content_text:
【大紀元2025年09月12日訊】（大紀元記者吳香蓮編譯報導）俄羅斯央行週五（9月12日）宣布將基準利率下調一個百分點至17%，以支撐在戰時放緩的經濟增長。分析人士指出，此舉凸顯了克里姆林宮戰時經濟所面臨的壓力：戰爭支出導致財政赤字擴大和通脹高企。

為了應對通脹，俄央行曾將基準利率上調至21%。由於商界領袖和議員批評高利率抑制了經濟活動，央行的基準利率開始下降。

俄央行在聲明中警告，雖然7月和8月的通脹率略有下降，但仍維持在8.2%的高點，「近幾個月通脹預期並未發生顯著變化……總體而言，通脹預期仍然高企」。

俄央行專注於控制物價。然而，俄財政部則以國防訂單和軍事招募獎金的形式向經濟注入資金，這在過去三年半的俄烏戰爭期間推動了經濟成長、薪資上漲和通脹。

最新數據顯示，俄羅斯經濟增速已明顯放緩。國民生產總值（GDP）第二季度同比增長僅1.1%，低於第一季度的1.4%，更低於去年底的4.5%，而且環比出現0.6%的負增長。

今年1月至7月，俄財政赤字升至4.9兆盧布（約580億美元），較去年同期的1.1兆盧布（約130億美元）大幅上升。根據追蹤俄羅斯經濟和石油收入的基輔經濟學院的數據，俄財政支出是預算計劃的129%，同時，石油和天然氣收入比去年同期下降了19%，部分原因是全球油價疲軟。

專家指出，俄央行致力於控制物價，而政府加大支出以支持戰爭，這種矛盾可能在未來數月加劇經濟的不確定性。

責任編輯：李琳#

journalist: 吳香蓮

things: 經濟 油價

title: 俄羅斯經濟放緩 央行降息應對通脹與赤字 | 俄國戰時經濟 | 俄國赤字 | 俄央行


content_text:
【大紀元2025年09月12日訊】（大紀元記者李馨綜合報導）美國聯合航空公司週五（9月12日）表示，該公司一架從日本東京飛往菲律賓宿霧（Cebu）的航班因擔心貨艙可能起火而緊急降落，導致兩人受了輕傷。

週五晚上，美國聯合航空公司（United Airlines，簡稱美聯航）32號航班原計劃飛往菲律賓宿霧，目前在日本西部城市大阪一個機場緊急著陸。

該航班是一架波音737-800（Boeing 737-800）客機，機上載有135名乘客和7名機組人員。飛機從東京附近的成田機場（Narita Airport）起飛後，被迫改降大阪的關西國際機場（Kansai International Airport）。

美聯航表示，機上所有乘客和機組人員都使用緊急滑梯撤離，兩名傷者被送往醫院治療。

該航空公司補充說，初步的維護檢查顯示，飛機上沒有著火的跡象。

據日本公共廣播公司NHK報導，事件發生在日本當地時間週五晚上7點（格林尼治標準時間週五上午10點）之後，該航班在飛越太平洋時，其貨艙火警指示器發出警報，於是緊急降落在關西國際機場。

航空追蹤網站Flightradar24的數據顯示，美聯航32號航班於當地時間下午5點40分左右從東京起飛。但在向菲律賓方向飛行約50分鐘後，該航班返回了日本。

責任編輯：林妍#

journalist: 李馨

countries: 日本 菲律賓 美國

taiwan-subdivisions: 太平 關西

title: 美聯航一客機在日本緊急降落 兩人受輕傷 | 火警 | 貨艙


content_text:
【大紀元2025年09月12日訊】（大紀元記者林子晨菲利蒙報導）當醫療已難逆轉病情，生命依然值得被妥貼安放。安寧療護（Hospice）不是一棟醫療建築，而是一種專業照護模式：在病程末段，以舒緩症狀、維持生活品質為核心，陪伴病人與家屬從容走過人生最後一程。

Suncrest Hospice公關黃婷婷（Carrie Huang）簡潔地形容道：「安寧療護，就是減少病人的痛苦，也減少家屬的遺憾。」

安寧療護做些什麼安寧療護團隊深入病人日常照護：處理高燒、疼痛、喘促、噁心、便祕與皮膚照護，同時關注情緒波動與靈性需求。

醫師、護理師、社工、靈性關懷（Chaplain）組成 IDT 團隊，每週檢視個案，並設有24小時專線，必要時到府評估與處置。

Suncrest Hospice視個案，提供每週最多 5 次護佐上門（如沐浴與身體照護），並備妥醫療器材（電動床、輪椅、氧氣機等），與相關藥材、耗材（含拋棄式用品）；病人離世後，其它專門機構依法提供最長 13 個月哀傷關懷，讓告別之路更圓滿。

黃婷婷說：「我們像『症狀控制的 911』。出現變化先致電專線，由護理師判斷能否在家處理，必要時再送醫，既減少折騰，也減少家屬慌亂。」

與同業相比的特色▪ 反應更快，安心更早：除主要護理師外，另有支援護理師即時馳援；夜間與週末急案，啟動「即收即到」流程，不讓病人多等一分鐘。

▪ 護佐密度更高，日常更穩：依需求，每週最多 5 次到府，讓沐浴、翻身、皮膚保護等日常照護不中斷。

▪ 敢接困難案，照護不退縮：承接複雜傷口與高照護密度個案，以「個案適切性」，而非「收案容易度」做為取捨標準。

▪ 在地布局，縮短距離：於灣區分區布點，人員與器材就近調度；每週 IDT 會議與即時系統同步，與院方、家庭醫師無縫銜接。

▪ 溝通直白，決策清楚：秉持「把話說在前頭」——在家或機構、床位現況、語言資源與照護模式，一次講清楚，降低家屬在不確定中，來回耗損的後設成本。

▪ 年資與規模，調度更有餘裕：深耕灣區逾十年，規模已躋身前列，器材、藥品、人力迅速到位更有保障。

以「家」為主 機構可銜接大多數安寧療護在家中進行。若家中人力或環境不足，可轉銜療養院（SNF）等 24 小時照護單位。安寧療護的醫療部分仍由保險承擔。

須留意的是，SNF的床位屬住宿費用：有 Medi-Cal（白卡）者多可給付；無白卡時通常須自費。考慮語言服務、距離、床位與人力有限現況，選擇時須充分了解資訊再做決定。

打破常見誤解安寧療護不是放棄，而是在「以舒緩為優先」的時間點，做出更合宜安排。

▪ 不限癌症——常見晚期心臟病、肺病、失智症、腎病、中風後重度失能、ALS等。

▪ 不限六個月——只要符合資格即可延續；病況穩定可「畢業」，日後惡化再重新評估加入。

▪ 不確定是否符合——建議先與家庭醫師或安寧療護機構聯繫評估。

費用承擔：保險為主 慈善補位▪ Medicare（紅藍卡）與Medi-Cal（白卡）：安寧療護多為100% 給付；SNF床位費多由白卡承擔。

▪ 商業保險（如 Kaiser、Blue Shield）：依保單承作。

▪ 慈善機制：部分機構對無保險且符合條件者，提供免費服務。同時，安寧療護並不必然停用原有慢性病藥物；是否調整由醫療團隊判斷。

三條常見啟動路徑▪ 醫院／療養院：院方轉介 → 評估 → 簽同意書 → 出院或留院後即時啟動。

▪ 在家（醫師轉介）：到府評估 → 簽同意書 → 立即或依家屬選擇時間開始。

▪ 在家（自我洽詢）：先行評估；暫不符合則持續追蹤，符合資格後由醫療單位開立轉介與病歷後啟動。

遇到突發狀況，先打安寧 24 小時專線，多能在家中穩當處理，減少奔波與驚嚇。

家屬最關注的問題1. 能不能在家？

若照護與環境合適，在家往往更安心；若需機構照護時，需理解其「一對多」模式與床位供需。

2. 會不會影響居家護理（IHSS）時數？

不會。安寧療護屬醫療服務，不取代 IHSS 的買菜、做飯、洗衣等家務性支持。

3. 原本藥物或就醫能否繼續？

多數慢性藥物可續用；突發狀況由安寧療護機構先行評估，必要時送醫。若想回到治療軌道，也可退出安寧療護再安排。

「別把安寧療護想得太複雜。」黃婷婷說，它是幫一家人把握可控的每一刻：病人更舒適，家屬更安心。

及早認識、及早評估，臨別時就能少些慌亂，多些從容。◇

責任編輯：宋佳怡

journalist: 林子晨菲利蒙

title: 安寧療護帶給生命 最後一程的尊嚴與安穩 | 醫療 | 專業照護


content_text:
【大紀元2025年09月12日訊】（大紀元記者林丹紐約報導）市警109分局的社區警民會議在暑假休會兩個月後，在9月10日復會。局長科爾曼（Kevin Coleman）表示，今年轄區罪案繼續下降，同比下降15.1%；大宗盜竊特別是盜車案仍是主要問題，竊賊盜車後通過轄區內的兩條跨區大橋（白石大橋、鵝頸大橋）逃跑，為破案帶來難度。他表示，方向盤鎖是防盜利器。

表彰2025年6月份的優秀警察。（林丹／大紀元） 市警109分局9月份警民會議，介紹治安改善明顯，犯罪率同比下降15%。（林丹／大紀元）科爾曼說，109分局轄區從2022和2023犯罪率飆升60%、65%，到2024年全年犯罪率下降了6%，其中搶劫案降10%，槍擊案降50%，入室盜竊案降21%、重大盜竊案降7%，治安狀況改善卓有成效。今年6月，109分局榮膺了市警總局的2024年度「傑出單位嘉獎」。今年犯罪率繼續下降——2025年迄今，轄區犯罪率下降15.1%。

科爾曼說，轄區內汽車盜竊仍是主要問題。被盜車款位居榜首的是Honda CRV和 Toyota Highlander——因為這些車款太容易被盜——將鑰匙扣重新編程，就能啟動車輛並開走。整個過程只需兩到五分鐘，因此強烈建議加裝方向盤鎖，「這是防盜利器」。

汽車盜竊通常是在夜間通過白石大橋、鵝頸大橋來作案，為此109分局與MTA合作，全天候監控這兩座橋梁。

科爾曼說，亞裔總是成為入室盜竊的目標，因習慣將大筆現金存放於家中。他介紹防盜要點：（1）犯罪分子喬裝成配送員、建築工人、園藝師，若在街區或庭院發現可疑人員，請立即撥打911；（2）在看到車流量不大的住宅街道並排停車時，應警覺——犯罪分子通常兩三人同行，一人留守車內，另一人繞至屋後試圖潛入。

警民會上表彰了五位警員。其中兩位警員Samantha Wittenberg、Jung Singh在6月時，於緬街執行車輛攔截檢查，最終發現駕駛人持吊銷駕照行駛、身上攜帶毒品、持有偽造的信箱鑰匙（多把），且車內藏有裝填彈藥的槍械。經查，此人竟是專門竊取郵箱物品的慣犯。

科爾曼說，另一起案件更是協調應變、搜證追緝的典範。今年稍早鎖定一名槍手嫌疑人，還在受訓的新警員Jesutofunmi Aregbesola在協助處理其它案件時，看到疑似槍手走過，他想起曾在通緝令上見過此人，經從通緝照片上確認後，馬上指認，嫌犯得以逮捕。局長科爾曼特別表揚他，憑曾經看過嫌疑人的特徵，在街頭瞬間辨認出目標，這是一種出色的能力，也展現了警察團隊的非凡警覺性。

責任編輯：陳玟綺

journalist: 林丹紐約

title: 109分局轄區犯罪率降15% 盜車案仍是主要問題 | 警民會議


content_text:
自從2015年秋季大量難民湧入德國以來，難民話題始終是社會關注的話題之一。圖為德國難民局。(Sean Gallup/Getty Images)【大紀元2025年09月12日訊】（大紀元記者王亦笑德國報導）根據歐盟庇護局（EUAA）最新數據，2025年上半年歐盟及挪威、瑞士等國共登記39.9萬件新庇護申請，較2024年同期減少11.4萬件，降幅達23%。這標誌著歐洲移民趨勢出現明顯逆轉，德國首次在十餘年來失去歐洲最大難民接收國地位，取而代之的是法國。同時，委內瑞拉取代敘利亞成為歐洲庇護申請的最大來源國，反映出全球地緣政治與經濟危機的變遷。

德國申請數減43% 法國、西班牙位居前茅EUAA總部位於馬爾他的瓦萊塔（Valletta），其半年報告顯示，德國上半年接收7萬件新庇護申請，較去年同期銳減43%。這是自2012年以來，德國首次未居歐洲首位，而是退居第三。法國以7.8萬件申請領先，西班牙以7.7萬件緊隨其後，意大利位列第四（6.4萬件），希臘則以2.7萬件排名第五。而以人口比例計算，希臘每380名居民即有一件新申請，為歐洲最高。

德國聯邦移民與難民局（BAMF）數據顯示，從1月至8月底，德國總計7.82萬件首次庇護申請，約為去年同期的半數。BAMF指出，EUAA數據與其統計略有差異，主要因後者依月度加總，可能忽略後續報備或重複計數，但整體趨勢一致。德國薩克森州內政部長阿明‧舒斯特（Armin Schuster，CDU基民盟）將此歸因於加強邊境管制與拒絕入境措施，他強調，下一步需加速遣返與驅逐。

委內瑞拉申請激增 西班牙成熱門目的地報告另一焦點是庇護來源國的轉變。受敘利亞總統巴沙爾‧阿薩德（Bashar al-Assad）去年12月倒台影響，敘利亞申請數降至2.5萬件，不再是歐洲最大來源。取而代之的是委內瑞拉，達4.9萬件，其次為阿富汗的4.2萬件。這是十年來首次非中東或非洲國家主導歐洲庇護潮。

委內瑞拉申請者幾乎全數選擇西班牙作為目的地，因兩國使用相同語言，且經濟復甦與親移民政府政策使其更具吸引力。委內瑞拉自2013年尼古拉斯‧馬杜羅（Nicolás Maduro）執政以來，面臨嚴重經濟崩潰與威權統治，導致逾910萬人外流。該國人口從2017年的3000萬降至現今2800萬，面臨民眾逃離、基礎設施崩壞與醫療短缺的困境。鄰國如哥倫比亞、秘魯與智利仍是主要目的地，但歐洲與北美日益受青睞。在德國，委內瑞拉申請者僅1271件，總承認率僅10.9%。

法國申請中，烏克蘭人占比高，儘管他們可依歐盟「大規模湧入指令」自動獲保護，但許多人選擇正式庇護以求長期居留權。西班牙申請雖減13%，但委內瑞拉潮彌補了部分缺口；意大利則減25%。

歐洲庇護獲批率創新低 法院負荷卻未減儘管申請減少，歐洲庇護承認率卻降至歷史新低25%，即僅每四件申請中有一件獲批。EUAA解釋，這主要為統計效應，因多國暫停敘利亞申請審理，並非嚴格保護標準所致。儘管如此，歐盟仍有逾90萬件第一審未決案件，計入上訴後總計130萬件待處理，形成龐大積壓。

在德國，庇護申請減幅尚未傳導至司法系統。《德國法官報》（Deutsche Richterzeitung）數據顯示，上半年行政法院新受理7.66萬件庇護上訴案，已超2023全年7.19萬件，達2024年總數的四分之三。聯邦內政部發言人表示，申請減少效應需要時間才能體現在司法系統，但若趨勢持續，將帶來永久性減負。

歐盟移民與內政專員馬格努斯‧布魯納（Magnus Brunner）在布魯塞爾稱讚此為「更嚴格政策成果」，強調需強化與第三國合作，提升遣返效率，以進一步緩解庇護系統壓力。歐盟近年與北非國家合作阻絕移民潮，但地中海偷渡仍頻發致命事故，移民議題持續成為歐洲政治熱點。

此趨勢凸顯全球不穩定格局下，歐洲庇護體系的轉型挑戰。專家預期，若敘利亞局勢穩定與委內瑞拉危機持續，歐洲移民格局將進一步重塑。

責任編輯：周仁#

journalist: 王亦笑德國

countries: 歐盟 德國 法國 希臘 西班牙 智利 挪威 哥倫比亞 委內瑞拉 秘魯 烏克蘭 馬爾他 阿富汗 瑞士 敘利亞

title: 歐盟上半年庇護申請數銳減 德國減43% | 德國難民 | 法國難民 | 歐洲難民


content_text:
【大紀元2025年09月12日訊】（大紀元記者馬維芬報導）災難動作片《96分鐘》在台灣上映七天票房突破3200萬（台幣），摘下單日冠軍。該片主演林柏宏、宋芸樺、李李仁、姚以緹、蔡凡熙將於本週末（13日）起一連三天兵分多路，勤跑戲院謝票。

該片由《粽邪》系列監製鄒介中領軍、《狂徒》導演洪子烜執導，集結金獎製作團隊與好萊塢級技術班底打造，林柏宏、宋芸樺、王柏傑、李李仁、姚以緹、蔡凡熙、李銘忠領銜主演。

電影上映以來口碑與票房持續衝高，繼首週末開出破1800萬的票房後，上映七天票房累積突破3200萬，勇奪全台單日票房冠軍。各地戲院不僅加開場次，更臨時調換大廳放映。

為感謝觀眾支持，《96分鐘》主演林柏宏、宋芸樺、李李仁、姚以緹、蔡凡熙將於本週末三天兵分多路，全台勤跑戲院謝票，與影迷近距離互動。

在片中突破自我、全力投入角色的林柏宏感動表示：「看到大家這麼支持《96分鐘》，是身為演員最幸福的一刻。」受到大量觀眾肯定的宋芸樺深有同感：「在戲院看見每一張專注的臉、聽到觀眾真誠又不同的回饋，所有疲憊都變得值得。」

李李仁也分享：「能和這麼多優秀演員一起完成這部電影，是我很難忘的經驗，謝謝觀眾進戲院給我們最大的鼓勵。」

歷時九年傾力打造的電影《96分鐘》，導演洪子烜選擇在台灣觀眾熟悉的環境中建構虛擬世界觀，其中包含高鐵列車運作的作業流程，都和真實的操作實務不同。

除了緊張刺激的災難情節，《96分鐘》透過每一個角色在極限情境下的選擇與行動，描繪親情、愛情與責任的抉擇，激發觀眾反思：「為了自己最愛的人，你願意犧牲多少？」

關於本週末影人出席映後場次資訊請見《96分鐘》官方粉絲團。

責任編輯：辛幼安

journalist: 馬維芬

title: 《96分鐘》台灣上映7天票房3200萬 摘單日冠軍 | 林柏宏 | 宋芸樺


content_text:
黃曉敏於1988年在韓國漢城（今首爾）舉行的第24屆奧運會中，在女子200米蛙泳比賽中獲得一枚銀牌，圖為她站上領獎台的一刻。（黃曉敏提供）

在多年難以忍受的劇痛中幾近絕望之際，黃曉敏終於找到了緩解痛苦、重振精神的方法。

「疼痛非常劇烈，讓人難以忍受，真的是一種地獄般的經歷。我有兩三週完全臥床不起，只能無神地盯著天花板看，無法自理。治療了一年多仍無任何緩解，我徹底絕望。」

黃曉敏，前中國國家女子游泳運動員，在接受《大紀元時報》訪問時，回憶她年少時的經歷，並表示那些痛苦記憶至今仍如影隨形。

奧運選手的艱辛與痛苦歷程她在1980年代是中國泳壇的知名人物，也是國際賽場上的明星。10年的運動生涯中，她取得無數獎牌，包括奧運女子200米蛙泳銀牌、世界游泳盃系列賽11枚金牌，以及亞洲運動會蛙泳金牌三枚。作為中國泳壇著名「五朵金花」中被稱為「大姐」的一員，她擁有「蛙王」的尊稱。

12歲時被選入中國國家游泳隊，她離開家鄉，全職投入職業運動員的生活。為了追求獎牌，她每日進行嚴格系統的訓練，每天在水中度過七到八小時，至少練習約1.5萬米（約9.32英里）。肌肉與關節受傷是常態，她時常需要用藥物減輕疼痛。

國家隊教練甚至曾要求她服用實驗性的增強表現藥物，結果出現月經不規律與肌肉僵硬的副作用，對比賽成績反而有負面影響，於是她停止使用這些藥物。她在國家隊接受長達12年的專業訓練，形容那是一段「破壞身體，而非鍛鍊身體」的歲月。

24歲時，黃曉敏從國家隊退役。25歲開始，她出現多種症狀：頻繁背痛、間歇性低燒、心悸與呼吸急促。26歲時，症狀漸趨嚴重，背痛尤其劇烈，並伴隨右膝以下失去感覺的神經症狀，被診斷為腰椎間盤突出。其間只要背痛發作，伴有神經症狀時，她只能臥床休息。

腰椎間盤突出是指椎間盤突出或破裂至脊柱管，引發對神經的異常壓迫，導致下背痛、腿痛與麻木。無論進行手術或非手術療法，一生中有20%至25%的機會再次復發。

儘管她試過各種保守療法超過一年，病情依然未見改善。當時醫師不建議手術，認為這是長期累積的壓力造成，找不出明確解決方法。同時，她還有間歇性的低燒，偶爾胸悶、心悸與呼吸困難；睡眠中常感心跳突然停止，感覺窒息。然而醫生也未能給出確切診斷。

1997年冬天，27歲的她再次遭遇嚴重的腰椎間盤突出。臥床時臉色蒼白、眼圈黑沉，絕望感湧上心頭。她心想：「過去我那麼有活力、有朝氣。可現在才27歲，我下半生怎麼過？或許不如死了算了！」母親抱著她，哭得無法自已，全家人擔心她會終生癱瘓，甚至怕她活不過多久。無論是間歇性發作或其它伴隨症狀，都沒有任何治療能帶來希望。

鄰居的建議帶來轉機某日，一位鄰居來探望黃曉敏，鼓勵她修煉法輪功，說：「只有法輪功可以救你。試一試吧。」

法輪功（又名法輪大法）是一種佛家修煉大法，由李洪志先生於1992年在中國傳出。其修煉原則為「真、善、忍」，包括五套功法動作。1997年法輪功在中國以其改善身體健康與提升道德修養而廣為人知，得到許多知名人士的支持，包括中國前國家體育總局局長伍紹祖。黃曉敏因曾聽到上司伍紹祖對法輪功的肯定，因此在絕望中抓住這根救命稻草，開始修煉法輪功。

她每天與鄰居一起修煉，同時研讀法輪功核心著作《轉法輪》。第七天，她在煉功時感到右手掌如電風扇般吹來的涼風，令人心神為之一振。她猜想，由於長期在水中訓練，身體裡積存了寒溼，透過煉功可能將這些寒溼排出。

中醫理論認為，常處冷溼環境者易生疼痛症狀，寒與溼是六邪中的兩種外邪因素。

此後，她逐漸感到全身放鬆，面色慢慢恢復紅潤與健康。腰椎間盤突出發作時的劇烈程度大為減輕，再也沒出現過必須臥床的情況。持之以恆修煉後，在三個月內，腰椎間盤突出症狀不再復發。約六個月後，間歇性的低燒、心悸與呼吸困難等症狀也完全消失。她重獲活力。

黃曉敏近照（照片由黃曉敏提供）「今天，已經過了二十多年，我再也沒有任何症狀復發。我變得非常健康。」她滿懷感激地說，「法輪功給了我第二次生命。」

她分享說，她有意識地努力遵循法輪功所教導的「真、善、忍」原則。「我慢慢變得先他後我，願意為整體好而放下個人得失。內心的不耐煩與暴躁也漸漸消退。」

此外，在研讀《轉法輪》的過程中，她終於解開了心中長久的疑問：「人生的意義是什麼？死後往哪裡去？」

1999年，黃曉敏移居韓國，在那裡她以大學教授身分教游泳，並擔任韓國鐵人三項國家隊的游泳教練。她以「真、善、忍」為準則對待學生，既柔和又堅定，不罵人、不體罰，而是以理服人，建立友誼，並經常給予鼓勵。結果，她的許多學生取得優異成績，有人成為全國冠軍，有人更在亞洲運動會奪金。

研究顯示：冥想能緩解慢性疼痛許多研究顯示，冥想可以大幅緩解慢性疼痛。冥想的歷史可追溯數千年，許多方式來自東方傳統。冥想強調身心整合，旨在平靜心靈並提升整體健康。

2016年發表在《紐約科學院年鑑》（Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences）的一篇綜述指出，正念冥想能透過多種腦部機制顯著降低人類對疼痛的感知。

另一項臨床試驗顯示，冥想與正念練習對慢性下背痛患者有療效，不僅緩解抑鬱、壓力與疼痛，也能改善睡眠、活動能力與生活品質。

調查結果：煉法輪功有助改善慢性病2020年在台灣進行的一項研究，對超過一千位法輪功修煉者進行調查，發現患有心臟病、糖尿病、肺部疾病與高血壓等慢性病者，在修煉法輪功後，有約70%至89%的人報告病況有改善或痊癒。

1998年，中國國家體育總局對12,553名法輪功修煉者進行隨機調查，其中10,475人（即83.4%）在修煉前有一種或多種疾病。在修煉數月至數年後，有77.5%的人報告疾病痊癒，20.4%報告狀況有改善。合併計算後，整體有效率達到97.9%。

【我的療癒之路】特別企劃，收錄那些在走投無路時，找到非常規康復途徑的真實故事。

原文 Free of Pain for 20 Years–Olympic Medalist Overcomes Severe Lumbar Disc Herniation 刊於《The Epoch Times》

責任編輯：凌宇#

journalist: 凌宇

countries: 台灣 韓國 中國

title: 奧運游泳女將如何走出傷病折磨？ | 奧運選手 | 療癒故事 | 慢性疼痛


content_text:
2025年6月16日，加拿大亞伯塔省卡納納斯基斯（Kananaskis），（從左到右）歐洲理事會主席柯斯塔（Antonio Costa）、日本首相石破茂（Shigeru Ishiba）、意大利總理梅洛尼（Giorgia Meloni）、法國總統馬克龍（Emmanuel Macron）、加拿大總理卡尼（Mark Carney）、美國總統川普（特朗普）、英國首相斯塔默（Keir Starmer）、德國總理默茨（Friedrich Merz）與歐盟執委會主席馮德萊恩（Ursula von der Leyen）在卡納納斯基斯鄉村高爾夫球場舉行的七大工業國集團（G7）峰會上合影。(Suzanne Plunkett/POOL/AFP)【大紀元2025年09月13日訊】（大紀元記者林燕編譯報導）英國《金融時報》週五（9月12日）報導，美國正向七國集團（G7）施壓，要求對購買俄羅斯石油的中國和印度徵收50%至100%的關稅，以迫使俄羅斯與烏克蘭進行和平談判。G7成員國包括美國、英國、法國、德國、日本、意大利、加拿大。

G7財政部長週五舉行視頻會議，討論了美國提出的這一新政策提議。川普政府本週稍早已敦促歐盟對中國和印度徵收高達100%的關稅，現在正將此舉措擴大到G7盟友。

《金融時報》報導說，一份美方在會議前發送給G7成員國的立場文件稱，「因中國和印度購買俄羅斯原油，G7應立即對（兩國）徵收50%至100%的二級關稅」。

文件補充說：「G7應瞄準（戰爭的）助紂為虐者和牟取暴利者，主要是中印，以阻止他們延長這場戰爭。」

美國財政部發言人表示：「中國和印度購買俄羅斯石油，為（俄羅斯總統）普京的戰爭機器提供資金，延長對烏克蘭人民的無謂殺戮。」

「本週早些時候，我們向歐盟盟友明確表示，如果他們真的想結束自家後院的戰爭，就需要加入我們，並徵收有意義的關稅，這些關稅將在戰爭結束之日撤銷。」財政部發言人補充說。

媒體報導說，美國明確跟歐盟表示，呼籲雙方同步執行這些制裁，並強調美方不會單方面行動。

8月，因印度購買俄羅斯石油，美國已經將對印度進口商品的關稅提高至50%。4月，川普大幅提高了對中國進口商品的關稅，但在美中暫時休戰後，於5月下調了關稅。

《金融時報》報導，歐盟官員認為，鑑於經濟影響以及北京的潛在報復措施，對中印兩個關鍵貿易夥伴徵收高關稅將非常困難。歐盟正希望數週內與印度達成貿易協議。

一位了解G7電話會議情況的歐洲官員透露，歐盟對於向中印實施二級制裁持謹慎態度，但願意討論替代方案。該官員補充說，他們一致認為需要繼續加強對俄羅斯施壓並支持烏克蘭，但也強調貿易政策的制定權在歐盟委員會自己手中。

根據G7備忘錄，美國還呼籲各國扣押數千億美元被凍結的俄羅斯國有資產，其中大部分在比利時。

美國也呼籲對俄羅斯最大的石油公司俄羅斯石油公司（Rosneft）實施制裁，以及加強對俄羅斯的航運禁令，並對俄羅斯金融系統（包括其支付系統Mir）實施制裁。 在2022年俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭後，俄羅斯被禁止使用Swift（環球金融電信協會）系統的金融服務，隨後Mir在很大程度上成為其主要金融服務平台，為俄羅斯貸款機構提供服務。

在能源方面，歐盟計劃將其成員國停止購買俄羅斯石油和天然氣的最後期限從2028年提前到2027年。目前，歐盟有約五分之一的天然氣來自俄羅斯，低於2022年烏克蘭戰爭前的45%。

歐盟能源專員丹‧約根森（Dan Jørgensen）週四跟美國能源部長克里斯‧賴特（Chris Wright）會面，討論用美國液化天然氣取代俄羅斯供應的問題。

「我們需要儘快擺脫對俄羅斯能源的依賴。」約根森說。

但歐盟需要先解決成員國內的不同聲音。三位歐洲官員表示，匈牙利和斯洛伐克這兩個由親俄領導人執政的國家，繼續通過管道購買俄羅斯石油，並曾否決更嚴厲的歐盟制裁，這將需要川普施壓。

歐盟已開始討論是否對購買廉價俄羅斯石油和天然氣的中國實施制裁。

責任編輯：林妍#

journalist: 林燕

countries: 俄羅斯 印度 比利時 法國 烏克蘭 斯洛伐克 加拿大 德國 英國 日本 中國 歐盟 匈牙利 美國

title: 中印買俄石油 美要求G7對兩國徵100%關稅 | 俄羅斯石油 | 普京 | 俄烏戰


content_text:
上海大學退休老師、維權人士顧國平，進京被遣返，血壓值215/121mmHg，轄區周家橋派出所仍要強行帶他去醫院體檢，準備送他進看守所。（受訪者提供／大紀元合成）【大紀元2025年09月12日訊】（大紀元記者李熙採訪報導）上海大學退休老師、維權人士顧國平，因進京上訪於9月12日上午被遣返回上海家中，下午當地轄區周家橋派出所警察上門要帶他去醫院體檢，作為送進看守所前的準備。

當局懷疑顧國平裝病 試圖拘留他顧國平去北京前曾先到上海腫瘤醫院檢查，醫生告知腫瘤可能擴散轉移了，約好北京回來後再去就診治療。9月11日他在駐京辦的接濟中心接到上海市長寧區周家橋街道信訪辦來電，說這次被帶回上海後還是要刑事拘留他。

9月12日上午被遣返上海，於府村路500號的救濟站，顧國平在十幾個政府工作人員和十幾個訪民的見證下，測量的血壓值215/121mmHg，心跳91，當時他頭暈得站立不起來。

顧國平對大紀元記者表示，「在這種情況下政府和公安還懷疑我是裝病，要將我帶去醫院檢查。準備完成對我羈押前的準備。」

最後，由長寧區公安人員和信訪人員來把顧國平接回家。回到家躺在床上，顧國平已經虛弱得無法動彈。下午2點左右，周家橋派出所警察又上門來要帶他去體檢。

顧國平病情惡化，睡不好覺也吃不下飯，身體乏力，躺在床上起不來。「我要求他們送我去醫院治療，但是被他們拒絕。他們要強行帶我去醫院體檢，我說我爬不起來，要不然你們用擔架送我去醫院。他們請示領導後說過兩天再來。」

「他們還懷疑我高血壓跟惡性腫瘤的疾病存在虛假，所以突擊到我家裡來取證，他們拍了我的病歷卡，病歷證明，所有的住院紀錄和檢查報告，過往病史以及上海腫瘤醫院診斷的紀錄等等。」

顧國平還表示，「9月11日去了中南海寄信，順便反映問題，我們沒有任何的所謂尋釁滋事違規的行為，他們再強制的把我扔進看守所，就是突破了文明的底線、法律的底線、道德的底線、良知的底線、人性的底線等各種底線！」

當局非法剝奪就醫權利與顧國平有私交的上海訪民俞忠歡對大紀元記者表示，「顧國平的前列腺癌已到了中晚期，病情在惡化，胃口極差，一頓飯只能吃兩三口飯，全身乏力，要待驗血檢查後做進一步治療。他想在生命的最後一段時期內把房屋被強拆的事解決掉，所以他才拖著病重的身體赴京上訪。但亳無人性的長寧區政府卻要把他置之死地而後快，不但不顧及他有多種嚴重危及生命的疾病，還非法剝奪他看病就醫的權利。」

「這次赴北京前，顧國平已就診，按醫囑下週他還得去做進一步複診、治療。這些就醫情況，顧國平都已告訴了周家橋街道領導，但都被不予理睬，還是要不停地把顧國平關黑監獄、關看守所，不讓他看病就醫和服藥。這不是謀殺是什麼？」

責任編輯：高靜#

journalist: 李熙採訪

title: 維權人士顧國平被遣返 公安上門試圖強行拘留 | 尋釁滋事 | 中南海


content_text:
九、結語農民過去交公糧，是國家建設時期的犧牲；如今繳社保，也可能成為填補特權階層福利缺口的代價。

在過去人口增長的時代，中國的老齡化尚未嚴重，社保基金就已出現入不敷出的狀況；而在出生率持續下降的今天，社保更像是一個騙局，普通勞動者和農民繳納的費用，很大部分被特權階層吸走，而不是用於保障人民的晚年生活。

更重要的是，中共正是社保虧空問題的製造者。中共獨裁體制不改變，社保虧空永遠無法得到真正解決。延長社保繳費年限、增加退休年齡，這些措施只是飲鴆止渴，無法從根本上解決問題，因為核心問題在於特權階層長期占用基金。

唯有推翻中共獨裁體制、打破特權階層壟斷，讓資源真正回到普通民眾和農民手中，社保問題才能得到根本解決。保障人民的晚年生活，本應是社會制度的核心目標，而不是維繫統治的財政工具。

責任編輯：金岳

journalist: 金岳

title: 楊佳佳：從交公糧到交社保——中共的吸血騙局 | 醫療保障 | 養老 | 繳納社保


content_text:
何點撫摸皇上的鬍鬚，不願做隨侍的親信大臣，圖為中國北京紫禁城古建築，示意圖。(Shutterstock)《龍文鞭影》是一部明清時代學者修編的歷史典故啟蒙讀物。內容涉及天文地理、政治軍事、文學藝術、醫卜星相、帝王將相、才子佳人，無所不有；時間跨度上至三皇五帝，下至唐宋。

全書將典故按照詩韻分類編排（詳見《龍文鞭影》序言），四字一句，共1030句，每句描述一個或兩個人物的故事。

「龍文」是漢朝西域的一種寶馬，這種良馬看到鞭影就會疾馳，「龍文鞭影」比喻在這本書的指導下，毋需鞭策，學習也會事半功倍，像龍文寶馬一樣一日千里。

【原文】lǚ xū hé diǎn，zhuō bí xiè ān。

捋鬚何點，捉鼻謝安。

ㄌㄜˋ ㄒㄩ ㄏㄜˊ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ， ㄓㄨㄛ ㄅㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄝˋ ㄢ 。

捋鬚何點，捉鼻謝安。

【注釋】

（1）捋鬚：撫摸鬍鬚。

（2）何點：字子晢，南朝梁人，學識淵博。與其兄何求、弟何胤三人先後隱居於山林寺廟中，時人稱為「三高」。

（3）捉鼻：掩鼻。不屑貌。

（4）謝安：字安石，號東山，出生名門，為東晉士族。他善於教育，居東山未仕時，兄弟的子女都由他教養。

【語譯】

何點撫摸皇上的鬍鬚，不願做隨侍的親信大臣；謝安掩鼻回答妻子，不屑當達官顯貴。

【人物故事】何點何點的事蹟見載於《梁書》、《南齊書》及佛教的《法喜志》。

何點撫摸梁武帝的鬍鬚，不願做隨侍皇帝的親信大臣。圖為梁武帝蕭衍。（公有領域）據載，何點長得眉目清秀，相貌雅正。他的祖父做過宰相，父親也當過官，但他並不以家世傲人。有時駕著簡陋無飾的車子出門，有時腳穿草鞋，去哪都隨興，回家時一定喝得醉醺醺的，人們稱他「通隱」，意為曠達的隱士。當時的名士如謝瀹、張融、孔德璋都跟何點成為莫逆之交。

南朝的梁武帝在登基前就與何點相識。武帝即位後，有一回賜何點鹿皮巾並召見他。何點被帶到華林園，武帝下旨要他成為隨侍的親信大臣。何點用手摸著武帝的鬍鬚說：「想要老夫當侍候你的僕人哪？」表示不願意當官，就告辭離開了。

何點生長在信仰佛教的家族裡，由於聽聞會稽山有許多靈異，就前往會稽山遊玩，借住在若耶山雲門寺。他的哥哥何求、弟弟何胤後來也都辭官歸隱山中。世人稱何點為「大山」，何胤為「小山」，何求為「東山」。

謝安明朝謝彬《淮淝奏捷圖》軸，描述東晉名相謝安於家中下棋，卻能運籌帷幄，指揮前線將士擊敗前秦苻堅大軍入侵的事。（公有領域）據《世說新語‧排調》，謝安，字安石，曾隱居在會稽的東山不願出來做官，當時家族中的兄弟有的已是達官貴人，家中有很多令人仰慕的人物。謝安的夫人劉氏玩笑地說：「身為大丈夫不就應該像他們那樣嗎？」謝安竟不屑地說：「我只怕躲不掉罷了！」

之前，東晉朝廷曾數度徵召謝安，但謝安就是隱居不出，反而與一些名士名僧頻繁交往。由於謝安屢次拒絕徵召，引起朝臣的不滿，但當時許多士大夫都對他寄予厚望，說：「安石不肯出，將如蒼生何？」

謝安的哥哥謝奕病逝後，弟弟謝萬被任命為西中郎將，主掌四州軍事，兼任豫州刺史。可惜謝萬不擅長統兵帶將之道，經常得罪手下的將領，出征時，未與敵方交鋒就兵敗潰逃，因此被廢為庶人。

為了謝氏家族的聲望，當征西大將軍桓溫邀請謝安擔任司馬時，謝安居然接受了。消息傳出，轟動朝野。後來他歷任太守、侍中等職位，為了調和晉室與桓氏（桓溫）的矛盾頗費苦心，最後使兩方合作對付北方的前秦苻堅，取得淝水之戰的巨大勝利，在這點上謝安確實功不可沒。

＊＊＊

何點與謝安皆容貌脫俗，學識出眾，既出自官宦世家，才華又為當世所倚重，高官厚祿唾手可得。然而何點得以高蹈遠行，隱居靈山，擺脫塵俗；而謝安終需步上仕途，其重返東山之願至死未能實現。此豈非命中自有定數？

——轉自正見網

看更多 【龍文鞭影】系列責任編輯：王愉悅#

journalist: 王愉悅

taiwan-subdivisions: 林園 將軍 東山

title: 看《龍文鞭影》學典故：捋鬚何點 捉鼻謝安


content_text:
央视网消息（焦点访谈）：在中国大地上，690多座城市星罗棋布、各具特色。每座城市都有它独特的历史文脉、人文地理、自然景观，赓续城市文脉需要“因地制宜”“因城施策”，让居民“望得见山、看得见水、记得住乡愁”。大力推动城市文脉赓续，是中央城市工作会议确定的重要任务之一。怎么赓续城市文脉，让城市空间孕育出发展的新机呢？

山东淄博陶瓷琉璃体验馆过去曾是淄博博山陶瓷厂的旧址，但经过改造之后，这里独具特色的陶瓷和琉璃文化体验，吸引了不少游客前来打卡。

历史上，淄博博山因陶琉文化闻名于世，拥有着“北方瓷都”“中国陶瓷琉璃艺术之乡”的美誉。直到上世纪90年代，这里仍是世界上较为重要的陶琉采购区。

而在后来的城市变迁中，博山陶瓷厂破产改制，伴随几代人记忆的工业厂房成为了废墟。

山东淄博市博山区山头街道党工委书记李霄鹏：“有13座原窑，关停的陶瓷琉璃企业超过5万平方米。一部分人认为应该拆掉重建，搞地产开发，能获取一些短期收益；还有一部分人认为应该保留。在这种情况之下，开始组织专家，还有一些匠人进行论证。”

拆掉旧址搞开发固然容易，但是对于整个城市来讲，特有的工业遗存就不复存在了。

当地对13座古窑遗址和周边古建筑群进行了摸排、梳理，经过多次调研和论证，最终确定以“应保尽保”的思路把这片工业遗存保留下来。

2018年，淄博市开始对这片工业遗存进行整体规划开发。

秉持着“修旧如旧”的原则，当地把13座废弃古圆窑改造成咖啡馆、艺术馆等休闲空间；废弃的5000平企业厂房改造成陶琉文化展示、创作、体验综合体，使当地特有的工业文化基因得以创新延续。

李霄鹏：“我们确定的最重要一条原则是‘不拆真遗存，不建假古董’，修旧如旧、应保尽保。比如，街巷用青石板路铺起来的，我们把每一块青石板都标注了位置和符号，在做好垫层之后，按照每一个青石板原来的位置，在这条街上进行了完整复原。”

在改造的过程中，当地广泛征求群众意见，通过整体开发与系统挖掘，过去的工业废墟变身为集古窑群、传统历史街区与陶瓷厂遗存为一体的文化景观。

不仅要把这些特有的工业遗存“留下来”，还要让这些城市记忆“活起来”。

占地150亩的一期项目开放后，吸引了70多家商户入驻，当地还把一些老房子改造成高校实践基地、青年创业基地，吸引了30多位陶琉大师和大批专业人才前来搞创意研发。

工业遗存保留下来，也促进了传统技艺的创新。市民、游客的参与也让产品的研发更加“接地气”，当地还积极推动陶琉产业从传统日用品向高端艺术品转型。

如今，这片保留下来的工业遗存已经成为淄博文旅产业的一张新名片，当地通过空间重塑、业态创新和产业链延伸，实现了城市文脉的赓续与融合发展。

从废弃的老旧厂房到充满活力的城市新地标，文脉的赓续让淄博传统产业焕发新机。

今年以来，淄博这片由工业遗存改造的古镇接待游客超过20万人次，营业收入900余万元。

清华大学建筑学院城市规划系教授田莉：“这些历史遗存的保护，首先是践行人民理念的一种空间表达；第二个，它的功能进行了活化。现在对城市文脉的赓续强调的是整体活态性的传承，不是把老的遗产封存在那里，像做个博物馆一样展示陈列。我们通过这些非遗传承人的进驻，通过一些年轻人在这里找到创业空间，就可以让文脉不断地持续下去。这种创造性的转化和创新性的发展是遗产保护和利用比较成功的一条路径。”

文脉是一座城市的“根”和“魂”。

建设现代化人民城市，一栋建筑、一片厂房、一条河流，都是赓续城市文脉的重要载体，这些城市符号承载着人们独特的历史记忆。

2025年中央城市工作会议提出，完善历史文化保护传承体系，完善城市风貌管理制度，保护城市独特的历史文脉、人文地理、自然景观，就是要让城市留下记忆，让人们留住乡愁。

中国人民大学城乡发展规划与管理研究中心副主任周麟：“一定要注重传统与现代相结合、传承与创新相结合。从‘活化’到‘转化’，最终到‘进化’，把中华优秀传统文化和现代生活、未来发展紧密结合在一起，这是新时代的文化使命。”

北京市朝阳区亮马河是北京这座千年古都沧桑巨变的的见证者之一，也承载着许多市民生活的历史记忆。

在过去，这条河环境脏乱、污水直排、河床淤积严重。两岸商业背对河道经营，成为了城市的边角地。

中国城市规划学会理事长杨保军：“过去它其实就是一条排污沟，给人家印象是脏乱差。因为那个时候大家还没有考虑人的多重需要，主要是功能型，防洪、排污。它吸引不了人，自然也就没有人愿意靠近它，所以沿岸的建筑都是背靠它。现在所有的建筑大门都冲着河，因为它有美景，有生气，有人流，这就是它的一个变化。”

亮马河全长9.3公里，是大运河文化带的重要组成部分。作为北京城市更新的标志性项目，今年4月，亮马河生态修复入选住建部公布的全国城市更新典型案例。

如今，这里成为了市民滨水休闲的新晋打卡地。

亮马河的蜕变不仅是一条河的生态修复，更是一场以水为脉的城市空间重构。

2019年，北京市朝阳区启动亮马河滨水空间更新改造，实施岸线整治、桥梁改造、慢行连通、景观亮化、河湖贯通、旅游通航等六大工程。实现东三环至红领巾湖6公里旅游通航，贯通18公里高品质滨水绿道，并带动两岸企业开展自发投资改造，共同打造高品质滨水经济区。

过去的城市边角地逐渐变身成为市民向往的活力滨水区。

为让河道“活”起来，朝阳区改造桥梁24座，全线实现景观亮化，建成“1河2湖24桥18景”的亮马河国际风情水岸，吸引了众多市民游客前来打卡，成为北京对外展示的“国际会客厅”。

杨保军：“一个突出特点就是理念转变，结合建设美丽宜居城市，实现了多维目标的共治。通过一个景观廊道，吸引了很多喜欢水的老百姓过来活动，同时又带动了两侧的商业繁荣。从‘水安全’到‘水生态’‘水环境’‘水生活’，进一步拉动了消费，‘水经济’也出现了，这种多维目标是我们倡导的。”

生态是核心，更新是手段。以文化赋能城市更新，重构“空间—文化—人”的有机联系，既是赓续城市文脉的有效举措，也是践行人民城市理念的必然要求。

放眼全国，76.7万处不可移动文物、143座国家历史文化名城、近800个中国历史文化名镇名村、近1300片历史文化街区、6.8万处历史建筑，共同构成了传承中华优秀传统文化的丰厚载体。根植中华优秀传统文化，赓续城市文脉，建设彰显中国气质、中国风范的城市，让城市留住记忆，让人们记住乡愁，这样的城市才是有根有魂、有形有神的现代化人民城市。

title: 《焦点访谈》 20250912 城市更新 文脉赓续


content_text: 本期节目主要内容： “威龙”歼-20是我国自主研发的首款批量列装部队的新型隐身战机，具备强大的隐身、机动、感知能力，代表了我国航空工业的尖端水平。歼-20的诞生，使人民空军有了加速实现空天一体、攻防兼备战略转型的国之重器。（《国防故事》 20250912 长空御剑 国之重翼）

title: 《国防故事》 20250912 长空御剑 国之重翼


content_text:
圖:Salty Box手工月餅詮釋多重心境 。

(記者孟倩玉報導 )

Salty Box閒盒子工作室由留英歸國的甜點師黃馨所創立，她把在英國習得的西式甜點與細緻工藝，融入許多中式經典點心創作之中，同時堅持健康、天然無添加的理念。這次推出的月餅也能很文青，「醺月烏沙．金沙映月．莓好椰遇」三款月餅，代表三種心境。 售價新台幣 780 元盒，販售期間：2025 中秋節限定銷售通路：SaltyBox閒盒子工作室，IG 搜尋_saltybox及7-11賣貨便：閒盒子與，Pinkoi：Saltybox。

三款月餅包括「醺月烏沙」，濃厚細緻的烏豆沙內餡，揉合淡雅酒香與紅土鹹蛋黃的圓潤鹹香，入口綿密卻層次分明，宛如月下小酌一杯的靜謐時刻，沉穩而雅緻。「 金沙映月」，經典廣式蓮蓉基底，融合鹹蛋黃與肉鬆，鹹甜交織、香氣四溢。每一口都像是滿月映照夜空，飽滿而圓融，傳遞團圓的厚實幸福感。 「莓好椰遇」：以英式酥餅工法打造鬆香外皮，酥脆之間帶出椰子的溫潤與蔓越莓的酸甜。酥鬆、果香與奶香交織，寓意「美好相遇」，像是一場輕盈又浪漫的異國邂逅。

Salty Box閒盒子工作室的西式甜點與細緻工藝，融入許多中式經典點心創作之中，同時堅持健康、天然無添加的理念。對黃馨而言，甜點不只是味覺的享受，更代表悠閒而細緻的生活態度。這也一直是品牌努力的方向。此次推出的三款中秋月餅，就代表三種心境，醺月烏沙的沉穩雅緻，金沙映月的圓融飽滿與 莓好椰遇的清新浪漫，讓中秋不只是儀式性的團聚，而是與家人來一場細細品味、分享心意的美好時刻。

黃馨表示:「對我來說，月餅不只是中秋團圓的象徵，更是承載著中華文化的記憶，而Salty Box則希望在這份記憶中注入悠閒的滋味，讓每一次團聚都能多一份從容與幸福感。」

圖:Salty Box品味英倫的悠閒與細緻 。

title: 品味英倫的悠閒與細緻 　Salty Box三款手工月餅詮釋多重心境


content_text:
SHARED TIES: Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung and other officials joined Czech officials at the National Palace Museum’s ‘100 Treasures, 100 Stories’ exhibition in Prague

Taiwanese and Czech officials gathered at the National Museum of the Czech Republic in Prague yesterday for the opening of a National Palace Museum (NPM) exhibition.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), Minister of Culture Li Yuan (李遠), NPM director Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌) and a delegation of lawmakers led by Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) were joined by dignitaries of the Czech Republic, including Czech Chamber of Deputies President Marketa Pekarova Adamova, Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil, Czech Senate First Vice President Jiri Drahos, Czech Deputy Minister of Culture David Kaspar, Czech Deputy Minister of the Environment Eduard Levy and Czech National Museum director General Michal Lukes at the 100 Treasures, 100 Stories exhibition opening at the Czech Republic’s National Museum.

A total of 131 iconic artifacts are being showcased from Thursday to Dec. 31, including one of the museum’s most popular items, the Jadeite Cabbage With Insects (翠玉白菜), and Along the River During the Qingming Festival (清明上河圖).

From right, Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung view the Jadeite Cabbage with Insects at the opening of a National Palace Museum exhibition at the National Museum of the Czech Republic in Prague on Thursday. Photo: Ling Mei-hsueh, Taipei Times

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lukes said he had dreamed about one day displaying the national treasures of the NPM in the Czech Republic since he first visited the museum in Taipei in 2003.

After a 20-year wait, the jadeite cabbage has made its long-anticipated European debut, he said, adding that it is a milestone that reflects the “trusting relationship” between the two countries.

“The NPM would not lend their priceless treasures to untrue friends,” he said, thanking authorities and curators from both countries for helping realize the dream.

Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang, front left, and Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil, front right, view the Along the River During the Qingming Festival at the opening of a National Palace Museum exhibition at the National Museum of the Czech Republic in Prague on Thursday. Photo: Ling Mei-hsueh, Taipei Times

Adamova said she “had it complete” upon finally seeing the jadeite cabbage, having admired the Meat-Shaped Stone during a visit to Taiwan in 2023. She described the jade carving as “a really beautiful piece.”

“We have such great partners in Taiwan who trust us to care for these valuable works,” she added.

Hsiao said the exhibition was the result of close collaboration between the two countries that deepened Taiwan-Czech ties and reflected the mutual understanding shared by democratic societies.

title: Taiwan treasures debut in Prague

people: 林佳龍 江啟臣


people: 黃仁 王定宇 賴清德

content_text:
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) plans to seek up to a record US$33 billion in special funding to upgrade the nation’s defenses against a potential Chinese attack, a senior lawmaker told AFP.

As Beijing ramps up its military pressure, Taiwan over the past few recent years has responded by boosting its defense spending, but Washington, Taipei’s biggest arms supplier, has been pushing it to do more.

The ministry is working on a special budget of between NT$800 billion and NT$1 trillion (US$26.4 billion and US$33.1 billion) over seven years, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said.

Soldiers launch a missile from an FIM 92 Stinger portable air defense system during the Han Kuang military exercises in Penghu County on July 24 last year. Photo: AP

The final amount has not been finalized, as Taiwan is negotiating with the US over potential arms sales that would be included in the special budget, Wang said.

“We want to build a complete defense ecology to defend our country,” Wang said, describing the plans as a “huge” upgrade to the nation’s self-defense capabilities.

Wang said the plans included integrating Taiwan’s air defense systems; acquiring from overseas partners more advanced technology to detect small drones, rockets and missiles, and ensure a rapid response to an attack; and increasing the nation’s capacity to produce and store ammunition for wartime.

“China is developing their fifth-generation fighters and they’re using stealth technology in all kinds of drones or missiles,” said Wang, who sits on the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee. “So we need more advanced sensor systems, more advanced radar systems — if you cannot detect it, all kinds of fire units are useless.”

Wang’s remarks came as Taiwan seeks to strike a deal with the US to reduce US President Donald Trump’s 20 percent tariff on the nation’s shipments.

Last month, President William Lai’s (賴清德) government announced plans to increase next year’s defense budget to NT$949.5 billion, or more than 3 percent of GDP. It aims to increase spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2030.

Asked if he hoped the special defense budget plans would help Taiwan in the trade negotiations, Wang replied: “Yes.”

If the Cabinet approves the spending plan, it would have to be passed by the opposition-controlled legislature before it can take effect. Wang said he hoped the opposition parties would support the special budget proposal because it was for “our survival.”

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Huang Jen (黃仁), cochair of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, said if the budget were submitted to the legislature, the party’s caucus would “definitely discuss it before making a decision.”

“We understand the enemy threat and pressure from the US, but given limited resources, the key is how to spend money effectively,” Huang said.

Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a research fellow at the state-run Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said Taiwan urgently needed to strengthen its air defenses.

“Beyond the threat of drones, China currently patrols the waters around Taiwan with about eight warships, each carrying roughly 60 vertical launch system cells,” Su said. “These vessels could launch 500-plus cruise missiles, conduct surprise attacks and reach Taiwan’s critical military facilities in approximately three minutes, creating a new missile crisis.”

title: MND to seek up to record US$33bn defense funding


title: Fujian’s Taiwan Strait transit tracked

content_text:
FULLY AWARE: The PLA aircraft carrier’s transit through the Strait coincided with US Marine and Japanese forces exercises in Okinawa testing advanced anti-ship weapons

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday said it had deployed joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to track the movements of China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, as it transited the Taiwan Strait en route to the South China Sea.

The military said the measures were taken to “maintain full awareness” of the carrier’s movements, and it had “responded appropriately.”

The Japanese Ministry of Defense first disclosed the Fujian’s passage on Thursday, reporting that its Maritime Self-Defense Force sighted the vessel at about 1pm sailing southwest in waters about 200km northwest of the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台), known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands.

China’s third and newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sails in the East China Sea on Thursday.  Photo: AFP

The carrier was accompanied by the guided-missile destroyers Hangzhou and Jinan, the Japanese Joint Staff Office said.

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency later confirmed the transit, saying the Fujian was headed to the South China Sea to “carry out scientific research tests and training missions.”

Citing Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) spokesman and senior Captain Leng Guowei (冷國偉), the report said the tests and training were “not aimed at any specific target,” but regular arrangements in the carrier’s construction process.

The sailing coincided with joint exercises in Okinawa, where US Marines and Japanese forces are conducting a two-week drill featuring the Typhon missile system and other advanced anti-ship weapons, scheduled to run until Sept. 25.

A senior Taiwanese security official said that the Fujian was likely bound for the South China Sea in preparation for its commissioning ceremony.

First unveiled in 2022, the Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier and began sea trials last year. It has not yet formally entered service. Designed and built domestically, it is larger and more advanced than the Shandong, commissioned in 2019, and the Liaoning, purchased second-hand from Ukraine in 1998.

With a flat deck and electromagnetic catapults, the Fujian is expected to host a broader range of aircraft than China’s other carriers — including early-warning planes and, eventually, the country’s first carrier-based stealth fighters.

The transit through the sensitive Taiwan Strait was intended to signal “China’s rise as a strong military power, and beyond that, a maritime great power,” said Collin Koh (許瑞麟), a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“It’s to flex China’s newfound military strength and send a veritable signal to potential adversaries,” he said.

Regional security analysts and military attaches are watching the Fujian’s trials closely, particularly for signs of how effectively the PLA Navy can integrate carrier operations with escort ships and submarines.

Beijing has poured billions of dollars into modernizing its armed forces in recent years, a buildup that has unsettled regional governments even as China insists its intentions are peaceful. The South China Sea has become a focal point of Chinese military activity, with Beijing asserting expansive territorial claims disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam and other nations.

In June, Beijing announced that the Liaoning and Shandong carrier groups had conducted combat drills in the western Pacific, drawing concern from Japan and other neighbors.

A Taiwanese security official said the following month that both carrier groups had been deployed around the nation in May.


title: Suspect in Charlie Kirk murder is in custody: Trump

content_text:
A suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university has been taken into custody, US President Donald Trump said yesterday, ending an intense manhunt that followed what Trump described as a “heinous assassination.”

Kirk’s killer had eluded police and federal agents for more than 24 hours after Wednesday’s shooting, in which a sniper fired a single gunshot that killed Kirk, 31, during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem.

“I think we have him,” Trump told Fox News in an interview, adding that a person who knows the suspect had turned him in. “I think with a high degree of certainty we have him in custody.”

A person of interest in the investigation into the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, is pictured in a composite photograph.  Photo: EPA

Trump did not share the suspect’s identity.

After Trump’s interview, the New York Post reported that the suspect is a 22-year-old man from Utah.

More than 7,000 leads and tips have poured in, officials said.

“We cannot do our job without the public’s help,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said during a Thursday news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel.

The direct appeals for public support, including new and enhanced photos of a person wearing a black top, black sunglasses and a dark baseball cap, appeared to signal law enforcement’s continued struggles. The long-sleeved top appears to have been emblazoned with an image of a bald eagle flying across a US flag.

Two people who were taken into custody shortly after the shooting were determined not to be connected.

Other clues included a Mauser .30 caliber, bolt-action rifle found in a towel in the woods. A spent cartridge was recovered from the chamber, and three other rounds were loaded in the magazine, according to information circulated among law enforcement and described to The Associated Press. The weapon and ammunition were being analyzed by law enforcement at a federal lab.

Officials are offering a US$100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Cox, a Republican, said he is prepared to seek the death penalty.

The FBI had circulated grainy images apparently taken from security cameras showing a person

Kirk, an author, podcast host and close ally of Trump, helped build the Republican Party’s support among younger voters.

Trump said the suspect was recognized by people close to him, and suggested the suspect’s father drove him to a police station and handed him over.

Reflecting the highly political nature of the killing, Kirk’s coffin yesterday was transported to his home city of Phoenix, Arizona, on Vice President J.D. Vance’s official plane.

Footage showed Vance with his hands on the casket as it was carried to Air Force 2.


content_text:
Former Nepalese chief justice Sushila Karki is likely to be appointed as interim prime minister, a source aware of the talks said yesterday after intense anti-graft protests led to the resignation of Nepalese prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

The Himalayan nation’s worst upheaval in years, which killed 51 people this week and injured more than 1,300 as police fought to control crowds, was sparked by a social media ban, now rolled back. The violence subsided only after Oli resigned.

“Sushila Karki will be appointed interim prime minister,” said a constitutional expert consulted by Nepalese President Ramchandra Paudel and army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, who sought anonymity as the negotiations are sensitive.

Nepalese former chief justice Sushila Karki speaks with the media in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Jan. 30, 2019.  Photo: Reuters

“They [Gen Z] want her. This will happen today,” the source added, referring to the “Gen Z” protesters whose popular name derives from the age of most participants.

Nepal’s first and only female chief justice, Karki, 73, is known for her honesty, integrity and stand against corruption.

Her appointment was likely to be formally made after a meeting at Paudel’s residence after press time last night, a Gen Z source involved in the talks said.

Nepal has grappled with political and economic instability since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008, while a lack of jobs has driven millions to seek work in other countries and send money home.

Shops began reopening yesterday, among signs that normalcy was returning in the capital, Kathmandu, with cars in the streets and police personnel taking up batons instead of the guns they carried earlier in the week.

Authorities began handing over to families the bodies of their loved ones killed in the protests.

“While his friends backed off [from the protests], he decided to go ahead,” Karuna Budhathoki said of her 23-year-old nephew, as she waited to collect his body at Kathmandu’s Teaching Hospital. “We were told he was brought dead to the hospital.”

The 51 dead were 21 protesters, nine prisoners, three police officers and 18 others, police spokesperson Binod Ghimire said, without elaborating.

title: Former Nepalese chief justice likely to be PM


title: Taiwan updates security guide amid China threat

content_text:
READINESS: The handbook aims to guide people on what to do in case of an invasion, such as how to find bomb shelters and tips on preparing emergency kits

Taiwan is to issue new security guidelines next week in an updated civil defense handbook that, for the first time, would instruct citizens on what to do if they see enemy soldiers and clarifies that any claims of Taiwan’s surrender should be considered false.

The handbook represents the nation’s latest effort to prepare its population for potential emergencies in the face of escalating military pressure from China.

The bright red-orange handbook, designed for people of all ages, features cartoon characters representing Taiwan’s population on the cover and across its 29 pages, and tells Taiwanese to “protect each other and safeguard our beloved home.”

National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan holds an updated civil defense handbook during an interview in Taipei on Tuesday last week. Photo: Fabian Hamacher, Reuters

“Whether it be natural disasters, epidemics, extreme weather or the threat of Chinese invasion, the challenges we face have never ceased,” the handbook says, offering guidance on how to find bomb shelters via smartphone apps and tips for preparing emergency kits for family members, including pets.

National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆), who oversaw the updated handbook, said Taipei has taken inspiration from survival guides planned by fellow democracies.

“China’s ambitions for authoritarian expansion are being felt by countries around the world,” Lin said, adding that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also lent new urgency.

“The global situation — whether in Europe or the Indo-Pacific region — is not a distant concern. It is right at our doorstep,” Lin said.

The handbook, the first edition of which was published in 2022, gives a list of scenarios Taiwan might face, from sabotage of undersea cables, cyberattacks and inspections of Taiwanese vessels by an “enemy nation” as a prelude to conflict, to an all-out invasion. It also highlights the danger of ongoing misinformation campaigns against Taiwan, saying “hostile foreign forces” might exploit misinformation to divide and weaken the nation’s resolve with the help of deepfake videos and local collaborators.

“In the event of a military invasion of Taiwan, any claim that the government has surrendered or that the nation has been defeated is false,” it says.

At a time of war, when a suspected enemy presence is detected, people are advised to promptly leave the area or take cover in a safe location away from windows, and refrain from taking photos or videos and uploading them, it adds.

“That could compromise military movements, which is detrimental to our defensive operations,” All-out Defense Mobilization Agency Director Shen Wei-chih (沈威志) said.

The handbook also pointed to potential security risks from China-made tech devices such as cameras and applications, including China’s DeepSeek artificial intelligence, and social media platforms WeChat and TikTok.

“In times of crisis, these devices could be exploited by the enemy,” it added.

The handbook also offers tips on how to talk to children about an emergency.

“Many parents actually don’t know how to discuss a potential crisis with their children,” Lin said. “The goal isn’t to make everyone feel afraid. Rather, all the information is intended to help people develop better coping strategies when a real crisis occurs.”


title: ‘Fujian’ carrier to pose steep defense challenge

content_text:
By Wu Che-yu and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, would pose a steep challenge to Taiwan’s ability to defend itself against a full-scale invasion, a defense expert said yesterday.

Institute of National Defense and Security Research analyst Chieh Chung (揭仲) made the comment hours after the PLAN confirmed the carrier recently passed through the Taiwan Strait to conduct “scientific research tests and training missions” in the South China Sea.

China has two carriers in operation — the Liaoning and the Shandong — with the Fujian undergoing sea trials.

Although the PLAN needs time to train the Fujian’s air wing and integrate the ship into its carrier strike group, a third Chinese aircraft carrier would lead to a quantitative and qualitative shift in the cross-strait military balance, he said.

With a trio of carriers, the PLAN could simultaneously deploy a strike group in the seas east of Taiwan, train a strike group in the South China Sea and refit the remaining group at base, Chieh said.

This would upturn Taiwan’s long-held plans and assumptions about fighting a war with China, he added.

The Taiwan-US strategy of utilizing the Miyako Strait, Bashi Channel and Balintang Channel as chokepoints to stop the PLAN’s advance to the West Pacific could be nullified if a Chinese carrier was already patrolling beyond that line, he said.

A carrier strike group fighting outside these strategic waterways would have room to deploy a defensive formation, significantly degrading the effectiveness of Taiwanese anti-ship capabilities, Chieh said.

The navy’s force preservation plan depends on getting into tactical positions in the West Pacific upon detecting signs of an invasion, while the air force expects to be able to shelter its fighter jets in underground hangars in Hualien and Taitung, he said.

A Chinese carrier strike group lying in wait to Taiwan’s east would be able to engage Taiwanese navy vessels and outflank the eastern air bases from a direction not protected by the Central Mountain Range, Chieh said, adding that the Chinese armed forces would then have an opportunity to destroy the bulk of Taiwan’s sea and air power in the opening moves of a war.

The Fujian’s ability to launch fixed-wing airborne early warning and control systems (AWACS) is an upgrade from the Liaoning and Shandong, which rely on rotary-wing AWACS for defense, he said.

Assuming the Xian KJ-600 AWACS could be launched from the decks of the Fujian, it would be capable of establishing a 600km-deep defensive perimeter, compared with the Shandong’s range of between 185km and 400km, Chieh said.

Taiwan’s longest-range air-launched anti-ship missile is the AGM-84K SLAM-ER, which has a reach of 270km, so the fighter jet must be within 350km to 400km from the Fujian to mount an attack, he said.

That would put the launch platform well within the range of the Chinese carrier strike group’s combat air patrol and air defense systems, he added.


content_text:
The government yesterday said that it hoped for a more favorable US tariff rate after talks achieved “certain progress,” and it was now awaiting a “concluding” meeting.

Taiwan’s exports to the US are currently subject to a 20 percent tariff.

Deputy Trade Representative Yen Huai-shing (顏慧欣) in a statement said that talks with the US continued to advance.

US flags flutter in front of shipping containers at the Port of Long Beach in California on July 11. Photo: Reuters

“Both sides acknowledge that the current negotiations have achieved certain progress, and we are now awaiting the US side to schedule a concluding meeting,” Yen said. “Given the impact of the current 20 percent temporary reciprocal tariffs on our industries, we hope to secure more favorable and reasonable reciprocal tariff rates, and preferential treatment for Section 232 tariffs through this agreement.”

Rates on semiconductors — a major Taiwanese export — and other key technology goods have not yet been set, as they are the subject of a national security probe that is being conducted under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

The US Trade Representative’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of office hours in Washington.

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Thursday said that “we have a big deal coming with Taiwan,” but he did not give details.

title: Taiwan awaiting US tariff talks ‘concluding’ meeting


content_text:
Pacific leaders agree new summit rules after China, Taiwan bans

Pacific Island leaders agreed yesterday to a new framework that would allow nations to join a key regional forum as strategic partners, after accusations that China was influencing regional decision-making.

The 18-member Pacific Islands Forum in the Solomon Islands concluded after leaders met behind closed doors yesterday, with the gathering’s key talking

point being the “dialogue partners” who were controversially banned from attending this year.

Leaders of Pacific Islands nations pose for the family photo at the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Alongside member states that include key players Australia and New Zealand, the gatherings are typically attended by dozens more countries as observers or partners. However, the Solomon Islands barred most of those partners from attending this year, sparking accusations that Honiara worked at Beijing’s behest to exclude long-time participant Taiwan.

The move prompted concern among fellow Pacific nations, three of whom -- Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu -- still recognise Taipei.

China counts the Solomon Islands among its closest partners and backers in the South Pacific, and they signed a secretive security pact in 2022.

The dialogue partners issue required lengthy debate during yesterday’s closed-door meeting, officials who were party to the leader discussions told AFP.

The official forum communique described the debate as a “robust exchange.”

It said leaders agreed to a new framework in which states would apply to attend future summits as strategic partners.

“It ensures that partnerships are structured, balanced, and accountable in relation to collective, regional political decision-making processes,” the communique said.

New Zealand’s top diplomat Winston Peters told AFP last month it was “obvious” that outside forces were meddling in the summit.

Peters, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and other officials warned that banning dialogue partners could affect external aid to the Pacific.

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr also told AFP on Wednesday there had “absolutely” been outside meddling in the summit.

“We should engage and be inclusive and have all partners here,” he said.

“We shouldn’t say ‘this partner should be allowed and that partner shouldn’t be’ -- everybody should be here, because in solving our challenges, we need everybody,” he said.

Palau will host next year’s forum.

The communique said potential strategic partners will need to apply to be admitted to the forum, and fulfil criteria that include being a sovereign

country, a political community (such as the European Union), or an intergovernmental organization.

Discussions were less fraught regarding climate change and security in the Pacific.

Leaders agreed all countries must “take individual and collective action to prevent near-term warming by addressing short-lived climate pollutants, in particular, methane emissions”, the communique said.

They also endorsed an Australian bid to host the COP31 UN climate talks next year, calling it a joint bid between Australia and the Pacific.

The leaders also called for a united response to transnational crime, in particular drug smuggling through the Pacific.


people: 蔣萬安 許淑華

content_text:
ACCUSATION: The KMT is ignoring threats to Taiwan and regional stability, and cooperating with China’s ‘united front’ tactics, a Taipei City councilor said

The Taipei City Government has submitted its list of delegates and travel itinerary for review ahead of this year’s Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum from Sept. 25 to Sept. 27 in Shanghai, China, the Mainland Affairs Council said yesterday.

The council said it would review the submission in accordance with the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例). Under Article 9 of the act, city mayors and high-ranking civil servants are required to apply for permission to enter China, and applications are to be reviewed by the MAC, the Ministry of the Interior and the National Security Bureau.

The council’s confirmation followed local news earlier yesterday saying that Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would leave for Shanghai on Sept. 25 to attend the forum, which is to focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and urban governance.

Chiang is to attend the forum’s main event on Sept. 26 and is expected to sign two memorandums of understanding before returning to Taiwan on Sept. 27, the report said, citing anonymous sources.

The mayor did not directly confirm whether he would be part of the delegation, but said that the city government had filed the application and would provide further information when available.

The city government’s position is that it conducts exchanges with Shanghai “under the principles of parity, dignity, goodwill and reciprocity,” Chiang said.

The Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum has been held annually since 2010, with the two cities alternating as the host.

In 2023, Chiang headed a delegation of more than 100 people to Shanghai, marking his first attendance at the forum as mayor. Last year, a 92-member delegation led by then-Shanghai vice mayor Hua Yuan (華源) visited Taipei.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) yesterday said that China’s mass military parade last week was not just a threat to Taiwan, but to regional peace.

The KMT is ignoring threats to Taiwan and regional stability, and blindly cooperating with the Chinese Communist Party’s “united front” performance, Chien said.

DPP Taipei City Councilor Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華) said that Chiang’s visit to China at this time would reinforce perceptions in the international community that the mayor of Taiwan’s capital holds a pro-China stance.

Meanwhile, KMT Taipei City Councilor Tseng Hsien-ying (曾獻瑩) said that the trip aims to foster a peaceful atmosphere across the Taiwan Strait and to learn about AI in city governance.

KMT Taipei City Councilor Liu Tsai-wei (柳采葳) said the DPP city councilors were criticizing for the sake of criticizing, as the forum would cover a variety of topics, adding that since it is a city-to-city forum, the content would focus on municipal governance.

title: Council to review Taipei’s submission for Shanghai forum


people: 黃珊珊 柯文哲 應曉薇

title: Court to reconsider Ko's bail on Monday

content_text:
The High Court yesterday ordered a lower court to hear an appeal against the decision to grant bail to former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).

After being held incommunicado for a year, Ko was released on Monday on bail of NT$70 million (US$2.31 million) on the condition that he wear an electronic tracking device and not leave Taiwan.

On Tuesday, prosecutors filed an appeal against Ko’s release, requesting that he be detained until they finish questioning witnesses next month.

Former Taiwan People’s Party chairman Ko Wen-je waves to supporters outside the Taipei District Court on Thursday. Photo: CNA

The witnesses to be questioned include former Taipei Department of Urban Development director Huang Ching-mao (黃景茂), former Taipei deputy mayor and Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) and Wu Shun-min (吳順民), Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei’s (應曉薇) assistant.

Ying was released on bail of NT$30 million, which prosecutors have also filed an appeal against.

The high court criticized the lower court for issuing conflicting rulings within a relatively short time period and for failing to clearly define which witnesses Ko and Ying are barred from contacting.

The district court is scheduled to hear the detention requests at 10 am on Monday, with Ko and Ying required to report at 9 am.

In a statement, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) urged the court to uphold Ko's release, saying prosecutors have already questioned all critical witnesses over the past eight months and warning against undermining basic human rights.

Ko, former TPP chairman, was indicted in December last year for allgedly accepting bribes of NT$17.1 million in a property development deal during his tenure as Taipei mayor and embezzling political donations during his presidential campaign last year.

Prosecutors are seeking a total sentence of 28.5 years for Ko, who has maintained his innocence and said that the charges are politically motivated.


content_text:
‘STRATEGIC RESOURCES’: Taiwan has been keen to forge closer technology ties with other ‘like-minded’ democracies, especially in central and eastern Europe

As leading global semiconductor companies gathered in Taipei this week for the Semicon Taiwan trade show to discuss the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, one area got a much more prominent role than before: Taiwan’s use of its dominance of the chip industry to promote its diplomatic aims.

Taiwan, home to the world’s largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), has long been the global industry leader, but it is diplomatically isolated owing to China’s sovereignty claims that prevent most nations forging formal diplomatic ties with Taipei.

Speaking at a side event on geopolitics that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cosponsored for the first time at Semicon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said semiconductors and AI are “strategic resources.”

People walk outside the venue hosting Semicon Taiwan in Taipei on Thursday. Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA

“We firmly believe that only by working with Taiwan can the free world create trusted non-red supply chains,” Lin said, referring to efforts to shift supply chains away from China.

Taiwan has been particularly keen to forge closer technology ties with other “like-minded” democracies, especially in central and eastern Europe where the Russian invasion of Ukraine has drawn sympathy for the threat Taiwan says it faces from China.

At a separate Semicon event attended by President William Lai (賴清德), Czech Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Marek Zenisek said his nation and Taiwan share the same values of democracy, freedom and openness.

“These values are under increasing pressure across the board. They are also the reason why our partnership is natural,” said Zenisek, whose nation is pitching itself as an ideal supplier for TSMC’s first European factory being built across the border in Germany’s Dresden.

Beyond Taiwan’s traditional, though informal supporters in the US and Europe, Semicon also drew some more unlikely attendees from nations that have long since ditched Taiwan to draw closer to China.

Of the 17 country pavilions at Semicon, the most ever, Costa Rica attended for the first time.

In 2007, it became the first nation in Central America to switch diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China.

Its delegation declined to comment when approached by Reuters.

There was also, for the first time, a delegation from Africa, a continent where China has broad diplomatic and economic influence, and Taiwan very little.

The group of 10 African technology entrepreneurs from the French-African Foundation met with Lin on a trip the French representative office helped arrange.

Joelle Itoua Owona, chief executive officer of AfriWell Health, a medical technology start-up active in the Republic of the Congo, which has not had relations with Taiwan since 1964, said that African governments want to diversify their partnerships.

Other countries such as the US and France get investment from both Taiwan and China, and Africa should be no different, she said.

“Taiwan is an additional friend” for Africa, Owona said.

title: Chip diplomacy promoted at Semicon

people: 林佳龍 賴清德


content_text:
The Taiwan-India partnership in electronics and semiconductors is critical to diversifying the global value chain for resilience and stability, Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan said in Taipei on Thursday.

Krishnan led a delegation to Taiwan along with India Semiconductor Mission chief executive director Amitesh Sinha to attend the Semicon Taiwan trade fair from Wednesday to yesterday, with the goal of deepening ties between Taiwan and India in the global electronics manufacturing supply chain.

The Taiwan-India partnership has grown markedly over the past 30 years, with electronics being a leading part, Krishnan told reporters on Thursday.

Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan holds a news conference in Taipei on Thursday. Photo courtesy of the India Taipei Association via CNA

Taiwanese electronics companies such as Foxconn Technology Group (富士康科技集團), Pegatron Corp (和碩) and Delta Electronics Inc (台達電) have been successful in India, he said, adding that a joint venture between Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (力積電) and Tata Electronics Private has also been inspiring.

Such partnerships showed that “India is a favorable ground for much of this development to take place,” as it helps stabilize the high-tech industry by being “a big market” and “a source of human resources,” Krishnan said.

“There is a lot that India will learn from the Taiwanese model and the Taiwanese example,” he said.

The support provided by the Indian government for semiconductor manufacturing is unprecedentedly generous and the largest industrial policy scheme that has ever been implemented in India, Krishnan said.

“We pay from the federal government 50 percent of the cost of employment as a subsidy,” he said, adding that means about 70 percent to 75 percent of the costs of all projects under the scheme are subsidized jointly by the federal and state governments.

“Even as the project is being built, the money is put out, which means we are taking as much of a share in the risk of the project as anybody else,” he added.

Krishnan said India’s large, young workforce would also support the bilateral semiconductor partnership, especially given Taiwan’s low birthrate.

“The young population in India below the age of 25 is about 566 million,” he said.

Sinha, who is leading the 10 projects approved by the first phase of the Semiconductor India Program, said the Indian government would ensure long-term policy support.

He cited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as saying that India wants every device in the world to have a chip made in India and that “India is making policies keeping in mind the goals for the next 25 years.”

India’s robust digital infrastructure, such as the Unified Payments Interface, is also driving the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones, Sinha said.

India is a power surplus nation with green energy accounting for 50 percent of total installed capacity, he said, adding that power shortages would not be a concern.

Asked whether there is support for mobile phone component manufacturers, given the development of the electronics ecosystem in India would boost demand, Krishnan said the Electronic Component Manufacturing Scheme was implemented two-and-a-half months ago.

The scheme offers incentives to manufacturers of printed circuit boards, displays and camera modules, among others, with the aim of doubling the value of the sector, he said.

title: Official lauds Taiwan-India partnership


content_text:
Taiwan, UK ink MOU on semiconductor talent development

Taiwan and the UK on Thursday signed a deal that would pave the way for bilateral collaboration in talent development in the semiconductor sector, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The ministry in a statement issued yesterday said that the Taiwan-UK Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Semiconductor Joint Skills Project was signed during a ceremony in Taipei.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said during the ceremony that the MOU marked “a milestone” in bilateral semiconductor cooperation, particularly given the two sides’ complementary strengths in the sector.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu speaks at the inking of the Taiwan-UK Memorandum of Understanding on the Semiconductor Joint Skills Project in Taipei yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

British National Technology Adviser Dave Smith, who led a delegation to the Semicon Taiwan trade show in Taipei this week, echoed that view, saying that Taiwan’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and the UK’s strengths in innovation and research would complement each other, the statement said.

Smith said he was looking forward to further collaboration between Taiwan and the UK in fields such as compound semiconductors, silicon photonics and quantum technologies.

The MOU was signed by UK Representative to Taiwan Ruth Bradley-Jones and Representative to the UK Vincent Yao (姚金祥) via videoconference from London, the ministry said.


content_text:
TOO EXPENSIVE: Telecoms benefit from government subsidies while the public suffers from expensive 5G mobile plans, DPP Legislator Lin Chun-hsien said

The Ministry of Digital Affairs yesterday said it would review the funding program for 5G infrastructure construction and urge reasonable mobile plans in response to criticism that 5G users accounted for only 38.9 percent of subscribers as of July.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) at a news conference yesterday called on the nation’s three major telecoms to offer lower monthly charges, given that tens of billions of New Taiwan dollars were allocated to 5G development, but the user penetration rate has remained relatively low over the past five years.

The unlimited 5G data plans offered by three telecoms — Chunghwa Telecom Co, Taiwan Mobile Co and Far EasTone Telecommunications Co — cost at least NT$1,399 per month, Lin said.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Chun-hsien, right, speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times

While the cost is double that of 4G users’ NT$599 or NT$699 per month, customers do not enjoy better service quality as a result, he said, citing many as criticizing 5G services for being “expensive and power-consuming with limited coverage and a poor signal.”

The government set up a program to fund the development of 5G infrastructure, particularly base station construction and resilient network improvement, with about NT$22.1 billion invested since 2020, Lin said, adding that nearly NT$3 billion has been allocated this year.

The initial goal is to help telecoms increase their 5G market penetration and enhance network quality, he said.

However, the reality is that the industry benefits from the subsidies, while the public suffers from expensive 5G mobile plans, contrary to the original intent of the program, he added.

Lin urged telecoms to propose lower-cost 5G mobile plans to the National Communications Commission (NCC) by the end of this month.

Department of Communications and Cyber Resilience Director Niu Hsin-jen (牛信仁) said the funding program aims to provide greater 5G coverage and improved service quality for the public, as well as develop environments for innovative 5G applications, including smart healthcare, smart manufacturing and smart agriculture.

If the penetration rate remains barely acceptable, the ministry would thoroughly review the program to promote more reasonable mobile plans that allow people to share the fruitful outcomes of the nation’s technological advancement, he said.

NCC Department of Planning Director Wen Jiun-yu (溫俊瑜) said regulation of mobile plans is aligned with international practices and the three major telecoms are required to be compliant.

Telecoms are encouraged to diversify their mobile plans and required to disclose details of all the plans, he said.

Chunghwa Telecom yesterday in response said it would continue to boost its 5G network quality and provide different preferential plans, as well as integrate its strengths in channel and customer service to improve the user experience.

An industrial source speaking on condition of anonymity said that various 5G mobile plans are available on the market and not all of them are expensive.

The governmental funding was granted under the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program to support infrastructure development, instead of to subsidize spectrum auction prices, the source said.

title: Telecoms should offer cheaper 5G plans: legislator


title: New ferries being used to promote marine tourism

content_text:
As well as servicing residents of outlying islands, new ferries built by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications are being used to promote marine tourism among domestic travelers.

The Maritime and Port Bureau in July launched a two-month “Blue Highway Carnival,” during which it initiated trials on five new tourism sea routes.

These include the routes between the Port of Keelung and the Port of Hualien, Keelung and Magong Port in Penghu County, the Port of Anping in Tainan and Magong Port, as well as the route between Keelung and Ishigaki in Japan.

The Penghu ferry is pictued at the Port of Keelung on Aug. 26. Photo courtesy of the Maritime and Port Bureau

Additionally, there is an island-hopping tour from Chiayi County’s Budai Port to Penghu and Kinmen County.

Using the New Taima ferry, the tour between the Port of Keelung and the Port of Hualien, which was offered from July 25 to 27, attracted 569 travelers, with the occupancy rate in sleeper cabins reaching about 73 percent, the bureau said.

The island-hopping tour connecting Budai, Penghu and Kinmen, which was offered from Aug. 15 to 19, attracted 918 travelers, with the occupancy rate topping 60 percent, it said.

The Penghu to Keelung tour, which was offered on Aug. 25 and 26 using the Penghu ferry, was used by 565 travelers, with the occupancy rate of sleeper cabins reaching 94 percent.

Some travelers on the Penghu-Keelung tour adopted the “fly-ferry” model: taking a flight to Penghu on Aug. 25 and returning to the Port of Keelung the following day.

In addition to sleeper cabins, the Penghu ferry is equipped with a cafe and children’s playrooms. Its cargo area is capable of carrying 80 sedans, four large tour buses and 10 containers.

Passengers can watch musical performances, street artists and movies on the ferry.

The Anping-Magong tour is available every Tuesday and Friday this month, while the Keelung-Ishigaki tour is to be launched later this month, the bureau said.

“The marine highways function both as tourism routes and an important backup to facilitate travel to and from outlying islands in emergency situations, such as ones caused by adverse weather conditions,” bureau Director-General Yeh Hsieh-lung (葉協隆) said.

When access to Suhua Highway (Highway No. 18) is disrupted by natural disasters, at least one trip on a ferry could be arranged the next day to transport travelers who are headed to the east coast, he said.

Yeh said the bureau is having a 8,000-tonne ferry built that would be used for tourism and as a backup vessel for national emergencies.

The ferry should be able to dock at any seaport in Taiwan proper and outlying islands, and would be equipped with 300 beds, 200 seats, a cafe and leisure facilities, Yeh said.

The ship’s main mission would be to serve as a backup system for national emergencies and to transport travelers among different outlying islands, aside from carrying tourists, he said.

The new ship is scheduled to be operational by 2029, he said.

The government would outsource the operation of the ship to a contractor, who would receive subsidies for tasks conducted during emergencies, he added.


title: ‘Best smart hospitals’ list features 13 in Taiwan

content_text:
Thirteen hospitals in Taiwan have been named among the world’s “best smart hospitals,” with Taichung Veterans General Hospital ranked 85th, the highest among Taiwanese facilities, according to the World’s Best Smart Hospitals released on Wednesday by Newsweek and Statista.

Newsweek in a statement said that the rankings were based on an international online survey of healthcare professionals and hospital managers, the Statista Smart Hospitals Maturity Survey and Joint Commission International accreditation.

The survey recognized 350 leading medical institutions across 30 nations that are transforming healthcare through technology and innovation, evaluating them across 10 innovation areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), telemedicine, robotics, patient safety technologies and electronic functionalities, the statement said.

Taichung Veterans General Hospital is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei Times

“Smart hospitals utilize advanced technology, including AI and automation, to improve patient care and streamline workflow,” it said. “These modern treatment centers are predicted to become even more prevalent in the coming years.”

It is the second time Taichung Veterans General Hospital has been ranked among the world’s top 100 smart hospitals, improving from 99th place the previous year.

The other Taiwanese hospitals in the rankings include Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital (116th), Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (120th), National Cheng Kung University Hospital (140th), Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (189th) and China Medical University Hospital (228th), the survey showed.

The other ranked hospitals from Taiwan were Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (262nd), Taipei Veterans General Hospital (272nd), National Taiwan University Hospital (299th), Tri-Service General Hospital-Neihu Main Facility (308th), Taipei Medical University Hospital (328th), Taipei Medical University Shuang-Ho Hospital (333rd) and Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital (339th).

The standout category for Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital was “patient safety technologies.”

Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals chief executive officer Yu Chin-pang (游進邦) said that Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital has developed mature patient safety technologies using AI.

For example, prompted by the hospital’s computer system, its medical team is now unlikely to forget to remove a double-J stent from patients returning for a checkup after urological surgery, Yu said.


content_text:
The National Fishermen’s Association yesterday honored two Indonesian fishermen at the annual National Fishermen’s Day awards ceremony for their professional performance and contribution to the fishing community.

The award ceremony aimed to pay tribute to foreign crew members who have for years committed themselves to Taiwan’s fishery industry, and to celebrate diversity, inclusion and team spirit, the association said in a statement.

The Model Foreign Crew Member award, included in the ceremony for the first time this year, went to Soli Hun and Cakida for their years of dedication.

Indonesian fisherman Soli Hun is pictured after being awarded the Model Foreign Crew Member Award at the annual National Fishermen’s Day awards ceremony in New Taipei City yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Fisheries Agency

Soli Hun, who has been working in Yilan County’s Nanfangao (南方澳) for 17 years, has gained the trust of his peers and employers with his professionalism, the association said.

As a leader among other foreign crew members, he has been organizing industry groups, taking part in mosque management, and bridging the local community and foreign crew members, it said.

He has also been praised for his integrity and commitment to charitable causes, it added.

When Typhoon Megi caused severe flooding in Yilan County’s Suao Township (蘇澳) in 2010, Soli Hun voluntarily helped with the post-disaster cleanup and reconstruction, the association said.

Cakida has also been recognized for his dedication to community service.

He has established a clansmen association for Indonesians, providing emergency aid and livelihood support, while also assisting newcomers by being a volunteer interpreter for foreign crew members, the association said.

He also took part in multiple at-sea rescues and was given the Outstanding Crew Member Award by the Tamsui Fishermen’s Association in 2022, it said.

Cakida, who has been working at the Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf for more than 13 years since he was 24, was granted permanent residency through the Long-term Retention of Skilled Foreign Workers Program, it added.

He considers Taiwan his second home, the association said.

This year’s National Fishermen’s Day, with the theme of loving the ocean together, was being celebrated at the Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf in New Taipei City yesterday and today.

Participants are encouraged to learn about Taiwan’s fishery industry and support marine preservation through performances and other activities.

title: Indonesians win awards on National Fishermen’s Day


people: 蔡英文 賴清德

content_text:
A Ministry of Labor (MOL) committee is scheduled for Sept. 26 to decide whether Taiwan’s minimum wage will be raised for 2026, the MOL said yesterday.

Huang Chi-ya (黃琦雅), director of the MOL’s Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment, said the ministry has sent notices to members of the Minimum Wage Deliberation Committee, which is composed of employer and labor representatives, government officials and scholars, about the meeting schedule.

According to the Minimum Wage Act (最低工資法), the MOL must hold a minimum wage deliberation meeting in the third quarter of each year.

The Ministry of Labor’s logo is displayed at the ministry in Taipei in an undated photograph. Photo: Lee Chin-hui, Taipei Times

Huang said the notice also included a suggestion from the MOL’s wage research team regarding a possible minimum wage hike.

The committee has traditionally considered increases in the consumer price index and the strength of gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

Judging by those standards, market observers said the minimum wage could rise by about 4 percent next year. If approved, it would mark the 10th consecutive increase.

The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) recently raised its 2025 GDP growth forecast to 4.45 percent from an earlier estimate of 3.10 percent, citing better-than-expected export performance.

The DGBAS also forecast the consumer price index will grow 1.76 percent in 2025.

The latest minimum wage increase took effect Jan. 1, raising the monthly wage to NT$28,590 (US$945) from NT $27,470, an increase of 4.08 percent, and the hourly wage to NT$190 from NT$183.

This was the first minimum wage increase since President William Lai (賴清德) took office on May 20, 2024.

The previous eight hikes occurred under former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

Earlier this month, labor groups urged the government not to use uncertainties created by US tariff policies as an excuse to delay a minimum wage hike.

The warning came after Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said the tariffs could prompt some industries to furlough workers, and the number of furloughs has been on the rise.

Labor groups said Taiwan, which faces a 20 percent levy, is not alone in dealing with tariff issues.

Other economies that have faced similar tariffs, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam, have still decided to raise their minimum wages in 2026, said Yang Shu-wei (楊書瑋) of the Taiwan Labor Front.

title: MOL minimum wage committee to meet on Sept. 26


content_text: Models hold up placards at a news conference in Nantou County yesterday showing that 24,736 people have registered for this year’s Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival, set for Sept. 28. The event would include 361 participants from 35 countries, along with 130 swimmers with disabilities, the Nantou County Government said.

title: Lake carnival


content_text: Military students yesterday salute President William Lai, center, front, during the armed forces joint ceremony starting the new semester at the Army Academy. Lai in his address at the event said that “Peace is priceless and there are no winners in war,” stressing that in addition to demonstrating Taiwan’s determination to defend itself, the armed forces must safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait.

title: First line of defense


content_text: People join three elderly couples, center row, in a group photograph at a traditional wedding ceremony held by the Huashan Social Welfare Foundation’s Chiayi branch in Chiayi County yesterday. The event was held for the couples in a bid to make up for their regret at not having had a proper wedding due to various circumstances, the foundation said.

title: Perfect second time around


content_text:
DEVELOPMENT: The group would favor acquisitions that can create asset synergies, improve profitability and capital allocation, and enhance services, an executive said

CTBC Financial Holding Co (中信金), Taiwan’s third-largest financial group by assets, yesterday said it would maintain its strategy of keeping a 70-30 split between banking and non-banking operations as it pursues growth and acquisition opportunities.

The group shared its development plans after reporting that first-half net income was NT$35.84 billion (US$1.18 billion), down 4 percent year-on-year, but outperforming the sector’s 35 percent slump.

Its flagship unit, CTBC Bank (中國信託銀行), delivered record earnings, while life insurance arm, Taiwan Life Insurance Co (台灣人壽), reported a 45 percent drop, weighed down by foreign-exchange losses.

CTBC Financial Holding Co president Rachael Kao, left, and chief financial officer Megan Hsu attend the company’s quarterly investors’ conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA

CTBC Financial president and spokeswoman Rachael Kao (高麗雪) expressed cautious views for the second half, highlighting global trade tensions, tariff risks and equity market volatility as potential headwinds.

Taiwan’s economy expanded 6.75 percent in the first half, but expansion is expected to slow to 2.3 percent in the remainder of the year, as many companies had front-loaded orders in anticipation of US tariff measures, Kao said.

CTBC Bank posted after-tax profit of NT$27.7 billion in the year to June, a 20 percent rise from the first half last year, fueled by 13 percent loan growth and nearly 20 percent growth in net interest income due to lower foreign-currency funding costs.

Fee income rose by a nearly double-digit percentage, supported by wealth management initiatives.

Overseas operations contributed NT$12.4 billion in pretax profit, up 10 percent from a year earlier and accounting for 36 percent of the total, among the highest in Taiwan’s financial industry.

By contrast, Taiwan Life booked NT$7.2 billion in profit, down 45 percent, as the New Taiwan dollar’s appreciation against the US dollar resulted in foreign-exchange losses.

The insurer boosted its capital base by adding NT$15.1 billion to reserves in June under a new regulatory reserve regime.

First-year premium sales climbed by about NT$1.7 billion in the year through July, helped by expanded distribution channels and diversified product offerings.

Kao declined to comment on media speculation regarding a potential acquisition of Mercuries Life Insurance Co (三商美邦人壽), reiterating that CTBC Financial Holding would adhere to its 70-30 principle guiding banking and non-banking operations.

The group would favor acquisitions that can generate asset synergies, improve profitability and capital allocation, and enhance customer services, she said.

Taiwan Life is expected to maintain a 125 percent solvency ratio under the new accounting rules next year, company officials said.

While the US Federal Reserve is tilting toward rate cuts, Kao said that trade uncertainties and market swings require careful management to safeguard investments.

title: CTBC outlines acquisitions strategy

countries: 中國 台灣


content_text:
The smartphone market in the second half is turning out better than expected, Pegatron Corp (和碩) chairman Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢) said yesterday.

Pegatron, an iPhone assembler for Apple Inc, was initially concerned about market conditions in the second half, as US tariffs cast a shadow over the industry in the first half, Tung said on the sidelines of a forum in Taoyuan.

The company had expected demand would be between strong and overly conservative, he added.

Pegatron Corp chairman Tung Tzu-hsien talks to reporters in Taipei on Monday last week. Photo: CNA

However, shipments of electronic components in the past two months were strong, indicating front-loading orders from smartphone vendors, Tung said.

“We believe the second half should be better than we thought, and we should see a peaceful autumn this year,” Tung said.

Asked about media reports quoting the US government as saying on Thursday that it has “a big deal coming with Taiwan,” Tung said Washington might announced the final “reciprocal” tariff today. The levy of on Taiwanese goods, including machine tools, molds, plastic products and electronic materials, could remain flat at 20 percent as announced previously.

Tung also urged the government to return to nuclear power.

Nuclear power and renewable energy are carbon free energy, while energy generated from sustainable sources has caused concern after the Hsinta Power Plant (興達電廠) fire in Kaohsiung on Tuesday.

title: Smartphone market in 2H improving: Pegatron


content_text:
EXTRA WORK: Manufacturers of electronic components recorded an average of 27.7 hours of overtime per worker, the most for July since data collection began

Average regular monthly wages in Taiwan’s industrial and service sectors rose 2.89 percent year-on-year to NT$47,891 in July, while total compensation — including overtime, commissions and bonuses — climbed 5.48 percent to NT$65,583, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said yesterday.

The median monthly wage, considered a more accurate measure of typical earnings, increased 2.46 percent to NT$38,291, indicating that many workers earned less than the average.

From January to July, the average monthly wage was NT$47,651, up 2.98 percent from the same period last year, the strongest growth in three years, the data showed.

Census Department Deputy Director Tan Wen-ling (譚文玲) attributed the rise to a combination of pay increases, a higher minimum wage and longer working hours.

Average overtime in July was 17.1 hours, up 0.9 hours year-on-year — the highest for the month in 15 years, the data showed.

Manufacturers of electronic components recorded an average of 27.7 hours of overtime per worker, the most for July since data collection began in 1980, Tan said.

Despite the gains in the average wage, the median wage has lagged, underscoring persistent wage concentration and a large share of workers earning below the mean, she said.

High-income earners are driving much of the growth in the average wage, while factors such as the proportion of new hires, job distribution and lower-wage employment limit median wage growth, she added.

Industries with average regular wages below the overall level include accommodation and food services at NT$34,977, as well as other services such as beauty and hairdressing at NT$36,598, the data showed.

Industries such as professional, scientific and technical services (NT$58,109); the information and communications, publishing and audiovisual sectors (NT$69,407); and the financial and insurance sector (NT$70,749) recorded relatively high wages.

With inflation moderating, the rise in the average wage has partially offset price pressures, boosting real purchasing power, although wage inequality remains a concern, Tan said.

The consumer price index has been within the central bank’s 2 percent target for four consecutive months, supported by the appreciation of the New Taiwan dollar.

title: Industrial, service sector average wages increase


content_text:
Hermes Testing Solutions Inc (漢民測試), which specializes in providing wafer probing services, yesterday gave a robust revenue and profit growth forecast for next year on top of a record performance this year, fueled by strong testing services demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) chips.

Revenue in the first eight months of this year climbed to NT$1.4 billion (US$46.29 billion), indicating that the full-year result would be greater than last year’s NT$1.6 billion, Hermes president Steven Wang (王子建) told a media briefing in Taipei.

Earnings per share (EPS) in the first eight months rose to a record NT$7, significantly more than the EPS of NT$2.84 last year, Wang said.

Hermes Testing Solutions Inc representatives, including honorary chairman C.Y. Hsu, second right, and chairman T.C. Lin, second left, gesture at an event in Taipei yesterday. Photo courtesy of Hermes Testing Solutions Inc

“We have good order visibility from now through the second quarter of next year. We are expecting quite a good performance during this period,” Wang said. “Revenue will grow year-on-year next year.”

Gross margin stood at 46.1 percent in the first half of this year, company data showed.

Hermes counts the world’s major chipmakers and chip designers as its key customers.

Its expected growth would be driven by its three major product segments — probe cards, engineering services, and customized product and equipment distribution, the company said.

New, higher-margin products, such as advanced thin-film probe cards, would gain traction next year, Hermes said.

In addition, the company is expanding its MEMS probe cards, targeting high-end testing services for application-specific ICs and system-on-a-chips (SoC), through strategic partnerships with Micronics Japan Co, Wang said.

The Japanese company has a 6 percent stake in Hermes.

Probe cards play a vital role in the manufacturing of semiconductors. Driven by innovative applications such as 5G, AI and HPC, Hermes said that demand for highly customized probe cards and testing services are increasing.

The global probe card market is expected to expand at an annual growth rate of 6.9 percent to US$7.58 billion in 2032, from US$4.44 billion last year, the firm said, citing an MRFF forecast.

Additionally, the company is also expanding its business reach to inspection tools used in chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology.

The company sold eight to 10 CoWoS inspection tools this year and expects sales next year to surpass this year, Wang said.

Engineering services — such as equipment modification and relocation services — are the biggest revenue contributor to the company, accounting for 40 percent, followed by 20 percent from the probe cards.

The company, based in Hsinchu, is expanding its sales offices overseas.

The firm is mulling a new sales office in the US, probably in 2027 when its customer’s chip packaging fabs start operations, he said.

Hermes is slated to trade its shares on the Taipei Stock Exchange on Wednesday next week at the reference price of NT$100 per share.

title: Hermes eyes revenue and profit boost


content_text:
China urged Mexico to “think twice” before levying tariffs, a warning that could signal Beijing’s willingness to retaliate over a move it sees as giving into demands from the US.

“Any unilateral tariff increase by Mexico, even within the framework of WTO rules, would be seen as appeasement and compromise toward unilateral bullying,” a Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday. “We urge the Mexican side to exercise extreme caution and consider carefully before taking any actions.”

Mexico has come under growing pressure from US President Donald Trump’s stance on trade, particularly his push for steep tariffs on Chinese goods.

A dealership of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD Co is pictured in Mexico City on Wednesday. Photo: Bloomberg

The Latin American nation on Thursday announced plans to impose duties of as much as 50 percent on cars and other products made by China and several Asian exporters.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who is preparing for talks over North America’s free-trade deal, later said that she is not seeking conflict with China, but instead wants to protect domestic industry.

China’s exports to Mexico have nearly doubled since 2016, the year before Trump started his first term in office, in part because Chinese companies moved operations there to avoid US tariffs, but it is become increasingly difficult for nations caught in the middle between Washington and Beijing to navigate bilateral relationships with the two superpowers as the US president pushes trading partners to increase levies on China.

“Beijing will likely hit back with reciprocal tariffs immediately, but risks alienating partners at a time when it critically needs allies. Over time, it may also encourage firms to localize production in partner countries, though that would come at the cost of weaker output and jobs at home,” Bloomberg Economics said.

China runs a substantial trade surplus with Mexico. Last year it exported US$71 billion more than it imported, Chinese customs data showed.

Mexico accounted for about 5 percent of China’s copper ore imports in January to July, as the Asian nation’s smelters try to secure every tonne of raw material they can in a tight global market.

While copper ore and concentrates could be a potential target for retaliation, Mexico would likely be able to find other customers given strong demand for the metal essential for the renewable energy industry.

The biggest producer of copper in Mexico is US-based Southern Copper Corp, a part of Mexican billionaire German Larrea’s Grupo Mexico.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson urged nations to strengthen communication and coordination “amid widespread global opposition to indiscriminate imposition of tariffs from the US,” adding that China would take necessary measures to safeguard its rights and interests.

title: China warns Mexico over imposing additional tariffs


content_text: A woman sells firewood in Dadaab, Kenya, on Wednesday. Humanitarian agencies are warning of the severe impact of global aid reductions on vulnerable populations.

title: Sales from cart


title: EDITORIAL: Failure of outsourcing childcare

content_text:
The Awakening Foundation on Tuesday criticized President William Lai’s (賴清德) proposal to ease restrictions on hiring foreign domestic helpers, warning that it risks further undermining women’s rights.

In an interview with the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) published on Monday, Lai announced plans to expand eligibility for families with young children seeking foreign domestic helpers, with the goal of encouraging women to re-enter the workforce after childbirth. If passed, the new regulations would allow families with a single child up to age 12 to apply for a foreign domestic helper. Under the current rules, only families with at least two children younger than six qualify.

Taiwan faces severe demographic challenges, chief among them a declining birthrate exacerbated by the unequal burden of caregiving responsibilities, which fall disproportionately on women.

Ministry of Health and Welfare data from 2020 showed that more than one in five Taiwanese women leave their jobs after marriage and only 60 percent of them subsequently return to the workforce.

While Lai’s policy is well-intentioned — aiming to alleviate caregiving burdens and increase female workforce participation — it is fundamentally misguided, as it risks deepening the exploitation embedded in Taiwan’s care system, which, as the foundation highlighted, disproportionately affects migrant women.

Taiwan’s migrant workforce totaled about 820,000 last year, with foreign domestic helpers comprising more than 200,000 — or about 25 percent. Nearly 99 percent of the caregivers are women, whose labor rights remain severely underprotected.

Ministry of Labor data showed that foreign caregivers work an average of 10 hours per day, with 74.3 percent reporting no days off at weekends or on holidays. The monthly minimum wage for caregivers is NT$20,000 — NT$8,590 less than the minimum wage for Taiwanese.

Moreover, the women are excluded from protections under the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法), an omission migrant workers’ rights groups repeatedly urge the government to rectify.

The labor ministry’s response has been underwhelming. It says that the unique nature of caregiving makes it “difficult” to apply the act, while efforts to implement a domestic services act to address the lapses have stalled. Worse still, the labor ministry launched its Pilot Program for Diversified Companion Care Services last year to allow care workers to serve multiple households in a day’s work, with the rules stipulating only a minimum of 10 hours of rest in a 24-hour period. Fourteen-hour workdays normalize overwork and reflect a blatant disregard for the labor rights of migrant caregivers.

Although Lai’s proposal might relieve some of the burdens Taiwanese mothers face with childcare, it would merely shift the burden onto already overworked, underpaid migrant workers.

Before loosening eligibility rules, the government should confront the gross inequities faced by foreign domestic helpers, beginning by closing the discriminatory wage gap and enforcing strict limits on working hours alongside guaranteed rest days — fundamental protections that every worker should be afforded in a democratic society.

Outsourcing childcare should not be the default solution to Taiwan’s fertility crisis. Instead, the government must prioritize empowering families to care for their own children through measures such as expanded paid parental leave, increased access to affordable, publicly funded childcare and housing subsidies for young families.

The administration’s desire to support working mothers is commendable and necessary, but true progress need not come at the expense of migrant women.


title: Coincidences at the Hsinta plant

content_text:
A fire at the Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung on Tuesday evening was reportedly caused by a gas leak from pipes on a heater in its new natural gas Unit 2. Flames shot up into the sky, significantly alarming residents of Kaohsiung’s Yongan District (永安).

Coincidentally, the incident occurred on the same day as the official launch of the new Ministry of Sports. The ministry is not only one of President William Lai’s (賴清德) key policy initiatives, but also a crucial step driving Taiwan’s social transformation. Although the public was enthusiastically discussing and anticipating the new ministry’s establishment, the hype only lasted for about half a day — the spotlight soon shifted to Kaohsiung as news about the fire dominated media coverage.

A similar incident happened just over three years ago. Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in March 2022 made his first visit to Taiwan after leaving office. He was scheduled to meet then-president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at 10am on March 3 and receive a prestigious national medal. The Presidential Office had planned a livestream of the event to allow the public to witness the strength of Taiwan-US relations, but — once again, coincidentally — an incident occurred at the Hsinta Power Plant just before the scheduled meeting.

At 9:16am that morning, a switch malfunction caused by human error triggered a massive blackout affecting 5.49 million households across Taiwan, forcing the Presidential Office to abruptly cancel the livestream.

The power plant has repeatedly been the site of major incidents — the timing of which coincided with positive news and significant international events.

One can only hope that these are truly coincidences.

Huang Wei-ping works in public service and has a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

Translated by Kyra Gustavsen


content_text:
The fire that broke out at the Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung on Tuesday has once again brought Taiwan’s energy issues into the spotlight. Although there were fortunately no casualties, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai’s (陳其邁) response to the incident exposed a long-standing structural contradiction: While Kaohsiung has supplied a large portion of Taiwan’s electricity for many years, it simultaneously bears the brunt of pollution, industrial safety risks and environmental impacts.

While not without flaws, Chen’s line of questioning was not entirely unreasonable.

Transitioning from coal to gas is an international trend steering the direction of Taiwan’s energy transformation. Coal is an energy source with high carbon emissions and although natural gas is not an ideal solution, it could help reduce emissions and overall pollution. Kaohsiung hopes to move away from coal-fired power to ease the burden it has placed on local residents — a demand that appears to be reasonable and fit within the framework of environmental justice.

However, the path to energy transition is far longer and more complex than slogans suggest. Natural gas largely relies on imports — therefore the stability of its supply and price is heavily influenced by international market fluctuations. Moreover, liquefied natural gas terminals and gas transmission facilities often face environmental impact assessments and trigger local opposition.

Chen’s assertion that each regions in Taiwan should be responsible for producing the electricity it consumes is more of a lofty ideal than a practical policy. The reality is that, while northern Taiwan has massive electricity demand, its high population density and limited available land make it difficult to find suitable sites for new power plants — not to mention strong resistance from local residents.

Taiwan’s power grid is designed for nationwide distribution, so it is not feasible to say that power should be generated where it is used.

This contradiction is not unique to Taiwan, but a global phenomenon. During its own energy transition, Germany also faced opposition to transmitting electricity produced in the north to the south, and worked vigorously to develop decentralized renewable energy systems.

That being said, Taiwan’s conditions differ from that of Germany. The plausibility of rooftop solar panels is limited by factors such as typhoons and urban infrastructure, while onshore wind farms face the challenges of limited land and local resistance.

Relying solely on weather-dependent renewables is not enough to support industrial and everyday energy needs. For Taiwan, a more viable direction would be to combine the use of small-scale gas-fired units, renewable energy and energy storage systems to gradually develop regional microgrids — a more decentralized and resilient approach that could ease the burden on southern Taiwan while reducing the power grid’s dependence on single large power plants.

Chen’s appeal not only reflects the long held grievances of Kaohsiung residents, but also highlights the daunting challenges of Taiwan’s energy transition.

The nation needs more than rhetoric about energy alternatives — it needs forward-looking planning and a more pragmatic nationwide consensus.

Only by reshaping the energy landscape based on the principles of fairness and resilience can Taiwan avoid repeating the mistake of forcing a single region to bear excessive risks.

Such measures are essential for the nation to maintain its footing amid worldwide decarbonization efforts and surging industrial competition.

Dino Wei is an engineer.

Translated by Kyra Gustavsen

title: Fire shows energy contradictions