Wed, Oct 08, 2025
The first satellite of Formosat-8, Taiwan’s first domestically developed optical remote sensing satellite constellation, left the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) headquarters in Hsinchu yesterday ahead of its launch in the US next month.The Formosat-8 system is to replace Formosat-5, the nation’s first s
The US has signaled it is willing to restart talks on Taiwan’s long-sought acquisition of MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters, a senior government official said yesterday.The military operates 17 S-70C anti-submarine helicopters, down from 21 due to four major flight safety incidents, people familiar
CEASEFIRE? Peace talks between Israel and Hamas continued yesterday in an Egyptian resort, with US representatives slated to join the discussions today Thousands of people yesterday converged in southern Israel to mourn the dead as the nation marked two years since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack plunged the region into a devastating war, while Israel and Hamas pressed on with indirect peace talks in Egypt.The main memorial in Tel Aviv, planned for later in t
Briton John Clarke, Frenchman Michel Devoret and American John Martinis yesterday won the Nobel Prize in Physics for work on quantum physics in action, the Nobel jury said. The trio was honored “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in an electric circ
CHINESE INFILTRATION: Medical logistics is a lifeline during wartime and the reported CCP links of a major logistics company present a national security threat, an expert said The government would bolster its security check system to prevent China from infiltrating the nation’s medical cold chain, a national security official said yesterday.The official, who wished to stay anonymous, made the remarks after the Chinese-language magazine Mirror Media (鏡周刊) reported that Pha
COGNITIVE WARFARE: Chinese fishing boats transmitting fake identification signals are meant to test Taiwan’s responses to different kinds of perceived incursions, a report said Chinese vessels are transmitting fake signals in Taiwan’s waters as a form of cognitive warfare, testing Taipei’s responses to various types of incursions, a report by the Institute for the Study of War said on Friday.Several Chinese fishing vessels transmitted fake automatic identification system (
Raccoons, saltwater crocodiles, and two types of venomous snakes — vipers and elapids — would be banned from being kept as household pets, the Ministry of Agriculture announced today.These species are to be added to the current list of animals prohibited from being raised, imported or exported throu
Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Lee Chin-yung (李進勇) today urged the premier to quickly submit a list of nominees to replace outgoing commissioners, warning that failure to approve new members in a timely manner would “bring the CEC’s operations to a standstill.”Of the CEC’s 10 current com
A second major earthquake struck Hualien County this afternoon, just hours after another powerful temblor hit this morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.There have been no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, but the back-to-back quakes renewed safety concerns in areas sti
The body of a woman was found in a vehicle near a quarry in Hualien County's Guangfu Township (光復) 14 days after the town was hit by severe flooding caused by a breach in the Mataian River (馬太鞍) barrier lake on Sept. 23, bringing the death toll from the disaster to 19.Chien Hung-cheng (簡弘丞), command
A total of 194 foreign dignitaries are to take part in this year's Double Ten National Day celebrations, including three delegations from Taiwan's diplomatic allies Belize, Saint Lucia and Paraguay, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today.The guests include 120 members of visiting foreign delegat
Presidential Adviser and Taiwania Capital chairman Lin Hsin-i (林信義) has been appointed by President William Lai (賴清德) as Taiwan's envoy to the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, the Presidential Office announced today.The summit is to be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.The Presiden
A Pingtung County-based food company would be fined more than NT$50 million (US$1.64 million) for selling bleached pig intestines, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said today.The company was found to have used industrial-grade hydrogen peroxide to bleach pig intestines and sold
Twenty-eight people sustained minor injuries early this morning after a bus and a heavy truck collided on the northbound section of National Freeway No. 1 near the 33.8km mark in Wugu District (五股), New Taipei City, highway police said.The crash occurred at 6:52am and blocked traffic until 8am, the
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Hualien County at 7:52am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.The epicenter of the temblor was in the county's Jian Township (吉安), about 6.9km west of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 6.1km, CWA data showed.There were no immediate reports of damage.T
KGI Financial Holdings, in collaboration with the China Development Foundation under its umbrella, continues to promote the “Skills and Expertise Scholarship,” supporting the development of the younger generation. To expand the performance stage for young artists, three “Seeing Talent” series concer
BOUNCE BACK: While revenue fell 7.28 percent in the first eight months of the year, the company expects demand for AI chips to fuel revenue growth next year, it said Plasma-based equipment supplier Nano Electronics and Micro System Technologies Inc (暉盛科技) yesterday forecast revenue this year would continue to slip before surging back next year on the back of robust demand for IC substrates for artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and increasing adoption of
Taiwan’s foreign exchange reserves hit a record high at the end of last month, surpassing the US$600 billion mark for the first time, the central bank said yesterday.Last month, the country’s foreign exchange reserves rose US$5.51 billion from a month earlier to reach US$602.94 billion due to an inc
The election campaign for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chair is heating up, with only 10 days left before party members cast their ballots on Oct. 18. The campaign has revealed potential strengths for the party going into important elections next year and in 2028, particularly the desire amon
A Sept. 19 New York Times report has raised questions about China’s role in clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. In July, the most serious armed confrontations in a decade broke out on the border between the two countries, while China has sought to portray itself as a mediator.However, Thai intell
On Oct. 8, 1998, then-South Korean president Kim Dae-jung and then-Japanese prime minister Keizo Obuchi signed the Japan-Republic of Korea Joint Declaration: A New Japan-Republic of Korea Partnership Towards the Twenty-First Century during Kim’s state visit to Japan. Twenty-seven years on, it is cle
BIG HITTERS: The Brewers opened up a 2-0 lead in their series, once again relying on their stellar offense to pummel the Cubs and clinch a 7-3 win The Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday held off a late rally from the Philadelphia Phillies to snatch a 4-3 victory and take a commanding 2-0 lead in their playoff series.The reigning World Series champions, who stunned the Phillies in Game 1 of the best-of-five National League Division Series on Saturda
Trevor Lawrence on Monday scrambled for an improbable game-winning touchdown with 23 seconds remaining as the Jacksonville Jaguars scored a dramatic 31-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.Jaguars quarterback Lawrence’s winning touchdown crowned a superb individual performance that saw him make 18
Tazmin Brits on Monday cracked a brilliant century as South Africa spoiled New Zealand’s Suzie Bates’ record 350th international appearance with a six-wicket victory in their Women’s Cricket World Cup match.Brits hit 101 off 89 balls with 15 fours and a six — her fourth century in five one-day inter
World No. 3 Alexander Zverev on Monday said that he was playing “terrible tennis” after he was knocked out of the Shanghai Masters by France’s Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.His exit leaves Novak Djokovic as the tournament’s top-ranked player, increasing the 38-year-old Serb’s chances of winning a
ENERGY SHIFT: A report by Ember suggests it is possible for the world to wean off polluting sources of power, such as coal and gas, even as demand for electricity surges Worldwide solar and wind power generation has outpaced electricity demand this year, and for the first time on record, renewable energies combined generated more power than coal, a new analysis said.Global solar generation grew by a record 31 percent in the first half of the year, while wind generat
FRUSTRATIONS: One in seven youths in China and Indonesia are unemployed, and many in the region are stuck in low-productivity jobs, the World Bank said Young people across Asia are struggling to find good jobs, with many stuck in low-productivity work that the World Bank said could strain social stability as frustrations fuel a global wave of youth-led protests.The bank highlighted a persistent gap between younger and more experienced workers acros
A South American trade bloc on Monday ruled that Peru is failing to meet its commitments to curb illegal gold mining and mercury trafficking, siding with indigenous groups who say their Amazon rivers and food supply are being poisoned.The decision by the Andean Community — which includes Peru, Colom
Every time rains falls on the famous basalt columns at Daguoye (大?葉) in Penghu County’s Siyu Township (西嶼), carbon dioxide is removed from the Earth’s atmosphere. Gaseous CO2 dissolves in rainwater, forming carbonic acid. Even if the rainwater is unpolluted — not so-called “acid rain” — it’s suffici
Allegations, accusations and intense speculation are engulfing Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) and an alleged “political surveillance” “paparazzi” group he led, and it shows no signs of letting up. Separating truth from allegation is tricky, so some caveats. First, no one
“Eighteen years ago, people didn’t even know the name of this ingredient,” says 58-year-old Gil Sa-hyeon, holding up a cluster of dried brownish stems. “Now it’s everywhere.”His shop, Joseon Yakcho, sits in the heart of Seoul’s Yangnyeongsi Market, South Korea’s largest traditional medicinal herb ma
Returning to the White House with unprecedented economic weaponry, US President Donald Trump has launched a comprehensive tariff offensive that has sent shockwaves through international markets. On April 2, Trump announced his “reciprocal tariff” strategy, aimed at punishing trading partners who sel
★ Bilingual Story is a fictionalized account. 雙語故事部分內容純屬虛構。Wu Gang bent low, his axe heavy in his hands. Sweat rolled down his back. He struck the osmanthus tree. The wound closed again. He paused to breathe. He admired the branches, glowing against black silence of space. He smelled the blossoms,
對話 Dialogue清清：昨天剛放完中秋連假，禮拜五又是國慶連假了。Qīngqing: Zuótiān gāng fàng wán Zhōngqiū liánjià, lǐbàiwǔ yòu shì Guóqìng liánjià le.華華：是啊。最近連假特別多，其實假多，等收假回來，工作也堆得多。Huáhua: Shì a! Zuìjìn liánjià tèbié duō, qíshí jià duō, děng shōujià huílái, gōngzuò yě duī de duō.清清：先想放假啦。工作的事就再說。今年的雙十國慶煙火聽說在南投。Qīngqing: Xiān xi
Two moves show Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) is gunning for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) party chair and the 2028 presidential election. Technically, these are not yet “officially” official, but by the rules of Taiwan politics, she is now on the dance floor. Earlier this month Lu confirmed in an interview in Japan’s Nikkei that she was considering running for KMT chair. This is not new news, but according to reports from her camp she previously was still considering the case for and against running. By choosing a respected, international news outlet, she declared it to the world. While the outside world likely paid little attention, domestically the message was unmistakable: She is moving on to a larger stage. Part of the dance is to leave options open before formally committing, and with the chair race due in late September, she has time. If something goes wrong in the meantime, or if power brokers in the party offer her a deal that provides more benefits than taking on the role of chair, she can pivot accordingly. Earlier this year, I suggested that strategically, she would be better off concentrating on her job as Taichung mayor until she is term-limited out of office in December next year. Taichung mayor is obviously a full-time job, and concurrently running the Taipei-headquartered party runs the risk of doing one or both jobs poorly and making mistakes that could imperil her shot at the presidency in 2028. The situation has changed. Current KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), knowing he is likely to face challengers of a higher caliber than the three relative nobodies already declared, has gone all in on appealing to the base. The base is more likely to turn out to vote in the chair election, so this makes some strategic sense in the short term.
Among Thailand’s Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) villages, a certain rivalry exists between Arunothai, the largest of these villages, and Mae Salong, which is currently the most prosperous. Historically, the rivalry stems from a split in KMT military factions in the early 1960s, which divided command and opium territories after Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) cut off open support in 1961 due to international pressure (see part two, “The KMT opium lords of the Golden Triangle,” on May 20). But today this rivalry manifests as a different kind of split, with Arunothai leading a pro-China faction and Mae Salong staunchly aligned to Taiwan. Last spring at Arunothai’s Jiaolian School, principal Wang Mingming (王明明) had forewarned me of the division between villages, saying, “We are not like the people in Mae Salong. They are rich. Because of the Taiwanese.” Arunothai has in recent years become split in its loyalties between Taiwan and China (see part one, “A tale of two schools,” on May 15), but in Mae Salong, links to Taiwan remain strong. Taiwan-funded monuments pay homage to the Lost Army, villagers wear T-shirts emblazoned with the Republic of China (ROC) flag and tea plantations grown Taiwan’s most famous tea varieties, including Dong Ding (“frozen peak”) Oolong, Oriental Beauty and Jin Xuan (Golden Daylily or Milk Oolong). Even the numerical classifications of the teas — Oolong No. 12 or No. 17, for example — are the same, and the shops resemble those found on Alishan. At the tomb of General Tuan Hsi-wen (段希文) — perched on a Mae Salong hilltop with a view of his ancestral homeland in China’s Yunnan province — a third generation villager wearing a vintage KMT army uniform, Yan Si-Chung (岩思中), greets visitors with sharp military salutes. “Both my father and my grandfather were soldiers in the KMT army,” the 44-year-old
| New Taipei City | 27-30 | 20% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 26-30 | 10% | |
| Hsinchu City | 26-30 | 10% | |
| Taipei City | 27-30 | 30% |  |
| Miaoli County | 24-29 | 10% | |
| Taoyuan City | 26-29 | 10% | |
| Keelung City | 27-29 | 30% | |
| Yunlin County | 26-29 | 20% | |
| Taichung City | 26-30 | 20% | |
| Nantou County | 25-30 | 20% | |
| Changhua County | 27-30 | 20% | |
| Chiayi County | 26-30 | 20% | |
| Chiayi City | 25-29 | 20% | |
| Tainan City | 27-30 | 20% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 27-30 | 20% | |
| Pingtung County | 26-30 | 20% | |
| Yilan County | 25-28 | 30% | |
| Hualien County | 25-28 | 30% | |
| Taitung County | 25-29 | 30% | |
| Kinmen County | 27-29 | 10% | |
| Penghu County | 27-28 | 20% | |
| Lienchiang County | 27-28 | 20% | |
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