Sat, Feb 14, 2026
The next US arms sale package to Taiwan is likely to include advanced command and control systems, surface-to-air missiles, radars, and counter-drone capabilities, a source said yesterday.The government official made the remarks in response to a Financial Times report published last week stating tha
A bipartisan group of 37 US lawmakers have written to senior Taiwanese politicians expressing concern about the legislature stalling proposed defense spending, saying that the threat posed by China has never been greater. President William Lai (賴清德) last year proposed US$40 billion in extra defense
MORE CASH: With many employers raising wages and a high-flying stock market pushing up disposable income, private consumption is expected to grow 2.51% Taiwan’s government has sharply upgraded its economic outlook, buoyed by easing trade uncertainties with the US and sustained powerful global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) hardware.The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) yesterday raised its GDP growth forecast
Japan seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its skipper, authorities said yesterday, an incident that could deepen a spat between the Asian giants.China swiftly reacted to the seizure, the Japanese Fisheries Agency’s first since 2022 of a Chinese fishing boat, by urging Tokyo to protect the rig
PEACE AT LAST? UN experts had warned of threats and attacks ahead of the voting, but after a turbulent period, Bangladesh has seemingly reacted to the result with calm The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) yesterday celebrated a landslide victory in the first elections held since a deadly 2024 uprising, with party leader Tarique Rahman to become prime minister.Bangladesh Election Commission figures showed that the BNP alliance had won 212 seats, compared with 77
Taiwan and the US signed a reciprocal trade agreement in Washington yesterday, capping US tariffs on Taiwanese goods at 15 percent and granting preferential market access for US industrial and agricultural exports, including automobiles, beef and pork.Under the US-Taiwan Agreement on Reciprocal Trad
NOT OUR JOB: MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh said that individuals must handle nationality processes themselves, which is the same regardless of the country Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Li Zhengxiu (李貞秀) yesterday said she would authorize the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) to handle all matters related to renouncing her Chinese nationality, while expressing hope that all disputes would end there.Li said she came to Taiwan in 1993 through marri
Independent Legislator May Chin (高金素梅) was released on NT$1 million (US $31,805) bail yesterday after being questioned by Taipei prosecutors over her suspected misappropriation of salary payments to her aides and other cases.According to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, Chin was ordered to
The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday held a ceremony marking the delivery of its 11th Anping-class offshore patrol vessel Lanyu (蘭嶼艦), saying it would boost Taiwan’s ability to respond to Beijing’s “gray zone” tactics.Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister Chang Chung-Lung (張忠龍) presided ov
CONNECTIONS: Forests are not only about trees and timber, but also about wildlife and human communities, the agency’s director-general said of forests’ importance The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency is hosting a special exhibition titled “100Y Forest Rhythms” to demonstrate the century-old history of forestry development in Taiwan, with interactive installations and free audio guide provided to enrich visitor experience.The exhibition, at the Taiwan D
The New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday indicted a driver from ride-hailing platform Bolt on charges of abandonment resulting in death, with potential punishment of between seven years and life in prison.Driver Lin Yu-jun (林宇浚) on Jan. 25 allegedly forced a passenger out of his vehicle
Taiwan has launched two manuals on the proper uses and pitfalls of artificial intelligence (AI) for young students, as part of the government’s push to integrate technology in education.The Ministry of Education published two booklets, one for pupils between third and sixth grade at elementary schoo
ADVANTAGEOUS MEASURES The trade deal signed this week will keep Taiwan competitive and help build toward an integrated and stable future, Lai said Taiwan and the US have reached six key objectives in the trade negotiations, including securing substantial benefits for Taiwan’s industries and economy, leveling the playing field with major competitors such as Japan, South Korea and Europe, and addressing the disadvantage of high tariffs due to th
KNOWN QUANTITY Changes to guidelines covering imports of beef and pork from the US would change certain details, but the health minister said safety is not compromised Negotiations for the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between Taiwan and the US covered protecting public health and aligning with international standards based on scientific evidence, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said yesterday, adding that high-risk parts of US beef would rem
Opposition parties yesterday vowed to rigorously scrutinize the newly signed Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade.Pointing to the stipulation that Taiwan must purchase approximately NT$2.7 trillion (US$85.7 billion) worth of natural gas, power equipment and Boeing aircraft from the US by 2029, th
NEW IMPORTS: Car dealer PG Union Corp said it would consider introducing US-made models such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Stellantis’ RAM 1500 to Taiwan Tesla Taiwan yesterday said that it does not plan to cut its car prices in the wake of Washington and Taipei signing the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade on Thursday to eliminate tariffs on US-made cars.On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz Taiwan said it is planning to lower the price of its five models im
The administration of US President Donal Trump is working to narrow its broad tariffs on steel and aluminum products that companies find difficult to calculate and the EU wants reined in as part of its pending trade deal with the US, a person familiar with the matter said.The US Trade Representative
Applied Materials Inc shares on Thursday surged 10 percent in late trading after delivering a surprisingly upbeat sales forecast, signaling that demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and memory chips is fueling equipment purchases.The company, which is the largest US supplier of chipmaking gear, e
With the Year of the Snake reaching its conclusion on Monday next week, now is an opportune moment to reflect on the past year — a year marked by institutional strain and national resilience. For Taiwan, the Year of the Snake was a composite of political friction, economic momentum, social unease an
There is a story in India about a boy called Prahlad who was an ardent worshipper of Lord Narayana, whom his father considered an enemy. His son’s devotion vexed the father to the extent that he asked his sister, Holika, who could not be burned by fire, to sit with the boy in her lap and burn him to
When Hong Kong’s High Court sentenced newspaper owner Jimmy Lai (黎智英) to 20 years in prison this week, officials declared that his “heinous crimes” had long poisoned society and that his punishment represented justice restored. In their telling, Lai is the mastermind of Hong Kong’s unrest — the arch
ADVANTAGE ATLETICO: Well off the pace in La Liga, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico Madrid’s best chance of silverware this season Atletico Madrid on Thursday hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final.After an Eric Garcia own-goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by halftime.Barca defend
Superstar LeBron James on Thursday claimed another NBA record, becoming at 41 the oldest player to record a triple-double as he propelled the Lakers to a 124-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.James, a four-time champion and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer now in his unprecedented 23rd season,
South Korean teenager Choi Gaon on Thursday recovered from a brutal fall to shock US snowboard superstar Chloe Kim in the Olympic women’s halfpipe final as the American missed out on a historic hat-trick.Choi, 17, scored a competition-high 90.25 in her third run to top Kim’s mark of 88.00, posted in
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice on Thursday said that his side cannot be distracted by talk of Manchester City closing in at the top of the English Premier League after the Gunners were held 1-1 at Brentford.City are now just four points behind Mikel Arteta’s men and have home advantage when the side
REGRETTABLE: Seoul denied official involvement in last month’s drone incursion, with a minister saying it would run counter to South Korea’s efforts to mend ties North Korea yesterday threatened “terrible response” if it detects any more drones buzzing across the border from the South.South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has sought to repair ties with North Korea since taking office last year, criticizing his predecessor for allegedly sending drones to scatt
In a softly lit Shanghai bar, graduate student Helen Zhao stretched out both wrists to have her pulse taken — the first step to ordering the house special, a bespoke “health” cocktail based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).“TCM bars” have popped up in several cities across China, epitomizing wh
STANDING GROUND: Democrats seek changes in the way ICE agents conduct operations, saying that they would not support a ‘blank check for chaos’ A prolonged impasse between US congressional Republicans and Democrats over immigration enforcement threatened to ensnare the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a partial government shutdown beginning today, following two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.“For weeks, we’ve been pushing commons
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moving the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds before midnight last month symbolized the closest humanity has ever been to global catastropheIn this context, the legislature remains gridlocked over the general budget, mirroring tensions simmering across the globe. Acco
Feb. 16 to Feb. 22Pai Ko’s (白克) film career appeared poised to reach new heights in 1962 with the completion of the highly-anticipated, star-studded Romance of Longshan Temple (龍山寺之戀). Despite being mainly in Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), the film promoted harmony between those born in China
Just far enough out of reach to keep big crowds away, but not so far as to make a day-trip an exhausting affair, Jinhuang Hot Spring (近黃溫泉) is a nice winter escape for your next visit to Taitung County. The pools are numerous, the water is the perfect temperature and the walk in is not too challengi
A tragic case in California has brought renewed attention to the risks of using artificial intelligence. The parents of a 16-year-old boy, Adam Raine, filed a lawsuit in San Francisco against OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT provided harmful information that encouraged his suicide. According to the com
A: Have you suddenly become so obsessed with ice sports because of the ongoing 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics?B: Apart from this, it’s also because of my obsession with an ice hockey-themed TV series, “Heated Rivalry.” A: Is that the gay romance drama where two ice hockey stars unexpectedly f
A: The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics just opened in Italy last weekend. Nineteen-year-old Li Yu-hsiang has successfully qualified for the event, becoming Taiwan’s second figure skater to compete in the Winter Games.B: I love to watch figure skating. Who are the most notable male figure skater
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% | |
RSS