Defense Minister Wellington Koo has briefed members of the Legislative
Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on weapons systems the
military hopes to procure under the 1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget.

According to Koo, the defense ministry is seeking to purchase more than
200,000 U-A-Vs, as well as precision artillery, long-range missiles, air
defense missiles and anti-tank missiles.

Koo told lawmakers during the closed-door session that lawmakers will be
given a detailed explanation in regards to the weapons systems being eyed by
the defense ministry, when the special defense budget has been referred to
committee review.

The Ministry of National Defense released information concerning planning and
implementation details for the proposed budget after the legislative
committee meeting had concluded.

They include precision artillery platforms and munitions, long-range
precision strike missiles, U-A-Vs and counterdrone systems, air-defense and
ballistic missile defense systems, and related equipment to strengthen
sustained combat capabilities.

Premier Zhuo Rong Tai greeted the government's trade negotiation team when
they returned to Taiwan yesterday from the US...

commending them for achieveing a tariff reduction from the Trump
administration.

Zhuo told reporters at Taoyuan international airport that the team, led by
vice premier Zheng Li Jun, negotiated a "substantive" and "meaningful" deal
with the US.

Zheng herself said that the trade agreement proved that the "hard work of the
Taiwanese people... had become a key force in the world," showing that the
world "needs Taiwan."

The team returned after reaching a preliminary agreement with the US last
week on the reduction of tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15% from 20%...

in return for Taiwan semiconductor and tech comapnies investing at least 250
billion US dollars in the country.

That figure includes a 100 billion dollar investment from TSMC announced in
March of last year.

As part of the new agreement, Taiwan has also agreed to provide up to 250
billion dollars in credit guarantees for financial institutions to support
invesment in the US.

The terms of the agreement will be signed as part of a formal trade pact,
which would require approval by the Legisative Yuan.

KMT heavyweights yesterday declined to return criticism angled at them from
TPP founder Ke Wen Zhe...

as the two opposition parties seek to work together in local elections later
this year.

Ke over the weekend slammed KMT Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An over his decision
to offer free school lunches to all elementary and junior high school
students rather than only those who have financial need.

Ke called the policy "populist governance."

He also dismissed Taipei's policy of providing free milk for students as a
way of "deceiving voters, with no real significance."

Ke went on to claim that the failure of the Great Recall was due to public
anger over his indictment rather than satisfaction with the KMT itself.

But when asked about the comments yesterday, Deputy KMT chair Xiao Xu Cen
brushed it off, saying that Ke is "straightforward" and that the KMT did
indeed need the TPP in order to defeat recall efforts.

Meanwhile Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan An defended his free lunch policy, saying
it would ease the burden on working families.

about simplified

The Minister of Education yesterday said that the government understands the
need for educational support for "new immigrants."

That's after a complaint about the complexity of traditional Chinese
characters gained media attention.

Several media outlets reported recently that a so-called "Chinese spouse"
posted online that writing traditional Chinese characters in Taiwan was a
pain.

She went on to express that Taiwan's "reunification" with China would allow
the use of simplified characters.

Education Minister Zheng Ying Yao said that Taiwan is a multicultural
society, and that the needs arising from marriages between Taiwanese and
Chinese people are "understandable."

Zheng said children of "new immigrants" who may have previously learned
simplified will need assistance after coming to Taiwan, both in their daily
lives and in school.

Zheng noted that local education departments across Taiwan provide
transitional learning programs as well as language counseling and assistance.

Taxi fares across northern Taiwan are set to rise temporarily during the
Lunar New Year period.

That's according to announcements from local governments yesterday.

In New Taipei, Taipei, and Keelung a 30 NT surcharge will be added to taxi
fares between Feburary 11th and 22nd...

while an additional 20 NT will apply to nighttime rides during the same
period.

Officials say, the nighttime fee will be automatically calculated by the
meter, while the 30 NT holiday surcharge will be manually entered by drivers.

Meanwhile in Taoyuan, fares will increase by 50 NT during the holiday, from
Feburary 13th to 22nd.

Taxi services from the Taoyuan International Airport will be subject to a
higher surcharge of 100 NT per trip during the same period, according to the
local government.

And for trips that extend into the nighttime surcharge hours, fares in
Taoyuan will be calculated based on when the passenger got into the taxi.

Taiwan's first women's bobsleigh team, known as "ice baby," is training
intensively in hopes of qualifying for this year's Winter Olympics next
month.

That's less than two years after the team was formed.

The team is led by pilot Lin Xin Rong (林欣蓉), who is seen as having
virtually secured qualification in the women's monobob and the two-woman
bobsleigh events after placing in the top 6 at compeitions in Europe and
North America.

At a press conference yesterday, team members described the challenges of
pursuing Olympic qualification with limited winter sports resources...

having to rent sleds from overseas and repairing equipment that's past its
prime.

The Winter Olympics will be held in Italy from February 6th to 22nd.

7-Eleven is setting a new record for the most expensive cup of coffee ever
sold in a Taiwan convenience store.

Starting tomorrow, the company is launching a premium hand-brewed Royal Bean
Geisha Estate coffee under its 'Unbelievable Coffee' brand, priced at two
thousand NT per cup.

However, this ultra-premium brew will only be available at five select
locations nationwide.

The move comes as international coffee bean prices remain high.

7-Eleven says the strategy helps widen its product range without raising
prices for its mainstream CITY CAFE lineup.

Meanwhile, rival FamilyMart is taking a different approach with a more
budget-friendly option.

It's launching its own Alishan-blend coffee at over 4 thousand stores this
week, but keeping prices firmly under one hundred NT.

(IG)

Taiwan shares hit another record high on Monday, driven by renewed strength
in TSMC and gains across AI-related sectors.

TSMC shares rose more than one percent, briefly hitting a record intraday
high of 1,780 NT.

That surge helped push the benchmark Tai-ex up 230 points to a record close
of 31,639 ... with market turnover just shy of 800 billion NT.

While the NT shed 1.8 cents, to trade at 31.59 to the U-S Dollar.

Analysts say buying interest is spreading well beyond TSMC.

Stocks in memory chips, PCBs, and semiconductor materials all climbed during
the day's trading ... on expectations of tight supply and rising prices.

Analysts add that even if TSMC pauses after all these recent gains, strong AI
demand is still supporting the market, with Taiwan's bullish trend unchanged.

(IG)

The DPP legislative caucus has filed a legal challenge with the
constitutional court ... seeking to block a bill that would halt planned
pension cuts for government workers through 2029.

The move follows similar challenges by the Cabinet and the Examination Yuan
... and comes just weeks after President Lai Ching-te signed into law
amendments passed by the legislature ...

... amendments that would halt planned reductions of pensions for teachers,
civil servants and military personnel.

DPP caucus leader Ko Jian-ming warns that if the cuts are suspended, the
pension fund could face premature bankruptcy and create what he calls
"intergenerational injustice".

However, the legal challenge faces a major hurdle, as the Constitutional
Court currently has only eight sitting justices—two short of the legal
minimum required to rule on a case.

(JL/IG)

The Tourism Administration says hotel bookings for the Lunar New Year holiday
are picking up, with Chiayi City leading at nearly 56 percent.

That figure covers the period from Februrary 14th to the 21st ...

... with officials attributing the lead to returning families and tourists
visiting the Alishan Forest Railway.

Miaoli and Tainan follow closely, at 51 and 49 percent respectively,
maintaining their status as holiday favorites.

Overall, five other regions—including New Taipei, Taichung, and Taitung—are
also outperforming the national average of 38 percent.

The agency notes these figures are based on early reports, and final
occupancy rates may rise ... as travelers book closer to the holiday.

Officials note that the peak travel window falls between February 17th and
19th, coinciding with the first three days of Lunar New Year.

(IG)

7-Eleven is setting a new record for the most expensive cup of coffee ever
sold in a Taiwan convenience store.

Starting this Wednesday, the company is launching a premium hand-brewed Royal
Bean Geisha Estate coffee under its 'Unbelievable Coffee' brand, priced at
two thousand NT per cup.

However, this ultra-premium brew will only be available at five select
locations nationwide.

The move comes as international coffee bean prices remain high.

7-Eleven says the strategy helps widen its product range without raising
prices for its mainstream CITY CAFE lineup.

Meanwhile, rival FamilyMart is taking a different approach with a more
budget-friendly option.

It's launching its own Alishan-blend coffee at over 4 thousand stores this
week, but keeping prices firmly under one hundred NT.

(IG)

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said on Tuesday that the number
of green iguanas removed last year reached a record high of 260-thousand.

This year, efforts will focus on removing reproductively capable adults,
defined as individuals with a snout-to-vent length of at least 30
centimeters.

Bounties for adult captures have also increased, with the reward raised to
$300 NT per iguana from 250 NT.



To curb the growth and spread of the invasive green iguana population, the
Ministry of Agriculture set up a Green Iguana Control Task Force in 2025.

According to data, last year's total removals were three times the number
recorded in 2024.

Forestry officials said in the past, removal programs focused mainly on total
numbers, lacking a strategic emphasis on targeting reproductively capable
individuals, resulting in limited effectiveness.

They're hoping that the new measure will help boost the removal efforts.

(JL)

Premier Zhuo Rong-tai has greeted the government's trade negotiation team on
their arrival at Taoyuan Airport this morning, commending them for the
Taiwan-U.S. tariff reduction and investment agreements.

He said the team, led by Vice Premier Zheng Li-jun and chief trade negotiator
Jen-ni Yang, hashed out a "substantive" and "meaningful" deal with
Washington.

Zheng said the trade agreement proved that Taiwan's technology and industries
had become "a key force in the world," and showed that the world "needs
Taiwan."

Taiwan reach a preliminary agreement with the U.S. last week on the reduction
of tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 percent, in return for Taiwan
semiconductor and technology companies investing at least $250 billion
dollars in the U.S.

The figure includes a $100 billion-dollar investment pledged by TSMC in March
2025, weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump took office according to
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

As part of the new trade agreement, Taiwan's government has also agreed to
provide up to $250 billion dollars in credit guarantees for financial
institutions to support investments in the U.S. market by Taiwan's
semiconductor industry.

The terms of the agreement will be signed in the coming weeks as part of a
formal trade pact.

Failing to bring valid ID was the most common issue reported among exam
takers during Taiwan's college entrance tests on Sunday.

According to the College Entrance Examination Center, that accounted for more
than 100 of the 222 exam violations recorded on the day — the second of the
three-day exams.

Other common violations included mobile phones not fully switched off and
students continuing to write after the final bell.

The center also reported that just over four percent of around 100 thousand
registered candidates were absent from Sunday's test.

(IG)

Education Minister Zheng Ying-yao has dismissed former Taipei Mayor Ko
Wen-zhe's criticism of local governments' free school lunch policy, saying
that he respects the decision.

The comments come after Ko yesterday criticized the policy of making school
lunches fully free, calling it populist and “very useful vote-buying.”

But Zheng said today that the law stipulates that school lunch programs fall
under local government authority, which the Ministry of Education respects.

He added that if local governments require central assistance to strengthen
professional oversight, the M-O-E is ready to cooperate.

Meanwhile Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said the policy aims to ensure children
can eat well, and also to ease the financial burden on families.

Chiang announced earlier this month that Taipei would introduce free lunches
at all public and private elementary and junior high schools.

Almost all other cities and counties later announced plans to follow suit.

(JL)

A national early childhood teachers' union is warning that fixed after-school
staff ratios are failing children with special needs.

The Taiwan Early Childhood Education Union says while daytime ratios have
improved, after-school care remains stuck at one teacher for every 15
children.

The union cited one kindergarten running three after-school classes for about
25 children, including up to seven with special needs.

It says that puts added strain on staff, especially when emotional or
behavioral issues arise, disrupting the learning of other children.

The union is urging authorities to adjust after-school ratios based on the
number of children with special needs.

It warns that without reform, these children won't get the support they need,
affecting both educators ... as well as families who depend on care beyond
school hours.

(IG)

The Defense Minister has told the media that he'll make a behind-the-door
report to the Legislative Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today on the
1.25-trillion-NT special national defense budget.

Wellington Koo said he hopes that the legislature will review the special
budget as soon as possible.

The Committee invited him to make the report today for lawmakers to better
understand the special defense budget, which until now has mostly remained
opaque.

The Minister also stated that military procurement projects with the US will
not be publicly discussed until the Trump Administration informs the U.S.
Congress of the items.

He stressed that his Ministry respects the Legislative Yuan's authority,
saying the defense procurement plans, including commercial purchases or
commissioned manufacturing, will be arranged based on the level of funding
ultimately approved by the Legislature.

(AH)

Crashes

The Highway Bureau is sounding the alarm on road safety after five fatal
accidents were reported on national freeways last month.

According to the bureau, they were all 'A1' accidents—those where a victim
dies at the scene or within 24 hours.

And four of them were caused by rear-end collisions.

The Bureau says the most common cause is simply following too closely to the
vehicle in front.

Drivers are being urged to maintain a safe distance and stay alert for sudden
stops.

Officials also advise smaller vehicles to avoid driving between large trucks.

If that can't be avoided, drivers should closely monitor front and rear
distances and change lanes when safe.

And in heavy traffic, don't be afraid to use hazard warning lights to alert
large vehicles behind to slow down.

(IG)

Taiwan shaires rose today led by TSMC stock price. After some fluctuations,
it soared to 1,780 NT per share, a new record high.

The benchmark Taiex closed up 231 points this afternoon to close at 31,639.

The turnover remained robust, at nearly 800 billion N-T.

Taiwan’s economic growth is forecast at 4.14 percent in 2026, driven by
strong demand for artificial intelligence–related products and services.



The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER) president Lien
Hsien-ming also said the forecast has yet to factor in the Taiwan–U.S. trade
deal, which he expects to have a largely positive impact.



The projection is the most optimistic for 2026 among domestic think tanks so
far.



Looking back at last year, C-I-E-R put Taiwan’s 2025 GDP growth at 7.43
percent, slightly higher than the 7.37 percent projected by the central
government.



The institute also said inflation in 2026 is expected to remain moderate,
with the consumer price index rising 1.64 percent, citing stable global
commodity prices and falling oil prices.



While details of the Taiwan–U.S. trade deal have yet to be released, Lien
said Taiwan’s conventional industries are now on a more equal footing with
South Korea and Japan, after U.S. tariffs on Taiwanese goods were lowered to
15 percent, matching those applied to the two countries.

He noted that sectors such as textiles and plastics have long faced a
disadvantage in international competition due to higher tariff rates.

(JL)

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has announced that he's planning to completely ban
smoking on Di-hua Street and the surrounding neighborhood starting January
31st.

That's when the traditional shopping area is scheduled to open its Lunar New
Year Market.

Mayor Chiang said it's part of his "smoke-free city" policy with designated
areas for smokers.

Officials from the city's Department of Health, Office of Commerce and other
agencies have inspected venues around the Di-hua Street, including Yong-le
(永樂) Market and Da-dao-cheng (大稻埕) Park to look for suitable sites for
smoking areas.

But local opposition was strong as nobody wants a smoking area nearby, and
officials said planning and evaluation are still ongoing.

Smoking was banned on Dihua Street ahead of the Lunar New Year shopping
season last year, but the lack of designated smoking areas led many people to
smoke in alleyways and litter.

(JL)

The Tai-Ex lost ground this morning - with the index falling by over
100-points in early trading.

The main board dropped to a low of 31,350.

The decline came as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw it share price
fall by 15 N-T to stand at 1,725 N-T in early trading.

Analysts says the stock market remains bullish due to positive guidance from
T-S-M-C's earnings call last week and the finalization of trade talks between
Taiwan and the U-S.

However, market watchers are also warning of profit-taking and selling
pressure due to the main board's recent major gains and record setting highs.

Meanwhile,

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing chief financial officer Wendell Huang says
the company's most advanced processes will remain in Taiwan, despite
commitments to expand operations in the U-S.

The statement comes after reports said at the end of last week that T-S-M-C
will have to commit to the construction of at least five new semiconductor
plants in the U-S as part of a trade deal with Washington.

According to Huang, the chipmaker's strategy has not changed and remains
based on practical considerations.

Huang is stressing that the trade deal agreed on by Taiwan and the U-S was an
intergovernmental agreement, and T-S-M-C was not involved in the
negotiations.

And,

The Philippine-Taiwan Business Association has held a handover ceremony in
Manila - welcoming its new president and new board of supervisors.

The handover was overseen by Taiwan's top envoy to the Philippines Wallace
Chow and several Philippine cabinet officials were also present, along with
representatives from the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.

According to newly appointed association president, Hsieh Chia-chen, she
plans to make "Taiwan Link" the core theme of her term in office to boost
cooperation between businesses from both sides.

Hsieh also voiced he support for the Lai administration's support for the
Luzon Economic Corridor initiative - saying the Philippine-Taiwan Business
Association will fully back the government's related plans.

The D-P-P says China is carrying out "cognitive warfare" related to Taiwan's
trade agreement with the U-S to lower tariffs on Taiwan goods entering the
American market to 15-per cent.

According to the party's China Affairs Department, it has seen rapid and
widespread comments related to the trade deal circulating on social media
since the deal was announced last Friday.

The D-P-P says those comments include claims such as "the cost of the deal is
a 500-billion U-S dollars investment in the United States," "it provokes
China," "the U-S is hollowing out Taiwan," and "the government is selling out
Taiwan in exchange for U-S protection."

And,

Badminton player Lin Chun-yi has won the men's singles title at the Badminton
World Federation Super 750 India Open in New Delhi.

Lin took the title after beating Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 21-10, 20-18.

The victory is Lin's first title at the Super 750 level.

It follows seven titles at lower-tier international tournaments and four at
Super 300 events.

The 26-year-old is currently 12th in the B-W-F's men's singles rankings.

The Taiwan People's Party has unveiled its policy platform for November's
local elections.

Party chairman Huang Kuo-chang says the 80-page policy white paper is more
substantive and practical than typical reports submitted by central
ministries to the Legislature.

The platform centers on four core goals ..

.. those being "stabilizing society, supporting families, safeguarding health
and safety, and strengthening industry."

It also comprises nine thematic points covering housing justice,
people-oriented transportation, family support, age-friendly communities,
education, physical and mental health, low-carbon development, industrial
upgrading, and social inclusion.

According to Huang recent amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of
Government Revenues and Expenditures will give local governments adequate
funding through a more transparent fiscal system ..

Huang also says the T-P-P intends to monitor spending closely to ensure
public funds are used effectively and mayors and county heads will no longer
need political connections to secure budgets for infrastructure projects.

The statements come as T-P-P and K-M-T affiliated think tanks have been
holding consultations on election cooperation and have largely completed a
preliminary draft of that bill.

The draft is reportedly now awaiting ratification by the K-M-T.

The Taichung Veterans General Hospital has suspended three doctors from
performing surgeries after video footage surfaced allegedly showing a
medical-device vendor handling part of an operation.

The video dates back to July of 2023 and its release came amid allegations
made earlier this month that a medical-device vendor was allowed to enter
multiple operating rooms and take part in procedures.

According to the hospital, it will fully cooperate with investigations by
prosecutors and health authorities -- stressing that any illegal conduct will
be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The hospital has acknowledged that the three doctors allowed a vendor to
enter operating rooms without proper reporting, but it says an internal
review found no evidence the vendor participated in operations.

The Ministry of Health ordered a new review of the case late last week, after
video footage circulate on by local media appears to show the vendor
performing part of a procedure.

Health Minister Shih Chung-liang says authorities are reexamining the facts
and that a joint task force will conduct on-site inspections at the hospital.

The D-P-P says China is carrying out "cognitive warfare" related to Taiwan's
trade agreement with the U-S to lower tariffs on Taiwan goods entering the
American market to 15-per cent.

According to the party's China Affairs Department, it has seen rapid and
widespread comments related to the trade deal circulating on social media
since the deal was announced last Friday.

The D-P-P says those comments include claims such as "the cost of the deal is
a 500-billion U-S dollars investment in the United States," "it provokes
China," "the U-S is hollowing out Taiwan," and "the government is selling out
Taiwan in exchange for U-S protection."

The department says the claims are counterfactual and deliberately
inflammatory, aimed at causing public anxiety and anger - and is describing
them as a typical tactic of cognitive warfare.

The D-P-P is also seeking to stress that the trade deal has been widely
praised as beneficial to Taiwan by the Chinese National Federation of
Industries, professionals in the technology and machine tool sectors, and
financial experts.

The Central Weather Administration says Sunday's magnitude 4.9 earthquake
that struck off the coast of Yilan Sunday afternoon was an independent event
and part of a stress-adjustment process.

The earthquake struck at at 4:47PM and was centered some 45-kilometers south
of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 6-kilometers.

It was felt strongest in several townships in Yilan and Hualien County, where
it measured 4 the weather administration's intensity scale.

According to the administration's Seismological Center, the quake occurred in
the Heping Basin, an offshore basin in the waters between Yilan and Hualien,
and was caused by the Philippine Sea Plate subducting beneath the Eurasian
Plate ...

..... with fracturing occurring during the process.

Center director Wu Chien-fu　吳健富 says the quake was not an aftershock of
the December 27 magnitude 7 earthquake, as it was centered in a more
southerly location.

Dats shows there have been 20 earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or higher within a
20-kilometer radius of the epicenter of Sunday's quake from 1973 to the
present.

A newly formed company under the 202nd Military Police Command in Taipei has
been equipped with US-made Stinger shoulder-fired missiles and Javelin
man-portable anti-tank systems.

Reports say the weapons systems will enhance air defense capabilities in the
city.

Reports are also citing sources as saying the new Air Defense Company under
the Military Police Command's 228 Artillery Battalion is stationed in
Taipei's Shilin District.

The Military Police Command has confirmed the existence of the newly
established unit -- saying the change was made as part of an ongoing
structural reform of the command structure amid rising military threats.

Defense analysts say equipping the new unit with the Stinger and Javelin
systems is expected to significantly enhance its counter-assault and
counter-decapitation capabilities.

President Lai Ching-te says his administration is seeking to continue
amending to Animal Protection Act.

Speaking at the Dogs and Cats Carnival in Taipei, Lai said the Cabinet has
submitted draft amendments to the Act and those revisions are aimed at
strengthen measures to stop illegal breeding operations and punish animal
abusers.

The proposal also seeks to establish more humane methods to capture,
sterilize, and find homes for stray cats and dogs and calls tougher standards
for reviewing animal shelters.

Lai said his administration will work to promote "adopt, don't shop" and
"zero pet abandonment" policies as part of efforts to encourage more people
looking for a pet to take-in abandoned or abused cats and dogs.

According to Lai, the government will expand cooperation with individuals and
organizations committed to animal protection - a move that is supported by
the Ministry of Agriculture's Animal Protection Division ...

..... which is responsible for coordinating with civil groups to enhance
animal welfare programs.

Data shows that that the number of cats and dogs owned as pets stood at more
than 3.4 million here in Taiwan last year.

And,

Nearly 2,300 people took part in a Penghu County road race that offered a
one-kilogram grouper to each runner who crossed the finish line.

The "Run in Penghu" began in front of the Penghu County government building
in Magong City.

And Penghu County Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu and other local officials sent the
runners on their way.

Participants were able to sign up for a full 11-kilometer race or a more
leisurely 5-kilometer route for adults and children.

Each competitor who reached the finish line at the Magong Caiyuan's Soil and
Water Conservation Classroom was able to claim a free one-kilogram frozen
grouper or a voucher for a grouper-related meal.

The "Run in Penghu" race is held annually with the goal of boosting winter
tourism.

The legislature has passed amendments that abolish provisions allowing Public
Television Service board members to remain in office after their terms
expire.

Lawmakers from the KMT and TPP used their numerical advantage to delete the
so-called "indefinite extension" clause from the Public Television Act.

Under the previous law, board members whose terms had ended could continue
serving until new appointees formally took office, a mechanism critics said
enabled prolonged extensions and weakened governance.

The current PTS board's term expired in May last year, but a new board has
yet to be fully installed, as nominations haven't completed the review
process.

Under the law, the PTS board consists of 11 to 15 directors and three to five
supervisors. They have to be approved by two-thirds of a review committee
composed proportionally of party representatives.

DPP lawmaker Fan Yun said the amendments could paralyze board operations by
deterring qualified candidates who might not want to go through the partisan
wrangling that would inevitably result to fill the PTS board.

CNA_JvW

The Ministry of the Interior says it will start accepting applications for
R&D alternative military service on Feb. 2.

Men born between 1993 and 2004 and having at least a master's degree who
haven't yet fulfilled mandatory military service requirements can apply for
one of 2,600 spots in the R&D placement program.

The MOI said the program has placed 55,000 alternative service recruits at
more than 1,800 employers since the program began in 2008.

Most of the placements this year will be in semiconductor, machinery, IT and
electronics sectors. The employers include Academia Sinica and TSMC.

The MOI says that alternative military service recruits have been responsible
for more than 5,700 patents and publication of around 17,500 research papers
over the years.

CNA_JvW

The Central Weather Administration says temperatures in northern Taiwan are
forecast to fall to as low as 12 degrees next week.

A cold air mass is expected to approach Taiwan on Tuesday, and it is likely
to strengthen from Wednesday to Thursday.

Daytime temperatures are forecast to range between 18 and 19 degrees in the
north on Tuesday before falling to 15-16 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday.

In central and southern Taiwan, highs are forecast to range between 18 and 20
degrees on Wednesday and Thursday, falling to 13-14 degrees at night.

CNA_JvW

The Legislative Yuan continued to block the 2026 central government budget,
but it voted to decouple NT$72 billion for expedited review of public welfare
and infrastructure programs, including the popular TPass commuter initiative.

The KMT and TPP motion unbundled 38 items from the broader NT$3 trillion
budget deadlock. The hived-off portion accounts for 2.4% of the total.

The 38 items will bypass committee review and proceed directly to closed-door
negotiations convened by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu.

The allocation includes NT$7.5 billion to sustain the TPass program through
2029. The program currently serves more than a million commuters.

The DPP's Rosalia Wu condemned the move as an "ambush," saying the motion was
distributed only 15 minutes before the session, leaving lawmakers practically
no time to review the details.

Cabinet Spokeswoman Michelle Lee slammed the piecemeal approach, saying,
"every item in the budget is interconnected and vital to national progress."

CNA_JvW

The KMT is criticizing the Taiwan government for keeping tariff discussions
opaque ... and calling for it to to submit all signed agreements between
Taiwan and the United States to the Legislative Yuan for review.

This follows a tariff deal annouced yesterday that includes a pledge to
invest at least US$250 billion in the US.

KMT Legislator Wu Tsung-hsien accused the government of withholding
information when opposition parties raised questions, adding that the
information provided yesterday remains severely insufficient.

According to the Executive Yuan, the US has agreed to lower tariffs on
Taiwanese goods from 20 percent to 15 percent, with the important provision
that the new tariffs won't be stacked on top of existing most-favored-nation
rates.

The agreement also grants semiconductors and related products the most
favorable treatment.

A KMT spokesperson said the government should have been more cautious in the
negotiations, citing the US Supreme Court's ongoing review of the
constitutionality of President Trump's tariffs.

CNA_JvW

A survey released on Friday by job bank 1111 revealed that NTU is the
university with graduates who are most favored by employers.

National Cheng Kung University is in second place, followed by National
Taipei University of Technology and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University.

The top 10 is rounded out by National Taiwan University of Science and
Technology, National Tsing Hua University, National Chengchi University,
Tamkang University, National Central University, and Fu Jen Catholic
University.

The latest survey also found that more than half of employers prefer to hire
fresh graduates with part-time experience, reflecting their growing emphasis
on recruits' workplace readiness and emotional maturity.

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While TSMC's 2025 revenue and profits were supercharged by demand for
advanced wafers used for AI, its non-AI wafers performed strongly as well.

At TSMC's fourth-quarter earnings call, Chairman and CEO CC Wei said consumer
electronics are still an important part of the fab business.


Wei added that higher demand for smaller processors didn't mean the end of
its 6- and 8-nanometer chips.


The chipmaker has said it's accelerating production capacity to meet
increased demand for its smaller, more powerful semiconductors.

Taiwan-focused business groups have welcomed the announcement of a new trade
arrangement that lowers tariffs and expands bilateral investment between the
United States and Taiwan.

The US-Taiwan Business Council said the deal, which reduces Taiwan's baseline
tariffs from 20 percent to 15 percent, will align it with levels granted to
Japan and South Korea.

The council's president, Rupert Hammond-Chambers, described the agreement as
"historic," saying it would significantly deepen trade and technology ties,
particularly in the semiconductor sector.

Hammond-Chambers stressed that expanded US chip production shouldn't be seen
as replacing Taiwan's leadership in the sector, noting that next-gen fabs
will still be set up here before being replicated in the US.

Under the agreement, Taiwan semiconductor and technology firms are expected
to make at least US$250 billion in direct investments in the United States,
with an another US$250 billion in credit guarantees to facilitate additional
investments.

AmCham also welcomed the deal, saying it provides greater clarity and
predictability for companies operating across the US-Taiwan economic
corridor.

Both organizations urged Congress to pass the US-Taiwan Agreement on
Avoidance of Double Taxation, warning that the current tax framework
discourages cross-border investment and could limit the agreement's
effectiveness.

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