ICRT

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.

Posted on 2026-01-27 18:07:13

The Taiwan People's Party remains reluctant to make any commitment about
approving the Taiwan-U.S. trade deal, saying that the government has failed
to provide clear information.

The two sides are reportedly exchanging the legal documents right now.

Taiwan’s negotiating team reached the deal with the United States in
mid-January and announced an overall picture of the terms, including a tariff
rate of 15-percent without stacking, and a $500-billion-U.S.- dollar
investment and credit guarantee in the U.S.

But the TPP says the government has not clarified whether the deal could
include expanded imports of U.S. pork and beef, full liberalization of
Taiwan’s auto market, or stricter intellectual property protections.

The caucus is warning that without transparency, the legislature cannot
conduct meaningful review or oversight, and industries and workers cannot
prepare in advance.

Those comments follow President Lai Ching-te and the National Development
Council's call for the Legislative Yuan to support the Taiwan-U.S. trade
agreement citing South Korea as an example.

Lai warned that if Taiwan’s agreement faces complications in the
legislature, the U.S. could raise Taiwan’s tariff rate as well.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-27 18:07:13

The Consumer Protection Committee is reminding the public that travelers on
domestic flights in Taiwan will face higher refund fees during long holidays
starting in March.

The Executive Yuan announced today that new rules for ticket refunds will
take effect on March 9th, when fees for canceling holiday tickets could cost
as much as 30 percent of the original price.

People who cancel at least seven days before a flight will pay up to 10
percent, while those who cancel on the day of the flight will pay the maximum
30 percent.

Travelers may avoid these fees in certain emergencies, including natural
disasters, illnesses, or attending a funeral.

Officials say the changes are designed to help make better use of limited
flight resources.

Airlines that fail to follow the new regulations could face fines of up to
$300-thousand NT.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-27 18:07:13

Highway Bureau officials are reminding drivers of traffic restrictions on the
new Central Cross-island Highway, also known as number 21 Provincial Road.

Officials say traffic control has already been implemented in the section in
Nan-tou Hsin-yi Township since January 20th, and will last until October 30th
for building a rockfall shelter at the 132-kilometer marker.

They say the road will be opened once every hour, each time for 10 minutes
from Monday through Sunday, under a one-lane, two-way traffic arrangement.

No construction or traffic control will be carried out during consecutive
public holidays.

The Highway Bureau is calling on drivers to heed the control measures when
passing through that section.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-27 18:07:13

Traffic control and transportation arrangements for this year’s Wuling Farm
Cherry Blossom Festival will run from February 13th to March 1st.

The Highway Bureau has planned five shuttle bus routes, including services
departing from Taipei Long-haul Bus Station and Taipei City Hall Bus Station.

As of the 23rd, more than 8,000 bus tickets have been sold — accounting for
about half of all tickets available for pre-sale.

And officials say Tickets are still available.

During the festival period, there will be a daily capacity limit of 6,000
visitors inside the farm and traffic control on surrounding roads wii be in
place as well.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-27 17:07:13

A new survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan shows strong
confidence in Taiwan’s economy.

About 89 percent of respondents say they maintained or increased investment
in Taiwan last year.

Business results were also solid, with 84 percent of AmCham's member
businesses reporting stable or rising revenue in 2025.

Carl Wegner, President of AmCham Taiwan, stressed today the areas where
Taiwan and the U.S. can strengthen cooperation.

On U.S. reciprocal tariffs, only 11 percent of member companies exporting
goods say they were directly affected. But nearly half say they still face
indirect impacts.

Geopolitical pressures remain a major concern as well, with a vast majority
of companies surveyed say the U.S.-China trade rivalry has affected their
business.

(AmCham)

Posted on 2026-01-27 17:07:13

Green Island is now banning older scooters that have not passed recent
emissions tests to help protect the island’s air quality.

The Taitung County Government initiated the measure January 1st this year,
targeting gasoline-powered scooters over five years old.

To enter the island, these vehicles must have a record showing they passed
their most recent mandatory exhaust inspection.

Motorcyclists who break the rule face fines up to $60-thousand NT.

And officials say they can issue these fines multiple times until the vehicle
owner completes the required inspection.

The local environmental protection bureau says the goal is to protect the
health of residents and tourists, and they hope the policy will promote
sustainable, low-carbon tourism on the island.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-27 17:07:13

Police in New Taipei City have seized more than 40 kilograms of marijuana
that washed ashore in a burlap sack this morning.

A fisherman discovered the suspicious bag around 8:35 a.m. near a rocky
outcropping in the Wanli District.

He told authorities he had noticed an object floating in the water several
days ago before the waves finally pushed it onto the beach today.

Officers found 32 packages of marijuana inside the sack with an estimated
market value of more than 20 million NT.

Local police are now working with the Coast Guard Administration to find the
source of the shipment.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-27 14:28:13

India's new representative to Taiwan is pledging deeper tech ties with
Taipei.

Ninad Deshpande said at an Indian Republic Day event that the country will
continue to deepen people-to-people exchanges and industrial cooperation with
Taiwan...

particularly vis a vis tech and "value-added" sectors.

Deshpande also said that bilateral relations have seen "steady and
substantive" progress over the years.

The envoy said that, as India is undergoing a phase of economic and
institutional reform, Taiwan's strengths in "innovation, industrial
excellence, and talent development" align naturally with these priorities.

Deshpande assumed office at the beginning of the year as director general of
the India Taipei Association (ITA)

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-27 14:28:14

The Central Bank is inviting the public to vote online for the theme of new
banknotes.

The new designs will be centered around the theme of "The Beauty of Taiwan."

Officials say, they've drawn up 12 motifs for the public to choose from for
the new bills.

Some of the themes available touch on the ethnic and cultural diversity of
Taiwan; achievements in arts and sport; architecture; local customs...

as well as the flora and fauna of Taiwan; and gender equity.

The public is welcome to vote on the new designs on the Central Bank's
official website.

Officials say, the new banknotes are expected to hit the road 2 and half
years after a theme is chosen.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-27 14:28:14

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex closing at 32317 after
gaining 253 points.

The turnover was 793.5 billion NT

Posted on 2026-01-27 13:07:13

Authorities in Taipei will auction off a collection of luxury goods seized
from a criminal organization next month.

The items were taken from a defendant in the "Prince Group" money laundering
and fraud case.

Prosecutors say the group operated a large crime network based in Cambodia.

Nine people have been detained so far in the investigation.

Items going under the hammer on February 3rd include land, stocks, luxury
handbags, and other items from designer brands.

The Shilin Branch of the Administrative Enforcement Agency is handling the
sale.

Officials say the goal is to compensate victims of the group's fraud as soon
as possible.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-27 13:07:13

Officials are warning of poor air quality in southern Taiwan today due to the
influence of a high-pressure system and weak winds.

Tainan officials activated air pollution control measures in an effort to
improve conditions.

They're encouraging the public to take health precautions...

and say that in particular, the elderly, children, and those with chronic
diseases should reduce outdoor activity, wear a mask outside, and keep doors
and windows closed.

Authorities say, conditions may gradually improve this afternoon.

According to the Central Weather Administration, the Air Quality Index in
parts of southwesternTainan is measuring as high as 152...

indicating unhealthy pollution levels for all groups.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-27 13:07:13

Entertainer Mickey Huang appeared in court today to deny charges of leaving
the scene of an accident.

Prosecutors say Huang was driving in New Taipei's Sanchong District last
August when his car hit a scooter, causing the rider to suffer minor
injuries.

Huang allegedly drove away from the scene without stopping to check on the
victim.

Huang told investigators he did not realize a collision had occurred.

His attorney says today that they have already reached a settlement with the
rider.

Huang and his lawyer left the New Taipei District Court this morning
without speaking to reporters.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

In news from and about Taiwan this morning,

The Taiwan People's Party has announced its own version of the government's
defense budget bill.

The proposal outlines specific procurement items and amounts, and also
requires the Cabinet to present a special report to the Legislative Yuan
within one month of the bill's passage, which will be subject to questioning
and approval before budget compilation.

According to party chairman Huang Kuo-chang, the move is aimed at ensure
transparency and accountability in defense spending.

Huang says the T-P-P's version of special defense budget increases the
authorized amount by 20-per cent to address the need to enhance combat
capabilities.

The party chair is also stressing that taxpayers pay a high price for
military procurement and its crucial to ensure that costly items, such as
self-propelled howitzers and high mobility artillery rocket systems are
delivered on time.

The total budget cap for the T-P-P's version is 400-billion N-T.

The draft bill includes a list of procurement items, costs, delivery
timelines, and maintenance expenses.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

The K-M-T is dismissing a report by the Liberty Times, that Beijing had
rejected the restart of the Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum
due to insufficient efforts by the party to block military purchases.

K-M-T Vice Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen says the party is taking steps to restart
the event, but the claims made by the newspaper are solely politically
motivated.

The statement comes after a Liberty Times report claimed the K-M-T had been
working to hold the forum before the Lunar New Year holiday, but the move was
rejected by Beijing, which cited insufficient efforts to block military
purchases.

According to the K-M-T vice chairman, plans to restart the forum, hold talks
with Chinese think tanks and to arrange a meeting party chairwoman Cheng
Li-wun and Xi Jinping are unrelated to military purchases.

Hsiao also stressing that any cross-strait exchanges will be held without
preconditions.

And he's accusing the D-P-P of attempting to link military purchases to K-M-T
visits to China as part of its efforts to influence the outcome of November's
local elections.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research says local companies will have to
increase their foreign direct investments due to the limited availability of
land in Taiwan and growing external demand.

According to institute president Chang Jien-yi, despite the US and Taiwan
coming to an agreement to cut tariff rates, companies will not necessarily
invest in Taiwan, as limited land availability remains a constraint on
domestic investment ...

... and we're certainly not going to see a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
facility in Taipei's Xinyi District.

Chang says the recent tentative U-S tariff arrangement is a "good"
development.

However, is also warning that the formal US-Taiwan trade pact, which is
expected to be signed in the coming weeks will most likely be more
controversial, as it aims to open Taiwan's market to American goods,
including vehicles and agricultural products.

The institute president said while that will benefit Taiwanese consumers, it
will pose challenges to some local companies.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

The Taichung Prison says it will "enforce supervision" of former President
Chen Shui-bian after he announced plans to give a public speech early next
month.

According to the prison, it will handle the matter in accordance with the
Regulations Governing Review Criteria for and Management of Prisoners'
Out-Of-Prison Medical Treatment on Bail.

The statement comes after Chen took to Facebook to say he's accepted an
invitation from National Tainan First Senior High School's alumni association
to speak at an event in Taipei on February 7.

The post went on to say, he will deliver a talk titled "The influence of
studying at Tainan First Senior High School on my political career."

The promotional poster for the event states that the final 30 minutes of the
speech will be reserved for a question-and-answer session.

The Taichung Prison says although Chen has already reported his itinerary, it
will "continue to handle and understand the relevant circumstances" and
enforce supervision in line with the regulations.

Chen was sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple corruption and
money-laundering charges following his two terms in office and was released
on medical parole in 2015 due to health problems.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

high in 2025

The Tourism Administration says the number of outbound travelers from Taiwan
smashed previous records last year -- rising more than 12-per cent from the
previous year .....

.... while the number of foreign arrivals rose 9-per cent in 2025.

According to the administration, data shows the number of Taiwan passport
holders traveling overseas hit 18.9-million in 2025.

That's an increase of 12.4-percent from a year earlier.

Japan, China, Hong Kong and Macau were the three top destinations.

Data also shows that foreign arrivals totaled 8.5-million in 2025, up about
9-per cent from a year earlier.

Japan was the largest source of tourists visiting Taiwan followed by Hong
Kong, Macau and South Korea.

The Tourism Administration says Taiwan had a deficit of 700.9-billion N-T in
tourism value in 2025.

Posted on 2026-01-27 08:12:13

And finally,

The East Asia Super League has significantly increased the prize money for
its champion team to 1.5-million U-S dollars.

The move comes as the regional basketball league is continuing to expand.

According to the league, the runners-up in the ongoing 2025-2026 season will
receive 750,000 U-S dollar, while the third-placed team will be awarded
350,000 U-S dollars.

That represents a 50-per cent increase in prize money for the top two
finishers and a 40-per cent increase for the third-placed team.

The increase reflects the league's expansion from eight teams to 12 in its
third season.

The league features three clubs each from Taiwan and Japan, two from South
Korea, and one each from the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau and Mongoli.

The teams are divided into three groups and the top two from each group
advancing to the finals.

Taiwan is being represented by the Taoyuan Pilots and the Taipei Fubon Braves
from the Plus League and the New Taipei Kings from the Taiwan Professional
Basketball League.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:13

Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Peng Jin-long says the recently
concluded trade agreement between Taiwan and the U-S is expected to enhance
industrial competitiveness, boost investor confidence and have a positive
impact on Taiwan's economy.

Peng told lawmakers the tariff framework aligns with those on Japan, South
Korea and the European Union, and places Taiwanese manufacturers on a fair
competitive footing with major regional peers ..

.. and may even give them an edge over rivals in Vietnam and China.

The agreement was finalized and announced early this month and cuts tariffs
on Taiwan goods entering the American market to 15-per cent.

The tariffs are not expected to be stacked on top of existing
most-favored-nation rates, while Taiwan semiconductors and related products
will also receive the most favorable tariff treatment.

Peng said the local stock market rose 2.6-per cent by January 20 following
the announcement, the average daily turnover increased by 6.6-per cent, and
foreign institutional investors posted net purchases of 7.9-billion N-T.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs says assessments show that exports to the
U-S, were previously projected to decline by up to 7.5-per cent under a
high-tariff scenario, but are now expected to grow by between 0.04 percent to
0.08 percentage points.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:15

Taiwan's first indigenous submarine prototype has began its sixth sea
acceptance test.

The Narwhal drew large crowds when it left C-S-B-C's Kaohsiung Harbor ship
yard for open seas.

The sea acceptance test is a formal series of trials conducted at sea to
evaluate whether a newly built or significantly upgraded ship meets its
contractual performance specifications before it is delivered to the
customer.

C-S-B-C completed the fifth test for the submarine on November 28 of last
year.

Reports have said the Narwhal is still being prepared to carry out diving
tests after moving into open seas... C-S-B-C is refusing say when the tests
will actually begin.

C-S-B-C has been accruing fines of 190,000 N-T per day for breach of
contract since November of last year for missing its delivery deadline.

However, the accumulated amount will be capped at about 4-billion N-T - a
figure that represents some 20-per cent of the total cost of building the
submarine.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

The Shilin District Court has rejected a damages claim filed by 13 foreign
nationals against a Taiwan company linked by media reports to Israeli
modified pagers that exploded in Lebanon in 2024.

The court has ruled that the plaintiffs failed to complete required legal
authorization procedures.

The case stems from a series of pager blasts on September of 2024, involving
devices used by members of Hezbollah.

The explosions killed and injured multiple people, including civilians.

The use of the exploding pagers drew international attention after reports
cited anonymous officials as saying the devices allegedly had "Made in
Taiwan" markings and were produced by Taiwan-based Gold Apollo.

The court pointed to evidence which shows that Gold Apollo had never
manufactured the model of pager used and the devices involved were produced,
traded and shipped overseas by an international corporation, Frontier Group
Entity.

Prosecutors has said the presence of the Gold Apollo trademark on the pagers
was due to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 between the company
and Frontier Group Entity.

Prosecutors closed their investigation into the case in November of 2024 -
saying no evidence was found linking Taiwanese firms or individuals to the
explosions.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

The Chiayi District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 11 members of the K-M-T
for forging more than 1,900 signatures on a petition to recall D-P-P lawmaker
Wang Mei-hui.

Those indicted include K-M-T Chiayi City branch secretary general Chang
Chia-ming and 10 other members.

All were charged with forgery and illegal use of personal data.

Prosecutors say the suspects allegedly logged into the K-M-T party member
database and downloaded personal information of party members registered in
Chiayi City in January 2025 ...

.. and then allegedly forged the signatures of party members.

Two volunteers have been given deferred prosecution for one year and required
to pay a 50,000 N-T fine.

While the initiator of the recall petition has not been indicted.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan says Nvidia has agreed in principle to sign
and finalize all contracts related to it plans to build its Taiwan
headquarters at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park before the Lunar New Year.

The statement comes after the city government's Urban Planning Commission has
reviewed a zoning amendment proposal related to the company's plans.

The Deputy Mayor said the committee has agreed to abolish a 15-meter-wide
road between plots T-17 and T-18 and to merge the two areas into one single
plot - which will be renamed T-1718.

Lee says details of the subsequent plans will be discussed when Nvidia C-E-O
Jensen Huang arrives in Taiwan early next month to sign a land-use rights
agreement for the company's Taiwan headquarters.

The Taipei City Government has said it hopes that construction work on
Nvidia's headquarters can begin in June.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

The Taiwan High Prosecutors' Office has indicted a Taiwanese man and a
retired government official on national security charges -- accusing them of
organizing an espionage network for China.

The case involves Cheng Ming-chia, who moved to Guangzhou in 2008 to start a
business, and Hu Peng-nien, a retired Cabinet official.

Cheng reportedly served as the head of a Chinese government-affiliated Taiwan
youth organization in Guangzhou and as deputy director of the youth division
of the Guangdong Overseas Friendship Union from 2016.

He was also allegedly appointed as a member of the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference Guangzhou Committee.

Prosecutors say Cheng met Hu in 2021, and arranged for him to meet with a
Chinese united front official - who asked him to recruit Taiwanese political
figures as well as active and retired military personnel to obtain sensitive
government information.

Both Cheng and Hu has been detained since September of last year.

Posted on 2026-01-27 07:01:16

And,

Entertainers Hank Chen and Lulu Huang tied the knot at a star-studded wedding
banquet at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Taipei.

The banquet was attended by 650 family members and friends.

The guests included a who's-who of the local entertainment industry - such as
Jacky Wu, Kang Kang, Wang Wei-chung, Greg Hsu, Ricky Hsiao and Wang Leehom.

Chen is an actor, host and comedian and appeared in numerous movies and TV
shows before shooting to fame in 2007 for his role as the sidekick on the TV
talk show "Kangsi Coming."

While Huang has also appeared in movies and TVs shows, but is best known as a
television host and as a co-host of numerous Golden Bell and Golden Melody
award ceremonies.

They announced they were planning to marry in September of last year and
registered their marriage a month later.

The couple were co-hosts of the variety show "Hot Door Night" from 2013 to
2025.

Posted on 2026-01-26 20:07:13

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, or T- I-E-R has raised its
forecast for Taiwan's economic growth in 2026 to 4.05 percent, citing demand
for AI and a recovery in private consumption.

TIER, one of the leading think tanks in Taiwan, raised the country's GDP
growth forecast by 1.45 percentage points from its previous estimate in
November.

Gordon Sun, director of the institute's Economic Forecasting Center, said the
upgrade largely reflects an improvement in private consumption supported by
wealth effects created by the booming stock market and an increase in car
sales.

TIER has forecast that private consumption will grow 2.50 percent, up from
the previous estimate of 2.00 percent.

In addition, the think tank has also raised its forecast for growth in
Taiwan's exports of goods and services from 3 percent to 7.2 percent and
import growth from 2.8 percent to 6.8 percent for 2026.

T-I-E-R left its forecast for inflation this year unchanged at 1.66 percent,
saying falling international crude oil prices and steady services costs will
stabilize the local consumer price index.

Posted on 2026-01-26 19:08:13

Deputy Taipei Mayor Lee Si-chuan said after a meeting with Nvidia that, in
principle, all contracts will be signed before the Lunar New Year.

Taipei’s Urban Planning Commission today reviewed a zoning amendment
proposal related to the high-tech company’s planned move into the
Beitou-Shilin Technology Park.

After discussion, the Commission agreed to abolish a 15-meter-wide road
between sites T17 and T18 and merge the two areas into a single, complete
plot known as T1718.

Lee, who chaired the Commission, announced that the proposal was approved
after text revisions based on committee members’ comments.

He also said after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arrives in Taiwan, they will
decide on details of subsequent plans.

The taipei city government has said that it hopes construction work for the
company's headquarters will start in June.

Posted on 2026-01-26 19:08:14

Taiwan's first indigenous submarine, the Narwhal, also known as Hai Kun in
Chinese, began its sixth sea trial on Monday, drawing many military
enthusiasts to Kaohsiung Harbor.

Fans were spotted waving the Republic of China flag and holding banners to
show support for the submarine project.

The submarine sailed out to sea from CSBC Corporation, Taiwan's shipyard, for
its sixth sea trial, or sea acceptance test, or S-A-T.

The SAT is a formal series of trials conducted at sea to evaluate whether a
newly built or significantly upgraded ship meets its contractual performance
specifications before it is delivered to the customer.

CSBC, the main contractor for the prototype of the Narwhal, has declined to
say when it will deliever the Narwhal.

The company has been accruing fines since November 2025, after missing the
delivery deadline.

Posted on 2026-01-26 19:08:14

Three suspects in the theft of a gold necklace and pendant from a jewelry
store in Taoyuan have been arrested in the early hours of Monday, about nine
hours after the theft on Sunday afternoon.

Yangmei police said the two suspects fled the store on a scooter after the
theftSunday afternoon, and the items have an estimated value of $420-thousand
NT.

After reviewing surveillance footage from the store and surrounding areas,
police were able to quickly identify the suspects and the getaway vehicle.

Police then recovered the scooter and arrested the two suspects at 2 A.M.
today under bridge along Provincial Highway 61.

They told police that they had decided to steal the jewelry because they were
facing financial difficulties.

The case has been referred to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for
further investigation.

Posted on 2026-01-26 18:08:13

U.S. Treasuries

Taiwan's central bank has adopted some dynamic adjustments in its portfolio
management of the country's foreign exchange reserves.

Central Bank Governor Yang Jin-long said today that it's an effort to reduce
possible risks resulting from fluctuations in U.S. Treasury bonds.

His comments come after some lawmakers expressing concern as Denmark
announced it was planning to sell $100 million- US- dollar worth of U.S.
Treasuries amid disputes about Greenland, a Danish territory.

Noting that Taiwan is the 10th largest holder of U.S. Treasury bonds, KMT
Legislator Wang Hung-wei asked whether Taiwan's central bank would cut its
positions in U.S. government bonds or adjust its portfolio of Taiwan's forex
reserves to lower the risks.

In response, Yang promised that his bank will move to do so.

As of the end of 2025, Taiwan's forex reserves stood at $602 billion US
dollars, its second-highest ever.

(CNA)

Posted on 2026-01-26 18:08:13

The DPP is underscoring its positions as pro autonomy, for both women and for
Taiwan.

That's in reference to its opposition to surrogacy and its support for
defense spending.

This comes after former TPP leader Ke Wen Zhe said that he once proposed to
the DPP that its lawmakers would lend their support to the ruling party on
the general budget and the special defense budget...

in exchange for their support for a surrogacy bill put forward by Chen
Zhao-zi, a TPP lawmaker.

Ke said that he had told DPP caucus whip Ke Jian Ming that if his party
agreed, the Taiwan People's Party would then back the government's 2026
annual budget proposal as well as its 1.25 trillion NT special defense bill.

He did not specify when the TPP offered that deal.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 18:08:13

Weapons enthusiasts flocked to Kaohsiung today to witness the 6th sea trials
of a domestically-developed submarine.

The Haikun completed its previous sea test in November, and local media
reported that today's test would be the first off the coast of the southern
harbor city.

However, CSBC officials are still unable to say when they expect trials to be
completed and to begin production.

The company said last Friday that submarine testing procedures are highly
complex and time-consuming, and the top priority in testing is ensuring
safety, followed by engineering efficiency.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 17:06:13

Several DPP lawmakers and civic groups are calling on health authorities to
offer youth-friendly consumer guidelines and to promote related education as
more young people are now using cosmetics.

Legilators Lin Yue-qin (林月琴) and Lai Hui-yuan (賴惠員) said according to a
recent survey, the use of cosmetics among children and adolescents is
widespread.

Some 68 percent of respondents said they had used cosmetics, and nearly 80
percent of senior high school students report doing so.

About half of elementary school children said they had used cosmetics as well.

Lin said that as cosmetics become more popular among minors, “appearance
anxiety” driven by social media and peer pressure is also rising.

She said efforts should be made to help young people build a healthy
self-image and ensure both physical and mental well-being.

Lai also suggested that schools actively teach students how to identify
ingredients, understand how cosmetic products may affect the body and learn
proper skincare and cleansing practices.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-26 17:06:15

The New Taipei City Library is encouraging residents to donate unwanted books
and borrow it's "reading bags" as part of its Lunar New Year celebrations.

From February 2nd to 12th, the library says it will provide free home pickup
for anyone donating 100 books or more.

These books will be placed at "Book Crossing" stations for travelers and
tourists to take and read for free during the holiday.

From February 9-th to 13th, readers can also participate in borrowing the
library's "reading bags", each containing five curated books, allowing
readers to discover new genres wtihout seeing the titles first.

And from February 7th to the 23rd, the library is raising the checkout limit
from 30 to 40 items, while return deadlines will also be extended until after
the holiday.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-26 16:14:13

Some lawmakers are calling for zero tariffs on U.S.-made car imports, but
Finance Minister Zhuang Cui-yun said she'll wait until after Taiwan signed a
trade agreement with the United States.

According to DPP lawmaker Wang Shi-jian, currently Taiwan levies a 17.5
percent tariff on U.S.-made cars, higher than Japan’s zero tariff on
imported vehicles.

He asked whether Taiwan may lower its import tariff on vehicles in the
future, and whether it could cut the rate to zero.

On health supplements, Wang said Taiwan’s current import tariff is 30
percent, much higher than South Korea’s 8 percent and Japan’s 14.5 percent.

In response, Zhuang said as Taiwan and the U.S. are still finalizing the
legal text, she will report to the public on those issues once the agreement
is signed.

Separately, Zhuang said neither her Ministry nor Taipei 101 provided any
funding or sponsorship for Alex Honnold’s ascent of the skyscraper.

She said Taipei 101 only provided the venue, and handled related coordination
and promotional efforts.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-26 16:14:13

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai announced new subsidies today to help more than
12-thousand families with housing and rental costs.

The city is doubling the amount of social housing reserved for newlyweds and
families with children.

The quota for these specific groups will increase from 20 percent to 40
percent of available units.

The mayor also introduced an upgraded rental subsidy program.

Families with children aged 2 and under will see their subsidies increase by
1.5 times.

Additionally, parents will receive an extra $2-thousand NT for every child
aged 12 and under who is registered in Kaohsiung.

The mayor says the goal of the plan is to reduce the financial pressure on
parents and make it easier to raise children in the city.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-26 15:18:13

The KMT is continuing its nomination process for the Taichung mayoral post.

Deputy legislative speaker Jiang Qi Chen says today that he hopes his party
can make a decision as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile his opponent, lawmaker Yang Qiong Ying said she was looking forward
to another meeting with Jiang and the KMT leadership to see who should run
for the Taichung mayor's office.

The first such meeting failed to produce an agreement.

Current Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu Yan yesterday said that, if another meeting
failed to arrive at a consensus, the party should conduct primaries before
the end of Feburary.

Whoever the KMT puts forward, they will face the DPP's He Xin Chun in
November.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 15:18:14

Central Bank Governor Yang Jin-long has reassured the public that Taiwan's
risk exposure to U.S. dollars is not as high as the International Monetary
Fund's estimate.

Yang's comments follow an IMF report released in mid-January that said Taiwan
has the highest US dollar exchange rate exposure in the world.

It noted that Taiwan’s US dollar asset holdings amount to 45 times the
monthly trading volume of its foreign exchange market, compared with South
Korea's 25 times.

The report said this means that Taiwan’s foreign exchange market lacks
depth, and it may be unable to digest such a huge shock in a short period of
time.

Yang today called the IMF’s assessment of Taiwan’s exchange-rate risk
exposure "a misunderstanding," saying his bank’s calculation puts the figure
at around 20 times.

Therefore, Yang said he's not "very nervous", adding that the central bank
will take the IMF’s views into consideration.

He noted that as of the end of 2025, Taiwan’s foreign exchange reserves were
about $602.5 billion U.S. dollars, and foreign-currency deposits held by the
private sector in domestic banks totaled about $301 billion dollars.

These figures indicate that foreign-currency funding supply is ample, with
both foreign-currency stock and flow remaining abundant.

(JL)

Posted on 2026-01-26 14:06:13

Taipei city officials are conducting unannounced safety checks at large
department stores and restaurants to prepare for the Lunar New Year holiday.

The inspections began last week and will continue through February 9-th.

Authorities plan to visit over 40 locations to ensure shopping and dining
areas are safe for the crowds expected during the holiday season.

No violations have been reported since the checks started on January 21-st.

However, the city says businesses that break the rules face an initial fine
of 120-thousand NT, with the fine increasing if issues are not fixed.

The city is also asking the public to report any blocked exits or safety
risks by calling the 1-9-9-9 hotline.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-26 14:06:13

Officials say, the risk of disaster at Hualien's Matai'an barrier lake has
been greatly reduced.

That's following nearly a month of work at the site, which reduced the volume
of the water in the lake to roughly 10% of what it had been before.

The lake overflowed in September, bringing flooding into the county's Guangfu
township, killing at least 19 and leaving behind a thick layer of silt.

Officials say that the effort to clear out the lake was not an easy one;
along the way, workers had to deal with destroyed roads, the depletion of
food supplies, low temperatures in the mountains, unstable weather, and other
issues.

But ultimately, 14 workers were evacuated today via helicopter, marking the
successful completion of this phase of the mission.

Additionally, a team from National Yangming Jiaotong University yesterday
visited an area that recently experienced landslides along the lake to
undertake geological surveys.

Officials say, creating a geotechnical model for the area will aid in
subsequent disaster risk assessment.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 14:06:13

Taiwan shares are up today, with the benchmark tai ex gaining 103 points to
close the session at 32064.

The turnover was 724.6 billion NT

Posted on 2026-01-26 13:07:13

The KMT is downplaying rumors that China is dissatisfied with KMT efforts to
obstruct domestic military spending.

KMT Deputy Chair Xiao Xu Cen called the rumors "completely fabricated."

That's after media outlets reported that the KMT-CCP meeting- originally
scheduled for this month- will likely be postponed til Feburary...

supposedly due to the CCP's belief that the KMT has not done enough to block
Taiwan's military spending.

Local media said that the purpose of the meeting would also be adjusted,
speaking on AI and disaster prevention.

But Xiao says, the KMT will soon explain publicly, and, he says, they're
considering taking legal action.

He added that whether or not the meeting takes place has nothing to do arms
purchases,

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 13:07:13

Taiwan Lottery is offering a record-breaking $1.2 billion NT in bonus prizes
for the upcoming Lunar New Year.

The company says it will hold daily draws for 20 days starting February 12th.

One of the games will feature 480 extra prizes worth $1-million NT each, and
800 smaller prizes worth $100-thousand NT each.

And other games like "Bingo Bingo" will also offer higher prize amounts for
five days starting on February 27-th.

The company expects the record-high bonuses to help increase total sales by
$6.6-billion NT this holiday season.

(NS)

Posted on 2026-01-26 13:07:13

Following his historic ascent of Taipei 101, US climber Alex Honnold arrived
at the airport this morning to depart from Taiwan...

but not before snapping a few pictures with other tourists.

Honnold and his wife, Sanni, caught their flight out of the country this
morning, speaking with fans while waiting in line.

The climber agreed to take photos with those who asked, and said that he
would definitely return to Taiwan in the future.

Honnold became famous for his free ascent of El Capitan in the US.

Yesterday's climb of Taipei 101 was livetreamed by Netflix and reported on by
several international outlets.

(AH)

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

101 climb

President Lai Ching-te has congratulated U-S climber Alex Honnold on his
ascent of Taipei 101.

Lai praised Honnold's courage in completing the challenge through social
media -- saying many people watched either from the base of Taipei 101 or on
television, following a climb that "quickened the heartbeat."

Lai also thanked those who worked behind the scenes to make the feat possible
- and said the Netflix broadcast showcased to the world both the enthusiasm
of the Taiwanese public and the island's mountain scenery.

Former President Tsai Ing-wen has congratulated Honnold - and she said the
challenge not only fulfilled Honnold's dream but also showcased Taiwan's
"safety, order and prosperity" to the world.

The American Institute in Taiwan has also congratulated Honnold's successful
free solo -- saying that he not only set a new record but "introduced many
Americans and more global audiences to this iconic landmark in the heart of
Taipei."

The 40-year-old free soloist reached the skyscraper's spire without using any
ropes... taking one-hour-and-43-minutes to reach the top.

The entire climb was broadcast live on Netflix.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

Members of the National Federation of Teachers Unions rallied in Taipei
against the Ministry of Education's repeal regulations for reporting and
dismissing teaching staff.

The union says it was unhappy with existing regulations which governing how
public school teachers are reported and disciplined following student and
parent complaints.

The body claims the government's current review measures have resulted in an
increase in superficial lawsuits and have left public school teachers
powerless if they face any complaints.

Its calling on education minister Zheng Ying-yao to either address the issue
or step down.

The law governing the performance of public school teachers allows anonymous
student complaints, internal investigations, and punitive review conferences.

The union says the law undermines the dignity of education professionals and
will result in fewer people choosing to make teaching their career.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

The government is describing the recent founding of a "revolutionary
communist" organization here in Taiwan as more of intellectual society or
"book club," than a political party.

The Revolutionary Communist Party of Taiwan announced its formation on
Thursday of last week on social media - days after holding a "founding party
congress."

The group said nearly 20 supporters from across Taiwan attended the founding
event in Taipei.

Mainland Affairs Council spokesman Liang Wen-chieh says the group appear to
be followers of the ideas of Leon Trotsky and adhere to "original Marxist
ideals and humanism," to be point of being "somewhat naive," ...

..... and have been regarded as troublesome by the Chinese Communist Party
throughout its history, subject to purges and arrests.

Liang says the group has not formally registered as a political party with
the Ministry of the Interior, and, given its revolutionary goals, is unlikely
to do so.

However, Liang refused to say whether the government views the founding of
the group to be illegal - saying only that under the Constitutional Court
Interpretation No. 644, political parties in Taiwan can advocate for
communism.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

Deputy Health Minister Lin Ching-yi says the government should consider
establishing "intoxication observation units" in emergency rooms.

Lin said she's pushing for the move due to an increase in incidents of
violence against medical staff - which reached a five-year high in 2024.

Data shows more than 1,600 cases of medical violence were reported between
2020 and 2024.

Verbal violence, including shouting, verbal abuse and threats, accounted for
the majority of incidents.

Although those figures did not directly attribute a specific number of cases
to people being drunk, Lin is inisting that the most problematic cases for
medical professionals involve intoxicated individuals.

Lin says one way to dealing with them would be to place intoxicated patients
in a separate observation area, where medical staff can monitor their
physical condition while giving the individual time to sober up.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

The Centers for Disease Control says it plans to list the Nipah virus
infection as a Category 5 notifiable disease.

The statement follows a recent outbreak of the virus in India.

The C-D-C said it released a proposed change to its measures on controlling
infectious diseases on January 16 -- which would list Nipah virus infection
as a Category 5 disease.

The measure now has to undergo a 60-day period during which members of the
public can comment on it before it can take effect.

The Nipah virus has only been under priority surveillance in Taiwan since
2018, but more than 750 cases have been reported since the virus was first
identified in 1998, with a fatality rate of about 58-per cent.

As a Category 5 disease, the virus will be classified as an emerging or rare
infection with major public health risks, requiring immediate reporting and
special control measures.

The Nipah virus can infect humans through contact with infected bats or
animals such as pigs, as well as through respiratory droplets or direct
contact with bodily fluids.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

The Civil Aeronautics Administration is investigating a Starlux Airlines
flight from Taichung to Kobe after it experienced a hard landing.

The incident occured on January 20 and the C double A has grounded the crew
pending the outcome of the investigation.

The administration said the flight exceeded vertical G-force limits during
its landing, meaning the aircraft touched down with a stronger-than-normal
downward force.

The body says it received a report on the issue soon after the flight landed
and requested the cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data be preserved
and the crew take breathalyzer tests.

Starlux says the flight encountered a sudden gust of wind on approach, which
triggered abnormal system readings, but has not released further details of
the incident.

Posted on 2026-01-26 07:01:13

And,

The Ministry of Finance has released the winning numbers for the
November-December uniform invoice lottery.

P-X Mart says it issued one receipt that won the 10-million N-T special
prize.

That receipt was issued at the retailer's Dazhi store in Taichung, where the
winner spent 607 N-T on fruits, vegetables, fresh milk and instant noodles.

P-X Mart also issued two 2-million N-T grand prize-winning receipts during
the same period.

One was issued at its Datong store in Guishan District in Taoyuan for a
purchase of 168 N-T, while the other was issued at the Wan-mei store in
Taipei's Wenshan District, where the customer spent 434 N-T.

According to the finance ministry, it also drew prizes exclusively for
cloud-based invoices.

Each draw includes 30 winners of 1-million N-T, 16,000 winners of 2,000 N-T,
100,000 winners of 800 N-T and 3.15 million winners of 500 N-T.

Username
Password
Lost your password