Author: Phillip Charlier

Woman held at knifepoint in post office robbery

Dalin Township post office after robbery
Violent Crimes 
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A man grabbed a female volunteer worker and held her at knifepoint until staff handed over a stack of cash in Chiayi County today, May 7. Shortly after 4:00 pm this afternoon, a man wearing an open-face helmet and a face mask, walked into a post office on Zhongshan Road, Dalin Township. When a female volunteer stepped forward to take his temperature, as required under epidemic prevention regulations, the man pulled out a knife, grabbed the woman, and shouted “robbery!”

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US bombers fly close to Taiwan on East China Sea mission

B-1B Lancer
Military Affairs 
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Two US B-1B long-range bomber aircraft passed close to Taiwan’s Aircraft Identification Zone to the northeast today, while a midair refueling aircraft flew by the south of the island, according to United Daily News. The United Daily News report showed the flight path as reported on Twitter by @AircraftSpots showing that two B-1B bombers with the call signs LANDO 01 & 02 flew from Anderson Base Guam into the East China Sea via the Miyaki Strait today, May 4. USAF

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US Air Force sends supersonic bombers for missions over the South China Sea

B-1B Lancer refueling mid-air
Military Affairs 
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Two US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew a sortie into East China Sea north-east of Taiwan before turning towards Guam today, May 1, reported Aircraft Spots on Twitter. This follows a sortie by two of the supersonic bombers over the South China Sea, just 2 days ago, according to a press release from Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, yesterday. ” This operation demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s dynamic force employment model in line with the National Defense Strategy’s

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Three workers injured after explosion at biogas facility

injured worker after explosion at biogas facility
Health and Safety 
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Three workers were injured after an explosion at a biogas recovery facility in Hualien County this morning, Labor Day, May 1. Hualien County Fire Department received reports of a massive explosion in Yuli Township at around 9:45 am. Three workers were found to have suffered multiple fractures and other injuries at the site of the explosion. One worker had a fractured spine and femur and was transferred to Taipei City for treatment after being stabilized at a local hospital. Another

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One worker dead, three injured after construction site ground collapse

excavators at site of ground collapse
Health and Safety 
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A female worker’s body was recovered 13 hours after she was buried alive on a construction site in Taoyuan City yesterday afternoon, April 30. Four people were trapped after the ground collapsed at the site of an underground car park construction project in Pingzhen District shortly after 4:00 pm. Three of the trapped workers were rescued and two were treated for cuts and bruises, but a 62-year-old woman remained missing. Firefighters worked all night in a search and rescue operation

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New coast guard ships designed to double up as missile corvettes in wartime

Anping Class Coast Guard Patrol Ship
Military Affairs 
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The first twin-hull high-speed Anping-class coast guard cutter was launched in Kaohsiung today, April 27, and is designed with both peacetime and wartime capabilities. The 600-ton vessel is a coast guard version of the ROC Navy’s Tuo Chiang class stealth missile corvette, dubbed Taiwan’s “carrier killer” ship. Fitted with a water cannon, and the multi-barrel Zhenhai rocket system, the ships are fitted for use in peacetime coastal and border defense operations. However the ships can also carry the same anti-land

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At least 5 dead, 50 injured after KTV fire in Taipei City: Alarms and sprinkler system were switched off

ktv building engulfed in smoke
Fire 
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Fifty four people were sent to hospital, and 5 have been declared dead after a fire at a popular KTV in Taipei City today, April 26. The Taipei City Fire Department dispatched 56 fire appliances, 23 ambulances, and 192 personnel to the Party World KTV on Linsen North Road in Zhongshan District after the fire was reported shortly before 11:00 am. According to the preliminary investigation, the fire broke out on the 5th floor of the 14-storey building, trapping people

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Driver-less electric buses to begin testing in New Taipei City

driver-less electric bus in New Taipei City, Taiwan
Business and Economy 
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Driver-less electric buses will begin plying a 1.2 kilometer route in Tamsui District, New Taipei City tomorrow, April 24, but passengers will not be allowed on board for the first month. Road markings and signage has been completed and the road test will be launched to collect operational information and public opinions. After the first month of testing, a further 6-month-long testing period with passengers will begin. The trial route will connect Tamsui Light Rail Kanding Station with New Square

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Three Navy crew test positive for COVID-19 after months at sea

Navy personnel from a ship where sailors tested positive for COVID-19 in Taiwan
Military Affairs 
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Three navy crew members have tested positive for COVID-19 after departing Taiwan February 21, and stopping only at the coronavirus-free island of Palau more than one month ago. The three young sailors, all in their 20s served on board one of three ships to make the annual oceanic training voyage, returning to the Port of Kaohsiung April 9. This year’s voyage was shortened to 48 days due to the coronavirus situation preventing visits to some countries. Since the ships had

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China-based Taiwanese White House reporter to be investigated by Taiwan authorities

Taiwanese born reporter Chang Ching-yi and US President Donald Trump
Media Issues 
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A reporter for a Chinese state-owned media group who deceptively answered “Taiwan” when US President Donald Trump asked him where he was from during a White House press briefing last week, will be investigated by the relevant authorities, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said today. Last Wednesday, April 8, Chang Ching-yi was attending a regular White House press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic when the President asked him where he was from. While the Taiwan born and educated Chang did

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Man spends 81 days in hospital with no symptoms of COVID-19

central epidemic command center Taiwan
Health and Safety 
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A Taiwanese businessman who was put into a negative pressure isolation ward in January ,after breaching quarantine on his return from Wuhan, China, then testing positive for COVID-19, was finally released today, Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) confirmed. The man, who is not identified in media reports, but described as in his fifties, returned to Taiwan from Wuhan in January. However, instead of self-quarantining at home as required by anti-epidemic regulations, he went out to nightclubs in Kaohsiung City.

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