US de facto ambassador Raymond Greene voices support for special defense budget

US de facto ambassador Raymond Greene voices support for special defense budget

2026-01-22

De facto US Ambassador Raymond Greene on Thursday said a NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget bill proposed by the government was critical for Taiwan’s military operations, and said that the US was fully committed to delivering critical weaponry systems to Taiwan as soon as possible. Despite this, the opposition KMT and TPP refused to back down over their criticisms of the package. Their approval is needed for the special budget to clear the legislature. Let’s hear what Greene said.

At a seminar titled “Strengthening Resilience: Defense as the Engine of Development” hosted by Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, US de facto Ambassador Raymond Greene gave a speech on US-Taiwan cooperation for a secure and prosperous future. He talked extensively about Taiwan’s security.

What Taiwan’s service members need now are the tools to accomplish their mission. That is why President Lai Ching-te’s commitment to increasing Taiwan’s defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2030, including through the 1.25 trillion NTD special budget, is so critical.What Taiwan’s service members need now are the tools to accomplish their mission. That is why President Lai Ching-te’s commitment to increasing Taiwan’s defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2030, including through the 1.25 trillion NTD special budget, is so critical.What Taiwan’s service members need now are the tools to ccomplish their mission. That is why President Lai Ching-te’s commitment to increasing Taiwan’s defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030, including through the NT$1.25 trillion special budget, is so critical.

Greene stressed the importance of the NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget proposed by the Lai administration and promised that the US would deliver critical defense systems needed by Taiwan as soon as possible.

Raymond Greene
AIT Director
The Lai administration’s focus on acquiring low-cost, asymmetric systems like drones and anti-ship missiles, resilient and distributed communications and battlefield awareness capabilities, and integrated air and missile defenses completely aligns with what Taiwan’s military needs most. The United States is fully committed to delivering critical systems as quickly as possible.

Greene also revealed that the US is already in cooperation with Taiwan on various projects, including drone supply chains, AI-powered autonomous systems and expanding defense armaments cooperation programs. Northrop Grumman has installed a medium caliber ammunition test range in Taiwan.

Raymond Greene
AIT Director
The objective of all of these efforts is to establish conditions for dialogue free from coercion. The United States has always insisted on the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait differences.
Even though the US has signaled goodwill, the opposition remains unmoved.

Lo Chih-chiang
Lawmaker (KMT)
Even if we gave you NTS1.25 trillion or NT$950 billion, would you, Lai Ching-te, guarantee that the PRC’s military aircraft would never dare cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait again?

Chen Pei-yu
Lawmaker (DPP)
They pretend to be blind and deaf, unwilling to listen or see. KMT and TPP lawmakers, I urge you to show some restraint. I can hardly imagine how much of Taiwan’s development will be obstructed over the next two years.

Strengthening Taiwan’s national defense faces challenges from opposition parties. The US is also stepping up its efforts to help Taiwan remain secure.

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

#AIT #military #defense #drones #Taiwanpolitics

谷立言參加國防座談重申1.25兆國防預算重要性

2026-01-22

美國在臺協會處長谷立言參加國防院舉辦的"強化國防投資"座談會，重申台灣地緣的重要，也說美方會加快無人機、反艦飛彈的交貨，協助台灣防衛，更說賴清德承諾的1.25兆國防特別預算的重要。不過藍白依舊堅持要賴清德直球對決，綠營要他們高抬貴手，別再阻礙台灣發展防衛能量。

現身國防院舉辦的"強化國防投資與國家發展座談會"，美國在台協會處長谷立言演講，主題台美攜手共創繁榮的未來，大談台灣安全。

[[美國在台協會處長谷立言]]
“台灣軍人現在最需要的是完成任務所需的工具，正因如此，賴清總統承諾到2030年，將台灣國防開支提高到GDP的5%，包括三項總額達1.25兆新台幣特別預算，才顯得至關重要。”

谷立言強調賴政府提出的1.25兆國防特別預算重要，也承諾美方將盡速交付台灣所需的關鍵系統。

[[美國在台協會處長谷立言]]
“賴政府致力於購買低成本的非對稱作戰系統，例如無人機和反艦飛彈，以及具備彈性和分散式通訊能力，戰場態勢感知能力和一體化防空反導系統，這完全符合台灣的軍事需求，美國承諾盡快交付關鍵系統。”

谷立言也透露，美國已經和台灣合作，包括無人機供應鏈、AI自主系統，以及政再妥站國防武器裝備合作計畫，在台灣設立中口徑彈藥測試場。

[[美國在台協會處長谷立言]]
“所有這些努力的目標，都是為了創造不受脅迫的對話條件，美國始終致力於和平解決兩岸分歧。”

美方釋出誠意，但在野黨仍鐵板一塊。

[[國民黨團書記長羅智強]]
“給你1.25兆、給你9500億，你賴清德保證中共軍機從此不敢越過海峽中線？”

[[民進黨團書記長陳培瑜]]
“裝瞎裝聾、不肯聽也不肯看。藍白立委請你們高抬貴手，接下來兩年我難以想像，台灣有多少發展會受到阻礙。”

強化國防面臨在野黨挑戰，美方也加大關心力道，拚補足國安最重要一塊拼圖。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

Related News

Houtong’s cat population falls due to neutering, improper feeding

The famous Houtong Cat Village was once home to over 200 cats, but now there are less than 30. Residents say this is because of more cats being neutered, as well as tourists feeding them too many treats. In addition, the local office that once cared for these cats is no longer running. The village chief says the animal protection office should start a breeding program so that the cat village continues to live up to its name.

Two cats happily chase each other across a field. Nearby, a tabby cat and calico affectionately greet visitors. This is New Taipei’s famous Houtong Cat Village. But recently, people have noticed the number of cats there is dwindling.

There are less than I thought there would be.
There aren’t that many cats.

There were once over 200 cats living in the Houtong Cat Village, with people responsible for feeding them and vets from the animal protection office often visiting. But today there are less than 30. A big reason for this is that more cats are being neutered, but residents also think that tourists fed them too many treats. If cats eat too much salty food, it could cause kidney failure.

Houtong resident
It’s split into areas, so our area originally had 40 cats. Now, counting the old and new cats, there are only seven left. Tube treats are too salty. Cats can’t eat it all the time. It’s just a snack they can have when getting their claws cut or with medicine. Everyone feeds them these, but it’s too salty and impacts kidney function.

Chou Chin-yi
Guangfu Village chief
At most there were one or two hundred of them, maybe more than the people, but now there are fewer and fewer. I think the animal protection and cat public offices should be responsible for breeding cats and releasing them when they are a little bigger. You could put microchips in them.

New Taipei previously set up a cat public office in Houtong Village, commissioning a team to run it. But that team ended their contract, and the city is still looking for a new one, leaving residents to care for the cats at the moment. The local village chief suggested running a breeding program to boost the cat population, so the village can continue to live up to its name.

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

#HoutongCatVillage #Houtong #catvillage #cat #cats #tourism #population #catcenter #tubetreats

2026-01-22

Winner of NT$12M scratch card game touched a Buddha statue while playing

2026-01-22

This juice stand has a large following thanks to great fruit

A fresh fruit juice stall at the Taitung Tourism Night Market has such delicious juice that it’s gained a large following. The proprietor, Lo Yung-feng, has even won awards. Lo has established long-term relationships with local farmers that enable him to find the highest quality fruit. What’s less well known is that Lo was once a prison instructor and is devoted to promoting good health. Let’s meet Lo.

First the pineapple is washed with water.

Then the fruit is chopped and sliced on the spot. The proprietor is working quickly, aiming to maintain the freshness of the fruit.

A dragon fruit is added and there’s the same process. Even its weight must be calculated precisely.

It’s all put in a blender and ice cubes are added. Pineapple and dragon fruit juice, it’s fresh and delicious.

Whether it’s papaya, watermelon or pineapple, cups of fresh fruit are displayed in front of the stall, and many people are queuing up. This fresh juice stall is quite famous in Taitung Tourism Night Market because of its freshly extracted fruit juice and hygienic conditions.

Lo Yung-feng
Taiwan Tourism Night Market stall keeper
When I was younger, I was working a regular job and didn’t have much to do in the evenings, so I started doing a side business at the night market. I started with bubble tea but in recent years I’ve come to realize that health is more important than anything else. So I thought I’d sell healthy fresh fruit juice.

The proprietor was originally a rehabilitation instructor who taught inmates skills in prison. After clocking off from work, he and his wife moonlighted at the night market selling cups of boba. He retired ten years ago and a plasticizer scandal led him to believe that health is more important than anything else. This prompted Lo Yung-feng to switch from selling bubble tea to selling healthy fruit juice.

Lo Yung-feng
Taiwan Tourism Night Market stall keeper
The idea of eating seasonal, local produce is to encourage consumers to enjoy the
ingredients of each region they visit—they are the freshest and most delicious.

Eating seasonal fruits is the freshest and tastiest way to enjoy them, but turning them into fruit juice for sale is not something anyone can do. Lo puts in a lot of effort to produce the highest quality juice.

Lo Yung-feng
Taiwan Tourism Night Market stall keeper
After working with them for a long time, you’ll know which fruit farmers have fruit with excellent sweetness and quality. That’s based on experience.

His years of accumulated experience have enabled him to find local fruit farmers with high-quality produce and he’s cooperated with them for the long-term. His high standards for the production process have also earned him many awards.

With cups in their hands, people are happily drinking. This retired prison instructor may be busy, but he is also living a fulfilling life.

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

#Taitung #Taitungtourism #nightmarkets #healthyjuice

2026-01-22

Lone meerkat spotted on Chiayi roadside, quickly disappears

2026-01-22

Taiwanese baby formula brand recalls products amid worldwide scare

2026-01-22

Inferno in Keelung residential building leaves 2 dead, 4 injured

A man and a woman were killed and a further four people were injured after a fire broke out in a residential building in Keelung. Investigators discovered that there was clutter piled to the ceiling in the apartment where the fire broke out, which impeded rescue efforts. The man killed was Chan Neng-chieh, a squad leader with the Keelung City Fire Department’s Renai branch. Before he was killed, he rushed into the burning building three times to rescue people, even giving his own oxygen mask to a resident. Let’s find out more about this heroic fire fighter and how the fire started.

This residential building is filled with thick smoke, making visibility almost zero.

Thick white smoke fills the air. The firefighters are racing against time, rushing into the flames to rescue people who were trapped and bring them out, one by one.

After the residents were rescued, oxygen masks were placed on their faces, and they lay weakly on stretchers. However, some were still trapped inside.

The living room? OK.
You need to open the front door
so we can get in and reach you.

The woman’s eyes were red with tears and she didn’t know what to do—because the fire had started in her home, and her 33-year-old daughter was still inside.

I can’t get out; I have to crawl.
The entire stairwell is filled with smoke.
I can’t see anyone.

Building resident
There was a strong odor of plastic. It was big—building after building. Some places had their doors locked; even when you knocked, no one answered. Everyone was asleep.

The inferno occurred late in the night on Jan. 21 in a residential building on Leli 3rd Street in Anle District, Keelung. The fire started on the second floor, where a large amount of clutter had been hoarded, causing the fire to spread rapidly. Chan Neng-chieh, a squad leader with the Keelung City Fire Department’s Ren-ai Branch, and the homeowner’s daughter both lost their lives, bringing the total toll to two dead, four injured.

Upon closer inspection, clutter had been piled almost to the ceiling, obstructing movements and making search and rescue extremely difficult. It’s suspected that the fire broke out in the living room. The homeowner said that before the fire broke out, she saw the intercom at the door appearing to be short-circuiting and emitting sparks. After the fire was extinguished, fire investigators found that even more than 10 hours later, residual voltage of 90 volts was still detected in the walls. They suspect that the fire caused internal wiring to melt and short-circuit, or that the issue stemmed from the building’s shared electrical lines. As a result, the walls became electrically charged, turning the walls into an invisible killer that rescue personnel could not see. One firefighter was injured after being electrocuted.

Pan Te-fa
Borough chief, Liuhe, Keelung
This is the first large-scale fire we’ve encountered in our community in over 30 years. The apartment where the fire started had an extreme amount of piles of clutter. The homeowner, a mother, is quite old. And perhaps because everyone’s health wasn’t completely OK, they piled up clothes and other miscellaneous items.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it is undeniable that the mountain of clutter piled inside the apartment, coupled with the weird electrical currents running through the walls, was the chief culprit behind this blaze and the heavy casualties it caused.

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

#fire #hoarding #breakingnews #tragic #firesafety

2026-01-22

Kaohsiung MRT’s famous cat has a new collab with Beigang Chaotian Temple

2026-01-22

Alex Honnold readies for Saturday’s high-stakes climb up Taipei 101

This Saturday, Alex Honnold, a professional rock climber will make a solo free climb up Taipei 101, livestreamed for the world to watch. Thursday would’ve been his fifth consecutive day practicing, if not for the weather. On the same day, Taipei 101’s management team held a blessing ceremony for him, wishing him success as he makes his way all the way up Taiwan’s tallest building without safety ropes.

A climber in a blue jacket and black bottoms is seen scaling the Taipei 101, supported by safety ropes.

This is Alex Honnold, a professional rock climber from the US known for his extreme solo free climbs. He’s been rehearsing every day since last Sunday. Thursday would’ve been the fifth, if not for the weather.

Chen Yao-chi
FTV reporter
This Saturday (Jan. 24), the US rock climbing icon, Alex Honnold will take on the challenge of a solo free climb up Taipei 101. However, due to northeasterly seasonal monsoons, the weather is quite windy and rainy in Taipei. Some worry that the event may not take place as expected.

I think safety is more important.

If it’s too dangerous, meaning the winds are too strong, it could put him at risk, making it not such a great idea.

Of course not! It’s too dangerous. It’s safer to use ropes.

People in Taipei believe safety should come first, and that the event should be postponed if it rains.

Taipei 101’s management team has already held a blessing ceremony on Wednesday for the big event, meeting with Honnold’s team and praying for good weather and success. Some people also wonder what he would do if he had to relieve himself while climbing.

Alex Honnold
Rock climber
When I go multi-day wall climbing, I typically use my used water jugs. Basically you poop into a bag, you bundle up the bag, you can like duct tape it up, so it’s like a little sealed bundle. And then you can like leave in like your used water jugs, and then seal that up with tape. And then basically you’d wind up with sort of jugs of waste dangling below your actual haul bags as you climb the wall. And then when you get to the top, you just like hike your waste out and throw it away in the dumpster.

It will be, as Honnald’s show calls it, his “most daring attempt yet.” Taipei 101 has also urged the public against entering restricted zones and recording the event using drones on the big day.

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

#taipei101 #freeclimb #soloclimb #alexhonnold #extremesports

2026-01-22