Sun, May 11, 2025
BLURRED LINES: The amendment would bring Hong Kong and Macau interactions under the same rules as the act governing relations with the Mainland Area To tackle so-called “origin laundering,” lawmakers have put forward proposals to amend the Act Governing Relations with Hong Kong and Macau (香港澳門條例) to prevent China from abusing substantial transformation of goods by passing them through the two territories.“Origin laundering” refers to the decepti
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed.The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy.The U
India and Pakistan yesterday confirmed a ceasefire deal after US-led talks to end a conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals following missile and drone attacks on each other’s military bases.The two have been locked in hostilities after a gun massacre last month that India has blamed Pakistan for.
PARTNERSHIP ‘We look forward to building on our diplomatic ties with the Holy See, 83 years strong, to advance peace, justice, solidarity and benevolence,’ Lai said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday extended his congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on his election as the new leader of the Catholic Church, saying Taiwan looked forward to collaborating with the Vatican on promoting peace, justice, religious freedom, unity and human dignity.“We l
LEISURE: The new law adds Confucius’ birthday, the anniversary of the Battle of Guningtou, Constitution Day and Little New Year as national holidays The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed new legislation adding four national holidays and making Workers’ Day a national holiday for all sectors.The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party used their combined majority in the legislature to push the jointly proposed draft through
‘COMBINED FLEET‘: Taiwan would offer semiconductor manufacturing, and join forces with the US to create a win-win situation in AI, Minister Lin Chia-lung said An economic cooperation agreement inked by the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (TEEMA) and the Texas Association of Business would boost Taiwan’s role in “non-red” supply chains, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) told a signing ceremony in Texas on Friday.Li
CHINA WATCH: The government welcomes healthy exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, but ‘united front’ work and other threats must be countered, Cho Jung-tai said Preparations to tackle espionage, infiltration, propaganda and other national security threats from China are under way, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said on Friday.The Cabinet has identified more than 100 measures and revisions to the law to better address Chinese threats after President William Lai
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) departed for Europe on Friday night, with planned stops in Lithuania and Denmark.Tsai arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Friday night, but did not speak to reporters before departing.Tsai wrote on social media later that the purpose of the trip was
The Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) resolution to defend freedom and democracy would be demonstrated to the world, KMT Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia (夏立言) said yesterday prior to his departure on a trip to Europe.Hsia is to depart tonight to attend the Copenhagen Democracy Summit and the IDU Forum in
Yacht and motorboat operators who assist smuggling operations face license suspensions ranging from three months to five years, a proposed amendment to the Seafarer Act (船員法) says.The Maritime and Port Bureau said that it proposed amendments to the act to impose heavier penalties to facilitate the O
CHANGES NEEDED: About 84,000 people signed a petition advocating for stronger protection laws, with people traveling from other parts of Taiwan to join the cause A rally in Taipei yesterday called on the government to increase penalties for and protections against child abuse, following the death of a one-year-old boy nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴) in 2023.Kai Kai was allegedly tortured to death on Christmas Eve 2023 by his licensed at-home caregiver, Liu Tsai-hsuan
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is to launch a new program to encourage international students to stay in Taiwan and explore job opportunities here after graduation, Deputy Minister of Education Yeh Ping-cheng (葉丙成) said on Friday.The government would provide full scholarships for international stud
A government-subsidized program for women’s checkups and medical services after childbirth has been available since May 1 to better support mothers, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology secretary-general Huang Chien-pei (黃建霈) on Friday said doctors
Taiwanese innovations won six gold medals at the 124th edition of the Concours Lepine, an annual invention competition in Paris.They stood out among 250 competitors, with jury president Rene Lavergne praising them for embodying the spirit of the century-old event.“Taiwan really showed the spirit of
At the annual gathering of France’s finest chefs for the Michelin Guide awards this year, the talk was not only about whose restaurants had gained or lost a star. “Everyone’s discussing AI [artificial intelligence]. I was at a table of 12 other chefs, and it was the main thing we talked about,” Mata
An Indonesian animated movie is smashing regional box office records and could be set for wider success as it prepares to open beyond the Southeast Asian archipelago’s silver screens. Jumbo — a film based on the adventures of main character, Don, a large orphaned Indonesian boy facing bullying at sc
To many, Tatu City on the outskirts of Nairobi looks like a success. The first city entirely built by a private company to be operational in east Africa, with about 25,000 people living and working there, it accounts for about two-thirds of all foreign investment in Kenya. Its low-tax status has att
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) “united front” tactics continue to distort history to form a narrative conducive to CCP control over territories it lays claim to. On Friday, the Council of Indigenous Peoples criticized former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Yosi Takun (孔文吉) for remark
In yesterday’s Taipei Times (May 10, page 8), four powerful pieces laid bare the appalling depth of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu’s (朱立倫) moral and political misjudgement. In his now-infamous remark comparing President William Lai’s (賴清德) government to Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime,
They did it again. For the whole world to see: an image of a Taiwan flag crushed by an industrial press, and the horrifying warning that “it’s closer than you think.” All with the seal of authenticity that only a reputable international media outlet can give. The Economist turned what looks like a p
‘CLUTCH’: The Dodgers and Diamondbacks played one of the season’s wildest games, combining for 25 runs, 26 hits, two blown leads of at least three runs and six homers Dave Roberts played with Barry Bonds, watching the seven-time National League most valuable player (MVP) at the height of his powers.The Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager has seen only one player who compares to Bonds: Shohei Ohtani.Ohtani added to his growing legend on Friday night, blasting a three-run
For decades, long-suffering Chicago White Sox fans grumbled that it would take divine intervention for their baseball team to succeed. Now they have the holiest of supporters in their corner: Pope Leo XIV.Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who on Thursday was elected pope to lead the worl
Taiwanese e-sports veteran Lin “ET” Chia-hung yesterday successfully defended his King of Fighters XV title at this year’s Evolution Championship Series: Japan (EVO Japan), securing his second consecutive championship.Lin claimed victory with a 3-1 win over Japanese pro gamer “mok” in the grand fina
Taiwanese weightlifter Hong Zi-yu on Friday clinched three silver medals at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in the women’s 45kg category in Jiangshan, China.Hong lifted 73kg in the snatch and 88kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 161kg, earning silver in all three disciplines.Afte
THEIR BALL: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that it was now only up to Moscow if it wanted to enable peace by accepting Ukraine’s 30-day ceasefire offer The leaders of the UK, France, Germany and Poland arrived in Kyiv yesterday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a show of unity a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his allies in a Victory Day parade on Red Square in Moscow.The summit is to discuss a US and Europ
PARTY TURMOIL: The move came as the two aspirants failed to agree to unify their candidacies, and it would still have to be confirmed by the party committee South Korea’s embattled conservative party has taken the unprecedented step of nullifying its primary and replacing presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo with former South Korean prime minister Han Duck-soo just one week after Kim’s selection, deepening internal turmoil ahead of the June 3 presidentia
Myanmar’s junta chief met Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) for the first time since seizing power, state media reported yesterday, the highest-level meeting with a key ally for the internationally sanctioned military leader.Senior General Min Aung Hlaing led a military coup in 2021, overthrowing M
May 11 to May 18The original Taichung Railway Station was long thought to have been completely razed. Opening on May 15, 1905, the one-story wooden structure soon outgrew its purpose and was replaced in 1917 by a grandiose, Western-style station.During construction on the third-generation stat
The latest Formosa poll released at the end of last month shows confidence in President William Lai (賴清德) plunged 8.1 percent, while satisfaction with the Lai administration fared worse with a drop of 8.5 percent. Those lacking confidence in Lai jumped by 6 percent and dissatisfaction in his adminis
On the second floor of the Keelung Museum of Art a collection of black-and-white photographs seeks to highlight the city’s layers, from its natural environment to its people. The exhibition, 26 Seconds of Sun, consists of images taken by Olivier Marceny, a French-born photographer who is based in no
Continued from yesterday（延續自昨日）https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/langHowever, not every toy has its moment. Some fans were __8__ that simple classics like balloons—a universal symbol of celebrations—haven’t made the cut yet. With their lightweight charms and transformative puffs of air, balloons have
If you could nominate any toys for the Toy Hall of Fame, what would they be? Iconic playthings like yo-yos, toy cars, or video games seem like obvious __1__. Classic toys such as jacks, playing cards, and board games like Chess, Monopoly, and Uno have brought endless joy to generations. Overall, the
A: Hard rock band Guns N’ Roses is touring Taiwan tomorrow. What about pop diva Lady Gaga?B: Unfortunately, Singapore has once again exclusively secured Gaga’s concerts in Asia, just like Taylor Swift’s exclusive Asian shows last year.A: The Singaporean government reportedly paid up to US$2.2 mil
April 21 to April 27 Hsieh Er’s (謝娥) political fortunes were rising fast after she got out of jail and joined the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in December 1945. Not only did she hold key positions in various committees, she was elected the only woman on the Taipei City Council and headed to Nanjing in 1946 as the sole Taiwanese female representative to the National Constituent Assembly. With the support of first lady Soong May-ling (宋美齡), she started the Taipei Women’s Association and Taiwan Provincial Women’s Association, where she sought to improve women’s welfare and boost participation in politics. On April 24, 1948, Hsieh was elected Taiwan’s first female legislator, garnering the sixth-highest votes nationwide. She served with her usual enthusiasm and energy at first — but abruptly quit in October 1949, moving to the US and not returning until 1991. Growing up under Japanese rule, Hsieh was a bright and outspoken student who became Taiwan’s first female surgeon in 1940. She deeply resented colonial rule, and in 1943 she was arrested for plotting to sabotage the Japanese troops and help the Allies take over Taiwan. The authorities offered to release her if she would collaborate with the Japanese on medical work, but she staunchly refused, remaining in jail and subject to torture until the end of World War II. “As long as I have a drop of blood left, I belong to the Chinese people!” she reportedly said defiantly. As such, she was happy to work with the KMT, finding herself quite adept at navigating the treacherous world of politics. So why did she leave Taiwan? HEADSTRONG YOUTH Hsieh was born in January 1918 in Taipei’s Wanhua District (萬華); her father ran a Chinese restaurant next to the Red House in the Ximending
One of the most transformative technical achievements in human history took place on Oct. 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik 1 into orbit. Americans, utterly convinced of their technical and industrial superiority at the time were shocked, though some tried to play it down by dubbing it the “beeping grapefruit” due to its size and sole capability. That jibe was entirely unfair, as it was a proof-of-concept mission. That they were able to achieve the historic first of launching into space and accurately position a satellite to orbit the earth was a singular achievement. The beeping radio waves ensured they could both prove and track their success. Two months later, the American launch of Vanguard failed spectacularly. Many Americans did take Sputnik very seriously at the time, and the term “Sputnik moment” today means an existential wake-up call. Those that took it seriously were proven correct; in less than four years the Soviets went from a “beeping grapefruit” to sending the incredibly brave Yuri Gagarin into space and safely returning, a first for humanity. Note the positive language I used in describing the Soviet achievements. It is not to praise the Soviet Union, one of the most murderous regimes in history, but the talented people who accomplished these goals. This distinction is relevant in a Chinese context today. SOVIET DOWNFALL When DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence (AI) was launched in January, it was laughably dubbed a “Sputnik moment.” It was not even close. It was not a revolutionary leap into the unknown but rather an evolutionary improvement on the AI offerings already available. Still, it was impressive and a wake-up call to the American tech giants that the Chinese were competitive. A string of recent AI releases by a range of Chinese tech giants proved that DeepSeek was not alone,
| New Taipei City | 24-27 | 10% |  |
| Hsinchu County | 22-24 | 10% |  |
| Hsinchu City | 22-24 | 10% | |
| Taipei City | 24-28 | 10% | |
| Miaoli County | 22-25 | 10% | |
| Taoyuan City | 23-27 | 10% | |
| Keelung City | 22-25 | 20% | |
| Yunlin County | 24-27 | 10% | |
| Taichung City | 24-26 | 10% | |
| Nantou County | 24-27 | 10% | |
| Changhua County | 23-25 | 10% | |
| Chiayi County | 24-27 | 10% |  |
| Chiayi City | 25-28 | 10% | |
| Tainan City | 25-27 | 10% | |
| Kaohsiung City | 26-28 | 10% | |
| Pingtung County | 27-30 | 10% |  |
| Yilan County | 22-24 | 20% | |
| Hualien County | 23-25 | 30% |  |
| Taitung County | 24-26 | 20% | |
| Kinmen County | 21-25 | 10% | |
| Penghu County | 21-24 | 10% | |
| Lienchiang County | 18-21 | 10% | |
RSS