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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares this article from Radio Taiwan International highlighting how RTI’s Spanish and Japanese shortwave programs have placed in global listener polls, with the Spanish service especially popular across dozens of countries and the Japanese service recognized at Japan’s largest amateur radio event. Read the full article here: https://www.rti.org.tw/en/news?uid=3&pid=186281
For nearly a half-century, The Voice of Free China broadcast programs via shortwave to a worldwide audience from Taipei, Taiwan. As a relatively new SWL in the early 1970’s, I was always excited to hear English language programs from that part of the world, far away from southern Ontario, Canada, where I lived. There was no relay from WYFR or Radio Miami International at that time, so the signal from Taiwan needed to travel over 12,000 km (7500 miles) to reach my receiver.
I made this recording of their interval signal and sign-on in early 1971.
In 1998, the name of the station changed to Radio Taipei International, then again in 2003 to Radio Taiwan International.
Today, Radio Taiwan International continues to offer programs on shortwave in a number of languages from a transmitter in Taiwan, though there appears to be only one English-language broadcast per day, that being from 1600 to 1700 hours UTC on 9405 kHz. Here is a recording of the station signing on at 1600 UTC on January 1, 2026 using a remote SDR located in Japan:
And here they are signing off for the day on December 27, 2025 at 1700 UTC on 9405 kHz, again using a Kiwi SDR in Japan.
The station is received well in southern Ontario during their daily 2200 UTC broadcast in Spanish on 15770 kHz. This transmission is aired using the facilities of Radio Miami International in Okeechobee, Florida. The Kiwi SDR used for this recording is located in my hometown of London, Ontario.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of recent CGTN, NHK, and Radio Taiwan International broadcasts.
Carlos notes:
China, Japan, Taiwan: War of Words on the Shortwave (CGTN, NHK, Radio Taiwan International)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares the following schedule update from Radio Taiwan International’s Spanish language service:
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio Taiwan International broadcast, plus bonus radiofax decodes.
Carlos notes:
Taiwan Prime Minister Apologizes for Poor Response to Typhoon Dana, Typhoon Podul Approaches Taiwan, Radio Taiwan International, 9740 kHz+radiofax
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio Taiwan International broadcast and radiofax imagery.
Carlos notes:
Typhoon Podul approaching Taiwan, Radio Taiwan International (via WRMI), 5800 kHz + radiofax
“…El tifón Podul, actualmente de categoría ligera, se aproxima a Taiwán con una trayectoria que se ha desplazado hacia el sur, aumentando la probabilidad de que toque tierra en Hualien o Taitung. La Oficina Central de Meteorología prevé emitir una alerta marítima en la madrugada del 12 de agosto y una alerta terrestre más tarde ese mismo día. Se espera que el tifón alcance intensidad moderada antes de impactar, con vientos más fuertes y un radio de influencia ampliado…”
(Typhoon Podul, currently a light typhoon, is approaching Taiwan on a southward-moving track, increasing the likelihood of landfall in Hualien or Taitung. The Central Meteorological Bureau plans to issue a maritime warning in the early hours of August 12 and a land warning later that day. The typhoon is expected to reach moderate intensity before making landfall, with stronger winds and an expanded radius of influence.)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who writes:
Hello Thomas,
Yesterday, I received two QSL cards from the German RTI service. These cards confirm my recordings from June 28, 2025, made during transmission tests from Tamsui.
For your information, I am sending you a copy of the front and back of one of them. According to Wikipedia, the bird depicted on this QSL card is The Taiwan blue magpie (Urocissa caerulea), also called the Taiwan magpie, Formosan blue magpie, or the “long-tailed mountain lady”, is a bird species in the crow family. It is endemic to Taiwan.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares this article from Radio Taiwan International highlighting how RTI’s Spanish and Japanese shortwave programs have placed in global listener polls, with the Spanish service especially popular across dozens of countries and the Japanese service recognized at Japan’s largest amateur radio event. Read the full article here: https://www.rti.org.tw/en/news?uid=3&pid=186281
