馬拉雅山南坡的不丹王國，在蓮師宮殿建立的『世界和平佛塔』，完成安座典禮。

不丹王國被稱為「最後的香格里拉」、「世界淨土」，以高幸福指數而聞名全世界，北港朝天宮董事長蔡咏鍀表示，北港媽祖分靈金身入駐，不只是為了共同的佛教宣揚，更是增加讓世界看見台灣的機緣，不同國家的人到不丹朝聖時，也能了解媽祖文化，進而到台灣進行宗教朝聖之行。

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Beijing condemns Tsai Ing-wen’s private trip to Japan

Former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has made a rare visit to Japan this week, her first since stepping down from office. Though the trip is officially private and Tsai is not meeting any Japanese officials, it has drawn sharp condemnation from Beijing. Analysts in both Japan and Taiwan say the backlash reflects China’s deeper fears, including growing ties between Taipei and Tokyo.

Japan’s NHK wasn’t the only news outlet to report on Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to Japan. The Asahi Shimbun noted that it was Tsai’s first time visiting since stepping down from the presidency, while the Sankei Shimbun put a headline saying that Tsai had not sat with Japanese officials. Fuji News Network underscored Tsai’s close ties with Japan, stating that she had previously held a video conference with late Japan PM Abe Shinzo.

Tsai reached Japan on Tuesday to tour the Kanto region. She’s scheduled to return to Taiwan on Friday. As it is a private trip, she did not meet with any members of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council or any Japanese government officials. But still, China slammed the visit.

Lin Jian
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson
Tsai is the former leader of China’s Taiwan region. There is no rationale that can ever justify her trip to Japan or make it permissible, nor can they hide the trip’s real purpose—to seek foreign support for “Taiwan independence.”

Nojima Tsuyoshi
Japanese pundit
A visit from the president or vice president of Taiwan would be difficult, but visits from other people fall in a gray area. China feels that Japan and Taiwan are conspiring to expand this gray area. That’s why China is so extremely unhappy. Taiwan-Japan ties have been growing closer over the past few years.

Chen Li-fu
Youth exchange association head
China had hoped to continue mounting pressure after Sept. 3, when it celebrated the anniversary of Japan’s surrender in WWII. But it wasn’t able to keep the momentum going before Sept. 18, and on top of that there’s news of Tsai Ing-wen visiting Japan. That’s the main reason why China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is so furious.

A Japanese commentator says China’s strong reaction to Tsai’s trip is a reflection of Beijing’s concern about stronger Taiwan-Japan ties. In Taiwan, a scholar says China is simply trying to fan anti-Japan sentiment once again.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#tsaiingwen #japan #taiwan #china #蔡英文

2025-09-11

Shilin Night Market joins with police to warn travelers about pickpockets

At the beginning of August, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association posted a notice warning travelers to keep on the lookout for pickpockets. It specifically called out Jiufen, Shilin Night Market, and the Zhongshan shopping area as hotspots for theft. To give peace of mind to tourists, Shilin Night Market is working with police to inform people about keeping their bags in front and maintaining vigilance.

Police officers hold signs as they walk through Shilin Night Market, informing tourists to keep their bags in front of them and keep on the lookout for suspicious characters to avoid being targeted by pickpockets.

Chen Chih-feng
Shilin precinct officer
Bucket bags don’t have a zipper. All a pickpocket has to do is put their hand in and they can remove your wallet. So we’re letting people know, whenever you go to the night market, always keep your wallet or purse close to your chest to protect your valuables.

Su Wen-shan
Shilin Night Market federation chair
We have advisories, physical protections, weekend patrols, and notices in multiple languages. And we always have plainclothes and uniformed officers patrolling the night market.

In early August, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association posted a notice warning travelers to beware of thieves when traveling to Taiwan. It said they’re widespread around the greater Taipei area, especially Jiufen, night markets, Yongkang Street, and the Zhongshan shopping area. To ensure tourists can wander worry-free, Shilin Night Market and the local police precinct have launched a campaign warning people to remain vigilant when in crowded areas.

Hsiao Hui-chu
Shilin precinct officer
We’ve worked with the night market federation to create these materials. This poster was designed by us at the Shilin precinct in four different languages. I think it’s the first time a night market in Taiwan is using this kind of idea.

Officers at the Shilin precinct used AI to make postcards in different languages warning about pickpockets, and are encouraging vendors to install security cameras and eliminate blindspots. Not only that, but they’ve also recorded notices to broadcast in Mandarin, Taiwanese, English, Japanese, and Korean.

The night market and police are working together to ensure that Shilin remains a pleasant place to shop and eat for all visitors, whether from Taiwan or abroad.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#ShilinNightMarket #Shilin #pickpockets #theft #police #PSA #tourism #warning #publicservice #crime

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German federal state minister attends Semicon Taiwan, pleased with ESMC progress

The economics minister of the German federal state of Saxony, Dirk Panter said he’s happy to see TSMC’s project in Dresden moving ahead of schedule. So much so that he’s attended Semicon Taiwan in person. The project’s success may well create over 10,000 jobs in related industries.

The minister of economic affairs of the German state of Saxony, Dirk Panter is attending Semicon Taiwan in person. He appears to be pleased about the progress of TSMC’s fab in Dresden, also known as ESMC.

Dirk Panter
Saxony minister of economic affairs (Germany)
We have a very good working relationship with TSMC. If you have problems, please let us know. They don’t call us, because they don’t have any problems. It’s all working well, we’re within schedule, as we were with other fabs, where we were even ahead of schedule. There are some problems, some concerning production sites in the US, but we actually haven’t experienced that in Saxony.

The German federal state holds meetings with TSMC regularly, prompting other Taiwan companies to also seek investment opportunities in the region. The Saxon minister says his state is fully behind ESMC and will also do its part in cultivating talent for Taiwan-German cooperation in the chip industry.

Dirk Panter
Saxony minister of economic affairs (Germany)
We also have a good tradition of vocational training, just to be sure that we have the scientific talent, but also have the technical, the vocational talent, that’s something we’re strong in, that’s one of our big assets, and that’s why we want to use that for ESMC as well.

Frank Bösenberg
Silicon Saxony managing director
More than 30 students from Saxony here being trained also, already by TSMC. Taiwan nurtures the talent pool that is available right now, already in Saxony, and you will enlarge this all over Germany and potentially over Europe. Taiwan is the number one country in the world for semiconductors, so it’s only logical to team up.

TSMC has pledged to invest a total of 10 billion euros, or over NT$350 billion, to build ESMC, creating more than 2,000 jobs directly. Adding related industries, including chemicals, industrial gases and manufacturing sites, ESMC could potentially create more than 10,000 new jobs in the region.

Frank Bösenberg
Silicon Saxony managing director
The semiconductor industry is really a policy focused for many European countries. Chips Act 2.0 is under preparation.

News of ESMC being ahead of schedule also made TSMC stocks go up, even hitting the company’s historic high of NT$1,250 per share at one point.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Zhubei Crane King builds extravagant NT$4 billion company headquarters

Hu Han-yan, known as the Crane King of Zhubei, recently unveiled his company’s new headquarters, built at a cost of NT$4 billion and named the White House. Its luxurious design and decoration are as extravagant as his mansion, which is known as the Zhubei Louvre. The new headquarters’ dazzling décor has attracted much attention, with some expressing envy while others question this use of resources.

The entrance hall of this mansion is extravagantly decorated with gold trimmings and giant chandeliers, reminiscent of a European palace.

Every room is lavishly decorated with gold-trimmed archways, windows, and ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and even gold-and-white furniture. But this isn’t a palace or museum. It’s the new headquarters of Zhubei’s biggest crane company. The company’s chairman, Hu Han-yan, is calling it the White House.

Hu Han-yan
Chi Deh Crane Engineering chair
All our tabletops, including the conference table on the first floor, are carved from seashells, which is very labor-intensive. That one set of furniture cost nearly NT$7 to 8 million. Our White House headquarters covers about 2,000 square meters, while in total we have purchased over 158,000 square meters of land with about 82,500 square meters already developed.

This headquarters cost NT$4 billion to build, and its architectural style echoes that of Hu’s own mansion, known as the Zhubei Louvre. But the office within the headquarters has a different style. While the chandelier connects it to the rest of the house, the office’s interior design is much simpler, lacking any gold accents.

Member of public
I’m envious every time I ride past their house, not to mention the headquarters. There are so many videos of the inside online. I really want to go visit it myself.

Company employee
It’s very comfortable. Everyone is really excited about it.

This extravagant new headquarters has gotten a lot of attention online, with many people asking if the company is hiring. Now that chairman Hu has a palace to match his mansion, it’s no wonder he is known as the Crane King of Zhubei.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Taiwanese Artist transforms discarded car parts into sculptures

Today, we visit an exhibition that explores automotive repair craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. Taiwanese artist Wu Chien-hsing collaborated with mechanics to transform discarded car bodies into sculptural installations. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in to see the highlights!

In his latest exhibition, Wu reimagines discarded car bodies as sculptural installations, breathing new life into discarded cars. Working in collaboration with auto mechanics, he fused traditional bodywork techniques with contemporary materials like carbon fiber and cutting-edge 3D restoration technologies. Wu and the mechanics cut, bent, and reassembled car parts, reshaping them into sculptural works of art.

Artist
Wu Chien-hsing
I deconstructed the structure and symbolic language of the car’s underbody. In collaboration with skilled metalworkers, I employed techniques such as hammering, cutting, and welding to showcase technical precision and the artistic value in handcrafted work. This piece integrates four materials: metal, fiber-reinforced plastic molding, the newest technology of 3D printing, and silicone. Each material is dialogue between rigidity and softness, reflecting my personal interpretation of the material. Metal conveys strength and durability, while silicone—its opposite—symbolizes the gentle texture of my father’s hands. With these materials, I also explore the evolution of automotive construction, spanning from the early reliance on iron, to aluminum alloys and finally to the adoption of FRP.

The exhibition explores how manual reconstruction and technical innovation can coexist. Wu was inspired by his dad, who is a car mechanic. He said he has witnessed his family’s business slow down with the decline of traditional industries. Through his artworks, Wu hopes to pay tribute to Taiwan’s auto repair workers as well as encourage viewers to explore what craftsmanship means in the modern day.

Wu Chien-Hsing
Artist
In Taiwan, the term black-hand refers to workers in the mechanical industry. My work is a response and reinterpretation of my black-hand family heritage, especially my father, who was a sheet metal craftsman. In earlier times, black-hand workers typically learned their skills through apprenticeships. The term is widely associated with Taiwan’s working-class laborers.Through this exhibition, I hope to spotlight the unique value of craftsmanship within the labor class, highlighting the diverse techniques and the artistry in manual work. I also aim to use materials as a medium to express the relationship between labor production and value-driven creation. By incorporating 3D printing, I combine past and present technologies—inviting people to reflect on how contemporary methods not only evolve from but also echo traditional practices.

The exhibition will run through Oct.12 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#cars #oldcars #transformation #scultpure #crafsmanship #blackhand #MusuemofContemparyArtTaipei

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Ministry of Economic Affairs showcases 37 cutting-edge techs at Semicon Taiwan

Semicon Taiwan’s show section opened on Wednesday at Nangang Exhibition Center. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has set up the “MOEA TECH HUB,” showcasing 37 cutting-edge technologies developed by ITRI and industry partners. Highlights included an optics engine with the highest-level specifications at present. Let’s take a look.

The “MOEA TECH HUB” is now open at Semicon Taiwan. It’s a pavilion by the Ministry of Economic Affairs showcasing 37 cutting-edge technologies, including silicon photonics devices, jointly developed by ITRI and industry partners.

Chang Shih-chieh
ITRI General Director of Electronic and Optoelectronic System Research Laboratories
Silicon photonics is an indispensable part of AI computing. The optical engine is the most crucial part of the technology. This is Taiwan’s first-ever, fastest, 1.6Tbps optical engine. It can transmit around 40 high-definition videos every second.

ITRI has successfully developed Taiwan’s first-ever 1.6Tbps silicon photonics optical engine module, the specifications of which are on par with the most advanced models internationally. The device integrates high-density components onto a tiny silicon photonics chip, which reduces power consumption while optimizing performance and lowering latency. This allows data centers to solve data transmission bottlenecks.

Hung Chih-pin
ASE Group vice president
With industry participation, we were able to more fully deploy optical photonics technology. ASE of course is tasked with packaging and testing. We have a partner in the world’s largest fab, which is our very own TSMC. With a more productive partnership, we’ll be able to roll out all our technologies.

ITRI and ASE developed an open silicon photonics semiconductor platform, offering a one-stop solution from design, production and integration, all the way to packaging and testing.

A camera lens embedded in the train model captures video footage in real time. It’s thanks to this chip module. In the past, this device would be around the size of a credit card, but now it’s smaller than a NT$1 coin. This is the world’s first-ever 3-D customizable universal chip module that can be applied onto wearable devices and unmanned vehicles in the future.

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Miniaturized, wireless, low-latency image transmission has always been a major challenge in the industry. It’s a very complex technology that must take into consideration, power consumption and low transmission latency, but it appears to be very effective. Japan’s rail transit system has adopted it and it has also successfully entered mass production after a year of development.

The new technologies are not only better, their development periods were also shorter. What would have taken more than half a year in the past now only takes 12 weeks, and with the resulting device much smaller too. Semicon Taiwan’s exhibition offers the perfect platform to showcase the innovations to international buyers.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#semicon #semiconductors #technology #technews #AI

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