TaiwanICDF campus youth ambassadors return home

2026-10-20

Taiwan is turning to its younger generation to help promote public diplomacy. Six university students selected as campus ambassadors by TaiwanICDF traveled to diplomatic allies Eswatini in Africa and St. Lucia in the Caribbean to witness Taiwan’s overseas aid efforts firsthand. Armed with cameras, they documented how international cooperation is making a difference in local communities, learning that aid is not just about giving, but creating a virtuous circle.

- Fish ponds have evolved into aquaculture farms. We’ve seen first-hand how locals have gradually introduced technology into their daily lives.

From aquaculture farms, fisheries, and women’s entrepreneurship in Eswatini…

- Some protect the health of the community, while others apply knowledge into their daily lives.

…to chronic disease prevention and digital technology training in St. Lucia. Six Taiwanese students became Campus Youth Ambassadors at two of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. Now back in Taiwan, they shared their experiences on the ground.

Tsai Wan-yin
Eswatini Campus Youth Ambassador
The point of international cooperation is not just about providing assistance. It’s about the virtuous circle that is created when they pick up new skills.

Fan Chiang Tzu-chi
Eswatini Campus Youth Ambassador
I had no idea what pap was, but when we were there we saw it was a kind of corn porridge. We followed the local custom and ate with our hands.

These young ambassadors have evolved into newer selves, and their families all noticed. Especially Fan Chiang Tzu-chi’s mother, who recorded a video that brought her daughter to tears. The heads of the groups abroad even made a surprise conference call with the participants.

Yu Ting-hsuan
St. Lucia Campus Youth Ambassador
Real diplomacy and real exchanges don’t just happen in formal settings. Chatting and hanging out with locals is a form of international exchange in itself. Sometimes, you have to gather courage and step out of your comfort zone, try new things. The world is a bigger place than you might think.

Chen Ming-chi
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
The more important thing is working together with our partners to solve problems and cultivate local talents, so that the solutions are long lasting. As we say in our ministry, “Taiwan can help. Our partners can lead.”

Stephen Lee
TaiwanICDF Deputy Secretary General
Besides the 30th-anniversary events, we hope that when you return to your schools, you can share with everyone about the broader impact of Taiwan’s international cooperation efforts overseas.

Young people are using the power of storytelling to bring Taiwan’s overseas aid achievements into the public spotlight. Youth representatives from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, who are set to visit Taiwan soon, also attended to show their support, ushering in a new chapter for public diplomacy.

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

#icdf #diplomacy #taiwan #eswatini #stlucia

外交新世代! 6青年大使親訪友邦傳遞台灣國際影響力

2026-10-20

台灣推動公眾外交，年輕世代扛起大梁。國合會遴選出六位青年擔任校園大使，親自前往非洲友邦史瓦帝尼，和加勒比海友邦聖露西亞，深入第一線見習，青年們運用鏡頭記錄援外成果，深刻體會到"援外不是單向給予，而是創造善的循環"，外交部與國合會也期盼這群青年回到校園後，能成為散播台灣國際影響力的火種。

“從魚池到養殖現場，我們親眼看見一項技術，怎麼一步步走進當地人的生活。”

不管是史瓦帝尼的水產養殖、農漁業和婦女創業環境。

“有人守護社區的健康，有人把知識帶進生活。”

還是在聖露西亞宣導慢性病防治、培訓數位科技，六位台灣青年，扛起國合會校園大使大任，前進台灣友邦，把第一現場畫面，帶回台灣。

[[史瓦帝尼團校園大使蔡宛吟]]
“看到國際合作的意義，就是不只是我們給予他們援助，也是他們學會這個技能之後，形成一個善的循環。”

[[史瓦帝尼校園大使范姜紫萁]]
“我們從來沒有看過玉米糊長怎樣，我們到那邊發現它是像是一坨麵糰，我們也用餐體驗了當地的，用手吃飯的文化。”

大使們返台後的蛻變，連家人也有感，范姜紫萁的媽媽，特別預錄影片分享，讓她淚灑現場，遠在海外的團長，也與兩團驚喜跨海連線。

[[聖露西亞校園大使余亭萱]]
“其實真正的外交、真正的國際交流，不一定是要在很嚴肅的場合，和當地的居民一起互動、一起聊天，其實也算是一種國際上的交流。有的時候就是要勇敢的跨出舒適圈，勇敢的去嘗試，這個世界真的比你想像中還要更大。”

[[外交部政務次長陳明祺]]
“更重要的是跟夥伴國家共同解決問題，培養在地的能力，創造長久延續的成果，這也是我們在部裡面一直在說的，Taiwan can help，our partners can lead。”

[[國合會副秘書長李志宏]]
“不只是延續我們30周年的一系列活動，我們也希望（大使）回到校園之後，也請你們能夠散播，台灣在海外進行國際合作的外溢效果。”

青年運用說故事的能力，將台灣的援外成果，走進大眾視野，即將來台的友邦青年，更特地到場支持，替公眾外交，再掀新篇章。

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

Aide tacks on campaign sticker on funeral guestbook

There’s a time and a place for campaigning, and a funeral service, is not it. With the local elections fast approaching, politicians are scrambling for exposure sometimes forget about good etiquette. A social media user whose grandmother recently passed away says that several candidates showed up to the funeral parlor to pay their respects. But one of them crossed the line. A campaign member of Cheng Chun-hung, who is running to represent Zhubei City, stuck a campaign sticker on the guestbook. Most unfortunately, his campaign slogan is “Please save us!” That infuriated her grieving grandchild, who scathingly slammed Cheng, saying their grandma couldn’t be saved anymore. Let’s hear more.

Member of public
Finds sticker inappropriate
It’s disrespectful to the grieving family. They’re holding a funeral, everyone is mourning, and you go and stick a campaign sticker saying “Please save us”? That’s really inappropriate.

Member of public
Finds sticker inappropriate
It’s rude. Someone passed away, and you still put on the sticker saying “please save us.” That’s not nice.

Cheng Chun-hung
Zhubei candidate (KMT)
My assistant went to pay respects on my behalf, but didn’t have enough business cards. They had one of my campaign stickers on hand, so they put that on instead. It’s their first time helping with my campaign, and they weren’t familiar with the etiquette. It’s my responsibility to make sure my assistant understands these rules. I’d like to apologize to everyone.

Cheng Chun-hung posted a video to Facebook bowing to apologize for the sticker incident. But surprisingly, this isn’t the first time a candidate has been accused of campaigning at a funeral. Previously, an aide to KMT Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en was caught handing out business cards at a funeral, with a political donation account on the back. The move drew criticism, with some accusing the campaign team of being so money-hungry that they forgot about decorum.

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

#politics #bizarre #funeral #guestbook #campaign

2026-10-20

Workers told to pay NT$6,000 and use annual leave for company trip

2026-10-20

Puma Shen madness spreads as other cities claim him for mayor

The O’Shen wave is taking over Taiwan. Singer and Golden Melody Award winner, Hsieh Ming-yu was performing on stage in Tainan when he suddenly called out, “Our mayor…” and didn’t expect to hear “Puma Shen,” shouted back from the audience. This urged the singer to respond and say, “We are in Tainan, so it’s Chen Ting-fei.” It seems Shen’s popularity has surpassed the borders of Taipei, spreading across all DPP campaigns. Some locals even printed out and distributed banners with Shen’s designs, drawing long queues.

Golden Melody Award winner, Hsieh Ming-yu was performing on stage when he suddenly blurted out something.

- Our mayor
- Puma Shen
- It’s Chen Ting-fei, this is Tainan.

Puma Shen is running for Taipei Mayor, but it seems that wherever you go, the phrase that comes after the chant, “Our mayor…,” is always followed by “Puma Shen!”

Hsieh Ming-yu
Golden Melody Award winner
I just wanted to test it out, to see if the O’Shen movement really is spreading, when I said, “Our mayor…” I was certain that I would say “Chen Ting-fei,” but I didn’t think that the audience below would in unison say, “Puma Shen.”

At first, the singer simply wanted to test out the power of the O’Shen wave, he didn’t realize that locals would join in and urge him to clarify. In fact, this clip has gone viral and even caught the attention of Chen Ting-fei herself, who replied saying, “This is Tainan,” with a question mark.

Chen Ting-fei
Tainan Mayoral Candidate (DPP)
While the O’Shen wave battles it out at sea, I, Chen Ting-fei, am fei-lying into the sky to battle it out up in the air. Land and sea unite.

Not only are the slogans catchy, but the O’Shen ribbons have become popular merch in Taiwan. Some stores in Tainan even printed their own and announced them online, they didn’t expect dozens of people to be eager to line up.

- I’ll tie this on my backpack, I’ve wanted this for so long!

- Vote for Shen to save Chiang.

- We will choose Chen Ting-fei, but I want to support Puma Shen

Taipei’s mayoral candidates have driven locals in the South into frenzy, as other candidates ride the bandwagon for popularity.

Hung Wei-chu
Head of marketing agency
I didn’t think today would be like this, we didn’t print enough. Those who came to pick them up can follow us on Instagram to support us.

The DPP caucus says the O’Shen Wave is lifting the support ratings for DPP candidates islandwide by 6%. The party says it’s hopeful for a turnaround in close races such as Keelung and Taichung. Meanwhile, races in Taitung, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu are heating up. With just a month left to elections, some officials discouraged Shen from travelling across Taiwan and instead urge candidates from other counties and cities to come to Taipei creating a unique crossover.

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

#沈伯洋 #OshenWave #洋流 #OshenWave #PumaShen #Tainan

2026-10-20

Old woman in wheelchair turns mountain road into racetrack

Some Keelung locals captured photos of a rather shocking sight n Zhonghe Road: an elderly woman racing down the mountain road on an electric wheelchair. The woman zigzagged through the middle of the road and even crossed over the double yellow lines. Not only was the road going downhill but it also had incredibly sharp turns, but this old lady expertly steered through it all without slowing down causing the vehicles around her to recoil in fear.

As vehicles drove along a mountain road, an electric wheelchair carrying an elderly woman suddenly appears. She drives unsteadily in the middle of the road and even on the double yellow lines.

This electric wheelchair navigated oncoming cars and motorcycles with ease and grace, but it caused traffic behind it to become cautious and fearful. Not only is this particular stretch of the road going downhill, it also has sharp turns. The old woman fearlessly drove without slowing down which made cars behind her slow down fearing a collision.

Member of public
Wary of older drivers
So dangerous. The speed of older drivers is unpredictable, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. If there are cars near them, they get nervous and don’t see.

Member of public
Disproves the driver
Is she not paying attention to cars behind her? She is just driving her own way, sometimes speeding up and crossing the road.

Although approved medical electric wheelchair and mobility scooters can be used on roads with relevant regulations, users are considered as pedestrians and must still abide by pedestrian traffic rules. They cannot drive in the middle of the lane and compete with cars and scooters for road space.

Lin Yen-hua
Chief of Fourth Precinct, Keelung City Police Bureau
Users of electric wheelchairs still must comply with relevant laws and regulations. They must use appropriate passage spaces according to regulations and not drive illegally on the road, which affects the safety of others on the road.

Although they can move fast, electric wheelchairs are not racecars and roads are not racetracks. According to regulations, violating the rules by riding an electric wheelchair will result in a fine of NT$500. This serves as a reminder to those who ride electric wheelchairs, that convenience must never come secondary to safety. Recklessly accelerating could endanger yourself and others on the road.

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

#racing #f1 #seniorcitizen #olddriver #keelung #taiwan

2026-10-20

Poll puts Puma Shen in lead for Taipei 17 points ahead of Chiang

DPP Candidate Puma Shen has overtaken his KMT opponent by a mindboggling 17 percentage points the latest poll by the Taipei Trust in Democracy Association. The poll puts support rating for Shen at 50.3%, in contrast with 33.3% for Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an. In comparison with the previous poll by the association, Shen’s support shot up by 9.8 points, while Chiang’s crumbled by 8.4 points. Let’s hear more.

Puma Shen
Taipei Mayoral Candidate (DPP)
The poll may say one thing, but victory depends on the ballots, on how everyone actually votes on Nov. 28. There’s still 39 days to go until Election Day, so public opinion may still rise and fall. We take very seriously whether our policies resonate with the public. That’s the most important thing for us.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
I would like to call on all Taipei citizens who’ve seen all we’ve achieved over the past four years, to show their support for our administration by coming out to vote on Nov. 28.

Chuang Jui-hsiung
DPP Caucus
Everything that Puma has achieved to this day is really impressive already, and we have very high expectations for him. His approach of engaging with citizens through dialogue will only win more and more people over with time.

Tai Li-an
Designed poll
The polls show an extremely strong response. One of the factors is the O’Shen wave that’s sweeping over Taipei, with huge support from pan-green voters.

Analysts say the skyrocketing popularity of Shen in recent weeks may have encouraged more responders to express their support for the DPP candidate. On the other hand, some others who perhaps supported Chiang preferred to keep quiet. Based on the current figures the Taipei Trust in Democracy Association estimates that Shen will walk away with 49.2% to 52.9% of the vote on Election Day, while Chiang could get between 46.9% and 49.9% of vote. With an overlap of just 0.7 percentage points, the margin between the two could be as wide as 6 percentage points.

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

#poll #taipei #election #pumashen #chiangwanan #oshenwave

2026-10-20

TaiwanICDF campus youth ambassadors return home