World’s largest container ship docks at Port of Kaohsiung

HMM Gdansk at Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2020

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Port of Kaohsiung, shipping

The world’s largest container ship, HMM Gdansk docked in Kaohsiung Harbor this morning, setting a record for Taiwan’s largest port. The newly built, Korean-owned, Panama-flagged vessel is 399.9 meters long, 61 meters wide with a gross tonnage of 228,283 tons. It has a load capacity of 24,000 TEU (20-foot standard container unit). HMM Gdansk is the largest container ship to have berthed in Port of Kaohsiung. The previous record was set by the Benjamin Franklin, with a total length of

Entertainment

July 6, 2020July 6, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hsieh Ho-hsien

Taiwanese singer Hsieh Ho-hsien ( 謝和弦 ) was found guilty of disseminating false information and handed a fine of NT60,000 by the New Taipei District Court today, after sharing a post on Instagram in February titled “Weed kills coronavirus.” Police received a report about Hsieh’s Instagram post and first questioned the 33-year-old entertainer on February 24. An investigation found that Hsieh had received a message from a friend on February 6, claiming that marijuana could “kill” coronavirus. Prosecutors said that

bus driver seen performing a sniff-test to migrant workers before allowing them to board

Society

July 5, 2020July 6, 2020 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment bus, migrant workers, Taichung City

A bus company in Taichung City will face a fine after one of its drivers was caught refusing service to migrant workers he deemed to be wearing too much “perfume.” The driver of the Taichung No. 97 bus was caught red handed on video stepping off the bus and sniff-testing three migrant workers, before allowing two to board, and rejecting a third, who he had deemed to be wearing an excessive amount of fragrance. The video also shows the bus

Taiwan Coast Guard rescues marines after boating accident Kaohsiung

Military Affairs

July 5, 2020July 5, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hanguang Exercises, marine search and rescue, ROC Marines

One of three marines left in a critical condition after an inflatable boat flipped during a drill on June 3 died in the early hours of this morning, June 5. Seven officers and troops of the Marine Corps 99th Brigade, 2nd Battalion were thrown into the water when an inflatable boat overturned in rough seas off the coast of Kaohsiung, Friday. Four of the crew members were injured, with three suffering life-threatening injuries. The marines were participating in landing drills

International Relations

July 3, 2020July 3, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Taiwan Defense Act, US Congress

A bill aimed at ensuring the USA can meet its obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act in the face of the “Chinese Communist Party’s aggressive military build-up” was introduced to the House of Representatives, June 1. The bill is the identical to the Taiwan Defense Act introduced to the Senate last month. Introduced by Representative Mike Gallagher, the bill is designed to ensure the Department of Defense maintains the ability to defeat a Chinese invasion against Taiwan. “Yesterday, we saw

SWAT team officer attempts to disarm suspect armed with pistol

Violent Crimes

June 28, 2020June 28, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Changhua County, firearms, Hemei Township, police officer shot

A police officer was shot while attempting to disarm a suspect in Changhua County this morning, after a man faced police in a four-hour long standoff outside a small factory building. Officers from the Taichung City Investigation Bureau located the man in Changhua County during an investigation into an armed intimidation case that occurred in Taichung City on June 23. Investigation bureau officers and a team from one of Taiwan’s “Thunder Squad” special weapons and tactical response police units were

derailed sugar train after level crossing collision

Traffic Accidents

June 27, 2020June 27, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment little-blue-truck, train derailed, Xihu Sugar Factory, xihu township

A former sugar train converted to carry tourists at an old sugar factory in Changhua County is back in operation after a collision and derailment at a level crossing yesterday, June 25. The Xihu Sugar Factory train, carrying 270 passengers was hit by a truck at around 1:30 pm yesterday afternoon, derailing the locomotive and the first two carriages, and causing the locomotive to plunge off a bridge into a drainage ditch. Fortunately, the passengers and driver of the train

search and rescue personnel search for missing person suspected drowned

Health and Safety

June 26, 2020June 26, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment dragon-boat-festival, drowning, swimming

Five people are reported to have died by drowning in four separate incidents around Taiwan on the first day of the four-day Dragon Boat Festival long weekend. Drowning incidents occurred in Pingtung County, Miaoli County, Hsinchu County, and New Taipei City, yesterday, June 25. Two high school students drown in Hsinchu County At around 2:00 pm yesterday, four 17-year-old male high school students decided to go for a swim in the Youluo River under Neiwan Bridge in Hengshan Township, Hsinchu

Animals

June 26, 2020June 26, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment cobra, snake-bite, Taichung City

A woman in Taichung City was bitten by a cobra while she was cooking lunch in her kitchen, yesterday, June 25. Taichung City fire bureau received a report of a snakebite in Qingshui District at 10:43 am. Fire bureau ambulance officers found that a 64-year-old woman named Hsu had been bitten on her foot by an unidentified snake. Ms Hsu said that she had just put a pot of water on the stove to boil when she felt a sharp

map of aircraft movements in Bashi Channel and South China Sea

Military Affairs

June 25, 2020June 25, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Bashi Channel, South China Sea, US Military

A total of 5 US military aircraft were operating over the Bashi Channel, and South China Sea yesterday, June 24, and it is suspected the aircraft were tracking submarine movements, according to reports in Taiwan media, including Liberty Times. The primary source for the media reports is the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), operating out of Peking University’s Institute of Oceanology. SCSPI tweeted details of the aircraft movements late yesterday evening, showing that two P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance

map showing Dongsha (Pratas) Islands in the South China Sea

Military Affairs

June 24, 2020June 25, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Dongsha Islands, Pratas Islands, ROC Marines, South China Sea

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed Monday that marines will be deployed to the Dongsha (Pratas) Islands on a “training mission.” The move comes ahead of Chinese military drills designed to simulate a takeover of the Taiwan-controlled islands, which sit in the South China Sea, around 400 kilometers away from Taiwan’s southernmost point, Cape Eluanbi. Japan’s Kyodo News reported May 12 that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was planning the drills in the South China Sea on an “unprecedented

World’s largest container ship docks at Port of Kaohsiung

Entertainer fined for sharing “marijuana kills COVID” message

Bus driver busted sniff-testing migrant workers: refusing service to the overly-perfumed

One of three critically injured marines dead after boat capsizes

Taiwan Defense Act introduced to US House of Reps: “end strategic ambiguity and draw a clear red line”, Rep says

Cop shot and injured attempting to disarm suspect during SWAT raid

Tourist sugar train back on track a day after crash and derailment

Five people drown in four separate incidents on first day of hot, four-day-long holiday

Woman bitten by cobra while cooking in the kitchen

US military aircraft operating south of Taiwan point to possible submarine activity

Taiwan sends marines to reinforce islands ahead of Chinese invasion drills in the South China Sea