Taoyuan Airport's Transfer Hub Potential yet to Be Fully Tapped: Experts
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport handles 22.1% of the Southeast Asia‑to‑North America transfer market, second only to Incheon. Yet transfer passengers make up just 15% of its total traffic, reflecting gaps in route diversity, airline density and terminal capacity. Ongoing projects—including Terminal 3 and a third runway—are slated to raise capacity by roughly 50%, while carriers such as EVA Air and Starlux are adding long‑haul routes to tap the hub potential. Government officials project record passenger volumes of 62 million by 2026, supported by transit incentives and expanded foreign carrier services.
No Injuries After Taipei Metro Train Partition Cracks on Bannan Line
On Sunday morning, a glass partition on a Taipei Metro Bannan Line train cracked, but no passengers were injured. The damage was reported by a rider through the train’s intercom and quickly spread on social media. Metro staff removed the...
S&P Affirms Taiwan's AA+ Rating, Outlook Stable
Credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed Taiwan's long‑term AA+ and short‑term A‑1+ sovereign ratings, keeping the outlook stable for the next 24 months. The agency highlighted Taiwan's robust external asset position, healthy fiscal metrics and monetary flexibility as...
CPC to Keep Gasoline, Diesel Prices Unchanged Next Week
CPC Corp. announced that Taiwan’s recommended retail prices for gasoline and diesel will remain unchanged from May 3 to May 10, marking the fifth straight week of price stability. The freeze holds 92‑octane gasoline at NT$32.4 per liter (US$1.02) and premium diesel...
Taiwanese Short Film 'Dua Ji' Screens at San Francisco Film Festival
Taiwanese filmmaker Tsai Yu‑han’s short film “Dua Ji” screened at the 69th San Francisco International Film Festival as part of a women‑focused shorts program. The 18‑minute drama, starring veteran actress Yang Kuei‑mei, explores sibling tensions during their mother’s funeral. It...
U.S. Lawmakers Propose China Threat Resolution Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit
U.S. senators from both parties introduced a bipartisan resolution warning that China’s expanding military and coercive tactics threaten Taiwan and U.S. national security. The measure calls for heightened Indo‑Pacific deterrence, protection of American workers from unfair Chinese practices, and continued...
'Be on Taiwan's Side' On Defense Budget Bill, Studeman Tells KMT
Former INDOPACOM intelligence chief Michael Studeman urged Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and legislators to fast‑track a NT$1.25 trillion ($39.5 bn) supplemental defense budget. He warned that delays would hand a strategic advantage to China and weaken U.S. confidence in Taiwan’s self‑defense. The...
No Force Can Break Eswatini, Taiwan Ties: Special Royal Envoy
Eswatini’s special envoy Thulisile Dladla met Taiwan President Lai Ching‑te in Taipei, reaffirming a 58‑year diplomatic bond that Beijing has tried to erode. The meeting followed the abrupt cancellation of Lai’s planned trip after China pressured Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to...
Taiwan's Q1 GDP Growth Hits 13.69%, Highest in 39 Years
Taiwan’s economy surged 13.69% year‑on‑year in Q1 2026, the fastest expansion since 1987, driven by a 35.25% jump in AI‑related exports. Real imports rose 27.07% as manufacturers stocked raw materials, while private consumption grew 4.89% thanks to a government cash‑handout...
MediaTek Sees Nearly 10% Annual Revenue Growth Despite Likely Q2 Setback
Taiwan‑based fabless chipmaker MediaTek expects second‑quarter 2026 revenue to be flat or fall up to 6%, ranging between NT$140.2 billion and NT$149.2 billion (approximately $4.43‑$4.77 billion). Despite the near‑term dip, the company projects an almost 10% rise in full‑year revenue, driven by a...
Special Budget Needed to Boost Munitions, Drone Production: Officials
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has presented a NT$1.25 trillion (approximately US$39.6 billion) special defense budget to expand munitions stockpiles and build an indigenous drone production ecosystem. The plan calls for 14 new munitions production lines and a one‑time procurement of 30 mm...
Taiwanese Baristas to Compete as 'Chinese Taipei': Association
The World Coffee Championships (WCC) announced that Taiwanese participants must now compete under the name “Chinese Taipei,” replacing the long‑used “Taiwan” label. The Taiwan Coffee Association said the directive comes from the U.S.-based organizers and is required to preserve the...
Premier Guarantees Taiwan's Minimum Wage to Exceed NT$30,000 Next Year
Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung‑tai pledged that the monthly minimum wage will rise above NT$30,000 (about US$950) next year, continuing a decade‑long streak of wage hikes. The current minimum stands at NT$29,500 per month and NT$196 per hour, set by the...
Taiwan to Resume Pork Exports to Philippines After Regaining ASF-Free Status: Premier
Taiwan will restart pork shipments to the Philippines on May 14, 2026 after the World Organisation for Animal Health confirmed the island’s African swine fever‑free status. The Philippines halted imports in December 2025 following Taiwan’s first ASF outbreak in October...
KMT Deputy Chair Attacks Speaker Han over Special Defense Budget
Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) is in turmoil after deputy chair Chi Lin‑lien threatened to expel Legislative Speaker Han Kuo‑yu for allegedly supporting a NT$800 billion (US$25.3 billion) special defense budget. The government’s eight‑year plan seeks NT$1.25 trillion (≈US$39.5 billion), while the KMT caucus proposes...
Door Open for Taiwan to Enter 'Non-Red' EU Drone Supply Chain: Expert
European policymakers are wrestling with fragmented economic‑security authority, making it difficult to build a unified "non‑red" drone supply chain that limits reliance on China. Experts say the split between EU‑wide trade rules and national defence control creates policy gaps that...
TSMC Repeatedly Hits High but Valuation Remains Fair: Analyst
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) saw its shares climb to an intraday high of NT$2,330 (about $74) before closing at NT$2,265 ($72), propelling the Taiex index past the 40,000‑point mark. Analysts highlight that the stock’s forward P/E stays under 25,...
MAC Condemns Retired Officer's China Trip, Backs Legal Changes
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) condemned retired navy lieutenant commander Lu Li‑shih for attending a Chinese military celebration in Qingdao and making pro‑Beijing statements. The council labeled his conduct as “reprehensible” and said it may violate existing regulations. MAC also announced...
Taiwan Drone Exports Top US$100 Million in Q1: MOEA
Taiwan’s drone exports surged to $115.85 million in the first quarter of 2026, surpassing the entire 2025 total. The Czech Republic accounted for roughly $100 million of that figure, making it the dominant buyer. Exports grew 1.2 times versus 2025 and represent a...
Rockslide Damages Suhua Highway Tunnel; Traffic Limited to One Lane
A rockslide struck the steel roof of the Daqingshui open‑cut tunnel on Taiwan’s Suhua Highway near the 159.4‑km marker early Sunday, forcing the tunnel to close temporarily. Emergency crews repaired the damage and reopened the tunnel at 2:20 a.m., but traffic...
Yilan Village Chief Recalled over Mining Project in Indigenous Territory
A recall vote against Lunpi Village chief Wu Ping‑tsung in Yilan County’s Datong Township was approved on April 26, 2026. Of the 338 votes cast, 214 supported the recall, surpassing the 35.31% threshold of the 606 eligible voters. The move...
1 Dead, 12 Injured in Gansu Bus Accident Involving Taiwanese Group: SEF
A Taiwanese tour bus overturned in Gansu Province, killing one passenger and injuring twelve others. The vehicle was carrying 15 members of a self‑arranged group of more than 30 travelers from Taiwan. Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, the Mainland Affairs Council...
3 Generations of Kyogen Masters Present 3/11 Tribute Work in Kaohsiung
Three generations of the Nomura family, Japan’s preeminent Kyogen troupe, will perform four shows at Kaohsiung’s National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts. The program, staged by Mansaku‑no‑Kai Kyogen Co., includes 95‑year‑old Living National Treasure Mansaku Nomura, his son Mansai, and...
Newly Employed Graduates Earn NT$39,000 on Average in 2025: Ministry
In 2025 Taiwan’s newly employed graduates earned an average monthly wage of NT$39,000 (about US$1,240), a 5.4% increase over the prior year. University graduates made NT$36,000 on average, while those with postgraduate degrees earned NT$53,000, with the highest pay in...
Taiwan Groups Donate 68 Emergency Vehicles to Ukraine
Taiwanese private groups and fire agencies have delivered 68 refurbished ambulances and fire trucks to Ukraine, bolstering frontline rescue operations in war‑torn regions. The vehicles will be deployed primarily in Kharkiv, Lviv and Kupyansk, with 26 earmarked for Kharkiv’s heavily...
Exhibition Tracing a Century of Surrealism to Open in Taipei Saturday
The Taipei Fine Arts Museum will open “Surrealism: Worlds in Dialogue” on Saturday, marking the third stop of a traveling exhibition that began in Germany in 2024. The show runs through August 30 and features more than 120 works by...
Think Tank Raises Taiwan's 2026 GDP Growth Forecast to 7.56%
The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research lifted its 2026 GDP projection to 7.56%, a 3.51‑point jump from its January outlook. The revision is anchored in surging global demand for artificial‑intelligence‑driven products, especially semiconductors and ICT equipment. TIER now expects goods...
Cyber Security Agency Warns of Online Group 'Grooming Then Scam' Tactics
Taiwan’s National Institute of Cyber Security warns that hobby‑based online communities are becoming a new hunting ground for scammers. The fraudsters first send private messages, add victims on apps like LINE, and invite them to interest‑based groups before deploying surveys...
NDC to Lead Delegation to Japan's Innovation Conference Next Week
Taiwan's National Development Council (NDC) will lead a delegation of 27 startups to the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 conference, one of Asia’s largest innovation gatherings. The three‑day event, opening April 27, expects more than 60,000 participants and around 700 startups...
U.S. Envoy Meets KMT Chair Ahead of Cross-Party Arms Procurement Talks
The United States’ de facto ambassador to Taiwan, AIT Director Raymond Greene, met KMT Chairperson Cheng Li‑wun ahead of cross‑party legislative talks on a stalled defense budget. President Lai Ching‑te has proposed an eight‑year, NT$1.25 trillion ($39.66 billion) special defense budget, while opposition...
Over 1,500 Alternative Servicemen to Participate in 2026 Urban Resilience Drills
Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior launched the 2026 urban resilience drills in Changhua County, deploying 192 alternative service personnel across all 23 local sites. The drills simulated air‑raid alerts, public evacuations, and disaster‑relief operations, giving participants hands‑on experience at first‑aid...
Experts Split on Possible U.S. Rhetoric Shift on Taiwan at Trump-Xi Summit
Taiwan’s main opposition party chair Cheng Li‑wun met President Xi in Beijing, echoing Beijing’s stance against Taiwan independence. U.S. experts are divided on whether the upcoming Trump‑Xi summit could prompt a subtle shift in U.S. language from merely “not supporting”...
President Says Taiwan's Wishes to Swazi King 'Unaffected' By Travel Plan Change
Taiwan President Lai Ching‑te cancelled a planned state visit to Eswatini after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew over‑flight permits, a move Lai attributed to Chinese pressure. The suspension threatens Taiwan’s only African diplomatic ally but the president pledged to send...
Legal Amendments to Introduce 'Working with Children Check'
Taiwan’s Child and Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act is being amended to introduce a mandatory “Working with Children Check” for anyone who works with minors, from volunteers to private tutors. The new screening mirrors Australia’s model and targets individuals...
MND Details Special Budget DCS, Commissioned Manufacturing Targets
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense unveiled a detailed plan for spending the NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.6 billion) special defense budget, allocating about 24% to direct commercial sales (DCS) and commissioned manufacturing of drones, ammunition and other systems. The remaining 76% targets U.S. weapons...
Veteran Cinematographer Lai Cheng-Ying Dies at 95
Veteran Taiwanese cinematographer Lai Cheng-ying died at 95, a Golden Horse lifetime‑achievement award winner. He co‑founded the Chinese Society of Cinematographers 37 years ago and mentored generations of filmmakers. Lai earned three Golden Horse Awards for Best Cinematography for films...
Taiwan Plays 'Central Role' In AI-Based Computing Transition: Google
Google senior vice president Rick Osterloh said Taiwan is central to the company’s shift toward AI‑based computing, highlighting the island’s R&D strength and partnerships with MediaTek and TSMC. The New Taipei hardware engineering center, Google’s largest outside the U.S., supports a...
Navy Goodwill Fleet Visits Caribbean Allies, Headed to Belize
Taiwan’s 2026 Midshipmen and Cruising Training Squadron (MCTS) goodwill fleet completed port calls in St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines before heading to Belize, its first visit there in 13 years. The squadron, comprising the support ship Panshi, the frigate...
Japan Warship in Taiwan Strait Signals Free Passage Rights: Academic
Japan's Maritime Self‑Defense Force destroyer JS Ikazuchi sailed through the Taiwan Strait on April 18, staying on station from 4:02 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. China’s Eastern Theater Command reported shadowing the vessel with naval and air forces and lodged a formal protest....
Legislature Proposes Workaround to Break Budget Gridlock
Taiwan's legislature reached a cross‑party deal to break a six‑month budget impasse by agreeing to review the FY 2026 general budget if Premier Cho Jung‑tai presents it for questioning. The pact also obliges the cabinet to spend NT$71.8 billion (≈US$2.28 billion) on new...
CPC to Leave Domestic Gasoline, Diesel Prices Unchanged for Next Week
Taiwan’s state‑run oil supplier CPC Corp. will keep its recommended retail gasoline prices at NT$32.4, NT$33.9 and NT$35.9 per litre and premium diesel at NT$31.0 per litre for the week of April 22‑26. This marks the third straight week of...
Ming Hwa Yuan Troupe Opens Xi Chao Art Museum in Tainan
The Ming Hwa Yuan arts and cultural group inaugurated the Xi Chao Art Museum in Tainan, with a trial opening slated for May 30 and a full launch on August 1. Housed in a former weight‑lifting hall acquired in 2014, the venue is...
Legislature Expands 'Preemptive Detention' For Sexual Crimes Against Minors
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan approved an amendment expanding pre‑emptive detention to cover sexual exploitation of minors, homicide of children under seven, fraud and drunk‑driving. The change follows a Judicial Yuan directive and a surge in child‑sexual‑exploitation imagery. Lawmakers from the DPP,...
KMT Demands Premier Brief Lawmakers on Indian Worker Recruitment
Taiwan's Executive Yuan is negotiating with India to bring an initial 1,000 Indian workers to fill gaps in manufacturing, agriculture and caregiving sectors, with deployment possible before the end of 2026. Labor Minister Hung Sun‑han confirmed that administrative procedures and...
Cheap Drones, Costly Defenses: Middle East War Offers Warning for Taiwan
The Middle East conflict has highlighted a costly mismatch in modern warfare, as the United States and allies expend multimillion‑dollar Patriot interceptors to shoot down low‑cost drones launched by Iran. Analysts warn that China could replicate this tactic on a...
Interoperability Crucial for Taiwan Evacuation: Ex-Philippine Army Official
Former Philippine Army vice‑commander Leodevic B. Guinid urged the creation of a regional interoperability framework to evacuate non‑combatants if China attacks Taiwan. He outlined a scenario‑based plan that would see the Philippines receive thousands of evacuees while relying on international...
Int'l Flights to, From Taiwan to Drop in May as Fuel Costs Surge
International flights to and from Taiwan will be cut by an average of 52.6 flights per week in May, representing a 1.7% reduction of the summer schedule, as soaring global fuel prices strain airline economics. Aviation fuel for international routes...
Boy Who Received Liver, Kidney Transplants From Parents Returns to School
A 12‑year‑old Taiwanese boy received a partial liver transplant from his mother in January 2025 and a living‑donor kidney transplant from his father in January 2026, making him National Taiwan University Hospital's first pediatric case of dual organ transplants within...
Active, Former Military Officers Indicted for Leaking Intelligence to China
Taiwan prosecutors have indicted nine active and former military officers, along with an alleged accomplice, for leaking classified intelligence to China. The case, which will be tried with citizen judges for the first time under Taiwan's Citizen Judges Act, alleges...
Despite Korean Concession, Taiwan Standing Firm on Designation Issue
South Korea has removed the controversial "previous departure" and "next destination" dropdown fields from its electronic arrival‑card system, a step Taiwan welcomed. However, Taipei will keep listing South Korean nationals as "South Korea" on its Alien Resident Certificates, citing reciprocity....