The Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, the largest naval exercise in the region, are aimed at deepening international collaboration and interaction while strengthening tactical capabilities and flexibility in tackling maritime crises. China was invited to participate in RIMPAC in 2014 and 2016,
There are two issues that deserve our full attention: the rise in health insurance adjustments and the sorrow-filled sagas of long-term care. The two are seemingly unrelated, but “overtreatment” is causing both of these issues. Health insurance is an internal cost. Long-term care is an external cost
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), whose online influence has waned, has made another startling remark. Ko criticized President William Lai’s (賴清德) request for a constitutional interpretation of the opposition parties’ controversial “legislative reform” bill, saying that Lai’s mov
The downsides of nuclearPegatron CEO Tong Tzu-hsien (童子賢) has been making a lot of statements in support of nuclear power. However, Taiwan’s power infrastructure has changed over the years: Renewable energy’s overall output has surpassed that of nuclear power.Nuclear power plants account for only 6
EDITORIAL CARTOON
The clash between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea is on everybody’s lips in Manila. Prayers broadcast on the radio plead to a higher power for provocateurs to be kept out. Tensions are high, and the Southeast Asian archipelago needs to work with Beijing and Washington to lower the t
Many of Latin America’s big problems, from crime to inequality, seem entrenched to the point of intractability, but here is one area where you can find good news: On the key issue of informality and financial inclusion, the region is making giant leaps forward.The preference for cash in the region —
At nearly every turn, the pace of the solar rollout has been greatly underestimated.While forecasts have stuck to sober projections of linear growth, the reality has been an exponential curve as costs have plummeted.Last year, solar panels provided 6 percent of the world’s electricity and BloombergN
In December 2010, while property prices were on the rise, the Ministry of Finance implemented a preferential housing loan program with favorable mortgage rates for first-time homebuyers in an effort to lessen the pressure on young people and meet real demand for self-occupied homes. Eight state-run
War in the Middle East, global terrorism and the Ukraine war pose significant threats to the global economy. However, according to Global Guardian, a leading security solutions firm, a conflict between China and Taiwan would cause the greatest disruption since World War II. Its Taiwan Shock Index (T
The declining birthrate in Taiwan continues to affect the education sector, and is becoming more serious with each passing day.Elementary-school student enrollment is expected to decrease to fewer than 1 million by 2029 and to about 779,000 by the 2039 academic year, the Ministry of Education’s 2024
Police chases too dangerousPolice chases might be exciting, but they are also risky. Over the years, many chases have ended with wrecked vehicles and lost lives.After the Act Governing the Use of Police Weapons (警械使用條例) was amended in 2022 to ease some restrictions, the National Police Agency collec
EDITORIAL CARTOON
It is not hard to understand that global warming is already changing how people live. In India’s capital, New Delhi, this summer has been so hot — above 40°C even at night — that people are gasping, the tap water is scalding and the walls of their homes emit heat like radiators. The Saudi Arabian au
The geopolitical balance in the South Caucasus is shifting. Azerbaijan and Georgia, once clearly aligned with the West, have started drifting back toward Russia, while Armenia, which has been allied with the Kremlin since the Soviet Union’s disintegration, seems to be sidling up to the West. Since g
US officials and tech leaders have spent much of this year celebrating the success of all-out efforts to stifle China’s artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions.However, it is too soon to count Beijing out of the race, and US attempts to limit China’s progress have pushed the nation to advance in crea
Many local news media last week reported that COVID-19 is back, citing doctors’ observations and the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) statistics.The CDC said that cases would peak this month and urged people to take preventive measures.Although COVID-19 has never been eliminated, it has become mo
It’s not every month that the US Department of State sends two deputy assistant secretary-level officials to Taiwan, together. Its rarer still that such senior State Department policy officers, once on the ground in Taipei, make a point of huddling with fellow diplomats from “like-minded” NATO, ANZU
Chen Mu-yi (陳慕義), who won the Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actor last year, wrote on the messaging app Line: “There is no need for further comment. I am clear on what I have done, and most importantly, I know my situation and where I stand. After the Golden Horse Awards, I have not receive