DEFENSE
Vessels enter CGA service
The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday showcased its 10th 600-tonne patrol vessel, CG612 Suao, at a ceremony in Kaohsiung. Another vessel of the same class, CG613, was officially named Lanyu during the event, and would be deployed to the CGA’s mobile flotilla in eastern Taiwan. Suao is 65m long and 14.8m wide, with a maximum speed of 40 knots and a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,704km), the CGA said, adding that it is equipped with a high-pressure water canon, and could carry out firefighting, law enforcement, and search-and-rescue missions. Its low-resistance hull design and improved accommodations also enhance performance and living conditions on board, it said. Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲), who presided over the ceremony, said Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) had named the vessel Suao in January and has now formally entered service. Lanyu would bolster the coast guard’s presence in eastern waters, in cooperation with local communities, Kuan added. The CGA said it would continue to expand its fleet and bolster its capabilities in law enforcement, rescue operations, protection of fishing rights, maritime services and marine conservation.
Photo courtesy of the Coast Guard Administration via CNA
TRAVEL
Starlux resumes Manila trip
Taiwanese carrier Starlux Airlines yesterday said it would resume Taipei-Manila flights on Dec. 16, offering one daily round-trip service between Taiwan and the Philippines’ capital. Flight JX785 would depart from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 8:20am and arrive at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 11:05am, the airline said. The flight to Taipei would leave Manila at 11:50am and arrive in Taoyuan at 2:05pm, it said. The route was suspended in March last year after weak ticket sales the prior year, which it attributed to late-night flight times. The airline said it decided to resume the service in response to growing business ties between Taipei and Manila. Tickets would be available starting yesterday. “Relaunching the route not only meets business and tourism demand, but also strengthens our presence in Southeast Asia,” Starlux CEO Glenn Chai (翟健華) said. Starlux also operates daily flights between Taiwan and the Philippines’ Clark International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
SOCIETY
Taipei seeks YouBike fine
The Taipei City Government yesterday said it intends to seek NT$100,000 from YouBike’s operator, after a system failure on Wednesday evening disrupted services for more than 20,000 people. The outage began at about 6:34pm and affected stations in Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan before services were fully restored after midnight, YouBike Co said. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the incident seriously undermined public rights, adding that he had instructed the Department of Transportation to impose the maximum penalty for breach of contractual obligations. YouBike said the failure was caused by a software update on Saturday last week, which led to abnormal data checks and a surge in server traffic. The operator apologized for the disruption, pledged to optimize its system and said it would compensate affected users. New Taipei City authorities said they would decide separately whether to impose a penalty, but asked the company to treat trips made during the outage as less than 30 minute rides, which are free.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
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