The inter-Korean relationship, long defined by national division, offers the clearest mirror within East Asia for cross-strait relations. Yet even there, reunification language is breaking down. The South Korean government disclosed on Wednesday last week that North Korea’s constitutional revision i
From Monday to Saturday next week, delegates will convene in Geneva, Switzerland, for the World Health Assembly (WHA), one year after member states reached a landmark Pandemic Agreement. However, the agreement remains stalled on its most difficult component: the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (
The Legislative Yuan last week passed the third reading of an amendment to the Medical Care Act (醫療法), which would mandate nurse-to-patient ratio targets across three shifts, in response to calls from nurses to address excessive workloads and staffing shortages. On the surface, this appears to be a
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Forget about the US$25 billion. That is the estimate the Pentagon has tentatively picked for the direct cost of the Iran conflict, a sum that analysts consider laughably lowballed. The true expense of this US-Israeli war of choice is much higher. It must include not just the global economic and huma
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte just became the first official there to be impeached twice, but the messy process has arguably only solidified her clout, complicating the political landscape in a country already grappling with a myriad of economic challenges. The drama-filled vote in the Phil
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) has proposed adding one month to paid parental leave, bringing the total to seven months, provided both parents take the full entitlement.The proposal, intended to encourage a more equal sharing of childcare responsibilities, comes alongside ideas such as extending childca
As Air Force One prepares to descend into Beijing for a summit overshadowed by wars in Iran and Ukraine, much of the international discussion has centered on whether Taiwan could become part of a geopolitical bargain.Speculation has intensified over possible adjustments in US policy language, arms s
From the Iran war and nuclear weapons to tariffs and artificial intelligence, the agenda for this week’s Beijing summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is packed. Xi would almost certainly bring up Taiwan, if only to demonstrate his inflexibility on the matte
The Legislative Yuan on Friday last week passed an amendment to the Medical Care Act (醫療法) incorporating a three-shift, nurse-to-patient ratio into law. This landmark amendment not only marks a significant milestone in Taiwan’s effort to move away from an exploitative healthcare system and realize P
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Ten years after a group of European political, business and opinion leaders called for “a new European Renaissance” and outlined a post-Brexit roadmap for the EU, the bloc again finds itself at a decisive juncture. The question is no longer whether the EU should become a global power — certainly it
The “Indian curry” lunch is a Japanese worker’s staple. Two or three mildly spiced dishes, paired with unlimited quantities of slightly sweet and extra fluffy naan, typically with a small salad and drink — a bargain at only ￥1,000 (US$6.34) or so.This is not Japanese curry rice, but another variatio
When US President Donald Trump sits down for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) this week, the focus would be on whether the world’s two-biggest powers can stabilize a fraught relationship. However, it is the countries caught in between that have been forced to navigate the fallout from t
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on Friday used their legislative majority to push their version of a special defense budget bill to fund the purchase of US military equipment, with the combined spending capped at NT$780 billion (US$24.78 billion). The bill, wh
The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has formally elevated damage to undersea cables to a national security issue, pointing to Russia and China as allegedly using tactics with low attribution risks — such as dragging anchors — to threaten subsea infrastructure.Meanwhile, the rupture of the T
The Taiwan Culture in Europe initiative has chosen a promising theme. This year’s program would highlight Taiwan’s commitment to human rights through film festivals, academic collaborations and live performances across Europe, the Ministry of Culture said.It is a sensible choice. Taiwan’s internatio
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) decision in January to provide free lunches to all public elementary and junior-high school students has quickly evolved from a local welfare measure into a nationwide political trend. As local elections approach, “free lunches” are becoming less a policy choice th
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