The secret between the US and Taiwan 美台之間的秘密

As an online interpreter, I receive calls from various units in different environments every day, providing interpretation assistance. Whether it's for medical, financial, insurance, or government agencies, I usually help both parties communicate effectively.

I received a call from the 911 unit of the New York City Police Department a few minutes ago. A man with a Taiwanese accent had called 911. I wasn’t privy to the details of his conversation with the 911 call handler, so they requested interpretation assistance.

The 911 call handler first asked him whether he needed police, an ambulance, or the fire department. The man explained that he had already called an ambulance and that the person was already in the hospital. However, he had something to say to the U.S. government and wanted to ask the 911 call handler if he could relay that message.

The 911 call handler appeared uncertain about his request, repeatedly asking if he needed police, an ambulance, or the fire department. The man stated, "On behalf of the Republic of China government, I formally protest to the U.S. government. The Taiwan government has no money. The F-16 fighter jets sold to Taiwan are too expensive, and you are selling the same fighter jets to South Korea. This is not okay."

After hearing his statement, I rolled my eyes internally but interpreted it truthfully. Even after my interpretation, the 911 call handler was still unsure of what he needed and continued to ask about police, ambulance, or fire services. The man then claimed to have a secret about the United States and Taiwan and wanted to share it.

At that point, the 911 call handler instructed him to call 311, suggesting that the 311 staff could assist him better. He resisted, saying, "I won’t call 311; the people at 311 do not represent the New York City government." Realizing that the caller might have a mental health issue, the 911 call handler reiterated that he should contact 311 for help.

The man responded in a confrontational tone: "I called you because 911 represents the New York City government, and the New York City government represents the U.S. government. If you pass it on, you can communicate this secret to the White House. Do you know that we have buried many mines? There are so many mines that no truck or tank can drive through. They are everywhere; there’s no way to get through. Do you know that?"

I secretly laughed and searched my mind for the right words to interpret his comments accurately. The tone of the 911 call handler was growing increasingly impatient, as she urged him again to call 311. At that moment, the man seemed to realize he had upset her. He suddenly said in broken English, "OK, THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH! BYE BYE," and then hung up.

The 911 call handler and I paused for a few seconds before she thanked me for my translation. I replied, expressing my gratitude for using our service and wishing her a good day. We then disconnected at the same time.

Once again, another task was successfully completed.

身為一位線上口譯員，每天都會接到不同單位、面臨不同環境、要求翻譯的情況。無論是醫療、金融、保險，或者是政府機關，大部份的時候我都可以提供協助、幫助雙方順利進展。

剛剛接了一通紐約市警察局 911 單位、要求協助的電話。有一位操台語口音的男子打 911緊急電話，我不知道對方跟911 程序處理員說了什麼，所以911 要求翻譯的協助。

911 程序處理員首先問他是需要警察、救護車、還是消防隊？這個男子說，他早已經叫了救護車、人已經在醫院裏了，但是他有一些事情需要跟美國政府說，想問問911 程序處理員他能不能講。

911 程序處理員不清楚他想要什麼，一直問他是需要警察、救護車、還是消防隊？這位老兄就在電話裏跟我說：我代表中華民國政府正式向美國政府抗議，台灣政府已經沒有錢了，賣給台灣的F-16戰機太貴，而且你們還賣給南韓同樣的戰機，這樣不行。

我聽完他說的、頭上立馬出現三條線，但我還是如實翻譯。聽完我的翻譯之後，911 程序處理員仍然不清楚他到底需要什麼，還是重覆問他是需要警察、救護車、還是消防隊？

他接著又說，他有一個關於美國跟台灣之間的秘密，可不可以講？這個時候911 程序處理員告訴他說，請他打311、311的服務人員可以幫他。他老兄聽完我的翻譯，他說，我才不打311，311的人不代表紐約市政府。這個時候，911 程序處理員懂了、了解這是個心理狀態有問題的人，所以又重覆一次，請他打311、311 的工作人員可以幫他。

他語氣不佳地說：我打你們911就是因為你們代表紐約市政府、紐約市政府又代表美國政府，這樣一個傳一個，你們就可以把這個秘密傳到白宮去。跟著又說，你知道我們埋了很多地雷嗎？地雷多到什麼卡車、坦克都開不過去，到處都是地雷，沒有辦法通過的，你們知道嗎？

我心裏一邊偷笑、心裏面一邊快速地尋找合適的語詞來照實翻譯。911 程序處理員的語氣已經開始不耐煩了，讓我告訴他、叫他打311。此時這位老兄好像突然覺醒、知道自己激怒了對方似的，用英文說：OK，THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH! BYE BYE，就掛掉了。

對方掛掉電話之後，911 程序處理員跟我同時頓了三秒鐘，然後她跟我說，謝謝我的翻譯；我回她說，謝謝她使用我們的服務、祝她有美好的一天，跟著我們就同時下線。

就這樣，我又圓滿完成了一個任務。