To introduce the culture, history and scenic attractions of Taiwan to other countries in Southeast Asia, and to strengthen friendship among Asian people, the Republic of China set up an international service radio station named "Voice of Asia" at the beginning of 1978. Four languages -- Mandarin, English, Malay and Thai are used to reach listeners, mainly in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

The eight-and-a-half hours of programming a day is mainly devoted to three topics--news and commentary, learning Chinese and variety shows. The news section includes items from each country to which the programs are beamed, plus world news and news from ROC and the China mainland. In the Chinese teaching section, national phonetic symbols are used, and for variety, there are lessons on Chinese history set out in chronological order. The variety programs, mainly consisting of Mandarin songs sung by famous vocalists in free China, have the biggest following, however. The programs are made up of folk, popular and campus songs, ballads, and classical Chinese and foreign music.

On Sundays, special programs such as spoken drama, shots of scenic spots, Asian tourism and "Audience Club" are broadcast. The programs on tourist spots in Asia, which feature contributions from listeners, who often offer their services as guides, are particularly popular. The "Audience Club" is designed to provide all kinds of services for listeners, not the least being a "missing persons" bureau which assists family reunions and makes friends out of strangers.

During its first year, the station received about 2,000 letters a month, and since each letter is estimated to represent 300 audience, it can be seen how great the station's following is in Asia. At present, the station's message also reaches listeners on the Kwangtung and Kwangsi provinces in China mainland, and in the United States, Africa, Europe, India, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. For many Vietnamese refugees, the Voice of Asia is like a beacon guiding them to the free world.

Some listeners send small gifts to show their appreciation of the programs. During visits to Taiwan, many of them visit the host and hostess of each show. With the encouragement of its audience, the station provides many extra services, ranging from distributing memorial flags, medals, Chinese lunar calendars, photographs of movie stars and singers, to helping overseas Chinese apply to enter schools in the Republic of China, and buy Mandarin dictionaries, folk stories, tourist guides and records. The radio also mails copies of Sinorama to inform people of the cultural, artistic and social activities in the Republic of China.

At present, the Voice of Asia has seven program hosts and hostesses, one for the Thai language, two for Malay, one for English and three for Mandarin. All of them college graduates or students, members of the staff have made a major contribution to the high standard of the programs. Those interested in the radio service should tune in to 621 Khz Medium Wave, or 5980 Mhz Short Wave, where a wonderful and enlightening experience is waiting to be discovered.

[Picture Caption]

Transmitting station of the "Voice of Asia" with electric power of more than 600 kilowatt (opposite). Above: Cheng Yin, hostess of the Mandarin program.

1. Andri Chang, host of the Indonesian program, 2. Mandarin program hostess Lin Yun, 3. Host Tsang Long recording a Mandarin program for the "Voice of Asia." 4. This equipment in the control room beams programs all over Southeast Asia.

Transmitting station of the "Voice of Asia" with electric power of more than 600 kilowatt （opposite）. Above: Cheng Yin, hostess of the Mandarin program.

Andri Chang, host of the Indonesian program.

Mandarin program hostess Lin Yun.

Host Tsang Long recording a Mandarin program for the "Voice of Asia.

This equipment in the control room beams programs all over Southeast Asia.