Taiwan schoolkids win gold at world choir contest despite China protests

2026-08-11

Taiwanese schoolchildren sang their way to victory in Sweden at the prestigious 2026 World Choir games, dubbed the Choir Olympics. But although their victory was a huge reason to celebrate, it was not without its setbacks. Before the contest, the choir of young singers put on a street performance in Denmark, where they showed the national flag of Taiwan. That did not sit well with China, who lodged a protest with the organizers of the competition. Let’s hear more.

Voice of Wei Hsiang-ying
Dacun Elementary School
They saw our photo and reported us to the organizers, and lodged a protest. But the organizers of course said it was not a problem, saying that, in the world of music, we are all friends.

The schoolkids were not put back by China’s shenanigans, and prevailed to bag the gold medal in the Open Competition, filling the auditorium with songs from Taiwan. The school says the choir respected the competition’s rules at all times, which state that the national flag of Taiwan could not be shown during the actual competition. They only showed it during a street performance in a different country, before the competition had even started. A teacher says that participating in the event was a form of diplomacy for Taiwan, which somehow became a major issue troubling China.

#choir #choral #taiwan #china #angelical #voice #singing #sweden #denmark

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大村國小學童歌聲打進世界舞台奪"合唱奧運"金牌

2026-08-11

彰化縣大村國小合唱團，遠赴瑞典，參加有"合唱界奧運"之稱的賽事2026 World Choir Games世界合唱大賽。比賽前在丹麥街頭快閃演出時，有小選手拿出了國旗，被中國方得知後，向主辦單位表達抗議。

[[聲源:彰化大村國小教務主任魏相英]]
“他們也看到照片，所以他們就有去跟大會做了檢舉跟抗議，但是大會那邊，當然都是表示說，都沒有關係，因為在音樂上，我們都一切都還是，大家都是朋友。”

小選手無懼打壓，還是以堅強的實力，勇奪公開賽金獎，讓台語歌響徹國際舞台。老師說，大會有規定，在正式賽事，不能拿出中華民國國旗，他們遵守了。但是，在街頭唱歌拿出國旗，卻刺激到了中國。老師認為，他們用歌聲是在為台灣做外交，而且是在非舉辦國丹麥亮國旗，中方竟然可以拿來大作文章，大家都很氣憤。

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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

Taipei Main Station to lose beloved checkered flooring

2026-08-11

Hualien and MIT REAP forum puts county on international innovation map

From agriculture to cutting-edge technology, Hualien is looking to put itself on the global innovation map. A new two-day forum backed by the Hualien County Government and MIT’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program is bringing together local industries, universities, research institutions and startups, with the goal of turning the county’s agricultural strengths into new business opportunities. The initiative covers everything from AI-powered healthcare to life sciences, as Hualien looks to build a homegrown innovation ecosystem and connect local ideas with international markets.

An array of crystal clear display bottles showcase a wide range of agricultural materials, including rice husk charcoal, mineral phosphorous and dark granular fertilizer. This is the Hualien REAP Forum, hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program under the guidance of the Hualien County Government. The forum kicked off on Monday at the Parkview Hotel in Hualien.

Hsu Chen-wei
Hualien County Commissioner
With agriculture as our starting point, we’re driving innovation, to a wellbeing economy and a whole ecosystem that puts Hualien on the world map for startups.

The forum integrated methodology from the MIT REAP, bringing together resources from local industry, government, academia and research to create a support system that nurtures innovation and growth-oriented businesses in Hualien. Covering topics such as AI-powered healthcare and innovative ecosystems in the life sciences, the forum features keynote speeches, opportunities for regional exchanges and an MOU signing ceremony.

Hsu Chen-wei
Hualien County Commissioner
We at the Hualien County Government are bringing together industry, academia and research. We have a strong healthcare system, with institutions such as the Tzu Chi Hospital and the Mennonite Christian Hospital. We have top universities including National Dong Hwa University and Tzu Chi University, and institutions such as Academia Sinica and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. All these are working together with local industry players and startups.

Hualien hopes that the forum will drive innovation locally ranging from agriculture to high technology, and make itself a space in international markets.

#hualien #mit #mitreap #innovation #technology #agriculture

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2026-08-11

2 Chinese men in custody after crossing Taiwan Strait in dinghy

Two Chinese nationals have been taken into custody after allegedly crossing the Taiwan Strait in a rubber dinghy and illegally entering Taiwan. The incident dates back to July 24, when a member of the public discovered the dinghy near the northern breakwater of Taipei Port in New Taipei’s Bali District. Inside were two cans of gasoline and numerous items bearing simplified Chinese characters. The two men were arrested six days later, on July 30. They claimed they had gotten lost at sea while fishing, but authorities were not convinced. Their arrival just days before the start of Taiwan’s Han Kuang military exercises has raised concerns over how they managed to make the crossing undetected. Let’s hear more.

Ma Sheng-chieh
FTV reporter
The two Chinese nationals set off from Fujian Province in China and traveled to Taipei Port on a rubber dinghy. They say they got lost at sea, but it’s not looking like a likely story.

Huang Cheng-wei
Coast Guard Administration
The two Chinese nationals suspected of entering Taiwan illegally have been detained on court orders. The case has been referred to prosecutors for investigation.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
It could be that China is conducting a test. When they time comes, they could send special forces this way to carry out infiltration operations and sabotage.

Voice of Shen Ming-shih
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
We should consider the incident from the angle of national security. There is a possibility that China could try to gather intelligence regarding specific exercises and targets during the Han Kuang exercises. I think that possibility is increasingly likely.

The pair were Mr. Luan aged 35, and Mr. Yu aged 44. They said that they had gotten lost out at sea after setting off on a fishing trip from Fujian Province across the strait. After arriving at Taipei Port, they made their way to Taoyuan’s Chaoyang朝陽 Forest Park, where they lived and slept until their arrest on July 30. When they were caught, they were carrying cash in New Taiwan dollars, suggesting they may have set off from China with the intention of arriving in Taiwan.

#taiwan #illegalmigration #china #taiwanstrait #infiltration #taipei #newtaipei #taoyuan

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2026-08-11

Care workers at children home are severely overworked

Children entering child and youth welfare homes are severely traumatized. Their residential care workers often act as their “surrogate parents,” working 24-hours around the clock. However, spare a thought for these diligent and loving caregivers. They are also in need of care. Experts say that they are often overworked, exhausted and government funding is insufficient. Let’s find out more.

These children were happily playing cards in a circle. It was originally just for fun. But then one got angry and cried because it got too competitive. When dealing with children with high emotional tension, it is necessary to comfort and guide them.

Ya Hui
Youth and children’s home residential care worker
Some children will suddenly wake up in the middle of the night, crying loudly, and then they might rush to our staff room and bang on the door. I think that when you first start working here, you’ll be quite nervous at night.

Placement facilities serve as a new safe haven for many children who may have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or the death or incarceration of their parents. Their "surrogate parents"—residential care workers—must accompany them 24 hours a day to prevent conflict, with their daily lives tightly bound to the children’s. These combined pressures leave residential care workers physically and mentally exhausted.

Hsu Yu
Youth and children’s home CEO
Right now, the only strategy we see from the government to address this issue is throwing money at it—and not even significant funding, just a pittance. As a result, so many of our team members arrive full of enthusiasm, only to leave deeply scarred.

Wen Kuo-shih
Child and youth care NGO
We truly believe that if we take good care of caregivers, children will have a better chance. So we should take care of caregivers first, instead of expecting love to generate all their power.

The professional value and labor dignity of these residential care workers deserve sufficient support and respite. Only then can these invisible parents reliably catch every child and tighten the safety net for youth.

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Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#abusedchildren #childrenshomes #Taiwanesechildren #childrenswelfare #Taiwanesewelfare

2026-08-11

Taiwan schoolkids win gold at world choir contest despite China protests