Outside the political sphere, there is probably no one in Taiwan who gets as much publicity as Siamese twins Chang Chung-jen (
The celebration recalled a familiar scene two decades ago in an operating room of the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH,
The operation on Sept. 10, 1979, was significant because it was expected to become the world's first separation of male Siamese twins joined at the hip and born with three legs. The operation was successful and made medical history.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Unlike the large number of live TV reports today, local television stations at that time made very few real-time broadcasts except for baseball games involving teams from Taiwan in the Little League World Series each year.
Because of the publicity, Chung-jen and Chung-yi became household names and their photos before and after the operation were on the front page of every newspaper, with some still hanging on a wall at NTUH.
After a lapse of 20 years, the twins, now 23, yesterday gathered with the doctors who performed the operation in a celebration at NTUH of the 20th anniversary of the event.
National Taiwan University President Chen Wei-jao (
"The two brothers continue to make contributions to society. Chung-jen, for instance, now donates NT$800 monthly to a charity organization to help a girl in China."
Chen said, however, that "the pity is that they lack care and concern from their parents."
The parents of the brothers have been out of contact with them for years, leaving them to live on their own. They are supported by donations from the public.
Both said that they miss their parents.
In a documentary self-produced by the two brothers highlighting episodes in their life after the surgical separation, Chung-yi, the younger, sent a message to his parents that he still loves them despite all that has happened.
The documentary, made public for the first time, is an emotional film, with the two brothers using Celine Dion's theme song from the movie Titanic, "My Heart Will Go On," as the background music.
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
RSS