The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research warns that inflation could top 3
percent and force interest rate hikes if lawmakers reject additional funding
for C-P-C and Taipower.

TIER President Chang Chien-yi (張建一) says the two state-owned companies have
helped shield consumers from soaring international energy prices caused by
the conflict in the Middle East.

But without additional government funding, C-P-C and Taipower may have to
raise fuel and electricity prices to cover their losses, while bottled LPG
could also become more expensive.

That would drive up costs for restaurants and small eateries, making dining
out more expensive.

TIER currently forecasts inflation of 2.05 percent this year and 1.94 percent
next year.

But Chang warns that higher energy prices could affect Taiwan's 23 million
residents and more than one million businesses.

(IG)

Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen says the suspected espionage attempt
involving NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang appears to follow what he calls a classic
Chinese intelligence tactic.

His comments come after Huang admitted to having an extramarital affair with
a Chinese woman (Alice Huang) and apologized to his family and employees.

Bloomberg reports that NVIDIA's board is launching an independent
investigation into whether Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence
operation.

The company says it has no reason to believe national security or company
secrets were compromised.

Shen says it's still unclear whether any damage was done, and that
investigators will have to determine what happened.

DPP caucus secretary-general Fan Yun (范雲) also called for an evidence-based
investigation, saying concerns about Chinese intelligence gathering targeting
sensitive technologies must be taken seriously.

China has denied there is any spy plot targeting Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and
is calling it a smear campaign against Beijing.

(IG)

An investigation launched by Nvidia into its founder and CEO Jensen Huang
over his extra-marital affair with an alleged Chinese spy is unlikely to have
a major impact on Taiwan's AI supply chain.

Taiwan Institute of Economic Research president Zhang Jian-yi (張建一) made the
remarks answering questions about the possible effects on Taiwanese suppliers
in the semiconductor sector.

Huang has admitted that he was romantically involved with Alice Huang, a
Chinese businesswoman who was reportedly an asset of China's top intelligence
agency.

Zhang said for Taiwan's exporters, many orders for the first half of 2027
have already been placed, and data centers that have secured permits are
still being built.

He also noted that the scandal would hurt Huang's reputation, but the
question of whether it had led to China obtaining AI servers outside
authorized channels would have to await the investigation's findings.

(JL)

Taiwan shares staged a strong rebound today, surging more than 2,600 points
in morning trading and climbing back above the 42,000-point mark.



The benchmark Taiex ended up 1,960 points, or 4.9-percent, to close the
session at 41,661.

But the turnover was a modest 837.9 billion NT.

The rally followed Friday's historic sell-off, which was fueled partly by
concerns over possible changes to U.S. artificial intelligence policies.



Investor confidence was boosted by a rebound in U.S. technology stocks and
the National Financial Stabilization Fund's announcement that it would step
in to support Taiwan's market.



TSMC led the rally, jumping more than 6 percent to 2,290 NT a share at one
point, while other major technology stocks, including Foxconn, MediaTek and
Delta Electronics, also posted sharp gains.



The rebound extended across the semiconductor and electronics sectors.

However, the big rise in stock markets has not propped up the Taiwan dollar,
which continued to weaken today.



The local currency fell to as low as 32.937 NT against the greenback in
morning trading, before recovering some of its losses.



Currency traders say continued capital outflows from foreign investors,
following several days of heavy stock selling, are putting pressure on the
Taiwan dollar.



(JL)

TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang has slammed KMT and DPP candidates for Zhu-bei
mayor's race as neither candidate has agreed to a debate with TPP pick Qiu
Chen Yuan邱臣遠.

Huang says, he feels certain that debates between candidates are something
that voters expect and look forward to.

Huang described debates as an opportunity for candidates to present their
visions to voters and exchange opinions...

adding that debates are sign of a healthy democracy.

He questioned why Zhubei mayoral candidates were so "afraid" of debating.

(AH)

Back to Taiwan and taking a quick look at weather for the afternoon,

Cloudy skies with occasional showers in the north,

Partly cloudy in the center and east,

And partly to mostly clear skies in the south.

Current temperatures:

Taipei - 22

Taichung - 24

Kaohsiung - 30

Hualien - 25

The Tainan District Prosecutors' Office says the founder and chairman of the
Taiwan People's Communist Party has been detained on suspicion of accepting
funding and instructions from China to run in a local election.

According to prosecutors' office, Party Chairman Lin Te-wang allegedly
accepted instructions and funding from the Chinese Communist Party to run for
ward chief in the city's Xinying District.

Lin is suspected of violating the Anti-Infiltration Act and the Election and
Recall Act.

The prosecutors' office says it requested a detention on the grounds that Lin
could flee or collude with others to destroy evidence.

A total of 14 people have been questioned as part of the investigation.

And,

The Taiwan Rice Heaven-Tianzhong Marathon attracted more than 17,000 runners
in Changhua County.

The race started at the Jin-Sung Cultural and Educational Park in Tianzhong
Township.

Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei attended the opening ceremony of this
year's run, which was held under the theme of "Let's Run Together."

Now in its 15th year, the Taiwan Rice Heaven-Tianzhong Marathon was won by
Japan's Koji Sakimoto with a time of 2 hours, 41 minutes and 37 seconds.

The U-S State Department is expressing concern over the closure of Taiwan's
representative office in Papua New Guinea under pressure from the government
in Port Moresby.

According to a State Department spokesperson, the incident is another example
of Beijing's intimidation of Taiwan.

The statements come after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Friday
announced that it was closing its representative office in Papua New Guinea
and withdrawing all personnel stationed there after.

The ministry said at the time that the Papua New Guinea government had
renewed its unilateral demands that personnel from the Taipei Economic Office
in Port Moresby leave the country and that the office be shut down.

The U-S State Department spokesperson says such moves undermine the sovereign
decisions of countries choosing to partner with Taiwan and threatens
international peace and prosperity.

The spokesperson went on to say that Taiwan is a reliable, like-minded, and
democratic partner, and its relationships around the world provide
significant benefits to the citizens of those countries, including Papua New
Guinea.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says fraud cases related to the upcoming
local elections have resulted in financial losses totaling 20.15-million N-T
over the past two months.

According to the bureau, the 87 cases of election-related fraud last month
alone saw losses of 19.11-million N-T.

The bureau says the scams typically involved fraudsters impersonating
customer service representatives or bank employees and persuading victims to
perform online banking operations, make cardless cash withdrawals, or scan QR
codes.

Common pretexts included claims that accounts had been frozen or that
transactions required verification.

Law enforcement authorities say legitimate transactions do not require
customers to verify payments by carrying out online banking operations.

They're urging people to stop any transaction if they encounter suspicious
links or requests to engage in any type of banking transaction.

The C-I-B says anyone who suspects they have encountered a scam can call the
165 anti-fraud hotline.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and the D-P-P's Puma Shen both held campaign
events on Sunday.

Chiang's event highlighting sports achievements.

Speaking to supporters at the Taipei City Council, Chiang touted his
administration's achievements over the past four years, including Taipei's
first-place ranking in a nationwide sports-city survey conducted by Global
Views Monthly this year.

He also pointed to the Taipei Dome, which opened during his first year in
office and has since hosted major baseball games, as well as his
administration's efforts to renovate baseball fields and develop new sports
facilities across the city.

Meanwhile, Shen attended the opening ceremony of a joint campaign
headquarters with fellow DPP-nominated city councilor candidate Wendy Ma in
Taipei's Zhongzheng District.

In his address, Shen praised Ma, a former TV anchor and talk show host, for
her investigative reporting, which he said had exposed numerous scandals in
the city, including cases of child abuse.

He said Ma's vision of ensuring that the voices of disadvantaged people are
heard aligns with his own concept of municipal governance, which would
prioritize listening to the public and protecting vulnerable groups.

The second batch of three F-16V Block 70 fighter jets purchased by from the
United States has arrived in Taiwan.

According to the Air Force, the three jets landed at Chihhang Air Base in
Taitung County.

The Air Force Command Headquarters says it will proceed with training for the
induction of the new aircraft into service as planned, gradually building up
their initial operational capability.

Reports say the three jets departed from Lockheed Martin's factory in South
Carolina earlier this month and arrived in Hawaii on November 4.

Their arrival followed the delivery of the first batch of two F-16V Block 70
jets on October 2.

The U-S approved the sale of 66 F-16Vs and related equipment to Taiwan in
2019 for approximately 8-billion U-S dollars.

Deliveries were originally expected to begin in 2023 and be completed by
2026, but delays caused by technical issues have pushed back the timetable.

The Kaohsiung City Police Department says the bodies of two people have been
found after a fire burned through a row of small factory buildings in the
city's Niaosong District.

According to police, the a fire broke out at the bodies of two males were
found in a second-floor room in one of the factories the burned down.

The fire was reported at 8AM Sunday near Zhongcheng Road, Lane 8, and quickly
spread to a row of small corrugated metal factories buildings along the same
road.

It took the Kaohsiung City Fire Department two hours to contain the fire.

Police said the owner of one of the factories has said the fire appears to
have broken out on a terrace behind the buildings.

The cause of the fire and where it broke out are still under investigation.

And finally,

Taiwan inventors have won 12 gold medals, 15 silver medals and 23 bronze
medals at the 2026 iENA International Trade Fair-Ideas-Inventions-New
Products in Nuremberg, Germany.

The Taiwan Invention Association led a delegation of 78 inventors to the
event.

The gold medal winners included students from Feng-tian Junior High School in
Taitung County, who received the award for a smart safety vest for cyclists
that is equipped with lights that signal a cyclist's intended direction of
travel.

Another gold medal went to a student from Tung Hai Junior High School, also
in Taitung, for a multifunctional nail-trimming box equipped with a
magnifying glass and smart analysis features.

Students from St. Joseph Technical Senior High School in Taitung won a gold
medal for a height-adjustable urinal, while a caffeine- and melanin-based
scalp-revitalizing shampoo developed by Taiwanese care brand O'right also won
gold.

The 2026 iENA fair was held in Nuremberg from October 31 to November 2.

It featured 580 inventions presented by 340 exhibitors from 21 countries and
regions.

The Taipei District Court is holding incommunicado six crew members of a
fishing boat who allegedly helped a wanted man who worked as an aide to a
lawmaker to flee Taiwan by sea.

The boat owner was released on a bail of 100,000 NT on Thursday.

The wanted man, Chang Chun-chieh (張俊傑), was an aide to independent lawmaker
Kao Chin Su-mei (高金素梅), who has been accused of taking money from and working
with Beijing.

High prosecutors are seeking 14 years behind bars for Kao Jin.

The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office said Chang is also being investigated over
allegations that he accepted funds from China to set up an espionage network
in Taiwan.

Prosecutors said surveillance footage shows a man without a mask or hat and
with a build similar to that of Chang, boarding a fishing boat in Keelung on
the night of Oct. 28 ... and then jumping onto the boat moored next to it.

They said *that* boat later sailed to the median line of the Taiwan Strait,
where a Chinese fishing boat allegedly picked him up.

They added that the participants received payments ranging from 10,000 to
tens of thousands of NT.

CNA_JvW

sell-off

The Taiex has fallen to seventh place globally in terms of market
capitalization, according to data compiled by MarketCapWatch.

It started last month at a peak ranking of fourth place.

Total market capitalization stood at 4.4 trillion US dollars this morning,
down from $5.3 trillion in September.

The United States ranks first, followed by China, Japan, India, the UK and
Canada.

The Taiex has fallen by 20 percent in the past month. That compares with a
5.5 percent decline for the S&P 500 and an *increase* of 1.1 percent for the
Nasdaq in the same period.

CNA_JvW

The Tourism Administration has extended a program that provides vouchers to
people transiting Taiwan for another couple years.

The program was introduced a year ago. Any passenger transiting through the
Taoyuan International Airport for less than 24 hours has been given a 600-NT
voucher ... for an initial period that ended Oct. 31.

The Tourism Administration has extended that period to Dec. 31, 2028.

It said the program gives travelers an incentive to explore Taiwan during
their short stay. The extension is expected to benefit the opening of
Terminal 3 in Taoyuan, which is slated for completion at the end of 2027.

The agency says that an initial run of 40,000 vouchers will be distributed by
the end of this month, and an additional run of 40,000 is being ordered.

CNA_zh_JvW

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Taiwan will close its representative
office in Papua New Guinea and withdraw all personnel stationed there.

This was after PNG recently reiterated its demand that Taiwanese staffers
leave the country by a set deadline.

MOFA said the decision was made in consideration of Taiwan's national
dignity, diplomatic autonomy and overall interests.

PNG unilaterally announced in July that it would close Taiwan's
representative office, prompting Taiwan to suspend spot-market purchases of
LNG from the Pacific nation.

MOFA said PNG's actions had seriously undermined mutual trust built through
years of cooperation. It also accused China of using political pressure and
economic influence to interfere in other countries' diplomatic decisions and
restrict Taiwan's international space.

The ministry said that along with closing the office, Taiwan will terminate
all technical cooperation and assistance programs in PNG, including medical
missions, scholarships and personnel training.

KMT caucus secretary-general Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said today that the government
can't limit its response to condemning external forces.

She said it needs to conduct a deep review of its diplomatic and cross-strait
strategies ... and return to what she calls "pragmatic diplomacy."

CNA_JvW

The Central Weather Administration says the next wave of the northeast
monsoon is expected to arrive on Monday, sending temperatures in parts of
northern Taiwan down to as low as 16 degrees

It said the wave will start to weaken on Thursday.

In addition to lower temperatures, the northeast monsoon is bringing
moisture, with the possibility of heavy rain in the northeast today.

A heavy rain advisory has been issued for mountainous areas of Yilan, where
accumulated rainfall could exceed 200 millimeters within 24 hours or 100 mm
within three hours.

Meanwhile, the CWA says a tropical depression currently around Guam is likely
to intensify into a tropical storm today or tomorrow.

Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said the system could strengthen
into a typhoon on Monday before making a U-turn and moving east-northeast,
posing no threat to Taiwan.

CNA_JvW

The Legislature has passed amendments that would raise the monthly allowance
for senior farmers from just over 8,000 NT to 15,000 NT ... while easing
eligibility requirements.

The changes would take effect retroactively from July 1.

The amendments also introduce a mechanism to review the allowance every two
years based on cost-of-living changes.

The Cabinet approved its own version of the amendments in January, proposing
10,000 NT as the new allowance.

The KMT and TPP jointly proposed the steeper increase, citing the need to
keep pace with inflation.

DPP caucus deputy whip Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜), said the Cabinet version was a more
fiscally responsible approach that would have also expanded eligibility and
introduced inflation-based adjustments.

She said higher payments could require additional borrowing and divert
funding from other public spending.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the 5,000-NT difference between the
executive and legislative versions amounts to 32 billion NT in annual
spending.

CNA_JvW

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) won't countersign an amendment requiring the
central government to cover NHI premiums for certain seniors.

Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) laid out three reasons for the
premier's decision not to ratify the legislature's move to waive premiums for
seniors who meet a means test.

The first is the 40 billion NT a year it would cost to fully subsidize around
80 percent of people aged 65 and older. She said this would likely divert
funding from elderly care, long-term care and other welfare programs

Lee said the second concern is that low-income seniors could lose access to
medical assistance because no other law requires local governments to cover
their medical expenses.

Thirdly, she warned that the cost would continue to rise as Taiwan's
population ages, placing a greater financial burden on younger generation

This brings to nine the number of bills passed by the Legislature that have
been blocked from taking effect amid a political standoff between the ruling
DPP and opposition parties.

CNA_JvW

In Taiwan, the National Financial Stabilization Fund has authorized a market
intervention to ease volatility and prop up investor confidence after the
local stock market suffered its fourth-steepest single-session point decline.

This will be the 10th market intervention since the government established
the 500 billion-NT stabilization fund in 2000 as a buffer against disruptive
external events.

The TAIEX tumbled 1,873 points, or 4.5 percent, yesterday ... tracking heavy
losses in US markets the night before.

The Taiex has shed more than 10,000 points, or 21 percent, since an intraday
high of nearly 50,000 on Oct. 6.

Meanwhile, the Financial Supervisory Commission said in a separate statement
that it had encouraged listed companies to buy back their shares ... and also
placed restrictions on short-selling trades.

CNA_JvW

The Taipei International Blues Bash returns to Maji Square today.

The festival runs from noon until 10pm, featuring country blues, Chicago
classics, swing, British pub rock and more.

Acclaimed Japanese guitarist Shun Kikuta headlines the main stage at 9:00 PM,
while the daytime lineup includes sets by BoPoMoFo, Cooky & The Blues Boys,
and David Chen and The Seventh Sons.

Visitors can also join an interactive blues dance performance and a taster
class starting at 7:05pm.

The event is free and open to the public.

(NS)

Taiwan shares plunged more than four percent on today ...suffering their
fourth-largest single-day point loss and closing below the 40,000-point mark.

The benchmark TAI-EX fell 1,873 points to finish at 39,701, after dropping as
much as 3,700 points in early trading.

The sell-off followed heavy losses on Wall Street, as concerns grew over
possible restrictions on AI data center development in the United States
after Democrats won the midterm elections.

However, the market recovered some ground in afternoon trading after the
Financial Supervisory Commission said it would discuss possible measures to
support stocks.

TSMC also rebounded from an earlier 10-percent drop, helping the broader
market recover around 920 points.

Foreign institutional investors remained heavy sellers, offloading a net
91-billion NT worth of shares.

Police in Kaohsiung said today that they have arrested a man in connection
with the alleged theft of more than 230,000 pieces of personal information
using generative AI.

The suspect, a port worker surnamed Lin (林), is alleged to have used AI to
write an automated hacking program to steal membership and customer
information from websites in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

He is believed to have then sold this information on the dark web.

Officials found high-performance computer equipment, cloud storage devices,
network switches and other evidence at Lin's home last month.

The Criminal Investigation Corps warned that generative AI and AI agents
lower the technical threshold for computer programming and could be easily
abused by criminals.

It thus urged government agencies, businesses and website operators to
routinely update their systems, to conduct cybersecurity checks and
vulnerability scans, and to encrypt and back up important information.

A man who hoped to run for Taipei City Council this November has been barred
from running.

The Central Election Commission disqualified Yu Chih-pin (游智彬) from running,
as he only provided proof of his having given up Chinese household
registration earlier this year.

That's in conflict with the Act Governing Relations between the People of the
Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

This act states that Chinese nationals must submit proof of their having
given up Chinese household registration 10 years before they can run for
public office.

Yu, of the New Party, previously ran for city council and lawmaker in Taoyuan
but failed.

He earlier appealed the CEC's decision, an appeal which was rejected by a
lower court before he appealed a second time.

His disqualification is now final.

(AH)

Taiwan's Coast Guard says four Chinese coast guard ships entered restricted
waters near Kinmen this morning, despite rough sea conditions.

The vessels were spotted around 9 AM, prompting Taiwanese patrol boats to
intercept and monitor them ... while repeatedly broadcasting warnings in
Chinese and English.

All four ships left the restricted waters by 11:13 AM.

The Coast Guard says the Chinese vessels created navigation risks for other
ships in the area ... and has called on Beijing to stop what it describes as
harassment.

It also warned China against using law enforcement as a pretext to expand its
authority ... and undermine regional peace and stability.

(IG)

The Taiwan Creative Content Agency has signed a memorandum of understanding
with Wētā FX, the visual effects company behind "The Lord of the Rings" and
James Cameron's "Avatar" ...

... to promote investment in Taiwanese productions and develop local talent.

The agreement was signed today at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest ..... with
Wētā FX CEO Daniel Seah (謝安) representing the company.

Seah says the partnership will begin with investment in "Moonshine Studio" -
a Taiwanese animation studio - with plans to support more local film and
television productions.

Another key goal is to give young Taiwanese filmmakers opportunities to
exchange ideas and collaborate with Wētā FX teams.

Seah, who grew up in Taiwan, says the island has outstanding technical and
creative talent, along with a leading position in the global semiconductor
industry.

*The Taiwan Creative Content Fest is running through Monday ... at Taipei
Nangang Exhibition Center.

(IG)

*can omit

Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister François Wu (吳志中) is urging European
countries to deepen industrial cooperation with Taiwan ...

... saying the partnership could strengthen both sides' economic and security
interests.

Wu proposed moving beyond "Made in Taiwan" to a "Made 'with' Taiwan"
approach, combining Europe's strengths in research and design with Taiwan's
manufacturing capabilities.

He made the remarks at the Berlin Security Conference held earlier this week,
where officials discussed European defense, the war in Ukraine and security
threats from China.

Wu says closer cooperation would help Europe strengthen its manufacturing
industry while supporting a democratic partner in Asia.

He also says Taiwan wants to build long-term economic partnerships without
using trade as a tool of political pressure.

(CNA_IG)

U-S chipmaker Micron says its Taiwan operations are continuing as normal,
following reports that it has suspended plans for a new factory in Taoyuan
amid a labor dispute.

The company did not directly address the reported suspension, but said it was
confident it could maintain stable operations without disrupting customers.

Micron says it will continue negotiating with its Taoyuan workers' union,
which is demanding a specific profit-sharing system.

The dispute remains unresolved despite Micron reaching an agreement with its
Taichung union last month.

The Taoyuan union held a 24-hour strike in October and has since received
authorization for further industrial action.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economic Affairs says it will help facilitate
negotiations, describing Micron as a major foreign investor and an important
partner in Taiwan's AI industry.

(CNA_IG)

Defense Minister Wellington Koo has confirmed that a second batch of three
U-S-made F-16V Block 70 fighter jets is expected to arrive in Taiwan soon.

Koo told reporters today that the Ministry of National Defense would announce
the exact arrival date once confirmed.

Sources familiar with the matter say the aircraft are expected to follow the
same route as the first batch, flying via Hawaii and Guam before arriving at
Chihhang Air Base in Taitung.

Taiwan has ordered 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighters from the United States
under a procurement program worth over 247 billion NT.

The first two single-seat jets arrived in Taitung on October 2nd.

(IG)

Kao Jin Su Mei says, she hopes to present evidence that will clear her of
charges leveled against her.

That's as High Prosecutors seek 14 years in prison for the independent
lawmaker, accusing her of corruption and working for China.

Kao Jin denies that she developed organizations in Taiwan at China's behest
or took money from Beijing.

She claims that the entire indictment is full of falsehoods and pledged to
clarify the truth during the judical process.

The lawmaker makes the comments as her former aide, Zhang Jun Jie, jumped
bail two months ago and is believed to have left the country at the end of
last month...

with prosecutors saying he took two boats to the median line of the Taiwan
Strait before getting on a Chinese fishing boat.

(AH)

The DPP legislative caucus is continuing to push back against opposition
calls to increase universal handouts to 30,000 NT per person.

That's as KMT Communications Chair Chen Yi Xin has touted the tack taken by
candidates for local office to say that a vote for the KMT will win 30,000 NT
handouts...

while one for the DPP will get only 10,000 NT in cash.

Chen says, the line has been "particularly effective."

As a result, he says the party will double down on this line of messaging.

DPP Caucus Secretary-General Zhuang Rui Xiong says, the Executive Yuan will
not bend on this issue...

and accused the opposition of seeking to score political points with cash.

In other words, Zhuang said, even if the KMT wins several local government
positions in this month's elections, the Executive Yuan will not allow 30,000
NT handouts to happen.

(AH)

escape

Prosecutors are seeking to detain a Chinese national who is believed to have
helped former legislative aide Zhang Jun Jie 張俊傑 escape Taiwan.

Authorities believe that Zhang, former aide to lawmaker Kao Jin Su Mei 高金素梅,
fled the country at the end of last month from Keelung.

Prosecutors have been speaking to suspects believed to have helped Zhang
escape, questioning the crew of the ship, the Man Rui Fu 滿瑞富 No. 6,
yesterday, one of whom is a Chinese national, surnamed Chen.

Prosecutors believe that Chen received hundreds of thousands of dollars in
payment from a Chinese national to help Zhang escape.

They've requested that a court approve Chen's detention.

Prosecutors are also seeking to detain the other four crew members, all of
whom are Indonesian nationals, as well as the captain.

The Taiwanese ship owner has been released on bail of 100,000 NT.

(AH)

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) repeated today that Taiwan aims to generate more
than NT$1 trillion in annual tourism output, with 10 million annual
international visitors by 2030.

This was at the opening of the Taiwan International Travel Fair (ITF), which
runs through Monday at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre.

Lai said that these targets would be supported by improved services, stronger
branding, and digital transformation.

He added that the Taiwan Tourism Institute, established earlier this year,
would bring together public- and private-sector resources to improve Taiwan’s
competitiveness in the tourism sector.

And Lai said that the government would help tourism businesses use AI and big
data to better understand travelers’ preferences, improve efficiency, and
develop appealing tourism offerings.

(JM_CNA)

High prosecutors are seeking 14 years behind bars for lawmaker Kao Jin Su Mei
on accusations that she took money from and worked for Beijing.

Kao Jin, who already faces corruption charges for allegedly fraudulently
taking assistant fees, is accused of developing organizations in Taiwan at
the behest of China.

Prosecutors believe she and three others took 170 million NT from China in
the scheme.

Kao Jin, as well as aide Zhang Jun Jie and two assistants, are believed to
have violated the National Security Act.

Prosecutors say that the four would work together to campaign for Kao Jin as
well as go between China and Taiwan to receive and relay instructions from
Chinese officials from 2005 to 2016.

Zhang Jun Jie would use money received from China to put towards construction
projects in tribal communities to curry favor with Indigenous voters...

while the rest of the funds would be used for Kao Jin's reelection campaigns.

He allegedly used the bank accounts of friends and family to transfer about
170 million NT into Taiwan from the CCP.

Prosecutors also believe that Kao Jin formed a delegation to go to meetings
of the United Nations to protest against Japanese representatives and arms
bills...

all at China's behest.

Prosecutors say that Kao Jin used her power as a lawmaker to influence
legislative proceedings on cross-strait and other issues.

They add that Kao Jin failed to show remorse during the investigation,
leading prosecutors to request a heavy sentence.

(AH)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is closely monitoring political
shifts in Paraguay following the resignation of President Santiago Peña.

Peña resigned amid intense political unrest caused by a major banking
collapse that impacted nearly three million citizens.

Vice President Pedro Alliana has assumed office as president following
standard constitutional guidelines.

Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi stated that diplomatic teams maintain
strong ties with ruling party officials and key political figures.

A foreign ministry officials assured lawmakers that bilateral relations and
diplomatic communications remain stable and under control.

(NS)

Hsinchu Prosecutors have been busy today, cracking down on vote buying with
less than a month to go before election day.

In the county's Xiong Lin township, prosecutors detained a candidate for
township representative.

That candidate, surnamed Qiu, is believed to have gifted rice and cash to
voters.

A court approved Qiu's and an accomplice's detention incommunicado last
night, following a search that turned up over 17,000 NT in cash, five bags of
rice, cell phones, and other evidence.

Meanwhile, Hsinchu prosecutors also charged three in an investigation into
vote buying in the county's E Mei township.

A candidate for village chief in E Mei, surnamed Xu2, is suspected of paying
voters 3000 NT cash to secure his election.

Xu is believed to have given out a total of 87,000 NT to 11 voters to secure
their or a family member's support.

Two accomplices are believed to have also paid out 63,000 NT to four other
voters.

Prosecutors are seeking to confiscate that 150,000 in bribes as well.

All the suspects are believed to have violated the Public Officials Election
and Recall Act.

(AH)

Kaohsiung City unveiled its initial 2027 New Year's Eve concert lineup
featuring Golden Melody winners Sun Shu-may and Henry Hsu.

Both Kaohsiung locas will return home to perform on Dec. 31st at Dream Mall
to welcome the new year.

The city says Sun will deliver the evening's opening show, while Hsu plans an
interactive, energetic setlist with hometown fans.

City officials say additional headliners for the holiday countdown
celebration will be released in the coming weeks.

Mayor Chen Chi-mai encouraged residents and visitors to reserve travel plans
early to welcome the new year in Kaohsiung.

(NS)

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has says it's expanded an
investigation into how a legislative aide involved in a corruption case who
jumped bail in September was able to flee Taiwan by boat.

According to the prosecutors' office, a second fishing boat has been seized
in connection with the case.

The "Man Jui Fu 6" was seized at Zhengbin Fishing Port in Keelung and five
crew members, including a Chinese national and four Indonesians were
questioned.

Prosecutors say the crew members, the boat's captain and its owner will be
further questioned over their suspected involvement in the case.

It comes after reports surfaced saying that Chang Chun-chieh, a former
legislative office director for independent lawmaker Kao Chin Su-mei, managed
to leave Taiwan in October on a boat from Keelung.

Chang had been indictment on corruption charges and was allegedly seen first
boarding a fishing boat called "Chien Chun 168 at Zhengbin Fishing Port on
the night of Oct. 28 before being picked up at sea by the "Man Jui Fu 6."

Chang was among 24 people indicted by the in June on charges of conspiring
with Kao Chin Su-mei to misappropriate public assistant fees, in violation of
the Anti-Corruption Act.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is insisting that U-S congressional support
for Taiwan's efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities has long been
bipartisan.

The statement comes amid questions over the Republican Party's major losses
in Tuesday's U-S midterm elections.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a legislative hearing, Koo said the
U-S Congress has consistently supported Taiwan's efforts to beef up its
defense capabilities on a bipartisan basis.

The defense minister went on to say that his office will continue to engage
with members of Congress and maintain close contact with the U-S Department
of War to help keep arms sales to Taiwan on schedule.

A Vietnamese migrant worker indicted for fatally stabbing another Vietnamese
man during a fight in Chiayi County in July has been released on 50,000 N-T
bail.

According to the Chiayi District Prosecutors' Office, the victim had been
drinking with the suspect's younger brother in Chiayi's Liujiao Township on
July 13 when the two argued before going their separate ways.

The victim later tracked down the suspect's brother and beat him with a
hammer.

After learning what had happened, the suspect went looking for the victim and
stabbed him multiple times.

The victim died the following day of a neck injury.

The suspect was indicted on a charge of causing injury resulting in death.

And finally,

The Central Weather Administration says the first surge of a northeasterly
wind system will affect Taiwan today and tomorrow -- bringing cooler weather
to northern and northeastern parts of the island.

Areas north of Taoyuan, eastern Taiwan and the Hengchun Peninsula are
expected to see intermittent showers.

Heavy rain is possible in Yilan, Hualien and Taitung.

According to the weather administration's forecast center, conditions are
expected to improve slightly on Sunday as the northeasterly winds weaken,
allowing temperatures in to edge higher.

However, parts of Greater Taipei and the east could still see brief showers.

A stronger surge of northeasterly winds is forecast to arrive on Monday,
bringing cooler weather to the north, northeast and east.

That second weather system is expected to keep temperatures noticeably lower
through Wednesday.

Wong

The Presidential Office is condemning the 10-year prison sentence handed to
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and is urged Beijing and Hong Kong authorities
to release detained pro-democracy figures.

Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo says Beijing and Hong Kong
authorities have used the National Security Law to prosecute activists under
the pretext of safeguarding national security, violating residents' rights
and freedoms.

According to Kuo, seeking democracy should not be a crime, and young people
should not have to sacrifice their freedom for their ideals.

The Presidential Office spokeswoman also says the Lai administration would
continue to stand with those defending freedom and democracy.

Meanwhile, the Mainland Affairs Council says China's National Security Law
had been used to bring fabricated charges against activists, damaging Hong
Kong's international reputation and undermining the rule of law.

And the council is also calling for the release of those it says have been
wrongfully detained.

The statements come after the Hong Kong High Court sentenced Wong to for
conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the National Security Law.

The reduced from 13 years in light of his guilty plea and other mitigating
factors.

A senior faculty member at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research
says Taiwan's growing trade and investment ties with the U-S are unlikely to
be derailed by increased congressional scrutiny of Taiwan-US trade agreements
following this week's midterm elections.

According to Roy Lee of the institute's Center for International Trade
Policy, supply-chain shifts are already deepening economic integration
regardless of progress on the Taiwan-US trade agreement.

Lee says even if congressional oversight in the U-S takes longer, or Taiwan's
review takes longer than expected, he doesn't believe that will affect the
ongoing economic integration between Taiwan and the U-S.

The statements come as Democrats are expected to strengthen congressional
oversight of the Trump's administration, and will have the power to block
legislation and reject his nominees to ministerial posts.

The Hsinchu County Fire Bureau says the bodies of two employees at Panasonic
Holdings overseas production sites in Hukou Township have been recovered.

The two men had been unaccounted for following a fire at the plant on
Wednesday.

According to bureau, firefighters discovered their bodies of the two
Taiwanese employees while digging through debris using heavy machinery.

The company has said there were 20 people in the building at the time of the
fire.

Three Taiwanese and two Vietnamese employees were injured in the blaze.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, but it is believed to
be linked to flammable chemical solvents.

The factory, which is run by Panasonic Industrial Devices Materials Taiwan,
conducts research and development and manufactures printed circuit boards and
semiconductor packaging materials.

The Hsinchu County Fire Bureau says it passed a fire safety inspection in
August.

The Shilin District Court has sentenced two Chinese nationals who illegally
entered Taiwan after sailing across the Taiwan Strait in a rubber dinghy to
prison terms.

One of them received a nine month sentence, while the other was handed a
six-month prison term that can be commuted to a fine of 180,000 N-T,
calculated at 1,000 N-T per day.

The men illegally entered Taiwan in July,

According to prosecutors, the two men set out by car from Qingdao in China's
Shandong Province, on July 19, buying an outboard motor in Jinhua, Zhejiang
Province, along the way.

They departed from the coast of Fuzhou, Fujian Province, in the early hours
of July 22 in a rubber dinghy equipped with the motor.

The two arrived near Taipei Port at around 2AM on July 23 and later traveled
to several locations in northern and central Taiwan before being arrested by
the Coast Guard Administration on July 30.

The two men were indicted in September under the Immigration Act and the
Cross-strait Relations Act.

Prosecutors were seeking sentenced of two-years.

The district court rulings can be appealed.

The Ministry of Education is defending its scholarship program for
international students at Taiwan universities.

The ministry is insisting they are merit based and false claims concerning
the scholarship have been circulating on social media for years despite
repeated clarifications.

According to the ministry, the recipients are selected by Taiwan's overseas
representative offices through a competitive review process, subject to
annual quotas and eligibility requirements.

The statements come after amid charges that Vietnamese nationals
automatically receive financial assistance.

The education ministry says scholarship recipients enrolled in bachelor's
degree programs are eligible for tuition and miscellaneous fee subsidies of
up to 40,000 N-T per semester, along with a monthly living allowance of
15,000 N-T.

Students are also prohibited from simultaneously receiving scholarships or
subsidies from other government agencies or educational institutions.

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office has indicted operator of a lunchbox
shop in the city's Zhongli District over an April food poisoning outbreak
that sickened 155 people.

The store operator has been charged with violating the Act Governing Food
Safety and Sanitation.

Prosecutors say the operator failed to store ingredients properly or maintain
sanitary conditions in the kitchen, resulting in the sale of lunchboxes
contaminated with golden staph - is a bacterium that commonly lives on human
skin and inside the nose

Authorities say customers experienced symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea,
stomachaches and nausea.

Laboratory tests detected the bacteria in samples from four victims.

While the Taoyuan City government's Department of Public Health also found
the bacteria in potato salad served in the lunchboxes.

The lunchbox shop operator admitted to negligence and paid compensation to
several victims and plans to compensate other affected customers.

And,

Premier Cho Jung-tai has announced that weekday hotel subsidies and a theme
park accommodation promotion program will be extended until December 31.

According to the premier, the Ministry of Transport chose to extend the
tourism incentives as part of ongoing efforts to encourage more people to
travel on weekdays.

The 3.33 billion N-T programs include subsidies for weekday hotel stays and
special offers combining amusement park visits with overnight accommodation
and are aimed at both local and international visitors.

The transport ministry says the initiative is expected to generate
4.4-million tourist visits and 37.4-billion N-T in tourism revenue by the end
of this year.

The premier also says he's instructed to the transport ministry to prepare a
second round of half-price Taiwan PASS travel packages.

The transport ministry has said that its weekday accommodation subsidy has
been particularly popular, with more than half of subsidized stays involving
two consecutive nights.

Hualien, Penghu, Taitung have proven to be some of the top locations for
people opting to make use of the program.