Undersea cable damage to be punished with prison sentences

Undersea cable damage to be punished with prison sentences

2025-09-18

There have been many reports of Taiwan’s undersea communications cables getting snapped in the past year. Many of the incidents involved Chinese vessels suspected of dragging items on the seabed that ended up causing extensive damage to key infrastructure. Now, the Executive Yuan has approved revisions to seven laws aimed at enhancing protection of the cables.

Malicious damage will be subject to criminal penalties, with prison sentences of up to seven years and fines of up to NT$10 million. Even negligence will be penalized with sentences of up to 6 months, detention, or a fine of up to NT$2 million. In addition, tools and vessels involved will be confiscated.

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#undersea #telecommunications #telecom #cable #penalties

行政院修正海纜七法破壞海底管線最重關7年

2025-09-18

今年我國海底電纜，頻傳斷裂情形，其中幾次都是中國權宜輪涉嫌拖斷海纜，為了保障海域及基礎建設，行政院院會拍板通過，強化防護我國海底纜線七部法案修正。

惡意破壞各式海底管線有刑責，最高七年以上刑期併科1千萬元以下罰金，過失也罰，6個月以下刑期、拘役或200萬元以下罰金，犯罪工具或船舶將沒收。

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ITRI’s chief calls for efficient management of Taiwan’s energy resources

With the shutdown of Taiwan’s last remaining nuclear power plant in May, the government met its goal of having a nuclear-free homeland. Still, there have since been persistent worries in the business community that Taiwan could face power shortages. Edwin Liu, the president of the government’s tech incubator, the Industrial Technology Research Institute or ITRI, recently appeared on FTV’s “News Observation” program. Liu, an energy expert, said no option could be ruled out and called for efficient management of existing power resources. Let’s hear more.

ITRI President Edwin Liu recently appeared in an FTV program. Taiwan has reached a government goal of having a nuclear-free homeland by 2025 and is facing a critical time in its energy transition. Liu stressed that no option could be ruled out.

Edwin Liu
ITRI President
There’s only so much land and we can’t put up too many solar panels. Or if you consider the level of risk, for example nuclear power is relatively risky, then we’ll give this a lower priority. This is optimizing the situation given constraints. We have these restrictions and conditions and we’ll find the best solution. If we can’t find a solution, we’ll relax the constraints a little bit, and then find a solution. This is a mathematical model, so I think this is a very professional matter and we can’t rule out any options.

Taiwan’s geography and environment gives it an advantage in the development of renewable energy. However, there has been constant talk of power shortages. Liu used a spot-on metaphor to explain this.

Edwin Liu
ITRI President
Whether you have a shortage of electricity is like whether you have a shortage of cash. Whether you have a shortage of electricity – or not -- all depends on how you use it. Using electricity is not about using it frugally. Rather it is all about how it is managed. One kilowatt-hour of electricity should have the efficiency of one kilowatt-hour of electricity. That is to say, if you generate one kilowatt-hour of electricity and waste half of it, you will complain that electricity generation is insufficient.

Liu, an energy specialist, has led ITRI to win numerous awards during his tenure. He hopes to continue promoting the development of market-oriented research and development in the future and ultimately fulfill ITRI’s goal of assisting with Taiwan’s industrial transformation.

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

2025-09-18

Airport partners with major airlines to share little-seen parts of air travel

The Taoyuan airport this year partnered with two of the nation’s flagship airlines to organize a camp where participants could experience little-seen parts of the airport, both airside and landside. They got to see the airlines’ operations centers and even got a sneak peek into the mysterious kitchen. At the camp, participants gained a practical understanding of what goes into running an airport from the inside out, not to mention a truly unique experience.

Oxygen masks drop from overhead as the cabin fills with smoke. Flight attendants spray fire extinguishers everywhere, but everyone is remaining calm. That’s because this is an emergency training cabin. The visitors had their cameras at the ready to capture the scene.

Lee Ssu-ying
Flight attendant instructor
The participants in today’s airport experience camp are getting the rare opportunity to experience an emergency evacuation. We hope that apart from the frontline staff serving passengers, they can also appreciate the efforts of airlines at ensuring flight safety.

The Taoyuan airport partnered with two of the nation’s flagship airlines to organize a camp where participants could experience both the airside and landside parts of the airport, in addition to the airlines’ operations centers and even the hidden-away catering area. The airport said it invited senior instructors from various fields to show participants operations on the airport apron, emergency evacuation training for flight attendants, and aerial rescue training for firefighters.

Not only that, but they also got to enter the kitchen to see how in-flight meals are made, giving a rare glimpse into the secrets behind a smoothly operating airport.

Hsieh Po-chia
Participant
You’d learn a lot of things working at the airport you would never learn anywhere else. This is so fascinating to me.

These participants gained a wealth of knowledge and experiences to bring back with them. The camp also gave them a renewed appreciation for the hard work that goes into running every nook and cranny of the airport.

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

#airport #Taoyuanairport #airlines #camp #experience #airlinecatering #airlinefood #flightevacuation #flightsafety #flightattendant #emergencytraining

2025-09-18

Tropical depression expected to strengthen into storm by Sunday

2025-09-18

Former baseball star almost denied entry to US after hair transplants

Former baseball star Ati Masaw said that he was almost denied entry to the US recently because his passport photo didn’t reflect his successful hair transplants. He also said that after getting the issue sorted out, the customs officer ended up asking him how much the procedure normally costs in Taiwan. Ati Masaw isn’t the only person to look much better than one’s passport photo, to the point of being stopped at the border. Stay tuned for a case of a real glow-up.

Former baseball star Ati Masaw now has a full head of hair, quite different from how most people remember him to look like. In the past, he embraced his baldness proudly, but now he’s close to growing bangs. His new look almost made the US customs deny him entry, simply because he looked so different. Ati Masaw said after explaining the situation, the officer ended up asking him if hair transplants are expensive in Taiwan. It seems like he’s not the only one with a much-needed photo update.

Member of public
Had eyelid surgery
My passport photo was from when I still had monolids. I had eyelid surgery later. The customs officer asked me why I looked different. I was quite nervous, because I was worried that I wouldn’t be allowed to leave the country.

Member of public
Got bangs
I didn’t have bangs in my passport photo, but I did in person. So I went through the manual lane, and had a human immigration officer check my identity and stamp my passport.

A woman from the US shared her experience going through customs with a bare face, while she had worn a full face for her passport photo. She said the immigration officer probably thought she was a catfish and almost denied her entry.

Member of public
Dolled up for passport photo
This is why you should never do hot photos for your passport, because I don’t look like this.

A Japanese city councilor, Norihiro Uehata was also an extreme example of not looking like one’s photo. He had lost 50kg in two years, and looked like he could be the son of his former self.

Norihiro Uehata (2023)
Kobe City councilor (Japan)
When I pulled up the before-and-after photo for my weight loss from Instagram, the immigration officer smiled and said, “Oh, good!” and let me through.

It seems that even though a passport only expires in ten years, it’s still advisable to get a new one for your glow-up to avoid hassles at the border.

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

#passport #photo #hairtransplant #plasticsurgery #haircut #weightloss #catfish #reversecatfish #glowup #nomakeup #bonita

2025-09-18

Tourist has license revoked, pays NT$40,000 after uninsured Jeju rental rolls into ocean

The beautiful tourism hotspot of Jeju Island serves as a backdrop for many South Korean dramas. To get around, many tourists rent small three-wheeled electric vehicles. But there’s a hidden danger. One tourist from Taiwan rented one and parked at her first destination, just to see the bike start sliding down the slope by itself. She notified the rental business, who told her she had to pay NT$44,000 in damages. When the tourist asked for a formal quote, the owner refused to provide one.

This is the most common form of transport for tourists on Udo, a small island off of the island of Jeju in South Korea.

Humming to herself as she set off, she had no idea what would happen next...

Her pink three-wheeled electric vehicle lies on its side along the shore, partially submerged into the ocean. If you look closely, a part of the outer shell has broken off.

Mrs. Youni
Tourist
When I discovered what happened, of course I was shocked. We had parked properly and were sitting in a cafe when I saw my car on its side like that in the ocean. Something like 90% of tourists to Udo will rent this kind of vehicle.

She contacted the rental, which brought out a piece of blank paper and wrote on it by hand demanding half the value of the car in compensation: 2 million won, or about NT$44,000. When she asked for a formal quote, the owner refused. In order to keep to her schedule and avoid the trouble, she had to pay, and her international driver’s license was confiscated.

Mrs. Youni
Tourist
There seems to be a general practice among the car rental places in Udo that they don’t get insurance for the driver or the vehicle. So if you encounter a problem when driving in Udo, the renter bears 100% of the responsibility.

Wen Hsin-ju
Insurance business manager
When driving a rental vehicle abroad, we suggest you purchase comprehensive insurance. If you have a collision or other accident, the damages are very expensive, and current domestic insurance does not cover losses incurred when abroad. Therefore, if there’s no option to get additional local insurance, travelers should consider carefully whether they want to rent or not.

These mini cars on Udo may look cute, but remember to take photos of the vehicle and test ride it before heading out, or else you might be taken advantage of if something happens.

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

#travel #SouthKorea #Udo #Jeju #carerental #insurance #carinsurance #travelinsurance #caraccident #PSA #driving

2025-09-18

Boy’s scalp scraped by razor during lightning-bolt haircut

One mother in Taichung recently took her child to a salon to get his hair cut with a shaved lightning bolt design. But to the mother’s dismay, the child was in such pain when he came back home that he had to be taken to the hospital the next day, where they found a long scrape on his scalp. At first the salon claimed “this is normal,” before admitting fault and apologizing profusely.

This young boy had a lightning bolt design shaved on the side of his head during a recent haircut. It seems like a cute idea, but the stylist must have shaved too close to the skin, leaving long red marks along the boy’s scalp.

Mother (voice altered)
His scalp is already in very serious condition, with wounds on both sides.

This mother brought her child to a hair salon in Taichung’s Fengyuan District and agreed on a hairstyle after speaking with the hairdresser. But to her dismay, after spending NT$800, her son was returned to her with cuts on his scalp.

Ms. Chiang
Salon manager
We feel deeply sorry for the discomfort this has caused the child and his mother. We sincerely apologize, and we will bravely take full responsibility for our actions.

The salon came forward to apologize on behalf of the stylist and said it would cover any relevant medical expenses. But when the mother first told the salon what had happened, she received a very different response.

Mother (voice altered)
He said this was normal and that the same thing happened to his child. He said my child shouldn’t get this style cut in the future, as some children may not be able to tolerate it.

Ms. Chiang
Hair salon manager
Right now, we are only focusing on the child’s subsequent safety and health.

The manager did not have a straight answer for how this happened. Another hair stylist said using an electric razor at the wrong angle could have caused the injury.

Rose
Hair stylist
Usually, scrapes like this happen when the razor angle is wrong. The electric razor may have been pressing on his scalp and then used at too low an angle. It also could have been a new razor that the stylist was not yet used to using.

For children with sensitive scalps, stylists suggest adding a layer of hair oil first for protection. This kid may have been excited to get a cool new hairstyle, but ending up with a painful scrape like this is likely to leave a lasting impression.

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

#haircut #hairstyle #scalp #scrape #razor #razorcut #hairstylist #mistake #lightingbolt #hairdesign

2025-09-18

Hostel makes videos of little-known destinations to revitalize Kenting tourism

Many people are choosing to spend their vacations abroad after the pandemic. The dwindling numbers have impacted local tourism, especially southern Taiwan’s Kenting. It’s far to get to and has been getting bad press, resulting in a sharp decline in tourism. Businesses have been relying on long weekends and large events to bring in visitors. But there’s still one small business owner who’s been working hard to promote Kenting by regularly posting videos of the area’s secret destinations and beautiful landscapes on social media.

These short videos introduce a treehouse in Manzhou and a hidden natural swimming hole in Hongchaikeng.

The creator calls herself Kenting Chihling. She can often be found outside, seeking out unknown destinations on the Hengchun Peninsula. She makes videos about her findings, which she then posts on Threads.

Kenting Chihling
Hostel owner
Over time, I’ve shot around 100 videos about Kenting. People most want to know about sights and shops to explore.

Kenting Chihling runs a hostel with her husband. In her free time, she’s always either shooting or editing a video. Seeing all the negative press about Kenting, she decided to present her home the way that she sees it.

Kenting Chihling
Hostel owner
It’s good that people care about Kenting and we’ll continue to improve the bad things. But when people are willing to improve at least a little, they should be encouraged, even as people continue to keep tabs on them.

There’s also a restaurant on the main road that’s doing something similar to promote Kenting. All the photographs hanging along the walls were taken by the owner.

Originally a photographer, Wu Kou-kou moved to Kenting after getting married and opened a restaurant with her husband. Apart from displaying her photos in the shop, her Facebook is also filled with images of Hengchun’s landscapes, wildlife, and people. She posts something nearly every day.

Wu Kou-kou
Kenting restaurant owner
There are a lot of people who came here especially because they saw my photos of landscapes or sea turtles. It makes me really happy. Even if they don’t come here and spend money, I’m still very happy.

Since the borders reopened after the pandemic, fewer people are traveling domestically, especially to Kenting. But these two small business owners are working hard to promote their little peninsula on social media, hoping to one day revisit their glory days.

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

#Kenting #tourism #socialmedia #photography #domestictourism #KentingChihling

2025-09-18

University installs new smart gates causing massive traffic jams

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Delightful ‘blooper’ while filming with Premier Cho

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