First F-16 Block 70 Jet delivery by September: Deputy defense minister

First F-16 Block 70 Jet delivery by September: Deputy defense minister

2026-06-17

The Armed Forces are set to enter an unprecedented and critical phase for receiving military equipment in the second half of this year. Highly anticipated among these deliveries are 66 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets. Recently, military observers spotted the very first of these taking off from Lockheed Martin’s production plant in Texas and flying to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.

Following the news, Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien on Wednesday reiterated that the first F-16 Block 70 jet is expected to arrive by the end of September, as previously stated by the minister.

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#taiwan #defense #military #armsprocurement #texas

首架F-16 BLK70何時抵台? 徐斯儉證實:9月底前

2026-06-17

今年下半年，國軍將迎來前所未有的軍購接裝關鍵期，受矚目的66架F-16 Block 70戰機，首架機號6831的雙座機，日前被國外軍事迷直擊，從洛克希德馬丁德州工廠起飛抵沃斯堡基地。

各界關注首架新戰機何時抵台，今天(17號)國防部副部長徐斯儉表示，先前顧立雄已經講過，預計9月底前應該會抵達。

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Distinguishing locally harvested green mussels as imports fill production gap

Green mussels are a favorite at stir-fry restaurants to pair with drinks. But did you know that the green mussels that were originally a local speciality from Bali have largely been replaced by imports from New Zealand? They not only look different, but also have a distinct taste and texture.

These green mussels in their colorful shells are served stir fried with Thai basil, minced garlic, and chili. It’s a classic choice at stir fry restaurants to pair with drinks. But the mussels that most places serve these days usually aren’t from Taiwan anymore. They’re actually another type of imported mussel.

Restaurant owner
Sells mussels
It’s very hard these days to find someone to dive into the shallows to find them. I’ve been working with this supplier for a long time now.

The area near Bali and Tamsui used to produce lots of green mussels. At one time, 300 kilograms could be harvested in a single day. But the population has been declining due to river pollution, forcing many restaurants to use imported mussels from New Zealand instead, as the supply and pricing is relatively stable. For example, the same serving of New Zealand mussels is about NT$250, while Taiwanese green mussels sell for NT$320.

Ms. She
Restaurant owner
With so many added ingredients and the labor involved, selling a plate for NT$250 actually doesn’t leave that much profit.

Restaurant owner
Sells mussels
The New Zealand mussels have a similar shell color to ours. They’re colorful. The imported ones are all half shells. I’ll make a plate of imported ones and another of the Taiwanese ones so you can see for yourself.

The local green mussels are smaller, but the meat is delicate and sweet with a distinct ocean flavor. The imported New Zealand ones are mostly frozen and processed. They’re larger, with plump meat and a chewy texture.

Member of public
Likes mussels
The salt and water quality in Taiwan make them especially sweet.

Based just on their appearance, it’s hard to tell them apart. But for the discerning foodie, frozen imports are no match for the freshness of Taiwanese green mussels.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Officials warn of NT$3,600 fine for dumping beverages down storm sewer

It’s common knowledge that littering and throwing cigarette butts out on the street can result in fines, but did you know that dumping a leftover beverage into the storm drain is also against the law? A post went viral on social media recently from someone who said they were reported for dumping coffee into the sewer, resulting in a NT$3,600 fine.

Chen Meng-hsuan
FTV reporter
When walking along the street, what do you do if you accidentally spill your drink or can’t finish it? Many people will dump it down the storm drain. But be careful—it’s actually against the law.

- I’ll dump it down the storm drain.
- Because it’s convenient?
- Yeah.
- You can actually be fined for that, did you know?
- I didn’t.

In a social media post, a man in Keelung said he poured his coffee into a storm drain after discovering that it was leaking while he was driving. But to his surprise, he was captured on camera and received a fine from the local environmental protection bureau for NT$3,600. He said he certainly learned his lesson, along with many commenters who said they never knew it was illegal. You obviously aren’t allowed to litter or discard cigarette butts on the street, but few people know you could also be fined up to NT$6,000 for dumping a beverage.

Member of public
Up to NT$6,000? That’s so steep. I’d be pissed. At home we dump expired drinks down the toilet. Isn’t that the same thing? Toilets eventually drain into the sewers, too.

Member of public
They need to educate people. Why is it not allowed? If they explain it and people know the reason, of course we’d understand.

Chen Hao-chang
Taipei maintenance division chief
Dumping any liquid other than rainwater or clean water into the storm drain is considered to be polluting the drainage system and can result in a fine of up to NT$6,000 under the Waste Disposal Act.

Storm drains are meant for rainwater, not lattes. Saving yourself a quick trip to the trash can could result in an expensive lesson from the local environmental bureau.

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

#stormdrain #fines #WasteDisposalAct #environmentalprotection #littering #sanitation #Keelung

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Chiayi temple stages over 1,000 shows for god’s birthday

Every year on the 23rd day of the fourth lunar month, Lord Yu Ciye Temple in Chiayi’s Lucao Township celebrates the deity’s birthday by hiring troupes to perform for the god. The number of stages has ballooned in recent years from the hundreds to over 1,000, resulting in a marathon of shows lasting over a month. The roads leading to the temple are packed on either side with temporary stages, transforming this sleepy town into a thrilling month-long spectacle.

The side of this road is lined with makeshift stages, extending into the distance until they finally reach the temple gates. Hundreds of puppet theater shows are to be staged here, along with traditional Taiwanese opera.

Every year around the 23rd day of the fourth lunar month, Lord Yu Ciye Temple in Chiayi’s Lucao Township celebrates the deity’s birthday by inviting hundreds of troupes to perform. Devotees from around the country hire performers to join this theatrical marathon that continues on day or night, rain or shine.

How many years have you participated?

Chang Chin-chung
Performer
Over 40 years. When a downpour hits, it’s not just the performers who get soaked, but the puppets too. The losses are significant.

I’ve seen a few dozen stages before, but never this many.

The festival has grown over the years from hundreds to over 1,000 troupes, resulting in over a month of nonstop performances. Many pious devotees will come for the festivities, including this man from Tainan who has brought his personal effigy to its home temple every year for over 30 years.

Mr. Ko
Devotee
I’ve come here every week for 38 years now. I sponsored a number of these stages.

Mr. Shih
Temple manager
There are over 1,000 stages this time. The shows started on the 23rd day of the fourth month and haven’t stopped since.

Unique in all of Taiwan, visitors are spellbound by the sheer scale of the festivities. This extraordinary display of local devotion has transformed this modest countryside temple into Taiwan’s grandest open-air theater.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#temple #templeculture #Chiayi #YuciyeTemple #puppetry #Taiwaneseopera #folkbeliefs #traditionalculture #theater #performance

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Tao people from Orchid Island recreate ancient route to the Philippines

A group of Tao people from Orchid Island on Wednesday managed to retrace an ancient sea route that once connected them with the Batanes archipelago in the Philippines. After constructing an indigenous wooden plank boat known as an ipanitika, a team of 60 Tao people took turns paddling the vessel through rough weather, including 4m-high waves. They finally arrived at Mahatao Port on the island of Batan, where they were greeted by the locals as long-lost relatives.

The sea breeze howled, and a wooden plank boat was battered by the waves that nearly submerged the entire boat. But the Tao warriors on board paddled with all their might, maintaining their upright posture and carefully controlling the direction forward.

Finally, the wooden plank boat successfully arrived at a port on Batan Island in the Philippines. Hundreds of Batan residents lined up to welcome it, dancing excitedly and lifting the boat high in the air and tossing it. This lively ceremony symbolized a reunion after three hundred years.

Ljaucu Zingrur
Minister of Indigenous Peoples
Three hundred years ago, there were frequent voyages and deep connections between Orchid Island and the Batanes Islands. Later, due to historical changes, this sea route was interrupted.

To reconnect this cultural umbilical cord, the Council of Indigenous Peoples provided a special subsidy for this project. Six tribes on Orchid Island then came together to build the "Golden Friendship," a large 20-seat plank-built boat crafted from over 20 types of local timber. Carrying a total rotation of 60 Tao paddlers, it set off at 9 a.m. on June 16. Originally expected to reach the Philippines by evening, the crew completed the challenge ahead of schedule at 3 p.m., thanks to the paddlers’ concerted efforts.

Maraos
Indigenous People’s Cultural Foundation
We faced severe challenges, battling powerful southwest air streams, southwest winds, and Force 7 gales throwing up 4m-high waves.

After departing from Orchid Island, the wooden plank boat was battered by strong southwest winds of up to level 7 and waves as high as four meters. At one point, 80% of the boat was submerged in the sea. Fortunately, after pumping out water and reinforcing the boat, it finally arrived safely.

Ljaucu Zingrur
Minister of Indigenous Peoples
The most important thing is the power of culture, which can transcend time and oceans.

The successful sea crossing of the “Golden Friendship” not only reopened an ancestral route, but also reconnected a cultural umbilical cord severed for hundreds of years, once again uniting the emotions and memories of the people in Taiwan and the Philippines.

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China pressure blamed for over 20-hour detention of Taiwanese academics in Kenya

Members of Taiwan’s delegation attending the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Kenya were jailed at the nation’s airport for over 20 hours, and their mobile phones and passports were confiscated-- all owing to Beijing’s pressure on Nairobi. The word “Taiwan” was also deleted from the event’s registration system. Following the incident, the Ocean Affairs Council decided to withdraw from this year’s conference. Let’s find out more.

The 11th Our Ocean Conference has been marred by allegations that Kenya, the host country this year, unreasonably obstructed the participation of the Taiwan delegation.

Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling took to social media to voice her outrage in a post titled "OOC Tarnished." She slammed the actions as "brutal," noting that not only was the option for "Taiwan" removed from the registration system, but entry permits for two delegates were also abruptly revoked. Furthermore, Taiwan’s delegation members from academia were detained at the airport, with their cell phones and passports confiscated in a virtual house arrest, although, fortunately, they have since been able to return to Taiwan. Observers have pointed the finger directly at pressure from China.

Chen Kuan-ting
Legislator (DPP)
We deeply regret this. We hope that if China wants cross-strait relations to ease, then such petty actions will be unnecessary.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged stern protests with China and Kenya. The Ocean Affairs Council and the Mainland Affairs Council also issued statements. The former condemned political interference in international maritime cooperation platforms and called on the international community to safeguard an open and fair space for Taiwan to hold exchanges. The Mainland Affairs Council’s statement strongly condemned the CCP’s pressure that obstructed Taiwan’s participation, stating that the people of Taiwan will never yield.

Chen Kuan-ting
Legislator (DPP)
In Uganda, Kenya, and other parts of East Africa, at the least we can see that China’s investment in water conservation facilities, various infrastructure and telecommunications facilities is enormous. Therefore, local leaderships have very deep ties with the CCP.

Kenya, with its capital Nairobi, is a financial center in East Africa. The ruling party is lambasting the East African nation for being China’s political henchman. The incident also confirms that China’s aggressive diplomatic bullying is intensifying.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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University campus turned government office becomes pigeon paradise

Pigeons have taken over the campus of the former Taiwan Shoufu University in Tainan. After the school closed in 2023, the campus reopened as Zengwen Civic Park in 2024, becoming home to government offices. Now its green, open environment has attracted so many pigeons that they outnumber office workers, raising hygiene concerns. The Tainan City Government said it would address the issue while maintaining coexistence between humans and birds.

Even with loudspeakers playing eagle cries, this flock of pigeons remains calmly perched on the building. This is Zengwen Civic Park in Tainan, which was converted from a university campus to government offices two years ago. About 300 government employees work across seven buildings in the park. With its open, green spaces and limited human activity, it’s become a paradise for pigeons.

Member of public
Concered about droppings
If you park for a while, especially over there, your car will definitely get bird droppings on it.

Cleaner
Has to deal with pigeons
We emptied around 20 trash bags and found about 20 to 30 live young pigeons.

The open environment and easy feeding attract pigeons, but with the buildings now covered in droppings, people are concerned about hygiene. Authorities have tried to deal with the problem by installing protective netting and setting up kites and sounds that resemble eagles to deter them, but their efforts have had a limited impact.

Government employee
Deterring pigeons
The kite resembles an eagle in flight, which makes the pigeons think a predator is here and discourages them from coming too close.

Wu Cheng-lung
Mayoral office director
Catching them would be very inappropriate, so at the moment, we’re adopting these measures to keep their numbers under control and stepping up cleaning and disinfection.

While agricultural consultants said that capturing the pigeons would be most effective, the city government, concerned for animal welfare, decided to pursue coexistence with the birds. It said it would continue with mild deterrent measures, while stepping up cleaning and disinfection to ease hygiene concerns.

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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