Minimum Wage Soon to Pass NT$30,000: Lai
President William Lai announced that Taiwan's next minimum‑wage increase will push the monthly floor above NT$30,000 (about $985), continuing a decade‑long trend of annual hikes. The latest raise, effective on New Year’s Day, lifted the basic wage to NT$29,500 per month and NT$196 per hour, benefiting more than 2.47 million workers, including migrant labor. Lai linked the wage policy to Taiwan’s 8.68% economic growth, high‑tech competitiveness, and new family‑friendly benefits such as expanded maternity leave and on‑site childcare. He also pledged to strengthen the Labor Pension Fund to secure long‑term retirement benefits.
China Policy Sparks Dilemma
China's State Council unveiled regulations on industrial and supply‑chain security, compelling foreign investors to adopt a dual‑track supply‑chain and IT framework. The rules place firms in a dilemma: complying with U.S. sanctions could breach Chinese law, while ignoring U.S. restrictions...
Legislators Push Back on Security Act Amendment
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan temporarily shelved a proposed amendment to the National Security Act that would impose fines of up to NT$1 million ($31,600) for publicly advocating armed unification or undermining autonomy. Opposition legislators warned the bill could censor political speech and...
Military on Alert After 2 Chinese Warships Spotted
Taiwan's military reported that two Chinese warships—a destroyer and a frigate—entered waters southwest of Penghu County, a strategic hub for the island's navy and air bases. The Ministry of National Defense deployed naval and air forces to monitor the vessels,...
Taiwan to Showcase Drones in Detroit
Taiwan’s Drone Diplomacy Task Force will lead a delegation to XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit, aiming to promote the island’s UAV industry and integrated diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added drone pilots to its International Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program, recruiting 50...
Coast Guard Overhaul Planned, Lai Says
Taiwan’s president William Lai announced a sweeping overhaul of the Coast Guard Administration to counter escalating Chinese gray‑zone activities. The plan will integrate sea‑and‑air monitoring, deploy next‑generation radar, expand drone usage, and upgrade protective equipment. It also includes better personnel...
KMT Might Approve NT$800bn for Arms with LOAs: Cheng
Taiwan's opposition party KMT signaled it would support a NT$800 billion (≈US$25.4 billion) special defense budget if Washington issues official letters of offer and acceptance (LOAs) for arms purchases. The party criticised the ruling DPP’s NT$1.25 trillion eight‑year proposal as a “blank check”...
CDC Confirms Rare Imported Case of Measles From Japan in 7 Years
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control confirmed a measles case in a 30‑year‑old Taiwanese man who returned from Japan, marking the first imported case from that country in seven years. Japan has reported a surge to 299 measles cases this...
New Quantum Technology Office Launched in Taipei
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs launched a dedicated quantum technology office in Taipei, positioning the island to lead the next wave of innovation after AI. The office will coordinate industry, academia, and research institutions to streamline resources and lower commercialization...
Final Batch of M1A2T Abrams Tanks Purchased From the US Arrive in Taipei
Taiwan received the final shipment of 28 M1A2T Abrams tanks, completing a $1.29 billion procurement of 108 tanks from the United States. The tanks were moved from the Port of Taipei to the Armored Training Command in Hsinchu County for testing...
Eswatini Projects to Boost Energy, Spur Growth: Lin
Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia‑lung announced two joint projects in Eswatini: a Strategic Oil Reserve Facility designed to secure a 60‑day fuel stockpile, and the Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park aimed at expanding Taiwanese manufacturing into African markets. Construction of the...
KMT Lawmakers Clash over Defense Budget Cap
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan failed to reach a consensus on a special defense budget, with KMT lawmakers divided over a proposed increase to NT$800 billion (about $25 billion). The cabinet is pushing for NT$1.25 trillion ($39.7 billion) over eight years, while the KMT’s baseline is...
Home Hospice Care Subsidy to Increase by 30 Percent
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a 10‑to‑30 percent increase in subsidies for home hospice care teams, aiming to shift more end‑of‑life services out of hospitals. The pay‑for‑performance model will allocate at least 60 percent of the extra funds...
Concerns Raised over Childcare Surveillance Storage
Taiwan's new Childcare Services Act, passed on April 14, requires childcare centers to upload video recordings of children under two to a centralized government cloud for 30 days. Advocacy groups rallied outside the Legislative Yuan, arguing the mandate violates the...
Drug-Impaired Driving Top Traffic Issue, Ministry Says
Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced that drug‑impaired driving is now the top traffic safety threat. In January alone the problem caused four deaths and 49 injuries, representing almost half of last year’s total drug‑related casualties. The ministry has...
US Bill Allocates US$500 Million to Taiwan Defense
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s FY 2027 National Security and State Department bill earmarks at least $500 million for Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing program, contingent on the State and Defense secretaries prioritizing deliveries. The bill allocates $47.32 billion in total, about...
US Urged to Act over Chinese Pressure
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee warned Washington against normalizing Chinese pressure after Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar withdrew overflight permission for Taiwan President William Lai’s planned visit to Eswatini. The three African nations cited Beijing’s influence, prompting US lawmakers to...
Taiwan’s Strategic Importance Set to Grow
At a Taipei seminar, Institute for National Policy Research president Tien Hung‑mao warned that the United States’ post‑war strategy will pivot toward the Americas and the Indo‑Pacific, elevating Taiwan’s strategic value. He urged Taiwan to bolster missile stockpiles, energy resilience,...
Myanmar’s Government Locks Down 60 Townships
Myanmar’s military president Min Aung Hlaing issued emergency ordinances placing 60 townships under direct military control for 90 days. The lockdown spans Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Shan, Rakhine states and the Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay regions, transferring executive and judicial authority to chief...
Lawmakers Pass Amusement Tax Reductions
Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan approved amendments to the Amusement Tax Act, eliminating taxes on cinema tickets, live performances and sports events. Previously, rates reached 60% for cinemas, 30% for concerts and 10% for sports. The reforms also cut the maximum tax...
Standoff with Iran Intensifies After Trump’s ‘Kill’ Order
President Donald Trump escalated the U.S.-Iran standoff by ordering the Navy to "shoot and kill" any small vessel in the Strait of Hormuz suspected of laying mines. Iran responded by pledging to keep the strategic waterway closed to all but...
CSIST to Partner with Saronic Tech on USVs
The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST) signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S.-based Saronic Technologies, alongside Maritime Tactical Systems, to co‑develop modular uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs). The partnership aims to slash manufacturing overhead, accelerate development and diversify Taiwan’s...
Taiwan Signs Arms Deals with US Totaling US$6.58bn
Taiwan has signed six letters of offer and acceptance with the United States, committing more than NT$208 billion (about US$6.6 billion) to a suite of weapons ranging from high‑mobility artillery rockets to self‑propelled howitzers and missile‑stockpile replenishment. The contracts are tied to...
Lai’s Canceled Eswatini Trip: Revoked Overflight Permissions a Test of Waters: Experts
Taiwan President William Lai’s planned flight to Eswatini was canceled after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew overflight permissions, a move experts attribute to economic pressure from Beijing. Scholars say the revocations are a test of China’s ability to constrain Taiwan’s...
Parties Condemn China, While Cheng Defends It
Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee voted unanimously to condemn China after Beijing forced three African nations to deny airspace for President William Lai’s state visit to Eswatini, prompting the trip’s cancellation. The Democratic Progressive Party framed the move...
Artillery Shells to Be Manufactured in Taiwan
Taiwan and the United States have signed a NT$910 million ($28.9 million) agreement to produce heavy‑caliber artillery shells, including 105 mm, 120 mm and 155 mm rounds. The deal is part of a broader $40 billion special defense budget allocation for new assembly lines and manufacturing...
Pass Budget on Defense to Show Resolve: US Indo-Pacific Commander
U.S. Indo‑Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparō told a Senate hearing that Taiwan must pass a NT$1.25 trillion ($39.6 bn) special defense budget to demonstrate resolve and keep U.S. backing. The opposition‑controlled legislature has repeatedly blocked President William Lai’s proposal, offering only NT$380‑400 bn...
Lai’s Canceled Eswatini Trip: Lai Calls for Unity After Eswatini Trip Postponed
President William Lai called on all Taiwanese political parties to unite after Beijing allegedly forced the cancellation of his state visit to Eswatini. The flight plan was blocked by Eswatini’s neighbours—Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar—citing unexplained reasons. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
Chinese PLA Navy Brushes Past Two Okinawa Islands
Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy sent a destroyer and accompanying vessels through the Yonaguni‑Iriomote Waterway, a 65‑km channel separating Okinawa’s Yonaguni and Iriomote islands, after completing western Pacific training. Japan maintains the right to act if foreign ships breach its...
International Concerns Raised After Lai’s Flight Blocked
President William Lai’s planned state visit to Eswatini was halted after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight clearance at the last minute. The EU condemned the move, emphasizing that airspace decisions should be transparent and free from political pressure. Taiwan’s...
Act Targets Bullying in the Workplace
Taiwan's Ministry of Labor announced a new workplace‑bullying chapter to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, slated for promulgation in July. The amendment defines bullying as verbal abuse, undue intervention, social isolation or excessive criticism that causes physical or psychological...
S Korea Rejects Claims Minister Leaked Classified Intel
South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung dismissed allegations that Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young leaked U.S. classified intelligence on North Korea’s nuclear program, calling the claims absurd. The controversy stems from Chung’s public remarks about a suspected uranium‑enrichment site in Kusong, which...
Representative Talks Resilience with UK
Taiwan’s representative to the UK, Vincent Yao, briefed a UK parliamentary security committee on the island’s whole‑of‑society resilience strategy, emphasizing a coordinated civilian‑military framework. He highlighted the upcoming 5 percent‑of‑GDP defense budget target for 2030 and the role of the Whole‑of‑Society...
US Think Tank Head Lauds Defense Efforts
Center for Strategic and International Studies president John Hamre praised Taiwan’s rapid self‑defense advancements during a meeting with President William Lai in Taipei. He highlighted the island’s growing military readiness and civil‑defense resilience as a deterrent against authoritarian aggression. Hamre...
Central Budget Sent to Legislative Committee Review
Taiwan's central government submitted its FY2026 general budget to legislative committees, ending a six‑month stalemate. Premier Cho Jung‑tai highlighted an 8.68% economic growth rate, the highest in 15 years, and a market‑capitalization surge to $4.14 trillion, placing the stock market seventh...
Jaw Shaw-Kong Proposes Budget Compromise
Former KMT heavyweight Jaw Shaw‑kong endorsed a NT$810 billion (≈US$25.6 billion) special defense budget but suggested a two‑stage approval: NT$350 billion tied to existing U.S. arms‑sale letters of acceptance, with the remaining NT$460 billion frozen until new offers arrive. The KMT’s “NT$380+N billion” proposal is...
ADB Forecasts GDP to Rise 7.6 Percent on Semiconductors
The Asian Development Bank raised its 2024 GDP forecast for Taiwan to 7.6% as demand for advanced semiconductors surges amid the global AI boom. The projection, 3.6 points higher than its December estimate, outpaces growth expectations for all other advanced...
Pineapple Prices up Despite China Ban
Taiwan’s pineapple farm‑gate prices have risen to NT$12‑NT$15 per jin (about $0.38‑$0.48) as domestic demand peaks during the harvest season. Wholesale prices reached NT$39.1 per kilogram ($1.25), outpacing the three‑year seasonal average of NT$31.95/kg. After China’s 2021 import ban, Taiwan...
Chinese Spouse Can Work at NHIA with Restrictions
A Chinese spouse who passed Taiwan's national civil exam can be hired by the National Health Insurance Administration, but the appointment excludes any role involving national security or classified information. The decision follows consultation with the Mainland Affairs Council and...
Taiwan-Nordic Cooperation Vital to Standing up to Authoritarianism, Diplomat Says
Taiwan and several Nordic nations convened in Stockholm for the Taiwan‑Nordic Forum, emphasizing joint measures to reinforce national resilience against authoritarian pressure, particularly from China. The dialogue highlighted securing undersea cable infrastructure, protecting airspace, and developing coordinated contingency plans for...
N Korea Fired Multiple Ballistic Missiles Into Sea: Seoul
North Korea fired multiple short‑range ballistic missiles from the Sinpo area into the East Sea, traveling roughly 140 km. The launches are part of a recent surge that includes cruise‑missile, anti‑ship and cluster‑munitions tests, prompting an emergency security meeting in Seoul....
China’s ‘Incentives’ Are ‘Poison’: Official
Taiwanese officials warned that Beijing’s ten newly announced “incentives” for tourism, hotels, food and agriculture are “sugar‑coated poison,” designed to co‑opt local industry groups and advance political goals. The measures were unveiled on April 12, coinciding with KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li‑wun’s...
China’s Birth Slump Adds to Aging Burden: Researcher
China’s birthrate has plunged to 7.92 million newborns in 2025, just 44% of the 2016 level, pushing the total population to 1.4049 billion after four consecutive years of decline. The sharp drop has forced the closure of 20,000 kindergartens in 2024, eliminating...
Japan Shifting to Central Role in Alliances: Experts
Japan deployed three warships, a C‑130H transport and a US‑2 amphibious aircraft, along with 1,400 service members, to the Philippines’ Balikatan exercises, marking its first operational combat‑unit participation. The destroyer Ikazuchi transited the Taiwan Strait while the helicopter destroyer Ise...
CGA Urges China Not to Use Shipwreck for Gain
A Taiwanese fishing vessel, Chuan Yu No. 6, caught fire and sank near the disputed Diaoyutai Islands, prompting a rescue effort. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) says the six Filipino crew members were saved by a nearby Taiwanese boat and coordinated with Japan,...
Taiwan’s Market Cap Tops US$4 Trillion
Taiwan’s equity market topped $4 trillion, reaching $4.14 trillion and overtaking the United Kingdom as the world’s seventh‑largest market by capitalization. The rally was powered by TSMC’s record AI‑chip revenue, which helped the TAIEX climb 17 percent in April and post an eight‑day...
NSB Head Visits Eswatini Ahead of Presidential Trip
National Security Bureau Director‑General Tsai Ming‑yen traveled to Eswatini to review security preparations for President William Lai’s upcoming state visit, which will coincide with the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s reign. During the trip Tsai met the king and senior officials, highlighting...
Russian Strikes Kill 16 in Ukraine
Russia unleashed its largest aerial barrage in two weeks, deploying nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles against civilian areas in Ukraine, killing 16 and injuring over 80. Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have shot down or...
Urban Resilience Drills to Be Held with Han Kuang
Taiwan’s Executive Yuan launched urban resilience drills in four regions, synchronizing them with the Han Kuang 41 military exercises. The two‑day simulations in New Taipei, Yilan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung focus on civilian evacuations, mass‑casualty response, hospital surge capacity and traffic control. Officials emphasized...
Ocean Radar Network Plans Outlined
Taiwan is constructing a national ocean‑radar network to boost monitoring in strategic waters such as the Taiwan Shoal, Luzon Strait and Pengjia Islet. The plan calls for integrating 57 disparate radar systems across four government agencies, expanding coverage to 210,000 km²...