Reports from foreign media indicate that TSMC has discovered a customer redirecting chips to Huawei, leading to a suspension of shipments to this client. 

Hurricane Helene tore across the Southeastern United States at the end of September, resulting in over 200 casualties and extreme damage across six states. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta donated US$200,000 to the Red Cross Georgia headquarters on behalf of the Taiwanese government this Tuesday to assist in rebuilding efforts.  

With escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, there is increasing speculation about whether the Taipei and Shanghai "Twin City Forum" will proceed this year. Established in 2010, the forum typically takes place in July or August. This year, Taipei is set to host the event; however, no official updates have been released, raising concerns about potential delays.

The South African Foreign Ministry has asked Taiwan to move its unofficial embassy out of their capital, Pretoria, within a six month timeframe. Ministry representatives said it will be moved to Johannesburg, South Africa’s commercial capital, and renamed from “Taipei Liaison Office” to “Taipei’s Trade Office.”

2024-10-18

Experts from the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) were invited to the 2024 International Forum on Applied Technology for the Detection and Diagnosis of Fusarium TR4 in Musacae in Guatemala. They shared their experience in the use of satellite remote sensing technology to monitor Fusarium Tropical race 4, a fungal disease affecting bananas and plantains, on farms in Guatemala and Belize.

DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) announced on Wednesday plans to visit Japan in early December on behalf of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) says the government remains vigilant as tensions in the Taiwan Strait continue to evolve. His comments followed China's "Joint Sword - 2024B" military drills, which lasted over 10 hours. Speaking at the Legislature on Tuesday, Cho stated the government is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared for any potential escalation.  

In response to China’s announcement that it will conduct "Joint Sword-2024B” military drills on Monday, Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) immediately implemented measures to ensure Taiwan’s air and maritime safety. Chen has instructed the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) and the Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) to closely monitor aircraft and vessel operations.

Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is set to visit Europe, marking her first international trip since leaving office, according to multiple news reports. The visit will include stops in the Czech Republic, France, and Belgium, where she is expected to engage with both local and EU politicians.

On Thursday morning at the National Day celebrations, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) delivered an address with the theme of “Taiwan Together for Our Shared Dream.” He emphasized that his primary mission is to safeguard the sovereignty of Taiwan, protect the lives and rights of its citizens, and oversee its continued development.

A video showing a foreign caregiver giving birth alone in a room has gone viral, sparking calls for the government to address the lack of privacy for caregivers.

As the first National Day since President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) took office approaches, senior national security officials have determined that China is likely to conduct another round of military exercises around the island that day, including possibly launching a carrier rocket through Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

The Health Ministry has announced the establishment of three AI centers that will focus on responsible implementation, forensic verification, and impact research in a press release on Monday. Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) said that the initiation of these centers will effectively solve concerns regarding the use of AI in clinical practice. He emphasized that not only has Taiwan reached an important milestone for domestic AI medical applications, but it is also ensuring competitiveness in the global field.

2024-10-04

At a press briefing on Thursday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) assured that both the National Day event and the live broadcast at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park will proceed as planned.

Taiwan continues pursuing admission into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) urged CPTPP members to avoid political considerations and review Taiwan’s membership case fairly and objectively.

Typhoon Krathon was upgraded to a severe typhoon at 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning. As of 8 a.m., it was located 220 kilometers south-southwest of Kaohsiung and was slowly turning north to north-northeastward. The storm’s radius has remained unchanged at 220 km; however, the maximum wind speed near the center has strengthened to 198 kilometers per hour.

National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) answered questions today about the draft proposal for an artificial intelligence (AI) law, stating that it has undergone minor revisions, and should be sent to the Legislature for review near the end of October.

President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) newly formed committee is tasked with empowering civilians to improve national defense and disaster response. The committee met for the first time this Friday with Lai as chair. National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) presented blueprints of a plan to incorporate 400,000 people into the project, including police support volunteers and civil society groups.

In order to attract Japanese tourists to Taiwan during the Chinese New Year holiday, Taiwan’s Tourism Administration has appointed beloved Japanese actor Satoshi Tsumabuki as an ambassador for Taiwan’s tourism in the Japanese market.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) outlined the country’s diplomatic approach towards Africa during an Africa Night event on Tuesday.    Lin says that President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) administration aims to build Taiwan into a country with an evergreen economy. In line with this, the Foreign Ministry has proposed a comprehensive diplomatic strategy based on three pillars–value-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic and trade diplomacy.  

22-year-old Taiwanese college student Kuo Yu-hsuan (郭宇軒) has gone missing since he arrived in China for a weeklong trip on August 27. He had plans to travel to Hefei and last contacted his family to notify them that he had landed safely in Shanghai, but all attempts to contact him thereafter were unsuccessful. On Monday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office released news confirming that Kuo was suspected of fraud and is now undergoing investigation.

Taiwan is advocating for its participation in the UN, emphasizing that the UN should find ways to accept its involvement, including allowing Taiwan to contribute to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This Friday the Foreign Ministry publicly responded to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell’s remarks regarding the misinterpretation of United Nations Resolution 2758. Earlier this week, Campbell had stated that China is using the resolution to delegitimize Taiwan’s status in the UN at a congressional hearing.

Taiwan’s locally produced musical “Don’t Cry, Dancing Girls” has recently captured widespread attention in the country’s theater scene and is set to debut at New York City’s Theatre Row from January 23 to 25 next year.

The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) announced on Wednesday a new “Buy-One-Get-One-Free” (BOGO) promotion to encourage international travelers to explore Taiwan’s central and southern regions.   

Taiwan thanked the U.S. government on Tuesday for adhering to their commitments to bolster the island nation’s defense with their recent approval for a military equipment and services sale. The U.S. State Department approved the sale of the return, repair, and reshipment of aircraft spare parts and related equipment to Taiwan valued at approximately US$228 million. 

Another Chinese citizen illegally made his way to Taiwan by boat this past Saturday. Anglers spotted the man around 6:30 a.m. near the coast of Linkou District in New Taipei City and alerted the police. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Monday assured the public that the government is closely following these incidents and responding accordingly.  

On Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecasted that the tropical storm Bebinca could develop into a typhoon as soon as this Friday. Forecaster Chang Cheng-chuan (張承傳) spoke regarding how it could affect Taiwan.

On Thursday, The Taiwanese government announced an expansion of its ambitious “Project of Reconstructing the History of Art in Taiwan.” Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) unveiled plans for the 2.0 version that will entail collecting, researching, and promoting different arts, including visual art, crafts, literature, architecture, and Taiwanese opera.  

Taiwan assumed chairmanship at the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) general assembly this Wednesday. Six of the 20 AAEA member countries attended in person, and two attended remotely.

President Lai Ching-te received Stanford University’s Hoover Institution delegation on Tuesday. In a meeting with scholars from the institution’s Project on Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific region, Lai spoke of Taiwan's goals, including strengthening democratic alliances and resolving Taiwan-U.S. double taxation. 

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) met with Executive Director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Jim Nickel on Monday. Cho said that Taiwan-Canada relations will continue to build off the foundation laid through the signing of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) in December 2023.

While attending the laureate ceremony of Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) on Friday, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) emphasized the institute's crucial role as the hub for nurturing and transferring Taiwan’s technological and industrial development. She expressed her gratitude to the ITRI research fellows, scientists, and industry leaders for making Tawan indispensable on the international stage.

Radio Taiwan International’s trip to Japan highlights its commitment to fostering exchanges and strengthening international ties while promoting the voice of Taiwan. The delegation is led by Rti’s President Chang Jui-Chang (張瑞昌) and includes board member Liu Hsia-ju (劉夏如) and International Language Division Manager Carlson Huang (黃佳山).

Table tennis player Tian Shiau-wen (田曉雯) adds a bronze medal to her collection after her success in the individual Paralympic TT10 division. Tian has had to overcome challenges beyond the nerve atrophy in her right hand, including being bullied at school.  

The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced the recall vote for Keelung City Mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) on Tuesday. The vote is set for Sunday, October 13. Hsieh came under scrutiny from civic groups earlier this year regarding allegations of abuse of power relating to a shopping mall real estate transaction.

President Lai-Ching-te (賴清德) accepted an exclusive interview on “The View with Catherine Chang” Sunday night – his first TV program interview since taking office.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued its autumn 2024 forecast Friday morning which includes probable cooler temperatures and a normal typhoon season.

The Foreign Ministry commented on United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (王毅) this Thursday. They confirmed that high-level US officials have repeatedly expressed their firm stance on maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait throughout interactions with Chinese officials.  

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with 2025-2026 Rotary International President Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo this Wednesday. De Camargo, a member of the Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil Rotary Club, says he hopes to boost Rotary’s public image by working from the top down. Lai emphasized that Taiwan is a force of good in the world, and a trustworthy partner for global peace and prosperity.

The Labor Ministry has approved new regulations allowing hospitality businesses to hire overseas Chinese graduate students, in response to post-pandemic labor shortages. Starting Wednesday, licensed hotels and bed-and-breakfasts can apply to hire graduates to engage in mid-level jobs in the accommodation service industry.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) met with Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chairman Mitsuo Ohashi Chairman and his delegation on Monday. In his remarks, Cho praised Ohashi for his significant contributions to strengthening Taiwan-Japan relations. He noted that under Ohashi's leadership, bilateral exchanges have become even more robust.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) attended the Yimin Festival at Baozhong Yimin Temple in Hsinchu on Friday, celebrating the memorial day to honor Hakka volunteer soldiers who fought in Taiwan during the Qing dynasty. Cho praised the Hakka spirit of loyalty, righteousness and diligence, emphasizing the importance of promoting Hakka values and passing them on to the next generations.

2024-08-22

The Education Ministry today introduced the digital learning program for the elderly, aiming to help the seniors adapt to the digital age and improve their lives.  

2024-08-20

Taiwan’s world-leading semiconductor manufacturer TSMC will start construction on its new factory in Dresden, Germany on Tuesday. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is scheduled to attend and deliver a speech at the commencement ceremony, along with TSMC’s Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei (魏哲家).

On Friday, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) joined cabinet employees and their relatives in the family day event held in the Cabinet auditorium. Premier Cho took the opportunity to promote the government’s childcare policies, including subsidies for maternity, quasi-public childcare, and private university tuition costs. Cho urged the cabinet employees to help spread the word, encouraging more people to have children and confidence to raise them.

Regarding the ongoing issue with cross-strait tourism, Cabinet Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said in an interview with media on Wednesday that Taiwan’s doors are wide open and expressed his hope that tourists, students, and other travelers will come rather than military aircraft and warships. He reiterated that there is no ban on Taiwanese group tours and that they are free to visit China.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Wednesday responded to recent claims from China's Ministry of State Security that they have discovered more than 1,000 cases of Taiwanese espionage.

The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has recently come under fire for discrepancies between their reported political donations and expenses during the 2024 presidential campaign, creating suspicions of accounting fraud. The KMT hosted a press conference Monday afternoon to clarify that as accountant Tuanmu Cheng (端木正) was contracted to report expense declarations, he will be held responsible.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced on Monday that in addition to the Health Ministry’s project to provide mental health support for the middle-aged citizens, aiming to ease the burdens carried by Taiwan’s “Sandwich Generation”, more funds will also be allocated to long-term care as well as the national childcare plan 2.0 for children aged 0 to 6 next year.

Taiwanese athlete Kuo Hsing-chun (郭婞淳) secured the bronze medal in the women’s 59kg weight class at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, despite entering the competition with minor injuries. Kuo lifted 105kg in the snatch and 130kg in the clean and jerk, achieving a total of 235kg.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) shared a heartfelt message on his Facebook page on Thursday, wishing all fathers a happy Father’s Day.

The Presidential Office has appointed Yang Yi-shan (楊懿珊), Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as Taiwan's Deputy Representative to the United States. Yang was officially appointed on Tuesday.

A survey released by the HR consulting company 104 Job Bank Tuesday announced up-to-date information about the job market, especially for new graduates.

The Republic of Guatemala’s Vice Foreign Minister Julio Eduardo Orozco Pérez arrived in Taiwan on Monday. Based on the press release issued by Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry detailing his trip's itinerary, it is clear that the focus is to enhance bilateral cooperation.    

Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu‑ting (林郁婷) and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, both of whom are competing in this year’s Paris Olympics, have come under fire for previously failing unspecified gender eligibility tests conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued an official statement on Thursday saying “everyone has the right to engage in sports without discrimination.”

A Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday according to a press release issued by Taiwan’s National Defense Ministry this Thursday morning.

A total of 447 individuals suspected of involvement in child pornography on the “Creative Private Room” online forum have been identified by the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) as reported this Wednesday as part of the bureau’s recent nationwide crackdown.

Taiwan's National Development Council (NDC) on Monday reported a “red light” economic indicator for June, signaling strong economic activity. This is the first such signal since January 2022. The NDC says the red light for June was driven by strong semiconductor demand, increased server needs, and a recovery in traditional industry exports. However, scholars warned on Tuesday that the biggest risk to Taiwan's economy in the second half of the year is exports. National Central University's Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development CEO Dachrahn Wu (吳大任) says June's exports reached USD$39.9 billion, a 23% annual increase due to AI demand. He emphasized that maintaining this growth depends on export performance.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Indigenous People’s renaming, a concert will be held on the afternoon of August 1 at Ketagalan Boulevard. Organized by the Indigenous Revival Alliance, a press conference was held on Monday to announce the event.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will kick off with over 10,000 athletes sailing down the Seine as a spectacle for the opening ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Paris time this Friday. Taiwanese athletes will be on the 74th delegation boat to set off, sailing alongside delegations from Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Chad.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) reported that the newly operational Feitsui Raw Water Supply Tunnel successfully maintained a stable water supply for the Greater Taipei Area, consisting of Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung, during Typhoon Gaemi.   

As Typhoon Gaemi approaches Taiwan, local authorities made a last-minute decision to suspend work and classes across most of the island. Initially, several central counties had announced normal operations for Wednesday, however, late-night reversals resulted in closure for 21 out of 22 counties and cities, with only Kinmen County maintaining a regular schedule. 

The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday stated that the government will not accept interference or criticism from other countries and is committed to strengthening national defense and safeguarding democracy and freedom. This comes as the annual Han Kuang military exercise draws sharp criticism from China’s Foreign Ministry.

U.S. President Joe Biden decided to end his reelection campaign, he said in a statement released on Sunday, July 21. He had faced mounting pressure to step aside following a dismal debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27. "It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," he wrote on social media. "And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term." In a subsequent post, Biden offered his “full support and endorsement” for Vice President, Kamala D. Harris, to replace him at the top of the Democratic Party ticket.   Biden’s exit from the presidential campaign marks the end of a half century political career that began in 1972, when he became the youngest person to be elected senator. In 2022, he became the nation’s oldest sitting president. His decision to step aside has cleared the way for Democrats to pick a replacement. The new nominee will be elected by majority vote at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, August 19-22.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) attended the Alishan Forest Railway reopening event on Friday, saying in his speech that he will continue to promote the tourism industry in Chiayi City and County.

Shooter and “ID Girl” Wu Chia-ying (吳佳穎) will make her third Olympic appearance at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Wu is aiming to secure a medal for Taiwan after narrowly missing the mark at the Tokyo Olympics, where she placed fifth.  

The Labor Ministry in Taiwan has reported that 43 employment discrimination cases were identified in 2023, resulting in fines of NT$9.2 million (about US$282,000). The majority of these cases involved gender discrimination, highlighting ongoing challenges in workplace equality.

Canoeist Wu Shao-hsuan (吳少璿) will represent Taiwan in the men’s K1 canoe slalom at the Paris Olympics, marking the first time a Taiwanese male will compete in this event.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump was shot in the upper part of his right ear, causing significant bleeding, but he is reportedly fine. The attack resulted in one attendee’s death and left two others critically injured. Secret Service agents shot and killed the 20-year-old suspected gunman.

Badminton star Tai Tzu-ying (戴資穎) is set to make her fourth and final appearance at the Olympic Games this year. After winning silver in the Tokyo Olympics, Tai planned to retire, but decided to return once more, aiming for a gold medal to conclude her nearly 20-year career.

The upcoming Presidential Office Concert to cheer on Taiwanese athletes competing in the Paris Olympics will include a unique combined performance from Shih Hsin University’s cheerleading team with Okinawa’s Nishihara High School Marching Band.  

A visit to the Criminal Investigation Bureau this Wednesday gives Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and other officials an update on the latest criminal crackdown. Cho says two national anti-crime projects are currently underway, and that the government wants the public to know it is determined to comprehensively crack down on fraud, gangs, corruption, and drugs.

As of Tuesday, former Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) is back in custody under suspicion of corruption during his service as Taoyuan mayor between 2014 and 2022. Cheng maintains that he is innocent, but has stepped down from his position as Chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) to avoid disrupting its operation. 

A guest columnist on China risk published a Barron’s article on Monday regarding the potential geopolitical repercussions of the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

The Tourism Administration led a delegation of 30 people from 16 different Taiwanese tourism organizations to Cambodia and Laos from Sunday to Friday with the aim of exploring emerging markets in Southeast Asia.

COVID-19 and influenza is on the rise again, with the latest COVID-19 wave expected to peak mid-July. Although the mask order has been lifted, medical institutions have the right to determine when and where masks should be worn to mitigate viral transmission.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) spoke to the Legislature this Wednesday regarding moving the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall guard changing ceremony to the adjacent outdoor plaza called “Liberty Square.” Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠) also spoke regarding the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act and hundreds of controversial Chiang Kai-shek statues that remain across Taiwan.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) presented outgoing American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Sandra Oudkirk with a special award on Tuesday in recognition of her contributions to Taiwan-U.S. relations.

2024-07-01

The CDC announced Friday that six new locally transmitted cases of Mpox were reported in June, double the number of new cases from the last two months. Eligible persons are urged to receive two doses of the Mpox vaccine as soon as possible.

National Central University’s Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development announced on Thursday that the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in June increased by 0.49 points to 72.69. Recent stock market fluctuations have negatively impacted the score, but indicators related to the housing market remain optimistic.

Beijing recently announced new judicial guidelines centered around punishing Taiwanese independence activists. In a press release on Wednesday, Taiwan Presidential Office Spokesperson Lii Wen (李問) responded to U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller’s comments on the matter.

From July 1, Taiwan will offer six developmental screenings for children under seven to identify and address developmental delays early. Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) announced the initiative on Tuesday, which aims to enhance child health care during critical growth stages, particularly before age three.   

China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency said on June 21 that Beijing will enforce a new set of legal guidelines for “severely punishing Taiwanese independence diehards.” These guidelines go so far as to specify the death penalty for leading advocates of Taiwanese independence.

The Hualien County Juisui Township Office held a digital signing ceremony with Numata in Hokkaido, Japan this Thursday to forge a friendly exchange agreement. Taiwan Representative to Japan Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) says this marks the 14th partnership between cities in Hokkaido Prefecture and Taiwan.

Taipei is hosting the 23rd International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM) from Wednesday to Sunday at the Taipei International Convention Center and Taipei World Trade Center. This year’s theme is Glocalization: Global Wisdom and Local Solution.

The U.S. government approved the sale of approximately US$360 million worth of military arms to Taiwan on Tuesday, Eastern Time. In response to the sale, the Presidential Office and Defense Ministry expressed their sincere thanks to the Biden administration for their continued commitment to honoring the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances.

The Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD) released its 2024 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) results this Tuesday, placing Taiwan 8th out of the 67 ranked countries. Among the countries with populations of 20 million or more, Taiwan has ranked first for the past four consecutive years.

Cancer remains the leading cause of death according to the Health Ministry’s 2023 Cause of Death Statistics released on Monday. The study reports roughly 205,000 deaths, down 1.4% from the previous year, mainly due to the decreased number of deaths related to COVID-19.

MediaTek and DBS Bank have become the first companies to win 104 Job Bank’s Best Employer Brand Award. Representatives from both companies had the opportunity to speak at a press conference on Friday.

Nymphia Wind took to social media on Wednesday, inviting people to get creative with video submissions that she plans on incorporating into her upcoming performance in Paris. She encourages people to take part in this “Flew from Taiwan, just say hello!” project by wearing either red, orange, green, blue, purple, or pink and posting stories to Instagram.

Taiwan's National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) and the Czech Cybersecurity Hub signed and launched the Advanced Chip Design Research Center (ACDRC) on Tuesday. 

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo de León visited the Bamboo Treatment and Investigation Center operated by the Taiwan Technical Mission in Guatemala on Monday local time.

On Monday’s Dragon Boat Festival holiday, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德)uploaded a new video on his YouTube channel featuring immigrants teaching him how to make different varieties of zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings. Lai thanked them for their contributions to the country and assured them he would look after all immigrant groups in Taiwan.  

This year’s Dragon Boat Festival will be observed over a three-day holiday Saturday to Monday, June 8 to June 10. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) spoke this Friday, and mentioned that many people return home or travel abroad over the holidays, inevitably leading to large waves of people and traffic. He said detailed transportation plans have been put together for Taiwan Railway and Taiwan High Speed Rail, increasing the frequency of trains to better accommodate for the influx of passengers.

Environmental Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) informed the Legislature on Thursday that the logging ban compensation for lands reserved for Indigenous peoples will be included in carbon offset calculations.

More than 6,000 people attended this year’s commemoration event– the highest on record in the last decade. The New School for Democracy, alongside other human rights groups, held a candlelight vigil honoring victims of the Tiananmen Square Protests and Massacre on Tuesday evening, June 4.

June 4 marks the 35th anniversary of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square incident. Several politicians took to social media to comment on the anniversary and what it means for democracy.

Taiwan has been chosen for the International Peace Foundation’s (IPF) next BRIDGES dialogues, a major international event series that brings Nobel Laureates to different parts of the world to conduct joint research programs and education initiatives. The announcement was made after President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with IPF Chairman Uwe Morawetz and National Taiwan University President Chen Wen-chang (陳文章) on Monday.  

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) attended the 2024 Taipei Tourism Exposition (TTE) opening ceremony this Friday. The 18th TTE will be held for four consecutive days at the Taipei World Trade Center starting Friday and is the largest event of its kind so far in 2024.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) announced to the Legislature on Thursday that tourist groups bound for China that were planned before June 1 may still go. Originally such groups were banned after June, however, the decision was made to protect the travel rights of groups unable to leave before May.

National Taiwan University Professor Kuo Chung-hsien's (郭重顯) research team unveiled Taiwan's first independent research and development AI robot dog (NTU DogBot) on Wednesday. The team will conduct field application testing, and complete the robot dog’s stair-climbing ability by the end of the year.

2024-05-28

Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) said that Chinese students could be admitted to Taiwanese universities as soon as July of next year. This was stated in response to media inquiries at the Legislature on Monday.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) received a delegation from the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America (TCCNA) on Friday morning to thank them for attending his inauguration and for their tireless efforts to promote Taiwan and its business reputation abroad.

On the first anniversary of the #MeToo movement, the National Alliance of Taiwan Women’s Associations hosted a summit on Thursday to review progress made since the movement took hold last May. 

The Taiwanese non-profit organization Kuma Academy hosted The Global Leaders Forum on Civil Defense and Resilience on Wednesday, bringing together domestic and international civil defense leaders. The forum aimed to enhance Taiwan's civil defense awareness by sharing insights from the Ukraine-Russia war and defense strategies from Western countries.

The Culture Ministry announced the release of additional “Culture Points” on Tuesday to support recovery efforts following the Hualien earthquake.   Culture Points, similar to digital vouchers, were made available last June to cultivate an appreciation for culture and the arts in young adults while supporting the cultural and creative sector in Taiwan. Equivalent to NT$1 (US$3¢) each, the points can be used at designated shops to buy books, watch local films, attend performances, or enjoy small trips.  

Taiwan’s 16th President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) was sworn in on Monday, alongside Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴). Following the inauguration, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) released a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, congratulating President Lai and recognizing the strength of Taiwan’s democratic system.

Tourism associations from Taiwan and Argentina signed a cooperation agreement this week, aiming to enhance exchanges between tourism operators and increase the number of visitors between the two countries.

A man is dead after a reported explosion at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) plant in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday afternoon, local time. According to local reports, the man was 41 year-old Cesar Anguiano-Guitron, a waste disposal truck driver.

Many were pleased to hear the famous “Rain Horse” from the Paper Windmill Theater Company is among the performances announced for the May 20 presidential inauguration. The story, based on a book by incoming Culture Minister Hsiao Yeh (小野), is infused with Hakka culture and represents gentleness, strength, and courage.

On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry announced that the anticipated number of Japanese guests attending Taiwan’s inauguration ceremony on May 20 has reached a historic high, leaving them unable to extend an invitation to all of the prefectural leaders. Among the uninvited is Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki.

With inauguration day fast approaching, DPP legislators have expressed concerns about whether China will take advantage of this time to launch cyberattacks, conduct cognitive warfare, or even attack critical infrastructure.

A law recently passed in the U.S. banning the Chinese-owned app TikTok has prompted discussion on whether Taiwan should follow suit. The Taiwan Statebuilding Party, New Power Party, Economic Democracy Union, and Green Party held a press conference on Friday regarding the possibility.

With support from the Formosa Petrochemical Corporation, the National Theater and Concert Hall will officially launch KidsPlay, their new reservation-based service providing childcare to theatergoers, starting on Mother’s Day.

Deputy Defense Minister Alex Po (柏鴻輝) spoke to the Legislature on Wednesday about the situation along the Taiwan Strait in anticipation of the presidential inauguration on May 20. Po announced that Taiwan’s military will remain combat-ready, pay close attention to CCP developments, and work alongside nations with the same philosophy of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Two Indonesian educators have been commended by the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation for their charity work and will receive the Fervent Global Love of Lives Award. The pair of 75-year-old twin sisters, Sri Rossyati and Sri Irianingsih, have devoted nearly half of their lives to educating impoverished children.

National Taiwan University (NTU) has established the country’s first International School of Politics and Economics, an English language degree program offering eight bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level degrees in political science and economics, finance, and leadership and management.

The National Policy Foundation, a KMT think tank led by KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), released a report on Friday compiling the public’s top five concerns. According to their collected data, over 90 percent of dissenting opinions expressed online are about the abolition of the death penalty. Other concerns include cross-strait relations, congressional reform, Internet fraud, and energy.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) attended the inauguration ceremony of Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation’s (PSMC) new factory in Miaoli on Thursday morning. There, President Tsai said the new factory demonstrates both Taiwan’s industrial strength and the resilience of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry.

In commemoration of Labor Day, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) expressed her appreciation for the hard work of all laborers in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met a delegation from Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Youth Division at the Presidential Office Building Tuesday morning. The delegation, led by party representative Takako Suzuki, arrived in Taiwan on Monday and will stay until Friday.

The Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st Century Trade second phase in-person meetings have begun in Taipei, continuing from Monday to Friday this week and focusing on labor, agriculture, and environmental issues. Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for China, Mongolia, and Taiwan Affairs Terry McCartin led the U.S. delegation, with officials from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and relevant ministries also attending the meetings.

The General Assembly of Chinese Culture announced the main theme of the 16th President and Vice President’s inaugural ceremony and state banquet: “Weaving Taiwan together; progressing democracy” in press release on Friday.

Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced foreign affairs, defense, and security positions for his Cabinet on Thursday. Presidential Office Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is set to be the new foreign minister.  

President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) delivered a speech Wednesday at the Touch Taiwan 2024 exhibition opening ceremony in Taipei. There, Lai emphasized that the display and semiconductor industries are boosting Taiwan’s economy. 

Hualien County has been rocked by continuous earthquakes from Monday night to Tuesday morning, leading to the collapse of two buildings in Hualien. The Hualien County government has issued a statement announcing the suspension of work and classes for Tuesday in response to the ongoing seismic activity.

Transportation Minister-designate Li Men-yen (李孟諺) gave updates on the proposed Hualien-Taitung expressway draft bill during a legislative session on Monday. Aimed at addressing transportation issues between Hualien and Taitung, Lee said that the government is working hard on the Suhua Highway Safety Improvement Project and the Pingnan Expressway Project.

TSMC founder Morris Chang (張忠謀) has been awarded the Order of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) bestowed the prestigious medal at the Presidential Palace on Friday, thanking Chang for serving as a leadership representative at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on six occasions.

The Taoyuan area experienced a brief power outage Thursday morning caused by fallen trees from the morning’s strong thunderstorms. The blackout was the third in the past 3 days experienced in the area, though Economic Minister Wang Mei-hua (王美花)  claims none were caused by issues of power supply.

The overall reconstruction budget for Hualien's transportation and tourism infrastructure following the April 3 earthquake could reach NT$3 billion (US$ 92.4 million), according to Transportation Minister Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) on Wednesday.

The 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) will kick off in Geneva on May 27 and Taiwanese groups are set to host a series of events on the sidelines from May 26 to 28. Taiwan has not received an official invitation to attend the WHA as an observer since 2016.

Paraguay’s Congress and Senate President Silvio Adalberto Ovelar Benítez is leading a delegation in Taiwan for a five-day stay during which he will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and other senior government officials. The delegation landed at Taiwan’s Taoyuan Airport on Sunday.

Digital Minister Audrey Tang (唐鳳) announced the launch of the 3rd Ideathon competition on Friday, inviting citizens of all ages and backgrounds to share their vision and ideas for human-AI collaboration in 2040. Tang, pushing public participation and innovative thinking, described Ideathon as a platform for crowdsourcing ideas on integrating AI into daily life.

Taiwan’s Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) finished his 11-day trip to China and arrived in Taiwan on Thursday. Ma’s trip included a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping (習近平) on Wednesday. This is the second time Ma and Xi have met, after their previous meetup in Singapore in 2015.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) met with a delegation from the U.S. think tank Project 2049 Institute on Wednesday morning, marking the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). Tsai thanked the U.S. government, Congress, and the public for continuing to deepen cooperation and friendship with Taiwan and strengthening their security partnership.   

The Minnesota State Senate passed a pro-Taiwan resolution on Monday, reaffirming the longstanding sister relations between Taiwan and Minnesota while also endorsing the pursuit of U.S.-Taiwan bilateral trade agreements.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) met with a delegation of bipartisan Australian lawmakers led by the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Chair, Shayne Neumann, and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Deputy Chair, Andrew Wallace, at the Presidential Office on Monday.

One of the two nearly collapsed buildings, the Uranus Building (天王星大樓) in Hualien City, has begun demolition after continued stabilization efforts at the site. Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei (徐榛蔚) and Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) attended the commencement ceremony Friday Morning.

Vice President and President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said via Facebook that both central and local governments are persisting in rescue efforts and repair work to minimize the impact of the disaster. As the Qingming Festival holiday begins on Thursday, disaster-stricken areas are experiencing interruptions in transportation due to Wednesday’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Hualien.

In a call with the Chinese President (習近平) Xi Jinping, U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The Embassy of Belize in Taiwan kicked off its food truck tour of Northern Taiwan on Tuesday at the Taipei Children's Amusement Park. The 2024 Puncar Tour of Northern Taiwan, jointly organized with the Central American Trade Office, will showcase Belizean cuisine at 18 locations across northern Taiwan over the coming weeks.  

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) met with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chair Laura Rosenberger on Monday.

In a gathering of nearly a hundred people, the Georgia General Assembly celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Atlanta. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger praised Taiwan’s vital role as a U.S. ally, commending its resilient democracy amidst pressure from across the strait.

On Thursday, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) met with a U.S. congressional delegation led by the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations Jack Bergman. Tsai expressed hope for deepening the Taiwan-U.S. partnership and expanding cooperation among democratic nations to contribute more to global security and prosperity.

Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春) on Wednesday provided updates on the Taiwan-India Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on labor cooperation.

Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) urged Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Tuesday to be mindful of the Taiwanese people's views regarding the values of sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law during his visit to China. This was said in response to the news that Ma is scheduled to visit China next month.  

Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) conveyed on Monday his sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the terrorist attack in Moscow. During an interview, Chen said he was saddened by the news of the deaths and injuries of innocent people due to the deadly attack.

The JN.1 COVID-19 cases are on the rise in China, according to data from the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Taiwan CDC Deputy Director Tseng Shu-Hui (曾淑慧) stated on Friday that the new strain accounts for most of the severe cases and deaths in February, numbers that have increased significantly compared to the month prior.  

As the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, or Article 23, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry expressed concerns for Hong Kong’s future and its people, reaffirming Taiwan’s determination to safeguard the lifestyle of freedom and democracy.  

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said on Wednesday that Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) recent trip to the United States was to handle private affairs.

Bipartisan European Parliament members have voiced concern in a letter to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) about China’s use of aviation infrastructures as a tool for geopolitical coercion. 

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 ESG & Sustainability Taiwan International Summit on Monday. The event was organized by Business Today Magazine and featured talks by the Economic Minister Wang Mei-hua (王美花), the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) President Edwin Liu (劉文雄), and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Chief Impact Officer Nicolette Bartlett, discussing topics such as the net-zero economy, industrial innovation, and climate justice.

Taiwan’s Matsu Coast Guard has dispatched ships to assist in search and rescue efforts for a Chinese fisherman who went missing on Thursday after falling overboard near Matsu Island. This incident happened the same day another Chinese vessel, the Minlongyu 61222, capsized near the Kinmen Islands.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský held a conversation over the phone, underscoring their mutual support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international affairs, as stated in a press release by the U.S. Department of State on Wednesday.  

Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) is in the United States this week, that’s according to a report by Reuters on Tuesday. 

As KMT legislators continue to push for an absentee voting bill, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) reminded on Tuesday that the mechanics of such a bill would require careful deliberation.  

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) received a delegation of U.S. think tank scholars at the Presidential Office on Monday. The delegation includes the German Marshall Fund’s (GMF) Indo-Pacific Program Managing Director Bonnie Glaser, Eurasia Group Managing Director Rick Waters, and others.

Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) expressed concern on Thursday about escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait, citing the recent incident involving a capsized Chinese boat. He emphasized the need to avoid conflict and underscored Taiwan’s commitment to strengthen combat readiness without provoking a war.

U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Wednesday he would attend the presidential inauguration ceremony of President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on May 20, according to the AFP.  

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reaffirmed Japan's hopes for a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue in a press conference on Tuesday, adding that the Japanese government intends to convey this stance directly to China.   

2024-03-05

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) attended the 2024 Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry’s (IBMI) conference on Monday, with its relocation ceremony held simultaneously. The event was also joined by IBMI President Wong Chi-huey (翁啟惠), National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫), and other government officials.

China’s Defense Ministry denied the existence of the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Thursday and defended ongoing military exercises, further raising concern about the peace and stability of the region.

12 out of 19 observed sorties crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) between 6 a.m. on Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday according to the Defense Ministry. The aircraft crossed into the northern, southwestern, and eastern airspace, with the closest flying roughly 43 miles from Keelung.

“Untold Herstory”  (流麻溝十五號), a recent film about female political prisoners on Green Island during the martial law period, is now available to stream online for the first time. The film, which draws on oral history accounts, is the first to tell of the White Terror period through the female experience.   

The Tourism Administration under the Transportation Ministry has set an ambitious target of attracting 12 million international tourists to the island nation this year, aiming to restore tourist numbers to pre-pandemic levels.

The Taiwan government committed on Saturday to donate US$300,000 in relief supplies in response to the ecological crisis caused by a devastating forest fire on the slopes of Guatemala's "Volcan de Agua" (Volcano of Water).

The 45th anniversary celebration of Saint Lucia's independence was commemorated with a cocktail reception on Thursday. Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) graced the occasion and conveyed Taiwan's congratulations to Saint Lucia's government and people.

A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation led by Representative Mike Gallagher, Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, arrived in Taiwan on Thursday to kick off a three day visit as part of a longer tour of the Indo-Pacific region. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德)  received the delegation on Thursday morning at the Presidential Office.

2024-02-21

It was recently discovered that Taiwan has been given the designation “Taiwan, province of China” in Japan’s National Diet Library website.   

Taiwan’s legislature established Taiwan-France Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association and the Taiwan-Poland Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association on Monday.

Taichung MRT Corporation announced that the 39 free charging stations at all 18 stops on the Taichung MRT have been upgraded to support both Type A and Type C starting from Friday.  

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) together with Vice President and President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Secretary-General to the President Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) visited various bureaus within the Presidential Office on Thursday morning. The purpose of their tour was to give Lunar New Year greetings to employees and express gratitude for their hard work.

Voters headed to the polling stations in Indonesia on Wednesday to cast their ballots in the presidential and legislative elections.

The Taiwan Railway Corporation (TRC) celebrated a remarkable milestone with its tourism train revenue surpassing the NT$100 million (US$3.2 million) mark for the first time.   

The Transportation Ministry hopes a three-pronged plan will return the cruise industry to pre-pandemic numbers this year. The ministry’s Maritime and Port Bureau, Tourism Administration, and Taiwan International Ports Corporation are joining forces to strengthen international marketing, comprehensively upgrade port tourism facilities, and increase incentives for cruise ships to come to Taiwan.

The Economics Ministry remains steadfast in its pursuit of energy efficiency, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. One method it employs to encourage public participation is offering subsidies for replacing old appliances with energy-efficient alternatives. The ministry’s Energy Administration stated on Friday that the subsidies will continue over the Lunar New Year with online applications accepted 24 hours a day.

2024-02-08

Taiwan has been actively promoting Chinese language education overseas in recent years and in 2023 the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL), Taiwan's proficiency test for Chinese, attracted record-breaking participation of over 100,000 test takers across 47 countries.

Guatemala’s Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martinez told Reuters on Monday that the country is considering establishing formal trade relations with China while maintaining existing relations with Taiwan. 

Eswatini Foreign Minister Pholile Shakantu and her delegation have successfully completed their visit to Taiwan on Sunday. Shakantu met with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) during this time.

The Labor Ministry on Friday reminded workers and employers that the first few days of the Lunar New Year holiday are paid holidays. The ministry adds that if those days fall on days workers normally have off, such as weekends, the worker will still receive a total of four paid days off to be taken at another time.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that would prevent certain people who receive income in both the United States and Taiwan from being taxed in both countries. The United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act was included in a larger package of tax bills known as The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024. The bill includes numerous tax cuts and tax credits for businesses and families.

The Tourism Administration has set a target for 12 million tourist arrivals in 2024 according to Transportation Minister Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) in a Transport Ministry press conference on Wednesday.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) visited a military base on Taiwan’s outlying Penghu islands Tuesday morning. Tsai met with troops stationed there and inspected the naval logistics support command in the city of Magong. She observed the ongoing maintenance and repair operations for various types of ships and engines at the Magong base. She also visited the Air Force's Seventh Radar Squadron and presided over the completion ceremony of the Wude Camp.

Taiwan's Labor Ministry will launch a digital learning program this year to enhance Mandarin skills and caregiving proficiency among migrant workers and foreign caregivers.

2024-01-25

The Foreign Ministry held a flag-awarding ceremony on Wednesday for a delegation from the Teen Diplomatic Envoy program. The delegation is set to depart for an 11-day diplomatic mission to Australia and New Zealand starting January 28. The group aims to strengthen ties and exchange experiences with the two Pacific nations.

The leaders of a Japan-Taiwan legislative group say that they hope to have three-way defense dialogues with officials from Japan, Taiwan and the United States. 

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a cold surge advisory on Monday reminding the public to take precautions to stay warm especially in the coming days.

National Taiwan Normal University's (NTNU) Center for Addiction Prevention and Policy Research (CAPPR) hosted a pre-conference workshop on Friday for the 2024 Asia-Pacific Harm Reduction International Conference. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Academy for the Judiciary of the Justice Ministry and the Taiwan Harm Reduction Association. Experts from multiple countries joined Taiwanese counterparts to sign a harm reduction declaration.

President Surangel Whipps, Jr. congratulated Taiwan Presidnet-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on his election victory during a video call on Wednesday.

The Foreign Ministry held a briefing on Tuesday for representative offices in Taiwan regarding the results of Taiwan’s recently concluded presidential, vice-presidential and legislative elections.

The Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it has determined that the Chinese military will continue to use various means to intimidate Taiwan in the future.

After the orderly completion of Taiwan’s election, the French Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday congratulating Taiwan’s voters and candidates for their participation in the democratic process. The statement also congratulated the winning candidate but did not mention President-elect ​​Lai Ching-te (賴清德) by name.

Presidential, vice-presidential, and legislative elections are set to take place this weekend on Saturday, and the Labor Ministry reminds eligible voters that they can take the day off.  Eligible workers can exercise their political rights on a statutory day off under the Labor Standards Act.

The Nicaraguan government shut down four organizations with ties to Taiwan on Wednesday, accusing them of failing to submit their financial reports, thereby violating non-profit laws.

The Keelung Lighthouse, with a history spanning 123 years, officially opened to the public on Wednesday, becoming the 22nd lighthouse in Taiwan accessible to visitors.   

TPP Presidential Candidate Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) Youtube channel exceeded one million subscribers on Monday. This makes him the first Youtuber in Taiwan’s political arena to have reached this milestone.

The Defense Ministry announced that a Chinese military aircraft was detected entering Taiwan’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in a statement released on Monday. Three Chinese balloons also crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

The Central Weather Administration is predicting another wave of cold temperatures starting Saturday evening and continuing through to Monday.   

The Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday that Taiwan will donate 60 million Japanese Yen (US$417,000) to aid in rescue and post-disaster reconstruction efforts following the devastating earthquake that struck the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan on Monday.

A further four Chinese balloons were detected crossing the Taiwan Strait median line and into Taiwan’s northern and southwestern airspace on Tuesday, according to the Defense Ministry. Two balloons had been detected crossing the median line on Monday.

TSMC will be expanding its global manufacturing this year, with speculations about establishing a 3-nanometer plant in Japan.

On Monday, January 1, 2024, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) delivered her final New Year’s speech in office. She says Taiwan and the cross-strait relations’ future must be determined by Taiwanese people through the democratic system.

2023-12-29

2023-12-28

The Presidential Office on Wednesday revealed their spring couplets, red envelopes, and lucky bags for the upcoming Year of the Dragon.

The Foreign Ministry stated on Tuesday that the Somaliland National Electoral Commission Chairman Musa Hassan Yousuf will lead a delegation to Taiwan on January 3 for a six-day visit.

The Constitutional Court held an oral argument session on Monday to debate the decriminalization of public insult. Under Article 309 of the Criminal Code, those who publicly insult others face up to one year in prison, or a fine not exceeding NT$15,000 (US$300).

Chinese import of Taiwanese grouper will resume from Friday. In a press release, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) confirms that China’s customs general administration has run a comprehensive evaluation and will allow import from qualified and registered fish breeding enterprises.  

Taiwan has donated US$1 million to establish a fund for Polish local governments and non-governmental organizations to aid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war humanitarian crisis. In a press release on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been jointly signed by Union of Polish Metropolises President Tadeusz Truskolaski, Mayor of Poznań Jacek Jaśkowiak, and Taiwan Representative to Poland Sharon S. N. Wu (吳尚年).

2023-12-20

The Foreign Ministry highlighted Taiwan’s freedom of the press on Tuesday while answering media inquiries, stating that is one of the best in the Asia-Pacific region.   

On Monday, Taiwan’s legislature passed amendments to existing gun control laws, adding new provisions to prohibit the use of firearms in public. The crime of using firearms or ammunition to shoot in or towards public spaces now carries a minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and a fine of up to NT$15 million (US$500, 000).

A total of 10 Chinese military aircraft were detected to have entered Taiwan's central and southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Friday, according to the Defense Ministry.

Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), the longest-serving minister since Taiwan became a democracy, says he will step down in May, regardless of the outcome of the election. Wu, who has served in the position since February 2018, first made the comments in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry then issued a press release on Thursday clarifying Wu’s comments.

The Cabinet held the Science and Technology Advisory Meeting on Wednesday with industry leaders, including TSMC Chairman Mark Liu (劉德音) and MediaTek Chairman Ming-Kai Tsai (蔡明介). 

Taipei 101, Taiwan’s most iconic skyscraper, announced on Tuesday that its 2024 New Year's Eve fireworks show will be themed "Colorful World". The show will feature 16,000 fireworks launched from the building, lasting 300 seconds.  

A Catholic priest in Taipei is calling for food donations to help migrant fishermen during the off-season in Taiwan. The Rev. Kaka Aie, an Indonesian priest from St. Christopher’s Church, made the comments during an exclusive interview with Rti News.2023-12-11

Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy (TYFD) announced the launch of an online fundraising campaign to allow students to return home and vote at a press conference on Friday.   

Taiwan chipmaker TSMC has reached an agreement with an Arizona labor union on the construction of the new chip factory, or fab, being built in the state.  

2023-12-06

Taiwan officially opened a new representative office in Montreal, Canada on Monday.

The Taiwan High-Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) announced on Monday that it will be increasing the number of train services next year to better serve the needs of passengers through capacity enhancement.

The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) announced on Friday that this year’s Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award (ADHRA) will be awarded to a Filipino children’s rights advocate, Amihan V. Abueva.

Former U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger passed away at his home in Connecticut on Wednesday local time. He was 100 years old. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday Taipei time extending condolences to his family and friends and saying that Kissinger played an important role in U.S. foreign policy.

The recent lowering of Taiwan’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 1.42% in 2023 is expected to affect the year-end bonuses given by companies. That’s according to a report released by one of Taiwan’s job banks on Wednesday.

The Foreign Ministry says there are no plans to change the name of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania, even if diplomatic relations between China and the Baltic state return to normal.

The Health Ministry will invest NT$48 billion (US$1.5 billion) over the next five years to elevate disability services in Taiwan, according to Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁). Chen stated this during a meeting with the recipients of the Chinese Mercy Love Association’s 26th Great Love Awards, which honors individuals with disabilities and their families for inspiring and selfless contributions.

All hopes of a joint opposition ticket in Taiwan's 2024 presidential election fell apart after disagreements between opposition candidates played out in full view of the media and public on Thursday night.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) both affirmed the growth of Taiwan-U.S. exchanges on Tuesday, during a cocktail reception co-hosted by the ministry and the American State Offices Association (ASOA). According to their website, ASOA works to enhance trade and investment ties between individual U.S. states and Taiwan.

Following media reports questioning the need for confidentiality on a labor assessment report, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) reassured the public that there were no procedural irregularities during an interview on Wednesday.  

Taiwan's representative to the U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) has submitted her resignation to the Foreign Ministry and returned to Taiwan to run for vice president in the 2024 election.

The historic agreement reached on Wednesday between two presidential candidates to run on a joint ticket in Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election appears to have fallen apart over the weekend.

Governor of Japan’s Chiba Prefecture Toshito Kumagai is asking Taiwan to adjust its import restrictions on food products from Chiba as he leads a delegation to Taiwan. Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) was among those to receive the delegation at the Executive Yuan’s Central Building on Thursday.

DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has chosen the current Taiwan representative to the U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) to be his vice presidential running mate, according to both CNA and Reuters citing sources with direct knowledge.

In major election news, two of the leading candidates for Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election announced their intention to run on a cross-party ticket on Wednesday. Kuomintang (KMT) candidate and current New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) officially announced their intention to run together as president and vice president.

In a recent interview with Nikkei Asia, Environment Minister Hsueh Fu-sheng, voiced discontent over Taiwan's exclusion from the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) says its plan to limit the number of Taiwanese group tourists traveling to China to 2,000 per day remains in place.

Taiwan and India are in the negotiation process of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on migrant worker cooperation. The MOU is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Taiwan representative to the United Kingdom Kelly Hsieh (謝武樵) and U.K. representative in Taiwan John Dennis formally signed the Enhanced Trade Partnership Arrangement via video conference on Wednesday.

Tainan City was included in National Geographic Traveller magazine’s ‘Cool List 2024’ published on October 31. The travel magazine’s list enumerates the top 30 places to visit next year and not only includes locations with scenic landscapes but also those offering unique experiences and cuisine.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who arrived in China last Saturday for a four-day state visit, met with President Xi Jinping on Monday. Several news outlets have reported that both Xi and Albanese acknowledge the importance of having stable ties and welcome the improvement in bilateral relations. A sign widely interpreted as both parties open to moving forward from past trade and security disagreements.

The Federation of International Human Rights Museums-Asia Pacific (FIHRM-AP) is holding its first annual conference in Taipei. The conference is themed ‘Synerging for Human Rights’ and will last from Monday to Friday.

The Foreign Ministry on Friday thanked the Japanese government for helping evacuate a Taiwanese national and his family from Isreal the previous day. The Taiwanese man along with his Israeli wife and their two children were evacuated from Tel Aviv to Tokyo.

The second stage of Taiwan's public flu vaccine program began on Wednesday, targeting adults aged 50 to 64 with no high-risk chronic diseases.  

2023-11-01

The fourth Taiwan Science Festival will be held from November 4 to 12 with the theme “Basic Sciences Create Future”. The event, co-hosted by the Education Ministry and the National Science and Technology Council, aims to enhance public scientific literacy through a diverse range of events such as exhibitions, experiments, and interactive performances.

In an interview at the Legislature on Monday, Economic Minister Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said that the economy is expected to gradually improve in the third and fourth quarters.

Taiwanese Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) expressed confidence in the U.S. security commitment to Taiwan at a Legislature meeting on Friday in response to comments made by American Institue in Taiwan (AIT) Chair Laura Rosenberger.  

The recent United States ban on the export of certain advanced AI chips to China is unlikely to have a big impact on Taiwan.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a two-year project to lay underground power cables throughout Taiwan’s outlying Orchid Island. Orchid Island has recently been pummeled by typhoons which destroyed power lines and homes, leaving residents without electricity. The cable project is expected to make the island more resistant to power outages during storms.

Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) said on Tuesday that the Health Ministry cannot promote the implementation of euthanasia in Taiwan. Hsueh says that the Health Ministry, as the official body responsible for overseeing medical personnel, is not suited to promote euthanasia.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) met with a delegation from the National Committee of American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) on Monday. Tsai thanked the NCAFP for regularly reporting on Taiwan-US relations and the situation in the Taiwan Strait. 

2023-10-20

The head of the United States’ unofficial embassy in Taiwan says that the conflict between Israel and Hamas will not impact U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chair Laura Rosenberger made the comments during a press conference at AIT’s Taipei office on Thursday. It marked the final day of her 5-day trip in Taiwan, her third visit since taking office in March.

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said in the legislature on Wednesday that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict may raise humanitarian issues concerning refugees. He pointed out that these could affect individuals in Israel as well as Palestinian refugees in other countries. Wu said Taiwan should provide assistance when it can.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said that his ministry has helped evacuate 156 Taiwanese citizens from Israel safely amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. He adds that there are 147 citizens who have chosen to stay for the time being.

The Environmental Ministry has issued alerts for poor air quality starting from Monday. Nearly all of northern, western Taiwan and outlying Kinmen and Matsu islands are currently at orange and red levels, with the southern part of the island expected to reach red within the next couple of days.

2023-10-13

Taiwan's tallest skyscraper was alight with blue and white on Wednesday night,  representing the colors of Israel’s flag. The special lights were displayed on Taipei 101 from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) delivered the opening speech at the 7th Yushan Forum which kicked off on Wednesday. The theme for this year’s forum is “Start A New Blueprint for Asian Development.”   

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) delivered her last National Day address in front of the Presidential Office Building on Tuesday.  

Taiwan’s 21st pride parade will be the largest to date, taking over parts of Taipei’s Da’an District on October 28. Organizer Taiwan Rainbow Civil Action Association held a press conference on Friday to announce details and this year’s theme of “Stand with Diversity.”

In the aftermath of Typhoon Koinu, the extent of the wreckage done to Taiwan’s outlying Orchid Island is becoming clearer.

2023-10-05

2023-10-04

In response to the recent unification remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that it is clear the Chinese government does not understand what the Taiwanese people want.

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be visiting Taiwan from October 11 - 12 to attend the 7th Yushan Forum, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.  

This year’s National Day Gala will be held at the Tainan Air Base, the first time the event has been held in the historic cultural capital.

In response to the latest territorial dispute between China and the Philippines, the Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Taiwan’s sovereignty over all the islands in the South China Sea on Thursday. 

All 12 diplomatic allies spoke on Taiwan’s behalf at the United Nations General Debate during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. That’s according to the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.   

2023-09-26

Several Taiwanese athletes secured wins in the categories of Judo, Taekwondo, and Gymnastics at the 2023 Asian Games taking place in Hangzhou, China.  

Chinese citizen rights activist Chen Siming (陳思明) has arrived in Taiwan seeking political asylum, according to a video he posted on Twitter on Friday.

Taiwan's Cabinet approved a draft minimum wage bill on Thursday, fulfilling a campaign promise of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

Radio Taiwan International (Rti) celebrated its 95th anniversary with an event featuring remarks by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Tuesday. Additional speakers included Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃), Ambassador of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Taiwan Andrea Bowman, and Rti Chairperson Cheryl Lai (賴秀如).

Direct flights from Taoyuan, Taiwan to Wuhan, China resumed service on Monday after a three-year suspension with over 200 passengers on board the first plane. The Health Ministry initially announced a suspension of all direct flights to Wuhan by national airlines immediately following Wuhan’s lockdown in attempts to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 on January 23, 2020.

The National Defense Ministry reports that a total of 103 Chinese aircraft were detected over Taiwan’s air defense identification zone from Sunday to Monday.

2023-09-15

The foreign ministry says it views Japan’s recent Cabinet reshuffle as a positive development, according to a statement released on Thursday.

Taipei Canadian Trade Office’s director of trade and investment, Ed Jager, expressed confidence that a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) between Taiwan and Canada can be signed by the end of this year.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced on Tuesday that the 16th presidential and vice presidential election and the 11th Legislative Yuan election will be held on January 13, 2024. The CEC estimates approximately 19.5 million people will vote, with over 1 million first-time voters. The CEC will set up more than 17 thousand polling stations across the country.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Spain has joined forces with the Filmoteca de Catalunya (Catalonia film archive) in Spain to exhibit four Taiwanese films by Edward Yang. This unique cinematic event is scheduled to run from September 12 to 24 and will feature a selection of his iconic films.

2023-09-08

The foreign ministry strongly condemned China for its continued distortion of Taiwan’s sovereignty on Wednesday.  The statement was made in response to media coverage of the meeting between Cambodia’s new Prime Minister Hun Manet and China’s International Department Minister Liu Jianchao (劉建超) on Sunday. According to the news coverage, Manet made assurances that the Cambodian government will continue to adhere to the One-China principle. He said that Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong are China’s internal matters.

Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) highlighted the unparalleled strengths of Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturers, while pointing to new challenges in the global supply chain influenced by geopolitics and economic uncertainties.

Taiwan will participate in 32 sports events in the Hangzhou Asian Games, with a total of over 500 participants and a total delegation of over 700 people. Due to the one-year delay caused by the pandemic, the games will begin on September 23. 

Local dengue fever numbers continue to rise, with a thousand new cases added in a single week. According to the CDC, over 4,000 local cases were distributed over 15 cities, with 18 severe and 4 deaths as of Sunday.

President Tsai meets with US delegation led by Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; Foreign Minister Wu encourages public service through the young diplomats program; Japan invites Taiwan rescue team for joint training in light of the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto earthquake

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) presided over an awards ceremony for military personnel on Thursday ahead of Armed Forces Day which is on September 3. Tsai was present for the granting of 196 awards across 7 categories. 

2023-08-30

  In an effort to secure Taiwan’s participation in the U.N., Foreign minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) once again called for the inclusion of the island country in an open letter sent to various media outlets.  

Foxconn Technology Group founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) announced his bid for the 2024 presidential election in a press conference on Monday.

Vice President and 2024 presidential candidate Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has reiterated his hope to work with China to maintain peace across the strait in a TV interview with Era Television on Thursday. Lai said that should there ever be a conversation between both sides, shrimp on fried rice and a cup of bubble tea would be served to Chinese president Xi Jinping (習近平). 

Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou You-yi (侯友宜) is set to visit the U.S. in September, a press release issued by his campaign office voiced on Thursday. The press release stated that the visit aims to deepen Taiwan-U.S. exchanges and demonstrate Hou’s continued support for Taiwan’s free and democratic system.   

President Tsai pays respects to veterans at event commemorating the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis；Taiwan reaffirms sovereignty over South China Sea islands；Chinese military to hold live-fire drills off the Fujian coast

China announced the immediate suspension of Taiwan mango imports on Monday. According to China's Taiwan Affairs Office, the detection of citrus mealybugs in recent shipments pose a serious threat to China’s agricultural and ecological environment. This isn’t the first time China suspended the import of Taiwanese products amid continuing cross-strait tensions.   Taiwan Institute of Economic Research’s Dr. Darson Chiu said Taiwan’s agriculture ministry should first confirm whether the implemented quality control is up to standard. If there are no issues, Chiu infers that China is imposing trade restrictions to put pressure on Taiwan.   Chiu observed that the items China listed are not pressing necessities for China’s economy amidst recent discussions on the termination of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which is a preferential trade agreement between Taiwan and China. The products include petrochemicals, machinery, textiles among others, making them easily replaceable by other markets.    Chiu speculated that additional restrictions towards Taiwan’s products uncritical to China’s economic development may follow. In comparison to the imports of information and communications technology products which increase year by year, China considers Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products low priority.     Chiu suggested that Taiwan adopt the strategy of making Taiwanese products irreplaceable. Since Taiwan produce is well known for its quality, Chiu recommended the agriculture ministry to diversify risk by focusing on the new southbound markets.  

Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with a 65-member delegation from Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Monday morning at the Presidential Office. Head of the LDP's Youth Division and Japanese Diet member Norikazu Suzuki led the delegation which included seven other Diet members, members of the Youth Division and local representatives.   In his speech, Lai said the LDP's Youth Division is the hope for Japan’s future development. He said he was pleased to see the Youth Division’s close cooperation with Taiwan’s political circles, especially that with the Democratic Progressive Party.   Lai highlighted the significance of exchanges between Taiwan and Japan saying both countries mutually benefit from deeper relations. He pointed to the increased travel from both sides and the record high of US$82.2 billion in overall trade volume as examples. Lai also stressed the need to work together to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region so countries, and the world as a whole, can prosper.   In response, Suzuki said that not only do Taiwan and Japan have a true friendship but also share the universal values of human rights and democracy. He also stressed how peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is of great importance to Japan and the international community. He said that the Youth Division will continue with the foundation built by its predecessors to bring Taiwan-Japan relations to new heights.  

Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), who just completed a diplomatic trip to Paraguay, spoke with reporters upon his return to Taiwan early Friday morning. Lai shared the positive results of the visit and emphasized the continuing strong bilateral ties of the two countries. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that Taiwan will donate US$500,000 (NT$16 million) to assist in disaster relief and reconstruction following the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii.

Winners at the international Helsinki Cup youth football tournament, Ziqiang Elementary School girls team, were received by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office on Wednesday. 

2023-08-15

The health ministry announced on Monday that Article 13 of the Sexual Assault Crime Prevention Act will be launched on Tuesday. The article is part of a revision which protects the rights of victims of sexual image crimes announced earlier this year.

President Tsai and others express their condolences to Hawaii’s fire victims; The Ministry of Justice says Taiwanese nationals can be prosecuted if filmed smoking cannabis abroad; Electric vehicle use soars as government funds charging infrastructure expansion.

The Childcare Policy Alliance (CPA) called on the government once again on Tuesday to change the current regulations for parental leave to help working parents and Taiwan’s low fertility rate. 

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2023-08-08

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) attended the opening ceremony of the Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange (TCSE) in Kaohsiung on Monday.

2023-08-04

Four people have been injured following a fire that broke out at a research center in Pingtung County on Thursday morning. The fire at the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology’s (NCSIST) facility at the Jiupeng military base began for unknown reasons during a routine burning of leftover materials.

2023-08-02

The agriculture ministry officially launched today with the incumbent agriculture council chief, Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲), taking the helm.   During the inauguration ceremony, Chen promised to continue to safeguard the rights and interests of farmers and fisherfolk by multiple means, including  lowering the production costs for farmers. Chen then mentioned plans for the provision of subsidies for agricultural machinery and equipment. He also added that exports of agricultural products to the U.S. and Japan will be vigorously pursued.  

The Taoyuan Airport MRT extension to the A22 Laojie River Station (老街溪站) began services on Monday.  

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As of Monday morning Typhoon Doksuri is approximately 900 kilometers southeast of Hengchun heading north-northwest, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 144 kilometers per hour and a storm radius of 250 kilometers.

2023-07-21

Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) attended the “‘Green Finance towards Net Zero’ Agricultural Bank and Young Farmers for Net-Zero Initiative” event on Thursday morning. 

Taiwan and four allied countries in the South Pacific have signed a joint declaration on climate change. The statement was signed in a meeting by Tuvalu’s Governor Tofiga Falani, Palau’s state minister Gustav N. Aitaro, the Marshall Island’s natural resource and commerce minister John Silk, and Nauru’s climate change minister Rennier Gadabu.  

2023-07-18

The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) is warning the public that shore conditions will still be dangerous for the next few days even though Typhoon Talim has passed. Those going to the coast should pay special attention to safety as the weather remains unstable.  

2023-07-14

2023-07-13

Paraguay’s President-elect Santiago Peña met with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) as part of his five-day visit to Taiwan. The meeting which took place on Wednesday morning, marked 66 years since Paraguay and Taiwan established diplomatic ties and Peña’s first trip to Asia since winning the 2023 general election. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) solemnly stated on Tuesday that the ‘news’ on the evacuation of U.S. nationals in Taiwan are purely rumors.    MOFA spokesperson Liu Yung-chien (劉永健) gave the statement in response to false information being circulated on the social media app LINE. He further clarified that confirmation with the American Institute in Taiwan has been made on the matter.  

Homeowners with one self-use residential loan could be eligible for NT$30,000 in government support. Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) announced on Monday that homeowners can apply for the “Middle Class Support Project” through the official website of the Construction Department before December 29 of this year.

AIT Chair says US not screening Taiwan’s presidential candidates

2023-07-06

2023-07-05

A U.S. Congressional delegation led by U.S. Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Kevin Hern arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday. The delegation has met with Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文). The two parties shared insight and exchanged views on the issues related to the Taiwan-U.S. relationship.

Taiwan’s health minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) calls on those with a family history of lung cancer and heavy smoking to be screened as soon as possible. Hsueh said that there are about 500,000 people who meet the two screening criteria.

First part of the US-Taiwan trade deal sent to legislature for debate; Taiwan taxi drivers angered by new traffic regulations; New law could bar human rights violators from entering Taiwan

Several advocacy groups focused on LGBT+ and gender issues jointly released a policy white paper on Thursday, proposing more comprehensive policies to protect their communities. The paper was released just before the end of June, which is considered Pride Month.

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In her speech, Bartus thanked Taiwan for its assistance to the refugees in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia. She said that Poland is an important country in Eastern Europe with profound potential and goals to establish direct flights with Taiwan. Bartus added that they are particularly interested in the field of semiconductors and hope to cooperate on research and development, technology transfer, and personnel training.  

On Today's news: KMT vice chair attends Straits Forum in China, calling government restrictions “unnecessary”; Mandatory unpaid leave is on the rise among Taiwanese companies: Labor Ministry; and Korean cycling champions share moving story of warm treatment from #Taiwan police during a disastrous ride. 

2023-06-15

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) met with Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil on the 13th as part of his trip to Europe. Senate President Milos Vystrcil visited Taiwan in 2020 and has always been a staunch supporter for closer relations between the Czech Republic and Taiwan.   The foreign minister will also speak after Czech President Petr Pavel at a security conference hosted by the European Values Center for Security Policy think tank on the 14th. This is the foreign minister’s second visit to the Czech Republic after 2021.   The visit by Taiwan’s foreign minister has angered China, which has been consistently trying to isolate Taiwan on the international stage. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin (汪文斌) said on the 9th that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory. He added that the one China policy is the prerequisite and political foundation for China to develop friendly relations with other countries in the world.   In Europe, Taiwan only has formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican but has extensive informal ties with many other countries. Countries in Central and Eastern Europe have been particularly eager to show support for Taiwan, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Like the European Union, the Czech Republic officially follows a one China policy but maintains close ties with Taiwan.  

The first local case of dengue fever this year has been confirmed in Tainan City.  The CDC held a press conference on Tuesday to report their findings and assure the public that measures are being taken to prevent more cases. A 40-year-old woman living in Rende District, Tainan City, sought medical attention for persistent fever, dizziness, and abdominal pain earlier this month. The CDC said that this is a local case since she had not traveled abroad for 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms, and she had not been active outside of her neighborhood. The source of her infection is pending further investigation. The CDC has set up a regional command center to check and remove possible mosquito breeding sources and begin chemical control. Screening stations are also being set up in the community to prevent the spread of the disease. According to CDC statistics, there has been one local case of dengue fever and 45 imported cases so far this year. The disease is on the rise in the neighboring Southeast and South Asian countries and in the Americas, with more than 2 million cumulative cases worldwide. The CDC reminds the public that summer rains increase the chance of a dengue outbreak, and people are urged to eliminate possible mosquito breeding sources. The symptoms of dengue fever are fever, headache, pain in the back of the eyes, muscle and joint pain, rash, etc. Anyone experiencing these should seek medical attention and divulge any recent travel to medical personnel. 2023-06-13

A delegation of U.S. defense experts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a six-day trip. The delegation, led by former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger, is scheduled to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) along with her national security and foreign policy advisors, which include National Security Council’s deputy secretary Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) and deputy foreign minister Roy Lee Chun (李淳).      The foreign ministry says the FDD delegation will provide policy recommendations on the topics of global and regional security, as well as national defense. Spokesperson for the foreign ministry Liu Yung-chien (劉永健) says Taiwan is on the democratic frontline fighting the authoritarian expansion, and is working with like-minded countries to handle the threats.    Former Israeli national security advisor Jacob Nagel and the FDD’s executive director Mark Dubowitz are also part of the delegation.  

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will reportedly share the stage with Czech President Petr Pavel at a security conference, the 2023 European Values Summit, next week.    

  Taiwan prepares for new ferry route launch between Japan’s Yonaguni Island and Yilan County; Foreign ministry hopes Taiwan-US trade deal will encourage trade agreements with other countries; and Sticky rice dumpling prices on the rise. 

The New Power Party (NPP) has voiced concerns over the examination process timeline for the upcoming vacancies on the Supreme Court bench. The Supreme Court justices are expected to convene for an interim meeting June 14 to 21 to approve nominations.    The concerns come after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) submitted four nominations to the Legislature on May 31. The NPP says that it thinks this meeting is too soon and will be rushed. It says this current time frame will not allow sufficient time for issues to be fully reviewed and that each nominee should receive half a day of independent questioning.   The NPP have raised ten areas of concern for the nominated individuals to address including gender equality and traffic safety. On Monday, NPP Legislator, Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said the most important criteria for examining the nominees is their ability to uphold human rights, not their position of authority.  

2023-06-06

Also, The head of AIT says the US will cooperate with the winner of Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election, regardless of the winner.

2023-06-02

The Foreign Ministry has announced that the first part of the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade will be signed in Washington DC at 10AM local time.

Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe has led a delegation to Taiwan for a six-day visit.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) says building a more resilient supply chain cannot be delayed. Tsai spoke on Tuesday at the opening ceremony for Computex Taipei 2023, an international trade show for information and communication technology. 

2023-05-29

President Tsai Ing-wen says the Transportation Ministry is currently discussing plans to revive cross-strait tourism and will make a public announcement once the plans are set.

Outgoing Paraguayan president says the country can increase trade with China without abandoning Taiwan; the defense ministry says that the delivery of 66 F-16 fighter jets is on schedule, despite some delays with the first two prototype units; after months of drought, heavy rainfall brings some of Taiwan’s reservoirs close to full capacity

2023-05-24

The Foreign Ministry says only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent its people in the WHO. The ministry spoke on Tuesday in response to China’s assertion at the World Health Assembly (WHA) on Monday that the “one China” principle allows Beijing to represent Taiwan.

2023-05-22

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) met with former U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss at the Presidential Office on Friday.  

2023-05-18

2023-05-17

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) says Taiwan’s partnerships with like-minded countries is the best defense against authoritarianism. Tsai made the statement via video on Monday at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2023. 

Taiwan’s first heavy ion cancer treatment center has opened at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) attended a ceremony on Monday celebrating the launch. The technology was obtained through a deal with Japanese research centers, marking the first time Japan has exported its heavy ion equipment overseas.    The NT$4.5 billion facility required nearly 14 years to complete from planning to opening. The center is the first of its kind in Taiwan and only the 14th in the world. Heavy ion therapy is a non-invasive form of cancer radiotherapy, in which precise radiation is delivered to tumor sites. It typically has few side effects for non-cancerous tissue and requires fewer treatment days than other forms of therapy, such as proton or photon therapy.   President Tsai said in her speech that she believes this technology fills a major gap in Taiwan’s cancer treatment capabilities. She said it will not only benefit patients, but will also enhance Taiwan's international medical competitiveness.   Taipei Veterans Hospital Superintendent Chen Wei-ming (陳威明) said that the treatment center has attracted global attention. He says the Mayo Clinic in the United States has already sent several experts to the facility, and that the two medical centers have signed a letter of intent for future cooperation.    Beyond medical treatment, the advanced equipment can also be used to test radiation resistance for components used in space technologies such as satellites.   The hospital has already been working with Taiwan’s National Space Center on projects such as the Fuwei 8 satellite which launched last August.  

Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) says business investments in Taiwan are the best way to bring stability to the region.

2023-05-11

2023-05-10

Taiwan will work to strengthen its relationship with Saint Christopher and Nevis.

Saint Christopher and Nevis Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Hanley has arrived in Taiwan with a delegation. The group landed on Monday and will meet with various officials about building stronger exchanges between the two countries.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) spoke on the phone with Paraguay’s President-elect Santiago Peña on Friday and congratulated him for winning the election.

2023-05-04

President Tsai Ing-wen says she hopes to see Taiwan and the United States finalize the U.S.-Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative by the end of this year.

2023-05-02

Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) says it has reduced its coal burning in the past few years, despite claims to the contrary by Foxconn founder and 2024 presidential hopeful Terry Gou (郭台銘 ).

A French delegation met with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Friday at Taiwan’s Presidential Office.

2023-04-28

2023-04-27

Taiwan is closely monitoring the application of artificial intelligence, including deepfake technology and ChatGPT, in China’s cognitive strategies. At a legislative hearing on Wednesday, the National Security Bureau chief Tsai Ming-yen ( 蔡明彥) says China is using a combination of tactics to threaten Taiwan’s national security.   

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has conferred the Order of the Brilliant Star on Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei in recognition of his contributions towards advancing Taiwan-Guatemala ties.

2023-04-25

Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) thanks the U.S. House representatives for their open letter to the State Department asking Secretary Antony Blinken to invite President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit.

2023-04-21

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2023-04-19

China has conducted an unannounced military drill at the Yellow Sea, a marginal sea between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula.

2023-04-17

China’s hastily announced no-fly zone north of Taiwan has been reduced from 3 days to just 27 minutes, China announces investigation into Taiwan’s “trade barriers”, Hong Kong government says it has no intention of resuming relations with Taiwan

Taiwan and The Republic of the Marshall Islands on Thursday signed a bilateral agreement for the training and exchange of diplomatic personnel and a memorandum of understanding to fight climate change.

2023-04-13

2023-04-12

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) says China’s military drills surrounding Taiwan show a lack of responsibility for regional stability. Tsai made the remarks on Tuesday, four days after returning from her trip to visit Taiwan’s Central American allies.

China has placed sanctions on Taiwan’s diplomatic representative in Washington Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) along with her family and several US institutions on Friday.

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President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) will meet with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on April 5. That was according to Presidential Office spokesperson Chang Tun-han (張惇涵) on Monday. 

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The Foreign Ministry says values like freedom and democracy will prevail against the opposition and dollar diplomacy. That came from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jeff Liu (劉永健) on Tuesday, two days after Taiwan and Honduras severed diplomatic relations.

President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan will not engage in “a meaningless contest of dollar diplomacy with China.” She made the remarks in a formal statement on Sunday after Taiwan and Honduras ended 82 years of official diplomatic ties.

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Taiwan is working to keep Chinese radio broadcasts from spreading pro-China content in Taiwan. That was the word from Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) on Tuesday, in response to reports of Chinese programs picked up on radios in Hsinchu and Miaoli counties.

News - 2023-03-13

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2023-03-08

President Tsai Ing-wen’s presidency is coming to an end in 2024. Tsai is making diplomatic visits to Central American countries before stepping down, but a recent report about her potential visit to the United States is sparking some concerns.

A senior US defense official says China will not attack Taiwan before the end of this decade because it is too costly. United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner made the statement on Thursday at a speech at the Hudson Institute. That story and more in today's news.

2023-03-02

2023-03-01

The Central Epidemic Command Center says it plans to discuss in mid-April whether to remove the mask-wearing mandate on public transportation. The center made the announcement after noting an increase of only 9,908 local COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. That’s the second consecutive day with less than 10,000 reported cases.