 
                        Taiwan does not want China’s “one country, two systems,” and must uphold its freedom and democracy as well as resolve to defend itself, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, rejecting Beijing’s latest bid to bring the country under Chinese control.The president made the remarks while attending

TAIWAN STRAIT: “For the stability and security in this region, maintaining good cross-strait relations is important,” Japanese Prime Minister said
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi yesterday said she raised "serious concerns" about the South China Sea, Hong Kong and Xinjiang in her first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).She said she told Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea that she wanted a “strategic and mutually benefici

NEGOTIATIONS: The talks have been focused on supply chain cooperation, tariff reductions and better conditions for Taiwanese investing in the US, the vice premier said
Technical consultations for Taiwan-US trade talks have been “largely finalized” and document exchanges are under way, Taiwan’s delegation to the APEC summit in South Korea said yesterday, marking progress in the protracted discussions.Taiwan’s exports to the US are subject to a 20 percent tariff and

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth yesterday voiced concerns in talks with Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun (董軍) about Beijing’s naval activity around Taiwan and the South China Sea, citing its impact on US security partners in the Indo-Pacific region.The two talked on the sidelines o

Taiwan’s economy expanded 7.64 percent in the third quarter, beating the government’s August forecast by 4.73 percentage points, thanks to surging global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and next-generation technology products, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and St

UKRAINE, NVIDIA: The US leader said the subject of Russia’s war had come up ‘very strongly,’ while Jenson Huang was hoping that the conversation was good
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and US President Donald Trump had differing takes following their meeting in Busan, South Korea, yesterday.Xi said that the two sides should complete follow-up work as soon as possible to deliver tangible results that would provide “peace of mind” to China, the US

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it is in close communication with Washington following reports that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) did not discuss Taiwan during their meeting in South Korea.Taiwan “never came up. That was not discussed, actuall

HOTEL HIRING: An official said that hoteliers could begin hiring migrant workers next year, but must adhere to a rule requiring a NT$2,000 salary hike for Taiwanese
The government is to allow the hospitality industry to recruit mid-level migrant workers for housekeeping and three other lines of work after the Executive Yuan yesterday approved a proposal by the Ministry of Labor.A shortage of workers at hotels and accommodation facilities was discussed at a meet

The legislature’s Economics Committee yesterday passed a preliminary review of amendments to seven laws to protect critical underwater infrastructure that would apply the same penalties for damaging water and natural gas pipelines to damaging submarine cables.People convicted of intentionally damagi

Residents of a Rio de Janeiro community lined up their dead in harrowing scenes on Wednesday after Brazil’s bloodiest police raid killed at least 119 people, spotlighting the city’s war against drug gangs.Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for action against organized crime that do

TOKYO SUMMIT: The new Japanese PM’s words have demonstrated Japan’s ‘firm position on urging the prioritization of cross-strait peace,’ the foreign ministry said
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday thanked US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for supporting peace in the Taiwan Strait, a day after the two at a summit in Tokyo emphasized the importance of regional stability and ahead of a meeting between Tr

China yesterday said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and US President Donald Trump would have “in depth” talks on “major issues” today.Trump has said he expected their first face-to-face meeting of his second term to result in the US lowering tariffs imposed on China in relation to fentanyl.

Israel yesterday said that it had carried out strikes on dozens of Hamas targets following the death of a soldier, with Gaza experiencing its deadliest night of bombing since a US-brokered truce went into effect earlier this month.The Israeli military said that it had targeted 30 senior militants.Is

US chipmaker Nvidia Corp has confirmed its Taiwan headquarters would be built on Beitou Shilin Technology Park’s (北投士林科技園區) T17 and T18 plots in Taipei, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) told a meeting of the Taipei City Council yesterday, adding that the city government would fast-track administrati

Boosting national defense is not a provocation, but to deter an invasion, and safeguard Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday.“Investing in our armed forces is investing in peace,” Lai said at a ceremony to promote military officers at the Presidential Office in

GLOBAL PROJECT: Underseas cables ‘are the nervous system of democratic connectivity,’ which is under stress, Member of the European Parliament Rihards Kols said
The government yesterday launched an initiative to promote global cooperation on improved security of undersea cables, following reported disruptions of such cables near Taiwan and around the world.The Management Initiative on International Undersea Cables aims to “bring together stakeholders, align

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi yesterday lavished US President Donald Trump with praise and vows of a “golden age” of ties on his visit to Tokyo, before inking a deal with Washington aimed at securing critical minerals.Takaichi — Japan’s first female prime minister — pulled out all the stops

US policy toward Taiwan “has not changed one bit,” a senior US Department of State official said yesterday, as US President Donald Trump prepares to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in South Korea.Regarding Taiwan, the official said that US policy “hasn’t changed one bit” and remains anc

National Health Insurance outpatient co-payments for people visiting large hospitals for minor health issues without a referral could increase significantly later next year, an official said yesterday.A proposal to raise the nonreferred co-payment at medical centers to NT$1,200 (US$39.18), from NT$

LIKELY TO LINGER: The hurricane was creeping along at human walking pace, meaning there would be no quick relief once it hits, the Red Cross said
Hurricane Melissa yesterday was only hours away from expected landfall on Jamaica, bringing devastating flooding and winds that officials warn would smash the small Caribbean nation’s infrastructure.Evacuations were under way as the slow-moving Category 5 storm — potentially the biggest ever to hit