Sat, May 09, 2026
Taiwan is to open its market to Paraguayan poultry imports as the two nations continue to deepen bilateral economic ties, President William Lai (賴清德) announced yesterday following a ceremony in Taipei welcoming Paraguayan President Santiago Pena.The two nations signed a memorandum of understanding (
There were no Taiwanese aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday, rejecting earlier reports that Taiwanese had been exposed to the deadly hantavirus outbreak on the ship.The CDC said that on Thursday it verified with the WHO and its offices in the Nethe
SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a munitions factory to review production of a new ‘155-millimeter self-propelled gun-howitzer’ North Korea plans to deploy a new type of artillery along its southern border, state media reported yesterday, potentially putting Seoul within striking range as Pyongyang deepens its hostility toward South Korea.Despite peace overtures from the South Korean government, North Korea has repeatedly ca
Three hikers — two Singaporeans and an Indonesian — died yesterday in an eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Dukono volcano where they found themselves in a no-go zone, officials said.The eruption on Halmahera island sent an ash cloud about 10km into the air, with no towns or villages near enough to face
Taiwan would open its market to Paraguayan poultry imports as the two nations continue to deepen bilateral economic ties, President William Lai (賴清德) announced today following a ceremony welcoming Paraguayan President Santiago Pena.The two nations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on joint
The Legislative Yuan today passed the third reading of a special defense budget of NT$780 billion (US$24.82 billion), with a budget ceiling of NT$300 billion for the first round of US arms procurement and a cap of NT$480 billion for the second round.The bill, which fell short of the NT$1.25 trillion
‘FEEBLE EXCUSES’: The opposition has been stalling the passage of the defense bill, blocking the nation from the opportunity to develop its self-defense, an official said The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday accused the opposition parties of helping aggressors “demolish Taiwan’s defenses,” after the Legislative Yuan passed a special defense budget that was only two-thirds of the amount requested by the central government.The NT$780 billion (US$24.82 billi
NONCOMPLIANCE PENALTY: The ratios vary depending on the shift and those that contravene the rules face fines from NT$50,000 to NT$2 million based on the hospital The legislature yesterday mandated nurse-to-patient ratio targets in response to longstanding calls to ease nurses’ workloads, and stipulated that hospitals that contravene could be suspended for up to one year.According to the amendment to the Medical Care Act (醫療法), nurse-to-patient ratios would b
Nantou County Commissioner Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華) yesterday defended the county government’s decision to decline an invitation to attend a food expo in Xiamen, China, saying the county is open to participating in international exhibitions that help promote local agricultural products, but the invitation
The average monthly number of Chinese military aircraft sorties around Taiwan in the first quarter of this year fell by more than half compared with the early days of President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration, although Beijing continues its frontline military deployments, the Mainland Affairs Cou
‘SOMEONE’S WATCHING YOU’: Three people have been detained since surveillance cameras were found at the Airlee chain of aesthetic medical clinics across the nation The secret installation of surveillance cameras in consultation and treatment rooms is a common practice across Taiwan’s aesthetic medical industry to guard against medical disputes and employee theft, an industry insider said yesterday amid a probe into the Airlee Inc (愛爾麗) clinic group.After recei
Taiwan’s microplastic detection rate dropped to 22 percent from 2018 to last year, much lower than the global average of 83 percent, the Ministry of Environment said in a joint news conference with the Ocean Affairs Council yesterday.The ministry would promote microplastic reduction at the source, M
HURDLES: An activist said that a discriminatory wage structure and expectations of women taking on domestic roles shut them out of the workplace and promotions Women’s rights advocates yesterday urged the government to increase the statutory minimum for annual leave and decouple it from seniority, saying that Taiwan’s culture of long working hours exacerbates rigid gender roles and forces women to sacrifice their careers for unpaid caregiving.Single Taiwan
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) yesterday urged the public to support a “teal ribbon” campaign for World Ovarian Cancer Day, calling on women to undergo regular screenings.Chiu, an ovarian cancer survivor, partnered with the Formosa
More than 60 percent of mothers in Taiwan do not trust their male spouses’ parenting capabilities, a survey released on Monday showed.The Child Welfare League Foundation unveiled a survey on Taiwanese mothers’ perspective on child rearing ahead of Mother’s Day tomorrow. It invited nearly 800 mothers
THIRTY MONTHS OF GAINS: The finance ministry said it expects sustained export momentum as global cloud service providers further ramp up capital expenditure Taiwan’s exports surged to near record levels last month, underscoring sustained global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing products even as geopolitical and trade uncertainties persist.Exports rose 39 percent from a year earlier to US$67.62 billion, the second-hig
IMAGE SENSORS: The Japanese company would be the controlling shareholder of the venture, with development and production lines to be set up in Kumamoto Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday said it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corp to create a joint venture to develop and produce next-generation images sensors.The partnership seeks to explore and address emerging
Contract chipmaker Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp (世界先進) yesterday said it is seriously evaluating new capacity expansions at a new 12-inch fab in Singapore in a bid to address increasing customer demand ahead of schedule. The company’s remarks came as the first-phase capacity has been fu
Increased rat sightings in Taipei have sparked concerns over urban sanitation, the risk of hantavirus and the Taipei City Government’s ability to respond effectively. However, as alarming headlines and social media posts circulate, it is important that the public and local governments approach the i
The government has invested significant resources to encourage young and middle-aged people to move to rural areas to help stimulate agricultural development and rural local economies. Plans such as the Top 100 Young Farmers program, low-interest loans and start-up subsidies appear to indicate that
After Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) met Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in Beijing, most headlines referred to her as the leader of the opposition in Taiwan. Is she really, though? Being the chairwoman of the KMT does not automatically translate into being the lead
JAMES’ 300: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was not at his best, but was supported well as they beat the Lakers, while Cade Cunningham led the Pistons over the Cavs The Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday pulled away late to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 in an NBA playoff thriller, taking a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player and finalist for the award this seaso
Aston Villa on Wednesday reached the UEFA Europa League final with a 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest, including two goals from John McGinn in the second leg of their all-English semi-final for a 4-1 aggregate victory as they chase their first trophy in 30 years.The Premier League side face SC Freibur
Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday said that she hoped she would be able to play tennis under the Belarusian flag after the International Olympic Committee lifted its ban on the country’s athletes competing in the Olympics.World No. 1 Sabalenka has had to compete under a neutral banner as a consequence of
Lin Yun-ju on Thursday handed Taiwan two key victories as they advanced to the semi-finals of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London.The Taiwan men’s table tennis team beat Sweden 3-2 in five singles matches.The 24-year-old Lin, Taiwan’s top-ranked player at world No. 7 and
SHAKY CEASEFIRE: US President Donald Trump played down an exchange of fire between Iran and the US Navy, calling the retaliatory strikes ‘just a love tap’ The Iran war’s shaky ceasefire was further strained yesterday as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) responded to a missile and drone attack hours after the US said it thwarted attacks on three US Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and retaliated against Iranian military facilities.There were no immediat
Former Chinese ministers of national defense Wei Fenghe(魏鳳和) and Li Shangfu (李尚福) were both sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve over graft charges, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday, underscoring the severity of the purge in the military.The armed forces have been one of the main
Japan yesterday confirmed the first fatal bear attack of the year after a record 13 deaths last year, with reports pointing to a jump in sightings as the animals emerge hungry from hibernation.A spate of bear encounters including at hot spring resorts and in supermarkets last year sparked alarm, wit
As a different column was being written, the big news dropped that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) announced that negotiations within his caucus, with legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) of the KMT, party Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文), Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) and T
On my way to the sprawling Wuci Fish Market (梧棲), I happened upon the Taichung Aquarium. The rows of seafood — salmon, milkfish and varieties of bivalves laid out on ice — could wait. Instead, I paid my NT$500 admission and stepped inside the aquarium to see the real thing: hundreds of species of fi
The breakwater stretches out to sea from the sprawling Kaohsiung port in southern Taiwan. Normally, it’s crowded with massive tankers ferrying liquefied natural gas from Qatar to be stored in the bulbous white tanks that dot the shoreline.These are not normal times, though, and not a single shipment
The New England Aquarium in Boston, US, has set up a “retirement home” to offer a safe and supportive environment for aging penguins. With over half the aquarium’s penguins now older than the usual 10 to 15 years they reach in the wild, staff separated one island for closer monitoring. The space fe
A: Apart from the Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei City, the MRT Sanying Line (Light Blue Line) will open in June.B: Is that the new line leading to Yingge District, the ceramic town?A: Yup, the line will connect the Yingge Ceramics Museum and the Old Streets in Sanxia and Yingge Districts.B: The e
A: The Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei City is to open on May 12, and the MRT Sanying Line (Light Blue Line) will also open in June. Isn’t that great?B: Is that the bridge connecting the city’s Tamsui and Bali Districts? What’s so special about this new landmark spanning the Tamsui River?A: The Dan
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 | 27-28 | 20% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Hsinchu City | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Taipei City | 27-28 | 20% |  |
| Miaoli County | 24-26 | 10% | |
| Taoyuan City | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Keelung City | 27-28 | 20% | |
| Yunlin County | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Taichung City | 26-28 | 10% | |
| Nantou County | 25-26 | 10% | |
| Changhua County | 27-28 | 10% | |
| Chiayi County | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Chiayi City | 25-27 | 10% | |
| Tainan City | 27-28 | 10% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 27-28 | 10% | |
| Pingtung County | 26-27 | 10% | |
| Yilan County | 25-26 | 30% |  |
| Hualien County | 25-26 | 30% | |
| Taitung County | 25-27 | 30% | |
| Kinmen County | 27-28 | 10% | |
| Penghu County | 27-27 | 20% | |
| Lienchiang County | 27-28 | 20% | |
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