Author: Eryk Michael Smith

This episode is different from the significantly edited on available on the official Formosa Files podcast, where we try to adhere to the mostly non-political stances. This video, however, has no restrictions and is the full one-hour, almost unedited version of Eryk Michael Smith’s chat with Ben Sando.

The Hequn (合群) and Jianye (建業) villages are areas long recognized as the largest surviving cluster of naval dependents’ housing in Taiwan. Much of the district dates back to the late 1940s and 1950s, when thousands of military families settled in Zuoying following the KMT’s relocation to Taiwan.

Taro News reported that “after the Ministry of Transportation reviewed and approved the revised plan, the Kaohsiung City Government now says the full line will open in 2034. The partial opening of sections Y1 to Y5 and Y5 to Y18 (from the depot area to the Weiwuying district) could occur in 2032.”

A speaker at a DPP mayoral candidate’s rally told supporters to adjust their answers in political polls. Critics say that’s cheating. The candidate says it was just an explanation of how polls work.

The Marine Debris Recycling Coalition has grown to more than 70 members since its founding in 2021. The exhibition is free and open to the public through November 2, at Pinway Warehouse No. 8 (Pinway 八號倉庫).

By RK Shih/Staff (Image via Kaohisung City Govt)

The redevelopment of Kaohsiung’s waterfront moves away from port-heavy industrial land use to a mixed waterfront district integrating corporate R&D, finance, culture, and public space; a 20-year transition, implemented in defined steps.

By Pai Pei-hwa (白佩華) | Special to The Kaohsiung Times Oct. 27, 2025Image source: Ministry of the Environment website TAIWAN — For years, Taiwan treated food waste largely as pig feed or compost material. But with the threat of African swine fever (ASF) and rising urban complaints over odors, the frailties of those conventional disposal routes have been exposed. According to Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA), starting in October 2021, small-scale pig farms (fewer than 200 heads) were banned from using general food waste, animal by-products, and slaughterhouse waste as feed. Farms with 200 heads or more may continue if…

Today, the Kaohsiung Times gratefully begins running John Ross’ Taiwan in 100 Books (2020). It tells the story of Taiwan through the prism of some of the most important and/or most interesting English-language works on the country. Unfortunately, due to some dark publisher drama, the title is not currently available for sale; so, John is making it available here. In the coming months, we will, in weekly installments, be serializing the entire book.

The Neimen Tourism and Recreation Park (內門觀光休閒園區), covering roughly 11.5 hectares, is currently undergoing phased construction, with a soft opening targeted for late 2025.