TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   A China-based military researcher used Anthropic's Claude to build software for planning electronic warfare operations against 12 targets in Taiwan, including Patriot and Tien Kung missile batteries, a recent investigation by the AI company found.

The report, published on Thursday, covers malicious activity involving Claude that Anthropic disrupted between December 2025 and August 2026. The case studies are what the company described as "examples of the most notable and novel threat activity" it has identified to date.

The findings come as Taiwan grapples with an emerging use of AI in cyberattacks. In an operation lasting four days over July, government agencies were hit by what experts say was the first known fully autonomous cyberattack using AI tools. The Ministry of Digital Affairs did not confirm the origin of the attacks, though the Financial Times, which broke the story, said "suspected Chinese hackers" might have been responsible.

Following the attacks, MODA said earlier in September it assembled a cross-agency task force to address risks posed by advanced AI tools, adding that the focus will be to quickly adapt to ever-evolving technologies.

Li Yu-wei (   ), a MODA spokesperson, told Taiwan News the example identified by Anthropic involved "misuse" of an AI tool by malicious actors and vowed to "strengthen the resilience of government agencies and critical infrastructure."

In this case, the China-based researcher used Claude's work tools to develop a Mandarin-language suite of about 16 modules that could analyze radar and air-defense systems, identify vulnerabilities, rank targets, and determine how to allocate jamming aircraft over multi-day campaigns.

The Taiwan scenario was introduced midway through the project. The 12 simulated targets included an early-warning radar site, Patriot and Tien Kung batteries, major air bases, and a regional combatant command headquarters. Anthropic said account metadata and other content indicated the researcher was linked to Chinese military research institutions, including the PLA Academy of Military Sciences.

Cai Yun-ting (   ), a research fellow at the Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology, said AI has significantly reduced the time and manpower needed for intelligence work, allowing individual analysts, contributors, and small organizations to build databases and tools for intelligence collection and analysis.

According to the report, Anthropic also identified two separate intelligence operations targeting religious communities across Asia, including the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, as well as monitoring political activity "framed as threats to sovereignty." In the latter case, the actor prompted Claude to replace phrases like "Taiwan government" with "Taiwan authorities" and cast doubt on certain terms like "human rights violations" by adding scare quotes around them.

Athena Tong (   ), Research Associate at the China Strategic Risks Institute, told Taiwan News that the country should see the findings as not only a cybersecurity concern, but also an issue of national defense, transnational repression, and civil society protection. "AI-assisted reconnaissance and targeting belong in Taiwan's national defense, critical infrastructure, military, and whole-of-society resilience exercises," she explained.

Tong called for a need for closer coordination between government agencies, civil society groups, and technology companies in sharing threat intelligence and notifying potential targets of emerging threats. "Anthropic's detection and disruption of these operations show that model providers hold threat intelligence that governments and potential targets may not otherwise see," she said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   President Lai Ching-te (   ) visited Pingtung for a joint military exercise on Friday.

The Army fired its HIMARS multiple rocket launchers at sea-borne targets. The Navy deployed its Hsiung Feng III missiles, while the Air Force launched its Tien Kung III anti-air missiles.

Lai toured the command center and watched the military deploy multiple types of attack drones and unmanned systems with conventional weapons. He later commended the troops with a cash bonus, per a press release.

Lai said the three-day mission went according to plan. He added that the military executed coastal offensive tactics and countermeasures.

Lai said that the drill showed solid weapons performance and overall training. He noted that precision is required from planning to execution.

Lai said that all units showed sound coordination. He added that professionalism and discipline are cornerstones of national security.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Deputy Mainland Affairs Council Minister Shen Yu-chung (   ) said Friday that Chinese leader Xi Jinping (   ) could move toward lifelong rule as he further consolidates power.

Shen said Xi has steadily dismantled the CCP's collective leadership system since taking power more than a decade ago, consolidating what Shen described as "one-man rule," per SET News. He said Xi's centralization of authority and emphasis on comprehensive national security over economic and social development continued to shape China's governance.

He said Beijing had strengthened ideological control through laws including the national security law and the ethnic unity law, while introducing "Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building" this year. He said authorities were also using increasingly sophisticated grid-based governance and AI surveillance to control society.

China's growing military spending could encourage the PLA to take more aggressive actions, Shen said, noting that the country's defense budget increased by 7% this year, according to SET News. He said military purges had not reduced the PLA's gray-zone activities around Taiwan, where Chinese navy vessels, coast guard ships, and research vessels continue to conduct operations in nearby waters.

Shen also warned that Beijing's prioritization of national security had shifted policy resources toward state-owned capital and strategic industries, distorting market allocation. He said China's state-led technology strategy had fueled efforts to recruit Taiwanese talent remotely and conduct commercial espionage, threatening the nation's high-tech competitiveness and the security of global supply chains.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Deputy Mainland Affairs Council Minister Shen Yu-chung (   ) said Friday that Taiwan's cooperation with the US to "manage China" refers to jointly managing security risks and deterring Beijing from using force.

Shen clarified Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung's (   ) Tuesday remarks as the US and Chinese leaders prepare for a summit next week, per Z Media. He said the concept does not involve intervening in China's domestic economic or social affairs.

Kyodo News on Saturday reported that China had told the US it might cancel a planned Sept. 24 summit in Washington if President Donald Trump approves new arms sales to Taiwan. Lin said the warning was part of a Chinese cognitive warfare campaign aimed at creating the impression that Trump would refrain from arms sales because he values Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit.

Lin said the CCP wants to manage Trump and portray Taiwan as being jointly managed by the US and China, per UDN. He said Taiwan and the US maintain good communication and that "we need to manage China."

Shen said Friday that observers should focus on whether Trump and his team reaffirm that US policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged during the summit, Z Media reported. He added that the government would continue monitoring whether discussions of geopolitical issues affect regional security.

Shen said Lin was referring to jointly managing security risks rather than intervening in China's economic, social, or other domestic affairs, per CNA. Taiwan has the determination and ability to work closely with the US to safeguard peace and stability, he said, adding that this cooperation is an extension of the risk-management concept.

Former National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi (  ) said Thursday that the US may be becoming unwilling or unable to defend Taiwan, while Beijing's sense of urgency over the cross-strait issue has intensified, per UDN. Su said future developments would depend less on Taiwan or Trump and more on Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Shen said the government respects individual assessments and will incorporate them into its analysis, but added, "I am not as pessimistic as Su Chi."

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   At least 15 members, or people closely linked to the Chinese Unification Promotion Party, have registered to run in the Nov. 28 local elections.

The CUPP has long cooperated with China in united front activities and infiltration, and has been involved in multiple incidents of criminal violence, per Liberty Times. The Ministry of the Interior recently petitioned the Constitutional Court to declare the party unconstitutional and order its dissolution.

Between 2010 and 2024, police investigations identified 134 CUPP members allegedly involved in cases including murder, robbery, human trafficking, unlawful detention, and extortion. Several members have also faced prosecution for alleged violations of the Cross-Strait Act, National Security Act, and Anti-Infiltration Act.

Security officials found that at least 15 CUPP members or associated individuals had registered to run for local office, including borough chiefs, township and city representatives, and county and city councilors, Liberty Times reported. The candidates are spread across New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, and Pingtung.

Many candidates appeared to have concealed their CUPP ties by running as independents or under other political parties, possibly because the party faces a petition for dissolution, officials said. More than 80% of candidates closely linked to the CUPP reportedly have criminal records for offenses including fraud, public disorder, intimidation, election bribery, election law violations, unlawful detention, and embezzlement.

Officials cited Tainan as an example, pointing to Wang Wen-tsung (   ), former head of the CUPP's Qingfang branch and chair of Cihji Temple, per CNA. Wang was sentenced for harboring individuals involved in shootings at two locations in Tainan's Xuejia District in 2022.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   US Representative Young Kim on Tuesday urged Washington to support Taiwan's bid to join the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

During a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Kim discussed the Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act, legislation she introduced that was incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act last year, per UDN. "This legislation directs the IMF representative to use the US voice and vote to support Taiwan's membership in the IMF," said Kim.

Kim said the US has been discussing the issue with Taiwanese government officials and is preparing to submit an application. "I hope the US will use our voice to support their petition to join, or encourage them to do so as soon as possible," said Kim.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent responded, "We are aware of your bill," without commenting on the White House's stance on Taiwan's IMF application. Kim said economic security equates to national security, adding, "A strong Taiwan is our best tool to counter Chinese economic coercion."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked Kim and other members of the US Congress for supporting Taiwan's IMF participation, UDN reported. The ministry said it is consulting with relevant agencies, diplomatic allies, and like-minded countries, including the US, to develop a feasible strategy, and will provide updates on progress.

Taiwan was a founding IMF member, but its representation was transferred from Taipei to Beijing in 1980. Former IMF historian James M. Boughton said, "Its 1980 decision involved neither the admission of a new member nor the termination of an existing membership, but only the recognition of a different government to represent the member."

Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research Director Liu Da-nien (   ) told UDN that Taiwan's biggest obstacle to joining the IMF would be recognition of its status as a state. He noted that Taiwan joined the World Trade Organization as the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, a designation available to territories with autonomy over their external trade policies.

The IMF presents additional challenges because applicants must meet requirements concerning their financial systems and membership obligations, Liu said. Although the IMF operates independently of the UN, it could still draw on the UN's definition of statehood when assessing Taiwan's eligibility, he added.

1.Date:
6 a.m. Sep. 18 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Sep. 19 (Sat.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:
20 sorties of PLA aircraft, 11 PLAN ships and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 13 out of 20 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Micron Taiwan union leaders have signaled potential strike action unless the chipmaker agrees to a reasonable plan to share its profits with employees.

Rather than accepting a one-time package, workers are seeking a permanent profit-sharing scheme that would allocate 15% of Micron's operating profit to quarterly bonuses, per FTV.

"If there is no concrete proposal on Sept. 18 and 21 and employees feel the company is simply stalling, we will declare the negotiations have broken down and move towards a strike vote," said Lin Che-jui (   ), chair of Micron Taiwan's union in Taoyuan, in a protest Tuesday outside the office of the American Chamber of Commerce, per Mirror Media.

"The company's strong revenue performance is due not only to continued AI demand, but also to the contributions of management and its employees," Lin added.

The union proposal seeks to align Micron's compensation practices with those of other memory chipmakers like Samsung and SK Hynix, per Business Today.

Micron employs about 15,000 workers in Taiwan, where more than 60% of its DRAM wafers are manufactured. Unions in Taoyuan and Taichung represent more than 70% of its employees.

On Friday, Micron announced the largest bonus package in its history, saying more than 60,000 staff globally will benefit "following an extraordinary year for the company," per Reuters and CNA.

Under the plan, employees in Taiwan would receive an equivalent of 35 to 68 months of pay for the fiscal year, with a minimum compensation of NT$1.7 million ($53,459), the company said. Employees who joined before Aug. 29, 2025, would receive a NT$1 million cash bonus.

However, union representatives accused Micron on Thursday of announcing the plan when negotiations were underway. In response to the protest, Micron acknowledged the contributions of its employees worldwide and said it "will continue listening to our  team's perspectives and remain committed to engaging in the mediation process in good faith."

Unions have been considering a strike since early September and internal polls show more than 80% of its members support the move, per Cool Loud. According to the law, a strike can proceed if at least half of a union's members vote in favor after mediation with the employer falls through.

Union leaders are planning a protest late Thursday near Micron's facility at Hwa Ya Technology Park in Taoyuan.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Drone exports surged 55-fold last year, National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (   ) said Saturday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Resilient Taiwan for Sustainable Democracy International Forum in Taipei, Lin said Taiwan and Ukraine have had numerous opportunities for cooperation, per Rti. He added that Poland and the Czech Republic are Taiwan's largest drone export destinations.

Taipei and Kyiv have significant potential for cooperation, Lin said, but diplomatic circumstances make it difficult to send personnel to study Ukraine's experience in building societal resilience, Rti reported. He cited civic organizations, including Kuma Academy, which have experience exchanging knowledge directly with Ukrainian groups.

Asked about The Economist's report on a US-Taiwan "Hellscape" strategy using mass drone deployments against a Chinese invasion fleet, Lin declined to disclose details of discussions with Washington, per Liberty Times. He said numerous think tanks are studying the concept and engaging with civic groups and think tanks.

Lin said the government strongly supports the drone industry and has proposed a special act to promote its development. The Cabinet also included funding in this year's supplementary budget to address urgent drone capability needs, and Lin urged the Legislative Yuan to pass the budget promptly.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   US Representative John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, has urged President Donald Trump to reject Beijing's opposition to arms sales to Taiwan during his planned meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday.

In a letter to Trump on Friday, Moolenaar warned against making excessive concessions to stabilize US-China relations, per Reuters. The letter reflects concerns among China hawks that Trump could soften US support for Taiwan.

Moolenaar said China's efforts to interfere with US arms exports and security cooperation with allies and partners should be "rejected out of hand." He said China's military buildup and growing hostility toward its neighbors, rather than US arms sales or allied defense efforts, are the root causes of regional instability.

The lawmaker praised the record-setting US arms sales to Taiwan during Trump's two terms. He pledged to support continued efforts to deter the Chinese Communist Party from triggering a military conflict that could devastate the global economy.

Trump in May said Xi pressured him over arms sales to Taiwan during his visit to Beijing. Trump later described a pending arms package worth up to NT$444.91 billion (US$14 billion) as a "bargaining chip."

People familiar with Beijing's efforts say Chinese officials want Trump to publicly state that the US opposes Taiwan independence, Reuters reported. This would mark a shift from Washington's longstanding position that it does not support Taiwan independence.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   US envoy Raymond Greene on Saturday said the most important question was not how long Taiwan could do without imported energy, but how long the world could do without Taiwan.

The American Institute in Taiwan director was speaking at the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience International Forum organized by the Presidential Office. He said the global media were often discussing whether Taiwan's liquefied natural gas reserves would last 11 days of 14 days, per UDN.

Instead, they should be asking how long the global economy could keep turning when unable to conduct trade with Taiwan, according to Greene. The timeline would be shorter and the situation more serious than Taiwan's energy security situation, he added.

Greene nevertheless acknowledged that the energy element was important. He said Taiwan needed sufficient energy to keep AI data centers and semiconductor production running, UDN reported. The issue of the energy supply meeting the demand from local industry was of the utmost importance to US-Taiwan economic ties, he said.

The envoy presented the US as an option for Taiwanese businesses looking to develop data centers. He also recommended US companies including GE Vernova Inc. and Bechtel Corporation as partners for Taiwan's energy sector.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan and the US for the first time co-sponsored a Global Cooperation and Training Framework workshop in Kosovo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday.

Thursday's event in the capital Prishtina centered on supply chain cooperation with strategic partners, the ministry said in a statement. The nation's experience of the technology sector's development and participation in global supply chains was the focus of the workshop.

Speakers also considered how Kosovo could turn its geographic advantages into establishing safe, diverse, and resilient regional supply chains. The Balkan state wants to play a key role as a hub for countries sharing similar values.

In a speech at the opening of the workshop, Taiwan's envoy to Hungary Elliot Wang (   ) cautioned against overdependence on one source, as it could lead to a break in supply and to threats. As a result, diversity is a key requirement for a balanced supply chain, he said.

The growing chorus from the people building the world's most powerful artificial intelligence systems is becoming difficult to ignore.

In his recent 3,800-word essay, Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei argued that humanity might need to "pace the frontier" if AI capabilities begin advancing faster than our ability to control them. OpenAI's chief scientist has similarly advocated voluntary slowdowns until common safety thresholds are established.

They have good reason to worry.

The possibility that increasingly autonomous AI systems could deceive their operators, circumvent safeguards, improve themselves or perform actions their creators never intended is no longer confined to science fiction.

Recent experiments with AI agents have produced behavior disturbing enough to raise a legitimate question: What happens when systems far more capable than today's begin operating with greater autonomy?

Slowing down may therefore be sensible. But before applying the brakes, we need to ask a question strangely absent from much of this debate: Slow down what?

The term "AI safety" increasingly conflates two fundamentally different dangers.

Humanity loses either way


The first is the danger that AI becomes so capable that humans lose control of it. This is the existential-risk scenario that dominates Silicon Valley's safety debate.

The ultimate threat is not China, the US or any particular lab. Rather, it is an artificial intelligence whose capabilities exceed our ability to understand, constrain or reliably direct it.

It does not matter who gets there first. If the worst fears prove correct, humanity loses either way. Call this AI safety.

The second danger is almost the opposite. AI remains perfectly under human control. It does exactly what humans tell it to do. The problem is who is doing the telling. Call this AI security.

China, Russia, Iran and North Korea do not need a rogue superintelligence to threaten democratic societies. They need increasingly capable AI systems that remain obedient while making cyberattacks more sophisticated and military planning more effective.

An AI that penetrates an adversary's military network, discovers vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure or helps disrupt communications during an attack on Taiwan while following Beijing's instructions perfectly would be something called an effective AI agent. This distinction matters because the two dangers can demand opposite policies.

Singularity


If AI systems begin acquiring capabilities for autonomous replication, deception, uncontrolled self-improvement or actions their developers cannot reliably supervise, slowing development until safeguards catch up could make humanity safer.

But suppose AI becomes extraordinarily good at detecting cyber intrusions, defending power grids, identifying influence operations, protecting military communications or discovering vulnerabilities before adversaries can exploit them. Should democratic countries slow those capabilities too?

Quite possibly the opposite. They may need to accelerate them.

That creates a paradox at the heart of AI policy: Developing some capabilities too quickly could make us less safe. Developing others too slowly could do the same. This distinction becomes especially important when discussing China.

There is a genuine case for US-China cooperation on existential AI risks. Neither Washington nor Beijing benefits from creating systems that neither can control. Both have reason to prevent AI from interfering autonomously with nuclear command systems or triggering unintended military escalation.

Communication, common testing standards, emergency channels and greater transparency around genuinely catastrophic capabilities therefore deserve serious exploration. Catherine Thorbecke of Bloomberg recently argued that US-China AI talks should seek mutual visibility rather than an unrealistic grand bargain. That is sensible.

Overlaps end


But the overlap ends where strategic advantage begins.

China has little reason to help the US neutralize AI capabilities that strengthen China militarily or politically. Nor should Washington expect Beijing to disclose sensitive military, intelligence or cyber programs simply because both governments have signed an agreement bearing the words "AI safety."

This is where global cooperation must be carefully defined. An agreement designed to prevent either country from losing control of advanced AI could benefit both.

An agreement that constrains the US' ability to develop defensive AI while leaving unverifiable what China's military and intelligence services are developing could make it less safe.

The most dangerous mistake would therefore be to negotiate "AI safety" as though every AI capability belonged in the same basket. They do not.

The US needs a more discriminating strategy: slow capabilities that materially increase the danger of losing human control and accelerate defensive capabilities to protect democratic societies from adversarial uses of AI. That means stronger cyber defenses.

Frightened of itself


It also means recognizing something important, which is that maintaining an AI advantage over authoritarian competitors can itself be a safety objective.

This is where calls for slowing AI development become dangerously incomplete. Asking US companies to slow broadly while assuming competitors will eventually recognize the wisdom of doing likewise is not a strategy. Authoritarian governments have strategic objectives that do not disappear because Silicon Valley becomes frightened by what it is building.

None of this means Amodei is wrong. Humanity should not race blindly toward technologies whose consequences we do not understand merely because everyone fears somebody else will arrive first.

But neither should democracies become so preoccupied with the possibility of AI turning against humanity that they neglect the more immediate possibility of humans turning AI against one another. That distinction should guide both domestic policy and negotiations with China.

The AI race is dangerous. But there is more than one way to lose it.

Racing too quickly toward capabilities we cannot control could endanger humanity. Racing too slowly toward capabilities democracies need to defend themselves could hand an extraordinary advantage to regimes that do not share their values.

The challenge, then, is not simply to put the brakes on AI. It is knowing where to brake   and when we may need to press the accelerator.

There is a Taiwanese proverb that reads, "Do not wait until you are thirsty to dig a well."

While Western planners focus on China's visible fleet, Beijing's ability to mass produce automated naval platforms poses a deeper threat   one that upends deterrence by denial and cross strait assurance alike.

A leaked transcript from a May 2022 war preparedness meeting in Guangdong outlined how commercial maritime technology and military infrastructure are fused under Beijing's Military Civil Fusion strategy to dominate the Pacific by 2027.

Guangdong firms Zhuhai Yunzhou and Jianglong Shipbuilding were reported to be producing dozens of combat ready unmanned surface vessels (USVs) monthly, with mobilization capacity far higher. Extrapolated nationally, this points to hundreds of uncrewed vessels per month and a potential inventory of 10,000+ by 2027.  

Guangdong emphasizes swarm strike craft, Shanghai's Jiangnan Shipyard focuses on stealth autonomous corvettes and missile trimarans, while other yards optimize for automated minelayers and anti submarine platforms. This framework was exercised in the PLA Eastern Theater Command's "Justice Mission 2025," which simulated an integrated maritime blockade reaching Taiwan's contiguous zone using China coast guard fleets.

Gray zone inundation


Beijing's plan co opts its commercial maritime sector, the coast guard and the People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia into strike, blockade and logistics roles. In conflict, thousands of civilian craft fitted with autonomous navigation could serve as radar decoys, explosive boats and sensor nodes. Reinforced roll on/roll off ferries and cargo ships could move heavy armor without risking crews.

Although allied rules of engagement permit targeting civilian flagged vessels supporting warfighting, Beijing's gambit is political: using uncrewed commercial hulls to pressure allies into firing first at an outwardly "civilian" vanguard.

To anchor this automated force, Beijing relies on BeiDou 3_{(this is my foot note*)} for positioning, navigation and timing plus short message communications, creating a jam resistant over the horizon backbone. By leveraging cheap, disposable hulls, Beijing aims to degrade the economic and military utility of allied deterrence by punishment, presenting a mass threat too large for traditional retaliatory frameworks to absorb.

Despite scale, Beijing faces operational vulnerabilities. The most severe is a software bottleneck in distributed state estimation and dynamic routing. Real time deconfliction for hundreds of autonomous vessels avoiding self collision under electronic attack remains an unsolved technical hurdle.

This helps explain the maritime militia anomaly of late 2025 and early 2026. Ship tracking telemetry first analyzed by geospatial firm ingeniSPACE showed up to 2,000 civilian fishing vessels ceasing routine fishing on Christmas Day and massing into parallel geometric formations stretching roughly 460 kilometers.

A second operation on Jan. 11, involved 1,400 different vessels forming a 322-km rectangle. Combined, these state directed clusters deployed 789 km of floating barriers   enough to cover two thirds of Taiwan's 1,204 km coastline   demonstrating that full national mobilization could achieve multi layer encirclement.

Layered defense


In response, Taiwan's National Security Council shifted in June to intensive tabletop simulations countering a Chinese coast guard "law enforcement" quarantine that weaponizes administrative jurisdiction to choke trade non militarily. To counter an automated blockade, a coalition of Pacific allies   Taiwan, the US, Japan and the Philippines   is building a layered defense driven by the cost exchange ratio.

A converted Chinese drone boat can cost as little as NT$637,760 (US$20,000), while a traditional US interceptor missile exceeds NT$127.55 million (US$4 million). Shifting from expensive kinetic interceptors toward non kinetic area denial and distributed precision aims to break Beijing's confidence in achieving a rapid fait accompli.

Taiwan's Asymmetric Swarm Initiative leans on manufacturers like Thunder Tiger and their SeaShark series, integrating Shield AI's Hivemind autonomy software alongside NCSIST's Kuai Chi light USV to form GPS independent counter swarms.

The US deploys the Pentagon's Replicator initiative and "Hellscape" doctrine to flood the strait with loitering munitions, while using cognitive electronic warfare such as SEWIP Block 3 and DRFM spoofing to alter BeiDou 3 timestamps and drive Chinese drones off course.

Another classic Taiwanese proverb warns, "Repair the house before it rains." Yet Taiwan's structural defense is worsened by a stark production timeline gap. As the CCP actively deploys its own USVs, Taiwan's planned maritime "drone wall" of 1,320 Kuai Chi attack USVs will not achieve swarm control or mass serial output until 2031, with full production starting in 2028.

Beijing's runaway production leaves an immediate, dangerous window of maritime operational vulnerability. To fill immediate gaps, Taiwan must rapidly procure or lease off-the-shelf USVs in the interim.

To neutralize escalating swarm threats affordably, the alliance is fielding next generation physical disrupters:

 -  High Power Microwave: Systems like METEOR emit volumetric cones of energy, frying exposed civilian microprocessors on co opted hulls. China has already unveiled truck mounted HPM weapons such as the Hurricane 3000, underscoring the drone vs. counter drone contest.
 -  Autonomous Submarines: Operating beneath surface layers, uncrewed submarines can lay smart minefields or fire micro torpedoes to break transport hulls.
 -  Tactical EMPs: Non nuclear EMP payloads delivered via cruise missiles could paralyze robotic fleets in assembly ports before deployment.



This defensive wall introduces complex escalatory math. While Beijing's rapid production signals an aggressive, asymmetric arms race with little regard for regional stability, allied strategy must shift from defending a stagnant status quo to actively arresting China's creeping expansion. The goal is not to placate a revisionist CCP, but to deny it a pretext for preemptive attack while establishing a hard baseline that halts further territorial or administrative encroachment.

Washington must also provide corporate and security assurances to regional partners. Earlier this year, Japan abandoned strategic ambiguity, reinforcing its Nansei island chain with anti ship missile bases to lock down chokepoints.

This operational clarity assures Taipei of allied resolve while signaling to a militarizing Beijing that any further attempts to forcibly rewrite regional reality will incur unacceptable costs. Meanwhile, the Philippines is expanding maritime domain awareness along the Bashi Channel, deploying radar arrays and coastal USVs to counter gray zone coercion by the Chinese coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea.

Another Taiwanese proverb reminds us that, "A small net can still capture a giant fish."

While China's advantage is its capacity to turn commercial shipbuilding into an autonomous weapon of mass production, the allied coalition changes the deterrence calculus by exploiting Beijing's software integration gaps, holding key chokepoints and shifting the cost exchange ratio through HPM, EMP and cognitive electronic warfare.

By building an impenetrable fortress of denial while maintaining clear lines of defensive assurance, the alliance preserves strategic equilibrium in the maritime domain   demonstrating that a CCP automated blockade will fail.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   When singer Bell Chung's (  ) 6-year-old nephew sings along to her music, she catches a glimpse of what the Taiwanese language could sound like in the next generation.

Her approach is somewhat counterintuitive: If Taiwanese is to stay alive, she believes it cannot remain frozen in the past. Instead, it needs to sound contemporary enough for a new generation to hear it as part of their own lives.

For Bell, that means challenging some of the conventions that have long shaped Taiwanese-language music, from how melodies follow the tones of the language to the words and themes used in songs.

Taiwanese has long been closely associated with nostalgia and older generations. This has left some people with the impression that it is something their grandparents listen to rather than a language that belongs to them.

"If you really want Taiwanese music to grow, or if you really want the world to recognize it, I really think we should step out of that circle and box," Bell told Taiwan News.

One of the challenges Bell sees is the expectation that Taiwanese melodies should follow the tones of the spoken language, a convention known as "tau-im" (  ). She deliberately does not always follow the rule.

For her, the question is not whether the language itself can work in contemporary music. Taiwanese, she said, is "beautiful" and offers plenty of possibilities for artistic expression. The bigger obstacle is the expectation of what Taiwanese songs are supposed to sound like.

Bell said artists who move beyond familiar practices can face criticism that their music does not sound sufficiently Taiwanese or that they are using the language incorrectly. But she believes following those practices too closely can create another problem: making the music feel distant to people who did not grow up with it.

"I want my music to be a part of their lives," she said. That means making choices not only about melody, but also about the words and phrases she uses.

Some vocabulary commonly used by older generations can give a song an old-fashioned feel, Bell said. She cited words such as "yao-giao" (  ), a term used to describe someone as charming or coquettish, which she would be unlikely to use in her own songs because younger listeners may associate it with their grandparents' generation.

"The lyrics that you choose really affect how a song makes you feel," she said.

Bell also wants contemporary Taiwanese music to speak to contemporary experiences. She points to older songs that portrayed women as obedient or expected them to endure unhappy relationships.

In her view, a new generation of Taiwanese-language music should be able to tell different stories, including ones that encourage women to be more independent and assertive.

That idea also shapes Bell's social media content. She regularly posts videos featuring Taiwanese phrases, often explaining them in English.

The motivation is personal. Taiwanese is Bell's mother tongue, and she grew up speaking it with her family. She has become increasingly concerned that fewer children are growing up speaking Taiwanese at home.

"I decided to make videos that teach foreign people, or even people in Taiwan, simple Taiwanese phrases," she said. For Bell, making the language approachable is another way to encourage the public to engage with it.

Her music and social media work therefore serve the same purpose, even though they take different forms. "When I am making music, I feel the most like myself when I write in Taiwanese," she said. "And when I am making videos, I feel like I am spreading my mother tongue to people around the world."

The response has given her reason to keep going.

Bell said she has received messages from people in Taiwan who previously did not listen to Taiwanese music but began doing so after hearing her work. She has also heard from people overseas who became interested in learning Taiwanese because of her music.

To her, those reactions show that people can connect with the language through curiosity and enjoyment, rather than simply seeing it as something they are expected to preserve.

Bell sees a similar dynamic in the global popularity of K-pop and J-pop. Listeners do not necessarily need to understand every lyric to connect with music in another language. A melody, an artist's image or simply the feeling of a song can be enough to make someone want to listen again.

She hopes Taiwanese music can create the same kind of connection. That is also why Bell is interested in the idea of "T-pop," although she does not think its identity has been fully established yet.

She imagines a future in which people around the world associate Taiwan not only with Mandarin-language music, but also with Taiwanese-language music as a distinct part of the country's cultural identity.

"What would be really cool is when the world thinks about Taiwan, they wouldn't automatically think of Mandarin music," she said. "They would actually think about Taiwanese music as something that's unique to Taiwan."

For Bell, making that happen means creating music that feels contemporary enough to become part of popular culture, rather than being seen primarily as a link to the past. She wants Taiwanese to feel like something people actively want to listen to and identify with, not simply something they are told to preserve.

Bell's commitment to creating music in Taiwanese did not begin with a desire to create T-pop. It began with her grandfather.

"Before he passed away, he told me Taiwanese is our root. So if you like singing, if you love music, just use your talent to keep the language alive."

For Bell, his message was about more than the language itself. Her grandfather also spoke to her about their history, culture and where they came from. "It is our identity, our sound," she said.

Her parents have also supported her vision, even when people in the music industry questioned her decision to sing in Taiwanese. After leaving her label, Bell wrote a song for her parents, which became the first Taiwanese song she released after the move.

She said her parents, sister, and boyfriend, whom she said has also played a major role in her music production, have all given her the confidence to continue pursuing music in Taiwanese. That community is now extending beyond her family and into an audience she hopes will carry the language forward.

Bell also wants contemporary Taiwanese music to speak to contemporary experiences. She points to older songs that portrayed women as obedient or expected them to endure unhappy relationships.

In her view, a new generation of Taiwanese-language music should be able to tell different stories, including ones that encourage women to be more independent and assertive.

Okinawa is Japan's prefecture closest to Taiwan and has elected a new governor backed by Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae: Koja Genta.

His victory ends 12 years of local governance defined by opposition to US bases and skepticism toward Japan's Self-Defense Forces. The conservative-leaning candidate was supported by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a broad coalition of parties spanning the ideological spectrum but united on defense.

Koja's win is more than a local political shift; it removes domestic bottlenecks hampering Takaichi's regional deterrence agenda and opens the door for closer Okinawa Taiwan cooperation against Chinese coercion.

Koja defeated two-term incumbent governor Tamaki Denny by a historic margin, winning roughly 60% of the vote. He captured about three times as many votes as Tamaki among voters ages 18 to 39 and carried 40 of Okinawa's 41 municipalities. His support was decisive among all voters under 60.

When Koja takes office on Sept. 30, it will mark a turning point not only for Taiwan Okinawa ties but also for Tokyo's push to advance long-overdue defense reforms. Tamaki, who repeatedly refused to link Taiwan's security with Japan's, famously dismissed the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's dictum that "a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency."

He argued that an armed attack on Taiwan was not inextricably tied to Japan's survival and spent much of his tenure opposing the US military presence on the islands, routinely calling for the complete removal of US bases to "prevent Okinawa from ever becoming a battlefield again." Koga's victory removes active local administrative resistance, paving the way for Tokyo to move forward with military upgrades in the prefecture.

Cultural ties?


Beyond his anti-base stance, Tamaki actively cultivated closer ties with Beijing. He declined to publicly call out the Chinese military's routine intimidation maneuvers around Japan and Taiwan. In July 2023, Tamaki led an 80-person political and business delegation to Beijing, where he met extensively with senior Chinese Communist Party officials, including a reception hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

During their talks, Li and Tamaki emphasized boosting economic cooperation and highlighted more than 600 years of cultural ties between China and Okinawa. That narrative is a staple of Chinese disinformation campaigns targeting Okinawa.

Beijing has repeatedly pushed false claims questioning Okinawa's sovereignty, arguing that the former Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled Okinawa until the late 19th century, was a Chinese vassal state.

Tamaki's overtures to Beijing went further. Ahead of his trip, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a rare comment in the People's Daily stressing the deep historical and cultural links between Fujian Province and the Ryukyu Kingdom. During his visit, Tamaki paid respects at a historic Ryukyu burial site in Beijing and told Chinese state media that his trip aimed to "unswervingly maintain" the links created by his Ryukyu ancestors.

In stark contrast, Koga has explicitly acknowledged the worsening regional security threat posed by China around Taiwan. He has stressed the importance of working closely with Tokyo, aligning with the Takaichi administration's security outlook.

Koja has publicly stated, "The security environment surrounding Okinawa is becoming increasingly severe. This is a fact." That marks a significant departure from Tamaki, who routinely downplayed the risk of armed regional conflict.

Geopolitical hotspot


With aligned security and economic objectives, Tokyo and Okinawa can now work hand in hand to bolster regional deterrence and better counter Chinese malign influence. Koja is expected to advance the Gateway 2050 projects, a massive public private initiative endorsed by Tokyo to transform returned US military base land along Okinawa's west coast into commercial and economic hubs.

A thriving Okinawan economy would leave China less room to influence local public opinion or argue that cooperation with Beijing is inevitable, while also reducing the impact of Chinese economic coercion.

Koja's campaign focus on reviving the economy and improving livelihoods closely mirrored Takaichi's own platform, which resonated with Okinawan voters and, earlier this year, with much of the Japanese electorate in Takaichi's decisive national election victory. By dedicating resources to improving lives and securing the future near one of the region's most volatile geopolitical hotspots, Okinawans will be less susceptible to deceptive Chinese narratives.

On security, Koja supports resolving the long-standing deadlock over relocating the US airbase at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan to the Henoko area in Nago. The move would allow Japan and the US to build upgraded infrastructure and expand dual-use access to key transport hubs across the Okinawan islands.

New dawn


Tokyo can now accelerate deployments of missile batteries, electronic warfare units, and ammunition storage facilities across Japan's southwestern island chain without debilitating local administrative hurdles.

Taiwan's closest international neighbor is Okinawa's Yonaguni Island, just 111 kilometers away. A pro-alliance, pro-security local government under Koja would enable greater defense planning and coordination for a Taiwan contingency.

It would boost allied readiness among Japan's closest security partners   the US, the Philippines, and Australia. Japan Self-Defense Forces facilities on Yonaguni could be expanded into dual-use hubs where allied forces train to rapidly respond to a Chinese blockade or armed invasion of Taiwan, demonstrating to Beijing the combined capabilities of a fully functioning US Japan alliance and raising the cost of any aggressive move against Taiwan.

Moreover, Koja opens new opportunities for Taiwan to work directly with the Okinawan local government across multiple fronts   from boosting trade to practical security cooperation. Potential areas include integrating radar and military data, countering disinformation and other forms of electronic warfare, and surveilling Chinese PLA and coast guard movements, alongside other informal and structural synergies that elevate Taiwan and Okinawa's security.

By bridging the long-standing rift between Tokyo and Okinawa, Japan is no longer boosting deterrence over a Taiwan contingency with a local barrier at the epicenter of potential conflict on Japanese borders. This new dawn could help forge a collective defensive shield against China's primary expansionist target: Taiwan.

1.Date:
6 a.m. Sep. 19 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Sep. 20 (Sun.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:
5 sorties of PLA aircraft, 11 PLAN ships and 6 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 out of 5 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Satellite imagery suggests China may be building a mothership to carry extra-extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XXLUUVs).

Images provided by US geospatial intelligence company Vantor show a vessel under construction at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai, The Telegraph reported.

Defense analyst H I Sutton wrote in Naval News that two types of XXLUUV have been observed undergoing tests in Hainan. He said China is the first known country to have developed full-size uncrewed submarines.

The vessel has a well deck and a large internal hangar that could house the submersibles, Sutton said. He estimated that it could carry four XXLUUVs in the hangar or a larger number of smaller vessels.

One of the observed submersibles measures 35 meters long, while the other measures 45 meters. They are approximately six to eight times the overall size of the US Navy's Boeing Orca XLUUV, according to Sutton.

Sutton said the vessel would probably serve as a mobile tender, maintaining the XXLUUVs and keeping them out of the water when not in use. It could also launch and recover the vessels during combat missions.

The XXLUUVs appear intended for long-range combat operations, Sutton said, "potentially including deployment off the west coast of the US during periods of heightened tension or conflict."

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan is building asymmetric warfare capabilities faster than most countries, Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey said at the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience International Forum on Saturday.

In developing new autonomous vehicle concepts, only Australia and Ukraine are moving at a comparable pace, though Ukraine faces different circumstances because it is at war, Luckey said, per CNA. Anduril is leveraging what Taiwan "does best" to strengthen cooperation, he added.

Last September, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology signed a memorandum of understanding with Anduril covering joint production of the Barracuda-500 autonomous cruise missile and unmanned underwater vehicles in Taiwan. Luckey said the company aimed to replicate this co-production model in other countries.

Luckey said Anduril's cooperation with Taiwan focuses on developing systems that can be manufactured at automotive plants and other existing industrial facilities. Taiwan already excels at producing components the US struggles to manufacture, including large-scale precision mechanical parts and inexpensive, reliable carbon fiber composites, he said.

He stressed that the US and Taiwan must jointly design weapons that can be manufactured using existing factories, equipment, and workers.

In June, Anduril Taiwan Head Alexander Chang (   ) said the company planned to continue expanding industrial cooperation with Taiwan, CNA reported. Chang said company representatives had found strong Taiwanese capabilities in optics, small engines, semiconductors, and precision machinery during site visits.

The defense ministry announced last month that it planned to purchase 1,554 Altius-700M loitering munitions and 478 Altius-600ISR reconnaissance drones from Anduril.

Canada got caught! They were in secret talks with the Chinese military but it got exposed. And now the US Canada trade war is entering a dangerous new phase.

China is helping Russia's war machine and now there's proof. Meanwhile, the Philippines just gave Beijing a brutal public reality check.

In this episode of China Uncensored, we look at China secretly supplying Russia with technology for attack drones, and the incredible moment the Philippines' defense secretary called out China's bullying over the South China Sea.

China's economic miracle is starting to look like an economic nightmare. Paychecks are shrinking, spending is drying up, and even government employees are taking major pay cuts. Beijing says it has a plan to fix the economy. But what if the CCP's solution is making things even worse?

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Chang Yao-sheng (   ), an heir to restaurant chain Formosa Chang, drew attention after backing Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (   ) of the KMT in his upcoming re-election bid, prompting some pan-green supporters to call for a boycott of the chain.

Liberty Times reported Monday that the restaurant chain later said Chang's political activity did not represent the company or its position. The chain said it serves customers of all backgrounds and political views and urged the public not to associate his private political activity with the brand.

DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (   ) said businesses and individuals are free to support political figures, while others are free to discuss those choices publicly or privately, CNA reported.

However, Shen said such discussions should not involve personal attacks, false claims, reputational harm, or coordinated campaigns to leave negative Google reviews. He urged election debate to focus instead on city government and public policy.

Chiang said people should not be targeted for supporting him, arguing that attacks based on political views would deepen social division and hostility, CNA reported.

Asked whether he planned to visit the restaurant, Chiang said, "Everyone can wait and see." He added that he believed most people in Taiwan would not support targeting someone over their political views.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Ministry of Justice said Sunday that the government will step up efforts to curb deepfake content ahead of local elections in November.

The ministry was responding to an allegation made in early September by Chen Su-yueh (   ), the DPP's Changhua County magistrate candidate, that someone had used AI to create a deepfake video of her saying she could "win the election hands down." Chen's campaign staff reported the case to police on Sept. 10 and demanded that social media platforms remove the content, per CNA.

Authorities will strengthen digital forensics, promptly remove deepfake content, and investigate those responsible, the ministry said, according to Liberty Times.

Under the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, those who use deepfake technology to distribute falsified videos with the intent of preventing a candidate from being elected face up to seven years in prison.

The law also sets out procedures for identifying and removing deepfake content, as well as penalties for platforms that fail to comply with removal orders.

In August, the Central Election Commission established a special task force to work with the Criminal Investigation Bureau and Ministry of Digital Affairs to combat the spread of deepfake content ahead of the elections.

The digital ministry also launched a website through which candidates in the November elections can report suspected cases of deepfake impersonation.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Culture Minister Li Yuan (  ) on Sunday outlined six priorities for cultural development as the ministry prepares to expand programs with a smaller budget than last year.

CNA reported that the priorities cover young people, cultural talent, technology, original intellectual property, investment, and international cooperation. Li said the proposals would guide cultural policy through 2030.

For young people, the ministry plans to expand beyond its Culture Points program by supporting more Taiwan-made stories, videos, and other original content. It also wants to encourage young people to participate in community projects and become more involved in cultural and civic life.

Li said support for cultural workers has become increasingly important. The ministry plans to provide more structured assistance and performance opportunities for people working in traditional arts, cultural heritage, and community development.

Technology is another focus as artificial intelligence changes cultural and creative industries. The ministry plans to work with other government agencies to protect creators' rights and improve access to AI and computing resources for smaller arts and cultural groups.

The ministry will also continue supporting original intellectual property that can be developed into cultural products. Funding through the Taiwan Creative Content Agency will be combined with efforts to attract more private and corporate investment.

Li said the ministry wants companies to move beyond one-time sponsorships and develop longer-term partnerships with cultural organizations. It will also seek international investment and cooperation to help Taiwan's cultural industries reach overseas markets.

International outreach is the sixth priority. The ministry plans to promote more Taiwanese cultural content abroad while attracting international cultural professionals to Taiwan and strengthening the country's role in global cultural networks.

The plans come as the ministry faces tighter funding after the legislature cut about NT$1 billion (US$31.4 million) from its proposed NT$29.6 billion 2026 budget and froze another NT$386 million. The cuts and freezes include funding for Public Television Service and the Taiwan Creative Content Agency.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (   ) said Taiwan-US relations remain strong despite concerns about US policy toward Taiwan and growing pressure from China, CNA reported Monday.

Speaking in an interview with Sky News, Hsiao said US officials have repeatedly assured Taiwan that Washington's policy toward it has not changed. She said the US remains Taipei's most important security partner, with both sides sharing an interest in maintaining cross-strait stability.

Asked whether US President Donald Trump's less explicit statements on Taiwan had caused concern, Hsiao said Taiwanese were more concerned about China's efforts to interfere in domestic politics. She said Beijing seeks to win over political figures, divide society, and spread false information to weaken public confidence.

Hsiao said the Chinese Communist Party's political operations target four areas: confidence in Taiwan's democracy, the government and DPP, the military's ability to defend Taiwan, and Taiwan-US relations. She said such efforts are part of increasingly sophisticated information and psychological operations.

Taiwan must continue strengthening its democratic defenses against such interference, Hsiao said. She added that civil society groups and independent fact-checkers play an important role in exposing false information and improving transparency.

Hsiao also addressed US arms sales and Taiwan's defense spending. She said the current and previous US administrations have approved major arms sales to Taiwan, while the government has secured legislative support to fund some of the purchases.

Asked whether Taiwan has enough resources to defend itself, Hsiao said it does not yet, but the government is working toward that goal. She said lawmakers have made progress on funding US arms purchases and drones despite disagreements over how defense spending should be approved.

Hsiao said Taiwan's defense investment reflects China's growing military capabilities and its position on the use of force. She said Taiwan is increasing defense spending and investing in systems suited to the threats it faces.

Taiwan does not seek conflict and remains committed to maintaining peace, Hsiao said. She said fortifying the nation's defenses and working with international partners are intended to deter aggression and preserve regional stability.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Philippine foreign ministry said on Sunday it would continue cooperating with Taiwan after Beijing urged Manila last week to adhere to the "one China" principle.

The ministry said in a statement that its "one China" policy "does not preclude the Philippines from pursuing economic, cultural, and functional cooperation with Taiwan." It added that, "the Philippines and Taiwan are close neighbors with a long history of doing business together."

The foreign ministry reaffirmed its "one China" policy, saying it remains "consistent, clear and unchanged." It also pledged to follow international law and "to ensure the welfare of Filipinos on both sides of the Taiwan Strait."

Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (   ) confirmed Tuesday that the country is planning to open an office in Cebu by the end of the year. Lin said the plan would support the development of a Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor, which aims to facilitate the movement of people, goods, and capital.

Lin pointed out that the southern Philippines is also home to many Taiwanese expatriates and businesspeople and receives many Taiwanese tourists who may require assistance.

Cooperation between the two countries has deepened as Chinese military activities in the region fuel tensions. Last Thursday, the Taiwanese Coast Guard said it will send a ship with 100 officers and students on a visit for the first time in 53 years.

The eight-day trip is scheduled for October 2027 and includes exchanges on maritime law enforcement and other non-traditional security topics.

The Coast Guard also donated the Lienchiang, a 500-tonne Kinmen-class patrol and rescue vessel, to the Philippines last week.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Labor Minister Hung Shen-han (   ) arrived in Nanjing on Sunday evening to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ministerial meeting, becoming the first Cabinet-level official in President Lai Ching-te's (   ) administration to visit China.

Hung is scheduled to attend the APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting on Monday. The meeting will focus on workforce development, vocational skills, lifelong learning, and employment challenges linked to technological and demographic changes, according to APEC.

Hung departed from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Sunday afternoon. He briefly acknowledged reporters but did not give an interview or make a statement. He later arrived at Nanjing Lukou International Airport at 7:57 p.m. and left through a courtesy channel, where APEC staff were waiting for him, per LTN.

Hung said earlier this month that his trip was solely to attend an international meeting and that Taiwan would participate according to established APEC rules and practices. He stressed that Taiwan is a full APEC member and that equal participation and dignity are core principles of its participation.

Taiwan has participated in APEC since 1991 under the name "Chinese Taipei." The Mainland Affairs Council has said its representatives attending APEC activities in China have traditionally entered with APEC invitation letters rather than Taiwan travel permits, while following established APEC procedures, per CNA.

The timing of Hung's visit has also drawn attention because US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday, only days after the APEC Nanjing meeting. Taiwan is expected to be among the issues watched closely around the summit.

However, Hung's participation is taking place within the APEC framework rather than as a bilateral visit between Taipei and Beijing. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, cited by UDN, reported that political analysts did not regard Hung's trip as a thaw in cross-strait relations or a resumption of official exchanges.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Supreme Administrative Court on Sunday rejected criticism from Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee Chair Lin Feng-cheng (   ), who argued that recent rulings against the committee violated principles established by Constitutional Court Interpretation No. 793.

Lin said the committee's losses in cases before the Supreme Administrative Court, including a case involving the KMT's former party headquarters, allowed the KMT to retain gains from assets the committee considers ill-gotten, per Liberty Times. He explained that adding the requirement that assets acquired through undemocratic means were obtained with no or unfair compensation places too many limitations on the Act Governing the Settlement of Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties and Their Affiliate Organizations.

Lin argued that the rulings undermined the transitional justice principles affirmed in Interpretation No. 793, weakening the spirit of the law.

The Supreme Administrative Court rejected Lin's criticism, noting that the KMT had sold the assets before the law took effect and had reported the transactions as required, per UDN. The court stressed that the committee had failed to demonstrate that the KMT acquired the assets without compensation or for inadequate compensation, leading the court to rule against the committee.

The administrative court called on the committee to seek legal recourse within the system rather than criticize the judicial system through academic seminars. The court warned that such actions could threaten the separation of powers.

KMT Culture and Communications Committee Chair Chen I-hsin (   ) commented on the rulings, saying transitional justice should not violate the rule of law, per Tai Sounds.

The Constitutional Court ruled in 2020 that the ill-gotten party assets law is constitutional, noting that the law does not concern the dissolution of political parties or depriving them of assets necessary for their operations, per SETN. It said violations of democratic norms during extraordinary periods, as well as serious infringements of fundamental rights or other improprieties, should be reevaluated or corrected after transitioning to democracy.

The Constitutional Court therefore held that assets acquired by political parties through the exercise of state power should be restored.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Matsu Defense Command's Juguang Garrison Battalion recently held combat readiness drills in Matsu.

The exercise tested troops' battlefield response capabilities and their ability to coordinate operations, per Military News Agency. Soldiers deployed armored vehicles to tactical positions, secured the areas, and monitored their surroundings.

Troops later carried out field casualty drills involving treatment, transport, and evacuation, MNA reported.

The exercise comes as the Matsu Defense Command has been bolstering its drone capabilities to adapt to a rapidly changing battlefield environment. Last month, the command invited personnel from the Coast Guard, local fire departments, and other military and government agencies with drone experience to attend a workshop on drone intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

Through the interagency exchanges, the command is taking stock of existing drones and related equipment in the Matsu area and establishing mechanisms for coordination and intelligence sharing in peacetime and wartime. It also plans to integrate drones, unmanned surface vessels, and existing ISR systems so units can support one another based on mission requirements.

Every society has stories it would like to share with the world, and wounds that must not be forgotten.

The Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park, a campus of the National Human Rights Museum located in New Taipei City's Xindian District, stands at a site where victims of political oppression were held in confinement during the authoritarian era. Today it has been converted into a human rights park that is open to visitors from all over the world.

Entering a historic site


Located just a few steps away from Xiulang Bridge, the park occupies the site of the former Taiwan Garrison Command's Military Law Division. After the termination of the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion in 1991, it became an important historic site bearing witness to authoritarian rule.

Chien Hsueh-yi, who was hired in 2007 to design the park's entrance area, chose "imprisonment" and "freedom" as the area's two themes. A number of scattered bare concrete walls of varying heights stand like sharp knives in the entranceway to the park. At the same time, they provide for easily accessible entrance.

Located behind the entrance installation and integrated with it, the Human Rights Memorial was added in 2015. It features rows of Indian black granite plaques engraved with the names of persons who fell victim to political oppression from 1945 through 1992. Each name represents a person who once had dreams, a family, and a future.

Moving forward through the park, the visitor comes to the First Court, where the defendants in the Kaohsiung Incident were put on public trial in 1980. Huang Hsin-chieh, Shih Ming-teh, Annette Lu, and Chen Chu were among the democracy activists who appeared as defendants during the proceedings.

At a spot deeper into the site than any other, one comes to the Military Law Division's detention facility, the Ren-Ai Building, which was the main incarceration facility at the site. Ever so many souls seeking freedom were imprisoned here.

Survivors of the White Terror


The fates of countless individuals were rewritten following sudden arrests and trials during the White Terror years. Our park guide today, John Chen, is more than just a guide. He himself lived through everything he's talking about.

Now 90 years old and using an umbrella as a cane, Chen leads us into the infirmary where he was assigned to work for more than nine years while incarcerated. As a young medical student in Japan, he had taken part in the activities of a Taiwan independence organization and came under surveillance by intelligence agencies. After returning to Taiwan, he was arrested while on honeymoon with his new wife. He was charged with "committing an overt act with the intent to overthrow the government by illegal means." At the age of 32, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The judgment was handed down on 21 July 1969, the very day that the US astronaut Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Laments Chen: "Mankind had reached the moon, but Taiwan was still so closed off."

For more than eight months, the prison authorities let him out of his cell roughly two days per week, a mere 15 minutes each time. Eventually, however, he was assigned to work in the infirmary, drawing on his medical expertise. The persons under his care included some 300 fellow political prisoners as well as soldiers and officers from the Military Law Division and their family members.

Revealing dark truths


Keeping diaries was his way of staying defiant while in prison. Using writing pads or the margins of printed matter, he would note his observations of daily prison life, and record his fears. These diaries were recently published by the National Human Rights Museum.

The government in those years often declared that Taiwan had no political prisoners, but lists of political prisoners were leaked on a number of occasions from the Jing-Mei Detention Center. Chen confides that he took advantage of his work in the infirmary to compile lists of political prisoners, which he would deliver to fellow prisoners. They would then slip them into loads of laundry to be spirited out of the prison and sent abroad, to let the entire world know the truth about conditions in Taiwan.

Chen's sentence was reduced upon the death of Chiang Kai-shek in 1975, but the long, hard years of prison life had driven him to drink. In the end, when preparing to administer an injection he had to first take a swig just to ensure a steady hand.

When asked whether he doesn't harbor resentment after all he went through, Chen answers with utter composure: "Those were the times we lived in, there's nothing to complain about." But then he shifts to a joking tone: "I'm still alive at age 90. My wife is still here, and she's still the original, I never switched. Not bad. I'm a lucky man."

For the sake of memory


The National Human Rights Museum was established in 2018 as part of Taiwanese society's efforts to implement transitional justice. Chen returned to the place where he had been held prisoner to help plan the park's exhibitions, and to let others understand exactly how the site looked when he was there. When asked why he would be willing to set foot in that place once again, he responds: "Any regime can make mistakes, but we must face them head on. The preservation of the memorial park is a meaningful thing. We should let today's young people know what a tragic place Taiwan was back in those years."

At the end of our interview, we walk with Chen to his car and he drives back home to have lunch with his wife. Life keeps moving forward, and the stories we choose to preserve will accompany new generations as they contemplate the precious value of freedom, human rights, and democracy.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan welcomed a joint statement issued Monday by the US, Japan, and South Korea reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (   ) thanked the three countries for the statement. He welcomed the international community's continued attention to regional security and support for Taiwan's inclusion in international organizations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The ministers "encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo," according to the US State Department.

The statement also expressed support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations. It underscored support for "freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and other lawful uses of the sea for all nations in the Indo-Pacific and globally," in accordance with international law as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said stability in the Taiwan Strait is vital to Indo-Pacific security, the global economy, and supply chains. It added that Taiwan would strengthen its self-defense and societal resilience, safeguard the status quo, and deepen cooperation with the US, Japan, South Korea, and other democratic partners.

The ministry said it would continue working with international partners to secure Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, enabling the country to contribute more to addressing global challenges.

National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (   ) also welcomed the trilateral statement in a post on X Tuesday. He described the announcement as "a powerful statement against coercive behaviors by the PRC in the Indo-Pacific."

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan has launched a seed industry development project and opened an agricultural demonstration and training farm in Somaliland.

Speaking at the farm's opening ceremony Sunday, Taiwan Representative Allen C. Lou said Taiwan and Somaliland are working together to strengthen farmers' capabilities through demonstrations, training, and technology transfers. The project will run through 2030 and aims to strengthen food security and climate resilience, according to the Taiwan Representative Office in Somaliland.

The office said the two sides were "sowing seeds of friendship, growing a sustainable future together."

"This project will establish a seed quality management system, strengthen testing and inspection capacities, and improve seed production techniques," the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund said. The fund added that these efforts would help Somaliland advance toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger.

Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu (   ) said in June that bilateral cooperation spans agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, and other areas. Wu described Somaliland as Taiwan's first major partner in East Africa and said the relationship could serve as a model for broader engagement across the continent.

Last year, President Lai Ching-te (   ) met Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adam and pledged to deepen the partnership.

Lai said authoritarian regimes had intensified efforts to suppress Taiwan's and Somaliland's international participation. He said the two sides should work together to demonstrate the resilience of democratic alliances and their commitment to shared values.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   DPP candidate Puma Shen (   ) has narrowed the gap with Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (   ), trailing him by just 1.2 percentage points in a new poll ahead of the November local elections.

The poll, released Tuesday by the Taipei Trust in Democracy Association, found Chiang with 41.7% support and Shen with 40.5%, putting the two candidates within its margin of error. Each of the other four candidates received less than 1%.

Kuo Hsi (  ) received 0.7%, Tang Hsin-min (   ) 0.6%, Hsiao Wen-chien (   ) 0.5%, and independent Lin Chih-cheng (   ) 0.3%. Another 5.2% said they would not vote, while 10.6% were undecided.

Asked whether each candidate was suitable to serve as mayor, 50% of respondents said Chiang was suitable, compared with 46.2% for Shen. Chiang's unsuitability rating was 38.3%, compared with 32.5% for Shen.

Support for Chiang was stronger among respondents aged 50 and older, while those aged 20 to 49 tended to favor Shen. Among KMT-aligned respondents, 96.1% backed Chiang, as did 88.5% of TPP supporters. Meanwhile, 89.4% of DPP-aligned respondents favored Shen.

Among politically independent voters, 31.7% supported Chiang and 25.9% backed Shen. Another 12.1% said they would not vote, while 27.4% were undecided.

When asked whether Taipei should continue under a KMT mayor or switch to the DPP, 38% favored retaining the KMT, while 42% preferred a change. The association said the KMT's image was not helping Chiang, while Shen still had room to build support.

Shen held a narrow lead among male voters, receiving 43.3% support compared with Chiang's 41%. Chiang led among female voters with 42.3% support, compared with Shen's 38.1%.

In a poll released by Z.Media in June, Chiang led Shen 55.2% to 27.5%. In August, the Taiwan Public Opinion Research Center released a survey showing Chiang ahead 48.4% to 33%, per Newtalk.

The Taipei Trust in Democracy Association commissioned the latest poll, which was designed and analyzed by polling expert Tai Li-an (   ) and conducted by Beacon Marketing. The survey interviewed 1,076 Taipei residents aged 20 and older from Sept. 16 18, including 752 by landline and 324 by mobile phone. It had a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

China may have helped Iran kill American soldiers. New evidence reportedly links Chinese satellite imagery to an Iranian attack that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan. And this isn't the first time Chinese companies have been accused of helping Iran target American forces.

In this episode of China Uncensored, we look at China's growing military support for Iran and what it could mean for the U.S.

Is Xi Jinping dying? Again? Rumors are swirling that Xi is seriously ill, has been rushed to the hospital, or even lost control of the Chinese military. But how much of it is actually true? In this episode of China Uncensored, we separate the latest Xi health rumors from what actually happened at the BRICS summit.

China says homelessness doesn't exist. So why are Chinese people making viral videos about how to survive on the streets?

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From the "Hands Off Asia" campaign to pro-CCP activist networks and psychological warfare research, we look at how anti-American messaging spreads online and how China is using information warfare to shape public opinion around the world.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Labor Minister Hung Shen-han (   ) returned to Taiwan on Tuesday after attending an APEC ministerial meeting in Nanjing, becoming the first minister-level official to visit China since former President Tsai Ing-wen (   ) took office in 2016.

Taiwan has participated in APEC under the name Chinese Taipei since joining the 21-member organization in 1991. Hung said the designation has remained unchanged under different administrations.

The Nanjing meeting focused on human resources development amid changes in labor markets caused by artificial intelligence, technological advances, and demographic shifts. Ministers discussed employment, vocational training, and social security systems.

The meeting concluded with a joint statement calling for greater cooperation on high-quality employment, investment in people and vocational training, and stronger, more adaptable social security systems.

Hung said his attendance should not be interpreted as a sign of improving cross-strait relations. APEC holds ministerial meetings throughout the year covering areas including tourism, trade, and human resources development, and his attendance was related to his responsibilities as labor minister, per UDN.

"As long as my schedule permits, and the topic is related to labor affairs under my jurisdiction, I should attend important international conferences," Hung said. He questioned whether Taiwan should skip an important international meeting simply because it was held in Nanjing.

He said participating in international forums gives Taiwan opportunities to increase its visibility and share its experience on issues including AI's impact on employment and workers' rights.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan's indigenous submarine prototype, the Narwhal, conducted its 16th submersible test Wednesday, marking its second sea trial this week as the vessel moves through its testing and verification program.

The submarine, bearing hull number 711, departed Kaohsiung Harbor for its 22nd sea trial. On Monday, it underwent a sea trial and also a submersible test, per CNA.

Military expert Chi Tung-yun (   ), chair of the Taiwan Security and Development Association, said testing is being carried out as the submarine progresses through harbor and sea acceptance testing.  Chi said the crew's handling of the submarine and procedures for leaving port have become increasingly efficient based on recent sea trials.

He said such progress has increased the possibility of the submarine being delivered to the Navy in October, while emphasizing that all testing must first be completed first. Chi said the experience gained from building and testing the prototype will also provide invaluable experience for the construction of subsequent submarines, per UDN.

During an earlier sea trial this week, Rear Admiral Lin Chih-hao (   ), commander of the Navy's 256th Submarine Squadron, accompanied the submarine and supervised the operation, according to local reports. Lin took command of the squadron on Sept. 1.

Military enthusiasts gathered near Kaohsiung Harbor on Wednesday to watch the submarine depart, waving Taiwan flags and displaying banners in support of the vessel.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The locally developed Cheetah 105 mm armored vehicle demonstrated its combat capabilities during a live-fire exercise in Tainan on Wednesday, ahead of mass production planned for 2027.

The Armaments Bureau's demonstration featured six rounds fired across four scenarios, including engaging mobile and stationary targets from fixed and moving positions, per UDN. The vehicle also demonstrated its hunter-killer system, using its main gun, a remote-controlled .50-caliber machine gun, and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun to engage multiple targets.

The Cheetah's D3 prototype passed the Army's operational evaluation after design improvements to its earlier D2 model, which drew criticism for its height and high center of gravity. The Army plans to procure 178 vehicles for NT$57 billion (US$1.8 billion) over seven years from 2027 through 2033 to replace M41D light tanks on offshore islands and in eastern Taiwan.

The vehicle's second 105 mm round failed to fire during the exercise, prompting the crew to wait two minutes before removing it according to standard procedures, UDN reported. Major General Chen Chien-chung (   ), director of the Armaments Bureau's 202nd Arsenal, said misfires occur in militaries worldwide and that the ammunition and gun would be returned for analysis to support future improvements.

Four female tank crew members from the Army's Armored Training Command supported the demonstration, including Sergeant Ku Pei-i (   ), who served as the vehicle commander, per Tai Sounds. Ku, a former CM11 Brave Tiger tank commander, said the Cheetah's fire-control system was more advanced and efficient.

The four-person vehicle has a top speed exceeding 100 kilometers per hour and a range of more than 500 kilometers. Its turret features a hunter-killer system and dual-axis stabilization, allowing it to search for and engage multiple targets while firing on the move.

The vehicle's armor-piercing ammunition can penetrate 500 mm of rolled homogeneous armor at up to 2,000 meters, while its observation system can identify vehicles at up to 2,500 m and personnel at up to 1,500 m, Tai Sounds reported. The 202nd Arsenal said it could incorporate further ergonomic improvements into the mass-production model, while the vehicle's final designation remains subject to approval by the defense ministry.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Army's 53rd Engineer Group demolished Sihjhou No. 3 Bridge in Yuanshan Township, Yilan County during a drill on Tuesday.

The exercise was the second attempt to demolish the bridge, Liberty Times reported. The first time did not go according to plan, but after improvements and repeated practice, troops were able to destroy the bridge.

The overseeing commander said that all aspects, including the bridge structure, surrounding environmental conditions, explosives, and safety measures, were thoroughly checked, per Liberty Times.

The Army Command said that realistic training plays a significant role in enhancing combat capability, particularly by building hands-on experience and confidence among troops. The Army also stressed that a core principle of realistic training is to identify shortcomings and flaws during training to correct and improve them, according to Liberty Times.

In August, the Army conducted a blockade of the Tamsui River as part of the annual Han Kuang 42 exercises. The river mouth between New Taipei's Tamsui and Bali districts is a possible entry point for a Chinese attack on the capital, with the Presidential Office just 22 kilometers away.

The Army used US-made M3 amphibious bridge systems to deploy oil barrels and nets across the river. These obstacles could block enemy speedboats, while C4 charges would destroy them.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   A tropical depression near Guam could strengthen into a tropical storm as early as Wednesday and move toward Taiwan next week.

The Central Weather Administration said Tuesday that Tropical Depression TD29 was moving northwest at 14 kph. Its initial forecast track approaches waters southeast of Taiwan.

The system is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm within 24 hours and could become the year's 25th named storm, Surigae.

WeatherRisk Director Chia Hsin-hsing (   ) said weather patterns could steer Surigae toward Taiwan after it forms. Current forecasts suggest its outer circulation could affect the country from Sept. 29-30.

Chia urged the public to monitor the system closely, as its potential effects could begin on the first working day after the long weekend. Its path will depend on the strength and westward extent of the Pacific high-pressure system, which could determine whether it moves toward Taiwan or turns north, he said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Microsoft Taiwan General Manager Sean Pien (   ) said Monday that demand for artificial intelligence computing capacity is expected to outpace supply over the next two to three years as the company expands its Taiwan data centers from two to four.

Speaking at Microsoft's DevDays Asia 2026 conference in Taipei, Pien said the shortage involves more than graphics processing units and central processing units. It also includes electricity supply and space for new server racks, requiring the construction of new data centers and the restructuring of existing facilities, per UDN.

Pien said Taiwan's supply chain would benefit from the global competition for computing power, citing the country's role in AI servers, computing, storage, and networking.

He said he expects no major change in Taiwan's role in the global computing supply chain in the short term and does not foresee its resources being significantly displaced by other regions. To address computing bottlenecks and meet local regulatory requirements, Microsoft is accelerating its data-center expansion in Taiwan, Pien said.

The number of services offered through Microsoft's Taiwan data centers has increased from more than 70 to over 200, he said. The company is also expanding from two data centers to four, with the additional capacity expected to come online soon, per CNA.

Pien said enterprise customers using Microsoft's Taiwan data centers can connect directly to the company's global network. The facilities have attracted customers in highly regulated sectors and those with data-sovereignty requirements, including government agencies, healthcare, and finance.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   A US State Department spokesperson told Voice of America Tuesday in an interview that there has been "no change" in Washington's Taiwan policy and the US will continue to support its meaningful participation in international organizations.

The US policy toward Taiwan has not changed in more than 45 years, Jakob Lengacher, the State Department's Chinese-language spokesperson, said in Mandarin. "The US opposes any unilateral change to the status quo. Our focus is on peace and stability across the region."

Lengacher was responding to questions on the sidelines of US President Donald Trump's UN General Assembly speech in New York.

He said the US continues to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. "Like other APEC economies, Taiwan contributes to economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region," Lengacher said.

Regarding Trump's UN address, the spokesperson said the president had called on the UN to return to its founding principle of safeguarding world peace. Lengacher declined to comment on US arms sales to Taiwan, which are expected to be a top issue during the Trump-Xi meeting in Washington starting Thursday.

Ahead of the high-level meeting, seven US senators urged Trump in a statement Tuesday to maintain Washington's support for Taiwan.

"The Chinese military continues its pressure campaign against our vital democratic partner Taiwan as President Trump has retreated from longstanding security commitments," the senators said.

Trump "must stand with Taiwan and not let China veto American support for Taiwan's defense.

Sources tell The Post Bai arrived in the US around 2012 from Lanzhou University in Central China to pursue a master's degree in environmental engineering an eco-friendly pollution management field at Iowa State University.

Bai graduated from the program and "joined the Army to get citizenship," a former colleague told The Post, which at the time was welcoming non-citizens to enlist in exchange for fast-tracked Green Cards.

"The Army was recruiting Chinese students to join the officers program. When he joined the military, I was proud of the guy. He seemingly did extremely well in the military," the source said.

"I knew him as a hardworking, decent fellow."

Bai climbed to the rank of lieutenant and his service brought him to Hawaii, where he lives today.

In 2019, Bai was identified as a "Hawaii realtor" in local reports, and was accused of selling Hawaiian legislative internships to students from China for $5,000-a-pop.

"All of a sudden, I started getting these Chinese interns, assigned to my office somehow. I still don't really understand how that happened.

"I remember scratching my head and I asked how these interns came to my office and why. I didn't ask for them or approve them," former Hawaii House of Representatives member Matthew LoPresti of Oahu told The Post.

The intern swarm was particularly unnerving, said LoPresti, because of sensitive national defense work his office was engaged in. After a false ballistic missile threat was erroneously circulated in 2018, LoPresti's office became heavily involved in Hawaii's missile defense program. He was also working for the FBI on counterintelligence, he told The Post.

Just before the interns showed up, "I started having all these meetings with generals and getting security briefings at the military intelligence headquarters up in Camp Smith," said LoPresti. "I was getting intelligence briefings about missile defense capabilities."

According to local news reports at the time, Bai "was hired by the Chinese placement firms to arrange several of these internships."

"These Chinese kids were not necessarily what they claimed to be there for. There was something suspicious about it. I brought it to the FBI's attention. The timing was very strange," said LoPresti.

That aside, Hawaiian lawmakers began to suspect the interns weren't being fed by their hosts and forced to live in cramped, squalid conditions during their two-week stints in the Aloha State.

"I remember one intern had a meltdown," said LoPresti. "This girl had this blowout in the middle of the state Capitol yelling at everyone in Chinese. I have no idea what she was saying."

Soon after, LoPresti got the program shut down. It had been sold as a cultural exchange initiative with China. At the time, Bai denied students were being exploited. He faced no charges over the incident and denied in an email to The Post that he had ever sold internships.

Since that snafu, Bai has set out to "disrupt" the distinct worlds of business, veterans affairs and fertility speaking at conventions, going on podcasts, attending galas and writing buzzy opinion pieces for glossy business magazine "Inc."

The gestation commando also has spent time working his way up within Republican circles. In 2024, Bai was inducted into the Veterans Fellowship Program at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University's conservative think tank.

It is unclear what policy initiatives Bai worked on during his fellowship at Hoover, which has been run by former George W. Bush Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice since 2020. The organization did not respond to questions from The Post.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has formally taken custody of a 61-meter patrol vessel donated by Taiwan through the Manila-based We Protect Our Seas Foundation (WPS Foundation) for use as a training ship.

The handover ceremony took place Monday at the PCG national headquarters, where WPS Foundation President and CEO Jeffrey Ordaniel and PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan signed the donation agreement, per UDN. The foundation is a nongovernmental, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization that facilitated the vessel's transfer from Taiwan.

The Philippine military-focused Facebook page Modern Arms Philippines reported the handover Monday. Images indicate that the vessel is the Lienchiang, a retired 500-tonne Kinmen-class patrol ship formerly operated by Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration. UDN said the foundation's involvement could provide a channel and model for future Taiwanese vessel donations to the Philippines.

According to the foundation, the donated vessel will support humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, disaster response, and marine environmental protection operations. The ship is expected to provide an additional platform for training and maritime capacity building as the PCG expands its personnel and fleet, per Modern Arms Philippines.

The WPS Foundation said the vessel will be deployed in Mindanao in the southern Philippines. It emphasized that the initiative is civilian, humanitarian, and nonconfrontational and is not directed against any country.

The defense outlet MaxDefense Philippines said the transfer through a nongovernmental organization may have been intended to avoid legal and diplomatic complications arising from a direct donation by Taiwan, particularly given the Philippines' relations with China. It also suggested the donation could indicate Taiwan's willingness to set aside its overlapping South China Sea claims to strengthen ties with the Philippines.

Tensions in the South China Sea escalated again Friday after a Chinese Coast Guard vessel collided with a Philippine government ship, an encounter captured on video that prompted competing accounts from Manila and Beijing.

The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat was distributing fuel to Filipino fishermen when the collision occurred at 11:13 a.m., roughly 54 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan province   an area Manila says is well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed crew members shouting, "Brace for impact!" moments before the collision. Photographs taken afterward showed bent and detached railings, damaged metal supports and debris scattered across the Philippine ship's deck. No injuries were reported.

Philippine officials accused Beijing of deliberately ramming a civilian government vessel on what they described as a humanitarian and livelihood mission.

Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for West Philippine Sea concerns, said the Chinese vessel first cut across the Philippine ship's stern at a distance of about 33 feet before repeating the maneuver minutes later and colliding with it.

Beijing disputed Manila's account. Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson Jiang Lue said the Philippine vessel "intentionally adjusted its course and suddenly accelerated to cut across the bow" of the Chinese ship after disregarding repeated warnings. China said its vessel had been conducting lawful operations near Sabina Shoal and blamed the Philippine side for the collision.

The incident also drew Washington into the dispute. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton said the United States "strongly condemn[s] the China Coast Guard's deliberate ramming."

The Chinese Embassy in Manila responded by accusing the United States of backing Philippine "infringement and provocations" in the disputed waters.

Friday's collision was the latest in a series of maritime confrontations between China and the Philippines. In July, Manila accused Chinese forces of firing water cannons at government vessels near Scarborough Shoal and striking a Philippine Navy staff member in the head with a wooden baton during an encounter at Second Thomas Shoal.