Fri, May 09, 2025
‘FALLACY’: Xi’s assertions that Taiwan was given to the PRC after WWII confused right and wrong, and were contrary to the facts, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday called Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) claim that China historically has sovereignty over Taiwan “deceptive” and “contrary to the facts.”In an article published on Wednesday in the Russian state-run Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Xi said that this year not only ma
Two US senators on Monday reintroduced the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act, which they said aims to reaffirm US policy to support Taiwan’s democracy and international engagement amid China’s increasing diplomatic and military aggression.Republican Senator John Curtis and Democratic Senator Jeff M
Thick black smoke yesterday billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in a sign that cardinals again failed to elect a new head of the Catholic Church, but they were scheduled to hold two more rounds of voting after press time last night.Among the thousands of Catholics and curious tourists ma
The Philippines yesterday criticized a “high-risk” maneuver by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies.The Scarborough Shoal — a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested South China Sea — has be
OCEANIA-BOUND: The new EV models are expected to become available in New Zealand and Australia from the second half of next year, Foxtron Vehicle said Yulon Motor Co (裕隆汽車) yesterday said it is to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) in Taiwan for Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors Corp based on a model developed by Foxtron Vehicle Technologies Co (鴻華先進), its joint venture with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密).Earlier in the day, Foxtron Vehicle signed
PLEA FOR PEACE: World leaders called for a de-escalation on the border following the clashes, in which at least 38 people were killed and three Indian fighter jets crashed India and Pakistan yesterday exchanged heavy artillery fire along their contested frontier after New Delhi launched deadly missile strikes on its archrival, in the worst violence between the nuclear-armed neighbors in two decades.At least 38 deaths were reported, with Islamabad saying 26 civilians w
The family of an Indonesian fisher who died on a Taiwanese fishing boat in 2015 settled with the captain and a crew member yesterday, Taiwan International Workers Association (TIWA) said today in a news release.The 43-year-old Indonesian fisher, Supriyanto, died aboard the Kaohsiung-registered Fu Tz
Kaohsiung police arrested two men for armed carjacking this afternoon after a chase through the city. Two suspects fled on a motorcycle, starting in Fongshan District (鳳山) and ending in Daliao District (大寮), police said.A 46-year-old man, surnamed Pan (潘), entered a factory in Daliao and held a gun
Taiwan will now have four additional national holidays after the Legislative Yuan passed an amendment today, which also made Labor Day a national holiday for all sectors. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) used their majority in the Legislative Yuan to pass the amend
An architecture exhibition organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts opened yesterday in Venice as an associate event of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia.At the exhibition's opening ceremony, curator Hsueh Cheng-luen (薛丞倫) said "NON-Belief: Taiwan In
Cabinet Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) is to lead a Taiwanese delegation to the US tomorrow to attend the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland from Sunday to Wednesday, the Executive Yuan said in a statement yesterday.The mission aims to deepen industrial and technological cooperatio
A Taiwan delegation would depart for the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday evening next week, Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) said today. The WHA’s 78th annual assembly is to be held from May 19 to May 27.Taiwan has not received an official invitation, a
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) would work with local governments to resist attempts by China to integrate them, MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said today in an exclusive interview with the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper). To establish deeper ties with local governments and
Taiwan’s outgoing ambassador to the Vatican Matthew Lee (李世明) said that the newly appointed Pope Leo XIV understands the difference between “democratic Taiwan and communist China,” expressing confidence in the continued development of Taiwan-Vatican relations. Leo, whose real name is Robert Prevost,
The Taiwan Keelung District Court yesterday night ordered that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Keelung branch chairman Wu Kuo-sheng (吳國勝) be detained and held incommunicado, while two staffers were released on bail this morning after questioning.After questioning Wu, the court determined he was stro
IN DEMAND: Taiwan appears poised to maintain its export strength, as AI infrastructure investments show no signs of slowing down, the Department of Statistics’ head said Taiwan’s exports last month soared 29.9 percent year-on-year to US$48.66 billion, the second-highest on record, thanks to front-loading demand for tech products used in artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing, after Washington announced a 90-day respite for its “reciprocal” tarif
NO US PRESSURE: The central bank head said the US did not ask for a stronger NT dollar and that it was overly strong market expectations driving the local currency Central bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) yesterday dismissed the possibility of Taiwan being labeled a currency manipulator by the US Department of the Treasury.“I’m confident that Taiwan will not be labeled as a currency manipulator,” Yang said at a meeting of the legislature’s Finance Committee
Wistron Corp (緯創), a leading Taiwanese computer and peripheral original design manufacturer (ODM), is injecting more than US$1.1 billion into its US and Mexican subsidiaries in response to US tariff policies, after the company’s board of directors on Tuesday approved 10 investment proposals.Four of
The No. 2 reactor of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County is to be closed on Saturday next week. Taiwan would then officially become the first country in Asia that has nuclear plants, but is “nuclear power free,” a long-time milestone in the nation’s energy transformation. The Jinsh
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) were born under the sign of Gemini. Geminis are known for their intelligence, creativity, adaptability and flexibility. It is unlikely, then, that the trade conflict between the US and China would escalate into a catastrophic collision
In response to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus on Tuesday proposed a bill that includes a provision to distribute cash handouts of NT$10,000 to each Taiwanese national before the end of October. However, at this stage, this is not an appropriate soluti
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options.Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the fir
One person was in critical condition yesterday and two others were also hospitalized after being hit by a car in the French capital amid street partying by Paris Saint-Germain fans after the club reached the UEFA Champions League final.The injuries were an exception on a night that was largely marke
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday scored 34 points in three quarters as the Oklahoma City Thunder set NBA and team records in their 149-106 win over the Denver Nuggets, which tied the NBA Western Conference semi-final series at one game apiece.Oklahoma City set an NBA Playoffs record for first-ha
Pinch-hitter J.C. Escarra on Wednesday came through with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning as the New York Yankees, held hitless into the seventh inning, rallied past the San Diego Padres 4-3.Cody Bellinger homered with one out in the seventh for New York’s first hit off Padres starter Dylan Cease,
CONFLICTING REPORTS: Beijing said it was ‘not familiar with the matter’ when asked if Chinese jets were used in the conflict, after Pakistan’s foreign minister said they were The Pakistan Army yesterday said it shot down 25 Indian drones, a day after the worst violence between the nuclear-armed rivals in two decades.Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to retaliate after India launched deadly missile strikes on Wednesday morning, escalating days of gunfire along
ALLIES: Calling Putin his ‘old friend,’ Xi said Beijing stood alongside Russia ‘in the face of the international counter-current of unilateralism and hegemonic bullying’ Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday was in Moscow for a state visit ahead of the Kremlin’s grand Victory Day celebrations, as Ukraine accused Russia’s army of launching air strikes just hours into a supposed truce.More than 20 foreign leaders were in Russia to attend a vast military parade
A new online voting system aimed at boosting turnout among the Philippines’ millions of overseas workers ahead of Monday’s mid-term elections has been marked by confusion and fears of disenfranchisement.Thousands of overseas Filipino workers have already cast their ballots in the race dominated by a
Though the total area of Penghu isn’t that large, exploring all of it — including its numerous outlying islands — could easily take a couple of weeks. The most remote township accessible by road from Magong City (馬公市) is Siyu (西嶼鄉), and this place alone deserves at least two days to fully appreciate
This weekend, Huashan 1914 Creative Park plays hosts to a joint art exhibition “Voices 2025 x Photo ONE’25.” The Taipei Times was invited on Wednesday to see the artists and exhibitors set up tables, art installations, hang picture frames and prepare for what organizers hope will be a popular event
It can be a painful thing, acknowledging that our heroes are both human and flawed, but Ezra Edelman spent five years doing just that. The film-maker behind 2016’s sprawling, Oscar-winning OJ: Made in America, was at work for Netflix on what, by all accounts, would have been the definitive Prince do
A: Hard rock band Guns N’ Roses is touring Taiwan tomorrow. What about pop diva Lady Gaga?B: Unfortunately, Singapore has once again exclusively secured Gaga’s concerts in Asia, just like Taylor Swift’s exclusive Asian shows last year.A: The Singaporean government reportedly paid up to US$2.2 mil
A: Hard rock band Guns N’ Roses and pop diva Lady Gaga are finally touring Asia again. B: Are they also coming to Taiwan?A: The band will stage a show at the Taoyuan Sunlight Arena on Saturday.B: Wow, so this will be the band’s third visit. I really love its 1992 power ballad “November Rain.” Th
Every May 1, Hawaii comes alive with Lei Day, a festival celebrating the rich culture and spirit of the islands. Initiated in 1927 by the poet Don Blanding, Lei Day began as a tribute to the Hawaiian custom of making and wearing leis. The idea was quickly adopted and officially recognized as a holid
April 21 to April 27 Hsieh Er’s (謝娥) political fortunes were rising fast after she got out of jail and joined the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in December 1945. Not only did she hold key positions in various committees, she was elected the only woman on the Taipei City Council and headed to Nanjing in 1946 as the sole Taiwanese female representative to the National Constituent Assembly. With the support of first lady Soong May-ling (宋美齡), she started the Taipei Women’s Association and Taiwan Provincial Women’s Association, where she sought to improve women’s welfare and boost participation in politics. On April 24, 1948, Hsieh was elected Taiwan’s first female legislator, garnering the sixth-highest votes nationwide. She served with her usual enthusiasm and energy at first — but abruptly quit in October 1949, moving to the US and not returning until 1991. Growing up under Japanese rule, Hsieh was a bright and outspoken student who became Taiwan’s first female surgeon in 1940. She deeply resented colonial rule, and in 1943 she was arrested for plotting to sabotage the Japanese troops and help the Allies take over Taiwan. The authorities offered to release her if she would collaborate with the Japanese on medical work, but she staunchly refused, remaining in jail and subject to torture until the end of World War II. “As long as I have a drop of blood left, I belong to the Chinese people!” she reportedly said defiantly. As such, she was happy to work with the KMT, finding herself quite adept at navigating the treacherous world of politics. So why did she leave Taiwan? HEADSTRONG YOUTH Hsieh was born in January 1918 in Taipei’s Wanhua District (萬華); her father ran a Chinese restaurant next to the Red House in the Ximending
One of the most transformative technical achievements in human history took place on Oct. 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik 1 into orbit. Americans, utterly convinced of their technical and industrial superiority at the time were shocked, though some tried to play it down by dubbing it the “beeping grapefruit” due to its size and sole capability. That jibe was entirely unfair, as it was a proof-of-concept mission. That they were able to achieve the historic first of launching into space and accurately position a satellite to orbit the earth was a singular achievement. The beeping radio waves ensured they could both prove and track their success. Two months later, the American launch of Vanguard failed spectacularly. Many Americans did take Sputnik very seriously at the time, and the term “Sputnik moment” today means an existential wake-up call. Those that took it seriously were proven correct; in less than four years the Soviets went from a “beeping grapefruit” to sending the incredibly brave Yuri Gagarin into space and safely returning, a first for humanity. Note the positive language I used in describing the Soviet achievements. It is not to praise the Soviet Union, one of the most murderous regimes in history, but the talented people who accomplished these goals. This distinction is relevant in a Chinese context today. SOVIET DOWNFALL When DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence (AI) was launched in January, it was laughably dubbed a “Sputnik moment.” It was not even close. It was not a revolutionary leap into the unknown but rather an evolutionary improvement on the AI offerings already available. Still, it was impressive and a wake-up call to the American tech giants that the Chinese were competitive. A string of recent AI releases by a range of Chinese tech giants proved that DeepSeek was not alone,
| New Taipei City | 24-27 | 10% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 22-24 | 10% |  |
| Hsinchu City | 22-24 | 10% | |
| Taipei City | 24-28 | 10% | |
| Miaoli County | 22-25 | 10% | |
| Taoyuan City | 23-27 | 10% | |
| Keelung City | 22-25 | 20% | |
| Yunlin County | 24-27 | 10% | |
| Taichung City | 24-26 | 10% | |
| Nantou County | 24-27 | 10% | |
| Changhua County | 23-25 | 10% | |
| Chiayi County | 24-27 | 10% |  |
| Chiayi City | 25-28 | 10% | |
| Tainan City | 25-27 | 10% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 26-28 | 10% | |
| Pingtung County | 27-30 | 10% |  |
| Yilan County | 22-24 | 20% | |
| Hualien County | 23-25 | 30% |  |
| Taitung County | 24-26 | 20% | |
| Kinmen County | 21-25 | 10% | |
| Penghu County | 21-24 | 10% | |
| Lienchiang County | 18-21 | 10% | |
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