Lai meets with heads of five Yuans for press event

Lai meets with heads of five Yuans for press event

2026-02-23

On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, the Presidential Office held a press conference over tea with the heads of the five branches of the central government, the Yuans. President Lai Ching-te personally invited all five of the government officials to the event, including Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu and Premier Cho Jung-tai. In his remarks, Lai thanked Han for proposing the Chinese character “hua,” meaning transformation, as a key direction for discussions. He voiced hope that ruling and opposition parties would reconcile and take a step forward together to face internal and external challenges. Let’s hear from Lai and Han.

Lai Ching-te
President
I am very grateful for Speaker Han Kuo-yu. Even before he arrived, he brought up the character “hua,” meaning transformation as a key direction for today’s event. It is a pity that we missed up on so many opportunities to get together last year. But now that a new year has started, we must make the most of this opportunity, especially as Taiwan faces many domestic and international challenges. We must move toward transforming misunderstanding into understanding, transforming differences into unity, transforming personal interests into national interests, and transforming hostility into peace.

Han Kuo-yu
Legislative Speaker
Even in the midst of strong political camps and intense conflict, we all have a warm and humane side. I think today’s press event serves as a very good example for that, and sets a good precedent for the future. The president, the premier and the heads of the other Yuans are very concerned about the central government’s general budget and the military procurement budget. There are many conflicts and misunderstandings that have yet to be resolved. That’s especially the case for the unpleasantness that surrounds interactions between ruling and opposition parties. I invited President Lai Ching-te to come to the Legislative Yuan in person and speak to lawmakers and the people of our country. He accepted my invitation gladly.

Over the Lunar New Year break, the US Supreme Court ruled that the global tariffs that President Donald Trump had imposed were unconstitutional. Within hours of the ruling, the Trump administration announced a 10% tariff on imports from all countries, a rate which was later raised to 15%. Premier Cho says that he had been engaging with the US during the holidays with the goal of ensuring that Taiwan maintains its rates as “most favored nation,” and also that Taiwan would still enjoy most favorable treatment under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#trade #taiwan #trump #韓國瑜 #賴清德 #卓榮泰

邀請五院院長茶敘賴總統:盼化誤解為理解化分歧為團結

2026-02-23

初七開工日，總統府舉辦五院茶敘，賴總統親自邀請立法院長韓國瑜、行政院長卓榮泰等五院院長茶敘交流，總統致詞特別提到，感謝立法院長韓國瑜提出「化」字做為茶敘的方向，期盼朝野能共同為國家面臨的內外挑戰邁出和解第一步。

[[總統賴清德]]
“我很感謝韓國瑜院長，人還沒有到，聲音已經先到了，用一個「化」字，來點出今天茶敘的方向，非常可惜，我們去年的確錯過了許多機會，在新的一年開始，我們把握這個契機，特別是台灣面臨國內外諸多挑戰，我們必然是要朝向，化誤解為理解，化分歧為團結，化個人小利為國家大利，化干戈為玉帛”

[[立法院長韓國瑜]]
“在政壇即使是高度攻防，高度衝突的時候，還是有溫暖人性的一面，我覺得今天應該是非常好的示範，也是樹立一個將來很好的慣例，總統跟行政院院長，以及其他幾個院長都很關切，特別是中央政府總預算，還有特別是軍購的預算，很多衝突誤會，把它化解，特別是不愉快的朝野之間的氛圍，我邀賴清德總統，親自到立法院，來跟立法委員及國人同胞做說明，賴清德總統，欣然接受”

過年期間，美國最高法院裁定美國總統川普去年實施的廣泛全球性關稅無效，讓川普在幾小時內表態將對全球各國徵收10%進口關稅，後續又改口稱15%。面對川普關稅變局，行政院長卓榮泰新春團拜時也表示，已跟美方積極接洽、在既有談判基礎上，確保我方最優惠待遇不變。

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Taipei restaurant serves up Daegu’s traditional flavors

A new restaurant in Taipei is bringing the bold, spicy street flavors of Daegu straight to the city’s dining scene. FTV reporter Stephany Yang sat down with the manager of the Daegu Metropolitan City Taipei Tourism Office, to learn more about the culture behind the cuisine.

First up is Korean spicy braised beef ribs, simmered in a rich, flavorful chili sauce.

Next up, half and half seasoned fried chicken gizzards. The gizzards are deep-fried to achieve a crispy exterior with a springy bite inside. Half are coated in a sweet and mildly spicy glaze, while the other half are savory. This restaurant is serving up eight traditional dishes from Daegu until March.

Chang Ching-chung
Daegu Metropolitan City Taipei Tourism Office
Braised short ribs are incredibly tender, melting in your mouth with every bite. Daegu’s braised short ribs are famous, many Taiwanese tourists make it their first stop when visiting the city, seeking out local rib restaurants. Fried chicken brands are also well-known in Daegu. Many of the fried chicken chain brands popular in Taiwan originated there. With different levels of spiciness, you’ll experience different sensations.

Beyond its food, Daegu is famous for the Daegu Tower, a 203-meter landmark with a 360° observation deck. Visitors can enjoy panoramic city views, dine, and watch light shows at night. Daegu is a vibrant hub for music. It’s home to the Daegu Chimac Festival, where locals and visitors gather to enjoy fried chicken and live performances.

Chang Ching-chung
Daegu Metropolitan City Taipei Tourism Office’s manager
Many cities in Korea have their own most famous landmark, and for Daegu, that landmark is the Daegu 83 Tower. Beyond the culinary theme we’re focusing on this time, Daegu is also renowned as a city of music. It is one of only two cities in Korea designated by UNESCO as a City of Music. Daegu hosts a wide range of events every year, such as musical theater festivals and orchestral music festivals. In May and October, performances are held throughout the entire month.

Daegu Metropolitan City Taipei Tourism Office holds events in Taiwan several times a year, hoping to strengthen cultural exchange, promote tourism, and give locals a taste of Daegu’s vibrant food, music, and traditions.

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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Yunlin man hurls dog down building, causing severe injuries

In the early hours of Sunday, a dog was shockingly hurled down from the third floor of a residential building, causing severe injuries. The dog was a stray that the suspect had captured and taken home on Saturday evening. According to the suspect, he was drunk and wanted to play with the dog, but the dog bit him and so he hurled it across the room in anger, only to have it fall out the window. A neighbor that rescued the dog later found that the suspect was already planning to escape. Fortunately he did not. Yunlin County’s animal protection has filed the case with prosecutors, and the suspect faces up to two years in prison if found guilty.

An injured dog wouldn’t stop wailing. A rescuer arrived and found the tan-colored dog lying on the ground. Almost miraculously, the dog stood on its own legs again after a little more than an hour, despite the pain.

The rescuer used cardboard as makeshift supporting equipment, and wrapped the dog in a towel before taking it to a vet. It sustained several life-threatening injuries, including a broken hip bone, a punctured liver and severe hemorrhage. The vet quoted the treatment at more than NT$50,000. The rescuer first paid the vet a little more than NT$30,000, before going to demand payment from the suspect who allegedly hurled the dog down the building. But it turns out that the suspect had already packed up and was about to escape. Fortunately, he was stopped.

- So you’re trying to escape so we can’t find you. Give me the money!
- I have none.
- So why did you hurl the dog down the building!

Residents of the apartment complex all condemn their neighbor for his cruelty.

- Utterly despicable. It almost died. I believe it might as well have died.

The apartment complex is located on Wenhua Road in Beigang, Yunlin. The suspect was identified by the police as a man surnamed Liu, who’s a renter. On Saturday evening, he took the dog home. By 1 a.m. Sunday, the dog fell from his residence on the third floor.

Liu
Suspect
I ate with friends and had a few drinks. I wanted to play with it, and pet it, but it bit me. I was really angry, so I lifted it and hurled it into a corner. I forgot that I didn’t close the window, so it fell. I’m really, really sorry.

Chen Chien-tang
Yunlin County Animal and Plant Disease Control Center
Article 25 of the Animal Protection Act can be applied with a sentence of imprisonment for up to two years and a fine of not less than NT$200,000 and not more than NT$2 million.

The severely injured dog’s health condition is still highly unstable. Meanwhile, the suspect of animal abuse, if found to be guilty, could face imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to NT$2 million. The county’s Animal and Plant Disease Control Center has filed the case with local prosecutors.

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

#animalabuse #animalwelfare #shocking #dogs #pets

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Artist Sun Lin’s solo exhibition

Renowned contemporary Taiwanese artist Sun Lin is presenting his latest solo exhibition. Now in his 70s, Lin has shifted away from the bold outlines of flowers and animals that once defined his style, embracing instead a more refined and abstract expression. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us inside for a closer look.

Sun Lin grew up in a farming village, where fields, rivers, and animals shaped his earliest artistic inspirations. This piece is one of his most well-known works, representing his major creative turning point in 2019.

Jill Hsiao
Capital Art artistic director
For Lin’s 2026 solo exhibition, we want to showcase the significant transformation he has undergone over the years—from figurative to abstract. Behind me is a painting of a horse. First, because this year is the Year of the Horse; second, because we are displaying one of Lin’s representative works from his major turning point in 2019. In his 2019 creations, Lin had already begun making bold changes in his use of color. He no longer stuck strictly to the natural colors of objects. Instead, he started to reinterpret the hues of the scenes he observed. For example, the shiny colors of the horse are no longer the traditional tones one would expect. He began experimenting with adjustments in both water and color.

In recent years, however, his creative direction has quietly shifted from object-centered depictions toward abstraction. The “Free and Unrestrained” series demonstrates his transition into abstract art. Now in his 70s, he has chosen to soften the once-iconic outlines of flowers and animal forms, turning instead toward a more refined and pure abstract expression.

Jill Hsiao
Capital Art artistic director
In Lin’s works, we can see a progression from earlier figurative pieces gradually moving into his current abstract series. Throughout his career, what he has wanted to emphasize is that for a creator, the outward appearance is not the focus; instead, the journey moves toward the flow of water or the transformation of colors. Now at the age of 78, nearly 80, Lin says: “I’m already well into my 70s—please allow me to paint freely and unrestrained.” What he means is that he wishes to create with ease, to truly enjoy the process, and to play lightly with paint or with water.

The exhibition runs until March 7 at the Capital Art Center.

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

#Art #Artistspotlight #SunLin #CapitalArtCenter

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Student returns to room full of mold after two-week LNY break

Living in Northern Taiwan, high humidity and frequent rains make water damage and mold a common household problem. That could be fine if you own your home, but if you rent and there is a problem, you are at the mercy of your landlord. A student from Taichung recently found himself in the depths of a moldy nightmare after returning to his rented place in Keelung after the Lunar New Year break. He opened the door to find everything in his room was covered in mold, water damage on the walls, and leaks leaving puddles on his desk. He tried contacting his landlord for help, but the landlord simply blamed everything on him, saying that he should’ve returned to Keelung during the break to ensure the dehumidifier was running. Needless to say, the student was speechless.

- I wrapped it up in three layers: Outer, middle and inner. They are all moldy.

This renter is deeply upset. He had wrapped his memory foam pillow in protective layers, including an adorable Snoopy pillow cover. But that wasn’t enough to keep mold at bay during his two-week Lunar New Year break, when he was away.

- There’s water stains all along there.
- Is that your bed underneath?
- Yeah.

The walls are covered in water stains too, and many items in the room besides the pillow are moldy and nasty. The mattress has large patches of mold and the desk with the computer even has a puddle on it, where an AC remote now lies broken. Even the strap on his fancy SLR camera is covered in mold.

Student
Room grew mold
My landlord basically said it was mostly my fault because I didn’t empty the water in the dehumidifier. But I’m just a student. During the break I went home, so I couldn’t come back to mind the place.

The building itself is quite old, and the stairwells and exterior walls are run-down and water-damaged. The renter wasn’t expecting that his landlord would completely shirk responsibility and blame it all on him.

Student
Room grew mold
I told him about the leak so many times, but it’s still leaking. Despite my complaints, he’s done nothing about it. He hasn’t handled the situation well, especially when it comes to his attitude.

The landlord apparently offered to pay some compensation in the following month’s rent payment. But the lease is set to expire before then, on March 14. He also told his tenant to move out early, as he was planning on traveling abroad in early March. The renter has had enough.

Student
Room grew mold
The problem is the building itself. So many people have told me that this is the worst that they’ve ever seen after living in Keelung for years.

The student is originally from Taichung, and is distraught by the state of his accommodation up north. Now, he just wants to find a new place a soon as possible to escape this damp nightmare.

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

#mold #moldy #home #renter #rental #rent

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Awaken with the earth at Taichung’s “Realm of Jingzhe” lantern expo

The 2026 Central Taiwan Lantern Festival has kicked off at Taichung Central Park. Not to be missed is the “Realm of Jingzhe” exhibition area conceptualized by the city government’s Construction Bureau. At the entrance, a 5m-tall head of a Pegasus welcomes visitors into a mythical realm where life stirs at the first blush of spring. Each section in the exhibition area features an immersive experience of dazzling lights and mesmerizing soundscapes, taking visitors to the otherworld, at the heart of the city.

This otherworldly exhibition area, the “Realm of Jingzhe” at the Central Taiwan Lantern Festival was conceptualized by the Taichung City Government’s Construction Bureau. This year’s Lantern Festival is closely followed by the lunisolar term of Jingzhe, or “awakening of insects.” It’s the prelude to Spring Equinox, when life stirs from its slumber. At the entrance, a 5m-tall head of an illuminated flying horse ushers visitors into a mythical realm, where adventure awaits.

Chen Ta-tien, the head of the Construction Bureau said the imagery of a Pegasus taking flight to kick of the Year of the Horse represents the first thunders announcing the upcoming spring season. And thus life reawakens. The wrought-iron centerpiece, with glittering fairy lights, is like a spirit animal leading visitors to an otherworld full of vitality, where life force emerges from the depths of the earth.

Chen Ta-tien
Taichung Construction Bureau
We planned nine themed lantern exhibitions in this area. Each and every one is accompanied by its very own soundtrack and immersive scene design. From the entrance, where the head of a horse takes visitors in, we pass through a rainforest and a Mayan-themed lantern area. We will also witness civilizations from thousands of years ago. We hope that visitors will enjoy the lanterns and art, while also interacting with each scene and fully immerse themselves.

Entering the mythical rainforest, divine creatures appear to linger in the foliage under the flickering lights, taking visitors to a secret world where the first blush of spring is revealed. Further in, along a vine-covered walkway by the ark, we enter an ancient lost civilization that continues to inspire. Mayan gods stand proud on the interactive stage, filling visitors with awe.

Chen Ta-tien
Taichung Construction Bureau
There’s a platform in the Mayan cultural area. Visitors can watch the show and also interact with the characters. We want everyone to enjoy the immersive experience of interacting with dancers from thousands of years ago.

Hsieh Yu-ching
Curator
Upon encountering our lost ark, visitors can imagine just how humans used to yearn for the continuation of life. So we also hope that after the audience leaves, they can reflect on how to cherish our planet Earth. One must understand that we must cherish all that we have, because thousands of years ago, humans only wanted to live, so we must cherish the earth.

The exhibition doesn’t compromise on safety over presentation. To ensure that visitors can walk safely, signal lights are installed along the path for visitors. The exhibition areas’ light design also prioritizes safety.

Chen Ta-tien
Taichung Construction Bureau
Along the walkways and around the forested areas, we designed the lighting in such a way that the lights are brighter. That way, parents can rest assured that their kids are safe playing in this well-lit area.

The 2026 Central Taiwan Lantern Festival, with the Taichung City Government’s “Realm of Jingzhe” brings museum-worthy art to the masses. With immersive experiences amid the urban landscape, visitors can feel the vigor of a galloping flying horse amid inctricate light designs and soundscapes at Taichung Central Park this annual festival of lights.

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

#LNY #lanternfestival #YearoftheHorse #taichung #taiwanevents

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