MILITARY
Navy announces exercise
The navy yesterday announced that after upgrading its Chien Lung-class submarines, it would conduct a large-scale joint sea and air anti-submarine exercise late this month involving P-3C aircraft and S-70C(M) helicopters. The first of these submarines, the Sea Dragon (海龍), has completed sea trials, with its upgraded combat system performance meeting requirements, a military source said. The other Chien Lung-class submarine, the Sea Tiger (海虎), is still having its combat system upgraded, so the upcoming exercise off Kaohsiung’s Zuoying District (左營) and southwest Taiwan would primarily feature the Sea Dragon, the source said.
Photo: Ann wang, Reuters
DIPLOMACY
Tsai visiting Japan
Former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) office on Tuesday confirmed that she is visiting Japan on a personal trip, but it declined to provide any further details about the tour. “[This is a] personal trip ... with no official schedule planned,” therefore, no information would be disclosed, Tsai’s office said in a brief statement. It is Tsai’s third overseas visit since leaving office in May last year, following two trips to Europe. In October last year, she traveled to the Czech Republic, France and Belgium, and in May, she visited Lithuania, Denmark and the UK.
SOCIETY
Lottery prizes increased
Taiwan Lottery Co on Tuesday announced that it would increase the jackpots in several of its lotteries by a total of NT$450 million (US$14.85 million) to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and attract buyers. Taiwan Lottery president Hsieh Chih-hong (謝志宏) said from Tuesday next week, 100 extra NT$1 million bonus prizes would be offered in Lotto 6/49. In the 6/49 draw, buyers pick six numbers from a total of 49. Those who match all six would win NT$1 million, or share the prize if there are multiple winners. If not all 100 prizes are claimed, draws would continue until all are awarded or until Oct. 31, Hsieh said. The Lotto 6/49 is drawn twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. From Sept. 27, Taiwan Lottery would also add prize money for Bingo Bingo over 16 consecutive days. During the promotion, payouts would rise from six times the bet to seven times, while “super number” winners would see prizes increased to NT$1,500 per bet, up from NT$1,200.
TOURISM
Kenting among top spots
Kenting National Park was ranked fifth among the “top eight destinations in Asia with a population under 50,000,” according to an Agoda survey released last week. The survey was based on search volumes from Feb. 15 to Aug. 15 across eight countries: Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, India and South Korea. The seaside destination in southern Pingtung County — famous for its beautiful sunsets, clean white beaches, coastal walks and lush forests — ranked fifth in the lineup, showing Taiwan’s rising popularity among international tourists. The tea plantation-spotted hills of the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia was ranked first, followed by Khao Yai Island in Thailand and mountainous Puncak in Java, Indonesia.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) has funded short-term internships in Taiwan for more than 4,500 young people from more than 40 countries since 2015, with the goal of attracting and retaining international talent, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. Fifty-five colleges launched 514 projects this year, including in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, medicine and biotechnology, green energy, and sustainability, it said. The program provides research and practical internships in Taiwan for two to six months, and offers cultural exchange and networking opportunities, the ministry said. For example, National Formosa University’s Embedded System and Autopilot Laboratory developed two solar-powered drones in
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
Taipei resident Mu Chu-hua caught some glimpses of China’s mighty military parade on YouTube on Wednesday. As she watched hypersonic missiles roll down Beijing’s Changan Avenue and troops march in lockstep, she did not feel like they posed a threat to Taiwan. Mu, a 69-year-old retiree, said she saw the parade as simply a way for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to “say thank you to the troops.” “I thought it was quite normal,” she said. “It was very cool.” China’s military parade commemorating the end of World War II was being watched internationally for insights into Beijing’s military advances and its show
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