Council to Assess China’s Call for Direct Flight Routes
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council received a Chinese letter urging the restoration of direct flights from five mainland airports—Urumqi, Xian, Harbin, Kunming and Lanzhou. The council will evaluate the request, but local airlines say demand is weak because Chinese residents cannot travel to Taiwan, leaving return legs empty. Ticket prices for a direct Taipei‑Xian flight range from NT$15,000‑20,000 (≈$470‑$630), roughly double the cost of routing via Shanghai. The same meeting highlighted China’s softened but still limited policy on Taiwanese distant‑water fishing vessels, which the council views as a concession rather than a new initiative.
Hsinchu Mayor Kao Plagiarism Case Remanded to District Court for Retrial
Taiwan's Intellectual Property and Commercial Court overturned an appellate decision and sent Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao's plagiarism lawsuit back to the Taipei District Court for a new trial. The Institute for Information Industry sued Kao in October 2022, alleging that...
US-Iran War Is ‘Close to over,’ Donald Trump Says
President Donald Trump told reporters the U.S.–Iran war is "very close to over" and hinted an "amazing two days" could bring a resolution. The U.S. military confirmed its naval blockade of Iranian ports is fully in place, while a cease‑fire...
N Korea Boosting Its Nuclear Arms Capabilities: UN
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned of a "very serious increase" in North Korea’s nuclear weapons production after confirming heightened activity at the Yongbyon reactor, its reprocessing unit, and a light‑water reactor. A newly identified enrichment facility further expands...
Middle East War Impacts Aviation, Statistics Show
Fuel prices for international flights have more than doubled since the Middle East war began, reaching US$1.2816 per litre—a 122% increase, while domestic jet fuel rose 116% to NT$44.2 (about $1.4) per litre. The surge has pushed flight cancellations to...
IMF Upgrades Outlook for Taiwan’s GDP
The International Monetary Fund lifted its 2026 real‑GDP forecast for Taiwan to 5.2%, up sharply from the 2.1% outlook in January. Taiwan’s own statistics agency, DGBAS, projected an even stronger 7.71% expansion, citing the resolution of US‑Taiwan tariff talks and...
Study Suggests Olfactory System Linked to Autism
Taiwanese researchers used a seven‑year AI‑driven brain‑mapping system to scan whole mouse brains and discovered that autism‑model mice exhibit a marked loss of projection neurons in the olfactory cortex. The deficit impairs odor discrimination and weakens connectivity to other regions,...
Cuts to Amusement Tax Advanced
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan Finance Committee approved amendments to the Amusement Tax Act, eliminating the tax on films, cultural activities and competitive sports while retaining levies for dance halls and golf courses. The maximum rates are set at 50% for dance...
Eswatini Excluded From China’s Policy
China will grant tariff‑free access to goods from 53 African nations, deliberately leaving out Eswatini because it recognizes Taiwan. Deputy Minister Chen Ming‑chi said the exclusion will have a minimal economic effect, though it may carry a psychological signal. Taiwan...
Iran Used Chinese Spy Satellite to Target US Bases, ‘Financial Times’ Reports
According to the Financial Times, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps acquired China’s TEE‑01B spy satellite, launched by Earth Eye Co, in late 2024. The IRGC used the satellite’s imaging capability to monitor U.S. military installations across the Middle East, including Prince Sultan Air...
China Bridge Carries Security Risks: PCC
Taiwan's Public Construction Commission warned that a China‑built bridge linking Kinmen and Xiamen carries significant national‑security risks. Beijing unveiled the bridge as part of its “New Four Infrastructure Links,” alongside plans for water, electricity and gas connectivity. While the project...
Foundation Says It Found Evidence of Misconduct
The Ma Ying‑jeou Foundation announced it has uncovered material evidence of suspected financial misconduct by former chief executive Hsiao Hsu‑tsen and former deputy chief executive Wang Kuang‑tzu. An internal audit revealed undocumented overseas “donations” with no corresponding inflows, suggesting possible misappropriation. The foundation...
CCP Using ‘Carrot and Stick’ Strategy: Experts
Chinese military activity around Taiwan surged to a peak on the day KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li‑wun met President Xi, underscoring Beijing’s “carrot and stick” approach that blends diplomatic overtures with coercive pressure. The Chinese government announced ten preferential measures for Taiwan,...
KMT Urges Lai to Show China ‘Goodwill’
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) urged President William Lai to respond in kind to Beijing’s newly unveiled ten‑point incentive package for Taiwan, framing it as a goodwill gesture. The measures were announced after KMT chairwoman Cheng Li‑wun met President Xi...
Three Cities Rack up Big Fines for Illegal Rentals
In Taiwan's first quarter of 2026, Tainan, Taipei and New Taipei City each levied fines exceeding NT$7 million (about US$220,000) for illegal accommodations, the highest penalties nationwide. Taipei recorded the most illegal short‑term rental units at 410, while total unregistered properties rose...
China Should Abandon Threats Against Taiwan: AIT
American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene urged Beijing to drop threats and military pressure on Taiwan, arguing that robust deterrence would keep war off the table. He emphasized the need for open communication with all Taiwanese political parties to...
Han Kuang Exercises to Include US-Style Methods
Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military drills are incorporating four U.S.-style rehearsal methods—Combined Arms Rehearsal, backbriefs, support rehearsals, and battle‑drill SOPs—to boost coordination and decision‑making. The exercises begin with tabletop war games running through April 24, followed by a live‑fire segment expected to...
Taipei Wary of New Beijing ‘Incentives’
Taiwan’s presidential office warned that China’s newly announced ten incentive measures—ranging from resumed travel and direct flights to infrastructure links and market access—are likely a repeat of past economic coercion tactics. The measures were unveiled after President Xi Jinping met...
Pegatron Head Calls for a Change in Energy Policy
Pegatron chairman Tung Tzu‑hsien urged Taiwan to use the global energy crisis as a catalyst to cut fossil‑fuel reliance by 20% by 2030, positioning liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a backup rather than a primary source. He highlighted that Taiwan’s...
Be Cautious of China ‘Incentive’: Expert
China announced ten new "incentive" measures for Taiwan, covering agricultural product sales, investment opportunities and the resumption of travel. Experts warn the package is tied to political conditions such as the "1992 consensus" and could be used to pressure Taiwan’s...
TRTC to Continue to Assess Cat-Friendly MRT Transit
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan‑an announced that the city will keep evaluating a cat‑friendly MRT service after a dog‑friendly “Canine Outing Day” sparked criticism from cat owners. The event showcased dog‑only buses and four MRT cars on the Red Line that...
Alishan Audio Guide to Feature Local Band and Students
The Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office launched a new on‑board audio guide that blends performances by the local Chiasong Ensemble with narration by students from five elementary schools. Covering 20 stations, the guide makes Alishan the first railway...
Joint First Island Chain Shield Urged
Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia‑lung urged democratic nations to treat the First Island Chain as a single theater and build a collective, peacetime‑grown “democratic shield.” He emphasized coordinated monitoring, joint warnings, and deployments across the Taiwan Strait, East and South...
Pediatric Diagnostic Fees to Increase This Summer
Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare announced plans to double diagnostic and treatment fees for pediatricians, with the changes expected to take effect as early as July or August 2026. The move is part of a “pay for value” strategy...
Taiwan Spots China Warplanes Amid Cheng-Xi Meet
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported 16 Chinese warplanes operating near the island on Friday, coinciding with President Xi Jinping’s meeting with Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li‑wun in Beijing. Xi reiterated that Taiwan independence would not be tolerated, while Cheng framed...
China Compromise Comes at a Cost: Lai
President William Lai warned that compromising with authoritarian regimes threatens Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy as Taiwan’s KMT chair meets China’s Xi Jinping. He emphasized that peace requires strength, citing rising gray‑zone pressure from Beijing in the Taiwan Strait. Lai announced...
Former TV Producer Lee Indicted
Taipei prosecutors indicted former TV producer Lee Neng‑chien on suspicion of spying for China, seeking a 12‑year prison term. Lee, a retired air‑force serviceman and husband of actress Liu Hsiang‑chun, is accused of leaking classified military information and personal data...
Official Apologizes for Comment on Disabled People
A senior official at Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare, Chou Tao‑chun, apologized after suggesting people with disabilities should be excluded from public hearings to avoid slowing the process. The comment triggered protests from disability advocacy groups and prompted a...
Court Upholds Dismissal of 90s Espionage Case
Taiwan's Supreme Court affirmed lower‑court rulings that dismissed the espionage and embezzlement case against former National Security Bureau officer Liu Kuan‑chun, citing the statute of limitations. Liu was accused of diverting NT$190 million (about US$6 million) from the secret presidential Project Feng...
KMT Lawmakers Boycott Defense Budget Negotiations
Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers staged a boycott of cross‑caucus negotiations on the special defense budget, submitting a supplementary resolution that would require every U.S. arms sale to undergo a separate legislative review. The move follows Washington's announcement of an...
Cabinet Eyes Rules to Protect Migrants
Taiwan’s Cabinet approved a draft amendment that outright bans employers and labor brokers from retaining migrant workers’ identity documents or confiscating their personal property. The measure tightens penalties, imposing fines of NT$60,000 to NT$300,000 (approximately $1,900‑$9,600) and possible revocation of...
Taiwan Athletics Open Canceled Due to Budget Holdup
The Chinese Taipei Athletics Association announced the cancellation of the Taiwan Athletics Open, originally slated for June 6‑7, after the Ministry of Sports’ FY2026 budget remained stuck in the legislature. All registration fees will be fully reimbursed, and Minister Lee...
Philippines Opens Base in Disputed South China Sea
The Philippines inaugurated a new coast‑guard district command on Thitu Island, a long‑held outpost in the contested South China Sea. The base, staffed by a commodore and equipped with patrol ships and aircraft, signals Manila’s intent to enforce its maritime...
Buses Found Using Chinese Chips
Taiwanese bus operators Da Nan Bus and Shin‑Shin Bus discovered that 82 of their 244 electric buses were equipped with Huawei‑affiliated HiSilicon chips, violating a contractual ban on Chinese components. The chips, used in around‑view monitor systems, were allegedly concealed...
Executive Yuan Approves Two Draft Recycling Bills
Taiwan's Executive Yuan approved amendments to the Waste Disposal Act and the newly renamed Resource Circulation Act, aiming to meet circular‑economy targets for its 2050 net‑zero goal. The revisions expand producer responsibility to include solar panels, wind‑turbine blades and other...
Domestic Anti-Ship Missile Set to Be Assessed: Source
Taiwan’s Chunghsan Institute of Science and Technology is set to begin initial capability assessments of its domestically developed subsonic anti‑ship cruise missile later this year. The prototype can strike surface targets at 900‑1,000 km, making it the longest‑range indigenous missile in...
MODA Calls for Reinforced Undersea Cables
Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) announced a push for more resilient undersea cables, recommending deeper burial and steel jacketing to curb sabotage and accidental damage. The agency’s first assessment identified anchor‑related incidents as the leading cause of disruptions, prompting...
CCP Shifting Infiltration Strategy: NSB
Taiwan's National Security Bureau chief Tsai Ming‑yen warned that the Chinese Communist Party is expanding its espionage net from mid‑level officers to rank‑and‑file enlisted personnel in Taiwan's military. Beijing also reserved airspace over the Yellow Sea and East China Sea...
N Korea Fires Multiple Short-Range Missiles Toward Sea
North Korea conducted back‑to‑back missile launches, firing multiple short‑range ballistic missiles from Wonsan that traveled roughly 240 km toward the east sea, followed by a longer‑range missile exceeding 700 km that landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The launches occurred a day...
Eight Million Barrels of Oil to Set Sail for Taiwan This Month
Taiwan's state‑run CPC Corp arranged to ship about 8 million barrels of crude—roughly one‑third of its monthly demand—through the Red Sea to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. One 2‑million‑barrel tanker is already loaded but delayed by the Middle East conflict. CPC...
China Ready to Interfere in Local Elections: NSB
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau warned that Beijing is poised to interfere in the November nine‑in‑one local elections through a coordinated hybrid campaign. The report details more than 173 million cyber attacks on the government service network, 13,000 suspicious online accounts and...
Media Must Not Ignore Suffering
Taiwanese media consistently downplay civilian casualties in Iran, Lebanon and the West Bank, treating humanitarian loss as background noise on political talk shows. Commentators frame global conflicts primarily through the lens of Taiwan’s security and its relationship with the United...
Stormy Weather Disrupts Traffic as Long Weekend Ends
Inclement marine weather and fog disrupted ferry, air, rail, and freeway traffic in Taiwan and Kinmen as the Tomb Sweeping holiday ended. The New Taima ferry service between Taiwan and Matsu was suspended, while the Taima Star increased trips. Ferries...
Tainan Court Rejects Noisy Birds Compensation Suit
Taiwan’s Tainan District Court rejected a woman’s claim for NT$100,000 compensation, ruling that her neighbor’s pet birds did not exceed legal noise limits. The plaintiff, Chen, failed to provide professional‑grade decibel recordings, and the bird chirps were limited to daytime...
New China Air Alerts ‘Unusual,’ ‘WSJ’ Report Says
China issued notice to air missions (NOTAMs) reserving unlimited offshore airspace over the Yellow Sea and East China Sea from March 27 to May 6, a 40‑day period unusually long for military drills. The alerts, typically used for temporary hazards,...
Taiwan to Boost Plastic Bag Production
Taiwan’s Executive Yuan announced a special project to lift monthly plastic‑bag output to the equivalent of 1.25 billion 600 ml bags. The plan activates CPC Corp’s No. 4 naphtha cracker, raising ethylene production from 60,000 to 79,000 tonnes this month and targeting 90,000 tonnes next...
Power Rates Unchanged Till September
Taiwan's Executive Yuan announced that electricity tariffs will stay unchanged from this month through September, and fuel prices will remain flat for the week. The ministry instructed CPC Corp and Formosa Petrochemical to maintain stable production and secure sufficient oil...
EDITORIAL: Mideast War Tests Economic Resilience
More than a month after the Middle East war began, surging oil prices are driving inflation in Taiwan. The National Development Council expects CPI up about 1.5% month‑over‑month, while the manufacturing PMI stays above 50, indicating continued expansion. Export growth...
Seoul ‘Wise’ to Regret Drone Incursion, Kim’s Sister Says
South Korea admitted that government officials participated in a January drone incursion over Pyongyang, prompting President Lee Jae‑myung to publicly express regret and label the act irresponsible. North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un’s sister, Kim Yo‑jong, praised the apology as wise...
Airstrikes on Iran Kill 25; Ceasefire Proposal Shared
Israel and the United States launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran, killing at least 25 people, including IRGC intelligence chief Majid Khademi, and striking the strategic South Pars gas field. Tehran responded with missile attacks on Haifa and Gulf allies, prompting air‑defence alerts...