TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Competing draft bills on Taiwan's drone policy can be assessed through three key benchmarks, as debate continues between the Cabinet and opposition parties over procurement and funding, CNA reported, citing unspecified national security sources.

Earlier this month, the Cabinet proposed a special bill for drone development to fill funding gaps after opposition lawmakers cut support for a NT$780 billion (US$24.5 billion) special defense package. The proposal was rejected by the KMT and TPP majority in the legislature, according to UDN and PTS.

The KMT and TPP caucuses then unveiled their own versions of the bill, with all three drafts expected to be reviewed in the Legislative Yuan on July 3. The national security official said the proposals can be assessed based on three criteria.

First, whether they fully address gaps in earlier procurement plans and meet operational needs identified by the Ministry of National Defense. The official said the Cabinet's version includes urgent capabilities developed through defense planning and joint discussions with partners, and warned that proposals that do not reflect these needs would not represent genuine support for defense development.

Second, whether they can meet planned procurement and deployment timelines. The official noted that building drone production lines, scaling manufacturing, and completing procurement take time, and that delays in legislation have already affected the schedule. A plan that does not align with existing requirements in terms of quantity and timing could weaken readiness.

Third, whether the proposals balance defense needs with industrial development. The official said bills framed as supporting industry but lacking necessary procurement and production capacity building would undermine both defense and industrial policy goals.

On funding structure, the official said special budgets allow programs to move forward more quickly in a single package, while annual budgeting could expose projects to delays during legislative review. Citing recent cases of delayed budget approvals, the official warned that similar delays in the future could significantly slow drone development.

The Cabinet proposal sets a budget ceiling of NT$210 billion (US$6.6 billion), to be allocated gradually through 2031. It includes procurement of 210,000 unmanned aerial vehicles and small unmanned "suicide" boats.

The KMT's draft bill proposes NT$240 billion in drone-related spending over six years, averaging about NT$40 billion per year through the regular budget process. The proposal assigns oversight to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense, requiring periodic reviews of defense goals and annual reports on industry development, according to LTN.

The Taiwan People's Party caucus said its proposal prioritizes fiscal discipline, returning the funding to the regular government budget process and opposing the normalization of special budgets.

In response, DPP Spokesperson Lin Chu-yin (   ) warned on Tuesday that placing such funding into the regular annual budget could put pressure on other spending areas such as social welfare, education, and local infrastructure. She also said annual budgeting could create uncertainty for both defense planning and the drone industry, discouraging long-term investment.

The Cabinet plan follows a special budget model similar to previous defense procurement programs. Lin said it would still undergo full legislative review and audit supervision, adding that such a budget would secure funding in advance, support a China-independent supply chain, and encourage industry participation.

The proposal comes after opposition lawmakers removed drone funding from a NT$780 billion special defense budget approved in May. The government has since sought to restore the funding through separate proposals, including for drone procurement.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The KMT on Monday unveiled a drone bill allocating NT$240 billion (US$7.4 billion) from a special budget over six years to be finalized at the July 3 caucus meeting.

The Cabinet proposed a separate drone bill on June 18, totaling NT$210 billion, per the Liberty Times. However, on Friday, the KMT and TPP legislative majority blocked its review.

The KMT bill consists of 23 articles and would be handled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense. The bill allocates NT$40 billion annually over six years to build drones and testing sites.

Under the KMT bill, any single purchase over NT$100 million must be reported in writing to the legislature.

In the KMT proposal, over 50% of drones must be domestically produced, and increase to 80% after four years, per UDN. The economics ministry is to provide incentives to key component producers and coordinate joint investment by private capital and the National Development Fund.

There are also legal deterrents, such as a NT$1 million to NT$5 million fine for submitting false information to pass evaluations. Trespassing or sabotaging facilities and stealing or hacking into sensitive tech is punishable by a three- to ten-year prison sentence with a maximum NT$10 million fine, per the Economic Daily News.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   DPP Legislator Lin Chu-yin (   ) on Tuesday urged Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (   ) to support the Cabinet's special budget bill for national defense drone purchases.

CNA reported that Lin said Han repeatedly called for Taiwan to develop drones during his recent visit to the US. She said Han should keep his promise after returning to the country and help the legislature pass the Cabinet's special budget bill.

Lin said Taiwan needs to speed up the development of its own defense industry and asymmetric defense capabilities. She called on opposition parties not to delay defense plans for political reasons.

The KMT has proposed NT$240 billion (US$7.36 billion) in drone funding over six years, but wants the money included in the regular annual budget. The TPP said there should be no fixed cap on spending, but the budget should still be reviewed yearly.

Lin said putting about NT$40 billion in drone spending into the annual budget each year could take money away from social welfare, education, and local construction. She said annual reviews would also make long-term defense planning less stable.

Lin said this uncertainty could make drone companies worry about future demand and reduce their willingness to make long-term investments. She said stable funding is needed to help Taiwan build a stronger domestic drone industry.

The Cabinet's plan would use a special budget of NT$210 billion for drone purchases. Lin said the plan follows earlier special defense budgets and would still be reviewed by the legislature and audited.

Lin said a special budget would give companies more certainty and help Taiwan build a China-free supply chain. She said this would also help the nation and the US become closer partners in the drone industry.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Four China coast guard vessels entered restricted waters near Kinmen on Monday, prompting Taiwan's Coast Guard to deploy patrol boats and issue warnings.

The Coast Guard said the vessels entered the restricted waters at 3 p.m., and its patrol boats shadowed them. It said warnings were broadcast until all four vessels departed at 5 p.m.

The agency said the incident followed a Chinese coast guard intrusion into restricted waters near the Dongsha Islands on Saturday, where one of its patrol vessels also ordered a Chinese ship to leave. It accused China of using coast guard operations to assert jurisdiction over Taiwan-controlled waters.

The US, the UK, Germany, and France expressed concern last week over China's actions, which they said undermine regional stability, threaten international shipping, and raise tensions.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Two-thirds of Americans believe Taiwan's security matters to US security and prosperity, according to a survey by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.

The institute's summer survey, released Monday, found 66% of respondents held that view, with support cutting across party lines, per CNA. The figure was higher among Republicans, at 72%, than among Democrats, at 62%.

The survey also found concern over China that surpassed other international challenges, with Republicans, Democrats, and supporters of US President Donald Trump largely sharing similar views across a range of issues.

Concern over China's role in the flow of fentanyl into the US topped the list at 82%, CNA reported. They were followed by China's ability to surveil US citizens (81%), purchases of US land (80%), and technology theft and unfair trade practices (79%).

Geopolitical concerns also ranked highly, with 75% of respondents expressing concern over China's military buildup. Another 74% worried China could use force to seize Taiwan, while the same percentage cited concerns over Beijing's human rights record.

The poll also found bipartisan support for publicly pressuring China to release political prisoners despite the risk of worsening bilateral ties, according to CNA. Overall, 59% backed the approach, including 56% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans.

The survey was conducted from May 26 to June 3 and included 1,555 respondents. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Former KMT Culture and Communications Committee Chair and party Spokesperson Yin Nai-ching (   ) said Sunday that a lack of authorization from KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (   ) was a major reason for her departure from the party post.

Yin said she informed Cheng in May of her intention to step down, per CNA. The party announced on June 22 that former KMT Legislator Chen I-hsin (   ) would take over as committee chair and spokesperson, saying Yin had retired because of career plans.

Speaking in an interview, Yin said that while her health had declined during her tenure, a more significant reason for her departure was her belief that the mutual trust between her and Cheng had eroded, per UDN. She said the committee chair's primary responsibility is to serve as the party chair's spokesperson, making sufficient authorization from Cheng essential to the role.

Asked whether her relationship with Cheng remained as close as it had been, Yin said they were still friends but likened their relationship to neighbors living far apart. Yin did not accompany Cheng on her June visit to the US, a departure from past practice for the committee chair, per Newtalk.

When selecting Yin's successor, Cheng reportedly declined to appoint a lawmaker or local councilor to the position, per Liberty Times. Combined with Chen's recent public defense of Cheng, the decision fueled speculation that Cheng had wanted Chen to take the role.

The reported preference for Chen also reportedly frustrated some councilors who had sought the appointment but were ultimately passed over.

During the interview, Yin also criticized what she described as the KMT's bureaucratic style of operation, per UP Media. She said that despite having been out of power for a decade and operating with limited staff, the party remained inefficient and slow-moving.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwanese singer Bell Chung (  ) said people who do not care about being called Chinese instead of Taiwanese do not represent all Taiwanese, SETN reported Monday.

Speaking in a social media video, Chung said a new friend told her many Taiwanese seemed not to care about their national identity. Chung said she was upset to hear that some Taiwanese appeared indifferent to being called Chinese, especially because she feels hurt when Taiwan's identity is ignored.

Chung said she was not ashamed of being Taiwanese. She said she felt ashamed of people who were unwilling to recognize where they came from.

She said she could not understand why some people would reject the place where they were born and raised. Chung said this was why she made the video with both Chinese and English subtitles.

Chung asked international viewers not to assume that people who are indifferent to being called Chinese speak for all Taiwanese. She said many people in Taiwan clearly know who they are and are proud of their identity.

"Please do not think they represent all of us," Chung said in English. She said many Taiwanese are proud of Taiwan and want others to understand that.

FTV News reported that many viewers said they understood her frustration and thanked her for speaking out. Some said Taiwanese overseas often avoid discussing identity to prevent conflict, while others said the issue remains complicated by history and politics.

Chung is a Taiwanese singer who blends pop, R&B, soul, and jazz with Taiwanese-language music. She recently told Taiwan News that Taiwanese is "home" and said she hopes to help turn Taiwanese music into "T-pop," giving it a distinct place in global music.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan will not accept China's new ethnic unity law, saying it could expand Beijing's pressure on Taiwan and the international community, President Lai Ching-te (   ) said Wednesday.

Speaking at a DPP executive committee meeting, Lai noted the law took effect Wednesday despite opposition from the UN, European Parliament, foreign governments, and rights groups. While China claims it promotes unity, he argued its real aim is to force people to accept one Chinese identity.

Lai said the law reflects China's growing authoritarianism and its shift away from democratic values. He contrasted this with Taiwan's emphasis on diversity, respect, and tolerance.

"China has treated different opinions, beliefs, cultures, and identities as threats to communist party rule," Lai said. He warned that the law could be used to pressure those who do not follow Beijing's official line, CNA reported.

He added that the law poses risks not only within China but also beyond its borders. Foreign governments, officials, companies, and individuals could face unfair pressure or sanctions as a result.

China has already carried out more than 110 acts of cross-border repression against Taiwan, the president noted. Lai cautioned that the new law could expand such actions and increase pressure on Taiwanese.

The government will closely monitor developments and prepare early warning and response measures, he said. Efforts will also be made to strengthen public awareness, training, and systems to counter Beijing's influence campaigns.

He also urged Taiwanese to remain cautious when studying, doing business, or traveling in China.

Officials warned that those entering or transiting China or countries closely aligned with Beijing could face detention or accusations such as sowing "ethnic division."

The highest-risk groups include overseas Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Mongolians, who could face international arrest warrants, extradition requests, or reprisals against relatives in China, according to Liberty Times. Overseas Chinese and dissidents critical of China's government, democratic system, or human rights record could also face surveillance, harassment, or other forms of transnational repression.

Foreign lawmakers and political figures who criticize Beijing could face online smear campaigns, sanctions, or visa denials. Journalists, scholars, and think tank researchers covering human rights, military expansion, or cross-strait issues could also face border questioning or censorship.

Taiwan officials and ordinary citizens could face unexpected detention or separatism charges when traveling, according to Liberty Times. They also warned that religious groups targeted by Beijing, including Taiwan's I-Kuan Tao, which is classified as a "heterodox organization," face transnational repression involving overseas members and leaders.

Multinational companies that promote non-red supply chains, comply with export controls, or conduct due diligence on forced labor could become targets of sanctions. Online platforms could be ordered to remove content deemed contrary to national interests or ethnic unity, while creators could face account restrictions or coordinated online harassment.

Officials also noted that the Ministry of State Security expanded its powers in 2023 to inspect travelers' phones, computers, and social media accounts, according to the report. They warned that anyone found to have shared content deemed illegal or communicated with dissidents could be detained and barred from leaving China.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Mainland Affairs Council urged Taiwanese working in China to exercise caution after Beijing's new law promoting ethnic unity took effect Wednesday.

The council's Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (   ) said the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress contains vague legal concepts that could criminalize positions such as supporting Taiwan's status quo, per CNA. He made the remarks before a seminar on the law's impact on Taiwan held by the Asia-Pacific Elite Interchange Association.

Liang said the legislation does not clearly define what acts would "undermine ethnic unity and progress," creating uncertainty over how it could be applied. He said views supporting separate sovereignty between Taiwan and China could potentially be interpreted as offenses under broad definitions.

Concerns over the law extend beyond Taiwan, with countries including Japan and the US monitoring its possible use against overseas communities, CNA reported. Liang said some observers believe the measure could facilitate cross-border repression, making it a development that requires close attention.

Taiwanese traveling to China for short visits may face fewer risks, but those working or residing there long-term should be more cautious, Liang said. He recommended that Taiwanese government employees avoid unnecessary travel to China, citing previous cases in which officials were questioned as a sign they could be targeted.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (   ) said Wednesday that the party has yet to decide whether to support the KMT's proposed referendum to introduce whipping as a criminal punishment for certain offenses.

KMT Legislator Hung Mong-kai (   ) said whipping could serve as a deterrent for serious crimes, including child abuse, sexual assault and fraud, per China Times. Noting that corporal punishment does not exist under Taiwan's legal system, he said a referendum could provide a platform for public discussion on the issue.

TPP Legislator Chiu Hui-ju (   ) said Tuesday that both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment prohibit torture, per Tai Sounds. She argued that the principles of the two treaties are reflected in Taiwan's Criminal Code, which does not provide for corporal punishment.

Chiu also raised concerns about potential state compensation claims and healthcare costs associated with carrying out such a punishment.

Former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (   ) said Sunday that the KMT's proposal was misguided, per Z.Media. He argued that because public confidence in Taiwan's legal system is low, introducing whipping into the Criminal Code would not address the underlying problems.

Huang said the TPP's internal discussions are ongoing and involve lawmakers, city councilors, city council candidates and party supporters, per NOWNews. He also suggested that the KMT's proposal reflects public dissatisfaction with the government's handling of fraud, drug-impaired driving and child protection.

Responding to Chiu's concerns Tuesday, KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang (   ) said any costs associated with carrying out whipping would be borne by offenders, per UDN. Hung also argued that deterring crime through whipping could reduce healthcare costs incurred by victims, per UDN.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (   ) voiced support for the proposal Monday, saying some particularly serious crimes warrant harsher punishments, per Storm Media.

Former KMT vice presidential candidate Jaw Shau-kong (   ) said the proposal was politically motivated and could help mobilize KMT supporters, per China Times. Although he said he had reservations about whipping as a punishment, he added that the proposal is a legitimate subject for public debate.

The proposal has also drawn criticism outside the legislature. Political commentator Huang Wei-han (   ) argued that if the opposition wanted to add whipping to Taiwan's Criminal Code, it could do so through legislation rather than a referendum, per ETtoday.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   An Indigenous Defense Fighter jet fired a Hsiung Feng III missile during a test off the coast of Pingtung County, reports said Wednesday.

The air-launched version of the anti-ship missile reportedly has a reach of more than 250 kilometers and weighs less than 1,000 kilograms. The missile was developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology.

A single-seat IDF took off from Zhihang Air Base in Taitung Wednesday morning carrying one of the missiles under its right wing, the Liberty Times reported. The jet was reportedly also equipped with a high-speed camera also developed by the NCSIST.

The plane, accompanied by a two-seat IDF, returned to base 40 minutes later, the report said. The jet fired its missile at a floating target off the coast of Taitung.

The Hsiung Feng III used in the test looked different from previously seen versions, according to the Liberty Times report. More tests are expected before the missile is fully adopted by the Air Force.

Testing of the air-launched Hsiung Feng III started in December, per UDN. The firing of the anti-ship missile by an IDF had initially been scheduled for March, but was repeatedly postponed, possibly because of the presence of Chinese observation ships in the area.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (   ) proposed Thursday to eliminate the culture ministry's advertising budget during a legislative committee meeting, triggering a heated confrontation between KMT and DPP lawmakers.

Arguing that the ministry continued to operate despite having no advertising budget in 2025, Weng questioned the need for the NT$47.38 million (US$1.4 million) allocated for fiscal 2026, per ETtoday. She initially proposed freezing the budget until the ministry could provide a detailed explanation of how the funds would be used before leaving the meeting.

The proposal drew strong criticism from DPP lawmakers. DPP Legislator Lin I-chin (   ) said eliminating the ministry's advertising budget would amount to "declaring war on Taiwan's cultural sector," per UDN. She said promotional efforts for Taiwan's Tech World pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka had stalled until funding was secured through fundraising.

DPP Legislator Wu Pei-yi (   ) said a thorough review of the ministry's promotional spending was appropriate but argued that eliminating the entire advertising budget would be excessive, per Rti. DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (   ) said Weng had relied on the same rationale she previously used to propose cuts to the advertising budget of the foreign affairs ministry, the Cabinet, and the Mainland Affairs Council, rather than conducting a case-by-case review.

Culture Minister Li Yuan (  ) said the ministry had managed without an advertising budget through extra efforts, including his writing nightly Facebook posts promoting ministry policies. He said eliminating the budget would undermine public outreach on key initiatives, including efforts to combat ticket scalping.

After returning to the meeting, Weng responded to criticism that she was a "culture killer" by calling DPP lawmakers "taxpayer killers." She then revised her proposal, seeking to cut NT$47 million while leaving NT$380,000 in the budget.

Weng said Li would still have enough funding to avoid writing Facebook posts. The committee ultimately agreed to freeze NT$8 million of the ministry's advertising budget.

During Weng's absence, KMT Legislator Ko Chih-en (   ) briefly reached a consensus with other committee members to freeze NT$3 million instead, per Liberty Times. However, Education and Culture Committee acting Chair Lo Ting-wei (   ) declined to put the proposal to a vote, saying Weng had not agreed to the compromise.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   President Lai Ching-te (   ) on Thursday urged the legislature to approve a flood control budget as Taiwan continues to face flooding risks ahead of typhoon season.

Lai said flooding in southern Taiwan and Taipei's Neihu District was caused by the outer circulation of a typhoon combined with a stationary front, per UDN. He said the central government will work with local authorities on flood prevention projects.

Lai made the remarks while attending a religious ceremony at Chih Nah Temple in Taipei's Wenshan District. DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (   ) and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (   ) were also present at the event.

He said the central government has proposed a four-year NT$100 billion (US$3.1 billion) flood control plan, but it has yet to be passed by the legislature, per CNA. He urged lawmakers to prioritize public safety and economic development.

Lai said the government will support local authorities in assisting affected residents and strengthening flood resilience. He added that local governments should review flood causes and submit improvement plans where necessary.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Ads promoting travel to China should carry warnings about its new ethnic unity law, World United Formosans for Independence said Thursday.

The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress took effect on Wednesday and has been condemned in Taiwan as it may extend China's reach to affect Chinese citizens, people from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, overseas Chinese, and foreign nationals for their conduct outside the country.

WUFI said advertising for travel to China should carry warnings about the law, FTV reported. The group compared its proposal to health warnings on tobacco and alcohol products.

The group said Taiwanese traveling to China risk being arrested under the new law. WUFI recommended that the government should also advise people to seek out democratic countries that value the rule of law and human rights as their holiday destinations, the FTV report said.

WUFI condemned the new law as designed to expand China's jurisdiction outside its borders, per CNA. The term "ethnic unity" served to cover illegal intimidation, surveillance, harassment, and arrest, the group said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   A bipartisan group of 14 US lawmakers has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to publicly condemn China's new ethnic unity law, saying it codifies the forced assimilation of ethnic minority groups.

Ahead of the law taking effect, Representatives Jim McGovern, Ro Khanna, Chris Smith, and 11 other members of Congress sent a joint letter to Rubio on Monday, per SET News. The lawmakers said the measure legitimizes Beijing's assimilation campaign against Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, and other non-Han communities.

The lawmakers urged the State Department to publicly reject the law and raise objections directly with Chinese officials. They also called for coordination with allies to challenge the measure in bilateral talks and international forums, including the UN Human Rights Council.

China's Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress was passed by the country's top legislature in March and took effect Wednesday, per Tai Sounds. The law comprises 65 articles across seven chapters covering education, language, publishing, the internet, business activities, religion, and matters involving Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities.

Article 63 has drawn particular international concern because it extends legal liability beyond China's borders, Tai Sounds reported. It says overseas organizations and individuals that undermine "national unity and progress" or create ethnic division may be prosecuted under Chinese law.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Mainland Affairs Council said Monday that Taiwan's reliance on China for trade and investment has dropped to record lows, even as Beijing maintains that cross-strait trade remains robust.

The remarks came ahead of the 16th anniversary of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, a trade pact signed in 2010 between Taiwan and China. According to the council, Taiwan's economic ties with China have shifted significantly over the past decade.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian disputed that assessment, pointing to recent trade figures. She said cross-strait trade totaled NT$4.81 trillion (US$150.837 billion) from January to May, marking a 22% increase compared with the same period last year.

Economic Daily News reported that Zhu said China exported NT$1.34 trillion in goods to Taiwan during that time, a year-on-year rise of 30.6%. Imports from Taiwan reached NT$3.47 trillion, up 19.1%.

In response, the council said Beijing was highlighting short-term growth, while Taipei was focused on longer-term trends in economic dependence. It noted that Taiwan's share of exports to China declined from 43.9% in 2020 to 26.6% in 2025.

A similar pattern was seen in investment. China accounted for 83.8% of Taiwan's outward investment in 2010, but that figure fell to 3.8% in 2025 and dropped further to 0.9% in the first five months of this year.

Officials said the data reflects a broader shift by Taiwanese companies toward other markets. They attributed the change to geopolitical tensions, intensifying US-China competition, China's slowing economy, and a less favorable investment climate.

The council also pointed to Beijing's economic pressure as a factor driving businesses to diversify and reduce risk. As global supply chains evolve, Taiwanese firms are becoming less dependent on China, it said.

Exports under ECFA's early harvest list also declined, falling to NT$417.72 billion in 2025. These goods accounted for 13.1% of Taiwan's exports to China, the lowest share since the pact took effect.

Zhu, however, said Taiwan's economy remains closely tied to China. She noted that total cross-strait trade reached NT$10.02 trillion last year, up 7.3%, and that 8,132 new Taiwan-funded companies were established in China in 2025, SETN reported.

Despite these figures, the council said Taiwan's economy continues to perform strongly as businesses adapt to shifting global supply chains. It added that economic growth exceeded 8% in 2025, with per capita GDP reaching NT$1.24 million.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Premier Cho Jung-tai (   ) said Thursday that the nation will establish a Cabinet-level platform to counter China's growing attempts to use legal tools to pressure Taiwanese.

Speaking after the Mainland Affairs Council briefed the Cabinet on the possible impact of Beijing's new ethnic unity law, Cho said China's laws now attempt to reach beyond its borders. He said they could be used to pressure Taiwanese in China to accept Beijing's claim over Taiwan.

The premier said the law's vague political standards could be used to restrict speech, thought, political activity, and personal freedom. He said Taiwan must prepare for the risks created by China's expanding legal pressure.

Cho said Taiwan will respond through prevention, protection, and countermeasures. He said the new platform will bring together the interior ministry, justice ministry, Mainland Affairs Council, and other agencies.

Cho also asked the foreign ministry to expand cooperation with democratic partners. He said Taiwan should work with like-minded countries to push back against what he called China's authoritarian behavior, Rti reported.

The premier said Taiwan should stay alert because China used a national security law to tighten control over Hong Kong. He said Beijing may use similar legal tools to pressure Taiwanese people, businesses, groups, and young people involved in cross-strait exchanges.

Cho said China's pressure on Taiwan is shifting from economic pressure to legal pressure. He said the Mainland Affairs Council and other agencies should warn Taiwanese about the risks and help keep cross-strait exchanges safe and orderly, per UDN.

Cho said Taiwan will continue to defend democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and freedom with its partners. He said China's final goal is to absorb Taiwan and weaken its democratic system.

For decades, the global economic narrative treated Hong Kong and Singapore as twin engines of Asian capitalism.

They were the classic sibling rivals: nearly identical in their lack of natural resources, their British colonial maritime heritage, and their hyper-efficient, low-tax economic models. In the early 1990s, they moved in near-perfect lockstep. If anything, Hong Kong enjoyed a modest edge.

Three decades later, the picture is strikingly different. Singapore's nominal GDP per capita now approaches NT$3,185,000 (US$100,000)   almost 70% higher than Hong Kong's. What was once a rivalry between peers has become a remarkable case of economic divergence.

No single event or policy can fully explain the widening gap. The divergence between Hong Kong and Singapore was the product of several mutually reinforcing forces unfolding over decades. Yet at the heart of the story lies a profound irony: the very factor long believed to guarantee Hong Kong's prosperity may have weakened its capacity to adapt.

For years, Beijing assured Hong Kong that it could continue to thrive by "facing the world with the strong support of the motherland." The phrase sounded reassuring, even visionary. The vast China market was supposed to provide Hong Kong with an unrivaled economic hinterland   a permanent advantage no competitor could match.

There is no question that this integration generated enormous wealth. Hong Kong became the indispensable intermediary between China and global capital.

It facilitated trade, financial flows, property investment, and the overseas listings of mainland firms. Few cities in modern history have become rich so quickly or so easily.

 Hidden costs

Yet easy wealth can be deceptively costly.

The promise of "strong support" gradually became a structural opiate. Why build a complex technology ecosystem or take high-risk bets on homegrown innovation when extraordinary returns could be earned simply by sitting at the gateway to China?

Hong Kong increasingly specialized as a middleman economy, while much of its entrepreneurial energy and capital flowed into finance and real estate.

This reinforced another structural weakness: the property trap. As Chinese capital poured into Hong Kong and land values soared, property came to dominate both the economy and the political system.

Capital that might otherwise have flowed into innovation was instead absorbed by speculation and real estate development. Young entrepreneurs faced some of the world's highest operating costs, while many of the city's most powerful conglomerates remained heavily concentrated in property.

Underlying this evolution was an even deeper transformation: geography itself became less important.

For much of the 20th century, Hong Kong's location constituted an almost unassailable advantage. It was China's gateway to the world   a place through which capital, trade, information, and expertise had to pass.

Geographic monopoly


But gateways lose value when the destination builds doors of its own.

As Shanghai developed into a global financial center, Shenzhen emerged as a technology powerhouse, and China modernized its ports, logistics networks, and capital markets, Hong Kong's geographic monopoly steadily eroded.

Digitalization accelerated this process. In an era of instantaneous communication and increasingly sophisticated mainland institutions, proximity alone was no longer enough.

The more China modernized and opened, the less indispensable Hong Kong became.

Singapore confronted the same changing world from a very different starting point. Expelled from Malaysia in 1965 and surrounded by larger neighbors, it operated under a permanent sense of vulnerability. It possessed no giant economic hinterland and no natural resources to cushion failure. Success was never assumed.

This insecurity proved to be Singapore's greatest asset.

Unlike Hong Kong's traditionally laissez-faire philosophy, Singapore embraced a developmental-state model. Markets remained free and open, but the government actively sought to anticipate the economy's next comparative advantage.

Engineered prosperity

Through institutions such as the Economic Development Board, Singapore repeatedly reinvented itself   from labor-intensive manufacturing such as petrochemicals, finance and semiconductors. Singapore did not merely manage prosperity, it deliberately engineered future prosperity.

The divergence between the two cities accelerated further following Hong Kong's legal and political transformations in recent years.

The old Hong Kong's most valuable asset was never simply its proximity to China. It was its institutional distinctiveness from China: the predictability of common law, a free flow of information, strong protections for data and capital, and an international environment that global talent found attractive and familiar.

As the boundary between Hong Kong and the mainland has increasingly blurred   politically, legally, and economically   international investors, multinational firms, and skilled professionals have inevitably re-evaluated the city's comparative advantages.

Singapore stood ready to receive the fallout. It did not need to actively steal Hong Kong's lunch, it merely had to remain stable, predictable, and distinctively global.

As multinational headquarters, family offices, investment capital, and talent quietly shifted southward, Singapore consolidated its position as Asia's premier center for wealth management and corporate administration.

Some may argue that Hong Kong is now following a similar path. The city has increasingly embraced integration into the Greater Bay Area and has embarked on strategic economic planning through national Five-Year Plans. There is some truth in this observation.

Distinctions remain

First, Singapore's developmental strategy was largely self-initiated. It emerged organically from the city-state's own assessment of its vulnerabilities and opportunities.

Hong Kong's turn toward strategic planning, by contrast, has been driven primarily by integration into broader national strategies formulated in Beijing.

Second, Singapore's planning is fundamentally sovereign planning. The central objective is to maximize Singapore's own competitiveness, resilience, and autonomy.

Hong Kong's contemporary economic strategy is increasingly framed through the logic of national integration. The issue, therefore, is not state planning versus laissez-faire, but whether economic strategy primarily serves to enhance Hong Kong's own distinctiveness or to deepen its absorption into a larger national project.

The tragedy of Hong Kong's relative stagnation is not that its "strong support" failed. Rather, Hong Kong failed to recognize that a support structure can become a cage if it weakens the incentive to evolve and constricts the choices it can make.

The widening gap between Hong Kong and Singapore was not caused by a single decision, nor is it easily reversible. It was the cumulative consequence of dependence, property dominance, eroding geographic advantages, differing developmental philosophies, and changing institutions.

Hong Kong may indeed be attempting a correction. Whether integration-led development can generate a new and sustainable comparative advantage remains an open question.

But one lesson already seems clear: in a world of relentless economic change, long-term prosperity belongs not to the city with the strongest support at its back, but to the one that retains the greatest capacity to reinvent itself.

1.Date:
6 a.m. Jul. 2 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Jul. 3 (Fri.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:
30 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN ships and 5 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 26 out of 30 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)   China is the main source for the raw materials used to produce the illegal drug etomidate, the National Security Bureau said Friday.

The government said last month it was planning to list etomidate, an ingredient in "zombie vape" cartridges for recreational use, as a Category 1 drug. The move allowed the death penalty for people convicted of manufacturing, transporting or selling the drug.

In a report to be presented at the Legislative Yuan next week, the intelligence agency said the raw materials for etomidate originate mainly in China, per UDN. India and Malaysia were suppliers of the finished product, the report said.

The bureau also analyzed the threats posed by other new types of drugs. Ketamine, a Category 3 drug, arrives in Taiwan mainly from Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.

Another Category 3 drug, mephedrone or MMC-4, is smuggled from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Drug dealers frequently mix the substance, also known as Meow Meow, with ketamine inside tea or coffee bags to avoid detection, UDN reported.

The drugs enter Taiwan inside containers by ship or air transport, smuggled in aboard small ships, or mailed inside packages, Up Media reported. Using packages avoids the seizure of large quantities by law enforcement, while often the person sent to pick up the package at its destination is not aware of its contents, the agency said.

The bureau wants to counter the surge in drug trafficking by improving the exchange of information, deepening international cooperation, and increasing the understanding of smuggling routes, according to Up Media. The intelligence agency also proposes to improve training, including in the use of drones, and to penetrate the Dark Web to uncover illegal deals and the flow of money involved in the drugs trade.

Beijing is trying to entice young Taiwanese to attend the Cross-Strait Sun Yat-sen Forum in Guangdong Province, China, by offering to cover all their expenses except round-trip airfare, an official said yesterday.

"The cheapest things are the most expensive," an official familiar with China's "united front" work said, adding that such tours typically include visits to "red propaganda bases."

"These kinds of united front trips only end up bringing back a lot of falsehoods," said the official, who wished to remain anonymous.

The forum, which began on Saturday last week, ends today.

China is offering an all-expense paid trip to Taiwanese participants aged 16 to 45, requiring only that they pay for their own airfare to and from Macau, the event's promotional materials showed.

The fee is NT$600 for those older than 45.

Staff would pick up and drop off participants at Macau International Airport, so participants do not need to arrange for local transportation, but individual travelers could also follow a pamphlet to travel to the hotel.

The itinerary includes visits to Zhuhai Lovers' Road (     ), Yongqing Fang (   ), the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Zhongshan City, the Zhongshan Zhan Garden (    ) and Jiulongmen Archway (      ).

Participants would also attend events commemorating Sun Yat-sen's (   ) 160th birthday.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han ( ?) recently said Sun was a great patriot and pioneer of China's democratic revolution.

Sun's spirit is a spiritual legacy shared between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, she said.

"To commemorate [Sun], we warmly welcome our Taiwanese compatriots, especially young people, to Guangdong to explore Sun Yat-sen's cultural heritage," Zhang said.

In Taipei, Hung Pu-chao (   ), deputy head of Tunghai University's Center for Mainland China and Regional Development Research, said Taiwanese aged 30 or younger are the third generation since Taiwan was democratized.

Their understanding of Sun mainly come from textbooks, and few would travel all the way to China just to commemorate his birth anniversary, so Beijing's "united front" work agencies provided incentives to lower participation barriers and encourage young people to visit, he said.

On the surface, it looks like a cultural exchange, but the real goal is to increase contact with young Taiwanese, Hung said.

Beijing aims to attract people who have never been to China and turn them into "frequent visitors," so that over time, they would build personal networks and emotional ties, he said.

Meanwhile, China would promote its narratives on cross-strait relations and a "shared" Chinese national identity, he added.

However, the effect of such events should not be exaggerated, as young Taiwanese's national identity would not significantly change solely because of one cross-strait exchange, Hung said.

In response, the government should put forward a more proactive youth overseas exchange policy, he said.

[color=#ef6c00]"The more the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] seeks to attract young people from Taiwan, the more Taiwan should encourage its youth to engage with the wider world," Hung said.[/color]

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Lam Wing-kee (   ), the Hong Kong bookstore owner who became a prominent critic of Beijing's cross-border enforcement practices, has died, prompting condolences from President Lai Ching-te (   ).

A source told CNA that Lam was in poor health and experienced a recurrence of cancer last year. The source said Lam was admitted to Taipei Mackay Memorial Hospital on Tuesday and was conscious at the time.

He fell into a coma on Wednesday, and his condition deteriorated further, CNA reported. He was pronounced dead at 7:01 p.m. on Thursday.

Lai said on Facebook that Taiwan would continue to defend democracy, freedom, and human rights and stand with those who refuse to submit to authoritarianism, per Liberty Times. Lam's death was also confirmed by local media reports citing his family and associates.

Lam co-founded Hong Kong's Causeway Bay Books and later relocated to Taiwan after his release from detention in China, reopening the store as a symbol of free expression, according to Liberty Times. He had been detained in Shenzhen in 2015 after disappearing from Hong Kong, one of several staff members linked to the bookstore case.

The 2015 incident involving Causeway Bay Books drew international condemnation after five individuals connected to the bookstore were reported missing and later confirmed to be in Chinese custody, Liberty Times reported. The case fueled concerns in Western capitals about extraterritorial enforcement by Chinese authorities.

In a 2017 interview with Liberty Times, Lam warned that similar forms of cross-border detention could one day extend to Taiwan, not necessarily through direct Chinese action but through local intermediaries. He said the risk was rooted in shared political narratives and influence rather than geography.


In 2019, Lam relaunched his bookstore in Taiwan, continuing to promote culture and reading, and it became an important gathering place for Hong Kong people in Taiwan, per TVBS. Culture Minister Li Yuan (  ) said he visited Lam in April this year to discuss plans to connect independent bookstores and expressed deep sorrow over his death.

In a 2017 interview with Liberty Times, Lam warned that similar forms of cross-border detention could one day extend to Taiwan, not necessarily through direct Chinese action but through local intermediaries. He said the risk was rooted in shared political narratives and influence rather than geography.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The KMT and TPP said Friday they will vote against all three nominees for the Central Election Commission during the legislature's confirmation vote.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (   ) nominated former Cabinet counselor Shen Shu-fei (   ), lawyer Tsai Wei-che (   ) and Deputy Justice Minister Huang Mou-hsin (   ) as CEC commissioners in April, per Knews. During a legislative hearing in June, some experts questioned whether Huang could serve impartially while remaining a political appointee at the Ministry of Justice.

Commenting on the opposition's decision, KMT Legislative Caucus Convener Fu Kun-chi (   ) said rejecting the nominees would allow President Lai Ching-te (   ) to submit a stronger list. TPP Legislative Caucus Convener Chen Ching-lung (   ) said his party reached its decision after thoroughly reviewing the nominees' questionnaires, per Ftnn.

Chen said the TPP believes the nominees have political leanings that are too strong to allow them to carry out their duties impartially.

The DPP said it would support all three nominees, per Tai Sounds. DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chuang Jui-hsiung (   ) argued that the opposition should not reject academic and legal professionals simply because they were nominated by the ruling party.

Chuang said the opposition's own referendum proposals require a functioning CEC to proceed. He argued that what he described as obstruction, rather than legitimate legislative oversight, would leave independent government agencies unable to function.

The legislature will vote on the three nominees as a single package, per ETtoday. All three major parties have instructed their lawmakers to attend the vote.

Before Chen announced the TPP's position, TPP Legislator Hsu Chung-hsin (   ) had praised the nominees, describing them as among the legal profession's elite. His remarks briefly fueled speculation over how the party would vote.

The CEC currently has only eight commissioners, fewer than the number required to meet its quorum. In the previous confirmation vote, the opposition approved only CEC Chair You Ying-lung (   ) and nominees proposed by the opposition.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Culture Minister Li Yuan (  ) on Thursday pledged to reform the Taiwan Creative Content Agency's (TAICCA) film investment review process after apologizing for the government's losses on the film "Kung Fu."

During a legislative committee meeting, KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (   ) said the culture ministry provided about NT$5.3 million (US$165,000) in subsidies for the film, while TAICCA invested NT$100.7 million through the National Development Fund, per ETtoday. He noted that despite the film's NT$265 million production budget, it earned only NT$46.9 million at the box office, resulting in substantial losses.

Lo argued that the investment diverted resources from emerging directors and production teams. He proposed freezing 20% of the ministry's operations and development budget, or about NT$150 million.

KMT Legislator Lo Ting-wei (   ) added that more comprehensive reviews before and after investments could reduce the concentration of resources in individual projects and strengthen public confidence in government-backed cultural investments.

Li said the ministry's decision was based on novelist and filmmaker Ke Jing-teng's (   ) previous box-office success, along with the long absence of martial arts films from Taiwan's film industry, per UP Media. He apologized to taxpayers and supporters of Taiwan's film industry for what he described as the investment's "jaw-dropping" performance.

Li said the ministry would shift away from making high-risk investments in individual projects and instead invest through funds or investment firms, per Liberty Times. He also said the ministry would establish a new review process for the NT$10 billion investment program funded by the National Development Fund.

Lo later revised his proposal, seeking instead to freeze NT$11.5 million of TAICCA's budget until the ministry submits a written report and receives legislative approval to use the funds.

Li later clarified that his apology was for the system that resulted in the government's financial losses, not for the decision to invest in "Kung Fu," per Tai Sounds. He said he was not criticizing either the investment itself or the review panel that approved it.

Lo also questioned the operations of Taiwanplus, arguing that the government's roughly NT$1 billion investment had not produced results that justified its budget, per UDN. He proposed freezing half of Taiwanplus' budget and cutting NT$20 million.

Li said Taiwanplus' biggest challenge was its positioning. He said the platform was originally intended to communicate Taiwan's story to the world, leading it to hire foreign journalists before later undergoing internal changes following criticism. He described Taiwanplus' current situation as "a disaster."

After Li's remarks, Lo urged the ministry to focus on addressing Taiwaplus' structural problems. Li later clarified that he had used the term "disaster" as "a more literary description."

TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (   ) also commented on the issue, questioning whether Taiwan should continue investing in what Li had described as "a disaster," per Storm Media. Huang alleged that Taiwanplus had become a DPP propaganda outlet, citing the departure of a former editor who said they resigned because of "political interference."

China's Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which took effect on Wednesday, uses legislation as a tool of intimidation and seeks to create a chilling effect in the international community while threatening the personal safety of Taiwanese citizens, the DPP caucus said, proposing a motion to condemn Beijing's transnational repression efforts.

The law could threaten people around the world, particularly those in Taiwan who maintain that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent sovereign state, DPP caucus chief executive Chuang Jui-hsiung (   ) said.

DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (   ) said that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) were "Chinese Communist Party's collaborators" for their votes blocking the motion from being placed on the agenda, while DPP Legislator Chen Pei-yu (   ) asked that if they are unwilling to defend the ROC, what right do KMT and TPP lawmakers have to serve as members of its legislature.

TPP caucus whip Jacky Chen (   ) said that the DPP was "spreading misinformation all day" and does not even understand legislative procedure.

He said the vote concerned the legislative agenda, adding that on procedural matters, the TPP caucus supports its own position while other caucuses back their respective versions.

There was no "blocking" of the condemnation motion, he said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan will open a representative office in Phoenix to serve Taiwanese businesses and residents in Arizona and in neighboring New Mexico, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

Preparatory work had already started, the ministry said in a statement. The capital of the southwestern US state has gained prominence due to the choice by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to launch a production unit there.

The ministry mentioned the growing role of the semiconductor industry and its supply chain in the area as a reason to open an office in Phoenix. The presence of the office would help deepen relations with the city and the state government, the ministry said.

Office staff will assist Taiwanese investors and business operators in the area, and boost cooperation in fields including technology, trade, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Phoenix will be Taiwan's 14th in the US, the ministry said. The country already operates missions in Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Miami, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Guam.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Army drills scheduled for next week will include the first live-fire exercises with handheld Stinger missiles, reports said Friday.

The drills will take place in an area near Manzhou in Pingtung County, off Taiwan's southeast coast, the Liberty Times reported. While the military is equipped with several types of handheld missiles, it will be the first live-fire drills with the Stingers supplied by the US three years ago.

The event will also include the use of the Avenger Air Defense Weapons System, land-based Sky Sword II anti-air missiles, and the tripod-mounted surface-to-air Dual Mount Stinger missiles.

Army Aviation and Special Forces Command helicopters will fire air-launched Stingers, Sidewinders, and Hellfire missiles, the report said. An estimated more than 2,600 Stingers were procured from the US in two phases, with the first batch arriving in May 2023.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   President Lai Ching-te (   ) wished the US a happy 250th anniversary in a video posted on Facebook by the American Institute in Taiwan Saturday.

Standing next to AIT Director Raymond Greene, Lai praised the bravery of the American people for seeking freedom in 1776. He also drew a parallel between 250 years of independence for the US and 30 years of direct presidential elections in Taiwan.

The same kind of bravery moved the Taiwanese people to choose democracy, he said. Lai added that even though the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean separated Taiwan and the US, he believed freedom could bridge the distance, and democracy could make relations even closer.

He hoped Taiwan and the US could continue to deepen their rock-solid relationship based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances underpinning US support for Taipei.

Lai closed off the 1-minute 10-second reel by wishing the US a happy anniversary on the Fourth of July.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   China has posted a record of more than 110 military and coast guard ships along the first island chain, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (   ) said Saturday.

The top official posted a map on X showing the deployment of the Chinese ships from South Korea and Japan down to the Philippines and Vietnam. Wu's post was a reaction to China announcing earlier Saturday it was sending its coast guard vessel the Xiushan to patrol the ocean east of Taiwan, the Liberty Times reported.

Wu said China's "massive military mobilization" along the first island chain was a "clear sign of its expansionism." The more than 110 ships amounted to a record, he said.

"This bully has too much money to throw around, but none for its own people," Wu added. Taiwan condemned the mission of the Xiushan as "fake law enforcement, but real expansion of power," according to the Liberty Times.

The Coast Guard Administration said it was sending the Hualien and Pali patrol vessels to track China's Xiushan and Chongming ships, per CNA. At 9:25 a.m. Saturday, the two Chinese vessels were situated 100 kilometers east of Hualien harbor, just outside restricted waters.

Recent Chinese coast guard operations east of Taiwan invited condemnation by several other countries, including the US and the UK, as threats to the freedom of navigation. The operations have also been seen as a rehearsal for a potential Chinese blockade of Taiwan.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   China claims talks between Japan and the Philippines about maritime borders east of Taiwan are illegal as they did not involve Beijing, the Financial Times reported Friday.

The talks centered on overlapping parts of the exclusive economic zones of Japan and the Philippines. The zones are areas where governments have rights to explore, use, and manage natural resources.

The China Institute for Marine Affairs said the bilateral agreement between Tokyo and Manila for the talks was reached without consulting Beijing and violated international law, according to Financial Times. The institute said the bilateral efforts should stop, and the two countries should start negotiations with China.

After news of the bilateral talks emerged in June, China said it would conduct "special maritime law enforcement operations" east of Taiwan. It was the first time Beijing sent coast guard ships to the area for such type of operations, the Financial Times reported.

China said the coast guard inspected 198 ships in the area, "rectifying" violations by three ships, according to the report. The Chinese vessels also conducted a hydrographic survey and patrolled near undersea cables, the report said. The Chinese actions east of Taiwan were also seen as a rehearsal for a potential blockade of Taiwan as well as disruptive to international shipping lanes.

The Chinese coast guard actions were condemned in a joint statement by the British, German, and French representative offices in Taiwan and by the American Institute in Taiwan as a threat to freedom of navigation.

During the past week, China also issued radio warnings to Japanese research vessels near the Japanese-held Diaoyutai area, disputed islands northeast of Taiwan.

Crisis Group Senior Analyst for Northeast Asia William Yang told the Financial Times China was using its response to the talks as an excuse to expand its coast guard operations east of Taiwan and to strengthen its claims over Taiwan.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan this week tested its ability to respond to overlapping wartime and disaster scenarios in Nantou.

The two-day resilience drill combined a simulated Chinese military assault with a major earthquake, infrastructure disruptions, cyberattacks, and public disorder. Central and local government officials, military personnel, and emergency responders practiced coordinating response efforts across agencies, according to the Nantou County Government.

The exercise was conducted with a scenario-based, no-script approach to test response capacity. It began with a seven-hour tabletop session, during which officials discussed responses to a series of emergency scenarios, before progressing to field drills, according to the Cabinet.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake was incorporated into the exercise, adding another layer of complexity. As the drill unfolded, participants responded to simulated Chinese drone activity targeting critical infrastructure and established emergency food distribution stations, simultaneously handling disaster relief efforts and emerging public unrest, Reuters reported.

Officials monitored the evolving scenario using multiple digital command platforms displayed at the response center. A US-developed tactical mapping and communications system provided real-time simulated enemy positioning, while Taiwan government platforms tracked emergency resources, including ambulance deployments, through interactive maps.

The exercise placed civil servants in unfamiliar roles. Staff from utilities departments and household registration offices, who are not typically part of emergency response operations, also took part.

An official who participated in the exercise, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that while a real war cannot be replicated, scenario-based drills help participants understand the urgency and intensity of such conditions. The official added that without peacetime preparation, effective crisis response would not be possible.

The drill also examined responses to information warfare, including disinformation and sabotage scenarios. At one stage, television broadcasts were disrupted and replaced with content attributed to Beijing, while misinformation leaflets were reported circulating in public areas.

Nantou, Taiwan's only inland county, was assigned a central role in the exercise as a support zone. Officials designated it as a reception area for evacuees from other regions and as a backup operational hub to sustain essential functions behind front-line areas.

Officials said the exercises were designed to reflect lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Some scenarios included relocating hospital functions underground, as well as cyber operations conducted by trained specialists to simulate probing and pressure on government networks.

President Lai Ching-te (   ) has expanded Taiwan's defense readiness efforts, with city and county resilience drills conducted between April and August across 11 jurisdictions, including Changhua, Miaoli, Hsinchu, Chiayi, Taoyuan, Yunlin, Nantou, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, New Taipei, and Yilan. The Nantou drill forms part of this wider program, which aims to test the ability of both government and society to maintain essential functions during crises, according to LTN.

The drills focused on four areas: national defense, public livelihoods, disaster response, and democratic systems. Additional nationwide air-raid drills are scheduled for August, according to the Taipei City Government.

Minister without portfolio and deputy commander for the exercise, Chi Lien-cheng (   ), said Taiwan's main security challenge is its geographic proximity to China, which is "just across the Taiwan Strait." He added that defense ultimately depends on self-reliance and noted that public awareness of this reality has been increasing.

However, he said that gaps in preparedness remain, and available resources could be insufficient in a real emergency. Chi added that continued drills are necessary to strengthen coordination between the central government, local governments, and civil society to identify operational issues and improve future responses.

Lin Fei-fan (   ), National Security Council deputy secretary-general and overseer of the resilience program, said Taiwan's preparedness efforts are intended to signal that any potential conflict would be costly and uncertain. This uncertainty could lead potential adversaries to reconsider military action.

Bavi could bring heavy rain to most of Taiwan on July 10-11, the Liberty Times reported. Residents of mountainous areas north of Taichung and of Yilan County should take special precautions, forecasters advised.

The eye of the storm is currently 3,400 kilometers east-southeast of Taiwan, per UDN. Bavi is moving west, turning west-northwest at a speed of 14 kph.

Earlier forecasts predicted Bavi could turn north before reaching Taiwan. Bavi's direction depends on a weakening of a high-pressure area expected from July 7, according to UDN.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   A senior Japanese drone industry executive has called for Taiwan and Japan to harmonize drone regulations and expand industrial cooperation, saying regulatory differences and restrictions on defense collaboration are limiting the sector's growth.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia, Japan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Development Association Executive Director Iwata Kakuya said the two countries already have close manufacturing ties, providing a strong foundation for commercial drone cooperation. He said differing regulatory frameworks are the biggest barrier to deeper collaboration and partnership.

The report said Iwata also pointed to Japan's restrictions on defense-related cooperation with Taiwan as another major obstacle. He said collaboration on military and dual-use drones has yet to mature because of Tokyo's current policy limitations.

Japan and Taiwan do not maintain formal diplomatic relations, but Japan is widely regarded as one of Taiwan's closest security and economic partners. Relations have strengthened in recent years, with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (   ) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (   ) both making private visits to Japan over the past year.

Iwata said Japan and Taiwan have strengths and weaknesses in drone development that could complement one another. He suggested Japan could contribute expertise in areas such as motor production while Taiwan expands manufacturing capacity for overseas orders, per the report.

Iwata also said European demand for Taiwanese-made drones is growing, but Taiwan's current production capacity remains limited, creating opportunities for Japanese manufacturers to participate in supply chains.

The report concluded that China's military expansion and tightening export controls have increased the urgency of closer Taiwan-Japan drone cooperation. Although collaboration remains limited, industry momentum has continued to build even as broader policy changes have yet to materialize.

Sixth approval for TSMC's US expansion since 2020 brings cumulative investment to about NT$1.41 trillion

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)    Taiwan on Thursday approved a wave of major overseas investments, including a US$20 billion (NT$639 billion) expansion by TSMC for its Arizona subsidiary.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs Department of Investment Review approved nine major investment projects, per Rti. This includes seven outbound investment applications totaling NT$736.61 billion and two foreign investment projects in Taiwan worth NT$6.75 billion.

The largest case involved TSMC's plans to construct a 12-inch wafer fab and advanced packaging facility in Arizona, per Liberty Times. The commission said this marks the sixth approval for TSMC's US expansion since 2020, bringing the cumulative approved investment in the unit to NT$1.41 trillion.

Formosa Plastics Group secured approval to restructure NT$9.34 billion in assets, transferring them into new shares of its US subsidiary, per UDN. Taiwan Union Technology received approval to invest NT$1.58 billion in its Thailand unit.

Nanya Technology received approval for an NT$31.95 billion investment, primarily for US-dollar deposits to reduce foreign-exchange hedging costs, UDN reported. Quanta Computer was approved for a NT$19.17 billion investment through its Cayman unit to support US manufacturing operations.

Lite-On Technology secured approval for a NT$29.36 billion capital injection into its US subsidiary for production expansion. Fubon Life Insurance received approval for a NT$6.18 billion investment in a Jersey-based property leasing subsidiary, according to UDN.

Additional foreign capital inflows were approved for Taiwanese pharmaceutical and investment firms.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Panjit International Inc. is expanding its presence in smart mobility and artificial intelligence computing with a focus on motor control solutions and high-performance power semiconductors.

The power semiconductor maker said automotive electronics have become a key long-term growth driver for the industry. This is supported by rising demand from electric vehicles and increasingly advanced in-car and power management systems, including smart cockpits and 48-volt architectures, according to CTEE.

To meet this trend, Panjit has broadened its automotive-grade product lineup, supplying components used in areas such as battery management systems and vehicle safety and control functions. It has also introduced silicon carbide solutions, which offer high voltage tolerance, strong heat resistance, and lower power loss compared with traditional silicon, according to Ee Times.

In AI computing, Panjit is developing components designed to handle the rising power consumption and heat generated by AI servers. These include specialized MOSFETs, which act like electronic switches that control the flow of electricity, along with advanced packaging technologies aimed at improving overall system efficiency and reliability.

As AI servers consume significantly more energy, power delivery systems have had to evolve. This has increased the importance of power semiconductors, which are responsible for converting, distributing, and protecting electrical power, according to Business Weekly.

Beyond power components, Panjit is also expanding into motor control technologies. Its latest integrated solution combines a microcontroller and MOSFET into a single package, helping streamline system design and improve performance in robotic and industrial applications.

A quiet, sophisticated legal revolution is currently underway as Indo-Pacific nations increasingly turn to international law to resolve maritime overlaps. Following the formal launch of delimitation talks between Japan and the Philippines, the Philippines and Vietnam have also begun formal negotiations to delimit their respective maritime boundaries.

This highly technical, orderly procedure is rapidly transforming into a coordinated legal offensive   one that constructs a powerful, competing legal framework to systematically delegitimize Beijing's expansive claims through math, science, and sovereign maturity.

In international maritime law under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), nations do not merely "settle" borders; they delimit them. Maritime boundary delimitation is the formal process of establishing exact, legally binding lines where the maritime zones   Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and Extended Continental Shelves (ECS)   of neighboring states meet.

Legal fortress

By launching bilateral delimitation talks, Manila and Hanoi are exercising their rights as legitimate coastal states. They are demonstrating to the international community that maritime entitlements are generated strictly by land geography, not by historical myths or the sheer volume of water cannons a country owns.

The strategy is devastatingly simple: if the Philippines and Vietnam mathematically delimit their overlapping boundaries using clean median lines, their combined, legally recognized 200-to-350-nautical-mile zones will physically encompass nearly the entire southern and central sectors of the South Sea.

Under international treaty law, a bilateral agreement cannot automatically overwrite or erase a third party's claims. Legally, it functions as res inter alios acta   a matter decided between two parties that does not formally bind Beijing. However, its strategic value is monumental.

By locking in a coordinated UNCLOS boundary, Manila and Hanoi create an airtight, competing legal reality that strips away any remaining international legitimacy for China's claims, forcing Beijing to operate as an overt violator of a clearly defined border rather than a participant in a vague territorial dispute.

Pincer movement milestones

The systematic construction of this regional alliance has moved at an unprecedented pace, building directly upon a foundational Strategic Partnership signed in 2015. Over the last decade, this framework has successfully shifted from basic diplomatic paperwork to active, hard-power defense alignment.

The opening salvo occurred in June 2024 when the Philippines formally submitted its Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) coordinates to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), legally staking out Manila's exclusive rights to the seabed and subsoil resources in the West Philippine Sea.

In reaction, Beijing immediately sent a furious note verbale to the UN, demanding the submission be dismissed. On the water, the Chinese coast guard swarmed Sabina Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal with massive fleets of maritime militia, attempting to physically intimidate the Philippines.

Exactly one month later, in July, Vietnam filed its own parallel ECS submission covering the East Vietnamese Sea. Crucially, Hanoi sent a diplomatic note to the UN recognizing Manila's right to file and publicly invited the Philippines to sit down for bilateral boundary talks.

In reaction, China threw a double tantrum, lodging secondary protests against Hanoi at the UN. State media warned Vietnam not to get "tricked" by Manila, while Beijing quietly increased island-reclamation activities on features it illegally occupies.

China reaction

Moving beyond paperwork, between 2024 and 2025 the two nations conducted their first-ever joint Coast Guard exercises in the contested waters, practicing search-and-rescue and maritime law enforcement side-by-side.

In reaction, China deployed electronic warfare and spy ships to monitor the drills from a distance, issuing aggressive radio warnings that the cooperation "endangered regional peace."

In June, Vietnam President To Lam conducted a historic state visit to Manila. He and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially upgraded their decade-old 2015 ties to an "Enhanced Strategic Partnership."

This made Vietnam the Philippines' only strategic partner within ASEAN. Building on the 2015 baseline, they signed extensive defense cooperation pacts specifically designed to link real-time maritime law enforcement with boundary harmonization.

In reaction, outraged by the unified ASEAN front, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lashed out, stating that "rallying allies to exert pressure on China will not work." To show physical displeasure, China deployed a massive research vessel inside Scarborough Shoal to conduct illegal marine surveys and enforce blockades.

While the political alignment is locked, the technical work required to finish the boundary wall follows a strict, operational sequence:

1.   Establish the Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG): Hydrographers, marine geologists, and maritime lawyers apply the equidistance method to calculate precise geometric coordinates. For example, the JTWG must calculate precise geometric coordinates, determining how much "weight" to give to tiny features in the Spratly Islands to ensure a fair split.

2.  Teams conduct joint geophysical surveys to match theoretical, map-drawn lines with actual seabed topography. They verify base points and physical maritime features to ensure the boundary is technically feasible and avoid cartographical errors before moving forward.

3.  Once technical data is validated, diplomatic and legal teams draft a formal, binding bilateral treaty. This document outlines the mutually agreed-upon coordinates, management of transboundary resources (like fisheries or oil and gas), and conflict resolution mechanisms.

4.  Both nations jointly deposit their finalized boundary treaty with the UN under Articles 75 and 76 of UNCLOS. This final move establishes a combined legal wall that internationalizes the boundary and isolates revisionist actors.

By utilizing mature, civilized diplomacy, Manila, Hanoi,and Tokyo are exposing China as the ultimate regional outcast. While Beijing acts like an overbearing landlord throwing a tantrum in a yard it does not own, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Japan are acting like the adults in the room, holding spreadsheets and GPS coordinates.

Once these delimitation treaties are finalized at the UN, China's multi-billion-dollar artificial military bases and aggressive military maneuvers will legally sit inside a clearly marked, locked backyard. The Philippines, Vietnam, and Japan are proving that you do not need a massive navy to challenge an aggressor's map   you just need to know how to read one.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   China is intensifying diplomatic, legal, and maritime pressure on Taiwan across multiple fronts, squeezing Taipei's strategic space, Nikkei Asia reported Monday.

Beijing over the weekend announced a new "law enforcement" patrol in waters east of Taiwan, asserting jurisdiction that Taipei rejects as illegal, per Reuters. China said the move was to protect its "territorial sovereignty," while Taiwan called it an unlawful expansion of authority under international law.

Tensions are also rising over China's new ethnic unity law that took effect July 1, requiring all Chinese citizens to uphold "national unification." Experts say the law could extend Beijing's reach to target Taiwanese it labels "separatists."

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has also signaled political support for Taiwan's opposition KMT and its leader Cheng Li-wun (   ), while Beijing has engaged in a prolonged diplomatic dispute with Japan over Taiwan-related issues. In one recent case, Chinese authorities detained Japanese employees of a company over alleged export control violations, per Nikkei Asia.

Reinhard Buetikofer, a veteran German politician and China watcher, said Beijing is running a coordinated campaign to isolate Taiwan and pressure its partners. He said China is also testing perceived uncertainty in US commitments to Taiwan.

A Western diplomat described Taiwan's situation as an increasingly constrained dilemma, per Nikkei Asia. Any response to China risks escalation, while inaction risks further erosion of Taiwan's position, the diplomat said.

President Lai Ching-te (   ) has maintained a policy of defending the cross-strait status quo while strengthening deterrence. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (   ) has meanwhile expanded overseas engagement, including recent visits to Europe to promote economic diplomacy.

Despite these efforts, Taiwan continues to face international disputes over naming, representation, and participation in global events. Recent cases involving Denmark, South Korea, Kenya, and Zambia highlight Beijing's influence over institutions interacting with Taiwan.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a new report Wednesday that Chinese military action against Taiwan could severely damage Beijing's economy by disrupting key maritime trade routes.

CSIS noted that, in 2024, the Taiwan Strait and the Strait of Malacca each handled more than US$2.4 trillion (NT$76.9 trillion) in cargo flows and accounted for about 21% of global maritime trade, per Liberty Times. It said China faces a greater "Taiwan Strait dilemma" than its long-discussed "Malacca dilemma."

CSIS said about 33% of China's total imports and 58% of its seaborne imports pass through the Taiwan Strait, along with roughly 16% of its exports. It said China's reliance on the route reached nearly NT$41.65 trillion in 2024, exceeding flows through the Strait of Malacca by about 33%.

The report said the Taiwan Strait is a key route for energy and industrial materials, including oil, coal, natural gas, and ores. It said the corridor also links manufacturing hubs such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou with northern ports, including Shanghai, Ningbo, and Tianjin.

CSIS said a war or blockade launched by China would likely push the country to shift maritime freight to rail and road networks, sharply increasing logistics costs, according to Liberty Times. It said overland transport from Guangzhou to Tianjin can cost about three times more than sea shipping, creating bottlenecks in China's inland transport system.

The report said alternative shipping routes through the Miyako Strait would also carry interdiction risks, longer transit times, and higher insurance and fuel costs. It added that rerouting would add weeks to shipping times and impose billions of dollars in additional costs on global trade flows.

CSIS said regional economies would also be affected, noting that Japan, South Korea and the Philippines had a combined NT$24.19 trillion in goods passing through the Taiwan Strait in 2024, according to Liberty Times. It said the strait accounts for 28% of Japan's total trade and is critical for semiconductor imports, while also handling 22% of South Korea's trade and 64% of its energy imports.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China has no right to petition the Australian government to block the establishment of a representative office in Perth, per a report by The Western Australian.

The newspaper said Chinese government sources confirmed its representatives in Canberra launched a formal protest earlier this year to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Chinese authorities urged the Australian government to adhere to the "One China Principle" and block the new office.

Taiwan's de facto embassy in Canberra confirmed to the newspaper that it had submitted an application earlier this year to establish a representative office in Perth. Taiwan currently operates representative offices in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

The Australian government has not publicly commented on Taiwan's proposal or the reported Chinese objections. MOFA also said it had no further information on the status of the proposed Perth office.

In response to the reports, MOFA criticized what it called China's continued suppression of Taiwan's exchanges with other countries and its efforts to limit the country's international participation. It reiterated that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other and said Beijing has no right to interfere with Taiwan's participation in international affairs, per CNA.

MOFA said Taiwan will continue to deepen its engagement with the international community and expand cooperation with like-minded partners despite China's diplomatic pressure. It emphasized Taiwan's long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship with Australia, saying it will continue working with Canberra and other democratic partners to promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

Western Australia has gained strategic importance in recent years as cooperation between the US and Australia on critical minerals has expanded. The state is also home to the HMAS Stirling naval base, which is expected to play a key role in the deployment of nuclear-powered submarines under a trilateral security partnership that includes the UK.

(Central News Agency reporter Yang Yaoru Taipei 5) Australian media reported that Beijing has urged the Australian government to prevent Taiwan from setting up an office in Perth on the grounds of the "one-China principle". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today condemned China's unreasonable suppression of Taiwan's exchanges with other countries, and reiterated that the two sides are not subordinate to each other, and that Taiwan's participation in international affairs will not allow China to put its beak.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The share of Taiwanese who reject eventual unification with China has risen by 22.7 percentage points over the past two decades as Beijing has steadily expanded its legal framework targeting Taiwan.

The Mainland Affairs Council's latest survey, conducted in March, found that 33.9% of respondents favored maintaining the status quo indefinitely, making it the most popular of the six options, per Liberty Times. Support for maintaining the status quo before deciding later on independence or unification fell to 24.1%.

The survey found 27.8% favored eventual or immediate independence, while 7.8% supported eventual or immediate unification. When combining respondents who favored immediate or eventual independence with those who favored maintaining the status quo indefinitely, 61.7% rejected unification.

In contrast, in 2005, 40.5% of respondents favored maintaining the status quo and deciding later whether to pursue independence or unification, making it the largest of six response categories, Liberty Times reported. Maintaining the status quo indefinitely stood at 19%, while 20% favored eventual or immediate independence and 13.8% supported eventual or immediate unification.

The combined rejection of unification was 39% in 2005.

National Chengchi University's Election Study Center conducted the poll through telephone interviews from March 19 to 23. They received 1,138 valid responses with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.91 percentage points.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to detain a Chinese suspect accused of attacking Japanese journalist Yaita Akio in Taichung and to bar him from contacting other people involved in the case.

CNA reported that the suspect is a 33-year-old Chinese man surnamed Liao, who held a Hong Kong passport. Police said Liao punched Yaita in the face and fled after the journalist finished speaking at a Spring Rain Education Foundation event in Taichung on Monday.

Police said Liao tried to leave Taiwan soon after the attack. Officers arrested him at Taichung International Airport before he could board a flight.

Investigators said Liao entered Taiwan last Thursday as a tourist. Police said he stayed at several places in Taichung and later booked a hotel across from the attack site, where he appeared to watch the area before the assault, Liberty Times reported.

Police said Liao had contacted other people during his stay in Taiwan. Investigators are checking communication records to find out whether anyone helped plan or carry out the attack.

Taichung District Prosecutors Office said it formed a special team after the attack. Prosecutors said they reviewed Liao's statements, witness accounts, seized items, and security camera footage, TTV News reported.

Prosecutors said Liao was a foreign national with no fixed home in Taiwan and tried to leave the country right after the attack. They said there was also a risk he could destroy evidence, contact possible accomplices or possible organizers of the attack, or commit another assault.

Police sent Liao to prosecutors on suspicion of assault, public insult, and violating the Anti-Infiltration Act. Liao did not answer reporters' questions when police took him from the station.

AIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Mainland Affairs Council said on Monday that China may be linked to the assault on Japanese journalist Yaita Akio.

Yaita was punched by a 33-year-old Chinese national surnamed Liao ( ) after a speech in Taichung on Monday, per Newtalk. Police later arrested Liao at Taichung International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Busan, South Korea.

The Mainland Affairs Council said it activated an interagency response mechanism after learning of the assault. The council said police and immigration authorities worked together to arrest the suspect, while prosecutors continue to investigate.

The council said this could mark the first cross-border repression case following the implementation of China's new ethnic unity law, Newtalk reported. It vowed that the government would punish those responsible while strengthening measures against such threats.

It added that the case was similar to two previous incidents in which the Muay Thai studio of Hong Kong activist Henry Tong Wai-hung (   ) in Taipei was splashed with red paint. MAC suspects that overseas forces may be exploiting Taiwan's open entry system to carry out attacks before quickly leaving the country.

Yaita, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategic Thinktank, said the incident should not be viewed merely as an assault case, as it could involve more serious issues, per UDN. He called for authorities to investigate whether the attack was a politically motivated attempt to suppress freedom of speech in Taiwan and whether it was carried out as part of an organized plan.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Democracies can no longer rely on military strength alone to deter China, as Beijing is increasingly pursuing its strategic objectives through economic, technological, political, and information-based influence operations, a leading China expert said Tuesday.

Speaking at the China in the World Summit in Taipei, German Marshall Fund Indo-Pacific Managing Director Bonnie Glaser said China views competition with democracies as a comprehensive national strategy. She argued military strength alone is no longer a sufficient deterrent as China increasingly seeks to achieve its objectives through non-military means.

Citing research from Doublethink Lab's China Index, which measures Beijing's influence in more than 100 countries, Glaser said China's influence is actually weakest in the military domain and stronger in foreign policy, technology, and the economy.

"China has made a strategic bet that it can achieve many of its objectives through non-military means," she said. "Deterrence built only on military strength protects the domain where China is relatively less effective while leaving other critical domains exposed."

Glaser said Chinese leader Xi Jinping's concept of "comprehensive national security" has blurred the distinction between civilian and military sectors, domestic and international affairs, and even peace and conflict. "For Beijing, competition is no longer episodic. It is continuous, requiring persistent struggle across every domain of national power," she said.

As a result, resilience should not be viewed simply as recovering from crises, Glaser said, but as the ability to deny adversaries the political, economic, and informational outcomes they seek. "When resilience changes the expected outcome of coercion, it becomes deterrence," she said.

She added that national resilience depends on contributions from journalists, researchers, technology experts, universities, civil society organizations, and election officials as much as from the military.

"In the 21st century, deterrence is no longer built only at military bases," she said. "It's also built in newsrooms, research institutes, universities, election commissions, technology companies, and civil society organizations."

German Marshall Fund Indo-Pacific Fund Senior Fellow Mareike Ohlberg said Beijing is incorporating AI into its domestic surveillance apparatus to process vast amounts of online data more efficiently and help authorities respond more quickly to perceived political threats.

She said Chinese companies working with government agencies are increasingly using AI for sentiment analysis, allowing authorities to determine whether online posts are positive, negative, or likely to spark public unrest. Ohlberg adds that AI enables China to make its censorship and information operations more scalable internationally.

As an example, China is already expanding its digital footprint overseas through the Digital Silk Road, a component of the Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese companies have signed agreements in countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Malaysia to build digital infrastructure and provide AI-related training.

Beyond surveillance, AI is also making Chinese information operations more effective by removing language barriers that previously limited overseas influence campaigns. "One of the bottlenecks China has faced is creating content in foreign languages," Ohlberg said. "Artificial intelligence basically allows you to generate all that content automatically."

She said AI enables influence campaigns to produce large volumes of tailored content in languages such as English, Spanish, Arabic, and French, making disinformation campaigns faster, cheaper, and more targeted. Ohlberg also warned that Chinese-developed large language models could export Beijing's political narratives if they become widely adopted outside China.

She said free, open-source Chinese AI models may appeal to developers worldwide because they can be integrated into applications at little or no cost. However, models trained primarily on Chinese data are likely to produce responses consistent with Chinese government censorship.

"If more people internationally integrate those models into their apps, that is, of course, going to impact what comes out of that," she said.

Rather than relying on a single solution, Ohlberg said democratic societies should strengthen media literacy, improve detection of coordinated bot networks, and expand "prebunking" efforts that warn the public about false narratives before they spread. She acknowledged that defending against AI-enabled disinformation remains a constant challenge akin to a cat-and-mouse game.

The People's Liberation Army Navy test fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile from the South China Sea to the Pacific Ocean on Monday, coinciding with the start of an annual naval drill with Russia.

The Chinese strategic nuclear submarine launched the missile carrying a training dummy warhead around 12 p.m. Monday toward the Pacific Ocean as part of routine training, according to a statement from the PLAN. The test launch complied with international laws and practices and was not directed against any specific country or target, the statement reads.

The Chinese military did not provide additional details of the launch, nor did it identify the submarine, the location of the launch and the SLBM type fired. The PLAN operates six Type 094 nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines and a single Type 032 diesel electric submarine used for SLBM testing. The PLAN's main SLBM is the JL-2 SLBM. The new JL-3 was showcased during last year's China Victory Day parade.

Joseph Wu, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council shared on social media that the SLBM was a JL-2 and included a graphic showing the flight path of the SLBM. According to the graphic, the SLBM launched in the South China Sea and flew over the northern coastline of the Philippine main island of Luzon before landing in the Pacific Ocean between Nauru and Tonga.

"It's a provocation that destabilizes the Indo-Pacific. China just proved itself again to be a bully on the block," Wu said.

The Japan Coast Guard received information from the Chinese hydrographic authorities that the area south of Honshu's Cape Shionomisaki could potentially see debris from the test launch, according to the Japanese government. Part of the designated area included Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) south of Cape Shionomisaki.

The Japanese Embassy in Beijing also received an explanation from the Chinese Ministry of National Defense that China would launch a ballistic missile. Japan urged China to reconsider its ballistic missile launch training and to not pass over Japanese airspace, according to the embassy.

"At the same time Beijing criticizes Japan for investing in its defense to bring security and stability to the Indo-Pacific, it test-fires a ballistic missile in the same region," U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass said in a social media post criticizing the launch.

China's launch also drew criticism from both New Zealand and Australia. Public broadcast service RNZ reported on Monday that New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand considered the firing as an unwelcome and concerning development.

"We, like our neighbors in other Pacific countries, have no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing site for missile capability," Peters said.

Like Taiwan and Japan, New Zealand was informed by China of the plans to launch a long-range ballistic missile into the South Pacific, but the test was conducted within hours of being informed, according to the RNZ report.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles during a press conference Monday in Nowra, Australia, brushed off claims that the launch was in response to an Australia-Fiji defense pact signed in Fiji on the same day.

"We were informed by China today of its intention to do this test. This is a long-range missile test, and we are very concerned about any actions which undermine the stability, the peace and security of the Pacific," Marles said, according to a transcript.

China last fired a ballistic missile into the Pacific in September 2024. The Pentagon's 2025 annual report to Congress on China's military capabilities stated that China launched the DF-31B ICBM from northern Hainan island, and the missile flew approximately 11,000 kilometers   or 6,835 miles   before impacting the ocean near French Polynesia.

The submarine test launch coincided with the beginning of an annual bilateral exercise between China and Russia, which runs through July 13. On Sunday, a Russian Navy Pacific Fleet task group arrived in Qingdao, China to participate in the naval exercise   called "Maritime Interaction" by the Russian Navy and "Joint Sea" by the PLAN. The Russian task group includes cruiser RFS Varyag (011), corvette RFS Rezkiy (343), submarine rescue ship Igor Belousov and attack submarine RFS Ufa (B-588).

"The traditional Russian-Chinese Marine Interaction 2026 exercise will take place in the Yellow Sea waters from 6 to 13 July 2026. Marines of the Russian Fleet and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, supported by naval aviation at sea, will improve joint rescue operations, as well as practice anti-submarine and air defence missions and conduct joint artillery fire,"reads a Russian Ministry of Defence news release published on Sunday.

The PLAN is deploying cruiser CNS Anshan (103), destroyer CNS Kaifeng (124), frigate CNS Wuhu (539), fleet oiler CNS Kekexilihu (903), submarine rescue ship Yangchenghu (847) and a Yuan-class attack submarine.

This year's theme is titled "Joint Response to Maritime Security Threats" and will include three phases: force assembly, harbor-based planning and at-sea operations. During the at-sea phase, the participating warships will proceed to the Yellow Sea near Qingdao to conduct drills on joint reconnaissance and air and missile defense, as well as training in the actual use of weapons, the PLAN said.

"This is part of the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries, aimed at jointly addressing security challenges and maintaining regional peace and stability," China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a news release.

After the exercise, some forces from both sides will conduct joint maritime patrols in the Pacific Ocean, the MND said.

The exercise first began in 2012 and later was formalized into an annual drill by the two navies. Russia and China alternate acting as the host nation and the drills evolve in complexity with each iteration.

Last year's iteration was the first time submarines were included in the drills. Both the Russian and Chinese submarines subsequently conducted a joint submarine patrol in the Sea of Japan. Since 2021, Russia and China have conducted joint naval patrols in the Western Pacific and in 2023, the joint naval patrol went as far as Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan on Monday condemned China for test-firing a submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean.

The PLA Navy said one of its nuclear submarines launched a strategic missile carrying a dummy warhead into a designated area of the Pacific Ocean, per China's state-run Xinhua. It described the launch as routine annual training and said it was not directed at any specific country or target.

Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Guo (   ) said the missile test followed increased Chinese military pressure in the region and legislation that Taiwan said enables "transnational repression," per Liberty Times. She said China was "now attempting to intimidate the international community by test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile."

Kuo said the Presidential Office condemned the launch and urged Beijing to cease its "irresponsible unilateral actions." She said China has continued military exercises, gray-zone operations, and maritime coercion while expanding what it calls "law enforcement" activities in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait.

She urged Beijing to exercise restraint and return to a rules-based international order, Liberty Times reported. She added that G7 leaders recently opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait.

Japan's government expressed concern over the launch and urged China to ensure its missiles do not fly over Japanese territory, per SET News. Australia and New Zealand also voiced concern, with Wellington saying the test directly affected the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone.

The Ministry of National Defense said the missile did not pass through the country's air defense identification zone but threatened regional peace and stability, per CNA. It said Taiwan's armed forces would work with allies and partners to monitor developments and respond as appropriate.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwanese prosecutors on Tuesday detained a Chinese national surnamed Liao, accused of assaulting Japanese journalist and commentator Yaita Akio.

The Taichung District Prosecutors Office said the case was no longer being treated as a simple assault, but as an attack targeting a public commentator that threatened public security and freedom of speech, per Liberty Times. Prosecutors said Liao was transferred for investigation on suspicion of violating the Anti-Infiltration Act and other offenses.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and other evidence to identify Liao and trace his movements after the attack. Authorities alleged he changed clothes, discarded the clothing worn during the assault, and headed directly to the airport.

A task force pursued Liao and detained him at Terminal 2 of the Taichung International Airport, per UDN. Investigators seized the black clothing allegedly worn during the attack, as well as his mobile phone and passport.

After questioning Liao, prosecutors said they found evidence supporting allegations of assault and public insult through violence. They also said the case showed signs of a premeditated, paid act of "cross-border repression" allegedly directed by overseas forces.

Police found that Liao had been in contact with certain individuals while in Taiwan, per CNA. However, one of those contacts had already left the country before the attack, and investigators are reviewing call records and other communications to determine whether additional accomplices were involved and establish the motive.

Prosecutors requested that the Taichung District Court detain Liao incommunicado, citing his lack of a fixed residence, alleged attempt to leave Taiwan, and risk of destroying evidence or colluding with others. The court approved the request Tuesday night.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Former President Ma Ying-jeou (   ) was acquitted of irregularities Wednesday in the sale of three KMT companies dating back to when he chaired the party.

In 2005, the KMT sold China Television Company, Broadcasting Corporation of China, and Central Motion Picture Company in a deal which lost the party an estimated NT$7.2 billion (US$224.37 million). Prosecutors charged Ma with breach of trust in 2018.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a final appeal by prosecutors against Ma's December acquittal by the Taiwan High Court, the Liberty Times reported.  

The only person convicted was former KMT Legislator Alex Tsai (   ), who started serving a prison sentence of three years and six months in March.

The politician was found guilty of embezzling NT$280 million from Central Motion Picture Company when he chaired the movie business in 2006. The court found him guilty of diverting the funds first to a company he founded and later to his own bank account.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Defense Minister Wellington Koo (   ) said Wednesday that conscripts who voluntarily serve in combat units may receive an additional monthly allowance as part of plans to boost incentives for military service.

Koo said the defense ministry is discussing the proposal with the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, per CNA. He said the measure aims to encourage one-year conscripts to join combat units, develop specialized skills, and maintain those skills for future reserve mobilization.

The minister made the remarks during a legislative hearing on military personnel policies amid Taiwan's declining birthrate. He said the number of one-year conscripts is expected to rise significantly next year as more university graduates enter service.

He said combat unit staffing levels are critical to military readiness, and conscripts willing to serve in such units could receive additional incentives, CNA reported. The policy could help attract personnel with specialized skills and retain those skills for future reserve mobilization.

Koo also said recent military training programs have included many conscripts, but they cannot become noncommissioned officers (NCOs) or junior officers without further qualifications, per Liberty Times. With shortages in those ranks, the military may resume reserve officer and reserve NCO examinations next year.

He said one-year conscripts receive comprehensive training and could help fill lower-level command positions through those programs. After discharge, they would continue receiving call-ups based on their specialties, allowing the military to maintain those skills within the reserve system.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Central Weather Administration said Tuesday that Typhoon Bavi is expected to have its greatest effect on Taiwan on Friday and Saturday.

CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (   ) said the agency expects to issue a sea warning Thursday and a land warning Thursday night or early Friday, per UDN. He said the timing could change because the storm remains about 2,100 kilometers east-southeast of the country.

Bavi is expected to weaken slightly before reaching Taiwan, but remain between a strong and moderate typhoon. It is expected to enter waters near the Ryukyu Islands on Friday, move east of Taiwan, pass northeast of the nation Saturday morning, and continue toward China that evening.

WeatherRisk Director Chia Hsin-hsing (   ) said Bavi's eye is most likely to pass between Yilan and Japan's Ishigaki Island, while the chance of it making landfall in Taiwan is relatively low, per Liberty Times.

Lee said rainfall is expected to increase on Friday, per CNA. The heaviest rainfall is forecast for central and northern Taiwan, the northeast, and mountainous areas of Nantou and Hualien, particularly north of Taichung.

Winds are expected to strengthen across Taiwan beginning Wednesday, while large waves could affect the north coast, eastern Taiwan, and the Hengchun Peninsula. Matsu could also see large waves from Thursday, and the agency urged the public to exercise caution near coastal areas.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Cabinet said Thursday it is reviewing legal changes to increase penalties for cross-border repression after a Chinese national allegedly assaulted Japanese journalist and commentator Yaita Akio in Taipei.

Cabinet Spokesperson Michelle Lee (   ) said the government's cross-border repression task force has begun examining legal measures, with the justice ministry studying possible regulations, per SET News. The Mainland Affairs Council said it is working with the justice ministry to increase criminal penalties for such offenses to raise the cost of committing them.

Yaita, who became a Taiwanese citizen, was punched on Jan. 6 after giving a speech in Taichung by a man surnamed Liao who entered Taiwan using a Hong Kong passport. The council described the case as the first alleged cross-border repression incident targeting Taiwan since China's ethnic unity law took effect on July 1.

The Taipei Trust in Democracy Association condemned the attack and called on the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the Hong Kong and Macau Act, SET News reported. The group urged stricter screening of visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, and China to prevent overseas forces from carrying out violent crimes in Taiwan.

Tung Yu-yun (   ), deputy director of the council's legal affairs department, said the government is studying amendments related to cross-border repression, per CNA. She said the council and the justice ministry would consider tougher penalties for acts carried out at the direction of, on behalf of, or with funding from overseas hostile forces, adding that the government's response strategy focuses on prevention, protection, and countermeasures.

Asked whether Taiwan would restrict entry for Hong Kong and Macau residents, council official Wei Hsu-chuan (   ) said applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis under existing laws and procedures, CNA reported. She added that the council will work with relevant agencies to strengthen national security risk assessment and early warning mechanisms.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Taiwan High Court on Thursday sentenced former aide to a DPP city councilor Huang Chu-jung (   ) to 10 years in prison for helping China develop an intelligence network in Taiwan.

CNA reported that prosecutors accused Huang of recruiting two people for Chinese intelligence operations. The ruling can be appealed.

The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office indicted Huang last year for breaking the National Security Act. Prosecutors said he recruited DPP staffer Chiu Shih-yuan (   ) and former foreign ministry adviser Ho Jen-chieh (   ).

Investigators said Huang had done business in China before Chinese intelligence officers recruited him in 2017. After returning to Taiwan, Huang and Chiu allegedly received payments to collect government secrets.

Prosecutors said Huang and Chiu tried to gather information from former Vice President Office adviser Wu Shang-yu (   ) and Ho. The information involved presidential and vice presidential visits to Taiwan's diplomatic allies.

Prosecutors said Huang received about NT$6.08 million (US$207,000) from Chinese intelligence officers. They asked the court to seize the money as criminal proceeds.

Separately, Huang was also convicted in another case involving national secrets and money laundering. In June, the Taiwan High Court reduced his sentence in that case from 10 years to six years in prison, SETN reported.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (   ) warned Wednesday that China's long-term strategy of "gradual expansion" is altering the status quo across the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and South China Sea.

Speaking at the Taiwan International Ocean Forum, Wu said China's large-scale military exercises and gray-zone harassment tactics are aimed at turning the First Island Chain into a single, interconnected theater of conflict. He said only through stronger unity among democratic nations can China's expansion be effectively deterred, according to UDN.

The Ocean Affairs Council has hosted the forum since 2024. This year's event brought together lawmakers, government representatives, and experts from 16 countries, including US Senator Tammy Duckworth, a delegation from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, and representatives from the Yokosuka Asia-Pacific Council, according to a press release.

During a dinner event, Wu said history has repeatedly shown that silence and concessions do not bring lasting peace when facing authoritarian expansion. He cited the 1938 occupation of the Sudetenland, when the international community believed appeasement could prevent conflict but ultimately failed to stop the outbreak of World War II, per LTN.

Wu said Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, escalating conflicts in the Middle East, and rising tensions in the Western Pacific all demonstrate that authoritarian governments continue to challenge the international order.

Taiwan is not the only target of China's regional expansion, Wu said, adding that Japan, the Philippines, and other countries in the region have also faced growing military pressure from Beijing. He said China and Russia's close military cooperation in recent years highlights the need for democratic countries to strengthen cooperation and improve supply chain resilience.

Wu thanked representatives from various countries for attending the forum in Taiwan, saying their presence sends a clear message that "democratic countries unite, and coercion will ultimately fail." He said China's maritime expansion is not an isolated development but part of a long-term strategy of steady advancement designed to establish a new regional reality.

He said Beijing has repeatedly used tactics below the threshold of war to gradually expand its influence and create an irreversible "new normal," noting such actions include the militarization of islands and reefs in the South China Sea in 2015, its unilateral declaration in 2022 that the Taiwan Strait median line no longer exists, and its use of coast guard vessels in disputed waters under the guise of law enforcement as examples of this strategy, per LTN.

Wu said these actions demonstrate a continuing effort by China to advance territorial and maritime claims through incremental pressure rather than direct military conflict.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Four Chinese coast guard vessels entered restricted waters near Kinmen on Wednesday, prompting Taiwan's Coast Guard to deploy patrol boats and issue warnings.

The Coast Guard said the Chinese vessels entered the waters in the morning and its patrol boats shadowed them. It said warnings were broadcast until all four vessels departed more than three hours later.

The agency said the operation occurred as Taiwan prepared for Typhoon Bavi's approach. It said it continued disaster-response preparations while maintaining maritime security and sovereignty missions.

The Coast Guard accused China's coast guard of continuing gray-zone harassment operations before the typhoon, saying the actions threaten regional stability and increase navigational risks. It said it will maintain surveillance and rapid-response capabilities to counter such activities.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China boarded a Coast Guard ship Thursday for an unprecedented tour of the waters around Kinmen, frequently the scene of intrusions by Chinese coast guard vessels.

The trip by eight incumbent and former lawmakers from around the world was the first ever to have taken place in conjunction with an active Coast Guard patrol, the Liberty Times reported. The IPAC members were visiting Taiwan to attend the International Ocean Forum in Taipei.

The group also met with President Lai Ching-te (   ) and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (   ) to exchange views about the latest developments in the Taiwan Strait. The 90-minute tour allowed them to witness the situation in and around Kinmen, the island within view of the Chinese city of Xiamen.

The group included IPAC Executive Director Luke de Pulford, former UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, UK Members of Parliament Alicia Kearns and Tris Osborne, Czech lawmaker Katerina Demetrashvili, Ukrainian Legislator Yulia Sirko, former Indian lawmaker Priyanka Chaturvedi, and New Zealand Legislator Helen White, according to the Liberty Times.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   DPP Taipei City councilors on Thursday criticized Taipei City Research, Development and Evaluation Commission Chair Yin Wei (  ) over his claim that a bird's-nest fern found inside a covered street gutter had been washed into the drainage system.

Recent flooding in Taipei's Neihu District has drawn criticism of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (   ). At an unrelated event, President Lai Ching-te (   ) urged Chiang to determine the cause of the flooding while praising DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (   ) for helping flood victims secure compensation, per PTS.

A photo of a bird's-nest fern reportedly found inside a street gutter prompted further criticism from the DPP, with councillors arguing the plant showed the city had failed to properly clear its drainage system before the flooding. Commenting on the photo, Yin said expert opinions sought by Environmental Protection Department Commissioner Shyu Shyh-shiun (   ) concluded the fern most likely had been washed into the drainage system and became lodged where the water flow slowed at a bend, per China Times.

DPP Taipei City Councilor Ho Meng-hua (   ) rejected the explanation, arguing that because Taipei's street gutters feed into underground drainage channels, it is unlikely a fern washed down from nearby mountains would appear in another street gutter, per Liberty Times. She said the explanation contradicts both the city's geography and the design of its drainage infrastructure.

DPP Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei (   ) echoed Ho's assessment, questioning whether the botanists cited by the city had conducted field surveys. She also accused the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission and the Environmental Protection Department of providing misleading information to Chiang so the city government could avoid responsibility for failing to properly maintain its drainage system.

Shen also weighed in Wednesday, saying he welcomed Chiang's efforts to oversee Taipei's preparations for Typhoon Bavi, per TVBS. He added that the only casualties of the city's campaign to clear its drainage systems appeared to be the bird's-nest ferns.

Taipei Deputy Spokesperson Wei Wen-hsuan (   ) defended Yin, saying his comments were based on opinions from National Taiwan University professors Sun En-jang (   ) and Wu Jiunn-tzong (   ), per Liberty Times.

Commenting on the discovery of bird's-nest ferns in gutters, Sun said it is natural for ferns and weeds to grow in gutters and that they pose little risk unless they become too large, per UDN. He said it typically takes large pieces of wood, such as logs or branches found on forest floors, to significantly obstruct water flow.

Regarding the large bird's-nest fern shown in the widely circulated photograph, Sun said it may have been washed into the gutter. Wu agreed, saying ferns are usually removed while still small or carried away by the current.

Wu added that because fern leaves are soft, they bend with the flow of water and are unlikely to clog a gutter.

Taipei's Environmental Protection Department said it has stepped up gutter-clearing operations, per NOWNews. Responding to criticism that too little work was being done, the department said most clearing is carried out early in the morning to minimize disruption to traffic.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang (   ) urged Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke (   ) on Thursday to cut short his trip to China and return to oversee preparations for the approaching Typhoon Bavi.

Taiwan Go Go, a coalition of smaller political parties, protested Yang's visit to Shenzhen on Wednesday, per CNA. Citing recent flooding in Zhubei, the group argued that Yang's trip amounted to abandoning his constituents.

Zhubei City Representative Council candidate Li Ya-fen (   ) also noted that Yang is scheduled to make additional overseas trips in August, per ETtoday. She urged him to remain in the county and focus on improving flood control, transportation, and other areas that she said require urgent attention.

NPP Chair Wang Wan-yu (   ) also questioned the purpose of Yang's trip, noting that he was scheduled to meet with several Chinese Communist Party officials despite the county government saying the visit was primarily for ancestral worship, per Mirror Media. She called on Yang to explain the purpose of the trip and return to Hsinchu to direct preparations for Typhoon Bavi.

Asked about the visit, the Hsinchu County Government said all arrangements complied with existing regulations.

Lin echoed calls for Yang's return, saying Yang should return to Hsinchu regardless of the reason he cites for ending his trip, per SETN. He said Yang's presence would benefit both the county's typhoon preparedness and public confidence in the local government.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The US, Japan, and South Korea gathered on Wednesday to deepen security and energy cooperation while voicing concern over rising tensions around Taiwan, according to a US Department of State press release.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Ankara, stressing that tighter coordination would boost economic resilience and regional security. They also highlighted growing ties between NATO and Indo-Pacific partners on defense, energy, and countering cybersecurity and hybrid threats, per CNA.

The ministers signed a memorandum on civil nuclear cooperation to accelerate the deployment of small modular reactors in partner countries. They also cited progress in economic security and critical technologies while opposing economic coercion for political leverage, per UDN.

All three governments pledged to secure and diversify supply chains to maintain navigational freedom by proxy. They also welcomed broadened consultations on international disaster relief.

The trio emphasized peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, expressing concern over increasingly frequent activities near Taiwan. They urged peaceful resolution and opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Defense experts said in a Foreign Affairs article that Taiwan must not only buy drones, but also build a complete defense system that links drones, software, local industry, and military units.

In "The Ukraine Lesson Taiwan Keeps Missing," former CIA Director David Petraeus and Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Clara Kaluderovic said Ukraine's war with Russia shows low-cost drones can change modern warfare. They said Taiwan's main lesson is not which drones to buy, but how to build the system needed to use them well.

Ukraine has used drones in the air, on land, and at sea to find, track, and strike Russian forces. It has also built software, sensor networks, and new military units to help troops use those systems at scale.

Petraeus and Kaluderovic said Taiwan faces a similar problem because it must deter a larger military power. However, they said Taiwan has not yet made the major changes that helped Ukraine adapt quickly.

They pointed to Taiwan's special defense budget as one warning sign. The experts said lawmakers cut funding for domestic drone production, even as the government said it wanted to field large numbers of drones and uncrewed surface vessels.

They said Taiwan still relies too much on buying expensive traditional weapons from abroad. They argued that this approach will not be enough if Taiwan needs large numbers of low-cost, replaceable systems during a crisis.

Taiwan also needs its own battlefield management software, Petraeus and Kaluderovic said. The digital command system would help connect sensors, commanders, analysts, and weapons so troops can respond faster.

The experts said Taiwan's engineers should be brought into defense planning more directly. In Ukraine, engineers have worked closely with soldiers to improve software and hardware quickly.

They said Taiwan's geography makes the challenge more urgent. As Taiwan depends heavily on sea routes, it must have key weapons, spare parts, energy, and communication systems ready before any conflict begins.

The experts said Taiwan should not simply copy Ukraine because the two countries face different battlefields. Ukraine fights along a long land front, while Taiwan must defend the Taiwan Strait and survive air and missile attacks.

They said one clear lesson for Taiwan is the need for large numbers of unmanned maritime systems. These systems could help detect and threaten an invasion fleet before it reaches Taiwan.

The experts said Taiwan still has time to strengthen its defenses. However, they warned that Taiwan cannot buy its way to safety and must build more of its defense capacity at home.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Kanbai is seeking shelter from Typhoon Bavi near Taiwan, reports said Friday.

The ship was located by online military fans near the Tamsui District in New Taipei, Liberty Times reported. The patrol vessel appeared about 44.5 kilometers northwest of the mouth of the Tamsui River.

The 140-meter-long ship, equipped with a helicopter pad, noted on its Automatic Identification System that it was avoiding the typhoon as its destination to show the reason for its course, the Liberty Times reported. The mention was meant to avoid any misunderstanding about its course, the report said.

Taiwan's Navy and Coast Guard are monitoring the Kanbai's movements, as they do with all shipping in the Taiwan Strait and close to Taiwan, according to the Liberty Times.

Typhoon Bavi is expected to pass northeast of Taiwan on Saturday in a northwesterly direction.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Former Japan National Security Secretariat Secretary-General Kitamura Shigeru proposed Thursday, at a symposium in Washington, that Japan and Taiwan's Coast Guards conduct joint exercises to counter China's grey zone tactics.

During a discussion with Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Jason Hsu (   ) on Japan's role in the Indo-Pacific, Kitamura said Chinese coast guard vessels have recently operated in waters east of Taiwan and entered the exclusive economic zone around Yonaguni Island, Japan's westernmost inhabited island and the territory closest to Taiwan, per CNA. He said China has asserted jurisdiction in those waters.

Kitamura said Japan should strengthen its Coast Guard capabilities to counter Chinese actions. In an interview following the symposium, he added that joint exercises between Japan and Taiwan Coast Guards would be an effective way to respond to Beijing's grey zone warfare.

Kitamura also said Japan should consider how to respond in the event of a Taiwan contingency, arguing that the Japan Self-Defense Forces should play a role. He called for stronger military deterrence through closer security cooperation among Taiwan, Japan, and the US, per UDN.

Kitamura also urged Japan to deepen its economic and industrial ties with Taiwan. Asked about the possibility of a Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan, he said Tokyo should intervene and provide assistance if permitted under Japanese law.

During the discussion, Kitamura also addressed China's recent test launch of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. He said Beijing is developing such weapons with the US mainland in mind and suggested the technology may be nearing operational maturity.

Kitamura said Japan has long faced the threat of Chinese ballistic missiles.

Originally Posted By Longshore87:
An Article on how the Chinese and Russians are discussing on how to deal with Starlink.

Shooting Starlink: The "no limits" partnership between Russia and China is taking aim at Elon Musk

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Typhoon Bavi injured 36 people across Taiwan as strong winds and heavy rain caused traffic accidents, property damage, evacuations, and power outages, CNA reported Saturday.

Speaking during a status meeting, the Central Emergency Operations Center said there were no deaths or serious injuries as of 8 a.m. Most people were injured in scooter falls, storm preparations, or accidents caused by strong winds and slippery roads.

Liberty Times reported that Yunlin County recorded eight injuries, while Taichung recorded four. Authorities did not release a full breakdown of the remaining cases.

Officials recorded 376 storm-related incidents nationwide, including fallen trees and damage to essential infrastructure. Emergency crews had resolved 299 cases, while 77 were still being handled.

Taichung, Tainan, and Taipei recorded the largest numbers of incidents. Authorities evacuated 14,210 people, including 5,167 in Hualien County and 2,060 in Taichung.

TVBS News reported that Bavi had begun affecting Taiwan's main island. Officials warned people in northern and eastern Taiwan, as well as Matsu, to stay away from coastlines due to large waves.

The heaviest rain was expected in northern and northeast Taiwan and in mountainous areas nationwide. Authorities warned that sudden downpours could cause flooding, while strong winds could damage coastal and exposed areas.

Yellow alerts were issued for 184 locations at risk of debris flows in Yilan County, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County. Four areas were also placed under warnings for possible large landslides, including three in Hsinchu County and one in Miaoli County, per UDN.

Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (   ) urged people to avoid mountains, low-lying areas, and coastlines. She said authorities were watching for landslides, falling rocks, flash floods, and communities that could become isolated.

CNA reported that Typhoon Bavi caused power outages across Taiwan. As of 11 a.m. Saturday, electricity had been restored to 94,133 of the 138,951 affected households, while 44,818 remained without power.

Areas still affected included Taoyuan with 11,881 households, Kaohsiung with 6,191, Taichung with 5,394, New Taipei with 4,767, and Yunlin County with 4,283. Other outages were reported in Changhua County, Nantou County, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Chiayi County, Tainan, Pingtung County, and Taipei.

On July 1, China's Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress took effect. Presented as an attempt to promote unity and harmony between the different ethnicities that compose China, the law carries serious implications for ethnic minorities' cultural preservation.

For Taiwan itself, the risks are different but deserve to be closely evaluated. Indeed, the law is the latest building block to accomplish Xi Jinping's goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people    a prosperous Chinese society with the Communist Party as its backbone.

In order to successfully achieve the great rejuvenation, China has underlined several times the necessity of taking control of Taiwan.

In order to further isolate Taiwan, the law contains a transnational component. Article 63 stipulates that organizations and individuals outside the territory of China that undermine ethnic unity or incite ethnic division are to be pursued for legal responsibility in accordance with the Chinese law.

Hence, the law on ethnic unity is part of Beijing's lawfare strategy, which uses domestic and international law as a tool that simultaneously creates the legal basis to justify coercive measures against Taiwan and shapes the public perception of cross-strait relations.

Given China's scale of transnational repression, it is hard to believe that such a law does not aim to muzzle and constrain people labelled as "separatists" by China. These individuals could be foreign lawmakers that engage diplomatically with Taiwan, Taiwanese officials and citizens, and journalists and researchers whose work does not match Beijing's perspectives.

As China seeks to extend its legal reach internationally, deconstructing its narrative is imperative.

China's lawfare strategy


Through symbolic laws and reinterpretation of UN resolution 2758, China has constantly attempted to shape in its favor how cross-Strait relations are being legally reported and understood.

In parallel, China has established national laws, such as the 2005 Anti-Secession Law, whose article 8 aims to legitimize China's use of force against Taiwan should Beijing evaluate that possibilities for a peaceful reunification are completely exhausted.

Based on the Anti-Secession Law, China promulgated, in 2024, guidelines stipulating which specific behaviors constitute a crime with regard to promoting Taiwan independence and secession, with no differentiation between Taiwanese and foreign nationals.

Transnational repression against Taiwan has since then continuously grown, with the number of Taiwanese reported missing, detained for questioning, or subject to restrictions on personal freedom in China reaching 221 in 2025, compared to 55 in 2024.

Through these actions, China seeks to shift Taiwan's status quo in its favor by coercively establishing its narrative internationally through lawfare and raising the costs for those willing to engage with Taiwan.

While Taiwanese did not wait for this law of ethnic unity to be threatened by China, the law formalizes the risks.

The ethnic unity law sends a precise message: whoever supports Taiwan is a criminal. This simplistic manner of framing Taiwan's sovereignty seeks to increase pressure on Taiwanese, discourage diplomatic engagement with the island, and support united front activities.

What does law mean for Taiwan?


The law on ethnic unity has three major implications for Taiwan.

The first one is that the law represents a deliberate attempt to silence any voices supporting Taiwan and to constrain any individuals, companies, and organizations engaging with the island.

Lawmakers could feel discouraged and scared to engage diplomatically with Taiwan, further reinforcing Taipei's international isolation. It could also deter people from engaging critically with China, in turn lowering the international coverage of China's actions in the Asia-Pacific and ultimately making less visible facts that do not fit within Beijing's narrative.

Second, extending its legal reach overseas serves China's hybrid warfare strategy by increasing pressure on Taiwan and its citizens. Taiwan's government has already warned that Taiwanese could be targeted and detained. The constant threats aim to break Taiwan's resolve to resist and to intimidate Taiwanese into complying with Beijing.

Lastly, the law could also signal that China is ready to accelerate its united front activities. Instilling a sense of belonging and common identity among Taiwanese is a central element of China's united front strategy. Article 21, and to some extent the 44 as well, is directed at "Taiwan compatriots" and calls to "enhance the sense that of all belonging to the Chinese people and all being Chinese."

Put together, these points highlight how Beijing is strengthening a framework that complements the pressures it already exercises on states and governmental organizations. By targeting individuals, be they Taiwanese or foreign nationals, China seeks to legitimize its claim over Taiwan's sovereignty by erasing opposition voices and forcing people into self-censorship.

While it remains unclear how China seeks to enforce the law abroad, it may not need to do it and instead rely on the deterrent effect.

The less salient Taiwan is internationally, the more China will be able to reinforce its coercive actions over Taiwan. Without a swift reaction from the international community, the risk is that in the future Taiwan will be isolated on all possible fronts.

The need for an international response


The law on ethnic unity is an attack on Taiwan and democratic free speech around the world.

What we see here is an attempt to muzzle any form of support for Taiwan or critical thinking about China. Beijing alone is setting the limit to what form of criticism represents support for separatism.

Coordinated and long-term measures are necessary.

President Lai Ching-te (   )'s approach has been correct: opposing the Chinese narrative by upholding Taiwan's uniqueness. In addition, future countermeasures are being envisioned.

Previous measures notably covered stricter control of capital flows from China in order to hinder funding directed to united front groups.

Public awareness campaigns and counter-narrative initiatives are also essential to ensure that the reality of Taiwan prevails.

However, this requires national cohesion. The KMT and TPP blocking a DPP motion condemning the law is a very bad start to this.

Taiwan alone cannot address China's lawfare strategy and the range of pressuring tools that Beijing has at its disposal.

There is a real need for the international community to stand up and protect the values it promotes.

The US and the EU already condemned the law    but this is not enough. Taiwan's voice must be heard internationally and concrete measures to support the island must be taken by the Western powers.

The path being taken here is the large-scale criminalization of everything that constitutes Taiwan: its democracy, its national identity, and its right to self-determination. Without concrete measures, the international community risks watching a democratic nation be erased from history one law at a time.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Legislative Yuan will review four different versions of a drone procurement budget on Thursday, reports said Saturday.

Proposals submitted separately by the Cabinet, DPP Legislator Lin Chu-yin (   ), the KMT, and the TPP will face discussion during a joint session of the Finance, Economics, and Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committees. After the opposition majority at the legislature removed drones from a special defense budget in May, the government issued a separate proposal to procure uncrewed aerial vehicles and ships.

The Economics Committee has decided to hold the first joint committee meeting on Thursday, CNA reported. The Cabinet version listed a special budget with a ceiling of NT$210 billion (US$6.54 billion) to spend from August until 2031. The government argued that a special budget was needed to provide the drone sector with stability.

The KMT proposed NT$240 billion spread over six years, but with NT$40 billion sourced from each year's general budget. The TPP version also relied on the general budget, but without specifying a maximum. The amount spent on drones should depend on the government's financial situation and respect budgetary discipline, the TPP said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwanese networking equipment maker D-Link has secured a new aerospace communications business opportunity with aerospace manufacturer SpaceX.

D-Link said Wednesday that it will supply network switches for data exchange nodes used in SpaceX's Starlink low-Earth-orbit satellite network. The company expects shipments to reach approximately 20,000 units, with deliveries scheduled to begin in September, according to UDN Money.

Network switches are key components in modern communication systems, connecting multiple devices within a network and directing data traffic to the appropriate destinations. They are widely used in enterprise environments to link computers, security cameras, printers, and other devices, according to TP-Link.

D-Link said products supplied for the project must meet strict requirements related to information security and geopolitical risk management due to the sensitive nature of aerospace communications. All equipment for the project will be manufactured in Taiwan.

Beyond expanding into the US aerospace supply chain, D-Link said it has also made progress in the European telecommunications market through cooperation with a major German broadband and telecom network operator. The company expects shipments from SpaceX and other customers to support future growth and strengthen its global market position.

D-Link reported consolidated revenue of NT$3.4 billion (US$107.2 million) in the first quarter, up 3.1% from the same period last year. The growth was driven by recovering demand for enterprise networking and smart connectivity products, along with an improved product mix, according to CTEE.

The company has also been expanding its business into emerging technology markets. In June, D-Link announced plans to enter the robotics market, focusing on security-related applications and smart companion robots, according to FTNN.

It expects robotics products to begin shipping after the second quarter of next year. Initial shipments are projected to exceed 100,000 units.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   China has stepped up maritime and military activity in the South China Sea and waters near Taiwan as Beijing seeks to counter growing security cooperation between Japan and the Philippines, two countries that could deter China's aspirations to take Taipei, per Nikkei Asia.

China's People's Liberation Army recently deployed bombers, fighter jets, early warning aircraft, and naval vessels for patrols around Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area claimed by the Philippines and China.

The China coast guard also sent a 3,000-tonne patrol vessel to the area, warning a Philippine ship that it had entered what Beijing calls the contiguous zone of Huangyan Island, per CNA.

The moves followed a Japan-Philippines agreement to begin talks on demarcating their exclusive economic zones, which include waters east of Taiwan. Beijing, which erroneously claims sovereignty over Taiwan and the surrounding waters, criticized the agreement for excluding China.

Analysts said China's actions are not only related to maritime disputes but also reflect concerns that Japan and the Philippines could support the US in the event of a Taiwan crisis.

Japan's westernmost island of Yonaguni is about 110 km from Taiwan, while the northern Philippines is also located near Taiwan's southern waters, giving both countries strategic importance in a potential conflict.

Masafumi Iida said regional countries need to strengthen defense cooperation to respond to China's growing military presence, per Nikkei Asia.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Mainland Affairs Council said Thursday that 10 Taiwanese have gone missing while traveling in China since the end of June, with authorities using multiple channels to locate them.

MAC Deputy Head and Spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (   ) said four of the missing individuals were traveling together, one had traveled to visit family, and one had gone to China in search of employment. The reasons for the remaining four individuals' trips were unclear, per RTI.

Liang said the four traveling together were not confirmed to be tourists or part of a religious pilgrimage. He added that the reasons for their visits were provided by families and friends when filing missing-person reports and remain unverified. At the moment, Taiwan is working to confirm whether the individuals have been detained or imprisoned by Chinese authorities.

He urged Taiwanese citizens to remain aware of potential safety risks when traveling to China. The government has already raised its travel advisory for Hong Kong and Macau to orange, advising travelers to avoid unnecessary trips. Liang also described a recent case involving a Taiwanese district court judge approached by three Chinese public security officers at a hotel in northern China.

The officers were reportedly already aware of the judge's identity and questioned the individual to verify their information. Liang said the questioning covered the judge's occupation, differences between Taiwan's and China's judicial systems, impressions of China, and efforts to promote cross-strait exchanges, per UDN.

Liang said Chinese state security personnel have also checked the mobile phones of Taiwanese civil servants and invited them to add contacts on WeChat for future communication. He warned that civil servants should not assume they face no risks when traveling in China simply because they do not handle classified information.

According to Liang, the targets of questioning and investigations by Chinese national security personnel have expanded beyond Taiwanese military and police personnel or individuals with access to sensitive information to include lower-level civil servants without access to classified materials.

According to the latest MAC statistics, from January 2024 through July 8, 385 Taiwanese nationals have been reported missing, detained, or suspected of having their freedom restricted in China, per LTN.

Of that total, 157 people remain missing, 30 have been detained for questioning, and 198 are suspected of being held by Chinese authorities.

...from January 2024 through July 8, 385 Taiwanese nationals have been reported missing, detained, or suspected of having their freedom restricted in China,....

Originally Posted By CarmelBytheSea:
Yeah, I've tried being cool but the mods seem to prefer enshitification in GD

I need to work on my YouTube channel more anyway

I get zero $ for my info here, at least shitty comment on YouTube count as engagement

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Fourteen countries, including the US, Japan, and the Philippines, rejected China's South China Sea sovereignty claims Saturday, while Taiwan urged inclusion in regional discussions on maritime issues.

The joint statement marked the 10th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling on the South China Sea case brought by the Philippines against China, per Reuters. The countries said maritime disputes should be resolved peacefully under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The statement, led by the US, said the 2016 ruling was "final, legally binding, and definitive," Reuters reported. It said the tribunal determined that China's broad maritime claims, including those based on "historic rights," had no legal basis.

It condemned unilateral actions that threaten peace and stability, including the use of force or coercion. It also criticized the use of coast guard, military, and maritime militia forces to harass, obstruct, or intimidate other countries' lawful maritime and air activities.

The signatories included the US, the Philippines, Japan, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovenia. The EU also issued a separate statement reaffirming the ruling as a landmark decision for peacefully resolving disputes.

Taiwan's foreign ministry reiterated its four principles on South China Sea issues, calling on all parties to follow international law and resolve disputes peacefully, per Liberty Times. It also opposed unilateral expansion, gray-zone coercion, militarization, and other actions that undermine regional peace.

The ministry said discussions on regional rules of conduct or matters involving Taiwan's interests should include the country's participation to ensure their legitimacy.

The 2016 arbitration case stemmed from a 2012 standoff between Chinese and Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal, after which China took effective control of the disputed feature, per Inquirer.net. The Philippines filed the case in 2013, but China refused to participate in the proceedings.

The tribunal ruled that China's nine-dash line claims had no legal effect and found that areas within the Philippines' 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone were not subject to Beijing's overlapping claims. It also determined that China's construction of artificial islands and interference with Philippine fishing activities in the Philippines' EEZ breached international law.

Beijing rejected the ruling Sunday, calling it "null and void and has no binding force," per AP. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the arbitration process and decision contravene international arbitration practices and infringed on China's rights as a sovereign state and a UNCLOS member.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   President Lai Ching-te (   ) expressed condolences Sunday following the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham, praising the longtime lawmaker's support for Taiwan.

Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, died Saturday at age 71 after what his office described as a brief and sudden illness, per CNA. He had served in the Senate since 2003 and was a prominent supporter of Taiwan and a close political ally of President Donald Trump.

Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (   ) said Graham had been a steadfast friend of Taiwan in Congress, per UDN. During his tenure, he championed Taiwan-friendly legislation, the country's international participation, stronger self-defense capabilities, and closer Taiwan-US economic and trade ties.

Kuo noted that Graham had visited Taiwan three times, including leading a bipartisan delegation of US senators and representatives in 2022, UDN reported. During his speech on that trip, Graham said, "To abandon Taiwan would be to abandon democracy and freedom. It would be to abandon free trade. It would reward the worst in humanity."

Kuo said Lai, on behalf of the Taiwanese, thanked Graham for his longstanding contributions to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan-US relations, and expressed the nation's highest respect.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Rights groups on Monday called on the government to establish a legal asylum system, warning that China's newly enacted ethnic unity law could be used to target Taiwanese and other critics abroad.

At a press conference the groups condemned the legislation, which took effect July 1, per CNA. Speakers tore up red paper signs bearing the law's name in protest, arguing that some provisions could be applied extraterritorially.

Chang Ching-ju (   ), an attorney and executive committee member of the Judicial Reform Foundation, said Article 21 identifies strengthening Taiwanese identification with the "Chinese nation" as a state objective, effectively imposing an identity on Taiwan's population. She said Article 10 also imposes an obligation on Taiwanese to "safeguard national unity."

Chang said Article 63 allows Chinese authorities to pursue legal responsibility against overseas organizations or individuals accused of undermining "ethnic unity," CNA reported. She said the foundation is studying whether Taiwan's existing laws adequately protect citizens from cross-border jurisdiction or enforcement and expects to complete a report by the end of the year.

Chang urged the government to establish a legal framework for refugees and asylum seekers, rather than relying on case-by-case humanitarian assistance, so Taiwan can become "a genuine safe haven for human rights."

Taiwan Association for Human Rights Senior Researcher Shih Yi-hsiang (   ) said the law was drafted in a manner inconsistent with legislative procedures in free and democratic countries, per UpMedia. He said the concept of ethnic unity itself conflicts with international human rights standards and warned that the law could affect not only people in China but also Chinese citizens overseas, Taiwanese, Hong Kong residents, and people from other countries.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taipei City Government Parks and Street Lights Office Director Lan Shu-fan (   ) on Sunday rejected online claims that the city removed trees to help hostile drones conduct reconnaissance.

Public debate over Taipei's tree removal program has intensified in recent weeks, with some residents criticizing the city government for what they viewed as excessive removals. In one example, netizens criticized Mayor Chiang Wan-an's (   ) administration after a row of trees was removed along Shishang Road, per Taiwan FactCheck Center. The city later clarified that the trees were on private land and had damaged the sidewalk.

The latest allegations claimed the city removed more than 4,000 trees between 2024 and 2025 to facilitate reconnaissance by hostile drones, per CNA. An online post asserted that trees had been removed near facilities considered critical to Taiwan's resilience, including police stations, fire stations, hospitals, and disaster prevention parks.

Lan dismissed the allegations, saying the removals were carried out to improve public safety, per Liberty Times. She noted that when Typhoon Kong-rey struck Taipei in 2024, about 2,800 trees were toppled, causing property damage, obstructing traffic, and delaying recovery efforts.

Lan added that her office would work with the Taipei City Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division to collect evidence of any potential violations of the Social Order Maintenance Act related to the spread of false information.

Citing data from her office, Lan said that of the 3,164 trees removed in 2025, about 80% were taken down because they had died, decayed, been damaged by pests or disease, or were affected by natural disasters. The remaining 20% were removed for reasons including damage to asphalt pavement and involvement in traffic accidents.

Lan stressed that the city planted 13,225 trees between 2025 and 2026.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   TPP Legislative Caucus Leader Chen Chih-han (   ) on Monday called on KMT Taoyuan City Councilor Ling Tao (  ) to apologize for what she described as false characterisations of former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je's (   ) remarks on potential cooperation between the TPP and the DPP.

During an interview on Friday, Ko said that if President Lai Ching-te (   ) had chosen to cooperate with the TPP, Taiwan's political situation would not have become as chaotic, per TVBS. He said political proposals should be fully discussed by all parties involved.

Ko also accused the DPP of trying to eliminate the TPP to create a one-on-one contest with the KMT, arguing that opinion polls show the DPP enjoys greater odds in such a scenario. He said the TPP should focus on increasing its representation in local councils, warning that the party could face an uncertain future if it fails to expand its local presence.

Responding to the interview, Ling accused Ko of prioritizing the TPP's political interests over cooperation with the KMT, per UDN. He criticized Ko for failing to discuss how the opposition could cooperate at the local level, adding that Ko's proposal for a coalition government referred only to the central government.

Ling also criticized Ko for seeking cooperation with the KMT ahead of the 2024 presidential and legislative elections while later calling on Lai to form a coalition government, accusing Ko of lacking principles.

Chen first responded to Ling's remarks on Sunday, saying Ko had been referring to the contrast between being invited to the Presidential Office during former President Tsai Ing-wen's (   ) administration and what Ko described as being jailed under Lai's administration, per UP Media. She said Ko's comments were about Lai's failure to take the initiative to overcome legislative deadlock.

On Monday, Chen renewed her criticism, calling on Ling to formally apologize to Ko for what she said were false claims, per Tai Sounds. She also speculated that because Ling belongs to former KMT Chair Eric Chu's (   ) political camp, his criticism of Ko could be aimed at KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (   ).

DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chuang Jui-hsiung (   ) also weighed in, suggesting Ko regretted cooperating with the KMT, per SETN. Chuang said the DPP would welcome cooperation with any opposition party if it benefited Taiwan.

Ko recently met with DPP lawmaker Ker Chien-ming (   ) at a public event, per UP Media. Asked about the possibility of TPP-DPP cooperation, Ker said he supported the idea. Ker, a longtime DPP legislative caucus convener, was removed from the position following the unsuccessful recall campaign against KMT lawmakers.

Although Ker initially resisted efforts by senior DPP leaders to replace him, he was ultimately succeeded by DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-chang (   ), a member of the New Tide faction.

AIPEI (Taiwan News)   DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chuang Jui-hsiung (   ) on Monday rejected reports that an anti-President Lai Ching-te (   ) coalition is forming within the party ahead of its National Party Congress.

Chuang, a member of former President Tsai Ing-wen's (   ) faction, rejected reports that Tsai-aligned members resigned from party positions to gain additional votes at the party congress, per Tai Sounds. He said the claims reflected a misunderstanding of the DPP's internal procedures.

Chuang said appointing replacements to fill vacancies left by committee members follows established party rules. He dismissed suggestions that the moves were part of an effort to form an "anti-Lai coalition," calling that interpretation a stretch.

The DPP will hold its National Party Congress on Sunday to elect members of its Central Executive Committee and Central Evaluation Committee, per Knews. The newly elected Central Executive Committee will then choose the party's Central Standing Committee.

According to a DPP insider, candidates typically need about 19 delegate votes to win a seat on the 30-member Central Executive Committee. Members of that committee then need three votes from fellow committee members to secure one of the 10 seats on the Central Standing Committee.

A total of 35 candidates are competing for the 30 Central Executive Committee seats, while 13 candidates are running for the 11 Central Evaluation Committee seats.

The New Tide faction, the party's largest group and one that includes Lai, is expected to nominate 10 candidates for the Central Executive Committee. Tsai's faction has nominated six candidates, while the Taiwan Normal Country Promotion Association (       ) is expected to field five.

Former Premier Su Tseng-chang's (   ) faction will nominate three candidates, Taiwan Forward (   ) four, the Green Fellowship Association (      ) three, Democracy Living Water Connection (      ) two, and the faction aligned with DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (   ) two.

The insider said factions generally nominate candidates based on the number of votes they expect to control, making it unlikely they would field more candidates than they could realistically elect. The source added that the additional candidates from New Tide and the Taiwan Normal Country Promotion Association could serve as backup candidates and are not part of the factions' vote-allocation strategy.

Lai has reportedly urged party factions to maintain the status quo and avoid internal conflict as the DPP prepares for the 2026 local elections, per China Times. However, some members of Tsai's faction who currently hold party positions reportedly resigned to become eligible to vote as delegates at the party congress.

Former Central Executive Committee member Hung Chih-kun (   ) briefly served on the committee after being elected in a move intended to bolster the voting strength of Su's faction, per China Times. He lost the seat four days later in the party congress election.

One DPP faction member said that if Chen Ting-fei's faction aligns with Tsai's group, it could join forces with factions associated with Su, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (   ), and others to form a coalition capable of challenging Lai's allies. Another DPP member, however, dismissed speculation that such a coalition has already formed, saying alliances remain fluid and could change before delegates cast their votes, per cti.

Party insiders currently project that nine of the 10 Central Standing Committee seats are effectively decided, with the final seat expected to determine the balance between factions aligned with and opposed to Lai. One DPP source said Lai's allies are still expected to retain control of the committee but argued that the party's greater challenge will be preparing for the 2026 local elections rather than the internal leadership vote, per UDN.