Category：Politics

Lai oversees typhoon preparations as almost 30,000 soldiers on standby

With the approach of Typhoon Bavi, which is the strongest typhoon for Taiwan in 25 years, the central and local governments are taking no chances. President Lai Ching-te, Premier Cho Jung-tai, and heads of various ministries were at the Central Emergency Operations Center early this morning, where they held video conferences with four counties and cities. Almost 30,000 troops will be standing by on alert, reading to help out.

President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai sit in the Central Emergency Operations Center early in the morning, where they receive briefings from various agencies and issue directives.

Lai Ching-te
President
Given the ferocity of this typhoon, the Executive Yuan as early as it was possible implemented disaster prevention and relief measures. We hope that local governments will notify the central government if they have any further needs. I will also ask all central government agencies to do their utmost to assist local governments, especially in the northern region, where daily rainfall levels could reach 600 to 900mm, particularly in mountainous areas. This is an area that requires special attention.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
The president instructed on Monday that 28,922 troops from the nation’s armed forces would be standing by on alert. Final preparations and a final round of inspections are underway to ensure that local governments maintain their capacity for various mobile support operations.

The leaders also held video conferences on the spot with 4 counties and cities to better understand the state of their disaster preparations

Lai Ching-te
President
Under Mayor Hou’s leadership, New Taipei has mobilized all resources. Is there any area where you need assistance from the central government?

Liu Ho-jan
New Taipei Deputy Mayor
Places like Wulai, which can be easily isolated, have already seen our national armed forces and equipment deployed in advance. We are very grateful for the cooperation from the Central Government.

Liu Shyh-fang
Minister of the Interior
Excuse me, Deputy Hsinchu County Commissioner, you just mentioned that there might be some preventative evacuations in the mountains, including places like Jianshi or Wufeng. Rainfall and wind conditions can change greatly in the mountains, so we hope to complete the preventative evacuations as much as possible during daytime.

Interior Minister Liu Shih-fang, who was in charge, kept a close eye on the entire process, interrupting the report several times to ask questions. However, the public was curious as to why Taipei City, which had been the first to announce a holiday, wasn’t included in the video conferencing.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei Mayor
It was because we had already scheduled a 9 a.m. meeting at the EOC office.

With the strongest typhoon in 25 years approaching, the central and local governments are on high alert.

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#TyphoonBavi #Taiwantyphoons #emergencyresponses #Laichingte

2026-07-10

President invites DPP mayoral candidates to hospital groundbreaking ceremony

President Lai Ching-te on Thursday attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a new building at National Taiwan University Hospital’s Jinshan Branch in New Taipei’s north coast. Once completed, the new building will also house a long-term care center. To drum up support for the year-end local elections, the president invited the DPP’s mayoral candidates for New Taipei and neighboring Keelung to the ceremony. He also credited the hospital’s origin to ex-Premier Su Tseng-chang, who was then-Taipei County Commissioner.

President Lai Ching-te attends the groundbreaking ceremony for a new building at National Taiwan University Hospital’s Jinshan Branch in the north coast. Lai announces that the central government will conditionally provide supplementary funding for the project.

Lai Ching-te
President
Here’s the deal. This is our plan: if construction is completed on schedule, before Lunar New Year in 2029, which should normally be in February, we’ll subsidize NT$100 million.

The president invited DPP New Taipei mayoral candidate Su Chiao-hui to the event, while also recognizing the hospital’s origin, which traces back to her father Su Tseng-chang’s term as commissioner for then-Taipei County.

Lai Ching-te
President
It used to be the North Coast Jin-Shan Hospital Foundation. It wasn’t easy to recruit doctors back then, not to mention retain them. When former Premier Su Tseng-chang took office as Taipei County Commissioner at the time, he supported administrative and construction works. Later, as Premier under President Chen Shui-bian, he coordinated with National Taiwan University and NTU Hospital to incorporate this hospital into their system.

Su Chiao-hui
New Taipei mayoral candidate (DPP)
In the future, I hope to attract and retain local talents with subsidies and bonuses for local medical practitioners, so that we can boost the north coast’s healthcare capacity and allow local residents healthy and decent lives.

Lai also invited Keelung mayoral candidate Tung Tzu-wei, for a rare public appearance between the distant relatives.

Tung Tzu-wei
Keelung mayoral candidate (DPP)
We’re in Jinshan, which is right next to the president’s hometown and Keelung. The three places form a neighborhood. I’m very grateful that the president is so dedicated to advancing the development of Northern Taiwan.

The DPP hopes to join forces in healthcare at the grassroots and bring neighboring communities in the north coast together.

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#healthcare #newtaipei #NTUHospital #賴清德 #侯友宜

2026-07-09

Experts and officials from16 countries attend International Ocean Forum

Top officials and think tank experts from 16 countries gathered in Taipei on Wednesday for the opening of this year’s edition of the Taiwan International Ocean Forum. This year, the event will focus on maritime affairs related to economic resilience, strategic stability and international cooperation. At the opening ceremony, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling delivered a speech that addressed China’s launch of coast guard patrols into waters off the east coast of Taiwan. She urged for cooperation among democracies to counter Beijing’s increased gray-zone provocations. This is what she had to say.

Kuan Bi-ling
Ocean Affairs Council
When an isolated incident happens, it doesn’t trigger an international crisis. When tensions escalate, we don’t consider it the start of war. But cumulatively, these constant incidents give rise to a new normal. As democratic partners, we must effectively and jointly prepare and coordinate response mechanisms.

Raymond Sung
Ocean Affairs Council
I think that China is pursuing expansionism under the guise of law enforcement. If that is the case, and China is doing so illegally, then the critical issue would be to formulate a joint response as part of the international community and as allies. China’s so-called law enforcement is actually just expansionism.

Tammy Duckworth
US Senator
China is trying to establish new norms that are not in compliance with what the international order has agreed to and ratified on a global basis. And we cannot allow them to do that because they will continue to push forward.

Also condemning China’s actions at the event was US Senator Tammy Duckworth, an outspoken supporter of Taiwan. Besides slamming China’s expansionism, she called for deeper strategic cooperation among democratic partners to build a resilient and solid chain to safeguard peace in the Indo-Pacific.

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#marine #maritime #peace #indopacific #internationallaw

2026-07-08

Presidential office condemns assault on media personality Yaita Akio

In Taiwan, free speech is enjoyed by all, but with that freedom comes the reality that some want to take it away, especially with violence and intimidation. On Monday, veteran media personality Yaita Akio was suddenly punched by a Chinese man who had come to Taiwan as a Hongkonger, and on Tuesday the Presidential Office condemned the incident, saying in Taiwan violence like this is never permissible.

Yaita Akio
Media personality
If they sent someone here, it’s because they’re hoping to get me to shut up. It’s as if they’re saying they can sanction me from abroad. This is something akin to Lam Wing-kee’s red-paint attack or young exiled Hong Kong activists now living in Taiwan. For China, they use criminals in Hong Kong who come to Taiwan to commit crimes before fleeing. They’ve found success at creating an environment of fear, and so I think this time what happened to me is an extension of that.

Hsiao Bi-khim
Vice President
We absolutely do not condone violence. For incidences like this, I’m confident that they serve as a warning sign for Taiwan. We need to defend freedom of speech, so, going forward, we all need to work even harder.

Karen Kuo
Presidential Office spokesperson
Around the world, China is stalking, harassing, and using violence in order to suppress a variety of voices. When it comes to clamping down on free speech, Taiwan is a democratic society governed by the rule of law, so, for our legal system, situations like this cross the line, and therefore this kind of behavior will not be permitted.

Police found that the Chinese man surnamed Liao had entered Taiwan with a Hong Kong passport on July 2. On July 5, Liao went to the hotel to check out the area’s surroundings. On July 6, Liao, who knew exactly when Yaita Akio’s speech would end, attacked the veteran media personality and then fled to the airport. Someone revealed that the suspect has a criminal record in Hong Kong, so it seems like he was motivated by someone else to come to Taiwan to commit this crime. Yet many questions remain unanswered, such as where did he go between July 2 and July 5? Where did he stay? And, was someone else in Taiwan offering support to him while he was here?

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#矢板明夫 #mediapersonality #taiwan #japan #china

2026-07-07

President Lai thanks Chen Chien-jen, the new President of Academia Sinica

Monday may have been the 36th Convocation of Academicians, but for former Vice President Chen Chien-jen it’s a very special occasion, as the event is Chen’s first since he took over as President of Academia Sinica in June. During their speeches, President Lai Ching-te thanked Chen for his contributions to Taiwan and Chen expressed his gratitude to the institution’s past presidents and its many academicians.

Walking next to President Lai Ching-te is Chen Chien-jen. Both men are attending the opening ceremony of the convocation of Academia Sinica, an institution that Chen has been leading since mid-June. This is the first public appearance Chen and Lai have had together since Chen took over as president of the research institution. After stepping onto stage together, President Lai thanked Chen for his contributions to the government over the years.

Lai Ching-te
President
Dr. Chen, President of Academia Sinica, often says that he aspires to be “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth,” and that he hopes to be a candle, that by being lit can bring light to Taiwan. During a time when our country is facing massive challenges, Dr. Chen brings calm to the masses, and people admire him for being a pillar of professionalism.

Chen Chien-jen
Academia Sinica president
When I first took over as president of this institution, I felt the enormous amount of responsibility this position entails. All the success Academia Sinica has had up to this point is a result of the past presidents of this institution as well as the many years of hard work of all the members. Also important is the many years of support from President Lai, the Executive Yuan, Legislative Yuan, and all of society in general.

This convocation is Chen’s first since he took over as the institution’s president. Over 200 academicians from Taiwan and abroad returned to Taipei to attend the event. President Lai expressed his gratitude to the current and past presidents of Academia Sinica, as the long-term, close-knit relationship the institution and government has had has helped Taiwan find success in many different fields of science and technology.

Lai Ching-te
President
In the last decade, Academia Sinica has achieved incredible research results in many important fields. These accomplishments have played a close role in the government’s planning for the future. For example, Academia Sinica developed its own 20-qubit superconducting quantum computer. Things like this are part of the government’s Ten AI Initiatives Promotion Plan.

Chen Chien-jen
Academia Sinica president
For many of the challenges we’re facing, like the restructuring of geopolitics and the rapid development of artificial intelligence, Academia Sinica is serving as a national-level academic research institution that seeks to provide new methods to solve issues society is currently trying to deal with.

In the past, Chen was Vice President when Lai was Premier, and even though they have very different roles now, both leaders are once again working together.

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#quantumcomputing #AcademiaSinica #AI #kindwords #research

2026-07-06

Four competing drone funding bills face committee review

In Taiwan, the drone debate has finally shifted. It’s no longer about whether they are needed for defense. Instead, the upcoming debate will be about how to fund them. On Friday, four competing bills were submitted to the legislature. The Executive Yuan wants funding of NT$210 billion in a special budget, but the KMT wants funding of NT$240 billion to come from the annual general budget over six years. The TPP also wants funding to come from the general budget, but so far has not proposed a spending cap. A DPP lawmaker has also proposed her own version. Let’s find out more.

After Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu returned to Taiwan from the United States, draft drone bills were finally accepted by the legislature. A total of five drafts were submitted to committees for review. Among them, the Executive Yuan’s version allocated NT$210 billion in a special budget. The KMT allocated NT$240 billion over six years as part of the general budget. The TPP also called for drone funding from the general budget, but a spending cap was not specified. There were also versions from DPP legislators Lin Chu-yin and Chung Chia-pin. However, Chung’s draft was rejected, and in the end only four versions were successfully submitted for joint review from the legislature’s economic, national defense and finance committees.

- You plagiarized mine and silenced mine.
- You won’t allow discussions.
- Eight cheaters.
- False moves.

Chung was furious and confronted legislators from the Taiwan People’s Party, accusing them of “plagiarism.” Comparing the two versions, both emphasized national defense autonomy and industrial transformation. Both called for the Executive Yuan to establish an inter-ministerial promotion committee and designate a drone test field, with appropriate deregulation. The budget ceiling for both was not clearly defined.

Jacky Chen 
TPP caucus convener
The special provisions in Legislator Chung Chia-pin’s version, which had no upper limit, were rejected.

Chung Chia-pin
Legislator (DPP)
This time, instead of submitting the Executive Yuan’s version of defense procurement to the national defense committee, they submitted it to the economic committee, showing clearly that they want the same old scenario to play out again and delay opportunities for defense procurement.

Drones have once again sparked a battle between the ruling and opposition parties. Just a day earlier, AIT Director Raymond Greene and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen held a forum together, where Greene said Taiwan needed a “hornets’ nest” of drones. However, the KMT’s draft bill is being questioned, for KMT legislator Ma Wen-chun had previously drastically cut funding for drones from the general budget. Now she is saying once again drones should be part of the annual general budget, making those in the drone industry worry about their financial survival.

Chuang Jui-hsiung
Legislator (DPP)
The KMT’s stance has been inconsistent. Now that all the versions are referred to the committee, everyone in the Legislative Yuan can be rational.

Finally, draft drone bills are about to be discussed substantively. Which version best serves the national interest? The upcoming debates will be closely watched by both Taiwan and the US.

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#Taiwanpolitics #Taiwandefense #defense #drones #UAVs

2026-07-03

Hong Kong dissident Lam Wing-kee dies in Taipei, aged 70

Hong Kong dissident and founder of Causeway Bay Books, Lam Wing-kee died at Lackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei on July 2, at the age of 70, from lung cancer. In 2015, Lam was taken into custody for eight months in China over allegations that his store sold books critical of the CCP. President Lai Ching-te published a social media post to pay respects, writing that the Hong Kong bookseller conveyed to the people of Taiwan in his most ordinary but steadfast way, just how valuable freedom is.

Hongkongers in Taiwan flocked to the store with flowers after news of Lam’s death broke out. Lam founded his shop in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay in 1994, and relocated to Taiwan in 2019 amid the Hong Kong protests. In 2020, Causeway Bay Books reopened in Taipei. Days before the reopening, he got splashed with red paint by three attackers. In Taiwan, Lam had repeatedly warned Taiwan the dangers of becoming the next Hong Kong.

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#hongkong #lamwingkee #democracy #causewaybay #林榮基

2026-07-03

As the Taiwan ICDF turns 30, diplomatic allies voice their support

Three decades ago, the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund was created in order to strengthen friendships with diplomatic allies as well as help improve the livelihoods of their citizens. Several diplomatic partners shared what makes Taiwan’s approach special. And, perhaps more importantly, they expressed that they’re looking forward to what the next three decades will bring.

The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund is celebrating 30 years, and today the results brought about by the Taiwan ICDF in the last three decades were on full display. This pink eco-friendly athleisure shirt is the result of a collaborative effort between Taiwan and its diplomatic ally Saint Kitts and Nevis, and this gallery of photos allows viewers to witness all that Taiwan has done with its partners in the last 3 decades. However, China’s use of dollar diplomacy to put pressure on Taiwan’s diplomatic allies has also got the media’s attention.

Journalist
Reuters
Taiwan and China, in particular, frequently trade accusations of dollar diplomacy. You know, throwing money at countries to say you must establish relations with us.

Kalani Kaneko
Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Our relationship with Taiwan for the last 28, almost 28 years, has been instrumental in developing Marshall Islands. And we’ve been a trusted partner, and we rely on Taiwan. I personally, I can speak for myself, I personally have not had any engagement with the PRC.

Kaneko emphasized that shared values are important. After an initially scheduled late-April visit to Eswatini was cancelled at the eleventh hour due to diplomatic pressure, in May President Lai Ching-te took a secret visit to the African nation. Eswatini also had high praise for the Taiwan ICDF.

Manqoba Khumalo
Eswatini Minister of Commerce
They are not coming into the country to say this is what we want to do for you. But they are saying to us where do you want us to assist you? And we have seen value in that as a country. So we look forward to an exciting 30 more years with ICDF.

Peifen Hsieh
Taiwan ICDF Deputy Secretary General
For example, in Guatemala we have already had a banana project where we use our technology from our TASA, and for Eswatini, as well, we have implemented many vocational training programs there which teach high technologies and so on and so forth.

Taiwan is doing more than just helping diplomatic partners with farming technology, as the island country is also incorporating its AI capabilities as well as ICT technology. With its multi-faceted approach, Taiwan is seeking to improve the livelihoods of its friends abroad.

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#ICDF #diplomacy #foreignaid #taiwan #international

2026-07-02

ICDF celebrates 3rd decade of sharing Taiwan’s experiences worldwide

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, an organization that shares Taiwan’s technology, talent, and experiences with diplomatic partners around the world. The fund is an example of soft power that shows, in just half a century, how Taiwan has transformed from an aid recipient to a development partner that helps other countries flourish.

These representatives from all over the world touch a button, creating a digital globe that serves as the opening of the ceremony celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.

Raymond Greene
AIT Director
What distinguishes Taiwan ICDF is not its actions but how it approaches local capacity. By bringing hands-on technical excellence, ICDF brings operational flexibility and transparency, rooted in democratic governance, a practice that stands in sharp contrast to predatory lending models that leave partner countries worse off.

Katayama Kazuyuki
Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association
Taiwan’s experience offers a similar and inspiring story. Over the past several decades, Taiwan has transformed itself from an aid recipient into a respected development partner.

In addition to the US and Japan, the guest list of representatives also includes the EU as well as diplomatic allies, including the Marshall Islands, Guatemala, and Eswatini. The representatives all praised Taiwan for how it has helped diplomatic allies abroad. Formed on July 1, 1996, the Taiwan ICDF has enabled Taiwan to help other countries in areas such as agriculture technology, public health and medical treatment, and educational training; Taiwan has formed long-term diplomatic connections by sharing its technology and talent with nations around the world.

Lin Chia-lung
Foreign minister
Right now, we’re taking an integrated diplomacy approach. Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund is a fantastic and important organization. What I can share is that the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project allows us to take Taiwan’s current strengths, from semiconductors, AI digital governance, and smart solutions to energy, medical treatment, education, and tourism, so that our diplomatic allies can achieve what Taiwan already has experienced first-hand.

From receiving help to now being a nation that exports their experiences, the Taiwan ICDF’s 30 years of hard work have created examples of diplomatic soft power that the world has taken notice of.

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#ICDF #diplomacy #foreignaid #taiwan #international

2026-07-01

New Chinese law for “ethnic unity” could make anybody legally liable

China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress went into effect today, meaning Chinese citizens, people living in Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan, and even non-Chinese in every part of the world are subject to the law. The law’s vague legal concepts essentially allow the CCP to punish anyone, anywhere, who, quote "undermines the ethnic unity and progress" of China. Several political scholars in Taiwan shared their opinions on the law’s true aim.

Liang Wen-chieh
Mainland Affairs Council spokesperson
The CCP’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress expands their scope of long-arm jurisdiction, which allows them to repress people abroad. The law uses vague legal concepts that inherently have nothing to do with rule of law. Instead, the law’s ultimate goal is about political intimidation, essentially causing a chilling effect that forces ordinary citizens into self-censorship.

Fan Shih-ping
NTNU political science professor
It’s about social stability. The law’s viewed as a tool that their regime uses to maintain its authority.

Wu Se-chih
Taipei University of Marine Technology professor
China uses this kind of law in hopes that it can suppress people abroad. China has dispatched many secret police in overseas offices in order to help carry out this Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which is a cause for concern in the international community.

Article 63 of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress states that individuals or groups outside of China that "undermine ethnic unity and progress or create ethnic division" could potentially be legally liable for their words or actions. The law’s legal concepts are vague, as the CCP could punish anyone it deems to be "undermining ethnic unity." Essentially, a person could be considered guilty if he or she had, in the past, written or shared an article that refers to China’s suppression of Taiwan or topics like Taiwanese sovereignty or independence. Furthermore, Western countries that support Xinjiang or criticize the CCP could also be legally punished.

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2026-07-01