DIPLOMACY
US criticizes Beijing
The US Department of State on Thursday expressed concern over changes to China’s M503 flight path, saying the US was opposed to any unilateral changes to the cross-strait “status quo” by either side. In an e-mail response, a department spokesperson said the US urged Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in “meaningful dialogue” with Taipei. “Issues related to civil aviation and safety in the Taiwan Strait should be decided through dialogue between both sides,” the spokesperson said. The Civil Aviation Administration of China on Tuesday announced that it was canceling an “offset” of its north-south M503 flight path agreed with Taiwan in 2015. As a result, the flight path, used mostly by Chinese airlines, but also some foreign airlines on flights between China and Southeast Asia, would revert to its original status, coming as close as 4.2 nautical miles (7.8km) to the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
WEATHER
Cold weather to remain
Taiwan is forecast to see cooler weather continue through today due to strengthening northeasterly winds, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Northern Taiwan can expect highs of 20°C to 23°C, a major drop from about 30°C in Taipei and New Taipei City on Thursday, CWA forecaster Chang Cheng-chuan (張承傳) said. The cold air is expected to be relatively mild, with lows of 17°C to 19°C forecast nationwide through today, Chang said. Brief showers can be expected in parts of northern Taiwan and the eastern half of the country, as well as the Hengchun Peninsula today, he said. Temperatures are forecast to begin to rise as the wind system weakens tomorrow, while brief showers are forecast to continue in some areas, he added. Cool weather is expected to return next week with the arrival of a cold front, Chang said. The mercury is forecast to plummet to as low as 13°C to 14°C in central and northern Taiwan in the early morning on Thursday, while other areas could see lows of 16°C, he said. The cold front is expected linger until Saturday next week to Sunday, during which time lows of 11°C to 12°C could be experienced in the north.
CULTURE
Sheeran arrives in Taiwan
British singer Ed Sheeran on Thursday arrived in Kaohsiung for his concert scheduled for today. The concert at the National Stadium is part of the singer’s ongoing “Mathematics Tour” to promote his sixth album, -, and seventh album Autumn Variations, according to organizers Kuang Hong Arts. After his arrival, Sheeran spent some time sightseeing in the city and posted Instagram stories of various locations, including the Pier-2 Art Center (駁二藝術特區) and the inflatable yellow ducks at Love River Bay. His last performance in Taiwan was his 2019 “Divide World Tour” show in Taoyuan. Today’s concert is to be opened by British singer Calum Scott at about 7pm, and Sheeran is to take the stage at about 8pm, according to the Kuang Hong Arts Web site. Eyeing the economic boost the concert could bring, the Kaohsiung City Government has launched a program whereby fans can receive coupons by showing their concert tickets. The coupons, worth NT$50 each, can be picked up until tomorrow at six metro stations — Formosa Boulevard, Zuoying, Kaohsiung Main Station, Sanduo Shopping District, Kaohsiung Arena and Yanchengpu — and can be used until April 30, the Kaohsiung Economic Development Bureau said.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
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