China cries foul as Taiwan reviews ‘Starbucks killer’ Taipei expansion

2026-09-09

China’s self-dubbed “Starbucks killer” is at the center of a fresh cross-strait row. We’re talking about the affordable coffee shop chain Luckin Coffee, which has been hyped up as a dethroner of its famous American rival. Luckin Coffee had intended to open up a shop in Taipei, in the commercial district around Nanjing Fuxing MRT station. But after nine months of setting up the space, preparing supplies, and hiring staff, the shop has yet to open its doors. That’s because the business permit application filed by its agent, Shunyu Corp, is still under review. China has loudly decried the delay as political interference. Let’s hear more.

Chen Binhua
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office
The DPP authorities’ continued obstruction and restrictions on mainland investment are unpopular political manipulation.

Chiu Chui-cheng
Mainland Affairs Council
The fact that the Taiwan Affairs Office is speaking up on behalf of this company makes it transparent that it’s mainland-funded. The cross-strait act is clear on this: an application must be filed and approved, and no proxies can be used to circumvent the review process.

Lee Kun-cheng
Lawmaker (DPP)
I’d like to ask the Taiwan Affairs Office to respect the laws of the ROC. Don’t just stand there rambling and ranting and blaming anything and everything on the DPP and Lai Ching-te.

Shu Chin-huang
Current affairs commentator
Most of the ingredients have to be brought over from China, they’re not from Taiwan. So of course the government will have to do more checks to ensure food safety regulations are being followed.

Mr. Chiu
Coffee sommelier
In the market, there is a group of customers who specially seek out Taiwanese coffee to for its distinct flavor profile.

A coffee expert says certain consumers will always opt for local products. But with one cup of Luckin coffee going for as low as NT$45, the biggest impact would be on convenience stores and affordable chain coffee shops. Foreign investments in Taiwan usually have to be reviewed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. But for investments from China, the checks are more strict. Reports say Luckin coffee plans to circumvent the restrictions by expanding to Taiwan via Singapore instead.

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#luckincoffee #cafe #coffeeshop #barista #investment

未審先跑? 中國"瑞幸咖啡"爆繞道登台國台辦護航批政治操弄

2026-09-09

有"星巴克殺手"之稱的中國連鎖平價咖啡瑞幸咖啡，登台卡關近9個月，但位在台北南京復興商圈的預定店面，裝潢、備料跟徵才都已經到位，疑似要強行開幕，但事實上，代理商順昱控股投遞的公司申請，還停在審查中，對此，國台辦跳出來高分貝護航，痛批台灣阻撓投資，是政治操作。

[[國台辦發言人陳斌華]]
“民進黨當局繼續阻撓限制大陸投資，是不得人心的政治操弄”

[[陸委會主委邱垂正]]
“國台辦都替這個廠商說話，更能說明是陸資嘛，我們兩岸條例也很清楚，應該要申請落地，同時不要用人頭規避審查”

[[立委(民) 李坤城]]
“請國台辦要尊重中華民國的法律，不要在旁邊指指點點，說三道四，什麼事情都要推給民進黨、賴給清德”

[[時事評論員徐嶔煌]]
“你的原物料大部分是來自於中國產，不是來自於台灣製造嘛，那政府當然必須要給予比較多，在食安啦，或是對他法規的審查嘛”

[[台灣精品咖啡業者邱先生]]
“消費者選擇上面是有一群，他們會為了不同的咖啡風味，而特別去挑選台灣的咖啡”

精品咖啡業對台灣味，有信心，但瑞幸不時推出約新台幣45元優惠價，超商、連鎖平價咖啡品牌，首當其衝。由於外國企業來台投資，一般得經過經濟部投審司審查，不過中國較為嚴格，現在也傳出，瑞幸意圖繞道，打算透過「代理人」進來，改用「新加坡瑞幸」公司當代理商。

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Drone training site in Yunlin to close after noise complaints

As Taiwan pushes to develop its drone industry, one drone testing site in a remote part of Yunlin is closing on Sept. 16 following noise complaints from nearby residents. People who practice flying drones there say places like this, where people can prepare for a license test, are few and far between.

A drone makes a smooth landing on the runway, well controlled by its pilot. This drone flying site in Yunlin, where many people take their pilot test, is being forced to close.

Mr. Hsu
Drone pilot
It’s a real shame, because it’s just little ways down from Taichung. I drove three hours to get here. I think it’s one of the best spots for northern Taiwan, plus the airspace is very clear.

Hsu, who lives in Taipei, warned that without a testing site in central Taiwan, people would have to travel all the way to the south to take the test, which would discourage them from seeking certification.

Mr. Huang
Aeronautical engineering student
I’m preparing to take the pilot test. Our department is pushing for drones, especially with the country placing such importance on them. But with this site closing, I’ll no longer have a safe, legal, and well-equipped space to practice.

Even though this drone site is in a remote part of Yunlin by the Huwei River, people living close by complained about the noise. After local politicians raised the issue, the site is being forced to close.

Chou Ching-shih
Local village chief
Some people fly jet-powered drones, and on weekends it stops residents from getting extra rest. It disrupts their lives.

Mr. Wang
Drone enthusiast
If this testing site isn’t maintained, there will be a significant gap in pilots’ training. It wasn’t easy to establish this site, so we really hope it can stay open.

Taiwan is pushing for the development of its drone industry, but the government, industry, and academia need to address how to balance people’s quality of life with industry development.

#drone #test #pilot #license #airport #Yunlin #noise #noisecomplaint #closing #industry

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2026-09-09

Concert for wheelchair users to feature visually impaired pianist, Cyr wheel artist

For 12 years in a row, cellist Chang Cheng-chieh has held a concert in Kaohsiung especially tailored for wheelchair users. This year’s concert is to be held on Sept. 26 in the main lobby of the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. For the first time, the show is to feature artists from across disciplines, inviting a visually impaired musician and a Cyr wheel performer to give this special audience a fully accessible show, just for them.

Melodic notes hang in the air, flowing through the main lobby of the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts like a spring breeze. A Cyr wheel performer glides along to the music, giving viewers a feast for both the eyes and ears.

Started by cellist Chang Cheng-chieh and supported by China Steel Corp, this Wheelchair Concert series has been held annually for 12 years in Taipei and Kaohsiung. Previously hosted at Formosa Boulevard Station in Kaohsiung for six years, it’s moved to the museum for the last three, giving wheelchair users a chance to enjoy top-tier classical music in a fully accessible environment.

Chang Cheng-chieh
Cellist
Most concert halls only offer six wheelchair seats, which I feel is far too few. Wheelchair users deserve an indoor space where they can enjoy themselves. That’s why we’ve held the event here for three years now.

Huang I-chung
CSC Group Education Foundation director
We hope to offer our friends in the Kaohsiung wheelchair-user community the best musical experience possible.

Tailored specifically for wheelchair users, last year’s concert invited 12 cellists from the Berlin Philharmonic to perform. This year is the first time the show is inviting artists from different disciplines to perform together, with visually impaired musician Huang Chung-en and Cyr wheel artist Yang Shih-hao to create a diverse visual and auditory artistic showcase.

Chang Cheng-chieh
Cellist
It’s extremely challenging, but I find it immensely meaningful, because outside of Taiwan, no such concert just for wheelchair users exists anywhere else in the world.

This exclusive concert is to be held on Sept. 26 over the Mid-Autumn Festival. On that day, the beautiful sounds of strings are to once again ring through the halls of this museum, conveying a heartwarming message of inclusion.

#wheelchairusers #concert #cello #accessibility #wheelchairconcert #Kaoshiung

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2026-09-09

NSYSU partners with University of Arizona on silicon photonics center

As the AI computing race enters a new battlefield, data transmission speeds and energy consumption have become critical bottlenecks. To tackle the issue, National Sun Yat-sen University has partnered with the University of Arizona to establish the Silicon Photonics Arizona-Kaohsiung Center, or SPARK, joining forces with over 20 tech enterprises across Taiwan and the US to develop key AI technologies and international talent.

As the race to build out AI computing power heats up, data transmission speeds and energy consumption have become major bottlenecks. National Sun Yat-sen University and the University of Arizona in the US have joined forces to establish a center for silicon photonics, called SPARK, to advance these key technologies.

Li Chih-peng
NSYSU president
For this collaboration, we’re not just focusing on technology research. We also hope to cultivate more talent. The University of Arizona is considered to have one of the best optics centers in the US, while our university has extensive experience in silicon photonics development and packaging.

The center brings together more than 20 tech companies from Taiwan and the US to expand cooperation in talent cultivation and tech research across industry and academia.

Lo Ta-sheng
Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor
The city government will actively participate in SPARK. We’ll establish a fund for the University of Arizona, Sun Yat-sen University, the Kaohsiung City Government, and the Arizona State Government to all take part. With this fund, we hope to stimulate collaboration between industry and academia.

Li Chih-peng
NSYSU president
Looking ahead, beyond developing key technologies, especially in silicon photonics, the center could help usher in the next generation of semiconductors. Computing speed and energy efficiency represent the most needed technologies in the field.

In addition to cultivating talent, the center aims to have a hand in the next generation of chip technologies. SPARK will connect companies across Kaohsiung and Arizona, deepening exchange between Taiwan and the US in R&D, talent, and industry cooperation.

#semiconductors #siliconphotonics #NSYSU #UniversityofArizona #chips #Kaohsiung #SPARK

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2026-09-09

Taiwan is becoming aware of ADHD, which affects 8% of kids

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a disorder that’s not often understood in Taiwan and many people don’t know they have it. Children who have ADHD may often be mischievous in class, easily distracted and unable to complete their homework in time. According to statistics, 8% of Taiwanese children have ADHD, and more than half of them continue to experience symptoms into adulthood.

Lin Tzu-hsun
Living with ADHD
It’s hard to control hyperactive children and stop them from doing things, so we simply turned the wall into a canvas and let him express himself to his heart’s content.

Lin Tzu-hsun faced his 8-year-old son’s ADHD diagnosis with equanimity. He is currently an engineer and was himself diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 33.

Lin Tzu-hsun
Living with ADHD
I would bite myself, biting myself hard until I drew blood, just to wake myself up. I changed jobs ten times in eight years. The longest I stayed at any one job was a year and a half.

After being diagnosed, Lin rethought his life and pulled himself together to find a new job that suits him.

Another patient who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life is Hsu Wei-chun, who works at a kindergarten. She dreamed of becoming a teacher when she was a student, but she was very frustrated because she could never understand what was being taught.

Hsu Wei-chun
Living with ADHD
I desperately want to cram all the knowledge into my head because I really wanted to be a teacher. I feel like I’ve missed out on so many years of schooling and related opportunities. If I had discovered my ADHD earlier, would I have needed to suffer like this?

With timely medical attention and regular medication, Hsu later successfully embarked on a career in education. In Taiwan, 8% of school-aged children have ADHD, and more than half of them continue to experience symptoms into adulthood even after treatment.

Gau Shur-fen
NTU Hospital
Now that people are more familiar with ADHD, they are better able to detect the symptoms. The games and apps they play on their phones perfectly cater to these inattentive individuals; because new information appears with just a single tap, their difficulty in learning to wait becomes even more pronounced.

ADHD has become a widespread hidden condition nationwide. Although it cannot be cured, studies show that the improvement rate is as high as 80% with treatment. Lin and Hsu, who are successful adults, have worked hard to live with their symptoms.

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#adhd #neurodivergent #neurospicy #children #mentalhealth

2026-09-09

Document leak details China’s bribery tactics to oppress Taiwan

2026-09-09

Taiwan’s Gen Z takes on AI Boom as startup leaders gather in Taipei

The AI boom is exploding, and Taiwan wants its next generation of young innovators to ride the wave. The Boba Tech Summit kicked off in Taipei on Wednesday, drawing more than 300 startup founders, investors and tech entrepreneurs from over 15 countries. But while the opportunities are huge, so are the challenges, with AI demand fueling a global scramble for chips, memory and GPUs. Now, Taiwan’s Gen Z entrepreneurs are looking to turn that chaos into their next big opportunity.

The Boba Tech Summit kicked off in Taipei on Wednesday, bringing together more than 300 startup leaders, investors and tech entrepreneurs from more than 15 countries.

Caleb Chu
Boba Tech creator
Our goal is to bring resources from Silicon Valley and from other countries to Taiwan, so that young Taiwanese talents can connect with the world right here. That way, they can picture their goals and visions and the things they want to do in the era of AI.

Hank Huang
NYCU Vice President
Entrepreneurship is AI. Having domain knowledge is very important. That is, your own experience is very important. Without it, AI might give you a solution, but you don’t know if it’s right or wrong. Or you don’t have the ability to judge whether it is. When you do, it’s because you have the experience to do so.

Semiconductor giants are expanding their production capacity, as AI drives demand for chips. But amid memory and component shortages, some systems vendors have had to downgrade their specifications.

Pua Khein-seng
Phison Electronics Co-Founder
It’s unavoidable. Everyone agrees it’s inevitable, which is why we’re desperately buying machines. There’s a shortage of everything: CPUs DRAM, SSDs, GPUs… Systems vendors are putting half as much DRAM in their systems, because it’s too expensive now, and you can’t get it easily. By using half as much DRAM, they can make and sell more systems. What about the performance loss? They compensated for it with flash memory.

From AI startups to the global memory chip shortage, this summit puts Taiwan at the starting point, showcasing the entrepreneurial strength of the country’s Gen Z innovators.

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#tech #ai #genz #boba #bobatech

2026-09-09

Outrage after parents force crying toddler down water slide

2026-09-09

Taiwanese pineapples debut at Galeries Lafayette in Paris

Earlier this year, Taiwan’s Irwin mangoes made their debut in France’s iconic Galeries Lafayette department store. Now it’s honey pineapples that are being sold at this presitigous Parisian store in a trial run. Already they are receiving high praise in France and there are hopes they can be sold in other markets in Europe. Let’s find out more.

Crates of pineapples are prepared for shipment. This batch of top quality pineapples will be sold in Paris’s most prestigious department store, Galeries Lafayette. Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang acted as a local tour guide, leading a French team deep into Minxiong Township’s production area, where they picked and ate pineapples right there in the fields.

With a big bite, the fresh and sweet pineapple spurts out juice, a perfect testament to the juiciness of Taiwanese pineapples. The secret weapon that has won over the hallowed grounds of the French market is the "honey pineapple," which is scarce this season and has an even higher sweetness level.

Chen Ying-ting
Pineapple farmer in Minxiong, Chiayi
The pineapple that’s making its way into France is the honey pineapple. Its main characteristic is its extremely high sweetness, and it also has the aroma of sugarcane. It’s different from the Golden Diamond Pineapple; its sweetness level is even higher.

Farmers reveal that all of the honey pineapple is edible, even the core, and it received extremely high praise during its trial run in France, successfully increasing the value of Taiwanese agricultural products.

Chen Ying-ting
Pineapple farmer in Minxiong, Chiayi
Our first step is to enter the French market, and in the future, we will also expand to the European market. In France, they are sold at Galeries Lafayette—a high-end department store in Paris—and selling at that location greatly raises the value of our Taiwanese pineapples.

Wang Pei-ju
Pineapple farmer in Minxiong, Chiayi
In France, many people use pineapples to make desserts. I’ve seen a huge amount used for candy, like fruit gummies. It seems that the French really value and enjoy pineapples.

Seizing the business opportunity presented by the French people’s love of using pineapples in desserts, Taiwanese honey pineapples broke through the old framework of exporting to Japan and South Korea and successfully crossed over into the new market of Europe. This demonstrates the top quality of Taiwanese agriculture on the world stage.

#Taiwanexports #honeypineapples #Taiwanpineapples # GaleriesLafayette #Frenchconsumers

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2026-09-09

Sumo wrestlers delighted by spacious trains on Taipei MRT

The Taipei MRT has some heavyweight new fans after a recent visit by a couple of sumo wrestlers from Japan. From the seat design, to the AC and platform queueing system, every detail won their praise. While squeezing onto the seats together, they said that in Japan, they could never sit side-by-side on a train like this.

Two sumo wrestlers from Japan rode the Taipei MRT recently and were surprised by what they found.

- First of all, the seats are completely different. In Japan, they’re usually arranged in a straight line, but Taiwan’s design seems really nice. Standing is easy and there’s a lot of space.

They tried sitting down themselves, and while it was a bit cramped, they seemed satisfied.

- Two people can fit no problem! In Tokyo, sumo wrestlers can’t sit together like this. It’s really amazing. You can even enjoy the scenery go by.

They didn’t just love the seats, either. The AC inside the carriage was also a big hit, and they even started studying the queuing system on the platform.

- It goes to the side.
- If there are a lot of people, wouldn’t it go way back?
- Ah! Then people couldn’t pass. That’s brilliant!
- It’d be great if Japan did this, too.

These wrestlers thoroughly enjoyed their ride. But how do the locals feel about their daily commute?

MRT rider
Finds Taiwan cleaner
Taiwan’s metro is cleaner. The cars are larger, and it feels brighter and more spacious.

MRT rider
Finds Japan cleaner
Taiwan’s metro is quite clean. But compared to Japan’s, I feel like when you’re outside, Japan is cleaner.

MRT rider
Finds Japan and Taiwan the same
Taiwan and Japan are similar.

People often feel the grass is greener on the other side. But the Tokyo area boasts a high density of railways, providing an indispensable service for most commuters.

Uncle Jesse
Travel expert
Driving is inconvenient in Japan, so most people use the railways to get around. Be particularly careful not to ride a commuter rail during the morning rush hour, especially if you have luggage.

A metro system that most Taiwanese take for granted caught the attention of these visitors, which in their eyes offers the full five-star experience.

#sumo #wrestlers #taipeimrt #mrt #publictransport #trains #ilovetrains #japan #taiwan #taipei

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2026-09-09

China cries foul as Taiwan reviews ‘Starbucks killer’ Taipei expansion