US reiterates stance on Taiwan Strait ahead of Trump-Xi summit

US reiterates stance on Taiwan Strait ahead of Trump-Xi summit

2026-05-07

US President Donald Trump is set to visit China next week and meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In Taiwan, the debate is heating up about whether the talks will touch on Taiwan. More so whether any discussions on the matter could be affected by Taiwan’s repeated delays in approving a proposed NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget bill, which includes arms procurement from the US. Lawmakers from Taiwan’s ruling and opposition parties consulted National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen on the matter on Thursday. Tsai noted that the US had made an unusual move, having Secretary of State Marco Rubio host a press conference to reaffirm Washington’s stance on Taiwan before Trump and Xi meet. Let’s hear more.

Huang Jen
Legislator (KMT)
Regarding the ROC’s arms procurements: has there been discussions behind closed doors?

Tsai Ming-yen
National Security Bureau
The CCP may attempt to manipulate the Taiwan issue during the talks. At yesterday’s press conference Rubio reiterated that the US position is that nothing that would undermine peace and stability in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region should happen.

Chen Chun-yu
Legislator (DPP)
The defense budget is still stuck in negotiations. Lai’s visit to our diplomatic ally in Africa, Eswatini, could also indirectly affect the bargaining leverage during the Trump-Xi summit.

Tsai Ming-yen
National Security Bureau
We are preparing different scenario scripts on how to respond if the CCP increases its pressure on Taiwan via political means, military intimidation or cognitive warfare.

Wang Ting-yu
Legislator (DPP)
What kind of risks could Taiwan face if the arms procurement package cannot be passed, or at least settled, before the summit?

Tsai Ming-yen
National Security Bureau
Taiwan is the very core of the First Island Chain. If we cannot demonstrate the determination to defend ourselves, it could lead others to question Taiwan’s commitment to self-defense. Secondly, it could become a weak point in the entire regional defense system. This is a strategic-level issue. Of course, we hope the arms procurement package will be passed as soon as possible, because that would quell doubts that others may have about Taiwan.

The national security official added that the bureau was monitoring any intelligence concerning Beijing’s approach to discussing Taiwan during the Trump-Xi meeting.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#trump #xijinping #geopolitics #taiwan #us #china

川習會下週登場國安局長:美國已重申不可危害台海和平

2026-05-07

美國總統川普將在下週訪問中國、會面中國國家主席習近平，會不會觸及"台灣議題、"對美1.25兆軍購一再拖延，會不會影響川習會，藍綠兩黨都很關心。國安局指出，美方罕見由國務卿盧比歐主持記者會，定調對台立場。

[[立委(國) 黃仁]]
“中華民國軍購的問題裡面，是不是檯面下有討論?”

[[國安局長蔡明彥]]
“中共在過程當中會不會去操作台灣的議題，盧比歐在昨天的記者會，也重申了美方的立場，就是不能夠發生去危害台灣跟印太地區和平穩定的事情發生。”

[[立委(民) 陳俊宇]]
“國防預算還卡在協商階段，賴總統出訪非洲友邦史瓦帝尼，都可能會間接影響川習會談判籌碼。”

[[國安局長蔡明彥]]
“文攻武嚇，還是可能相關的認知作戰，不同的情境劇本，假如中共對台施壓的話，我們怎樣來應處。”

[[立委(民) 王定宇]]
“(軍購案)不能在川習會前通過，或者有個定調，台灣可能會面臨什麼樣的風險?”

[[國安局長蔡明彥]]
“台灣是站在第一島鏈最核心的地方，假如台灣沒有辦法展現自我防衛的決心的話，他可能造成外界對台灣自我防衛決心的質疑。第二個，他會變成整個區域聯防體系的破口，涉及到是戰略面的問題。當然希望這樣的軍購案盡速通過的話，這部分可以讓外界減少台灣在這方面的質疑。”

中方是否藉川習會炒作台灣議題、又會以怎樣的方式推動，國安局情蒐往持續緊盯。

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Traditional Chinese medicine shops revamp service for modern era

Traditional Chinese medicine shops are quickly disappearing. Once numbering between 20 and 30,000 in their heyday, there are now only a few more than 7,000 left. Facing extinction, some practitioners of this old profession are steering their businesses in new directions. After taking over the family business, some young entrepreneurs are focusing on revamping their storefronts and packaging. Others are putting a bold new spin on TCM by incorporating the ingredients into desserts, introducing ancient medical wisdom to new generations.

Rather than dispensing traditional Chinese medicine, the wooden counter in this Taipei shop is used for serving afternoon tea. A generous heaping of cordyceps tops off this steaming hot latte.

This cake has goji berries, challenging people’s perception of Chinese herbs as bitter and astringent. Or take this Belgian chocolate tart, where osmanthus and smoked plum sauce intertwine to create a sweet and tangy flavor.

Wang Hsin-ying
Herbal dessert chef
Smoked plum and chocolate are both very sharp flavors. Aside from smoked plum, I add things like roselle, osmanthus, hawthorn, or other medicinal herbs to strike a balance.

Owner Wang Sen-pin has been running this TCM shop for 39 years. Now, one small corner has transformed into a bakery. Five years ago, 35-year-old Wang Hsin-ying returned home to join the family business. Guided by the concept that food and medicine share the same origin, she incorporates Chinese medicinal herbs into Western desserts.

Wang Hsin-ying
Herbal dessert chef
I like to eat and make desserts. So I thought I’d try out combining medicinal herbs with desserts.

At another store, some customers come in asking to buy a gift box. Chou Tung-yen doesn’t hesitate to recommend this exquisitely packaged box. At 40 years old, Chou is the fourth-generation owner of this 108-year-old TCM shop in Yilan. When he took over 15 years ago, he decided to make some changes.

Chou Tung-yen
TCM shop owner
I want young people to feel that going to get products with traditional Chinese medicine is a source of pride. Using medicinal herbs is no longer considered commonplace.

From selling through the community and online, to designing a distinctive website, Chou approaches every step with precision. Before graduating, he tried his hand at becoming a rapper. After college he switched to the fashion industry. But he said he never imagined he’d come home to take over the family business.

Chou Tung-yen
TCM shop owner
Modern times aren’t like before. People used to visit TCM shops to treat illness. Now they’re places for wellness.

Chou gradually renovated the shop’s lighting, decor, and display arrangements, while taking pains to preserve classic elements like the wooden sign and rows of herb jars. The key to enabling ancient wisdom to coexist with modern sensibilities may just lie with this crop of talented young entrepreneurs.

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

#traditionalChinesemedicine #TCM #medicine #entrepreneur #Chineseherbs #afternoontea #creative #wellness #familybusiness #medicine

2026-05-07

T91 rifle fast-response shooting added to new recruit curriculum

Over the past few years, the Ministry of National Defense has been updating firearm training for army recruits to focus on combat realism. Moving away from shooting in a fixed prone position, starting in 2024, “fast-response shooting” was added to the curriculum. New recruits must sprint 125 meters toward cover and cycle through prone, kneeling, and standing positions. They must also hit a certain number of targets within a 1-minute and 45-second time limit.

Taking up a T91 assault rifle, recruits must sprint, find cover, and wait for the right moment to continue forward. Every second counts.

Wang Yun-hsuan
FTV reporter
For the T91 fast-response shooting drill, army recruits must fire 36 rounds within 105 seconds. But it’s not just about speed and accuracy—it’s also a test of their ability to adapt on the fly.

Even without getting jammed, firing six rounds still took our reporter 40 seconds. It’s also quite the cardio challenge, leaving her gasping for air. Starting in 2024, this fast-response shooting regimen was incorporated into the training for new conscripts. Officers have to undergo regular assessment as well.

Lee Ting-yueh
Army 206th brigade, 2nd battalion sergeant
Every shooter is given 36 live rounds and one dummy round. During the drill, the shooter must land at least six rounds on each of three different targets to pass.

Aside from accuracy, the drill also tests adaptability on the battlefield. Since the shooter doesn’t know when the dummy round will appear, they must react quickly to clear it.

Liu Yun-ju
Army 206th brigade, 2nd battalion captain
To adapt to the changing dynamics of the battlefield, while shooting, we heavily emphasize changes in position, tactical maneuvers, clearing malfunctions, and mental resilience.

Last year, a conscript at Taichung’s Chenggong Ling training camp sustained a severe cheek injury during this exercise. Since then, the army has installed side-mounted cameras to capture the drill from multiple angles, enabling officers to scrutinize every movement to ensure conscripts’ safety.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#military #trainingcamp #T91 #MND #shootingdrill #combat #conscripts #fastresponseshooting #assaultrifle

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City councilor urges rat population monitoring amid hantavirus scare

Just how many rats are there in Taipei today? That’s a question City Councilor Miao Po-ya posed during a hearing with city officials Wednesday. According to Miao, Taipei used to have a regular rat monitoring program, but after it was deemed obsolete in 2015, the city has gone without an alternative. Mayor Chiang Wan-an in response said that there isn’t a nation-wide protocol for local governments. However, with recent sightings around the city and hantavirus cases, Taipei would do well with regular rat population monitoring and control measures.

A local resident in Taipei’s Da’an District has been documenting the number of rats they’ve caught on glue traps set up at home since November last year.

Voice of local resident
Da’an District, Taipei
A few years ago, there were one or two occasions of seeing a rat or two coming into our home. We thought our home was an isolated case, but later we realized that it was really unusual. It’s been really frequent.

Their sixth-floor apartment in Taipei’s Da’an District has been infested with rats for about half a year now. They also say that they can often feel rats entering their home while watching television in the living room. Moreover, the rats have learnt to survive and now know not to ingest rat poison placed around their home, leaving them no choice but to lay down glue traps all over the apartment. Since September last year, they’ve caught nearly 20 rats in total.

Voice of Local Resident
Da’an District, Taipei
We’ve filed a report, but we’re not sure what kind of help we’ll get. I don’t exactly know how many rats there are in my home, so I can only stay vigilant and place glue traps in the meantime.

At least six rats are huddling here at a parking lot, near Shilin Night Market, with pigeons lingering around them.

Over at Taipei Zoo, a toco toucan was seen flinging a large rat around with its beak. An alarmed visitor reported the bizarre sighting to zoo keepers, who say they’re dealing with the problem as an emergency. But how many rats exactly are there in Taipei? How has the population changed? City Councilor Miao Po-ya says that they didn’t hear any specific numbers cited during the city government’s press conference on Tuesday.

Miao Po-ya (May 6)
Taipei City Councilor (SDP)
Is there not a single expert around you? Or have you not bothered to consult experts?

Chiang Wan-an (May 6)
Taipei Mayor
You’re referencing a methodology from 20 years ago. Experts now believe the estimation made with it is in fact, inaccurate.

Miao Po-ya (May 6)
Taipei City Councilor (SDP)
Of course, if you’re not making an estimation, then the number of rats won’t increase, because you’re not monitoring the rat population at all.

Mayor Chiang Wan-an said that the central government does not have a rat monitoring protocol for local governments, while Miao said Taipei used to have its own methodology. They said it was deemed obsolete in 2015, but there still isn’t an alternative. Meanwhile, Hong Kong media am750 published an article urging travelers in Greater Taipei to avoid unhygienic areas amid recent hantavirus cases.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
Be it the Ministry of Health and Welfare or the Centers for Disease Control, central government agencies have repeatedly stated that there isn’t a worsening trend of hantavirus in Taipei.

After 12 years without, it seems that it’s time for Taipei to implement rat population monitoring again, especially with the recent hantavirus cases and rat sightings.

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 #hantavirus #publichealth #diseasecontrol #pestcontrol

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14 cats rehomed after owner gets hospitalized for 10 days

Fourteen cats in Hsinchu were left to their own devices locked up in an apartment for 10 days, after their owner suffered a traffic accident and was hospitalized for more than a week. Inside, rescuers found shocking conditions: dirty water, swarming bugs, piles of garbage and cats so desperate for hydration they were drinking from the toilet. Some of the animals showed signs of illness and neglect, while two terrified cats were discovered trapped inside a wall after trying to flee through the hollow ceiling. All 14 felines have now been rescued, as authorities investigate the owner for possible violations of the Animal Protection Act.

A grey-and-white munchkin cat balances on the rim of the toilet, which is full of dirty water and bugs. The kitty hears the warnings, but goes in for another sip.

The cat was so thirsty it was even drinking toilet water. Inside the apartment, the dirt and stench was unbearable as the cats had been without clean water or basic care for a long time. Some of them were losing their fur and had parts of their body swelling, likely due to skin diseases. A total of 14 cats were trapped in this small room.

Lin Chih-cheng
Animal Protection and Quarantine Center
When we went to rescue the cats, we found two of them had made their way into the hollow space in the ceiling and got trapped in the wall. With the landlord’s permission, we sent a team to tear down the wall and get the cats out.

Two cats tried to escape to the neighbor’s unit via the hollow in the ceiling, and refused to come out. Neighbors noticed something was wrong, and called animal protection officials on Tuesday. With thermal imaging devices and the landlord’s permission, they pinpointed their locations and tore down the wall to rescue the two calico cats. All 14 felines have since been taken to a shelter.

Huang Hsuan-fu
HERSA
From what we know, their owner suffered a traffic accident and was hospitalized without being able to go back home for 10 days. With nobody to care for the cats, they just roamed and paced around hungrily.

Their owner is a man in his 50s who got hospitalized on April 25 due to a traffic accident. During his hospital stay, he did not ask friends to take care of the cats. When he returned to his empty home on May 5, he showed no interest in where his cats had gone neither did he enquire about their health condition. His actions constitute a breach of the Animal Protection act on improper pet care. An investigation has been opened and penalties may be imposed according to the law.

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

#cat #catcare #catperson #calico #munchkin

2026-05-07

Mobile pop-up night markets a trend in Yilan

In Yilan County, mobile or pop-up night markets are becoming a trend. Unlike ordinary night markets which are fixed in the one spot with most hawkers having a regular stall, mobile vendors set up night markets anywhere and everywhere across various Yilan townships and the composition of each night market is different. With hundreds of vendors involved, organizing them is a complex administrative process. A guiding figure behind this is Lin Mei-li. Let’s hear her story.

The outer skin of these gua bao are deep-fried until they are a caramel color, then they are stuffed with a variety of fillings. The crispy savory textures of these fried gua bao have caused many people to become regular customers after just one taste.

Crispy, golden-brown fried pork ribs are also incredibly popular. The secret to their deliciousness is that the owner first rubs the meat with a secret sauce and marinates it, before frying it.

- Do you prefer regular night markets or pop-ups?
- Pop-ups
- Why?
- They’re more unique.

Located in Dongshan, Qinggou Night Market is lined with food stalls on both sides of the road, all run by mobile vendors. Yilan is known for its delicious food, and now, from Monday to Sunday, there’s a different night market every day. This woman is the driving force behind the booming night market scene.

Each corner is carefully inspected and the ground needs to be scrubbed. All vendors are required to take their kitchen waste with them. Lin Mei-li, 68, started out by selling hair accessories at Yilan’s Dongmen Night Market. To expand her base of customers, she went from having a small stall to being a night market promoter.

Lin Mei-li
Lanyang Night Market
Back then, mobile night markets weren’t very popular, but we thought it was better to go find the customers rather than wait for them to come to us. Before, it wasn’t on such a large scale. There used to be dozens of stalls, now there are over one hundred.

With great power comes great responsibility. When Lin turns on her phone, all her contacts are related to night markets.

Lin Pin-hsuan
Mobile night market vendor
Her job is actually very important because she has to keep everyone in order at the Qinggou Night Market, as well as do cleaning, maintenance and traffic control.

Chu Chun-hao
Regular night market vendor
Without management, things will definitely fall into chaos. The staff help her but she must have a very tough time. Nobody wants to do these things because you’ll get scolded for them. Every decision she makes will affect someone else.

From recruiting vendors and coordinating venues to even handling the final cleanup, Lin Mei-li is essential to bringing every mobile night market in Yilan to life. She hopes to keep the mobile night markets going and support the local economy.

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

#Yilantourism #mobilemarkets #nightmarkets

2026-05-07