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.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
Shih Hsin University President Chen Ching-he (陳清河) yesterday issued a public apology for comments made in his commencement speech last week, stating that he has asked the school to suspend his duties and halt his wages for two months as a show of contrition. At the commencement ceremony on May 30, Chen said, “If you don’t manage your time well, or your own emotions, or your health, then I am telling every one of you — put a quick end to ‘you,’ because the world has no need for ‘you.’” The comments have sparked significant controversy online, and Chen through an open
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS