relief from US

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The government's top trade negotiator, Yang Jen-ni is insisting that the U-S
and Taiwan are in the final stages of trade negotiations and the outcome will
"very likely" result in Taiwan obtaining tariff stacking relief.

According Yang, she firmly believes the negotiating team will achieve such
that goal, as it's been working to ensure that any adjusted tariff rate for
Taiwan will not be added to the existing ones.

Speaking during a legislative economics committee hearing, Yang told
lawmakers that Taiwan might also obtain most favored nation status under
Section 232 of the U-S Trade Expansion Act ....

.... as Washington has been conducting a national security investigation
aimed at deciding on tariffs for imports of semiconductors and other devices.

Yang denied reports the U-S government is seeking a commitment from Taiwan to
train American workers in the semiconductor manufacturing sector and other
tech industries as part of the trade deal - saying training has not been
mentioned during the negotiations.

And she also told lawmakers the U-S side has praised the proactive and
pragmatic approach of the Taiwan negotiating team during the talks, which are
making positive progress.

could take years

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin is refusing to say whether the
decommissioned Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant could restart generating
electricity as soon as 2028 ...

.. telling lawmakers that the required inspections by the island's nuclear
safety regulator could take between 18 months to six years.

The statements came as Kung was being quizzed by opposition lawmakers about
whether the Maanshan plant could resume operation as early as 2028, once it
passes required safety checks.

The Ministry of Economics Affairs last week announced that Tai-Power is
expected to submit a plan for restarting both the Maanshan plant and the
Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei to the Nuclear Safety Commission
by March of next year for review.

Several local media reports have been claiming that Maanshan plant could
resume operation as early as late 2027 or in 2028.

Asked by lawmakers to comment on those predictions, Kung said the Maanshan
plant could could be restarted in 2028 in the best-case scenario, if it
passes safety inspections in one and a half years.

However, the economics minister stressed that inspections could take as long
as five to six years and the government's top priority is to make ensure it
is safe for the power plant to restart.

D-P-P lawmakers have introduced a bill to designate election eve in as a
national holiday.

The bill has been introduced one year ahead of 2026's local government
elections.

D-P-P lawmaker Chung Chia-pin says the bill making election eve a national
holiday will give voters more time to travel to the constituencies where they
are registered to cast their ballots.

The K-M-T says it will review and consolidate a series of bills drafted by
its members to introduce absentee voting.

The D-P-P has has long opposed absentee voting - claiming it will open the
doors to potential Chinese infiltration and possible technical complications
within the current electoral system.

According to the D-P-P, implementing absentee voting without proper electoral
oversight mechanisms could result in unfair elections.

found in drinks

The Taichung City Government's Office of Food and Drug Safety has ordered a
local branch of Chun Shui Tang teahouse to suspend operations after a
employee mistakenly refilled a teapot with water containing a cleaning agent.

Several of the branches employees have also been referred to prosecutors.

It comes after three customers were rushed to the China Medical University
Hospital after complaining of burning sensations in their throats.

Chun Shui Tang says they were taken to hospital accompanied by the branch
manager and it will pay their medical fees.

All three customers were later discarged from hospital following tests and
the hospital says the incident was not life-threatening.

According to Chun Shui Tang, the employee who served the teapot containing
sodium bicarbonate had only been working at the branch for about two weeks
and it was an accidental mistake.

Food safety officials in Taichung say Chun Shui Tang's Gongyi branch will be
allowed to resume operations if it passes further inspections.

And finally,

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih says the city has now entered a super-aged society
- as the number of people aged 65 and over has surpassed 800,000, accounting
for about 20-per cent of its total population.

Hou marked the milestone by hosting an event titled the "800,000 Silver Power
Shines in New Taipei, Happy City Christmas Festival" at the New Taipei City
Civic Plaza.

The festival featured performances by senior citizens, intergenerational
dances, and health-oriented activities.

Speaking at the event, Hou touted his administration's commitment to elderly
care - saying New Taipei now has 120 daycare centers, 633 community care
points, and over 1,400 senior clubs.

Hou expressed his hopes that the number of daycare centers will reach 130 by
next year to further expand learning and intergenerational activities for
senior citizens.

trial begins

Taoyuan International Airport's under-construction Terminal 3 has welcomed
first passengers after as its north concourse began trial operations on
Monday.

Just under a thousand passengers went through the terminal to board flights
to Sapporo, operated separately by China Airlines and EVA Air, and a Starlux
Airlines service to Bangkok.

Corporation chairman Yang Wei-fu says the company is collecting as much
traveler feedback as possible to ensure the best preparations are made before
the official opening, and the north concourse could be officially inaugurated
by the end of this month.

Yang says more flights will gradually begin using the new concourse during
the trial period, when stress tests and rolling reviews will be conducted to
identify areas that need improvement or refinement.

The north concourse is equipped with eight boarding gates, which are expected
to boost the airport's annual passenger handling capacity by 5.8-million ..

.... and when fully open, Terminal 3 is expected to handle 45-million of the
80-million passengers expected to pass through the airport each year.

The airport operator has said Terminal 3 will open in phases, with the north
concourse designated as the first area to begin operations, while main
terminal building and the south concourse are expected to open after their
completion in 2027.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is denying reports that testing of the Navy's
first prototype submarine without its anchor endangered the crew, or that the
move was driven by pressure to meet a delayed delivery deadline.

Koo told lawmakers that the Narwhal didn't require an anchor system during
successful floating navigation tests last Thursday and Friday - and ensuring
that sea trials are conducted safely has always been the defense ministry's
top priority.

Meanwhile, Navy Chief of Staff Chiu Chun-rong told lawmakers at the hearing
that the Narwhal's anchor was not on the prototype during the recently
concluded sea trials because some components needed to be replaced.

The statements come as the defense minister announced that the Navy is
levying daily fines of 190,000 N-T on Kaohsiung-based shipbuilder C-S-B-C for
failing to meet the original November delivery deadline for the submarine
prototype.

C-S-B-C has insisted that crew safety is its top priority and that each test
is reviewed by project staff and foreign consultants and carried out only
after meeting safety requirements, with escort vessels accompanying the
trials.

The Narwhal's sea trials were originally slated to end by September 30.

Supermarket chain PX Mart says more than 13,000 packets of contaminated
frozen tilapia fillets have been sold islandwide.

The statement comes after health authorities announced that tests found
traces of a banned veterinary drug in a batch of the product.

The issue came to light after the Kaohsiung City Health Department announced
that it had issued a recall order on November 27 for a product named "Taiwan
tilapia fillets" after samples tested in October were found to contain the
banned veterinary drug enro-flo-xacin.

The drug is legally permitted for use with land animals but not for acquatic
products.

More than 15 and a half thousand packs of tainted fillets were purchased by
PX Mart, with nearly 14 thousand sold.

The Yunlin health department said it ordered P-X Mart's head office to
immediately remove and recall the batch and to proactively notify consumers.

The Fisheries Agency says local authorities have been asked to take samples
from the relevant fish farms and those test results expected in about a week.

The Keelung City Environmental Protection Bureau has fined the Taiwan Water
Corporation half a million N-T over an oil spill that contaminated water
supplies to over 150,000 households.

The state-run company was fined for violating the Drinking Water Management
Act and endangering public health and safety.

Inspectors found that one of the oil-film detectors at the Badu pumping
station was malfunctioning, which may have contributed to a delay in
detecting the contamination.

The Environmental Protection Bureau is now reviewing whether the water
corporation's equipment and emergency response deviated from its water
pollution control plan.

The water corporation said it halted river-water intake immediately after the
oil slick was detected, and several rounds of flushing and water-quality
tests later confirmed that tap water met with all safety standards.

The Keelung City Environmental Protection Bureau and law enforcement
authorities are continuing to trace the source of the oil spill and will
refer the case to prosecutors if any evidence criminal wrongdoing is
uncovered.

Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang has filed a report with the Keelung District
Prosecutors' Office - which he says has already opened an investigation.

surgery rules

Pioneering gay rights activist Qi Chia-wei has filed a misconduct complaint
against the Ministry of the Interior's requirement that transgender people
undergo surgery before changing their legal gender in Taiwan.

Qi says the requirement violates both the law and fundamental rights.

He filed the complaint with the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, accusing
Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang of dereliction of duty for failing to amend a
policy that courts have already ruled unconstitutional.

Several people have changed the gender listed on their IDs without surgery
after successfully challenging a 2008 interior ministry administrative
interpretation requiring it in court.

Qi pointed out that an investigation by the Control Yuan had been expected to
lead to a corrective measure... instead, it was downgraded to a
recommendation for review and improvement - meanning the government continues
to rely on the 2008 interpretation.

Under that interpretation, transgender people must submit two diagnostic
certificates from psychiatric specialists and proof of surgery to change
their legal gender.

Local drone manufacturer, Thunder Tiger says it simultaneously operated six
SeaShark suicide unmanned surface vessels from a single control station
during a sea trial late last month.

The company is describing the operation as a major milestone in Taiwan's
unmanned vessel development.

The Taichung-based company said the sea trial at Pingtung's Dapeng Bay on
November 28 showcased its advanced U-S-V control and A-I systems and
successfully carried out multiple tactical formations and rapid, second-level
maneuvers.

The company says the six-meter-long drone boats maintained 100-percent
communication stability under electromagnetic interference by using a UK-made
military anti-interference frequency-hopping system.

Thunder Tiger also says the vessels feature a low-radar-cross-section hull
design that significantly reduces the chance of detection and have the
potential to become the sharpest asymmetric vehicular weapon for defending
the Taiwan Strait.

The company is seeking to expand cooperative testing with the National
Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and the Ministry of National
Defense to meet operational needs.

Shanghai

And,

Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended open invitations to Japanese pop star
Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled
concert in Shanghai.

She had been slated to perform on Saturday in the Chinese city before
organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing "force majeure."

The move is widely being seen as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister
Sanae Takaichi's recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a
military response from Tokyo.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an told reporters the city "very much welcomes"
Hamasaki's return and will continue to "surprise" her.

The pop star held two concerts at Taipei Arena in August as part of her Asia
Tour 2025 - attracting over 250,000 fans over both days.

Meanwhile, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai says China's handling of the Shanghai
concert was "extremely unacceptable" and he welcomes Hamasaki to perform in
Kaohsiung.

Taichung officials say a new survey shows 90 percent of the city's pig
farmers who previously used kitchen waste as feed want to continue doing so
once the nationwide ban is lifted.

The ban followed an outbreak of African swine fever at a local farm in
October ... caused mainly by improperly cooked kitchen waste.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says the city is discussing various methods for kitchen
waste disposal with farmers and related industries, aiming to phase out
kitchen waste as feed in the long-term.

Both the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment have agreed that
farms wishing to resume using kitchen waste as feed must install monitoring
systems to prove the waste is cooked at 90 degrees Celcius for one hour.

These systems must also pass joint inspections by both the city and central
governments.

(IG)

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says a new date has been tentatively set for the
Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum, after the original mid-September meeting was
abruptly cancelled.

Chiang said the forum is now expected to take place at the end of December,
but many administrative details are still being coordinated with Shanghai.

He said the final schedule will be announced once everything is confirmed.

Recent reports suggested the forum could run from December 25th to 27th ...
but Taipei officials have not yet confirmed an exact date.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office says the two cities remain in communication,
and that Beijing continues to support cross-strait municipal exchanges to
improve people's well-being.

(IG)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reassured the public that Taiwan's
diplomatic relations with its 12 allies remain stable.

Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Zhi-zhong (吳志中) also stressed that Taiwan won't
sever ties with the Vatican.

Wu's comments follow a Reuters report that Godwin Friday, leader of the
opposition New Democratic Party, took Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Prime
Minister's office on the 28th, and that the N-D-P previously proposed
severing relations with Taiwan.

Wu said today that Taiwan has maintained strong and stable ties with its
allies.

He added that Pope Leo XIV has not been in office for long and is still
weighing the future direction of Vatican policy toward Beijing, but he
believes the Holy See will not switch diplomatic recognition to China.

(JL)

Passengers have praised Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 3 North
Concourse, which began trial run today.

It served three flights and 968 passengers this morning, and Airport
Corporation chair Yang Wei-fu (楊偉甫) said the 8 boarding gates of the
Concourse will be all included in the trial operations.

He said the facility, designed by renowned architect Richard Rogers, features
bright colors and big open spaces.

A bi-directional moving walkway helps shorten walking time, and the layout of
arrival and departure levels also differs from the existing concourses.

Yang said he expects to see the concourse officially open by the end of the
year, boosting Taoyuan International Airport’s annual passenger-handling
capacity by 5.8 million.

Construction work for the main building of Terminal 3 and the South Concourse
are scheduled to complete by the end of 2027.

(JL)

Both Taipei and Kaohsiung Mayor have welcomed Japanese singer Hamasaki Ayumi
to hold concerts in their cities.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said when Ayumi came here to perform at Taipei
Arena earlier this year, he personally wrote a card to her and gave her a
Taipei MRT EZcard featuring Hello Kitty that she loved.

Chiang said next time when she comes here, there'll be more pleasant
surprises for her.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen also expressed his eagerness in welcoming Ayumi, saying
she's a wonderful singer with a unique style.

Those comments come after her Shanghai show, scheduled for Saturday, was
abruptly canceled Friday morning.

She went ahead with the entire concert and posted a photo of performing the
show to 14-thousand empty seats on her Instagram yesterday.

(JL)

Taichung is expanding subsidies for pork vendors hit by the nationwide ban on
pig transport and slaughter after October's African swine fever outbreak.

Under the new round of assistance, unregistered pork sellers who can prove
they were operating during the 15-day shutdown can now apply for 15 thousand
NT per stall from the city.

That's in addition to the 30 thousand NT offered per stall under the central
government's program.

Previously, only officially registered market vendors were eligible.

The city says it wants to ensure fairness, and may conduct on-site checks ...
for false or duplicate claims.

Applications are open until December 10th, and the city is urging
unregistered but active vendors to apply as soon as possible.


(IG)

New Taipei City has taken steps to prepare, as it officially enters the stage
of a super-aged society, with its elderly population surpassing 800-thousand
residents.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih made the announcement today, reporting that
the number of people aged 65 and over has exceeded 20-percent of the city's
total population.

To support the rapidly aging population, the mayor says the city currently
operates

120 daycare centers for the elderly. and o
ver 1,400 senior clubs.

Hou expressed hopes that the number of daycare centers will reach 130 by next
year to further expand learning and intergenerational activities for seniors.

(NS)

Taiwan Railway is reporting strong demand for New Year's holiday travel.

According to the company, ticket sales opened at midnight, and by nine this
morning more than 46-thousand tickets had already been booked.

Tickets are available for travel from December 31st through January 5th
through the TRC website, the mobile app, phone service, and convenience
stores.

TRC says the booking system ran smoothly, and seats are still available on
most routes.

The company reminds passengers to pick up or pay their tickets within two
days.

Unpaid tickets will be released again on December 3rd at 9 AM.

(IG)

Lawmakers of the opposition blue and white camps are getting ready to propose
absentee balloting, and the ruling DPP is countering with a proposal of
having two off-days for voting.

Currently all election days are scheduled on Saturdays.

If workers are assigned to work that day, employers must still allow them to
take turns taking time off to go vote.

DPP caucus head Zhong Jia-bin said the bill, which would also make the day
before election day a holiday, aims to make election smoother, reduce
disputes, and lower costs, and that they hope to schedule committee review as
soon as possible.

Zhong also raised doubts about absentee balloting, saying it's likely to
increase the difficulties of election administration and open the door to
Chinese interference.

KMT spokesperson Niu Xu-ting (牛煦庭), on the other hand, said his party and
the TPP will discuss the details of the draft bill for absentee voting before
moving it forward at the Legislative Yuan.

(JL)

The Kaohsiung Health Department is asking that PX-Mart in the city take its
Taiwan tilapia fillet off of shelves after the product was detected to
contain residues of an animal drug.

Health officials said today that the drug, an antibiotic for the treatment of
animals, is a banned substance in Taiwan.

Health inspectors said a sample of Taiwan tilapia fillet taken from the PX
Mart Luzhu Zhongzheng branch was found to contain the substance...

... and follow-up inspections in November showed that PX Mart stores across
Kaohsiung had received 4-thousand 488 packages from the same batch.

Of those packages, 4-thousand 80 had been sold and 408 removed from shelves.

Health officials said they've asked the company to notify consumers and offer
refunds.

(JL)

Asian shares began the week mixed, with Tokyo's benchmark falling nearly 2%
on Monday after the release of data showing weak factory activity.

Taiwan shares are down today, with the Tai ex closing at 27,342 after losing
283 points.

The turnover was 476 billion NT.

The Labor Funds hit a new record high in October due to global financial
markets' rallies boosted by the AI sector.

The Ministry of Labor said the labor fund size totaled 1 trillion 564 billion
NT, with a record-setting monthly return of $300 billion NT.

It surpassed the previous record of $277.8 billion NT set in August.

The M-O-L's data shows as of the end of October this year, the return rate
stood at 11.8-percent for the New Labor Pension Fund, and 18.5-percent for
the Old Labor Pension Fund.

Some 11 million workers are covered by the labor funds.

(JL)

New Taipei City is calling on residents to donate used goods for the
nation’s largest charity flea market.

The city's Environmental Protection Department says its annual market
offering second-hand items will be held December 20th at Citizen Square, and
the department is currently running a donation drive until December 12th.

Residents can drop off their functional second-hand items with recycling
trucks, or designated spots.

The department says the event, now in its 11th year, has raised over
$9-million NT over the past decade, with all proceeds donated to the city's
social welfare fund to help local residents.



The market is part of the city's 45-day Christmasland celebration, which
runs until December 28th and features a "Circus Carnival" theme.

(NS)

The Taiwan Water Corporation says several rounds of flushing and
water-quality tests have confirmed that tap water polluted by an oil spill on
the Keelung River now meets all safety standards.

The corporation halted river-water intake immediately after Thursday's oil
slick was detected near the Badu pumping station.

It switched to reservoir water and deployed 286 personnel for system-wide
flushing.

The incident affected households in Keelung's Ren'ai, Anle, Xinyi, Qidu and
Zhongshan districts, as well as parts of New Taipei's Xizhi Discrict.

Authorities are still investigating the source of the oil spill in the
Keelung River.

And,

Taiwan bodybuilder Liu Ming-yi has won two gold medals at the International
Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness World Bodybuilding Championships in
Saudi Arabia.

Liu first captured gold in the men's fitness model 176-centimeter and under
category, beating 10 other contestants, and then added another in the men's
physique 170-centimeter and under division, topping a field of 16 athletes.

Liu also won gold earlier this year in the men's physique 170-centimeter and
under event at the Asian Championships in the United Arab Emirates.

Some 200 people rallied in Taipei on Sunday for the annual "Autumn Struggle"
protest.

They criticized President Lai Ching-te's proposed 1.25-trillion N-T
supplementary defense budget and urging the government to prioritize social
welfare spending.

The event began outside the Legislative Yuan with speeches on labor rights,
opposition to war and objections to growing defense outlays, before marching
to Ketagalan Boulevard opposite the Presidential Office.

K-M-T Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun attended the rally on Ketagalan Boulevard -
where she accused the D-P-P- of neglecting workers while treating large-scale
military procurement as routine.

Cheng said Lai's proposed supplementary defense budget, covering arms
purchases and joint development projects with the United States, risks
inflaming cross-strait tensions rather than easing them.

Chen Hung-pei of the People Democracy Party also slammed the defense spending
proposal - arguing that expanding spending by "such a large amount" primarily
served U-S interests and diverted funds from groups in need.

The D-P-P did not directly respond to the demands raised at the "Autumn
Struggle" protest...

Instead it countered Cheng's criticism, saying Taiwan has a responsibility to
"be prepared for war without seeking war" in the face of China's continued
military pressure- a principle it said has guided the government from former
President Tsai Ing-wen to Lai.

The Civil Aviation Administration says drone sellers will be required to
register and clearly label key product information before selling new models
from today.

Sellers who fail to carry out registration or labeling obligations will face
fines ranging from 10,000 to 1.5-million N-T.

Manufacturers are required to upload details covering brand and model, maker
information, maximum takeoff weight, cybersecurity test results, National
Communications Commission radio certification, and inspection documents to
the drone management information system.

This information must also be printed on the drone and its packaging.

Drone importers and agents of foreign brands must also comply with
International Trade Administration rules by using Import Regulation Code 617,
a new classification, for remote-controlled drones from today.

The new requirements are based on amendments to drone laws announced in
November of last year.

Taiwan's ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has met with the
newly elected prime minister of the Caribbean ally, Godwin Friday,

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Ambassador Fiona Fan delivered President
Lai Ching-te's congratulations during their meeting, and that the prime
minister asked her to relay his thanks in return.

The ministry has not said when the meeting took place or provided any further
details... but it is believed to have taken place after Friday's New
Democratic Party has previously proposed switching recognition from Taiwan to
Beijing.

Friday was sworn in after the N-D-P won 14 of the 15 parliamentary seats in
Friday's general election, ending Unity Labor Party leader Ralph Gonsalves'
24-year rule.

The new prime minister did not publicly address the issue during his election
campaign.

Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations
in 1981.

variant

The Centers for Disease Control says the current flu vaccine may provide
weaker protection against the new strain... but it is still believed to be
effective in cutting the risk of severe illness.

That new strain of the flu virus now accounts for nearly 90-per cent of
confirmed flu cases.

Health officials first detected variant in July, and it has since climbed
from 30.8-per cent in July to 87.7-per cent in October.

C-D-C spokeswoman Tseng Shu-hui says studies indicate the flu vaccine
maintains strong performance in reducing severe illness and hospitalization
risk, despite declining protection against infection.

The C-D-C says overall flu outbreak activity here in Taiwan is now at a low
point and showing a steady decline, after this year's vaccination drive
started in October.

However, officials are warning that flu activity could rise again after the
New Year period, with the next peak expected around the Lunar New Year.

A fugitive convicted of murder in 2000 and who spent more than a decade
hiding in Indonesia under an assumed identity has been repatriated to Taiwan.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau says the 47-year-old man was recently
flagged by Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration as a suspicious
foreign national and reported to its office in Indonesia.

After he was indentified, Indonesian and Taiwanese authorities worked
together and arrested him on Wednesday of last week in Jakarta.

The man was wanted for his involvement in a 1999 fight and stabbing case in
Taipei's Tianmu which resulted in the death of one person, and two others
suffering injuries.

He was sentenced to 11 years in prison for homicide in 2000, and continued to
receive heavy sentences after multiple appeals.

The man fled Taiwan March 2011.

He was listed as a major wanted fugitive by the Supreme Prosecutors Office in
2024.

The D-P-P has marked the 29th anniversary of the murder of feminist pioneer
Peng Wan-ru by celebrating her impact on gender equality reforms.

Peng disappeared in Kaohsiung while campaigning for a proposal to reserve
one-quarter of elected government positions for women on November 30, 1996 at
the age of 47.

She was serving as head of the D-P-P's Women's Affairs Department at the time.

She was found three days later, having been raped and fatally stabbed.

No one has been charged with her murder.

The DPP's Gender Equality Department says it is compiling and reviewing
Peng's archives and has begun work on a documentary about her life.

The party says Peng's advocacy later shaped the Local Government Act, which
in 1999 required that at least one-quarter of seats in local councils be held
by women.

And,

Kaohsiung and Taipei have gotten into the Christmas spirit with festive tree
lightings this past weekend.

The tree lighting ceremonies were led by their mayors.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai initiated his city's third Christmas festival to
be held inside Central Park - leading a ceremony to light a tree measuring
26-meters in height.

City government officials say the tree and other light fixtures inside
Central Park will be lit up from 5:30PM to 12AM every day through January 4.

The event will also feature a Christmas market and performances by several
popular musical acts on weekends.

Meanwhile in Taipei, Mayor Chiang Wan-an kicked off the city's Christmas
celebration that entered its sixth edition this year.

Chiang lit-up a tree installed outside Exit 11 of Taipei's Da-An Forest Park
M-R-T Station.

Christmas lights have also been set up in six major display zones near Da-An
Park along Xinsheng South Road.

The light displays will be on from 5PM to 10PM daily through January 1.

A former US defense official has voiced support for Japanese Prime Minister
Sanae Takaichi on her recent remarks suggesting that Japan could help defend
Taiwan.

In an interview with CNN, Ely Ratner, who served as assistant secretary of
defense for Indo-Pacific security under Joe Biden, said Takaichi's comments
on Taiwan simply reflected Japan's position.

He was referring to her suggestion that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could
constitute "a situation threatening Japan's survival" that could in turn
potentially trigger a military response.

China has taken a series of retaliatory measures aimed at hurting Japan's
economy, including issuing advisories against travel and study in Japan and
suspending the resumption of Japanese seafood imports.

Ratner, now a principal of the Washington-based think tank Marathon
Initiative, blasted China's reactions as "inappropriate."

Citing insider sources, a Wall Street Journal report said Trump suggested in
a conversation with Takaichi that she shouldn't provoke Beijing on the Taiwan
issue ... though he didn't press the Japanese prime minister to walk back her
comments.

Ratner told CNN he's "encouraged" that the Japanese government hasn't backed
down in the face of the threats.

CNA_JvW

The Taiwan Railway Administration is making changes to its ticket-buying
limit and to how some tickets can be purchased.

Currently each person is limited to ordering six tickets at a time. The TRA
says that will be raised to nine starting in January.

Groups of 10 or more of course are possible when arranged by travel companies
well ahead of time.

The TRA also said that passengers are now able to order non-reserved tickets
online and via the TRA app. There are, however, limitations on which trains
the ordering applies to and how many tickets are available per train.

CNA_zh_JvW

Ten music acts take to the stage today at Taipei's Maji Square for the 2025
Taipei International Blues Bash.

Organizers say each performance tells a story -- from the misty Mississippi
Delta to big-city Chicago electric blues and jumping swing rhythms.

John Eastwood from Eiger Law -- one of the event's sponsors -- says the Blues
Bash invites audiences to share in the joy of a live musical performance ...
and to connect with cultures from around the world.

Audio: John Eastwood support live music 0:26
Out: ?存upport this

The Taipei International Blues Bash is free of charge. It's on now and runs
until 10 tonight at Taipei's Maji Square. That's over by the Yuan Shan MRT
Station.

The Taiwan Space Agency says the first satellite of the Formosat-8
constellation project has successfully lifted off from the Vandenberg Space
Force Base in California.

SpaceX's Transporter-15 rocket carried the satellite to space early this
morning. It's the first of eight satellites in the Formosat- 8 constellation,
which is expected to capture ground details at a resolution of 1 meter as
part of efforts to counter the natural disasters and security risks Taiwan
faces

That resolution sharpens to 0.7 meters after processing.

The launch had been postponed five times due to conflicts in launch
schedules, a government shutdown in the United States and the need for more
preparatory work to be done before liftoff.

CNA_JvW

Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture has removed Spain from the list of countries
that are free of African Swine Fever. This comes after the carcasses of two
wild boars were found to be contaminated with the disease near Barcelona on
Wednesday.

Starting today shipments of live hogs or pork from Spain are prohibited.
Currently, there aren't any direct flights from Spain, decreasing the
likelihood of pork entering by plane, but authorities note that shipments via
mail or express services are still a vulnerability.

They're warning residents not to receive such shipments from Spain, effective
immediately. First-time violators of the new prohibition on Spanish pork will
be fined NT$200,000.

CNA_zh_JvW

In community news ...

If you're looking for a way to enjoy your Saturday in Taipei check out the
Taipei International Blues Bash.

The celebration of the Blues as a global art form unites musicians from
Europe, the Americas and Asia for one day at Maji Square ... that's near the
YuanShan MRT Station.

Adam McMillan, curator at Baiwin Antiques -- one of the event's sponsors --
says the musical influences of Blues are far and wide, making this an event
music lovers won't want to miss.
Audio: Adam McMillan Blues 0:26
Out: Blues Music

The Taipei International Blues Bash is free, it's happening right now ... and
it'll continue until 10pm at Maji Square.

Yes ... that's the same venue as the German Christmas Market, which is around
the corner from the Blues Bash and will also be open tomorrow.

committee

A KMT-proposed amendment that would allow China-born spouses of Taiwanese
citizens to run for and hold public office without first renouncing their
Chinese citizenship has been referred to a legislative committee for review.

The proposed amendment follows several recent cases in which local officials
born in China and married to Taiwanese nationals were removed from office
after failing to provide proof that they had relinquished their Chinese
nationality.

President Lai Ching-te urged lawmakers not to advance the proposal, saying
there is no need to amend the Nationality Act "in a way that removes the
expectation of single allegiance for immigrants from China."

He called on proponents of the amendment to "think carefully" and prioritize
safeguarding national security and unity.

Lai stressed the many contributions that immigrants from a variety of places,
including China, have made to Taiwan. According to the Taipei Times, he said
amending the act could increase social concerns and undermine social harmony.

A section of the southern cross-island highway that's been closed for the
past four months will be re-opened on Monday.

Taiwan's Highway Bureau said the section from Yakou to Xiangyang will be
re-opened, but traffic will still be restricted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays as workers put the final touches on repairs made after damage from
Typhoon Danas in early July and torrential rains later that month.

The highway bureau reminds drivers to read roadside bulletin boards carefully
and be aware that landslides are still a possibility.

CNA_zh_JvW

Taiwan's top envoy to Japan, Lee Yi-yang, has thanked the Japanese public for
"understanding the differences between Taiwanese and Chinese people."

In a social media post, Lee cited recent survey data showing that nearly 75
percent of Japanese respondents feel an affinity toward Taiwan ... in
contrast with a 2024 poll that found 89 percent hold negative views of China.

Lee's remarks followed a Wednesday post by the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office in Japan that read "Taiwan is Taiwan, not Taiwan
Province."

It was seen as a response to a post by China's ambassador to Japan on Tuesday
that said, "people from all sectors in Taiwan Province are demanding that
Sanae Takaichi apologize for her erroneous remarks."

The so-called erroneous remarks in turn referred to the Japanese prime
minister's Nov. 7 statement in parliament that a Chinese naval blockade of
Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan.

CNA_JvW

Soaring demand for AI is boosting both exports and investment, prompting the
Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics to sharply raise
Taiwan's 2025 economic growth forecast to 7.37 percent from its August
forecast of 4.45 percent.

The GDP growth rate was increased on the back of upward revisions to exports,
imports, private consumption, and private investment for the full year.

According to the DGBAS's latest forecast, merchandise exports are expected to
reach US$625 billion this year and US$664.4 billion next year, up 6 percent
and 10 percent, respectively, from previous projections.

If the forecast holds, it would mark Taiwan's fastest growth rate in 15
years, after 2010's 10.25 percent.

The DGBAS is projecting 2026 economic growth to be at a healthy rate of 3.54
percent despite the high 2025 base. A stats official said the 2026 forecast
was conservative, as it factors in uncertainty over potential US tariffs or
other trade restrictions that may not come to pass.

CNA_JvW

In community news,

The holiday season is just around the corner, and if you're looking for a
taste of an "old world" Christmas... check out the Taipei European Winter
Festival... today and tomorrow.

It's happening in the heart of Taipei's Xinyi District, and organizers call
it a complete immersion in the warmth of the holiday atmosphere.

Elias Kazi... one of the event's organizers... says this year's festival is
bigger than before, with nearly 60 vendors... and expanded cultural
performances and exhibitions.

The Taipei European Winter Festival features a wide range of European holiday
foods and beverages, as well as desserts, chocolates, jams, lifestyle
products and gift ideas for a European Christmas.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says Taipower is expected to submit a plan
to restart two of Taiwan's decommissioned nuclear power plants by March next
year.

The MOEA said it has approved an evaluation report from the country's main
power provider that found it feasible to restart the No. 3 nuclear power
plant in New Taipei and the No. 2 plant in Pingtung County.

The ministry said it isn't feasible to restart Taiwan's first nuclear power
plant at Jinshan. It said the equipment there is too old to restart safely.

The evaluation report was carried out in response to amendments to Taiwan's
nuclear regulation law passed in May. The changes provide a legal basis for
continuing to operate nuclear power plants even after they've entered the
decommissioning stage.

The No. 2 reactor in southern Taiwan was shut down around the time of the
act's passage. It was the last operational nuclear power plant in the
country.

There's currently no plan to restart work on Taiwan's No. 4 nuclear power
plant in northeastern Taiwan. The project was mothballed in 2014 despite
being nearly completed. Nuclear power advocates have argued that it should be
completed to give Taiwan a baseload source of low-emission electricity.

CNA_JvW

Soaring demand for AI is boosting both exports and investment, prompting the
Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics to sharply revise up
Taiwan's 2025 economic growth forecast to 7.37 percent from its August
forecast of 4.45 percent.

The GDP growth rate was increased on the back of upward revisions to exports,
imports, private consumption and private investment for the full year.

CNA_JvW