On December 5th, Rti (Radio Taiwan International) held a press conference at Eslite Spectrum in Songshan District, Taipei City, to launch a new book Shortwave Era: From the Cold War to Democracy, From Intelligence Broadcasting to the Voice of Peace, Let the World Hear Taiwan’s Voice.

Shortwave Era chronicles Rti’s nearly century-long journey broadcasting Taiwan’s voice to the world in multilingual languages. From World War II to the end of Cold War, Rti was not only an international radio station but also played a unique role on the special battleground, including executing intelligence missions through the “Teresa Teng Time” program and compiling “Communist Bandit Broadcasts” as part of classified intelligence operations.

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Rti Chairperson Cheryl Lai remarked that today’s Rti is like a “mini United Nations,” with colleagues from around the world sharing “Taiwan’s story,” which is also “the world’s story,” fully reflecting Rti’s international character and cultural mission.

At the book launch, four Rti hosts shared moving stories. Japanese-language host Wang Shu-qing, with 45 years of experience, spoke of listeners as family, including one veteran listener who has been tuning in for over 60 years and still records the details of every broadcast. Mandarin host Tan Zhi-yi shared her experience of Chinese listeners visiting Taiwan and Rti hosting family reunion events for foreign migrant workers.

Thai-language host Tao Yun-sheng mentioned how his programs provide essential information to newly arrived migrant workers in Taiwan, helping them overcome difficulties. Vietnamese host Vy Fann shared the story of a Vietnamese Chinese listener who had been tuning in to Rti for 40 or 50 years. Although this listener, who was like family, has since passed away, the deep bond remains.

In the face of major international events, Rti has always been on the frontline. When the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, Rti established a Ukrainian-language program that immediately reported on the situation, with Ukrainian expatriates providing first hand information. The book also includes many touching stories, such as one of a Malaysian listener who was isolated due to a rare illness, and how Rti opened a window for her to the wider world.

Shortwave Era provides a detailed account of how Rti has used multilingual broadcasting to build international communication bridges, witnessing Taiwan’s significant interactions with the global community. The book is now available at major bookstores, e-book platforms, and online bookstores.