A sea alert could be issued this morning as Tropical Storm Linfa turns north to enter the Bashi Channel, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said yesterday.
Bureau statistics show that the storm was 430km south of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻) at 2pm yesterday.
The bureau says the storm might head north after passing through the Philippines’ Luzon Island.
The bureau said there is a good chance the storm will only skirt the nation’s east coast on its way northward. However, it does not completely rule out the possibility that it might make landfall in Taiwan if the storm’s progress north slows or it turns at a smaller angle than expected.
According to the bureau the high-pressure system in the Pacific Ocean and Typhoon Chan Hom — which is about 2,700km from Taiwan — could alter Linfa’s course.
The bureau said the storm could continue to affect the nation’s weather until Thursday because of the gradual weakening Pacific high-pressure system, which could slow Linfa’s progress.
Other weather agencies have differing estimates of Linfa’s potential impact.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the storm would only sweep through the sea near the east coast and continue to move north, whereas the Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the US Navy and Air Force said it is likely to make landfall on the southeast coast on Thursday or Friday.
Although Chan Hom is moving toward Japan’s Ryuku Islands, the bureau said it would monitor if the high pressure system would prevent the typhoon from moving north and consequently have an impact on the nation’s northeast coast.
Typhoon Nangka would not affect Taiwan in the short term, as it is still more than 4,900km away, the bureau said. The bureau also reported that it had detected large waves off the coast of Yilan yesterday due to the storm.
NETWORK-MAPPING PROJECT: The database contains 170 detailed files of Taiwanese politicians and about 23 million records of household registration data in Taiwan China has developed a network-mapping project targeting political figures and parties in Taiwan to monitor public opinion during elections and to craft tailored influence campaigns aimed at dividing Taiwanese society, according to documents leaked by Chinese technology firm GoLaxy (中科天璣). The documents, collected by Taipei-based Doublethink Lab, showed a database was specifically created to gather detailed information on Taiwanese political figures, including their political affiliations, job histories, birthplaces, residences, education, religion and a brief biography about them. Several notable Taiwanese politicians are in the database, including President William Lai (賴清德), former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍),
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
UPGRADED MISSILE: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is reportedly to conduct a live-fire test of the Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile on Thursday next week The US Army is planning to build new facilities to boost explosives production and strengthen its supply chain, a move aimed at addressing munitions shortages and supporting obligations to partners including Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel, Defense News reported. The army has issued a sources sought notice for a proposed Center of Excellence at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, the report said. The facility would serve as a hub within the US industrial base for the production of key military explosives, including research department explosives (RDX) and high melting explosives (HMX), while also supporting research and development of next-generation materials. The proposed
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
RSS