taiwan
China ‘fully able’ to invade Taiwan by 2025, Taipei defense chief says amid worst tensions in 40 years
Taiwanese defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng believes China will be able to launch a “full-scale” invasion of Taiwan by 2025, noting that current tensions are the “toughest” he has seen in over four decades.
Driving the news: Chiu made the assessment at a parliamentary meeting Wednesday, days after Beijing sent 150 warplanes to the self-governed island’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The area is international airspace but Taipei considers it a buffer, according to AP News.
Taiwan’s national flag anthem plays during badminton medal ceremony in historic Tokyo Games moment
Taiwan’s national flag anthem was played during the awarding ceremony for badminton at the Tokyo Games on Saturday in what may be considered a historic moment for both Taiwan and the Olympics.
The national flag anthem: The song, which dates back to the 1930s, blasted through the stadium’s speakers as Taiwanese duo Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin watched the Chinese Taipei Olympic flag rise in the medal ceremony, according to Taiwan News.
John Cena Apologizes on Weibo for Calling Taiwan a Country
Actor and wrestler John Cena recently apologized to China for saying Taiwan is the “first country” to watch “F9” in an interview with TVBS in early May.
Apology video: In his video post on Weibo on Tuesday, the 44-year-old celebrity admitted he “made a mistake” during one of his interviews for the movie, according to the New York Times.
Taiwan’s Pokémon Go Grandpa Stopped From Hunting After Earthquake Alarm Glitch Hits His 72 Phones
Taiwan’s biggest Pokémon Go fan spent nearly half an hour turning off the excessive alarms caused by a glitch in the government’s earthquake alert system.
Chen San-yuan, a 71-year-old Pokémon Go trainer, made global headlines for the growing number of mobile phones he used to catch the popular game’s virtual monsters.
Woman Has Meltdown on Train After Being Asked to Wear Mask Properly in Taiwan
A woman was filmed having a meltdown after being asked by passengers to wear a mask properly while riding a train in Taiwan amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The unidentified woman reportedly rode the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) train from New Taipei City’s Banqiao District to Taoyuan’s Zhongli District bound for Taichung on Sunday without a mask, according to Taiwan News.
Filipino Migrant Worker Who Broke Quarantine for 8 Seconds Receives $3,540 Fine in Taiwan
A Filipino migrant worker is facing a hefty fine for breaking Taiwan’s strict COVID-19 quarantine rule for eight seconds.
What happened: The man, whose name was not revealed, was quarantined in a hotel on Nov. 13, according to the Huffington Post.
Taiwanese Man Forced to Sell PS5 After Wife Learns It’s Not an Air Purifier
A Taiwanese Facebook user shared a story on how he bought his PlayStation 5 from a man who was forced to sell the gaming console after his wife found out it was not an air purifier.
Jin Wu bought a PlayStation 5 from a seller he found online, according to his Facebook post on Nov. 21, as translated by Taiwan News.
2,000-Year-Old Knife Massage Tradition Kept Alive in Taiwan
Taiwan is keeping the 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition of daoliao, also known as “knife massage” or “knife therapy,” alive and well after arriving in the country around 80 years ago.
History: Chinese history suggests the art of knife massage has been around since 770 BC to 476 BC, Wu Wei-chuan, the chairwoman of the World Daoliao Association, told the Los Angeles Times.
Taiwanese Military to Highlight Same-Sex Marriages at Annual Mass Wedding
The Taiwanese military will highlight the wedding of two female soldiers and their female civilian partners at its annual mass wedding on Friday.
Chen Ying-xuan and Lee Ying-ying, and Wang Yi and Meng Youmei’s participation at this year’s mass wedding will become the Taiwanese military’s first-ever ceremony for same-sex couples, according to The Guardian. The military weddings will be held a day before the annual LGBTQ+ parade in Taipei.
Louis Vuitton Unveils $80,000 Jade Mahjong Set
Not to be outdone by Hermès, Louis Vuitton has unveiled its own mahjong set in Taiwan during its Savoir Faire Universe showcase.
Taiwanese Club Hosts Event for People With Autism and Their Families
Young adults on the autism spectrum enjoyed a night for themselves at a club in Taipei on Sept. 26.
The event, inspired by those in Baltimore and London, was the first of its kind in Asia, drawing more than 100 attendees.
Taiwanese Singer, Actor Alien Huang Passes Away at 36
Taiwanese singer and actor Alien Huang has died at the age of 36 inside his apartment in Taipei on Wednesday.
The former host of “100% Entertainment,” who was born Huang Hong Sheng, was found unresponsive by his father at around 11 a.m. on Sept. 16 after he failed to reach his son on the telephone, according to Central News Agency via CNN.