ICRT

Posted on 2026-01-13 19:56:13

Taiwan is facing a growing labor shortage in critical industries ... and
hopes to recruit more foreign workers to bridge the gap.

The National Development Council says new changes to the 'Act for the
Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals' have already taken
effect this month ...

... introducing looser rules on employment, residency, and social benefits.

The NDC says the number of foreign professionals in Taiwan has climbed to
nearly 80 thousand by the end of last year, up sharply from 30 thousand in
2018 ... when the act was fist implemented.

But officials warn that's still not enough to meet demand in key sectors such
as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and net-zero development.

Officials say a record-low birth rate and an aging population have created a
long-term labor crunch that threatens economic growth.

Taiwan is also competing with other countries to attract foreign talent,
including Japan, South Korea, and the U-K.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-13 19:56:13

The Centers for Disease Control says flu activity is rising again in Taiwan
and is expected to peak around Lunar New Year.

The CDC reports nearly ninety-two thousand clinic and outpatient visits for
flu-like symptoms last week — about ten percent higher than the previous
week.

Most severe cases and deaths have been among older adults, people with
chronic illnesses, and those who are unvaccinated.

However, some younger patients with underlying conditions have also been
affected.

Health officials are urging people in high-risk groups to get vaccinated and
to seek medical care early if their symptoms worsen.

As of yesterday, there were around 179 thousand doses of publicly-funded flu
shots available.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-13 19:56:13

A sidewalk dispute in Taipei's Zhongzheng District ended with a cyclist in
police custody after he allegedly threatened a pedestrian with a knife.

The incident happened just after noon on Bo'ai Road, when a 27-year-old
cyclist, surnamed Chang, argued with a 71-year-old man over who had right of
way.

Police say Chang pulled out a knife and waved it during the confrontation.

Officers arrived, ordered him to drop the weapon, and took him into custody
without incident.

Chang later told police he carried the knife for 'self-defense'.

Both men could be penalized under the Social Order Maintenance Act for
fighting, and Chang also faces charges for threatening public safety.

No serious injuries were reported.

Posted on 2026-01-13 19:56:13

Officials in Kaohsiung are warning that recent low temperatures are damaging
local crops.

The city's Agriculture Bureau says frost has hit cantaloupe fields in the
Alian (阿蓮) District.

According to the bureau, about a third of a hectare has been affected, with
losses estimated at 31-thousand NT.

A disaster team is now being formed to see if the damage meets the 20-percent
threshold for government relief.

Meanwhile, Mayor Chen Chi-mai is telling officials to keep a close eye on
fish farms.

He notes that cold-related damage to aquaculture can often take some time to
show up.

Currently, no fishery losses have been reported.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-13 17:13:13

The blue and white camps of the legislative yuan have united again to block
the 1.25-trillion-NT special defense budget and the Government Revenues and
Expenditure Allocation Act from review.

The opposition parties have cited the lack of inclusion of pay raises for
military and civil servants in the 2026 general budget as its reason for
blocking that and the defense budgets.

DPP Lawmaker Fan Yun pointed out that this is the first time in history that
the ROC has gotten so far into the year without the central government budget
being examined by lawmakers.

Meanwhile KMT caucus leader Luo Zhi Qiang said that opposition lawmakers
would submit their own budget items to address more urgent needs.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-13 17:13:13

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will fund 24-hour call centers to help
those living alone.

Officials say these call centers will help elderly residents living alone in
emergency situations, and may be run by private security companies or other
contractors through government bidding.

When a senior citizen presses an emergency button or has a medical crisis,
call center staff will immediately notify the fire department, health
officials, or local leaders.

This follows the success of a Chinese app that alerts emergency contacts if a
user fails to check in for several days.

The ministry says that while apps are useful, a human "back end" is the most
important part of the service to ensure someone can help if a senior is
unconscious or needs a door forced open.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-13 17:13:13

And, a Taipei woman is healthy after giving birth to her child on the side of
the road in the city's Shilin district.

She went out alone and began feeling unwell before calling for help.

But by the time first responders arrived, the woman was holding her newborn
in her arms.

Police today said that, when two officers arrived, they called emergency
services to receive guidance from paramedics to provide care for the baby,
who was not crying.

When an ambulance arrived, parademics cut the still-attached umbilical cord,
and the baby cried out.

After confirming that the baby's airways were clear, mother and child were
sent off to the hospital.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-13 16:06:13

DPP Legislator Lai Rui-lung has won his party's Kaohsiung mayoral primary,
setting him up to be formally nominated later this month.

The 52-year-old, three-term lawmaker placed first among four that also
included legislators Qiu Yi-ying, Xu Zhi-jei and Lin Dai-hua based on
telephone polling of Kaohsiung residents last night.

The results of the poll, conducted by three polling firms with at least 1,200
valid responses, found that Lai would fare best in a matchup against KMT
opponent Ko Zhi-en, defeating her by a 56- percent to 25 percent margin.

Lai's results were narrowly better than Qiu's.

The political veteran has represented a Kaohsiung district in the Legislature
since 2016.

Taiwan will hold its next local elections to choose city and county chiefs
and councilors on Nov. 28th.

(CNA)

Posted on 2026-01-13 16:06:13

Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming has expressed his full support for new
rules requiring all soil and rock transport vehicles to be equipped with GPS.

He said central and local governments are establishing cross-agency platforms
to handle the disposal of construction surplus soil and rock.

The Minister's comments come after the the National Land Management Agency
began implementing a full-flow tracking system for surplus gravel on January
1st.

It aims to prevent the illegal dumping of waste soil and curb dishonest
practices such as fake routing, falsified transport manifests and false
reporting of gravel volumes.

Under the new policy, all transport vehicles must install Global Positioning
System, and every entry and exit point must be reported through an electronic
manifest.

Peng is urging the construction industry and gravel operators to abide by the
policy.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-13 15:16:13

The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office has appealed the case of a teenage boy who
killed his schoolmate at a New Taipei junior high school in 2023.

The office said the Taiwan High Court’s sentences, 12 years in prison for
the boy and 11 years for the girl who caused the violent act, were not in
line with the law and were overly lenient.

That ruling was harsher than the Juvenile Court’s, which had sentenced the
boy to nine years and the girl to eight years under the Criminal Code
provision allowing reduced penalties for offenders aged between 14 and under
18.

Still, the victim's parents found the High Court's sentences unacceptable,
saying the law only served to "protect the bad people."

The case gave rise to a lot of heated debates about the justice system, as
the boy had already been put under supervision for his previous records when
the killing took place.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-13 15:16:13

New Taipei is launching a new traffic safety plan after reports showed a rise
in senior citizen traffic deaths last year.

Government data shows from January to September last year, 82 elderly
residents died in traffic accidents, marking an increase of eight deaths
compared to the same period in 2024.

Pedestrian deaths also rose during that time.

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the city’s traffic safety committee will
carry out 24 separate projects this year, including improving intersections
near schools, parks, and senior communities.

The city also plans to create "pedestrian and senior-zones", and fix safety
issues at intersections that do not have traffic lights.

The mayor adds that the city's Rapid Transit Brigade officially launched
today, ensuring that safety at transit stations and terminals remains a top
priority.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-13 15:16:13

Taiwan has issued its highest level travel alert for Iran as nationwide
protests and a government crackdown continue.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised the alert to a level 4 red alert last
week.

It is advising citizens not to travel to Iran, and urging those already in
the country to leave as soon as possible.

MOFA says five Taiwan nationals currently in Iran have all been reported
safe, and the ministry is monitoring the situation through its representative
office in Dubai.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-13 14:07:14

DPP Lawmaker Qiu Yi Ying says, she "humbly accepts" her primary loss for the
Kaohsiung mayor's post.

That's after the DPP announced earlier today that Lai Rui Long had beat out
Qiu and 2 other contenders to be the DPP nominee in the harbor city.

Qiu lost by a razor thin margin, trailing Lai by just over half a percentage
point when tested against the KMT's Ke Zhi En.

In remarks this afternoon, Qiu said that she congratulated Lai and said that
she would continue to dedicate herself to Kaohsiung for its progress and
improvement.

Meanwhile Ke Zhi En congratulated Lai and said that she "finally" knew who
her opponent would be.

Ke added that she planned to put out a list of her policy views in March.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-13 14:07:18

KMT Chair Zheng Li Wen says, her party will aim to nominate a candidate for
the New Taipei mayor's office before the Lunar New Year.

And Zheng noted that the KMT still plans to work together with the TPP in
some electoral districts...

but she added that the KMT would first complete its nomination process before
conducting polling or negotiations in districts in which the TPP also has a
candidate.

Today Zheng also noted that the her party's nomination process is progressing
smoothly, with the party having already nominated candidates in Tainan,
Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taitung.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-13 14:07:20

High-speed rail service has returned to normal following a passenger incident
at Tainan Station today.

Taiwan High Speed Rail says a passenger died after colliding with a train
earlier this morning.

Emergency safety measures were immediately activated, and fire and medical
personnel were called to the scene.

Railway police conducted an investigation and all operations resumed by 12:54
p.m.

The company is offering a 10 percent refund to travelers who were delayed by
30 minutes or more.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-13 14:07:24

Environment officials are warning of deteriorating air quality across Taiwan
this afternoon ... due to a cold air mass carrying pollutants southward from
China.

The Ministry of Environment has issued orange-level alerts for parts of the
center and the south, indicating unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups.

While yellow-level alerts cover the north and north-east in Yilan.

Forecasters say the heaviest impact is expected through this evening.

By tomorrow, they say air quality in the north and center should improve.

However, the orange alerts in southern Taiwan could persist through the 17th
due to weak winds and poor dispersion.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-13 14:07:28

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 139 points to
close the session at 30707.

The turnover was 723.4 billion NT

Posted on 2026-01-13 13:06:13

In Kaohsiung, DPP Lawmaker Lai Rui Long has won the polling conducted for the
DPP mayoral primaries last night.

He beat out three fellow lawmakers, Qiu Yi Ying, Xu Zhi Jie, and Lin Dai Hua.

Lai received 55.99% support over the KMT's Ke Zhi En...

while Qiu trailed by just over half a percentage point.

Lai is set to be formally nominated by the party next Wednesday.

Meanwhile Lin and Xu both have come out in support of Lai.

And, similar polling will be conducted in Chiayi County tonight to determine
who will be the candidate for magistrate.

Chiayi residents will be able to choose between Lawmaker Cai Yi Yu and County
Councilor Huang Rong Li.

The results of that polling will be released tomorrow before noon.

And Tainan will see polling conducted last of the three municipalities, with
lawmakers Chen Ting Fei and Lin Jun Xian in the running.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-13 13:06:13

Taiwan High Sped Rail Corporation says, some trains may be delayed due to a
person being on the tracks at the Tainan station.

THSR says, a passenger collided with train number 1307 for unknown reasons
before falling onto the tracks.

They say the incident took place just before 11 am this morning, and they've
already dispatched workers to handle the situation.

Safety measures have been put into place, and fire and medical personnel were
called to the scene.

In particular, the delay is affecting trains going north and south between
Chiayi and Zuoying stations.

Passengers aborad train 1307 are being rebooked on later trains.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-13 11:06:13

Reports that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing will invest in at least five
more plants more semiconductor plants in the U-S state of Arizona has sent
its share price surging.

T-S-M-C's American Depositary Receipts hit a record high of 333.55 U-S
dollars overnight after registering a 2.52-per cent increase and that saw its
stock price rising by 30 N-T in early trading on the Tai-Ex to hit yet
another new high of 1,720 N-T.

T-S-M-C's market capitalization hit 44.6-trillion N-T and that contributed
about 240-points to the Tai-Ex's overall rise in early trading.

The main board added 400-points this morning to reach 30,973 following news
that tariffs on Taiwan products exported to the U-S are reportedly set to be
reduced to 15-per cent.

T-S-M-C will be holding an investor conferance this Thursday - at which the
company is expected to give positive guidance and revenue projections for
this year.

Posted on 2026-01-13 11:06:19

The Ministry of National Defense says it detected 10 Chinese Air Force
sorties operating in the Taiwan Strait from between 6AM Monday and 6AM today.

Of those sorties, three aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait
and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern air defense identification
zones.

Five Chinese Navy ships were also detected operating in the general vicinity
of the Taiwan Strait over the same 24-hour period.

Posted on 2026-01-13 11:06:19

And,

The Central Weather Administration's Seismological Center says last night's
magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck off the coast of Yilan has been
initially identified as an aftershock of December 27's magnitude 7 quake.

The center says the aftershock was relatively large, so slight tremors were
felt across parts of northern Taiwan.

The earthquake struck at 9:31PM and was centered some 25-kilometers east of
Yilan County Hall, at a depth of 70-kilometers.

The quake was felt stongest in Yilan's Nan'Ao and Niu Dou areas, as well is
parts of Taoyuan and Hsinchu, where it measured 3 on the weather
administration's intensity scale.

Posted on 2026-01-13 07:01:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says the military has detected intermittent
signals from the Flight Data Recorder of the F-16V jet fighter that
disappeared last week off of Hualien.

However, Koo says the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard Administration have not
yet pinned down the exact location of the black box and search operations are
ongoing.

Koo told reporters that due to rough seas, vessels were unable to leave port
yesterday, but the search will continue when conditions improve.

The search and rescue operation has involved 62 sorties of Navy vessels, 62
sorties of Coast Guard boats, and 16 sorties of drones.

The aircraft took off from the Hualien Air Base at 6:17PM last Tuesday for a
routine night-time training mission and lost contact just over an hour later.

The Air Force has said the pilot, Captain Hsin Po-yi reported that the
aircraft was losing altitude and that he was about to eject.

The fighter jet's signal disappeared from radar some eight seconds after that
radio message.

Posted on 2026-01-13 07:01:14

The Armaments Bureau says Taiwan and the United States plan to jointly
produce 155-millimeter artillery shells.

The decision was made by both sides because the munition has proven to be in
high demand during the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war... it is also considered
useful for Taiwan's self-defense.

Bureau chief Lieutenant General Lin Wen-hsiang told lawmakers that if the
cooperation is successful, the collaboration could be expanded to other types
of munitions.

However, the Armaments Bureau head refused to provide further details of what
other types of munitions could be jointly developed - saying the matter is
sensitive.

Taiwan and the U-S, have been in talks to co-produce munitions and weapon
systems for several years.

During a U-S Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in November, the nominee
for deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, said that joint weapons
production should focus on projects that are relatively less complex and
within Taiwan's existing capabilities.

Alexander Velez-Green further said appropriate co-production or similar
opportunities should focus on less technically complex capabilities for which
Taiwan has existing workforce and production infrastructure.

Posted on 2026-01-13 07:01:14

The National Health Insurance Administration has announced three
reimbursement reforms.

These include the introduction of full coverage for proton therapy for
pediatric cancer patients starting this month, which is expected to benefit
about 100 children each year and will be supported by funding of around
105-million N-T.

Administration head Chen Lian-yu says the proton therapy was added to the
national health insurance program in January, with priority given to
childhood cancers.

But the administration's Medical Affairs Division stressed the benefit is
limited to cases that show safety and effectiveness, meaning not all
childhood cancers are eligible.

Other reforms include raising reimbursements for emergency surgery or
procedures for major trauma cases and improving reimbursements for care
involving high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Posted on 2026-01-13 07:01:18

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says his administration is looking at various
options to limit smoking in public places... with some version of the policy
likely to be implemented this year.

Chiang said a "Taipei smoke-free city" plan is expected to be launched by the
end of this year.

City officials are said to be studying the establishment of designated
smoking areas in Tokyo, which has cut down on secondhand smoke and cigarette
litter in the Japanese capital ...

The mayor hopes his administration can change people's thinking -- that is,
to prohibit public smoking in principle, but allow for some exceptions.

Chiang further said that it's very possible the city will make reference to
examples abroad, such as using designated smoking areas or booths ..
separating smokers and non-smokers to improve the quality of public spaces.

Posted on 2026-01-13 07:01:19

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has indicted a Taiwanese labor broker
and his Indonesian wife for allegedly running an underground remittance
service for more than a decade.

Prosecutors say the couple handled over 5.1-billion N-T in transfers between
August of 2013 and August of last year, earning at least 26.6-million N-T in
fees.

The broker and his wife have been charged with violating Article 29 of the
Banking Act.

The article stipulates that non-banks are prohibited from "accepting
deposits, managing trust funds or public property under entrustment or
handling domestic or foreign remittances."

Prosecutors says the man is suspected of operating unauthorized
money-transfer services beginning in August of 2013.

He allegedly partnered with multiple Southeast Asian grocery stores in Taiwan
that were unaware of the scheme to solicit customers who wanted to remit
money to Indonesia, including migrant workers.

Posted on 2026-01-13 07:01:22

A Japanese footwear brand has apologized and suspended an employee at its
Taipei 101 store who was accused of discrimination.

The employee was suspended after allegedly telling a Vietnamese customer that
the shoes she had asked to try on were "very expensive," and then proceeded
to ignore her.

The incident was brought to light in a social media post by a Taiwan netizen,
who said the incident occurred this past weekend, when a Vietnamese migrant
worker she knows asked to try on a pair of shoes at the Onitsuka Tiger store
in Taipei 101.

The social media post added that the saleswoman replied in a disrespectful
tone that the shoes were "very expensive," and then ignored her until the
customer asked again, to which she curtly replied, "we don't have a size 37."

Taipei 101 Chairperson Janet Chia responded to the post -- thanking its
author and vowing to look into the incident.

Onitsuka Tiger has issued a statement offering its "sincerest apologies" for
the "incident" and that it suspended the employee in question pending an
internal investigation.

Posted on 2026-01-13 07:01:22

And,

Reporters Without Borders and the Central News Agency have launched a joint
photography exhibition in Taipei to mark the France-based non-governmental
organization's 40th anniversary.

The exhibition is titled "Shooting the World of Tomorrow."

It features 40 photos by journalists from around the world under three topics
of "Environment, Exile and Crises" - along with 13 award-winning images by
C-N-A photojournalists.

The Taipei exhibition follows seven earlier stops in Europe, Africa, North
and South America.

Reporters Without Borders Asia-Pacific Bureau Cedric Alviani says as Taiwan's
ranks as the country with the highest score in R-S-F's 2025 World Press
Freedom Index, the inclusion of works by CNA photojournalists "turns this
exhibition into a cultural exchange."

The exhibition is free to the public and runs through February 11 at No. 209,
Songjiang Road.

Posted on 2026-01-12 19:55:13

A new survey shows migrant workers in industrial sectors are logging more
overtime, driven by the boom in AI-related manufacturing.

According to the Ministry of Labor, monthly overtime rose by nearly 90
minutes in 2025, bringing the average to just over 28 hours per month.

Officials attribute the increase to stronger production in AI-related
manufacturing sectors.

Pay is also up.

Migrant workers earned an average total monthly pay of nearly 35 thousand NT
in June, up almost five percent from a year earlier, mainly due to a minimum
wage hike.

On the other hand, the report notes that language barriers remain a top
concern for employers.

That is followed by complaints about migrant caregivers' frequent smartphone
use and chatting on the job.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 19:55:13

The Ministry of Environment says over half of companies required to pay
carbon fees in Taiwan can receive a major discount if they are classified as
high-risk industries.

The ministry released new auditing rules today for companies deemed to be at
high risk for carbon emissions, with over 260 facilities on the list that
qualifies for an 80 percent discount on their carbon fees.

These high-risk industries include steel, cement, oil refining, and chemical
materials.

Together, they represent about 70 percent of the total carbon emissions from
all fee-paying companies.

The ministry says to get the discount, companies must first have an approved
"voluntary reduction plan" to lower their emissions.

If a company has an approved reduction plan, the rate drops from the standard
$300NT per ton to 50 or 100 NT.

And if the company is also on the high-risk list, they pay at a further
discounted rate.

But the environment ministry says companies that do not meet their reduction
goals will lose their discounts.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-12 19:54:13

A Japanese footwear brand is under growing scrutiny after a staff member at
its Taipei 101 store was accused of discriminating against a Vietnamese
customer.

The incident went viral after a witness claimed a saleswoman at Onitsuka
Tiger told the customer the shoes she wanted to try on were 'too expensive',
before ignoring her entirely.

The post on the platform Threads—which has racked up tens of thousands of
likes—slams the behavior as blatant racial discrimination.

Taipei 101 Chairperson Janet Chia has responded, thanking its author and
vowing to look into the incident.

Meanwhile, Onitsuka Tiger says it has suspended the employee involved, who
could be terminated if the claims are proven true.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 19:54:14

A famous Taiwanese restaurant chain has raised prices across its menu ...
following an announcement over the weekend.

Formosa Chang, known for its braised pork rice, said the hike comes into
effect today ... citing higher costs for raw materials, labor and
environmental compliance.

The chain's signature dish now costs 71 NT for a small bowl, up from 66.

Popular bento boxes, including chicken and crispy chicken leg meals, also saw
modest increases.

Overall, prices rose by an average of 3.8 percent.

The chain says the increases were unavoidable ... and came despite efforts to
absorb expenses internally.

The move follows a similar price hike by major coffeehouse chain Louisa
Coffee, which recently raised prices on 90 items, citing the higher cost of
ingredients, wages, and utilities.

(CNA_IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 17:16:13

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is downplaying claims that the TPP/KMT's
so-called "Future Accounts" will boost the birth rate...

but they say that it would be helpful in reducing poverty.

Meanwhile the Directorate General of Budget says the expenditure required for
such a thing is likely to have negative impacts on other budget areas.

These comments come as two legislative committees begin reviewing the Future
Account proposal from the opposition parties.

The budget for this policy is capped at 450 billion NT, and it'll be financed
through borrowing- and the government would open savings accounts for kids 12
and under with 50,000 NT each.

Those accounts would receive another 10,000 NT annually from the government.

DPP Lawmakers have criticized the draft, saying it raises concerns over lack
of fiscal discipline, unclear objectives, and a widening wealth gap.

They've also pointed out that the government’s overall remaining borrowing
capacity is $180 billion NT, and after deducting $150 billion a year for
national defense, only $30 billion remains.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 17:16:14

The DPP is recommending the chair of the New Taipei City Dental Association
to run for magistrate in Nantou.

The recommendation of Wen Shi Zheng 溫世政 will be formally considered by the
DPP central committee on Wednesday.

The DPP had originally planned to issue the recommendation last week, but
opted to delay the announcement due to the ongoing search for the missing
F-16V fighter jet and pilot.

If he is confirmed to be the nominee, he will face Nantou Magistrate Xu Shu
Hua in November.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 16:08:13

Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政) is reassuring commuters that the TPASS
monthly pass is here to stay ... addressing concerns over funding delays from
the central government.

Mayor Chang says if the subsidies are late, the Taoyuan City Government will
step in to cover the costs upfront and keep the program running.

Currently, Taoyuan is a key player in two major pass programs: the Greater
Taipei-Taoyuan link and the Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli pass.

According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, over 1
million trips are made each month using TPASS monthly passes.

Chang says ensuring uninterrupted service remains a top priority for Taoyuan.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 16:08:15

The DPP is calling on the opposition parties to review the 2026 central
government budget as a whole instead of separating out certain expenditures
for the legislative committee to review.

The DPP says today that the general budget is not a “self-service buffet”
and should be reviewed in its entirety.

The KMT legislative caucus announced this morning that it's pondering on
passing parts of the budget that address urgent public-interest needs such as
the T-PASS subsidies, river improvement projects, and childbirth benefits.

But DPP legislative secretary-general Zhong Jia-bin says the opposition
should not cherry-pick what they want to review among the budget.

He adds that members of the public would want to see the KMT and the TPP
carrying out meaningful oversight of the executive branch as well.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-12 15:07:13

Defense Minister Wellington Koo says, the military has detected intermittent
signals from the black box of a F-16V fighter jet that disappeated last week.

However, Koo says it has not pinned down the exact location.

Pilot Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅) took off in the jet from Hualien Air Base at 6:17
p.m. last Tuesday on a nighttime training mission but soon reported that the
plane was losing altitude.

He then said that he would eject from the plane, and 8 seconds later the
jet's signal disappeared from radar.

The Air Force set up an emergency response center and launched a search and
rescue operation, but has not yet been able to find the pilot himself or the
plane.

Koo said today that the search and rescue operation has so far involved
dozens of Navy vessels, Coast Guard boats, and drones.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 15:07:14

Egg prices in Taiwan are going up this week.

The Taipei Egg Merchants Association says wholesale egg prices are rising by
three NT per catty, bringing the wholesale price to 42 NT per catty.

Association chair Lin Tian-lai (林天來) says the increase is being driven by
colder weather, which has reduced egg production, while demand from hotpot
restaurants has picked up during the winter season.

He says frequent cold fronts have lowered laying rates, and winter is
traditionally a peak period for egg consumption.

Despite the price hike, the Agriculture Ministry says overall supply remains
stable, with daily production still slightly above average demand.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-12 14:07:14

KMT Taichung lawmaker and deputy Legislative Speaker Chiang Chi-chen is
continuing to try for his party's nomination in the city's mayoral race.

Meanwhile his collague, Yang Qiong-ying, says that she will also continue to
work hard to win the approval and trust of Taichung residents.

That's as KMT Chair Zheng Li Wen says that the party will invite both Yang
and Chiang to the party's headquarters for discussions on Friday.

Whoever ends up taking home the KMT nomination, they will face DPP Lawmaker
He Xin Chun in November.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 14:07:14

The KMT legislative caucus says it'll work together with the TPP to speed up
parts the long-stalled central government budget plan.

KMT legislative secretary-general Luo Zhi-qiang said the two parties are in
talks on how to resolve urgently needed funding for new projects and newly
added items in the budget right now.

He said once coordination is completed, the two parties will take unified
action.

As the 2026 general budget is still pending in the Legislative Yuan, the KMT
is reportedly considering passing parts of it that address urgent
public-interest needs such as the T-PASS subsidies, water treatment projects,
and childbirth benefits.

Luo blamed President Lai for the delay, saying his administration should have
drawn it up by following the laws previously passed by the Legislative Yuan.

Local news media reported that the budget plan could be discussed at Friday's
plenary session.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-12 14:07:14

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says, as Taipei continues to strive to be a
"smokeless city," the city government will consider the experiences of
foreign metropolises.

He adds that his administration will aim to create a separation between
smokers and non-smokers, so as to create a friendly public environment.

He said he would specifically consider the experience of Tokyo in
establishing smoke-free areas and smoking rooms.

The mayor today touted Tokyo's successes in the field, but also raised
concerns over smokers potentially having to resort to smoking in small
alleyways, where the risk of littering or second-hand smoke is higher.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 14:07:14

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 278 points to
close the session at 30567.

The turnover was 602.9 billion NT.

Posted on 2026-01-12 13:07:13

The ruling DPP is holding much-anticipated polls tonight to choose the
nominee for the Kaohsiung mayoral race.

Kaohsiung will be the first city for which the DPP is conducting polling to
determine the party's nominee for Kaohsiung mayor, Tainan mayor, and Chiayi
magistrate.

The polling will run through the 17th.

The DPP says based on a draw of lots, Kaohsiung is the first to be polled,
and the result will be publicized before noontime tomorrow.

Four sitting DPP lawmakers, Qiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩), Xu Zhi-jie( 許智傑), Lai
Rui-lung (賴瑞隆) and Lin Dai-hua are vying fiercely for the nomination.

In Jia-yi, the contenders are legislator Cai Yi-yu (蔡易餘) and County
Councilor Huang Rong-li (黃榮利), while in Tainan it's Chen Ting-fei(陳亭妃)
and Lin Jun-xian (林俊憲).

Under party rules, DPP headquarters draws lots each morning to decide which
city or county will be polled that day.

Polling is then carried out from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. by three polling firms
simultaneously using landline telephone surveys.

Once 1-thousand 200 valid questionnaires are completed, the results are
released by noon the following day.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-12 13:07:13

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an is urging dialogue amidst a legislative stalemate
over the central government and special defense budgets.

Chiang notes that, in past instances in which the executive and legislative
branches were controlled by two opposing parties, the leaders of each still
sat down to discuss tense issues.

The mayor said that such polarization is not to the benefit of the people,
and says that the responsibility to open dialogue rests upon the leader of
the DPP, President Lai Ching-te.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

President Lai Ching-te says his administration has approved almost 200
subsidy programs worth about 3 billion N-T under a plan to encourage medical
institutions to adopt 'smart health care' technologies.

The subsidy programs are part of the five-year Healthy Taiwan Cultivation
Plan, which the government launched last year.

Lai said the subsidy programs are designed to leverage the advantages of
smart health care to strengthen medical services.

Lai pointed out that although average life expectancy in Taiwan is currently
above 80, people spend an average of 8.4 years in poor health ...

.. that means "about 10-per cent of the average lifespan is unhealthy," with
some people bedridden, using wheelchairs or needing daily care.

The president said government's goal is that "the longer people live, the
longer they stay healthy" and his administration aims to train 500,000
"artificial intelligence professionals" by 2040 to help lead the 'smart
health care' technologies initiative.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

A delegation led by Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang is
visiting the U-S capital this week for talks with Trump administration
officials.

Huang said the group is looking to discuss issues related to "arms
procurement and high tariffs" with US officials.

The delegation hopes to have "very frank and sincere discussions" and the
four-member delegation is seeking to obtain "direct and reliable" information
from the U-S side even as it conveys the Taiwan public's shared concerns on
those issues.

Huang did not name the agencies the delegation will be visiting or the
officials it will meet with -- saying the details cannot be made public at
this time due to "mutual trust and understanding" with the U-S side.

However, the T-P-P chair said he will hold a news conference after the
delegation returns to Taiwan on Wednesday morning to brief the public on the
trip's outcomes.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

against Taiwan

Research from the National Security Bureau is said to show that China has
been using Chinese I-T and marketing companies to create fake news sites,
manage accounts, and collect and spread misinformation, as part of its
cognitive warfare against Taiwan.

The information was part of a recently completed analysis on China's
"cognitive warfare tactics against Taiwan in 2025."

The national intelligence gathering team said it identified over 45,000 fake
social media accounts and over 2.314-million pieces of disinformation being
spread using such tactics last year.

The disinformation was spread by both fake and bot accounts hired by Chinese
I-T companies which set up databases... the accounts are said to be managed
by automated programs under the instruction of the China's Central Publicity
Department and the Ministry of Public Security.

The accounts create fake news websites to spread narratives aligned with
China's official stances... they also operate content farms via Facebook fan
pages that tend to post sensational articles to attract clicks.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

The Air Force says six aircraft, two Navy ships, and seven Coast Guard
vessels have been deployed as part of on-going efforts to locate an F-16V and
its pilot that went missing last week off the coast of Hualien.

Along with searching seas in the area, the Air Force says the Coast Guard
Administration is also searching seashores looking for wreckage.

F-16V training flights remain suspended, while inspections of the aircraft
type are carried out while an investigation into the cause of the incident
is ongoing.

The aircraft took off from the Hualien Air Base at 6:17PM Tuesday on a
routine night-time training mission and lost contact at 7:29PM.

The Air Force has said the pilot, Captain Hsin Po-yi, is believed to have
ejected from the aircraft some 10 nautical miles east of Fengbin Township.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says the Health Promotion Administration
will issue new daily dietary guidelines later this year... in the first
update since 2018.

A draft of the new guidelines was completed late last year, but the
government is delaying the release of the new guidelines, since the
government needs to review newly released U-S dietary recommendations, and
the Lunar New Year holiday.

As a preview Shih said eggs will be promoted more than in the past, given the
growing body of research showing they are an excellent source of nutrition
...

.. and while earlier guidelines only recommended skim or low-fat milk, the
updated guidelines recognize that whole milk contains important nutrients, as
long as it is consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

Kenting is seeking a continuing decline in visitor numbers - as data show the
amount of people visiting the southern seaside town fell to a new low last
year.

Tourism authorities say a total of 2.13-million tourists visited Kenting in
2025.

That's down slightly from 2.14 million in 2024.

Visitor numbers to the Kenting National Park are also down.

Park headquarters deputy director Tseng Tien-ting says his office has
released a plan to develop tourism this year, as the park and the town need
to take concrete steps to transform or lose more visitors.

Meanwhile, the Pingtung County Government's Transportation and Tourism
Division says its working on improving Kenting's branding with the aim of
attract more international visitors by increasing it multilingual services.

Posted on 2026-01-12 07:00:13

If you're looking for a quick nature break... around half of the 296 plum
trees in late President Chiang Kai-shek's former vacation retreat in
Taoyuan's Fuxing District are already in bloom.

This comes well ahead of the start of the 2026 Jiaobanshan Plum Blossom
Festival on January 17.

The Taoyuan Scenic Area Service Agency says peak flowering in Jiaobanshan
Park is expected in mid-January - and weekly updates on bloom conditions are
available on its Facebook page.

The Taoyuan Department of Tourism says special festival events will be held
in the park on the weekends of January 17 and 18 and January 24 and 25.

Those events include an "international tea gathering under the plum trees"
featuring local, British, Japanese and European teas, a 22-booth market
offering local produce and handicrafts, as well as live calligraphy sessions.

The Taoyuan City Government has also partnered with 34 businesses and
attractions in the Jiaobanshan, Luofu and Xiaowulai areas to offer
festival-only discounts from January 17 through 25.

Posted on 2026-01-10 16:06:14

Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control says it's carefully monitoring
influenza, RSV and rhinovirus incidence ... as lower temperatures increase
the likelihood of catching cold.

A CDC spokesman today noted that people in China are experiencing runny noses
and congestion because of rhinovirus, or the common cold -- not influenza.

In Taiwan, he says the flu is currently the most common cause of seasonal
symptoms ... despite increasing incidence of rhinovirus. The data show 44
percent of cases this season are influenza, followed by 16 percent adenovirus
and 15 percent rhinovirus.

With the Lunar New Year travel season coming up soon, there is some concern
about rhinovirus spreading in earnest to Taiwan ... The CDC says people
shouldn't be overly concerned about rhinovirus, which is less dangerous than
the flu.

People with infants who have caught a cold and have lingering symptoms should
be alert to their breathing rate. More than 50 breaths per minute is a
serious symptom that merits an emergency visit to the hospital.

CNA_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 15:07:13

The search continues more than three days after Taiwan Air Force pilot Xin
Bo-yi was last heard from.

The F-16 pilot went missing on Tuesday night while he was on a night training
flight. The search has been hampered by rough seas.

The weather is clearer today, but the Coast Guard Administration says waves
are still about 2 meters high, with complex eddies adding to the changeable
conditions.

Xin is believed to have ejected around 10 kilometers east of Fengbin Township
in Hualian County.

CNY_zh_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 14:07:15

Pope Leo XIV expressed concern over rising tensions in East Asia and called
for peaceful dialogue during his annual New Year's address to the diplomatic
corps.

The New Year's audience is considered a cornerstone of Vatican diplomacy. The
Vatican is Taiwan's sole diplomatic ally in Europe.

Taiwan's ambassador to the Holy See ... Anthony Ho ... shook hands with the
Pope and conveyed greetings and well-wishes from Taiwanese President Lai
Ching-te.

Ho also thanked the Pope for twice offering public prayers for Taiwanese
people affected by typhoons since his inauguration last May.

In his speech, Pope Leo warned that war is once again prevailing, lamenting
that global peace increasingly relies on force rather than justice. In his
comments about East Asia, he didn't specifically mention China or Taiwan.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 13:08:13

The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office has indicted internet influencer
Holger Chen for comments about "decapitating" President Lai Ching-te. Chen
made the remarks made during a livestream in October.

The influencer was charged with intimidation of the public and public safety.

Chen shouted "Decapitate Lai Ching-te's dog head" during the YouTube
livestream ... riffing on China's so-called decapitation strike exercises
against Taiwan.

The prosecutors said in a press release that Chen's remarks were sufficient
to instill fear in any ordinary person, regardless of the target's status as
president.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 13:08:13

If you're thinking about embracing the newest US dietary guidelines that
emphasize the importance of meat and dairy, a Taiwan-based dietitians' group
is urging caution.

A Taiwan Dietitian Association official says the guidelines are designed for
Americans and reflect US conditions.

The comments come after the US this week released its 2025-2030 dietary
guidelines, which reorganized food groups into an inverted pyramid, placing
meat, dairy, and healthy fats alongside fruit and vegetables at the top. The
guidelines also advised Americans to limit highly processed foods and added
sugar.

Among the changes, the recommended daily protein intake was raised from about
0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight to 1.2-1.6 grams. The association
official said the previous recommendation was based on a low-protein diet for
people with kidney problems and that the updated range is better for the
general population.

Taiwan's Health Promotion Administration prioritizes food sources in the
following order: legumes, fish and seafood, eggs ... and then poultry or red
meat.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 13:08:13

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Qi-mai took part in a "fastest dinosaur" relay race as
part of the Fubon Marathon 2026 this morning.

The mayor, dressed as a dinosaur, literally passed the baton to Qiu Yi-ying
... one of the people running to replace him in November's election.

Make of that what you will ...

The actual marathon will be held tomorrow morning.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 12:10:14

Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu is defending Taiwan's cooperation with
Israel.

In an interview, he said, "Israel really respects our leadership position in
the semiconductor and AI sectors, and, in fact, cooperation between us in the
future is inevitable."

Hanging over the interview was a report by Reuters in December that Wu made a
recent "unpublicized" visit to Israel.

There was speculation that Taiwan is interested in Israel's Iron Dome system
to help with a "T-Dome" system that President Lai Ching-te has proposed.

Wu stressed that cooperation with Taiwan required "courage," as exchanges
could prompt negative reactions from China.

In terms of how Israel is benefiting from Taiwan technology, Wu pointed to US
Patriot missiles deployed by Israel to intercept Iran's missiles, which
contain many chips and components made in Taiwan.

He also noted that many chips needed to operate highly advanced medical
devices are sourced from Taiwan ... pointing to a non-military benefit to
closer cooperation between the two countries.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 12:10:14

A man allegedly set himself on fire at a filling station in New Taipei
yesterday afternoon, leaving himself and another person injured.

The city's department said it received a report that a man had set himself on
fire at a CPC Corp. gas station on Minzu Road in Banqiao District.

By the time firefighters arrived, station staff had extinguished the blaze.

The department said the perpetrator sustained second-degree burns, and the
fire also injured a security guard who was standing nearby.

Both were conscious and taken to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in Banqiao for
treatment. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries.

The Haishan Police Precinct declined to confirm whether the man set himself
on fire.

CNA_JvW

Posted on 2026-01-10 11:08:13

Taiwan posted trade records across the board in 2025, helped by booming
demand for advanced electronic components and ICT products.

Ministry of Finance data show that Taiwan's exports rose 35 percent last year
to a record US$641 billion. The previous record was less than US$500 billion.

Last year's imports rose 23 percent to a record US$484 billion.

The trade surplus was up 95.0 percent from 2024.

Exports boomed in two broad categories: The ICT and audio/video sector surged
90 percent, and the electronics component industry rose 26 percent.

The machinery industry posted a relatively modest increase of 7 percent for
exports, benefiting from demand in the semiconductor sector.

Meanwhile, exports of chemicals were flat, while exports of plastic and
rubber products fell 8 percent.

A stats department official said that many Taiwanese exporters are trying to
rely less on the China market.

The US accounted for 31 percent of Taiwan's total exports in 2025, displacing
China and Hong Kong for the top spot -- they accounted for 27 percent of
Taiwan's total exports.

CNA_JvW

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