Taiwanese Director 結果共28筆

Explore the legacy of Taiwanese director Edward Yang at TIFF Cinematheque’s retrospective from July 4-30, 2024, featuring classics like ＂Yi Yi＂ and discussions on his cinematic influence.

Discover how the Chinese Communist Party plans to deepen ties with Taiwan’s opposition in the Legislative Yuan, as revealed by NSB Director Tsai Ming-yen and dissident writer Yuan Hongbing. Learn about the strategic shift and its implications for Taiwan’s autonomy.

Discover how Taiwanese Director Wei Te-sheng’s apology to TSMC over controversial remarks aims to bridge the gap between Taiwan’s tech and cultural sectors. Read more about his promise and the potential for collaboration.

Vice President Lai Ching-te, along with officials and Heineken Taiwan’s Managing Director Wu Chien-fu, launched a NT$13.5 billion investment in Pingtung for a net-zero carbon beer factory aimed at the East Asian market, marking Heineken’s deep-rooted expansion in Taiwan.

Former ROC President Ma Ying-jeou visits China, meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Ma’s executive director Hsiao Hsu-tsen clarifies Ma’s ＂Republic of China＂ gaffe, praises Xi’s attentiveness to Taiwanese students, and urges Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te government to seize opportunity for improved cross-strait ties.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou stresses the importance of peaceful cross-strait relations during a meeting with Song Tao, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office in China. Ma emphasizes the benefits for both sides and the shared history and culture of the Chinese nation. He highlights the significance of the ＂1992 Consensus＂ and opposition to ＂Taiwan independence＂ as key elements for cross-strait progress. Ma underscores the mainstream support in Taiwanese society for peaceful relations, as evidenced by recent election results and public opinion polls.

Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu promotes ＂18×2 Beyond Youthful Days＂ in Japan, a Taiwanese-Japanese co-production that has captivated audiences in Taiwan. Hsu, alongside director Michihito Fujii and co-star Kaya Kiyohara, expressed his joy and anticipation during a press conference, highlighting the film’s themes of youth and friendship. Hsu’s chemistry with co-star Shunsuke Michieda is praised, with the actor inviting Michieda to visit Taiwan post-premiere. The film is currently screening in Taiwan and is scheduled for release in Japan in May.

Foundation Executive Director Hsiao Hsu-tsen warns that President Tsai Ing-wen’s failure to visit Taiping Island may break the tradition of asserting sovereignty in the South China Sea within two presidential terms, potentially affecting future claims and morale. The United States has historically opposed such visits, exerting pressure on former Presidents Ma Ying-jeou and Chen Shui-bian. Ma’s 2016 visit was not related to a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as clarified by Hsiao.

Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is set to visit mainland China again in April, leading a group of young people from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation exchange program on a cultural and educational tour. The visit includes stops at Peking University in Beijing, Sun Yat-sen University, and a grand ceremony worshipping the Yellow Emperor. Plans for a meeting between Ma and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are subject to China’s arrangements.

Taiwan’s Director-General in Boston, Charles Liao, responds to China’s interference in Taiwan’s elections with military threats and economic bullying. Liao highlights Taiwan’s commitment to democracy and refusal to bow to Chinese pressure. The U.S. State Department, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the European Union’s European External Action Service congratulate elected officials Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim. Despite China’s attempts at interference through disinformation, military intimidation, and economic threats, Taiwanese voters remain resilient in their pursuit of democracy and freedom. Liao’s response is prompted by a Boston Globe article suggesting that the U.S. should prioritize Taiwan as a democratic partner.

＂Island in Between,＂ a documentary by Taiwanese American director S. Leo Chiang, has been nominated for Best Documentary Short Film at the 96th Academy Awards. The film provides an outsider’s perspective on the everyday life of the Kinmen Islands, exploring the complex relationship between Taiwan, Kinmen, and China through the lens of Chiang’s father’s military service memories. Chiang, who was born in Taiwan and raised in the U.S., aims to offer a unique perspective on the Taiwan Strait crisis by sharing the experiences of the people living in the region. The winners of the 96th Academy Awards will be announced on March 10.

Taiwan’s historical documentary ＂Qianlong’s Tour of the West Lake＂ has been chosen for the Cinema Regained category at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), showcasing Taiwan’s traditional hand puppetry culture. Directed by Liu Yi-hung in 1994, the film was restored from 35mm original footage to 4K, paying tribute to Taiwanese puppet master Li Tien-lu and his ’I Wan Jan Puppet Theater.’ The IFFR’s recognition of Liu’s work highlights Taiwan’s cinematographic prowess. Li, born into a family of puppeteers, founded the I Wan Jan Puppet Theater in 1932, incorporating his distinctive Southern Min dialect. The IFFR previously screened the Taiwanese puppet film ＂Demigod: The Legend Begins＂ multiple times in 2023, further promoting Taiwan’s puppetry culture. The selection of ＂Qianlong’s Tour of West Lake＂ at the 2024 Rotterdam Film Festival brings Taiwan’s traditional puppetry culture closer to European movie enthusiasts. The IFFR, taking place from Jan. 25 to Feb. 4, 2024, has chosen three Taiwanese films, including ＂Who’ll Stop the Rain＂ by director Su Yi-hsuan and ＂When the Wind Rises＂ directed by Chen Hao, showcasing the breadth and quality of Taiwan’s filmmaking.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has begun distributing COVID-19 rapid test kits to travelers at Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei. The kits are available in the reception areas and exit halls of both terminals, and each traveler is eligible to receive one kit regardless of age. The decision was made in response to the increasing rates of respiratory diseases worldwide. The CDC Deputy Director-General, Philip Lo, stated that the peak of the COVID-19 surge in Taiwan is expected to be in mid-to-late January, with a possible rise after the Lunar New Year holidays. Travelers have expressed appreciation for the policy, with many noting how thoughtful and helpful the Taiwanese government is. The distribution of test kits may continue after the Lunar New Year holidays, depending on the international and domestic pandemic conditions.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao urges Taiwan’s people to promote the peaceful unification process and return cross-strait relations to the correct track. This comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the historically inevitable reunification of the motherland in his New Year’s address. The forthcoming presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan make these remarks noteworthy. Song’s message, titled ＂Keep the Direction, Forge Ahead,＂ was published in the ＂Cross-Strait Relations＂ magazine, highlighting mainland China’s strides in establishing its commanding position and initiative in cross-strait affairs in 2023. The bold declarations from China could potentially influence Taiwanese voters’ perceptions and choices at the polls.

Taiwan’s investment in China has reached its lowest point in a decade, making up just over 10% of the island’s total overseas direct investment, according to a report by Nikkei Asia. Recent official data from Taiwan reveals that foreign direct investments surged by 87% to reach $257 billion through November this year. However, investments in China plummeted by 34% to only $29 billion, representing a mere 12% of the total. Since 2010, Taiwanese investments in China have been steadily declining and are projected to drop below the lowest point recorded since 1999. In contrast, investments in the United States have increased ninefold to $96 billion, accounting for around 37% of the total outbound direct investment. Additionally, Taiwan’s direct investment in Germany has soared 25-fold to $39 billion, largely driven by the operations of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Sun Ming-te, Director of the Business Development and Research Center at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER), predicts that if tensions between the United States and China persist, Taiwan’s investment in China will continue to decline.

The newly appointed Chairperson of the New Media Entertainment Association (NMEA), Daphne Lee, emphasizes the importance of funding, talent, and global integration for Taiwan’s content industry to succeed. At the 2023 Asiahub New Media Summit in Taipei, Lee highlights the need for cross-sector collaboration and industry chain integration in the AI era. The summit features six main themes, 19 keynote speeches, panel discussions, and 7 workshops with 60 speakers. Participants, such as LINE Taiwan Managing Director Roger Chen, discuss Taiwan’s soft power, industry upgrade, transformation, and global outreach. Videoland Television Network Chairman Lee Chung-pei suggests creating quality content to ensure profitability and establish funding recovery mechanisms. Lin Chien-han, Chairman of Taiwan Secom, shares the company’s dual strategy of investment and production, moving from DVD rental services to investing in Taiwanese films. Lin also discusses how Taiwanese creative content is breaking into the international market by integrating local culture and socio-political issues, citing successful films like ＂The Candidate＂ and ＂The Bridge Curse.＂

Taiwan/Ireland Poetry Translation Competition announces Li Lo from Taiwan and Michael Sharkey from Northern Ireland as winners in the Hakka poetry category. The competition focused on translating Hakka poetry, with a piece titled ＂Daylight＂ by Taiwanese poet Tseng Gui-hai. Tseng expressed delight over the exceptional English translations, emphasizing their ability to connect people worldwide to Hakka culture and draw parallels between Taiwan and Ireland’s histories. Director James Hadley commended the winning entries for their creative interpretation and capturing the musicality of English while resonating with Hakka’s phonetic variations and cultural sentiments. Taiwan’s representative to Ireland, Yang Tzu-pao, highlighted the importance of understanding Hakka culture in comprehending Taiwan as a whole.

As the 2024 presidential election registration deadline approaches, rumors of a possible breakdown in the coalition between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have caused panic. Former legislator Shen Fu-hsiung broke the silence by asserting that TPP candidate Ko Wen-je would choose to form a ＂blue-white coalition＂ with KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih as his running mate. Shen based his observation on a conversation with TPP campaign office director Cho Yu-hsiu, who seemed unsure of Ko’s true thoughts. Shen’s prediction of a KMT-TPP joint ticket in October was proven true when Ko confirmed the collaboration on November 15, leading to a backlash from Ko’s supporters. However, Shen emphasized that Ko’s actions were not meant to deceive but were part of a secretive and strategic approach to political success.

Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou supports the idea of Kuomintang (KMT) presidential hopeful Hou Yu-ih and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential hopeful Ko Wen-je deciding on a merger through public polling. This suggestion comes amidst rumors that Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim could potentially be the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Lai Ching-te’s running mate. Former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu also supports Ma’s proposal, emphasizing that unity is crucial for strength. Ko has expressed willingness to resume cross-party discussions if Hou and the KMT agree to decide their merger through public polling. However, the KMT has stressed that public polling must align with the opinions of individuals and the party to maintain the spirit of the KMT-TPP alliance. These differences have led to difficulties in negotiations, which are at risk of collapsing. Hsu-tsen Hsiao, the director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, has conveyed Ma’s views to Hou and the KMT central committee, highlighting the potential losses the KMT could face in the upcoming elections if they fail to unite against the DPP.

The Taiwanese government plans to allocate at least NT＄20 billion next year to raise the salaries of healthcare workers in response to recent protests by medical professionals. Premier Chen Chien-jen advocates for increased respect, appreciation, and compensation for frontline staff, stating that a health insurance system should not be built on the ＂sweat and tears＂ of healthcare professionals. Discussions are underway with President Tsai Ing-wen, National Health Insurance Administration Director-General Shih Chung-liang, and Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan on methods to enhance salaries through health insurance and public budget funds. The financial assistance will be directed at healthcare personnel excluding doctors, with specific details of the plan still under discussion. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has highlighted the global shortage of healthcare workers as a significant concern, and with COVID-19 still a threat, the government aims to increase healthcare investment and address the welfare of those on the medical frontline.

The Taiwanese government plans to allocate at least NT$20 billion in 2024 to subsidize healthcare workers’ salaries, according to Premier Chen Chien-jen. The aim is to ensure that the health insurance system is not built on the sweat and tears of medical staff. Chen emphasized the need for healthcare workers to be respected, appreciated, and adequately compensated within the healthcare system. President Tsai Ing-wen, Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan, and National Health Insurance Administration Director Shi Chong-liang have held discussions on enhancing medical personnel’s salaries through health insurance and public budget. The proposed funds will be budgeted from public expenditures, although the details are still being planned. The budget for fiscal year 2024 has been submitted to the Legislative Yuan, and if approved, the new subsidies will officially roll out the following year. The specific manner and target of the subsidies are still being formulated.

A civil alliance of local NGOs in Taiwan has launched a new moral code for reporting on Taiwanese elections. The code emphasizes fairness, accuracy, professional tones, respect for privacy, and media transparency. The initiative aims to enhance public trust in the media as elections approach. The alliance, consisting of Reporters Without Borders, Citizen Media Watch, and the Taiwan Media Watch Foundation, received widespread support from labor unions in the new media industry. The director of RSF Taipei Bureau highlighted the challenges faced by Taiwanese media, including political polarization and excessive commercialization. As the presidential campaigns intensify, more media organizations are expected to participate. The director of the Taiwan Media Watch Foundation emphasized the importance of press freedom in Taiwan’s democracy, warning of the negative impact manipulative activities could have on the democratic environment.

The Travel Agents Association Chairman, Hsiao Po-jen, has announced that the Taiwanese government may lift travel group bans to China before Chinese New Year in 2024. Minister Wang Kwo-tsai of Transportation and Communications and Mainland Affairs Council revealed that the MOTC Tourist Administration Director General, Chou Yung-Hui, confirmed plans to lift restrictions on Taiwanese travel groups just before the holiday next year. The ban on private arrangement of group tours to China has been in place since the Covid-19 pandemic, making this decision a significant move to enhance diplomatic relations between the two states. The MAC has also announced plans to restore cross-strait group tours, initially allowing 2,000 visitors per day from China. The lift on travel restrictions may come earlier than expected if China expresses goodwill to welcome tourists from across the Strait.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has received approval from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to establish a fabrication facility in Germany. At the CDKWV 90th Anniversary International Conference, optimism abounded as experts discussed the potential of this 3.5 billion-euro investment. Dr. Jörg Polster, Director General of the German Institute Taipei, highlighted the compatibility of cultures, while Stan Shih, Acer’s co-founder, raised concerns about cultural differences. The partnership is expected to deepen as German investments in Taiwan reach record levels.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je’s campaign office director, Chou Yu-hsiu, has stated that there are no ongoing discussions about a potential collaboration between Ko and Taiwanese business tycoon Terry Gou on Tuesday(Oct. 17).