Taiwan
- World News
Over a quarter of travellers from China test positive in Taiwan
Thailand may want to rethink its pandemic prevention strategy for Chinese tourists after news broke this week that more than a quarter of passengers from China landing in Taiwan tested positive for Covid-19. The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) in Taiwan reported that over a quarter of the 500 plus travellers who arrived in Taiwan from China returned positive Covid…
- News
CNN needs geography lesson after mistaking Taiwan for Thailand
United States-based news platform CNN needs a geography lesson after confusing Taiwan for Thailand, or more specifically, Taipei for Bangkok. The multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, confused Thailand for Taiwan several times during their live broadcast countdown to New Year’s Day CNN Hong Kong reporter Kristie Lu Stout asked her Taiwan counterpart in Taipei, Will Ripley, how…
- Economy News
Electric vehicles to hit the accelerator this year, says FTI
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) predicts a bold future for Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) industry, unlike the International Monetary Fund which believes the kingdom is heading for a recession. The FTI reckons the EV industry will hit the accelerator this year and sell between 25,000, to 35,000 cars, reports Bangkok Post. But, to achieve that target the EV industry…
- World News
Aussie cops bust billion-baht meth shipment
Aussie cops have busted a billion-baht meth shipment, charging two senior members of the drug ring and taking them into custody. The two members were charged in Taiwan over an alleged plot to import 30kg of methamphetamine into Australia hidden inside 3D printers. Australia is in the grip of what authorities have called an “ice epidemic”. They say the drug…
- World News
Thai visitors to Japan up fourfold
Thai visitors to Japan are up 26,000. The number of Thai people holidaying in Japan increased from 7,600 in September to 34,000 this month as Japan ended its Covid-19 restrictions and eased visa rules. At least a million Thais are expected to visit in 2023. President of the Thai-Japan Tourist Association Anake Srishevachart expects Japan to welcome more than 100,000…
- Transport News
Royal Thai Air Force airbus sets flight record
A Royal Thai Air Force Airbus A340-500 completed what appears to be the longest flight ever operated by the aircraft. The record-breaking flight took place with much less fanfare than Singapore Airlines’ commercial record in 2018. The flight from Bangkok to Charlotte, North Carolina, took 18 hours and 14 minutes and covered 14,555 kilometres. The flight landed on Wednesday, November…
- World News
US agrees to improve dialogue with China at G20 Summit
It appears United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping listened to the sensible words of US Professor Jeffrey Sachs at the G20 Summit in Indonesia yesterday and sat around a table to talk instead of dragging the globe into yet another war. Both presidents met cordially ahead of the summit, in Bali, shook hands, posed for the cameras,…
- World News
New staff make a splash at Singapore Airlines job fair
New staff made a splash at a recent recruitment drive by Singapore Airlines. Singapore’s flag carrier restarted cabin crew recruitment in Thailand, South Korea, and Taiwan, after a two-year freeze because of Covid-19 and the relaxation of travel restrictions. The airline needs more Asian staff to meet higher demand now that travel restrictions in Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan are…
- World News
21 Thai gamblers arrested for illegal hi-lo game in Taiwan
A Thai woman and 20 Thai gamblers were arrested in Taiwan on October 1 for playing at an illegal gaming house. Taiwanese media, United Daily News (UDN) and Mirror Media, reported that police in the Shilin district of Taipei were notified about the operation of an illegal casino at a two-story house rented by a 63 year old Thai woman…
- China News
Xi tells world to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs
President Xi Jinping sprung no surprises in his opening speech at China’s 20th Party Congress in Beijing yesterday. The Chinese leader emphasized his commitment to the mainland’s zero-Covid-19 policy, safeguarding national security, attracting talent, and a pledge toward the one country, two systems principle of socialism with Chinese characteristics in Hong Kong, Macau, and the eventual reunification of Taiwan. In…
- Tourism News
Taiwan welcomes Bangkok travellers as first unrestricted flight
Taiwan has ended mandatory quarantine and welcomed a plane from Bangkok as the first international flight to land without Covid-19 restrictions. Just after midnight this morning, a flight from Bangkok arrived to fanfare as the first commercial flight where passengers were not required to quarantine on arrival. Taiwan lagged behind other countries in Asia in loosening restrictions as the Covid…
- Thailand Travel
Thai Lion Air to resume direct flights to Taipei
Budget airline Thai Lion Air will resume its direct service between Bangkok and Taipei in Taiwan on December 17. Tickets start at 2,950 baht one-way. Flight SL396 will depart from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 8.35pm and will arrive in Taipei at 1.25am the next day. Flight SL397 will depart from Taipei’s…
- World News
China punishes Taiwan farmers for Pelosi visit
Taiwan is still feeling the fallout from the visit of US politician Nancy Pelosi in August. China’s response to Taiwan accepting the US House of Representatives Speaker was to punish the country with a series of economic measures such as blocking the imports of more than 2,000 different Taiwanese foodstuffs, including pomelos. Understandably, Taiwan’s farmers are suffering from the ban.…
- World News
Tsunami warning cancelled after Taiwan earthquake
A tsunami warning has been cancelled after an earthquake rocked Taiwan’s southeastern region today. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for Taiwan after the earthquake but later rescinded the alert. Today’s earthquake struck Taiwan’s rural Yujing district with a 6.9 magnitude, and a depth of 10 kilometres. Photos showed buildings collapsed, and about 20 people were evacuated…
- World News
Taipei accuses Beijing of interference at trade fair in Penang
The Taiwan government pointed the finger of blame at China after their beauty queen representative was banned from joining fellow contestants greeting guests at the 2022 World Congress on Innovation & Technology (WCIT) in Penang, Malaysia. Malaysian trade event organisers stopped Miss Taiwan, Kao Man-jung, waving the Taiwan, or Republic of China, flag on stage. She was later seen in…
- Tourism News
China Airlines opens a new route to Chiang Mai
China Airlines yesterday announced the good news that it intends to launch flights to Chiang Mai in Thailand. The bad news is that it won’t happen until next year. The Taiwan-based airline revealed on the day it reopened its borders that flights to the northern city of Chiang Mai take off on January 20 next year. Flight CI851 from Taiwan…
- World News
Royal Caribbean offers cruises to Thailand & other Asian locations in 2023
Royal Caribbean has announced a new series of Asian cruises on their ship ‘Spectrum of the Seas,’ setting sail in 2023 and 2024. Beginning in Singapore, travellers can set off on cruises for 5, 7, 9 or 12 nights, visiting various locations in Asia including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. Guests can choose from cruises which make stops…
- Economy News
US’s Chips & Science Act good news for Thailand’s car industry
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) made it known yesterday that they feared China’s trade embargo with Taiwan would affect business in Thailand, particularly in the automobile industry. The FTI said the car industry was anxious China would deny Taiwan the raw materials Thailand needed to make semiconductors that the Thai transportation business is dependent on. Those fears remain in…
- World News
Chinese military excercises spook shipping vessels at Taiwan port
As tensions escalate with China exerting authority over Taiwan, many shipping vessels are going out of their way to avoid Kaohsiung port in the south of Taiwan, fearing for their safety. Chinese military ships are running drills and exercises just 15 nautical miles from the vital shipping port, making shippers worry about possibly being hit by Chinese missiles. Almost half…
- Thailand News
Thailand to exploit the mini trade war between Taiwan & China
Thailand is looking to exploit the strained relationship between China and Taiwan exacerbated by the visit of Nancy Pelosi to Taipei on Tuesday. Reports circulating in the media say that China is to embark on a mini-trade war with Taiwan to economically punish them because of Pelosi’s visit, and plans to suspend the import of 35 foodstuff categories from the…
- Politics News
Thailand backs ‘One China’ policy amid US Taiwan PR disaster
Thailand called for restraint between China and the United States amid Nancy Pelosi’s brief visit to Taiwan on Tuesday. It is unclear why the US House of Representatives Speaker met with Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-Wen in Taipei, other than yet another shit-stirring exercise by the US to provoke China into doing something rash. It almost had the desired effect. China’s…
- Crime News
Wanted Taiwanese call centre scammer extradited from Albania to Thailand
A Taiwanese man wanted for allegedly scamming Thai victims from a call centre operation in Dubai arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday afternoon to face Thailand’s justice system after being arrested in Albania in September. Tzu Yuan Kuo – or “Ayen” – was the “deputy leader” of a call centre gang scamming victims in Thailand, Japan and Malaysia from Dubai…
- Crime News
Customs seizes 175 million baht of ketamine heading to Taiwan
In a huge drug bust, ketamine with a street value of 175 million baht was seized by customs officials in Bangkok, stopping the drugs from leaving the country. The officials recovered 50 kilogrammes of ketamine at Bangkok Port that were scheduled to be sent illegally to Taiwan. The Customs Department uncovered the criminal drug shipment at the port right before…
- Crime News
Second suspect admits beating Thai couple to death with iron rod in Taiwan
Police arrested a second man on suspicion of jointly murdering a Thai couple – the woman pregnant with twins – earlier this month in Taiwan. “Thanawat” admitted beating the couple to death with an iron rod together with Santi, the original prime suspect, and another Thai national. On Friday, Santi handed himself into the police in Chiang Dao, northern Thailand.…
- Crime News
UPDATE #3: Thai couple murdered in Taiwan
UPDATE #3: The man suspected of murdering a Thai couple in Taiwan last week – the woman pregnant with twins – handed himself in to the Royal Thai Police at 8am this morning. Police arrested 35 year old “Santi” at the Border Police Division 335 in Chiang Dao district in the northern province of Chiang Mai after he made contact…
- Crime News
UPDATE #2: Thai couple murdered in Taiwan
UPDATE #2: The Thai man who went on the run after murdering a Thai couple in Taiwan last week asked a middleman to contact the Royal Thai Police on his behalf to inform them that he wants to hand himself in. Apparently, he feels guilty and wants to surrender to police. The police have not spoken to the suspect directly so…
- Crime News
Brother of pregnant Thai woman murdered in Taiwan demands justice
The brother of a Thai woman murdered in Taiwan is calling on police to catch the killer. Thirty-eight year old Yingyot Sae Li said the man who murdered his sister and her husband had been very close to his family, and grew up in the same village as them. His sister, Potjanee, had been 5 pregnant with twins when the…
- Crime News
UPDATE: Thai couple murdered in Taiwan
UPDATE: Last week, A Thai man murdered a Thai couple in Taiwan – the woman pregnant with twins – and stuffed their bodies into the trunk of a BMW in Taoyuan city near the capital Taipei. The prime suspect, a Thai man from Ubon Ratchathani, fled Taiwan to his home in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on Thursday. By the time…
- China News
Biden threatens military action against China
Not content with provoking Russia by having NATO troops camped all along the Ukraine borders, US President Joe Biden is threatening to do the same with China. Biden today threatened military action if China were to invade Taiwan, despite having few recently public-stated comments from Beijing to support his comments. The 79 year old says the burden to protect Taiwan is…
- World News
Asia News Today | Taiwanese army reserves on high alert
Hundreds of Taiwanese army reserves have carried out training exercises after a call from the Taiwanese president calling for “unity” as the island keeps an eye on China’s reaction to the invasion of Ukraine. Taiwan has kept its military reservists on high alert over the past year.About 400 personnel took part in target training and combat simulations yesterday in efforts…
