スピーキングチャレンジ【CNN10】ウクライナ戦争と台湾情勢・航空業界が直面する困難｜2020年4月19日

[Transcript]

China-Taiwan Military Tensions

Today’s CNN10 begins from our motherland Taiwan, here’s a brief look back at the tensions between China and Taiwan. Taiwan is located about 160 kilometers east of Mainland China and both governments have been at odds for decades since 1949. When China's Communist Party won a civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan. Today, the island sees itself as an independent democracy while China sees it as part of the mainland and therefore subject to China's communist government. The two governments are not at war at this point. But after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, some experts have said China might be considering a similar operation in Taiwan.

While no one knows for sure if such action is going to take place, there has certainly been a lot of political and military activity around the island. It is in a time like this when war and invasion are taking place in the world that the international community worries about Taiwan. A group of US lawmakers recently visited Taiwan to show their support, and China called that trip provocative and responded by holding military drills near the island with ships, bombers, and fighter jets. Today’s news story also covers the Japanese perspective on the tension with China over the contested waters of the Senkaku islands, or as we call them in Chinese, the Diaoyu Islands.

Airlines Understaffed as Travel Demands Surge

As demand for airline travel increases this summer along with ticket prices. One challenge airlines are facing is pilot fatigue, an airline pilots association says that's the no. 1 safety threat for Southwest Airlines, but that's not the only company whose employees say they're exhausted. Airline travel hasn't completely recovered from the covid pandemic, but it's surely getting there. Government data shows that as of April 2022, there are about 90% of the travelers there were in 2019. However, there has been an ongoing shortage of pilots, because thousands of them retired during the pandemic. Others have complained of not enough pay, long and expensive training, being put on leave without pay, and covid vaccine requirements.

Understaffed airlines and overworked flight crews have caused carriers to cancel flights. The latest numbers show that airlines are still shy, more than 30,000 workers compared to before the pandemic. And there we have it, folks, pilot shortage is real, and the need to travel is even more real, it is as if everyone wants to scream out “I can’t take it anymore” to this never-ending pandemic.


Folks, have you ever owned a pet? How old were your little friends? Check out today’s CNN10 video to meet Toby Kieth, the oldest dog living in the world. Born in the year 2000, the world’s oldest Chihuahua just celebrated his 21st birthday. It is said that he’s still healthy, just sleeps a lot now. Check out today’s video to meet this cute little furry friend.

[Sentence of the day]

When China's Communist Party won the civil war in the 1940s, the nation's previous government was forced to flee to Taiwan.

[Vocabulary words]

1. civil
relating to citizens of a state or nation

Ex: Helicopters are mainly used for military rather than civil use.

2. previous
happening or existing before something

Ex: John has two daughters from a previous marriage.

3. flee
to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear

Ex: In order to avoid being captured, Arthur fled to the mountains.

Alright, folks, that’s all we have time for today.
Question of the day: Are you a dog person or a cat’s slave?
Leave a comment down below and share your love for our furry little friends.
This is Ken Miao. I’ll see you again next week!