Taiwan suspends plans to rename South Korea on e-arrival cards

Taiwan suspends plans to rename South Korea on e-arrival cards

2026-04-01

Taiwan has suspended plans to rename South Korea’s designation on its electronic arrival card for travelers coming to Taiwan. That’s the latest development in a weeks-long spat which started due to Taiwan’s designation as "China (Taiwan)" on South Korean electronic arrival cards. Taiwan had protested the name and requested a change, threatening in turn to change Korea’s designation from the preferred "Republic of Korea" to "South Korea" on April 1. But amid signs that Seoul is working on making changes, Taiwan is leaving things as they are for now. Let’s hear more.

Hsiao Kuang-wei (March 31)
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
We have just been informed that, for the benefit of travelers, the South Korean government is conducting internal administrative and technical reviews to update its electronic arrival card system. Since we have already conveyed our position and expectations to South Korea, we will temporarily suspend the planned changes to our system.

Lin Chia-lung
Foreign Minister
They are making adjustments to improve the system and they’ve told us they’ll act as quickly as they can. We’re giving them some time.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, an official from South Korea’s foreign ministry said authorities are conducting a review of the electronic arrival card system. They are considering removing two required fields "previous departure place" and "next destination." The change would apply to all travelers, and not just visitors from Taiwan.

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

#taiwan #korea #travel #southkorea #rok #roc

韓國電子入境表反制暫緩林佳龍:韓方短期內將修改

2026-04-01

韓國電子入境表，將我國標註為中國台灣，外交部表達抗議，如今韓方總算正面回應，也因此外交部決定暫緩原定4/1上路，將我國電子入境表上的韓國改成南韓的反制措施。

[[外交部發言人蕭光偉(3.31)]]
“我方剛獲悉韓方政府為了便利國際旅客，目前正在進行內部行政以及技術研議，以更新電子入境卡系統。考量我方之前已經向韓方表達，期待韓方適切反應我方訴求，所以我方先暫緩更改電子入境系統”

[[外交部長林佳龍]]
“他們有一些，為了便利入境通關的修改，他們當然有跟我們提到會儘速，我們就給他們一點時間”

根據韓媒《韓聯社》報導，南韓外交部官員表示，目前正在審查並著手從電子入境卡中刪除爭議欄位「上一出發地」和「下一目的地」，並適用於所有國際旅客，而非僅來自台灣的訪客。

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

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Mixed reactions in China about KMT chair’s upcoming trip

KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is set to depart for China next week, a trip that has once again put cross-strait affairs under the spotlight. In recent days, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has been aggressively stating China’s position on Taiwan, asserting that people on both sides of the strait are Chinese and belong to one family, and that Taiwan affairs are an internal matter for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to deal with. In response, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council says that China is trying to use Cheng as pro-unification propaganda, and frame Taiwan as a domestic issue, driving a wedge between Taiwan and its allies like the US and Japan. Let’s hear more.

Cheng Li-wun
KMT Chair
We’re going back to the “1992 Consensus” and to opposing Taiwan independence. Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait do not need war. A responsible political party should always seek options that lead to peace. We hope this trip will usher in a spring season of peace across the strait.

Zhang Han
Taiwan Affairs Office
Taiwan is China’s Taiwan. The Taiwan issue is an internal affair for China. The people on both sides of the strait are all Chinese, we are all one family. Cross-strait issues should be discussed and resolved by compatriots on both sides of the strait. We absolutely have the capability and wisdom to safeguard and build our homeland.

Shen Yu-chung
Mainland Affairs council
China hopes to further its “One China” narrative through Cheng Li-wun’s visit. When they say they want to “safeguard and build our homeland” they imply that they will use military means. That includes conducting drills around Taiwan, which have the goal of intimidating the US and Japan and prevent them from intervening, as well as creating a wedge in Taiwan’s cooperation with the two countries. If these narratives present themselves during Cheng Li-wun’s trip, she will essentially be playing the script arranged by the CCP that both sides of the strait belong to “One China” and that the matter is an internal issue for them.

The reaction to Cheng’s visit has been mixed in China. According to internet personality Ba Jiong, China Central Television had posted a video on the news on Tik Tok. But the video drew a large number of angry comments calling the KMT stinky beggars, saying that the party was only going to China to beg for food. The comments were so overwhelming that CCTV ended up deleting them.

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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Japanese account for 17.3% of 8.57m visitors to Taiwan in 2025

Taiwan welcomed more than eight and a half million travelers last year, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior. Japan ranked first with 1.48 million, followed closely by Hong Kong and Macau, South Korea, and the US. Meanwhile, China has been actively courting travelers from Taiwan. The Taiwan Affairs Office even said it would build a round the island high-speed rail after unification. The promise, however, was met with derision online.

The Taoyuan airport is a bustling hub for travelers from all over the world, many of whom cite Taiwan’s natural beauty and many famous attractions as reasons for visiting.

A total of 8.57 million people visited Taiwan last year, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Japan alone contributed 1.48 million visitors, comprising 17.3% of the total. After that was Hong Kong and Macau, while South Korea was third, the US came in fourth, and Southeast Asian countries were close behind. Even without Chinese tourists, Taiwan continues to diversify its visitor base, and overall numbers continue to rise.

Voice of Chen Shih-min
NTU associate professor of political science
Taiwan’s situation is somewhat similar to Japan’s. Like Japan, we haven’t suffered significant harm from the absence of Chinese tourists. This might be why visitors from Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are increasing. Since there are fewer Chinese tourists, they may find it more peaceful here.

At the same time, China is trying to attract Taiwanese travelers. The Taiwan Affairs Office even promised to build transport infrastructure after unification, claiming that people would be able to drive from Taiwan to Beijing.

Zhu Fenglian
Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson
For example, we could speed up construction of a high-speed rail encircling the island. We could build more high-speed railways connecting the eastern and western parts of the island. You could drive to Beijing.

Yet people online didn’t take these claims seriously, saying anything is possible in your dreams. Others said they’d rather drive to Tokyo instead.

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 #tourism #Taoyuanairport #Japan #TaiwanAffairsOffice #HSR #Chinesetourists

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Traveler shares unused bag tag experience at the airport

Overseas travelers, take note. A man surnamed Su and his family almost ran into a problem at the airport. Mr. Su shared on social media that he checked in for him and his family at a self-service kiosk, and received four luggage tags, one for every member of the family. However, his family only had three items to check in, so the fourth tag was left unused. Instead of having it nullified, he simply tucked it away into his pocket. Good thing he did not throw it away, or his flight could have gotten delayed at the airport. He shared his experience to remind other travelers to make sure that the number of tags received must be consistent with the number of check-in bags.

Although the long weekend only officially begins on Friday, Taoyuan International Airport already began to see a surge in travelers on Wednesday morning. To save time, many would check in via self-service kiosks like this one.

Meng Chia-mei
FTV reporter
With long lines at the check-in counter, many people would opt for using a self-service kiosk like this one instead, to check in and obtain bag tags. But do take note that the number of bag tags you print out must be consistent with the number of checked luggage units you have, otherwise you may run into problems.

Su Chia-hung
Printed extra bag tag
I didn’t think too much about it. After I checked in our luggage, we came to the waiting area. I later found out that they made two announcements calling my name.

The traveler didn’t pay too much attention about the unused bag tag. He checked in at the self-service kiosk for the whole family of four, and got four tags. But the family only had three pieces of luggage, so he didn’t use the fourth, and without a second thought, it went into his pocket. After he passed security checks, airport staff made multiple announcements calling his name. It was then when he discovered that he should’ve returned the unused tag to get it nullified.

Chen Chien-chin
GM at travel agency
So, you didn’t use it, removed it and binned it. Let me tell you that it’ll become really, really troublesome. When the tags get printed, the baggage gets registered on the computer program, and you need to check in the baggage. But what if it didn’t get onto the plane? Where would it be? It’s like being present in person but the baggage didn’t follow. Then they’ll have to retrieve the luggage.

Now you know just how important the bag tag is. Travelers must make sure that the number of luggage units is exactly the same as registered, and that the tag is well-pasted. Travelers must also not remove the tag after it’s pasted on, even if you’d like to reposition it. If unsure, seek assistance from airport staff, so your journey goes smoothly as planned.

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 #travel #internationaltravel #flight #goodtoknow

2026-04-01

Truck drops metal coils on road after swerving side to side

A frightening scene unfolded on National Freeway 1 in Changhua, where a semi-trailer truck suddenly swerved across multiple lanes before crashing into the guardrail and spilling its heavy cargo onto the roadway. Witnesses say the truck veered sharply from the outer lane to the inner lane and back again in a zig-zag, forcing surrounding cars to slow down and stop. Moments later, the vehicle struck the barrier, sending massive metal coils tumbling onto the asphalt, turning the busy road into a dangerous obstacle course.

Vehicles move along the section between Puyan and Yuanlin on National Freeway 1 in Changhua, when suddenly, a truck ahead cuts from the outermost lane into the innermost, swerving back out again in a zig-zag. A few moments later, it mounts over the guardrail, filling the air with dust and reducing visibility, as the coils roll one by one on the asphalt.

Voice of Witness
Saw crash
The truck went from the right to the inside lane on the left and it just kept swerving. Everyone turned on the hazard lights and slowed down. It kept moving forward even after hitting the guardrail, and it still had two coils on the back.

Other large vehicles quickly sensed something was up and turned on their hazard lights to warn other road users and prevent a crash. But the truck with the coils didn’t stop.

Voice of Mr. Shih
Truck driver
I suddenly felt weak and everything started spinning. I couldn’t step on the brakes! What was I supposed to do? I did what I could, but I couldn’t even brake. It took all my strength to even hold onto the steering wheel.

The driver is 52-year-old Mr. Shih, a trucker who took out a loan of NT$4 million for the vehicle. The crash caused a dozen metal coils to roll off the truck, forcing vehicles behind to dodge them as if it were an obstacle course. Mr. Shih kept driving until he reached a weigh station across from a National Freeway Police station.

Liao Chih-wei
National Freeway Police
Mr. Shih was driving a commercial semi-trailer. He started feeling unwell and lost control over the vehicle, striking the inner and outer guardrails and causing the metal coils he was transporting to fall on the road.

Fortunately, the other drivers on the road were alert and slowed down in time, while warning others with the hazard lights. Otherwise, the 2-ton coils could have easily caused a tragedy. Cranes were quickly deployed to the area, which took more than an hour to clear up.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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AI drone crucial partner in search-and-rescue efforts

To improve the speed of search-and-rescue efforts, the National Fire Agency spent over NT$1 million on an AI drone which is often used by the US military. It can quickly locate people in need of rescue and can avoid obstacles, flying across challenging terrain. Cities and counties nationwide have use this drone in their search-and-rescue efforts, including Hualien’s Guangfu Township in the wake of last year’s deadly flood.

A drone’s aerial view clearly captures the extent of the flooding in Guangfu last year. Its images helped first responders find the best routes into disaster areas.

It’s indispensable for missions at high altitudes or in challenging terrain like ravines, finding the location of those in need of rescue so that first responders can get to them quicker.

Those aerial images were all captured by the same drone, which cost the National Fire Agency over NT$1 million. This model, currently used by the US military, expertly navigates complex terrain and incorporates AI to support search-and-rescue efforts.

Yang Min-cheng
Emergency rescue leader
In addition to AI-assisted identification, it’s also great at avoiding obstacles. It automatically avoids power lines. Its biggest advantage is that it has 360-degree and 180-degree zoom.

The drone has a total of six cameras and is adept at identifying both obstacles and people, even when they’re hidden. It provides crucial support to first responders, shortening rescue times.

Ma Wu-hsiung
National Fire Agency officer
Previous drones used GPS and sometimes just disconnected. This one can avoid obstacles, even when flying through forests. It’s a powerful tool for our mountain rescue missions. A mission in a ravine might take four to eight hours, but with a drone that can identify objects, we can control it better.

The AI drone is so powerful thanks to its software design and Nvidia AI chip. It records its surroundings while in flight, and if the signal is suddenly lost, it can return by its original route. Operators monitor the drone through a military-grade tablet.

Ma Wu-hsiung
National Fire Agency officer
We set up an AI identification system that sends images to fire departments across cities and counties, where there’s an AI identification computer. The footage is sent back to frontline officers, who can identify specific coordinates or suspicious areas and carry out a second aerial search. This allows for real-time, synchronized sharing of all on-site disaster information.

In challenging environments and devastated areas, this AI drone supports first responders so they can rescue people quicker.

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

#firedepartment #drone #AI #AIdrone #disaster #searchandrescue #rescue #firstresponder

2026-04-01

High-ranking physician found groping employee at own practice

A high-ranking physician in Miaoli accused of sexually assaulting an employee has been released on a NT$300,000 bail and put under electronic monitoring. On Lunar New Year’s Eve, Dr. Chiu, who is the deputy superintendent of a local hospital and owner of a clinic, approached one of his employees with a red envelope. The employee thought it was a New Year’s bonus. But Chiu proceeded to corner her and attempted to grope her. Footage of the incident had since widely circulated online. Later, Chiu’s boss, the hospital’s superintendent, texted hospital staff members, urging them to protect the hospital’s reputation by keeping things hush-hush.

Dr. Chiu, deputy superintendent of a hospital in Toufen and owner of a separate group practice, was accused of sexually harassing an employee on Lunar New Year’s Eve. In the security footage, Chiu is seen touching her on the shoulder and lower back, attempting to lock her in. The victim frantically steps back, but eventually gets cornered. As she moves to the front door, Chiu follows her still and attempts to grope her. The leaked footage quickly circulated online and sparked outrage. The Miaoli District Prosecutors Office has since stepped in and demanded that Chiu be held incommunicado.

Voice of Liu Wei-cheng
Miaoli District Prosecutors Office
The defendant, surnamed Chiu is suspected of committing the crime of forcible indecency under Article 224 of the Criminal Code. There is reasonable suspicion of the crime. In addition to the fact that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the defendant repeatedly committed the same crime, there is also sufficient evidence to suggest that he colluded with witnesses in an attempt to destroy evidence. Therefore, there is a need for detention, and we hereby apply to the court for detention and prohibition of visits.

Prosecutors applied to have Chiu detained and held incommunicado. The court ruled that he could be released on a NT$300,000 bail, but he needed to be put under electronic monitoring. In recent high-profile cases of sexual offenses by celebrities, such as actor Chris Wang and TV personality Mickey Huang, both men were not electronically monitored after being released on bail. Why is it different in this case?

Voice of Lin Hui-ling
Taiwan Miaoli District Court
The defendant has a certain social standing and status, as well as influence. There is a certain perimeter set up in our method of electronic monitoring. It’s mainly to prevent repeat offenses.

And Chiu is indeed a person of power and status, as the deputy superintendent of a hospital. It’s been revealed via screenshots of a group chat that the superintendent had ordered staff members to help protect the hospital’s reputation. Amid the solid evidence in the security footage, concerns of repeat offenses and the potential harassment of witnesses, the judge ultimately ruled that he be put under electronic monitoring.

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

#workplaceharrassment #sexualharrassment #baddoctors #legal #healthcare

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