Closing Clinics Leave Pregnant Women with Limited Care Options｜TaiwanPlus News
A veteran obstetrician in Taiwan says declining births and low National Health Insurance reimbursements have slashed his practice’s deliveries to roughly 40 a month, about a quarter of historical levels, prompting thoughts of closure. Nationwide births have fallen to 7,000–8,000 a month and may drop below 100,000 this year, a new low. That trend has already forced 23 reproductive health clinics to close last year—about 10% of the country’s total—and risks leaving pregnant women outside major cities with few local care options. The government says it will consider responses in the coming weeks as struggling practices await policy action.
Taiwan Coast Guard Expels Chinese Research Vessel Near Southern Waters｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan's Coast Guard announced the expulsion of the Chinese research vessel Tongji, which had approached within 29 nautical miles of the island’s southern tip. The agency issued repeated warnings before the ship turned away on Monday, marking a rare direct...
Taiwan Sending Delegation to World Health Assembly Again Despite No Invite｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan is set to dispatch a delegation to the World Health Assembly in Geneva next week, even though the WHO has not extended a formal invitation. The move underscores Taipei’s determination to stay engaged in global health discussions despite diplomatic...
US: Taiwan Likely a Topic in Upcoming Trump-Xi Summit｜TaiwanPlus News
The next‑week summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be the first face‑to‑face meeting of the two leaders in years, and Taiwan is expected to feature prominently alongside energy and trade issues. U.S. officials anticipate Beijing...
From Mudang to Microchips: The Rise of AI Fortune Telling in Seoul | TaiwanPlus News
A small Seoul shop called Vinida is reinventing Korea’s age‑old mudang tradition by offering AI‑powered fortune‑telling. The venture replaces human spirit mediums with a robotic face that scans visitors’ facial features, birth dates and even moles to generate personalized readings. The...
Robots to Study Sperm Whale Communication｜TaiwanPlus News
Scientists from the SETI project have deployed an autonomous underwater glider that locks onto sperm whale clicks and follows the animals in real time, even as they dive to 1.6 kilometers. The system allows researchers to maintain contact over hundreds of...
US Lawmaker, Analysts Warn of Threats to Taiwan's Undersea Cables｜TaiwanPlus News
The video reports that a Taiwanese undersea communication cable serving Dongyin Island was severed in late April, with officials attributing the break to a shipwreck displaced by rough seas. Taiwan’s Digital Affairs Ministry says the incident appears accidental, but the island...
Taiwan Int'l Documentary Festival Explores War Memories, Shifting Identities｜TaiwanPlus News
The 2026 Taiwan International Documentary Festival opened in Taipei with more than 180 screenings and public events, curated by the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute. A centerpiece of the program, “War Memories, Shifting Identities,” delves into the lived experiences of...
Interview: Taiwan Journalist Impersonated in Alleged Chinese Espionage Operation｜TaiwanPlus News
The video features an interview with a Taiwanese journalist who discovered that his identity had been stolen as part of a suspected transnational Chinese espionage campaign. He recounts the moment he realized the impersonation and the unsettling feeling it provoked. The...
Taiwan Opens Recruitment Center in Philippines To Tackle Labor Shortage｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan announced the launch of its first government‑run overseas recruitment center in Manila, a direct response to a growing labor shortage on the island and the Philippines’ status as its primary source of migrant workers. The center, funded by Taiwan’s...
Gaza Residents Rebuild Gym in Khan Younis After Ceasefire｜TaiwanPlus News
A makeshift gym has been resurrected in the basement of a bomb‑ravaged building in Khan Younis, Gaza, as residents return after a fragile cease‑fire that continues to be tested. The United Nations estimates that more than 80 % of Gaza’s structures were...
Analysis: What Does a Regional US 'Kill Web' Mean for Taiwan?｜TaiwanPlus News
The video examines the U.S. military’s newly articulated “kill web” strategy, a framework that would fuse conventional and cyber capabilities of the United States with those of South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. General Xavier Brunson outlined the concept in...
Indian Athletes Scale New Heights Without State Backing｜TaiwanPlus News
The video spotlights the surge of sport climbing in India, a nation where cricket dominates, and follows national speed‑climber Deu Malesh as he chases Olympic dreams despite minimal state assistance. Athletes face a chronic funding gap; the sport is still unrecognised...
China's Gaode Map App Sparks Security Concerns Over Data Collection｜TaiwanPlus News
China's Gaode navigation app, known for features like a traffic‑light countdown, has gained popularity in Taiwan. However, officials and security experts warn that the app's extensive data collection could expose sensitive location information to Beijing. Calls are growing for government...
Local Firm Developing Low-Cost Attack Drones, Drawing Lessons From Iran War｜TaiwanPlus News
A Taiwan‑based company is engineering a low‑cost attack drone to strengthen the island’s defenses as cross‑strait tensions rise. The project draws tactical lessons from the Iran‑Iraq war, emphasizing swarm and loitering capabilities. Development costs are modest, but full deployment hinges...
Doctors Complete Rare Double Organ Transplants on 12-Year-Old in Taiwan｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwanese surgeons performed a rare double live organ transplant on a 12‑year‑old patient suffering from a genetic disorder that required two organs. The operation, conducted by coordinated teams from two leading hospitals, marked the first successful dual transplant of its...
Taipei's Songshan Airport Introduces Facial Scanning System｜TaiwanPlus News
Taipei's Songshan Airport has rolled out a facial scanning system for passenger processing. The technology aims to cut operational costs and shorten queue times by automating identity verification. The rollout follows a broader trend of biometric adoption at Asian hubs....
How Taiwan's Fraud Survivors Find Peace and Recover｜Zoom In Zoom Out
Taiwan’s online‑scam problem has surged, with fraud rings pulling in roughly $3 billion in 2025 alone. While the government has intensified prevention measures, survivors say post‑scam support remains insufficient. The Zoom In Zoom Out episode features victims and families discussing emotional...
Artemis II Crew Returns Home After 10-Day Moon Mission｜TaiwanPlus News
NASA’s Artemis II crew touched down in the Pacific after a ten‑day lunar flyby, marking the first U.S. crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in more than half a century. The flight reached the highest re‑entry velocity of the program, demonstrated precise...
Finland To Open World’s First Permanent Nuclear Waste Site｜TaiwanPlus News
Finland is set to become the first country to operate a permanent underground nuclear waste repository, as Posiva’s Encelö facility on the western coast prepares to receive spent fuel. The site lies more than 400 metres beneath a 1.9‑billion‑year‑old granite formation chosen...
Cross-Party Special Defense Budget Negotiation Sees No-Show From KMT｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan's cross‑party talks to finalize a special defense budget fell apart after the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) failed to attend the meeting. The deadlock comes despite recent pressure from U.S. officials urging Taiwan's government to reach a consensus on increased defense...
Global Plastic Shortage Causing Anxiety Among Businesses and People｜TaiwanPlus News
The video reports that the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has choked the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for roughly 20% of global oil trade, driving up crude and petrochemical prices that feed the plastics industry. With oil...
Taiwan Faces Mounting Economic Pressures Amid War in Iran｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan's economy is feeling strain from the Iran‑US conflict despite a temporary cease‑fire. Disruptions in Middle‑East petrochemical shipments have driven up prices for plastics and related goods. The Taiwanese government is increasing domestic production and tightening market surveillance to curb...
Taiwan's Latest Nat'l Security Report Highlights China's Hybrid Warfare｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan’s national security officials released a new report warning that China is intensifying hybrid warfare across the island and the broader Indo‑Pacific region. The briefing detailed a surge in cyber intrusions, coordinated disinformation pushes, and gray‑zone maritime activities aimed at...
Analysis: China Issues Surprise Alert Restricting East Coast Airspace ｜TaiwanPlus News
The Wall Street Journal reported that Beijing has placed a 40‑day airspace alert over expansive offshore zones in the Yellow and East China seas, an area hundreds of kilometres north of Taiwan. The restriction, which allows civilian traffic only with...
Heavy Rain Triggers Flooding in Parts of Taiwan｜TaiwanPlus News
A powerful weather system slammed Taiwan on Saturday, unleashing torrential rain that triggered flooding and landslides across the island. The worst impacts were felt in the Mali region, where swollen rivers overflowed and slopes gave way. Transportation networks were hit hard:...
Analysis: US Tariffs on Patented Pharmaceutical Products and Impacts on Taiwan｜TaiwanPlus News
The United States is considering a 100% tariff on certain patented pharmaceutical products, a move that could strip Taiwan’s drugs of preferential market treatment. Darson Chiu, director of the Confederation of Asia‑Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry, warned that the...
Taiwan Not Exempted From Trump's Latest Tariffs｜TaiwanPlus News
The video reports that President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 100% tariff on imported patented medicines, citing a national‑security risk after an investigation found that 53% of such drugs in the United States are sourced abroad. The...
Taipei Exhibition Shines Light on Resilience of Ukrainian Artists｜TaiwanPlus News
The video reports on a Taipei exhibition that places Ukrainian female artists at its center, using their work to illustrate the resilience and courage forged amid war. Curators and visitors alike emphasize how these creators transform personal trauma into powerful...
Aging Locally: Inside a Taiwanese 'Dementia Village'｜TaiwanPlus News
The video profiles Pingxi, a mountainous district in northern Taiwan that has become a pioneering "dementia village." With more than one‑third of its residents over 65 and around 80 people diagnosed with dementia, the community has built a network of...
Flying Soon? Ticket Prices Are About To Surge
The video warns that Taiwan’s airline tickets are set to become more expensive as the government’s fuel surcharge policy takes effect next week. Airlines will raise the short‑haul surcharge from roughly NT$17 to NT$45 and the long‑haul surcharge from about NT$45...
Singapore Embraces 'Active Aging' With Older Residents Practicing Parkour｜TaiwanPlus News
A new wave of senior parkour is sweeping suburban Singapore, where grey‑haired residents like 69‑year‑old Betty Boon are leaping over fences and obstacles. The movement is part of the city‑state’s broader “active aging” push as it prepares to become a...
US Senators Tour Taiwan's Defense Innovation Hub｜TaiwanPlus News
U.S. Senators Gene Shaheen and John Curtis led a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), the island’s premier defense research hub, underscoring Washington’s growing security engagement with Taipei. The visit coincided with a briefing...
Taipei Fashion Week Runway Show Blends Sports, Fashion and Resilience｜TaiwanPlus News
Taipei Fashion Week’s latest runway, titled “Fighter,” turned the catwalk into a combat arena, showcasing the work of Berlin‑based Taiwanese designer Damu Huang. By dressing boxers in couture and staging the show like a bout, Huang fused athleticism with high...
Inside China’s Propaganda Campaign Targeting the Philippines | Correspondents
The video examines China’s coordinated propaganda offensive aimed at the Philippines, spotlighting how Beijing’s embassy has publicly vilified a Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson and other officials after they questioned China’s actions in the South China Sea. It explores the broader...
Taipei Cycle Show: Taiwan Eyes Expanding E-Bike Market｜TaiwanPlus News
The Taipei Cycle Show highlighted Taiwan’s strategic push to dominate the rapidly expanding e‑bike sector. With roughly 900 exhibitors, the exhibition placed electric‑assisted bicycles at the forefront, underscoring a $60 billion global market and Taiwan’s ambition to achieve full self‑sufficiency in...
Analysis: Taiwan To Skip WTO Meeting Over 'Province of China' Label｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan announced it will not attend the upcoming World Trade Organization ministerial meeting, marking the first boycott in 25 years. The decision follows the host nation, Cameroon, designating Taiwan as a “province of China,” a move the Taiwanese delegation says...
Lawmakers Fail To Agree on Special Defense Budget｜TaiwanPlus News
Legislators in Taiwan concluded a three‑day review of the island’s special defense budget without reaching agreement, underscoring political friction as Beijing’s military capabilities expand. The deadlock involves the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), and the Taiwan...
Taipei Expo Showcases How AI Can Alleviate Industry, Labor Shortages｜TaiwanPlus News
The Taipei AI Expo highlighted how artificial intelligence can be deployed across businesses and daily life to counter Taiwan’s chronic labor shortages. Organizers demonstrated AI tools that promise to boost productivity in manufacturing, services, and consumer applications. The event attracted...
Taiwan's Clothing and Drug Manufacturers Feel the Pinch From Iran War｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan’s garment and pharmaceutical manufacturers are feeling the financial strain caused by the war in the Middle East, the primary source of the island’s oil and gas imports. Escalating crude prices have pushed up the cost of packaging and other...
Beijing Protests After Break-In at Chinese Embassy in Tokyo｜TaiwanPlus News
A member of Japan's Self-Defense Forces entered the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, prompting a diplomatic stir. China has demanded that Japan guarantee the safety of its diplomatic missions and personnel. The incident sparked protests in Beijing, with officials accusing Japan...
Adoptee Seeks To Reclaim Taiwanese Citizenship
The video follows a Taiwanese-born woman adopted abroad who is now fighting to restore her Taiwanese citizenship and learn her biological mother’s identity. She discovered that on October 12, 1983, the Taiwanese authorities abruptly canceled her adoption without confirming the child’s...
Taiwan Eyes Agentic AI for Government Use｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan is actively evaluating agentic artificial intelligence, specifically the open‑source OpenClaw platform, for integration into government operations. Officials from the Digital Ministry say the technology could augment public‑service efficiency while raising national‑security questions. OpenClaw, described by NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang as the...
K-Pop Supergroup BTS Returns to the Stage｜TaiwanPlus News
South Korea’s flagship boy band BTS returned to the stage Saturday, ending a four‑year pause for mandatory military service. The group opened a live‑streamed concert in Seoul, highlighted by drones spelling their name over the city’s skyline and silhouettes projected...
Retired Seniors in Taiwan Take Up Esports, Social Media Influencing｜TaiwanPlus News
In Taiwan, where one in five citizens is now 65 or older, a surprising trend is emerging: retirees are turning to PC gaming and esports, many becoming live streamers and social media influencers. Gaming platforms report a noticeable uptick in...
Taiwan and UK Team Up on Advanced Scientific and Tech Partnerships｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan and the United Kingdom have deepened their collaboration under the UK‑Taiwan Innovative Industries programme, a joint initiative launched in 2018 and supported by the UK Science and Technology Network and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute. The partnership focuses on...
Concerns over Semiconductor Materials Amid Iran War Disruptions｜TaiwanPlus News
Prices for key semiconductor materials have jumped amid the Middle East war, stoking concern in Taiwan where supplies of high-temperature metals used in third-generation equipment have spiked sharply. Gallium prices have risen 123% since the start of 2025, and oil...
Analysis: Why Chinese Military Flights Near Taiwan Have Decreased｜TaiwanPlus News
Chinese military sorties near Taiwan have fallen recently, analysts in the video say, reflecting a mix of strategic recalibration and political calculation rather than a single cause. Contributing factors include Beijing’s sensitivity to possible US-Taiwan meetings, broader regional risks tied...
Explainer: Middle East Conflict's Impact on Taiwan's Energy Situation｜TaiwanPlus News
Taiwan imports about 96% of its energy, relying on the Middle East for roughly 70% of its oil and on Qatar for about 30% of its natural gas—fuel that supplies over half of the island’s electricity and a large share...
US Adds Taiwan to Forced Labor Trade Investigation List｜TaiwanPlus News
The US has launched a new round of trade investigations under Section 301 targeting 60 economies for alleged failures to curb imports made with forced labor, and Taiwan is among those listed. The probes, announced as temporary 10% global tariffs...