Traveler detained by AI mistake back home after 55 days in UAE

Traveler detained by AI mistake back home after 55 days in UAE

2026-01-20

A trip to Turkey became an international nightmare for a Taiwanese couple late last year. Mr. Chen and his wife were heading for a dream getaway, when they ran into an unexpected problem during a layover in the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Chen was about to board his flight, when he was detained by a group of fully armed personnel, put in leg shackles, and taken away. After an international investigation, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs discovered that Mr. Chen had apparently been mistakenly flagged as a criminal by the local AI system. That mistake has cost him a detention in the country stretching 55 days. Let’s hear more from Mr. Chen himself.

Mr. Chen
Stranded in the UAE
I went to Dubai 20 years ago for an exhibition, but I never returned after that. The police accused me of being involved in property embezzlement. I thought it was so strange. I hadn’t even been in the country, so how could I embezzle any property from far away? I never in my dreams imagined such an ordeal would happen to me.

Wife
Husband was stranded in UAE
My husband was put on leg shackles on the first day. It was terrible. He was treated like a prisoner and was cut off from the outside world.

Hsiao Kuang-wei
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson
On Jan. 15, our representative office in Dubai confirmed with the relevant local authorities that Mr. Chen would be allowed to leave the country. On the evening of Jan. 16, he was taken to Abu Dhabi Airport to leave the country. All actions were taken in compliance with local laws, while striving for and safeguarding the rights of our citizen.

Mr. Chen’s arrest took place last year, on Nov. 24. He was released a few days later, in the early hours of Nov. 28. But that was not enough to leave the country. On Dec. 3, he was joined by staff from Taiwan’s representative office in Dubai to handle administrative procedures with local authorities. For a while, Mr. Chen lived at the residence of the office’s director, while waiting for his legal team to process the case. He was later redirected to the home of a local pastor. It took more than a month to clarify the facts surrounding his detention, after it was confirmed that it was all a false alarm caused by an error in the local AI system. The travel ban that had been imposed on him was finally lifted, but the legal nightmare wasn’t over yet. It turns out that local authorities had misplaced his passport, so that had to be resolved before he was able to leave the country. He finally departed the UAE on Jan. 16 to get home after weeks of waiting and distress.

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

#uae #dubai #abudhabi #travel #AI

驚魂! 阿布達比轉機"被誤認通緝犯" 台男滯留55天終返台

2026-01-20

台灣一對陳姓夫婦，去年11月底前往土耳其旅遊，沒想到在阿布達比轉機時，陳先生突然遭武裝人員帶走，甚至銬上腳鐐，外交部介入了解，發現竟是當地AI系統，將陳先生誤標註為通緝犯，讓陳先生一待就是55天。

[[遭滯留杜拜台人陳先生]]
“我20年前有到過杜拜參展而已，其他時間我都沒有去過。那時候警察說，你涉及到侵占財產，我說奇怪，我來都沒有來過，我怎麼隔空跟人家侵占財產？這個過程真的是，我做夢都沒有想到。”

[[陳先生妻子]]
“我先生(第一天)弄了腳鐐，真的是非常辛苦，被當成是囚犯，而且也沒有辦法跟外面做聯繫。”

[[外交部發言人蕭光偉]]
“1/15在駐處聯繫相關單位確認陳先生可以離境之後，於1/16晚間，也載送陳先生赴阿布達比機場，搭機離境。都在符合當地法令前提下，為國人爭取，並維護最大的應有權利。”

11月24日陳先生遭武警扣留，28日凌晨獲釋，12月3日，我國駐杜拜辦事處培同赴警局辦理行政程序。獲釋後，等待律師處理期間，陳先生短暫住了駐杜拜辦事處長家，接著又借住牧師家。直到今年1月，才確認通緝案是當地AI系統誤標，烏龍一場，好不容易解除旅行禁令，護照卻被當局搞丟了，一直到16日才順利搭機返程。

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Yilan residents welcome HSR as former officials blast plan

To solve the traffic issue on National Freeway No. 5, a plan was finally released at the end of last year to extend the high-speed rail to Yilan, replacing a former plan to build a more direct railway line instead at an increased budget of NT$400 billion from NT$100 billion. Former minister without portfolio Chang Ching-sen and former transport minister Hochen Tan have both come out against the project, saying it would be ineffective and severely impact the Eastern Trunk Line on the TRC. When the news got to Yilan residents, they urged the government to stop wavering and build the line soon.

The debate over whether to build a direct railway line or a high-speed rail from Taipei to Yilan has been ongoing for over 20 years. Now a plan has finally been approved to build an eastern extension of the HSR, with work set to begin in 2029 and finish in 2036. But experts have been vocal with their objections.

Voice of Chang Ching-sen
Former minister without portfolio
Just the section in Yilan alone would be extremely inefficient at an enormous cost. It would become a dead section of the HSR because it would run at a loss. Even without factoring in the initial cost, it would still run at a loss and be a drag on the High Speed Rail. If you thought the NT$95.5 billion to build a direct rail line was a lot, now the cost is four times that. Is this at all feasible? It’s completely unfeasible. If it’s not feasible, why insist on pushing it through?

Voice of Hochen Tan
Former minister of transportation
Compared with the original plan to build a direct rail line, it’s still the most economical and effective way to serve passengers. Moreover, for the newly established Taiwan Railway, it presents a promising new market.

After the HSR line opens, these experts say it will not only yield minimal benefits, but due to differing customer bases, it would do nothing to ease traffic on National Freeway No. 5 and instead divert traffic away from the Eastern Trunk Line. When Yilan residents heard the debate, they were furious.

Holding a red banner, these Yilan residents demand the construction of a high-speed rail. The long-awaited Yilan HSR extension has faced fierce opposition from experts. But residents recently gathered in front of the county government building to urge the central government to commit.

Yilan resident
It’s not just those of us who live here who will use it. If they build an HSR line, it’ll be like everywhere else in the world. Improved transport means development.

Yilan resident
Yilan’s industry hasn’t developed because of inconvenient transportation. It’s always been considered a backwater.

Shen Ching-shan
Zhuangwei Township chief
Some people are saying the Yilan HSR plan is just land speculation. Western Taiwan has a dozen special HSR zones. The economy is being developed there. It’s what the people need. Does it make sense to say that the Yilan HSR is just intended to inflate land prices? No, it doesn’t. Enough yanking us around.

Chen Chun-yu
Legislator (DPP)
Yilan sees over 3.5 million visitors every year. Plus we have residents who travel for work and those who come for business or to see relatives. All told, travel should exceed 5 million. Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung see over 20 million travelers in a year.

Residents said that NT$400 billion is certainly expensive, but it’ll only get pricier the longer it’s put off. Creating a complete transport system that enables single-day travel around the entire island requires consideration of effectiveness and cost. Aside from political maneuvering, there’s a lot to consider if it is to be achieved in the best way possible.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#highspeedrail #HSR #TRC #railway #publictransport #Yilan #TaipeitoYilan #publicworks #travel #trains

2026-01-20

Crowds flock to donate blood in exchange for roast chicken

What’s better than a piping hot roast chicken? Maybe a piping hot roast chicken that you got for free! That’s what a group of some 300 donors got in exchange at a blood donation drive in Taichung. The event was organized in collaboration with a local roast chicken vendor, enticing hordes of people to roll up their sleeves with the delicious smell. Donors who gave 250cc of blood could get a whole crispy golden chicken. And those who donated 500cc got that, plus a NT$200 voucher for a supermarket. These rewards got people coming out of their homes despite the cold, to do good and also get a tasty meal.

Steam pours out, filling the air with a delicious aroma. Golden-brown roast chickens hang inside the oven, juices dripping down. A mouthwatering sight. But before you tuck in, you’ll have to roll up your sleeve next door at the blood donation bus.

Donor
Joining blood drive
Doing good and getting a roast chicken. What a fantastic event!

Donor
Joining blood drive
There’s a severe shortage of blood, so everyone is helping out. I came early in the morning to get in line. I’m number 12.

Despite the cold winds, spirits were high. Thanks to the support from private sponsors, the blood drive is on its third year now, with four annual stops that are a boon for blood banks.

Cheng Hsun-tsung
Changhua charity chair
We hold these drives four times a year, tallying about 1,500 bags of blood. By offering roast chickens in exchange for donations, we hope to encourage more people to donate blood. You can eat them right away. And they have a monetary value of NT$400 to NT$500.

Sponsor
Offering roast chicken
Donating blood is a good cause. They give blood, we give them roast chickens. It’s a great thing to do, and everyone should do it!

About 300 roast chickens were prepared to give out to donors. Those who gave 250cc of blood could get a whole roast chicken. Those who gave 500cc could get that, plus a NT$200 supermarket voucher. With the cold keeping people home, blood stocks are getting dangerously low, especially since the Lunar New Year is around the corner.

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

#blood #blooddonation #donation #charity #donateblood

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Interview with Taiwanese poet, Yen Ai-lin

Today we take you to meet Taiwanese poet and author, Yen Ai-lin. Known for her poetry that explores the body, motherhood, and social issues, her work has earned her numerous literary awards and recognition across Taiwan and beyond. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke with Yen to learn more about her career and the inspirations behind her work.

Yen Ai-lin, a poet from Madou in Tainan, is celebrated for her fearless explorations of the body, animals, motherhood, identity, and social issues. She says her childhood in rural Tainan—growing up with her grandparents while her parents worked in the north—deeply shaped her imagination and became the foundation of her writing.

Yen Ai-lin
Poet
I was born in Madou, Tainan. Later, my younger brother and sister were born. When my parents traveled to the north to make a living, they left me—the eldest child—behind in Tainan. So I grew up with my grandparents. The Minnan dialect and the countryside life later became essential elements in my writing. Why didn’t I become a local realist writer, but instead chose poetry? First, because of my sensitivity to the different seasons, and the growth of all living things and how puppies, kittens, and chickens reproduced. I witnessed all of this clearly in my childhood. From the age of three or four, I was already pondering strange questions. Alone in the fields, any place higher than the rice paddies felt loft. I would think, the sky is so vast, and people are so small. The adults were in the fields working, and I was the only child. I grew up under the immense heavens, standing alone, wondering: why me? Why am I here? At three or four years old, I was already thinking about this. Since childhood, I was someone who let my mind wander. I even remember things from when I was six or seven months old.

Her poetry has earned her numerous accolades, including the National Outstanding Young Poet Award, the Outstanding Award for New Poem Creation from the Ministry of Culture, and the Taipei Literature Award. Her notable works include Bone, Skin, Flesh and Xiaying’s Local Delicacies, a memoir-like collection of essays that interweaves childhood memories and the cultural atmosphere of rural Tainan.

Yen Ai-lin
Poet
When I was writing this book, most of it came from my memories. At the beginning, I started with prose—before I ever encountered modern poetry, my writing was mainly compositions and essays. I loved drawing very much. As a child in the countryside, I would use tree branches to sketch on the sand ground. Later, when I entered kindergarten and first came into contact with paper, I began to draw the things that stirred my feelings most deeply. What’s interesting is that my philosophical thinking seemed to awaken quite early. By the fifth or sixth grade of elementary school, I was already painting abstract works. These fascinating experiences of life between town and country, combined with my imagination, became the starting point for my writing.

Recently diagnosed with cancer, she continues to stand strong. Having completed her final round of chemotherapy at the end of March last year, she has resumed her hobbies—reading, writing, creating jewelry, spending time with friends, and giving speeches.

Yen Ai-lin
Poet
As a woman poet in the 1990s, I started during Taiwan’s media liberalization—when the press flourished, and ideas clashed. I graduated from university in 1992, having entered in 1989, the year of Tiananmen, the most turbulent of times. My growth was deeply tied to the explosion of information. I believe that writing must always begin with what moves me. I never think, “Someone has already written this, so I cannot.” On the contrary, if someone has written it, why shouldn’t I approach it from my perspective? Every piece of my writing is how I see the world. If my words touch you, it is because I had no choice but to write it. For me, writing is a way of seeking emotional connection.

Yen hopes to continue to write freely and invite viewers to discover the power of poetry as a bridge of empathy and imagination. Through her words, she seeks not only to preserve memories but also to spark dialogue about a variety of issues.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Cho Jung-tai
Premier
Today marks the eighth month since May 20 last year. So it’s been one year and 8 months since President Lai took office. Vice Premier Cheng has spent more than nine months in negotiations.

The Executive Yuan is holding a press conference to formally present results of the Taiwan-US tariff and trade talks. Premier Cho Jung-tai emphasized that the vice president’s attention to detail, proposing a “Golden Plan,” bumped Taiwan’s position up the US’ agenda.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
Throughout the entire negotiations process, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim proposed a “Golden Plan” that allowed our proposal to be placed at a prominent spot, making it easy for President Trump to see the contents, which is the “Taiwan Model” proposed by Vice Premier Cheng.

Cheng Li-chiun
Vice Premier
The entire negotiations process was implemented by the whole government. I believe from the memorandum of understanding, it’s clear that we’ve secured a favorable tariff rate. At the same time, we also hope to expand our investments in the US, and thereby promote Taiwan-US supply chain cooperation. In the past we said, “Taiwan can help,” but we hope that in the future, it’ll be “Taiwan-US can lead.”

Taiwan’s trade negotiations team successfully pushed “reciprocal tariffs” down to 15% without stacking, as well as secured most favorable treatment for semiconductors and related products under Section 232. In exchange, Taiwan has pledged direct investments of US$250 billion, while the government will also provide US$250 billion in credit guarantees for businesses seeking to invest in the US. That said, the deal needs to get the legislature’s approval once finalized. The premier urges the opposition-controlled legislature to review it without bias.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
The entire talks were fully guided by the upholding of national interests. I believe we have thoroughly explained the parts that are already ongoing. I sincerely hope that the legislature can engage with us as equals, on the basis of correct information.

Cheng Li-chiun
Vice Premier
In the upcoming weeks, Taiwan and the US will formally sign a reciprocal trade agreement. We are so close to the finish line. We have also expressed to the US again, our wish for the deal to be finalized the soonest possible, to avoid double taxation between Taiwan and the US.

The trade team has secured rather beneficial terms for Taiwan against all odds. Now, it’s up to the legislature to give the deal a final seal of approval.

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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The classic mix of peas, carrots, and corn is popular in lunchboxes. But one breakfast shop owner decided to put these mixed veggies into a milk tea that has gone viral online, selling dozens of cups every day sometimes as a prank. It’s just the latest in a trend of weird drink challenges like the century egg milk tea or latte. One business even made a basil oolong green tea. But how do these weird drinks actually taste? Let’s find out...

Four big spoonfuls of mixed veggies are doled out straight into a cup of milk tea. This pea, carrot, and corn drink has caught the eye of customers eager to challenge themselves with something new.

Customer
If you don’t see what’s inside, I actually think the milk tea flavor is very strong and covers it up. But it’s really gross in a drink. Getting it once is enough.

Customer
At first I thought, all right, you can use it to prank people. It tastes like vegetables mixed with milk tea. It’s really gross. My coworkers’ reaction should be interesting.

This quirky drink has certainly generated buzz online. Some are getting it as a challenge, while others want to prank their friends. But is it worth buying?

Mr. Pi
Restaurant owner
The first day we offered it, I tried a cup. To me, it was... It’s hard to say. We started selling it last Friday. About 20 cups were sold per day over the weekend. Today someone bought 15 cups first thing in the morning.

It’s not just mixed veggie milk tea. Another weird drink trend has also gone viral. A century egg is mashed up inside a cup, milk tea poured directly on top. When mixed together, it looks like grass jelly—perfect to fool an unsuspecting victim.

Member of public
It looks a bit like grass jelly. It’s soft. Milk tea with century egg. Oh, no wonder the taste lingers like that. I’d try it.

Member of public
Black sesame. At first it was a little salty, but it became sweet at the end. It’s unique. Because I like century egg.

Drink flavors are getting more and more ridiculous, generating plenty of buzz. But it also makes you wonder—what can’t be added to a drink?

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

#veggies #milktea #drinks #gimmick #centuryegg #prank #oddity #viral #challenge

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