Sat, Jun 28, 2025
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must align with citizens in their mass recall movement to safeguard the country, President William Lai (賴清德) said at the party’s national congress yesterday in his capacity as party chairman.At the party congress, themed “Better democracy, better Taiwan,” Lai s
STILL ON THE TABLE: The government is not precluding advanced nuclear power generation if it is proven safer and the nuclear waste issue is solved, the premier said Taiwan is willing to be in step with the world by considering new methods of nuclear energy generation and to discuss alternative approaches to provide more stable power generation and help support industries, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday.The government would continue to develop diverse
Thousands rallied in Bangkok yesterday to demand the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, part of the brewing political turmoil set off by a leaked phone call with former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen.Paetongtarn faces growing dissatisfaction over her handling of a recent bo
The US Supreme Court on the last day of rulings for its current term gave US President Donald Trump his latest in a series of victories at the nation’s top judicial body, one that might make it easier for him to implement contentious elements of his sweeping agenda as he tests the limits of presiden
SHIFT PRIORITIES: The US should first help Taiwan respond to actions China is already taking, instead of focusing too heavily on deterring a large-scale invasion, an expert said US Air Force leaders on Thursday voiced concerns about the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) missile capabilities and its development of a “kill web,” and said that the US Department of Defense’s budget request for next year prioritizes bolstering defenses in the Indo-Pacific region due to th
Taiwan plans to launch its first sovereign satellite by the end of the year, Chunghwa Telecom Co (CHT, 中華電信) President Chien Chih-cheng (簡志誠) said yesterday.The telecom announced that it was prepared to sign an agreement with US-based Astranis Co to launch a dedicated satellite over which Chunghwa T
AWARENESS: The China literacy curriculum would cover democratic processes, defense and resilience, media literacy, cross-strait relations and China’s political system The Ministry of Education (MOE) is developing “China literacy” teaching materials for compulsory education to enhance students’ media literacy and national identity, Ministry of Education Secretary-General Lin Po-chiao (林伯樵) said.The materials would focus on six core topics: democratic processes and
Taiwan and the Czech Republic on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support Ukraine in building infrastructure, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing threats to target energy and water facilities during winter.Representative to the Czech Republic Ke Liang-ruey (柯良叡) and Czech E
AGGRESSION: China’s exercises are to show its ability to respond quickly to unforeseen situations and project strength internationally and domestically, an analyst said China’s live-fire drills in April and earlier this month serve a dual purpose: challenging the US-led coalition politically and enhancing its ability to project sea power to further its ambitions, a Taiwanese defense expert said.In an analysis for the Institute for National Defense and Security Rese
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday urged dialogue to resolve South China Sea disputes after the Philippines officially endorsed new names for more than 130 features in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), part of the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島).In a statement, MOFA urge
Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said in China on Thursday that he advocates for “peaceful and democratic unification” and called for the need to “respect the will of the Taiwanese people” at an event also attended by Beijing’s top official in charge of Taiwan affairs.“My advocacy is that the two
GLOBAL WARMING: Humans should find a different developmental model, improve the technology to capture and store solar energy, and share it, Lee Yuan-tseh said Humanity must wake up to the climate crisis or face extinction, Taiwanese Nobel Prize laureate and National Climate Change Committee Adviser Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) said yesterday in a call for urgency in the nation’s transition to renewable energy. He made the remarks at a renewable energy forum at the
The National Institutes of Applied Research’s National Center for Instrumentation Research has said that it has developed technology to help the semiconductor industry address the issue of increased scrap rates for semiconductor wafers resulting from the use of silicon carbide. Institute researcher
As Taiwan begins administering two newly approved drugs for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, more accurate diagnostic tools are needed to identify suitable patients and guide treatment decisions, medical experts said. Kisunla, developed by US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, and Leqembi, jointly de
POLLUTION: Livestock excrement can be recycled and used as fertilizer, and the method has been applied to various agricultural crops nationwide, an official said The Ministry of Environment on Thursday urged the nation’s about 1,400 small-scale animal farm operators to step up their efforts in meeting the 5 percent target of wastewater recycling by the end of this year. Husbandry wastewater remained the main source of river pollution last year, Department of
The credibility of climate pledges by the world’s tech giants to rapidly become carbon neutral is fading fast as they devour more and more energy in the race to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and build data centers, researchers warned on Thursday.Apple, Google and Meta said they would stop add
In Venezuela’s oil capital of Maracaibo, a drilling frenzy has led to dozens of new wells — but the valuable liquid being pumped out is just water, not petroleum.In a symbol of the woes of Venezuela’s crumbling economy, the once-flourishing oil town of 2 million people is parched.Experts blame the n
Luxury fashion powerhouse Prada SpA has acknowledged the ancient Indian roots of its new sandal design after the debut of the open-toe footwear sparked a furor among Indian artisans and politicians thousands of miles from the catwalk in Italy.Images from Prada’s fashion show in Milan last weekend sh
Over-the-top (OTT) boxes might be used by China as a channel for influence campaigns in Taiwan, Cable Broadband Institute in Taiwan chief executive officer Claudia Peng (彭淑芬) said on June 8.Peng said that more than 7 million OTT devices used to stream Chinese content have been imported into Taiwan,
There is no such thing as a “silicon shield.”This trope has gained traction in the world of Taiwanese news, likely with the best intentions. Anything that breaks the China-controlled narrative that Taiwan is doomed to be conquered is welcome, but after observing its rise in recent months, I now beli
The recently released A Chip Odyssey (造山者-世紀的賭注) is more than just a documentary. It is a timely reflection on Taiwan’s industrial journey and the evolution of its national identity. At a time when Taiwan faces growing geopolitical tensions, this film reminds the public of the long, uncertain climb
SEMI-FINAL SWEEP: Taiwanese are to take up all four berths in the men’s doubles semi-finals, while three Taiwanese women’s doubles pairings secured spots Taiwan’s badminton ace Chou Tien-chen stayed hot as he secured a semi-final berth in the men’s singles at the US Open at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday.Chou entered the Super 300 tournament as the top seed and breezed past Victor Lai of Canada 21-19, 21-8 in 37 minutes, advancing to the semi-finals
Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya led the charge with a five-wicket haul as Bangladesh collapsed for just 133 in their second innings, handing Sri Lanka a win by an innings and 78 runs, with the hosts clinching a 1-0 victory in their two-test series yesterday.Bangladesh lost six wickets within 33 runs, as
An 84-game season is coming to the NHL as part of an extension of the collective bargaining agreement that has been tentatively agreed to by the league and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA).They announced a memorandum of understanding on Friday in Los Angeles before the first round of the draft.
No lead is safe this year when the Baltimore Orioles face the Tampa Bay Rays.Certainly not with seven innings still to play.On June 18, Tampa Bay beat Baltimore 12-8 after the Orioles had taken an 8-0 lead in the top of the second. Then on Friday night — nine days later — it was the Rays who opened
‘UNACCEPTABLE’: The Iranian foreign minister said that if the US is genuine about a deal, it should not be disrespectful, adding that Iranians to not take kindly to threats Iran held a state funeral service yesterday for about 60 people, including its military commanders, killed in its war with Israel, after Tehran’s top diplomat condemned US President Donald Trump’s comments on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as “unacceptable.”The proceedings started at
A record number of people were expected to attend yesterday’s Pride march in Budapest, defying a ban that marks an unprecedented regression of LGBTQ rights in the EU.Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling coalition amended laws and the constitution earlier this year to prohibit the annual celebration,
Two former Chilean ministers are among four candidates competing this weekend for the presidential nomination of the left ahead of November elections dominated by rising levels of violent crime.More than 15 million voters are eligible to choose today between former minister of labor Jeannette Jara,
JUNE 30 to JULY 6After being routed by the Japanese in the bloody battle of Baguashan (八卦山), Hsu Hsiang (徐驤) and a handful of surviving Hakka fighters sped toward Tainan.There, he would meet with Liu Yung-fu (劉永福), leader of the Black Flag Army who had assumed control of the resisting Republic of
On Sunday, President William Lai (賴清德) delivered a strategically brilliant speech.It was the first of his “Ten Lectures on National Unity,” (團結國家十講) focusing on the topic of “nation.”Though it has been eclipsed — much to the relief of the opposing Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s
Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart’s Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher.Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural export
Continued from yesterday（延續自昨日）https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/langBeyond its iconic railway, Alishan is also celebrated for its exceptional tea. The slopes surrounding the Alishan Forest Railway are dotted with tea gardens. Surprisingly, the farming history of Alishan tea is relatively recent. Al
Long before modern highways crossed Taiwan’s rugged landscape, Chiayi’s Alishan Forest Railway pioneered the way through the mountains. Its tracks wound through a large forest of tall trees, offering stunning views of the region’s natural beauty. Let’s get aboard now and let the train carry us back
A: The Golden Melody Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award will go to both musician Bruce Wong and late singer Jeff Ma.B: Some superstars also won this honor in the past, such as late singer Teresa Teng. A: Speaking of Teresa, have you heard that an unreleased Japanese song of hers was found recently?
Two moves show Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) is gunning for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) party chair and the 2028 presidential election. Technically, these are not yet “officially” official, but by the rules of Taiwan politics, she is now on the dance floor. Earlier this month Lu confirmed in an interview in Japan’s Nikkei that she was considering running for KMT chair. This is not new news, but according to reports from her camp she previously was still considering the case for and against running. By choosing a respected, international news outlet, she declared it to the world. While the outside world likely paid little attention, domestically the message was unmistakable: She is moving on to a larger stage. Part of the dance is to leave options open before formally committing, and with the chair race due in late September, she has time. If something goes wrong in the meantime, or if power brokers in the party offer her a deal that provides more benefits than taking on the role of chair, she can pivot accordingly. Earlier this year, I suggested that strategically, she would be better off concentrating on her job as Taichung mayor until she is term-limited out of office in December next year. Taichung mayor is obviously a full-time job, and concurrently running the Taipei-headquartered party runs the risk of doing one or both jobs poorly and making mistakes that could imperil her shot at the presidency in 2028. The situation has changed. Current KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), knowing he is likely to face challengers of a higher caliber than the three relative nobodies already declared, has gone all in on appealing to the base. The base is more likely to turn out to vote in the chair election, so this makes some strategic sense in the short term.
Among Thailand’s Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) villages, a certain rivalry exists between Arunothai, the largest of these villages, and Mae Salong, which is currently the most prosperous. Historically, the rivalry stems from a split in KMT military factions in the early 1960s, which divided command and opium territories after Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) cut off open support in 1961 due to international pressure (see part two, “The KMT opium lords of the Golden Triangle,” on May 20). But today this rivalry manifests as a different kind of split, with Arunothai leading a pro-China faction and Mae Salong staunchly aligned to Taiwan. Last spring at Arunothai’s Jiaolian School, principal Wang Mingming (王明明) had forewarned me of the division between villages, saying, “We are not like the people in Mae Salong. They are rich. Because of the Taiwanese.” Arunothai has in recent years become split in its loyalties between Taiwan and China (see part one, “A tale of two schools,” on May 15), but in Mae Salong, links to Taiwan remain strong. Taiwan-funded monuments pay homage to the Lost Army, villagers wear T-shirts emblazoned with the Republic of China (ROC) flag and tea plantations grown Taiwan’s most famous tea varieties, including Dong Ding (“frozen peak”) Oolong, Oriental Beauty and Jin Xuan (Golden Daylily or Milk Oolong). Even the numerical classifications of the teas — Oolong No. 12 or No. 17, for example — are the same, and the shops resemble those found on Alishan. At the tomb of General Tuan Hsi-wen (段希文) — perched on a Mae Salong hilltop with a view of his ancestral homeland in China’s Yunnan province — a third generation villager wearing a vintage KMT army uniform, Yan Si-Chung (岩思中), greets visitors with sharp military salutes. “Both my father and my grandfather were soldiers in the KMT army,” the 44-year-old
| New Taipei City | 26-28 | 10% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 26-26 | 0% | |
| Hsinchu City | 26-27 | 0% | |
| Taipei City | 26-28 | 10% | |
| Miaoli County | 25-27 | 0% | |
| Taoyuan City | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Keelung City | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Yunlin County | 25-27 | 0% | |
| Taichung City | 26-28 | 0% | |
| Nantou County | 25-27 | 0% | |
| Changhua County | 26-28 | 0% | |
| Chiayi County | 25-27 | 0% | |
| Chiayi City | 25-26 | 0% | |
| Tainan City | 27-29 | 10% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 27-29 | 30% |  |
| Pingtung County | 25-28 | 10% | |
| Yilan County | 25-27 | 10% | |
| Hualien County | 26-28 | 20% |  |
| Taitung County | 26-28 | 10% | |
| Kinmen County | 27-27 | 0% | |
| Penghu County | 27-28 | 20% | |
| Lienchiang County | 26-27 | 0% | |
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