ICRT

Posted on 2026-01-31 11:55:13

Scholars say recent leadership purges in China's military could lower
major-war risk in the short term.

China's defense ministry says vice CMC chairman Zhang Youxia and senior
officer Liu Zhenli are under investigation for "serious discipline and law
violations."

Political scientist Kou Chien-wen at National Chengchi University says key
posts still need to be filled, and that may take time.

Defense researcher Chieh Chung says the purge is unlikely to raise the chance
of an invasion in 2027.

He says Beijing still prefers "peaceful unification," but Taiwan should stay
alert if tensions rise.

Professor Ma Chen-kun says the purge adds uncertainty over which generals Xi
Jinping will trust for advice.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 11:55:14

Legislature has passed amendments to the Housing Act on social housing access.

The changes require at least 20-percent of social housing units to be
reserved for newlyweds in their first 2 years of marriage and for families
with minor children.

The Ministry of the Interior must create a national registration platform to
track demand and housing types.

The platform must connect with local government systems to support nationwide
planning.

The amendments also require regular collection and publication of rental
market data, including prices per ping.

Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) says the changes reflect cross-party
support for helping newlyweds and families with children.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 10:55:14

Taiwan People's Party lawmaker Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) says he will resign
from the Legislature tomorrow.

He says he will still lead the party and attend key caucus meetings when his
schedule allows.

Huang says his New Taipei mayor campaign headquarters will open on Sunday.

He says media figure Jaw Shau-kong (趙少康) will attend the launch.

Huang is stepping down under the party's "two-year clause," which rotates
at-large seats to the next people on its list.

A separate issue involves incoming TPP legislator Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀), who
officials say must renounce Chinese nationality within one year, and Huang
says the caucus will follow the law.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-31 10:55:15

Taiwan's statistics agency says GDP grew an estimated 8.63-percent in 2025,
the strongest in 15 years.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics links the surge
to exports and strong demand for AI applications.

It says fourth-quarter growth reached an estimated 12.68-percent, lifting the
full-year result above earlier forecasts.

Officials say private consumption and investment also helped, backed by a
recovering car market and active stock trading.

The agency says Taiwan?s per-person GDP rose to $39-thousand-477 US dollars,
close to $40-thousand dollars.

It adds that a new 2026 growth forecast will be released on Feb. 13th.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-30 18:36:13

The Legislative Yuan has advanced a bill by the Taiwan People's Party ... on
U.S.-approved arms purchases to committee review ... after rejecting the
Cabinet's broader special defense budget.

The move came after the 113-seat legislative body, where TPP and the KMT
lawmakers hold a combined majority, voted down a ruling DPP motion to review
the Cabinet's NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget bill.

In contrast to the Cabinet's bill, the TPP proposal is narrower in scope,
covering five of eight U.S.-approved weapons systems and capping spending at
$400 billion NT.

It includes funding for self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS rocket systems, and
several types of anti-armor missiles and munitions.

However, it omits other items in the Cabinet plan, such as network software,
helicopter parts, missile support, drones and a layered air defense system.

The Cabinet warned that politicizing the issue could delay arms procurement
and harm combat readiness, criticizing the TPP bill as lacking strategic
planning.

Posted on 2026-01-30 18:36:14

The Financial Supervisory Commission says several banks have begun piloting
AI-based face-obstruction warning systems at ATMs to help prevent fraud.

The move targets scam couriers, who often wear masks or helmets while
withdrawing cash, making identification more difficult for police.

According to the FSC, banks including China Trust, Taishin, Land Bank, and
Mega Bank, are testing AI face-detection systems on selected machines.

If the system detects a face is hidden, the ATM will trigger on-screen and
audio warnings and prompt users to stop or reconfirm the transaction.

China Trust says it has already deployed over 500 of these "smart ATMs"
nationwide ... which also flags suspicious patterns like high-frequency
withdrawals.

While most banks focus on ATM hardware, Bank SinoPac has also integrated AI
facial monitoring to detect deliberately obscured faces within its automated
service zones.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-30 18:36:14

and Crew Adjustments

Tigerair Taiwan has confirmed it is canceling several flights to Japan during
the upcoming spring travel season.

The announcement follows reports from passengers who received sudden
cancellation notices for flights scheduled primarily between March and May.

The airline says the changes are due to internal resource adjustments,
specifically the tightening of fleet and crew management to ensure pilots
remain in optimal condition.

Tigerair stressed that these adjustments are necessary to safeguard flight
safety, which remains their top priority.

The carrier apologized for the inconvenience and asked travelers for their
understanding as they finalize these schedule changes.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-30 17:21:13

As TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang is set to step down from his legislative seat,
he is reiterating his plans to run for mayor of New Taipei.

Huang and 5 of his colleagues will vacate their positions in the legislature
on Sunday, in accordance with the TPP's 2 year clause for party list
legislators.

The TPP leader says, he also plans to continue attending meetings at the
legislature and working at TPP headquarters.

He says that his campaign headquarters for the mayorship will be established
over the weekend, and he said that Zhao Shao-kang will participate.

Meanwhile, the KMT still has yet to name a nominee in that race, with deputy
mayors of Taipei and New Taipei both appearing to be top candidates in the
race.

KMT vice chair Li Qian Long says, they'll have a nominee before the Lunar New
Year.

Li adds that current mayor Hou You-yi will definitely be part of the internal
talks to determine candidacy.

All this, as the DPP has confirmed its nominee in the November elections will
be lawmaker Su Qiao Hui.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-30 17:21:17

Firefighters extinguished a fire this morning after it burned about one
hectare of bamboo forest in Yunlin's Gukeng overnight.

Officials say they received a report around 6pm last night, and more than
villagers, firefighters, and volunteer firefighters, took part in
firefighting efforts.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

This incident occurred in a bamboo forest about 10 kilometers away from a
separate bamboo forest where another fire broke out earlier this month.

Although the two locations were in different mountain areas, local residents
suspect that both fires may have been caused by human activity.

Local officials note that farmers or foragers may enter the mountains to
collect winter bamboo shoots around this time of year...

sometimes lighting fires to keep warm.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-30 17:21:19

The National Immigration Agency is reminding travelers to not bring pork or
pork-related products into Taiwan ... as travel is expected to surge for the
Lunar New Year.

The agency warns that increased cross-border traffic during the festive
period raises the risk of African swine fever.

The NIA cited international health data ... showing that 76 countries and
regions have reported outbreaks over the past three years.

Last year alone in Taiwan, quarantine authorities intercepted 144 illegal
pork shipments, with the majority of cases involving travelers from China
arriving at Taoyuan International Airport.

Travelers are urged to consult with quarantine officers before clearing
immigration if they are unsure about any food items in their luggage.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-30 15:10:14

Ministry

The Control Yuan has issued corrective measures against NTU Hospital and the
Health Ministry for sexual assualt and harrassment cases that took place at
the hospital.

Control Yuan members Ji Hui-rong (紀惠容) and Wang Yo-ling (王幼玲)
criticized NTU Hospital for failing to handle the sexual assault case
properly, resulting in the perpetrator, Doctor Huang Xin-ying (黃信穎)
causing further harm to the victim.

They also criticized National Taiwan University for its long-time failure to
effectively stop former Professor Chen Si-yuan, who doubled as the Hospital's
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology director, from harrassing his
subordinates.

They said it was because the NTU medical school didn't clearly define
administrative supervisory duties for individuals holding dual roles as both
university faculty and physicians.

Chen's case has now been referred to the Disciplinary Court for further
review.

For the Health Ministry, the Control Yuan said it failed to revise relevant
regulations on the statute of limitations for disciplinary authority.

In response, Health Minister Shi Chong-liang has promised to ensure complaint
channels are accessible and user-friendly, and to handle cases quickly
without delay.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-30 15:10:15

The opposition bloc of the Legislative Yuan moved today to advance an
opposition version of a special defense bill.

It is now headed for the first step of the legislative examination process:
committee review.

In advancing that bill, they also again blocked the Executive Yuan's 1.25
trillion NT defense bill from examination.

The Executive Yuan proposed that bill back in November.

The draft special defense bill proposed by the TPP caucus lists six
procurement items, including the HIMARS multiple-launch rocket missile
system.

The total spending cap is set at NT$400 billion, and funding would be
allocated on a one-year, one-phase basis.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-30 15:10:15

Tainan's long-awaited urban railway underground project hit a major milestone
today as tracks were officially joined across the entire eight-kilometer
route.

Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai marked the occasion by announcing that work
will now shift to power systems and signaling, with the goal of opening the
line by the end of 2026.

Chen said the project will help 'stitch' the city back together by
eliminating level crossings, underpasses, and overpasses that have long
affected traffic and urban connectivity.

While the project faced cultural heritage preservation challenges, Chen said
these assets would be properly preserved.

Mayor Huang Wei-che said the project—along with two new commuter
stations—is expected to improve rail efficiency and support broader urban
development.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-30 14:06:13

Taiwan's first domestically made submarine Narwhal, also known as the Hai
Kun, is going through a submerged test again after leaving Kaohsiung Harbor
at 10 AM today.

The test comes after the vessel successfully completing its first-ever round
of underwater tests yesterday.

Local newspapers reported that the Hai Kun sailed to a designated training
area roughly 10 nautical miles off the coast of Zuoying and conducted
shallow-water tests, diving to a depth of about 50 meters.

The tests covered its sonar, propulsion system, and underwater navigation
instruments before returning to port at around 7 p.m., after about eight
hours at sea.

Military expert Ji Dong-yun (紀東昀) said based on his observations,
yesterday’s tests went very smoothly, which is why C-S-B-C, the ship
builder, and the Navy decided to continue testing today.

Today’s tests are expected to continue toward the next target depth of 100
meters with the focus on whether the submarine can remain extremely quiet
underwater.

Ji also said he's optimistic about CSBC being able to deliver the submarine
by the June deadline.
(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-30 14:06:14

DPP Lawmaker Tsai Chi-chang has registered for the party caucus whip
election, attracting plenty of attention.

His challenge to longtime whip Ke Jian-ming has also sparked speculation on
whether it represented a broader showdown between the "pro chairman Lai and
anti chairman Lai" factions of the DPP.

Tsai today downplayed those rumors, saying that Lai Ching-te "hoped [Tsai]
could do more in the legislature."

The longtime Taichung lawmaker's announcement yesterday came as the DPP looks
to shake up its caucus leadership.

According to party regulations, the term for the caucus whip is one year,
with the option for re-election.

Ke Jian ming, who has held the position for 26 years, has already indicated
his intention to run again.

As the next legislative session is scheduled to begin on February 24th,
results of the DPP leadership election are expected to be announced by then.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-30 14:06:14

Shares are mostly lower in Asia following a day of big swings on Wall
Street...

with oil prices falling more than one US dollar and the prices of gold and
silver sliding as well.

Taiwan shares took a hit today as well, with the benchmark tai ex losing 472
points to close the session at 32063.

The turnover was 907.1 billion NT

Posted on 2026-01-30 13:06:13

The Ministry of Education says, some apps deemed to be "high risk" will be
banned from some public wifi networks.

That's after the Ministry of Digital Affairs put out a list of 6 apps
considered to be high risk, including TikTok, Red Note, Weixin, Weibo, and
Baidu Cloud.

Going forward, internet users will not be able to connect to those apps on
the Taiwan Academic Network, or the iTaiwan network.

MOE officials also discourage the use of those apps for middle and elementary
schoolers in general.

This isn't the first time that TikTok in particular has faced scrutiny;
several countries have already imposed fines on the social media app for its
negative effects on kids' mental health.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-30 13:06:13

The Taipei City government says, random checks on several restaurants and
hotels across the city has revealed some shortcomings involving their Lunar
New Year dishes or feasts.

Officials say that some of the establishments in question lacked refund
mechanisms, or did not properly fulfill voucher obligations.

Some dining vouchers also contained unlawful clauses stating that issuers
could unilaterally change terms or terminate contracts.

Those businesses have been ordered to correct the issues within a specified
period.

Taipei City Legal Affairs' officials say that they surveyed a total of 9
hotels and restaurants, 4 e-commerce platforms, and other establishments.

Other offenses include excessive reservation fees, and failing to properly
specify expiration dates of food.

The full results of the checks are published on the Legal Affairs Bureau's
official website.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-30 13:06:13

Flight bookings for the upcoming Tomb Sweeping Day holiday will open this
Monday for travel to Taiwan’s outlying islands.

The Civil Aviation Administration announced today that tickets for routes to
Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu will be available starting at 9 a.m. on February
2nd.

Airlines are providing more than 1-thousand-400 flights for the four-day
holiday, which runs from April 3-rd to April 6-th.

Officials say tickets for peak travel times are only valid for the specific
date and flight listed and cannot be used if the flight is missed.

The agency also warns that the holiday falls during fog season, which can
cause flight delays or cancellations.

Travelers are advised to monitor the weather, arrive at the airport early
with identification, and cancel any unwanted bookings in advance to secure a
refund.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-30 11:18:13

Taiwan has become the first country outside the United States authorized to
certify the cybersecurity of uncrewed and autonomous systems.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute, or I-T-R-I, signed an
agreement in Washington on Tuesday with the world's largest uncrewed systems
organization.

As a "Recognized Assessor," the institute will now provide cybersecurity
testing for drones to ensure they meet high standards for safety and supply
chain integrity.

The U.S. State Department says Taiwan is the only partner outside the U.S.
currently in this program.

Officials from both sides say the deal will help build a drone supply chain
that does not rely on China.

Posted on 2026-01-30 11:18:14

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications says soon, pedestrians will
no longer face fines for stepping into a crosswalk while the green light is
flashing.

The MOTC says starting April, it is scrapping the $500 NT penalty for the
violation.

Under current rules, pedestrians are prohibited from starting to cross if
the green light has already begun to flash.

This has led to some people being fined for jaywalking.

The new regulation will instead advise pedestrians to "avoid" entering the
crosswalk during a flashing light, but it removes the legal basis for a
fine.

Transportation officials say the flashing signal is meant to remind people to
stop walking, rather than urging them to cross quickly.

The ministry says the change is aimed at improving safety, especially for
senior citizens.

Posted on 2026-01-29 19:17:13

Taipei 101 chair Jia Yong-jie has said that "it's impossible" for other
people to climb the skyscraper as long as she's the chairperson.

The comment follows Alex Honnold successful ascent to the top the skyscraper
as "free solo", which means he did not use any equipment.

The Netflix live broadcast of Honnold's feat, "Skyscraper Live," drew 6.2
million views worldwide and logged 12 million hours of watch time, and Jia
said it's not only beneficial for Taipei 101’s international tourism, but
could also help boost tourism in Taipei City.

Still, Jia said Honnold is a great extreme climber and that the challenge is
something only he could accomplish, stressing there won't be a second person
allowed to do so.

But when asked about filming, she laughed and said, it could be considered if
the person is Tom Cruise.

She enouraged the public to visit “Skyline 460” on the 101st floor to
safely experience the high-altitude view.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-29 19:17:13

The ruling DPP has announced that candidates seeking city council seats in
Taiwan's six major municipalities can begin registering as early as next
week.

The party says registration will run from February 4th to the 10th for
Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.

After an initial coordination period, unresolved races will be decided by
opinion polls starting in early March.

To qualify, candidates must have been DPP members for at least two
consecutive years before election day in November 2026.

However, new party members who are immigrants will be excluded from this rule.

If coordination fails, primary polling is scheduled to run from March through
early April, setting the stage for the party's nominations in this year's
local elections.

Posted on 2026-01-29 18:05:13

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is rejecting claims that Taiwan's chip industry is
being forcibly shifted to the U-S.

Accoring to Huang, reports suggesting that 40 percent of Taiwan's
semiconductor production will move to America are misleading.

He says TSMC's planned expansion represents new capacity — not a transfer —
with added production expected to come online in Taiwan, the U-S, Europe, and
Japan over the next decade.

Huang calls the move a huge victory for TSMC, boosting manufacturing
resilience while meeting global demand.

He also warned that rapid growth in AI is driving major energy challenges,
stressing the need for reliable power supplies in Taiwan, the U-S, and
worldwide amid a new industrial revolution.

In addition, he praised the new trade deal between Taiwan and the U-S,
calling it "fantastic".

Huang is currently visiting Taiwan and is expected to attend Nvidia's
year-end banquet tomorrow ... followed by dinner with executives from key
regional AI supply chain partners.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-29 18:05:14

Taipei has banned bamboo and wooden scaffolding for all new construction and
exterior wall renovations, requiring steel-pipe scaffolding, effective
immediately.

The city is also tightening rules on protective netting and coverings,
including flame-retardant or fire-resistant materials, with some requirements
taking effect from March 1st.

The move follows a serious high-rise fire during exterior repair work in Hong
Kong's Tai Po district ... which Taipei officials say was worsened by bamboo
scaffolding and non-flame-retardant netting.

The new rules also require 30-centimeter spacing in tarps and netting setup
and prohibit blocking emergency entrances or balconies, requiring each unit
to keep at least one visible opening.

Officials say contractors and supervisors have legal responsibility for
job-site safety, and agencies including the fire department will carry out
inspections.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-29 17:19:13

Taichung city has culled over 1700 chickens at a chicken farm in Feng-yuan
following yesterday's discovery of Avian Flu there.

That number represents all the chickens at the farm where the virus was
detected.

Officials note that the egg-laying chickens have been disposed of in
accordance with regulations.

They add that avian flu symptoms began appearing at the farm two and a half
weeks ago, with nearly 2000 chickens dying since.

But during that period, egg sales continued with the farm's owner hiding the
information of unusual deaths of the birds.

Taichung city officials will impose a fine of up to $1 million NT under the
Act for the Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-29 17:19:14

Transport authorities say pedestrians will soon no longer be fined for
stepping onto crosswalks when the lights flash green.

Under current rules, pedestrians can be penalized if they enter a crosswalk
once the green walking signal begins flashing.

But the Ministry of Transportation and Communications says that rule will be
relaxed, with changes expected to take effect as early as April.

Officials stress that a flashing green light is meant as a warning that the
signal is about to end — not an instruction to hurry across.

Pedestrians are still advised to wait if the light is already flashing, but
stepping onto the road will no longer result in a fine.

The ministry says the change is aimed at improving safety, especially for
older people ... and reducing unnecessary penalties caused by unclear signal
design.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-29 17:19:14

The Executive Yuan has approved a leadership expansion for the Coast Guard
Administration, adding a third deputy director to tackle mounting regional
tensions.

The Ocean Affairs Council says the move is vital for managing Taiwan's
540-thousand-square-kilometer maritime jurisdiction ...

... as the agency advances major modernization projects, including drones,
coastal radar, and AI image recognition.

Officials add that it will also improve coordination in handling submarine
cable damage and cross-border drug smuggling.

By dividing duties among three deputies, they say the agency will be better
equipped to manage massive shipbuilding projects and increasingly complex
geopolitical challenges.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-29 16:06:14

The Ministry of the Interior is reaffirming that TPP's Li Zhen-xiu must
renounce Chinese citizenship within one year of taking the lawmaker's office
based on the Nationality Act.

Li is on the list of the opposition party's legislators without portfolio,
and she's getting ready to take office following the resignation of 6 TPP
legislators.

Concerns have been raised from the green camp about Li's citizenship, as she
is considered to be a "mainland wife."

The Nationality Act stipulates that those who have foreign nationality must
show proof of renouncing it within one year of taking public office.

The law also says that a Taiwan national who acquires the nationality of
another country is not allowed to hold government offices.
(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-29 16:06:14

The Taipei MRT is warning passengers of heavy fines for those who commit
unsightly acts on the trains or in stations, in the thick of Year-End Feast
season.

Those who throw up, urinate, or lie down on the floor on trains will be
subject to fines of up to 7500 NT.

The company says that there have been several incidents of passengers with
unruly behavior in recent days.

In one incident at Zhishan station, officials say that a drunk man stuck his
hand out in front of an incoming train, forcing the driver to slam on the
brakes.

Passengers are encourgaed to report unusual activity to 110, 119 or directly
to station staff.

Taipei Metro also notes the installation of vomit bags at the exits of 2
dozens stations near large restaurants for passengers to use as needed.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-29 15:07:13

The Control Yuan is pointing out that President Chen Chu could legally stay
in her position through July...

indicating that her decision to step down as president is not for her own
benefit.

President Lai Ching-te announced yesterday that he finally agreed to her
resignation, effective on February 1st, after she had taken leave of absence
from her post for more than a year.

Facing criticism from the opposition political parties, Control Yuan
officials today note that Chen is allowed to continue to be on leave through
July due to her illness according regulations related to civil servants.

Chen has foregone paychecks during her sick leave.

Chen discovered a kidney tumor in late 2024, but after undergoing surgery she
suffered a stroke.

Lai has appointed deputy Control Yuan President Li Hong-jun as Acting
President.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-29 15:07:13

Taiwan High Speed Rail chair Shi Zhe (史哲) said the company is seeing a
surging ridership as passengers made over 80 million trips last year, a
record number sine 2007 when operations began.

He estimated that annual ridership will exceed 100 million passenger trips by
2032.

In addition to introducing new train-sets, Shi said T-H-S-R has also launched
the company's largest-ever investment plan, a package of projects worth more
than $100 billion NT.

It aims at boosting peak-hour service capacity by 50 percent, strengthening
express services, and better distributing short-, medium-, and long-distance
passenger flows.

Shi also said combined revenue for 2025 hit a record high of $54.64 billion
NT, and he's considering ordering an additional eight train-sets from Japan.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-29 15:07:13

The Customs Administration is set to make its "Pre-Declaration (預先委任)"
system mandatory for all imported express shipments.

Starting March 1st, importers will be required to confirm shipments in
advance through the EZ WAY app before customs clearance can proceed.

Officials say the system helps stop unauthorized declarations made in someone
else's name and protects brokers from heavy fines.

According to the Ministry of Finance, more than three million people have
already signed up for the "pre-declaration" system over the past several
years, with over 80 percent of express declarations using the system.

While some air cargo groups have warned the change could disrupt operations,
customs authorities insist the system has been phased in for years and is
running smoothly.

(IG)

Posted on 2026-01-29 14:06:13

The Taiwan High Court has changed the death penalty for Liang Yu-zhi, the
convict that killed a female college student from Malaysia, to life
imprisonment

The victim's family has said that they find the sentence "unacceptable." The
case can still be appealed.

Today’s verdict overturned three previous court rulings that had all
sentenced Liang to death.

The High Court said Liang's killing "was not premeditated", and did not meet
the threshold of an “offense of the most extreme seriousness,” and that the
defendant still has potential for rehabilitation.

The case took place in October 2020, when the female student was walking back
to her dormitory, Liang grabbed her and dragged her into his car by tying a
rope around her neck.

Her body was later found in a mountainous area in a Kaohsiung suburb.

The Qiao-tou (橋頭) District Court later sentenced Liang on charges of sexual
assault, intentional killing, robbery-murder, and abandonment of a corpse.

Under current regulations, a life sentence requires at least 25 years served,
and parole is only possible with concrete evidence of remorse.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-29 14:06:13

The most well-known Lunar New Year Market nationwide, on Taipei city's Di-hua
Street, will kick off on Saturday.

Taipei Legal Affairs Bureau officials announced today that inspections of the
vendors there will intensify with focus on product information disclosure and
the accuracy of weights and measures.

Officials said they will conduct on-site inspections and apply the new
“immediate correction, fine for repeat violations” mechanism.

Authorities in the past mainly relied on public education and guidance to
help vendors correct violations.

However, officials found that many vendors continued breaking the rules even
after receiving guidance, harming consumer rights.

This year, vendors found in violation for the first time will be ordered to
correct the problem within a set deadline.

The cases often involved hidden prices, missing or unclear price tags, or
vague pricing methods.

The Di-hua street Lunar New Year Market runs from January 31st to February
15th.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-29 14:06:13

Taiwan shares are ddown today with the nehcmark tai ex losing 267 points to
close the session at 32536.

The turnover was 930.7 billion NT

Posted on 2026-01-29 13:06:13

The National Human Rights Commission is calling on the Legislature to act
quickly to establish stronger anti-discrimination laws.

Officials stated that the Anti-Discrimnation Act is currently only in the
Executive Yuan, and does not even go so far as barring hate speech.

They also note that low rates of participation of women in government and low
female participation rate in local politics.

The NHRC, therefore, is calling for amendments to the Political Parties Act
to stipulate that a certain amount of parties' subsidies should be spent on
promoting women's participation in politics.

They note that only one third of the Presidential Office's Whole-of-Society
Defense Resilience Committee are women...

and point out that the number of women cabinet members has not reached one
third since the Chen administration.

Officials also raised concerns about the rights of women migrant workers in
Taiwan, as well as women living in rural areas.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-29 13:06:15

The government says more than 70 percent of Taiwan's hospitals will remain
open during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday thanks to new financial
incentives.

Health Minister Shi Chong-liang says the government is investing at least
$1.6 billion NT to keep medical services running during the nine-day break.

The incentive program provides extra funding for hospitals, clinics, and
pharmacies that stay open, and Shih says the number of available doctors will
be significantly higher than last year.

The move is designed to prevent the overcrowding at emergency rooms seen
during previous holidays.

Hospitals are also being asked to keep extra beds ready for emergency cases.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-29 13:06:15

KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun says, there's no need to take sides between the US and
China...

as the US is a friend, while China is "family."

She said that Taiwan will not "forget the friendship of the [US] after...
World War II because we are not ungrateful people."

But she added that the "mainland" is family, saying that Taiwan won't be
caught in a struggle between the two global powers.

Cheng emphasized her view that "Cross-strait reconciliation can bring about
cooperation between the U.S. and China."

Her comments came after the KMT's announcement yesterday that it would send a
delegation to Beijing next week for a "think tank exchange" with the CCP.

That delegation will be led by vice chair Xiao Xu Cen.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-29 11:12:13

The Taiwan People's Party has announced a new round of senior personnel
appointments.

According to a TPP news release, party founder Ko Wen-je will be head of the
party's Institute of National Governance, leading courses on national
governance and candidate training programs, which are intended to "strengthen
the party's national governance talent" and expand its connections with
society.

And party chair Huang Kuo-chang will concurrently serve as chair of the
policy committee.

The list also includes Keelung City Deputy Mayor Chiu Pey-lin as a designated
central committee member and legislator-elect Hsu Chung-hsin as deputy chair
of the policy committee.

Posted on 2026-01-29 11:12:13

Control Yuan President Chen Chu has resigned from her government posts to
focus on her health.

The Presidential Office announced Wednesday that Chen will step down on
February 1st.

She is leaving her roles as head of the Control Yuan and chair of the
National Human Rights Commission.

President Lai Ching-te has appointed Control Yuan Vice President Lee
Hung-chun to serve as acting president.

Chen’s health issues began in late 2024 when doctors discovered a tumor on
her right kidney.

Following surgery, she suffered a stroke.

Doctors say Chen is making steady progress in her recovery.

Chen has been on a leave of absence since last year and officials say she has
waived her monthly salary during that time, returning the money to the
national treasury.

Posted on 2026-01-28 17:14:13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says Taiwan and the United States reached
new consensus on economic security cooperation at E-P-P-D talks in Washington
on Tuesday.

The ministry says both sides plan partnerships in AI and advanced robotics,
including L-L-M applications for traditional Chinese databanks.

They also agreed to explore low-orbit satellites, protect undersea cables,
and strengthen communications networks, including open networking and 6G.

The MOEA says both sides will work on critical mineral exploration and
refining, and build a drone supply chain to reduce reliance on China.

It says Taiwan's I-T-R-I signed a drone cooperation agreement with the
U.S.-based AUVSI ahead of the talks.

The ministry says both sides signed a Pax Silica joint statement highlighting
Taiwan's role in the global AI supply chain.

(CNA-PB)

Posted on 2026-01-28 17:14:14

The Taiwan High Speed Rail is building a second rolling stock maintenance
depot at its Zuoying base.

Officials held a beam-raising ceremony today, with Transport Minister Chen
Shih-kai (陳世凱) and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) attending.

The company says the facility is scheduled to open by the end of 2027 and
will support both existing trains and the new N-700-S-T fleet.

T-H-S-R plans to bring in 12 N-700-S-T trainsets, with the first train
expected to arrive in Taiwan in August and enter service in August next year.

T-H-S-R Chairman Shih Che (史哲) says the new trains should lift peak
capacity by 25-percent once all are running, with a longer-term goal of
50-percent.

He says tight overnight maintenance windows and a high availability rate help
keep T-H-S-R near the top globally for on-time performance.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-28 17:14:14

The Air Force today staged a Lunar New Year readiness drill at Chiayi Air
Base, in the second day of a media program on the exercises.

The 4th Tactical Fighter Wing ran a rapid turnaround and weapons loading
exercise for two F-16V fighters.

The Air Force says crews loaded air-to-air missiles within the required time
limit and prepared the jets to sortie fast.

One F-16 carried AIM-120 missiles on the wingtips, plus AIM-9M missiles and
external fuel tanks under the wings.

Capt. Chen Yi-tzu (陳怡慈) completed pre-flight checks, entered the cockpit,
and taxied out for a combat air patrol mission.

A wing pilot says air defense stays on duty during the holiday, and pilots
train to follow emergency checklists if instruments fail.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-28 17:07:13

March 3

The Legislative Yuan has agreed the new legislative session will open on Feb.
24.

That afternoon, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) is set to deliver a policy
address and an administrative report, and face questioning.

Lawmakers also plan a separate session on March 3rd for a special briefing on
Taiwan-U.S. tariff negotiations.

The Taiwan People's Party pushed for a dedicated report on the talks and
their impact on industry.

The KMT says details of the negotiations have not been made public, limiting
oversight.

The Legislature says questioning on March 3 will be led by 10 KMT lawmakers,
10 DPP lawmakers, and 2 TPP lawmakers.

(PB)

Posted on 2026-01-28 17:07:13

The Bank of Taiwan’s gold passbook service hit a new record again today,
with the selling price reaching $5-thousand 343 NT per gram.

But the Bank is urging investors to be cautious, saying the rise is mainly
driven by safe-haven demand, but the sharp short-term gains mean risks are
much higher as well.

International gold prices have continued their strong rally, holding
$5-thousand U.S. dollars per ounce for a third straight day and closing in on
the 5-thousand 300 mark this afternoon.

When briefing the lawmakers, the Bank's General Manager said there are now
more than five million gold passbook accounts nationwide, including more than
750-thousan at Bank of Taiwan alone.

The manager also noted that sentiment worldwide remains very bullish on gold,
mainly due to continued demand from individuals, funds and central banks
around the world amid growing uncertainty.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-28 17:07:13

The NT dollar has continued to gain strength against the US dollar today.

At the end of today's foreign exchange session, the NT was at 31.32 NT
against the US dollar, compared with yesterday's 31.47.

Analysts say the Taiwan dollar is supported by a weaker U.S. dollar and a
return of hot money inflows.

The greenback's weakness is being reflected across major currencies around
the world.

Foreign exchange dealers said uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald
Trump’s policies and his shifting stance has weakened investor confidence in
dollar-denominated assets.

They added that Trump’s latest remarks indicated he welcomed a weaker
dollar, effectively giving the market a “green light” for further
depreciation.

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

The United States is praising Taiwan as a "vital partner" as both sides
signed a new joint statement endorsing "the principles of mutual prosperity,
technological progress, and supply chain resilience."

The signing of the statement known as the "Pax Silica Declaration" took place
in Washington DC, as representatives from both sides met during the sixth
Taiwan-US Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue.

Present at the event were U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs
Jacob Helberg and Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin.

In a separate statement, Gong said both sides agreed that peace and stability
across the Taiwan Strait are "crucial to global economic security and
prosperity."

He added Taiwan and the U.S. also discussed undersea cable security,
low-Earth-orbit satellite cooperation and the training of high-tech talent.

The Partnership Dialogue is a high-level forum begun during the first Trump
administration.

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

The KMT New Taipei Office said the party's nominee for New Taipei mayoral
race should be finalized by February 15th.

Office chair Huang Zhi-xiong (黃志雄) said his party will coordinate between
the two prospective candidates, Deputy Taipei
Mayor Li Si-chuan and Deputy New Taipei Mayor Liu Ho-ran (劉和然) later this
week.

Both have clearly expressed their intentions of joining the race.

Huang said today that he'll respect the wishes of the individuals involved in
terms of the method, timing and location of the discussions with the goal of
reaching a consensus and eventually win the election.

However, if disagreements remain, the party will conduct a primary, with the
nominee to be chosen no later than February 15th, before the Lunar New Year.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-28 14:07:15

Taitung environmental officials fined 28 people last year using high-tech
cameras at littering hotspots.

The Taitung County Environmental Protection Bureau uses time-lapse
photography to monitor areas where people frequently dump garbage.

Officials say these actions violate the Waste Disposal Act, with offenders
facing fines up to $6-thousand NT.

The bureau says it will add more monitoring sites during the upcoming Lunar
New Year holiday, and the cameras may be moved to different locations at
irregular times to catch more violators.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-28 14:07:15

Taiwan shares are up today amid mixed performances of other Asian stock
markets.

The benchmark Taiex closed the session at 32-thousand 803 after gaining 485
points.

The turnover was 830.9 billion NT

Posted on 2026-01-28 14:07:15

Taiwan and the United States have held a sixth round of Economic Prosperity
Partnership Dialogue talks in Washington on Tuesday.

The U.S. State Department says the U.S. side was led by undersecretary Jacob
Helberg...

...while Taiwan was represented by Economic Affairs Minister Kung Ming-hsin
(龔明鑫).

Officials discussed supply chain security, including AI, and cooperation on
unmanned aircraft system parts certification.

They also talked about trusted digital infrastructure, critical minerals, and
ways to respond to economic coercion.

Both sides signed a joint statement backing the principles of the "Pax
Silica" declaration on trusted advanced-technology supply chains.

Helberg called it a major milestone, but gave no timeline for Taiwan to join
Pax Silica as a full member.

(CNA-PB)

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

Yo Ying-long, the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation chairman, said today
that he'll step down from the positions of chair and board member if he
becomes the Central Election Commission chair.

The Cabinet has nominated Yo to chair the C-E-C and named six other nominees
as commissioners.

The list is being reviewed by the joint Legislative Internal Administration
and the Judiciary and Organic Laws Committees today.

Yo, in his oral report to the committee, said he fully understands being CEC
chair means losing the freedom to publicly comment on politics, and that he's
ready to accept it.

He also said the C-E-C’s work is critical to the success of Taiwan’s
democracy, making the role both a heavy burden and a great honor.

He pledged to hold himself to standards even stricter than those required by
law, saying he hopes to contribute to Taiwan’s democratic development.

The CEC currently has only four sitting commissioners, but at least five are
required for the commission to convene and pass resolutions.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-28 13:07:15

A bird flu outbreak has been confirmed at an egg farm in Taichung’s Fengyuan
District after a large number of chickens died.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen announced the positive test results this morning.

About 1-thousand-700 chickens have died recently at the farm, which holds
more than 7-thousand birds.

The city government says teams are disinfecting the site and restricting
traffic in the area.

They have also ordered all eggs from this farm to be removed from store
shelves and destroyed.

Authorities say the farm owner may face fines for allegedly hiding the
outbreak from authorities.

The city government says it will handle the case according to the law.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-28 11:07:13

The Executive Yuan says that any Taiwan-US reciprocal trade agreement is
subject to approval by the Legislative Yuan.

Officials told reporters that Taiwan's negotiating team made clear from the
first round of in-person talks with the US that the agreement would include a
"reservation" clause under Taiwan's legal framework.

That's after developments in South Korea, upon which US President Donald
Trump said he would raise tariffs for certain products...

citing the failure of the Korean national assembly to approve a trade deal
reached between the two countries.

Officials emphasized that Taiwan clearly communicated the requirement for
legislative approval early on in negotiations.

Posted on 2026-01-28 11:07:13

Amidst strong global demand for AI, Taiwan's export-oriented economy
accelerated with the composite index of economic indicators flashing the
first "red" light in December in one year.

According to the National Development COuncil, that indicates the economy is
in "overheating" mode.

Moreover, the index of leading indicators, which gauges the potential state
of the economy over the next six months, also moved higher in December amidst
growing optimism over the outlook.

Last month, the index of economic indicators rose one point from a month
earlier to 38.

Before that, the previous red light appeared one year before, also standing
at 38.

The NDC says, although US tariffs created uncertainties, the current
stronger-than-expected AI boom has allowed Taiwan's exports to repeatedly hit
new highs.

Posted on 2026-01-28 11:07:13

A fisher in New Taipei yesterday discovered a 43 kilogram bag of marijuana
washed up on the shore of Wanli district.

The man apparently discovered the bag near Camel's Hump Rock.

He said he had seen the bag floating in the water several days before.

But when he opened the bag and looked inside, he knew it was something
suspicious and reported it to police.

Police officers conducted a rapid drug test at the scene, confirming that the
bag contained marijuana.

Officials say the drugs were wrapped in 32 separate bags, with an estimated
street value of 20 million NT.

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