COMPETING BILLS: Premier Cho Jung-tai said the idea that a defense budget could be compiled incrementally was like attempting to build a house without any plans
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said it would propose a special defense budget bill totaling NT$350 billion (US$11.05 billion) to fund eight weapons sales announced by the US in December last year.The caucus “fully supports” the eight systems listed in US foreign military sales
A bill aimed at enhancing space cooperation between Taiwan and the US cleared the committee stage in the US Senate on Wednesday, with senators saying it would help counter threats from Beijing.The Taiwan and American Space Assistance (TASA) Act is to go to the Senate floor after being passed by the
Iran yesterday launched a new wave of attacks at Israel, US bases and countries across the region, threatening that the US would “bitterly regret” torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and calling for US President Donald “Trump’s blood,” while Israel said it hit multiple targets in Iran.
China yesterday announced a 7 percent boost to its defense budget for this year.The latest rise keeps China’s spending at one-third of that of the US, but it is working to close the gap.Beijing plans to spend 1.9096 trillion yuan (US$276.8 billion) on defense, according to a report published at the
TAIWAN QUESTIONS: ’Nobody should get the wrong impression,’ a US defense official said when asked whether the Iran war would embolden adversaries of Taiwan
The US is “ahead of the problem” of low munitions amid its war with Iran and the primary focus of the US armed forces is on creating an effective denial defense along the first island chain, US Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby told the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday when asked
PLANE HIT: The Israeli military said it shot down an Iranian Air Force fighter over Tehran, while an Iranian warship sank off Sri Lanka, with no cause known
The US and Israel yesterday hit Iran’s capital and other cities in multiple airstrikes on the fifth day of the war with Iran.Israel targeted the Iranian leadership and security forces, while the Islamic Republic responded with missile barrages and drone attacks on Israel, and across the region.Tehra
An Emirates flight from Dubai arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday afternoon, the first service of the airline since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday.Flight EK366 took off from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 3:51am yesterday and landed at 4:02pm bef
Taiwanese pineapples for the first time are to be exported to the US later this year after the US on Tuesday announced importation requirements, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday.The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Tuesday published a draft of requirements to import Taiwane
A Philippine congressional committee yesterday agreed overwhelmingly to advance an impeachment case against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, setting the stage for a potential vote that could decide her political future.The daughter of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, who last mont
Taiwan pineapples are to be exported to the US for the first time later this year, after the US yesterday announced importation requirements, the Ministry of Agriculture said today.The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service yesterday published a draft of requirements to import Taiwanese pinea
STRAIT OF HORMUZ: In the case of a prolonged blockade by Iran, Taiwan would look to sources of LNG outside the Middle East, including Australia and the US
Taiwan would not have to ration power due to a shortage of natural gas, Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said yesterday, after reports that the Strait of Hormuz was closed amid the conflict in the Middle East.The government has secured liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies for this m
ESCALATION: The Israeli military yesterday said that it had moved additional troops into southern Lebanon and taken new positions at strategic points close to the border
Iran yesterday expanded its targets, striking the US embassy in Saudi Arabia as Washington began to pull many staff out of the Middle East. The US and Israel battered Iran with airstrikes in what US President Donald Trump suggested was just the start of a war that has severely disrupted the world’s
The Central Election Commission (CEC) reportedly plans to file a lawsuit to invalidate the election of Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator-at-large Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀) on the grounds that Li was ineligible to run for office under cross-strait law, a source said yesterday.Li, who was sworn into offic
Treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Taiwan emits an estimated 1.03 million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually and is to cost NT$62.18 billion (US$1.97 billion) by next year, medical experts said yesterday, calling for stronger preventive healthcare.Taiwan Society of Nephrology and pharmace
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today criticized Iran’s “indiscriminate” military attacks and expressed support for international efforts to assist Iranians in pursuing freedom and democracy.As an ally of the US and Israel, Taiwan condemns Iran’s “indiscriminate” attacks against other nations, Deput
Taiwan would not have to resort to power rationing due to a shortage of gas, Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said today, after reports that the Strait of Hormuz was closed amid the conflict in the Middle East.The government has secured liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies for this
NOT IN DANGER: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it has made contact with approximately 3,000 Taiwanese in the Middle East and they are all safe
In response to airstrikes by the US and Israel on Iran at the weekend, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday convened a meeting of the Cabinet and instructed the Ministry of Economic Affairs to activate an energy response task force, while tasking Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) to lead a price sta
MIDDLE EAST IN TURMOIL: The chaos of the conflict became apparent when the US military said that Kuwait had ‘mistakenly shot down’ three US F-15E Strike Eagles
Iran and allied armed groups yesterday fired missiles at Israel, Arab states and US military targets around the region, while Israel and the US pounded Iran as the war expanded to several fronts and Kuwait mistakenly shot down three US warplanes over its skies.The intensity of the attacks, the killi
The Bureau of Labor Funds yesterday reported record high monthly gains for January from funds that it manages, citing booming global financial markets.The funds’ accumulated gains, which reflect overall increases in the value of assets and investments, totaled NT$394.7 billion (US$12.56 billion) in
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