China Patrols Near Disputed South China Sea Waters
China’s People’s Liberation Army and coast guard launched combat‑readiness patrols around the contested Scarborough Shoal, asserting law‑enforcement authority in the area. The Philippines and the United States concluded a five‑day maritime exercise that featured visit‑board‑search‑seizure drills, underscoring deeper defense cooperation. Philippine defense chief Gilberto Teodoro warned that Manila remains under a severe threat from Beijing despite a recent US‑China diplomatic thaw. The incidents highlight the persistent flashpoint over sovereignty and fishing rights in the South China Sea.
UK Defends Strait Naval Passage
The United Kingdom announced that Royal Navy vessels will continue transiting the Taiwan Strait to demonstrate freedom of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Senior officers, including General Rob Magowan, stressed that the UK...
Chinese Technicians Join Airport MRT Project
The Railway Bureau confirmed that eight Chinese technicians were invited to assist with the Taoyuan Airport MRT A14 station ceiling and acoustic‑lining work. Their short‑term entry, approved by Taiwan’s immigration agency, was limited to technical guidance and did not involve...
Sources Describe US Arms Package
US officials are negotiating a $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan, with $8.6 billion earmarked for Patriot interceptors and Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Battle Command System. The deal also includes $230 million in counter‑drone gear, $5.3 billion for NASAMS projectiles and launchers, and $500 million in...
Legislature Okays NT$8.8bn Arms Fund
Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan approved a special defense procurement budget of NT$8.811 billion (about US$281 million) to buy five U.S. weapons systems, including M109A7 howitzers, HIMARS rockets, anti‑armor drones and Javelin missiles. The approval comes with 35 resolutions, notably a call to address...
Nvidia CEO Touts Surge in Spending in Taiwan
Nvidia announced its annual spending in Taiwan has surged to roughly $150 billion, a ten‑fold increase from five years ago. The company plans to expand its local workforce to about 4,000 employees and launch a new Taipei headquarters, dubbed "Constellation," with...
Chinese Apps Fail Ministry Testing
Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs disclosed that four Chinese apps—Amap, iQIYI, Bilibili and BimoBimo—failed cybersecurity tests, requesting permissions far beyond their core functions. Amap exhibited the highest risk, with 11 problematic behaviors on Android and eight on iOS, including background...
Nuclear Plants Prepared for Drone Attacks, Official Says
Taiwan’s Nuclear Safety Commission announced that its security plan now incorporates specific response measures for drone attacks on nuclear power plants, with these scenarios to be simulated in upcoming annual drills. The announcement came amid lawmakers questioning preparedness after a...
Taiwan Needs More Missile Systems: Wellington Koo
Taiwan’s defense minister Wellington Koo announced a major procurement drive to acquire M109A7 self‑propelled howitzers, HIMARS rocket launchers, anti‑armor drone missiles and TOW 2B missiles. The legislature approved a special defense budget of up to NT$300 billion (about US$9.5 billion) for the first...
Taiwan, China Coast Guards Argue in South China Sea
Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration and a Chinese Coast Guard cutter engaged in a 33‑hour radio standoff near the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea. The Chinese vessel, identified as CG 3501, asserted sovereignty before departing the restricted zone 26.6...
US Senators Introduce TRA Resolution
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a resolution reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the United States' non‑negotiable commitment to provide defensive arms to Taiwan. The measure comes as the White House appears to have paused a $14 billion arms...
Cabinet Rejects Trump’s Claims of Chip Industry Theft
The U.S. Cabinet rejected President Donald Trump’s assertion that Taiwan stole America’s semiconductor technology, emphasizing that the island’s chip industry stems from decades of independent development. Trump, after a recent Beijing visit, claimed the U.S. lost its chip sector because...
Executive Yuan Announces New AI Committee
The Executive Yuan has created the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Special Committee to steer Taiwan’s AI policy and enforce the AI Basic Act. The committee will review guidelines from the National Science and Technology Council and ensure agencies finish AI...
Top U.S. Envoy Affirms Taiwan Commitments Despite Trump’s Remarks
U.S. top envoy to Taiwan reaffirmed that Washington’s policy toward the island remains unchanged despite President Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting the $14 billion arms package could be a bargaining chip with China. Trump’s comments appeared to conflict with the 1982...
Taiwanese Novel Wins International Booker Prize
Taiwanese novel "Taiwan Travelogue" by Yang Shuang‑zi, translated by Lin King, won the 2026 International Booker Prize, becoming the first Taiwanese work to claim the award. The author and translator will split the £50,000 (≈US$67,000) prize, after Lin’s translation also...