Experts weigh in on future of Japan relations after LDP win

Experts weigh in on future of Japan relations after LDP win

2026-02-09

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae led the Liberal Democratic Party to a landslide victory in the House of Councillors election. The party secured more than two-thirds of the seats available, for a total of 316 seats. The sweeping win marks the first time since World War II that a single party has won such a large share of seats. In Taiwan, scholars are considering what that could mean for the future of relations between Japan and Taiwan, and Japan and China. Let’s hear from a few analysts.

Fan Shih-ping
NTNU Department of East Asian Studies
If Japan is able to pass a Taiwan Relations Act, it could establish official relations between Taiwan and Japan, clarify Japan’s stance in the event that Taiwan is annexed by China, as well as whether Japan might sell weapons to Taiwan.

Kuo Yu-jen
Institute for National Policy Research
We hope that Japan will pass its own version of the Taiwan Travel Act. Japan has had many unreasonable restrictions on exchanges with Taiwan. There are rules that prevent ministry-level officials from holding talks with their Taiwanese counterparts in Tokyo.

Tung Li-wen
Foundation on Asia-Pacific Peace Studies
Regarding the future of Japan-China relations… on the upside, they’ve hit a ceiling. On the downside, there is no bottom. The two countries are heading to a kind of cold-confrontation.

Wang Hung-jen
Institute for National Policy Research
The most important part is that the Japanese public as a whole sees the threat and the pressure that China exerts. That includes personal attacks on their leader and military pressure. I think Japan has made a big decision, which is that they will not submit to pressure from China.

President Lai Ching-te congratulated Takaichi on her party’s election victory on social media. He said that the outcome of the election was a demonstration of the Japanese public’s trust in her leadership and vision. He added that he looks forward to working with Takaichi so that Taiwan and Japan can continue to uphold shared values and the spirit of mutual and beneficial cooperation. He said the two countries could work together to tackle regional challenges while promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#japan #election #takaichi #taiwan

高市率自民黨大勝賴總統:彰顯日選民對領導力與願景的信任期待

2026-02-09

日本首相高市早苗，率領自民黨在參院選舉拿下超過2/3席次的316席，是日本戰後首次單一政黨拿下最多席次紀錄，台灣一些學者分析往後台日關係、日中關係的走向，一起來聽。

[[國立台灣師範大學東亞學系教授范世平]]
“未來如果日本也能夠通過台灣關係法，能夠確立台灣跟日本的正式的關係，以及如果台灣遭到這個中國併吞的時候，日本的態度，還有就是日本有沒有可能出售武器給台灣。”

[[國策研究院副院長郭育仁]]
“希望可以通過日本版的台灣保證旅行法，從以前到現在日本有非常多對台交往不合理的規則，包含我們的部長級官員到東京去之後，不能跟日本同等官員在官廳裡面坐下來談事情。”

[[亞太和平研究基金會執行長董立文]]
“日中關係在未來，向上友好，封頂了。日中關係向下墜落會沒有下限，應該是走向一個冷對抗的道路。”

[[國策研究院執行長王宏仁]]
“最主要是整個日本國民對於中國的威脅、中國的壓迫，甚至對於他們領導人的這樣子，用各種不管是言語上面，人身攻擊，還有軍事的這樣子一個壓迫，我覺得是做出一個相當重大的選擇，就是說日本人民不會屈於這樣中國的壓力之下。”

賴總統在社群平台發文，誠摯恭喜高市早苗首相，在大選取得勝利，彰顯日本選民對高市領導力與願景的信任與期待，期待與高市首相合作，使台日兩國持續以共同的價值、互利合作的精神，攜手面對區域挑戰，促進印太和平繁榮。

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Shidong Market vendors complain about rodent extemination

A craze for exterminating rats is underway in Taipei. Mayor Chiang Wan-an ordered a thorough disinfection of the city after a man in his 70s died from hantavirus in January. In a bid to get rid of rodents, part of the campaign has been focused on markets. But vendors say the operation is not going smoothly. On Monday afternoon, a disinfection team dispatched to Shidong Market apparently sprayed chemicals without previously informing vendors. They say that the chemicals ended up on food and other items at the market. Let’s hear more.

- Nobody knew!
- If we had known, we’d cover everything. Look, nobody covered their stuff.
- They didn’t schedule it? – No
- You didn’t cover it? Just that?
- Nobody notified us.
- I see. I’ll check with them.

Chen Yung-hung
Tianshan Borough Warden
Announcements should be made so everyone knows which areas are being treated for rodents. If you don’t communicate clearly, it’s no good. It causes unnecessary panic.

Lin Yen-feng
Taipei City Councilor (DPP)
They didn’t tell anyone they would disinfect the premises and exterminate rodents. Pots, pans… nothing was covered! The city is cutting corners! I urge Mayor Chiang to not do things halfway.

Fang Hsien-kai
Taipei City Market Administration
Cleanup contractors should make arrangements with the market association before disinfecting the premises. Moving forward, the Market Administration Office will look more closely into such arrangements.

Chiang ordered a full disinfection in all 12 districts in the city. In the case of Shidong Market, no announcements were visible inside or outside the building. Vendors say they didn’t receive prior notice, and as such, did not make the necessary preparations. Councilors are calling on the city government to not do things halfway. They say that if the market is to be disinfected, the people involved should be given plenty of time to prepare, to make sure the disinfection is carried out safely.

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

#rats #raticide #disinfection #market #food #taipei

2026-02-09

Rush for fresh banknotes kicks off ahead of Lunar New Year

2026-02-09

Sandwich cookie holiday gift box sales impacted by tariffs

With Lunar New Year around the corner, shops are busy preparing gift boxes. One bakery that specializes in sandwich cookies is offering a pork floss peanut flavor in addition to its famous caramel cream. While sales increase over the holiday, the bakery noticed that businesses are ordering smaller gift boxes than usual, possibly due to tariffs impacting their budgets.

These sandwich cookies come in all kinds of flavors and colors. From the classic caramel full of gooey sweetness, to pork floss, and even Western flavors, there are sweet and savory choices alike.

The sugar caramelizes at over 100°C. It’s important that the temperature is just right, otherwise it could affect its taste and texture.

Yu Yu-chen
Cookie entrepreneur
We want to caramelize the sugar, so we pay close attention to whether the temperature or humidity is too high, because that could make the caramel too hard or too soft, which we don’t want.

The cookie dough is baked on a specialized grill. The butter in the dough melts under the high temperature, and the room fills with the smell of fresh cookies.

Once the cookies are pressed and baked, they’re cut into the right shape.

Staff fills the bottom cookies with caramel and cream, and a machine adds the top cookie to complete the sandwich. The staff work in rotating shifts 24 hours a day to make sure the business can meet Lunar New Year holiday demands.

Yu Yu-chen
Cookie entrepreneur
The orders for the Lunar New Year this year are unusual. We have noticed that, maybe because of tariffs, businesses have ordered a lot more smaller boxes than usual. It’s probably because of the tariffs.

Costs in general have been rising recently, but especially for cream and chocolate, which have almost doubled in price. The business absorbs most of these rising costs itself to avoid impacting holiday sales.

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

#cookie #sandwichcookie #giftbox #LunarNewYear #holiday #sales #caramel #cream #porkfloss #tariffs

2026-02-09

Sophia Tsu Velicer is Taiwan’s first Olympic cross-country skier

The first athlete to compete for Taiwan at the 2026 Winter Olympics is Taiwanese-American cross-country skier, Sophia Tsu Velicer. She’s also the very first to represent Taiwan in the sport at the Olympics. On Saturday, she completed the women’s 10km+10km skiathlon and ranked 52nd among 70 contestants. Speaking to a reporter after her win, she said that even though she’s hardly lived in Taiwan, it’s a country that she loves.

The skier in a pink suit numbered 52 is Sophia Tsu Velicer. She completed the women’s 10km+10km skiathlon in one hour, three minutes and 57.5 seconds, ranking 52nd among 70 contestants. She’s also the first to represent Taiwan in the sport.

Sophia Tsu Velicer
Cross-country skier
I’m incredibly honored to be the first woman to represent Taiwan at the Olympics in cross-country skiing. I mean, this is a sport that I love, and Taiwan is a country that I love, even though I’m no — I’ve never fully lived in Taiwan, I still have a very close connection to it, and I’m just, like, so honored to represent Taiwan.

Velicer, now 26, was born in the US state of Michigan to a Taiwanese mother and an American father. Her extended family is in Italy to cheer for her, including her 86-year-old maternal grandma.

Sophia Tsu Velicer
Cross-country skier
I’m really, really happy that she came out. You know, she’s been one of my biggest supporters throughout the years, but she doesn’t really know that much about cross-country skiing as a sport, and this is her first time seeing me cross-country ski at the Olympics, which is really, really cool, and I hope that I’m making her proud.

And her grandma really is very proud of her.

Velicer’s maternal grandma
Attending 2026 Winter Olympics
It’s really an achievement for a kid to be able to ski to that level. She’s faced so many difficulties throughout training. She’s really touching others being a skier of such a high level. She inspired others first.

Velicer has three more games lined up at the Winter Olympics. She hopes to make it to the Top 40 in all three.

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

#olympics #MilanoCortina2026 #余睿 #米蘭冬奧 #越野滑雪

2026-02-09

Steaming seafood noodles and pork soup popular in winter

With cold weather returning this winter, people are gravitating toward restaurants with soup, noodles, and other warm options. One pork soup shop in Dadaocheng has been running for 60 years, with its rich soup and tender pork bringing in lots of customers. In winter, the owner prepares six big pots to make sure there’s enough. Close by, a seafood noodle shop on Chifeng Street sells over 400 bowls a day.

Chifeng Street bustles with people, but many linger at this seemingly ordinary noodle shop.

With fish crackers, intestines, oysters, and squid, seafood lovers can’t get enough of this overflowing bowl of noodles.

Customer
It’s great to have these traditional flavors paired with all this seafood. It feels great to eat something so warm.

In the cold weather, a hot bowl of noodles like this can be incredibly satisfying.

Tung
Noodle shop owner
In addition to local customers, tourists visiting Taiwan also come after seeing a steaming bowl of noodles like this, which is great during the cold weather. I hope to show that Taiwan’s friendliness is also heartwarming.

When business is good, the shop sells over 400 bowls a day. A 60-year-old traditional pork soup shop in Dadaocheng has also had a constant flow of customers lately.

Customer
When the weather is cold, having a bowl of hot soup makes me feel much better.

Customer
The radish is sweet and the meat is cooked just right.

Three hours before closing time, the shop was already sold out. Some customers came too late, missing their chance to try this famous soup.

Chen Chiu-lien
Pork soup shop owner
We put a big chunk in to simmer. But the more meat there is, the better the soup will be.

The shop prepares six big pots of soup daily to make sure they have enough. The secret to the best soup is simmer pork ribs, chopped radish, and mushrooms for at least an hour. During the cold winter months, a bowl of this soup is sure to warm you up.

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

#noodles #soup #food #warmth #winter #cold #seafood #pork #porkribs #seafoodnoodles #Dadaocheng #Taipei

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Kenting park rangers introduce humane trap to control deer population

The sika deer population in Kenting National Park has been successfully rehabilitated—maybe too successfully. Herds of deer are now devouring the park’s precious indigenous plants. They’re also threatening public safety, as deer road crossings have become common in the past few years. They’ve also taken a liking to farmers’ crops. The park has hired 20 brave souls from the area to catch the deer using humane traps. The first 50 caught will be taken to a rehabilitation center, where they are to live after being neutered.

When a pole enters the contraption, it snaps shut like your typical animal trap. But this one is different, as it won’t break the animal’s leg.

This humane trap was created by the Kenting National Park Headquarters and animal experts to catch sika deer.

Tseng Tien-ting
Kenting National Park deputy director
Too many deer not only harm the native plant life, but also black bean and dragon fruit crops. Sometimes when they’re chased by stray dogs, they run into the road and cause accidents.

Sika deer used to be a protected species, but now, their numbers need to be brought under control. There are an estimated 3,600 deer in Kenting, far more than the ecosystem can handle. They’re not only devouring the native plant life, but also farmers’ crops, and are causing traffic accidents. To solve these problems, the park has hired hunters to capture the deer.

Tseng Tien-ting
Kenting National Park deputy director
For this project, we plan to recruit and train 20 certified hunters to capture deer using lassos. We hope to reduce the harm caused to the deer in the process. The captured deer will be sent to live at the sika deer breeding center here in Sheding.

Member of public
It’s often hard to strike a balance between nature and humans. This is a friendly method, toward both the animals and people. Since we’re not euthanizing, but using a more humane way of dealing with them.

Member of public
I think it’s pretty good. It cares for the deer and doesn’t hurt them.

The goal for the first phase of the project is to capture 50 deer. As soon as that target is reached, the initiative will be paused to study the impact. The park hopes that this strategy will allow people and deer to coexist peacefully.

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

#deer #sikadeer #Kenting #KentingNationalPark #wildlife #capture #neuter #hunting #humane #animaltrap

2026-02-09

T’way Air plane loses tire on landing, threatens 3 flights

Taoyuan International Airport’s north runway was temporarily closed off on Sunday afternoon due to an emergency: a passenger jet operated by South Korean low-cost carrier T’way lost one tire on landing. With only the south runway open during this period, many flights could not land on schedule, and three ran severely low on fuel. In just eight minutes, all three flights made the “Mayday” distress call, signaling a life-threatening emergency. Fortunately, all three eventually landed safely.

- Eva three-niner-two. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.
- Eva zero-zero-seven. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.

Many planes hovered and waited for their turns to land. Three were low on fuel and each gave distress calls within eight minutes.

- Taipei, Bauhinia two-six-zero. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. Fuel emergency.

According to air traffic control records, the first flight to make a distress call at 6:52 p.m. by repeating the code word “Mayday” three times, was EVA Air’s BR392, San Francisco to Taipei. In less than six minutes, flight BR007, Ho Chih Minh City to Taipei was also endangered at 6:57 p.m. As for the third, it was Hong Kong Airlines’ flight HX260 from Hong Kong to Taipei. It was scheduled to land at 6:20 p.m. By around 7 p.m., the plane had a fuel emergency, prompting the pilot to make a distress call.

Yu Hao-wei
Former pilot
Yesterday there were flights making the “Mayday,” “Mayday,” “Mayday” call. It means that the plane’s fuel level had gotten so low that it could not last more than 15 minutes. Each plane has a different fuel load, so it’s not about the fuel volume, but rather how much time it still has. The distress call alerts the air traffic control tower, which will then grant you the priority to land.

Air traffic at Taoyuan International Airport was severely disrupted on Sunday, when a passenger jet arriving from Jeju Island operated by T’way, a South Korean low-cost carrier, lost a tire at landing. The north runway was closed as a result, from 3:52 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. In this 90-minute window, all flights had to take off and land on the south runway alone.

Yu Hao-wei
Former pilot
If a runway closes, then traffic on the other runway doubles, whether to take off or land. Consequently, many planes could not land on schedule. Also, the planes still in the air need fuel to stay there.

According to the airport corporation, 14 flights were affected by the incident, which they’ve also reported to the Civil Aviation Administration to investigate. Fortunately, all flights landed safely, including the three in an emergency.

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

#airtraffic #flights #planetravel #internationaltravel #airport

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Zoo lovers offered five free visits per year with ‘adoption card’

The zoo is a popular destination for families on the weekends. But did you know that aside from just going to look at the animals, you can also “adopt” them? For NT$500 or NT$1,000 every year, you can become an honorary animal caretaker with an exclusive membership card featuring a photo of your favorite animal.

A red-footed tortoise basks under a heat lamp to stave off the cold. With winter break here, the zoo animals are also getting ready for the holiday, prepared to welcome visitors rain or shine. This is the perfect opportunity—for just NT$500 or NT$1,000 per year, you can become an honorary animal caretaker.

Zoo visitor
Loves animals
You can help with animal conservation and things like that. I love animals. Being able to help protect these cute creatures for as little as NT$1,000, plus being able to visit for free a few times is worth it.

Zoo visitor
Loves animals
I think it’s OK. After all, I have a job, so I can just spend a little pocket change and buy some food to feed the animals.

Kids and adults alike can get one of these animal “adoption” cards, which includes five free visits per year and discounts at zoo shops. Although you can’t specify which animal you want to support, you can choose which animal you’d like to be on your card. The zoo said the most popular is the panda, followed closely by the leopard cat. The adorable Eurasian otter came in hot in third.

Kuo Shih-chun
Taipei Zoo ‘adoption’ team
We’ve actually given out more cards to adults. Before we would have around 1,000 per year. But last year, it started to become more popular. So last year, we gave out around 2,000.

The Taipei Zoo, Hsinchu Zoo, and Kaohsiung’s Shoushan Zoo all offer these “adoption” cards. For animal lovers, the discounts are secondary. With just a single bill every year, you can help support animal conservation efforts and research to ensure that Taiwan’s zoos can thrive for years to come.

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

#zoo #animals #animalconservation #animaladoption #animallover #cuteanimals #TaipeiZoo

2026-02-09