In Taiwan’s lush, verdant landscapes, where rain frequently nourishes dense forests, the notion of wildfires might seem out of place. However, there have been cases over the past few years, including a significant blaze near Lishan (梨山) in Taichung and devastating damage along the Nenggao-Andongjun trail (能高安東軍), which starkly contradict this perception. These fires, emblematic of a global trend exacerbated by climate change, signal an urgent need for Taiwan to revamp its wildfire management strategies and harness cutting-edge predictive technologies.
Research, notably a pivotal study featured in the journal Climatic Change, projects an uptick in wildfire risk across Taiwan, particularly during its dryer months from November to April. This research leverages advanced simulations to forecast fire weather severity, highlighting Taiwan’s increasing vulnerability to wildfires amid the shifting global climate.
The gravity of Taiwan’s wildfire predicament, fueled by a changing climate and a predisposition to drought, demands immediate action. The incidents at Lishan and the record-breaking Yushan fire in 2021 underscore the necessity for strategies customized to Taiwan’s diverse topography and climate.
Forests, aside from providing a refuge for relaxation and physical activity, play a crucial role in public health and environmental consciousness. The burgeoning interest in forest recreation, while beneficial, inadvertently escalates the risk of fire ignitions. Striking a balance between enjoying these natural resources and mitigating wildfire risks is paramount, requiring widespread public education on responsible forest use, alongside rigorous management and policy initiatives.
Taiwan’s strategy to counteract this looming threat encompasses multifaceted measures, including policy revisions aimed at curtailing risk factors and public campaigns to highlight wildfire dangers. The pivotal role of technological innovation, particularly in forecasting and early detection, cannot be overstated.
By drawing inspiration from countries such as Australia and the US, which have integrated technology with traditional firefighting techniques, Taiwan can significantly enhance its wildfire preparedness and response capabilities. These nations’ commitment to community education further exemplifies the importance of reducing human-induced fire ignitions.
As Taiwan confronts the reality of a warmer world, it is imperative to acknowledge that its traditionally rain-fed, lush greenery offers little refuge from the advancing threat of wildfires. A proactive approach, embracing policy reform and technological innovation, is vital for safeguarding Taiwan’s ecological and human assets.
In facing the wildfire challenge, Taiwan stands at a crossroads, requiring a comprehensive approach that merges policy innovation, technological advancement and international cooperation. Improving disaster prevention, mitigation and response efforts could fortify Taiwan’s defenses against wildfires. An international symposium, fostering an exchange of expertise and best practices with countries navigating similar issues, could serve as a linchpin in this strategy. Such collaborative endeavors could ensure that Taiwan not only leverages local insights, but also incorporates global perspectives into a robust wildfire management framework, thus preserving its unique natural legacy for generations to come.
Simon Wang is a professor in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Utah State University in the US. Liu Wan-yu is a professor in the Department of Forestry at National Chung Hsing University.
China has not been a top-tier issue for much of the second Trump administration. Instead, Trump has focused considerable energy on Ukraine, Israel, Iran, and defending America’s borders. At home, Trump has been busy passing an overhaul to America’s tax system, deporting unlawful immigrants, and targeting his political enemies. More recently, he has been consumed by the fallout of a political scandal involving his past relationship with a disgraced sex offender. When the administration has focused on China, there has not been a consistent throughline in its approach or its public statements. This lack of overarching narrative likely reflects a combination
Father’s Day, as celebrated around the world, has its roots in the early 20th century US. In 1910, the state of Washington marked the world’s first official Father’s Day. Later, in 1972, then-US president Richard Nixon signed a proclamation establishing the third Sunday of June as a national holiday honoring fathers. Many countries have since followed suit, adopting the same date. In Taiwan, the celebration takes a different form — both in timing and meaning. Taiwan’s Father’s Day falls on Aug. 8, a date chosen not for historical events, but for the beauty of language. In Mandarin, “eight eight” is pronounced
US President Donald Trump’s alleged request that Taiwanese President William Lai (賴清德) not stop in New York while traveling to three of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, after his administration also rescheduled a visit to Washington by the minister of national defense, sets an unwise precedent and risks locking the US into a trajectory of either direct conflict with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or capitulation to it over Taiwan. Taiwanese authorities have said that no plans to request a stopover in the US had been submitted to Washington, but Trump shared a direct call with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平)
It is difficult to think of an issue that has monopolized political commentary as intensely as the recall movement and the autopsy of the July 26 failures. These commentaries have come from diverse sources within Taiwan and abroad, from local Taiwanese members of the public and academics, foreign academics resident in Taiwan, and overseas Taiwanese working in US universities. There is a lack of consensus that Taiwan’s democracy is either dying in ashes or has become a phoenix rising from the ashes, nurtured into existence by civic groups and rational voters. There are narratives of extreme polarization and an alarming