content_text:
BitMine Immersion (BMNR) 宣佈 ETH 持有量超過 303 萬枚代幣，而加密貨幣和現金總持有量達 129 億美元

2025-10-14

BitMine 目前擁有超過 2.5% 的 ETH 代幣供應量，並正在朝著「5% 煉金術」邁進

BitMine 發佈 10 月《主席致辭》，探討以太坊超級週期

BitMine 透過提升每股加密資產淨值速度與 BMNR 股票交易高流動性，而領先加密貨幣資金同業

BitMine 加密貨幣 + 現金持有量 + 「Moonshots」總計 129 億美元，包括 303 萬枚 ETH 代幣、1.04 億美元未支配現金和其他加密貨幣持有量

BitMine 是美國交易量排名第 22 的股票，每日交易額達 35 億美元（5 天平均值）

BitMine 仍然得到頂級機構投資者（包括 ARK 的 Cathie Wood、MOZAYYX、Founders Fund、Bill Miller III、Pantera、Kraken、DCG、Galaxy Digital 和個人投資者 Thomas “Tom” Lee，）支持，從而支援 BitMine 收購 5% ETH 的目標

拉斯維加斯2025年10月14日 /美通社/ — BitMine Immersion Technologies（美國紐約證券交易所股票代碼：BMNR）（簡稱「BitMine」或「本公司」）是專注於長期投資加密貨幣累積的比特幣和以太坊網絡公司，今天宣佈加密貨幣（BitMine 加密貨幣 + 現金 +「Moonshots」） 持有總額達 134 億美元。

截至美國東部時間 10 月 12 日下午 6 時，該公司的持有加密貨幣包括 3,032,188 ETH，每 ETH 價格為 4,154 美元 (Bloomberg)、192 比特幣 (BTC)、1.35 億美元的 Eightco Holdings 股份（納斯達克股票代碼：ORBS）（簡稱「moonshots」）和 1.04 億美元無抵押現金。

BitMine 加密貨幣持有量位居第一大以太坊金庫和第二大全球金庫之列，僅次於 Strategy Inc. (MSTR) 擁有 640,031 個 BTC，價值 730 億美元。BitMine 仍然是全球最大 ETH 金庫。

BitMine 主席兼 Fundstrat 的 Thomas “Tom” Lee 表示：「過去幾天，加密貨幣清算導致 ETH 價格下跌，而 BitMine 則利用當中好處。我們於過去幾天收購 202,037 個 ETH 代幣，促使我們的 ETH 持有量超過 300 萬，佔 ETH 供應量 2.5%。我們最初追求 ETH『5% 煉金術』，現在已完成超過一半。」

《GENIUS法案》和美國證券交易委員會的加密計畫對 2025 年金融服務帶來變革影響，猶如 54 年前美國於 1971 年 8 月 15 日結束布雷頓森林體系和美元金本位制度。這 1971 年事件是華爾街現代化的催化劑，並造就現今多位著名華爾街巨頭和金融和支付軌道。事實證明，這些都是優於黃金投資。

Bitmine 也已發佈十月份的《主席致辭》。本月，我們將發佈李主席於新加坡舉行 Token2049 主題演講中的《主席致辭》，李主席在此討論「以太坊超級週期」(Ethereum Supercycle)。在 BitMine 網站上，也發佈相關介紹。

李繼續說道：「波動會導致去槓桿，這可能導致資產交易價格大幅低於基礎。或者，如我們所說『大幅低於未來價格』。雖然這對投資者有利，但對害交易者有害。此《主席致辭》為我們認為以太坊將進入由 AI 和華爾街進入區塊鏈驅動超級週期的框架，解釋當中原因。」

現時，BitMine 是美國最廣泛交易股票之一。根據 Fundstrat 提供的數據，該股票的平均每日美元成交額達 35 億美元（截至 2025 年 10 月 10 日的 5 日平均值），於 5,704 隻美國上市股票中排名第 22 位。雖然落後於 Coinbase（排名第 21 位），但領先於 UnitedHealth（排名第 23 位）（數據來源：statista.com 和 Fundstrat 研究）。

Lee 表示：「BitMine 的高流動性具備吸引力，因此繼續吸引機構投資者資本。BitMine 和 MSTR 的總交易量，佔全球 DAT 交易量 88%。我們繼續透過提升每股加密貨幣資產淨值速度和我們股票的高交易流動性，而帶領加密貨幣財務同行。」

該公司最近發佈公司介紹，可按此查看：https://bitminetech.io/investor-relations/

如欲查看「主席致辭」，請瀏覽以下網站：https://www.bitminetech.io/chairmans-message

如欲收到最新消息，請於以下網站登記：https://bitminetech.io/contact-us/

關於 BitMineBitMine 是比特幣及以太坊網絡公司，專注累積加密貨幣作長線投資。這長線投資是無論透過我們的比特幣挖礦業務，還是透過集資交易而得到利益。該公司業務範圍包括比特幣挖礦，即透過參與比特幣挖礦進行合成比特幣挖礦、將算力作為金融產品、為有意賺取比特幣計價收入的公司提供顧問和挖礦服務，並為上市公司提供一般比特幣顧問服務。BitMine 的業務位於千里達、德薩斯州貝可斯和德薩斯州錫爾弗頓的低成本能源地區。

如欲了解更多詳情，請關注 X：https://x.com/bitmnrhttps://x.com/fundstrathttps://x.com/bmnrintern

前瞻性陳述本新聞稿載有構成「前瞻性陳述」的陳述。本新聞稿的陳述並非單純陳述歷史，而是前瞻性陳述，當中涉及風險和不確定。本文件特別載有該公司 ETH 收購和持有量方面目標的進展和實現、以太坊的長期價值、該公司以太坊財務策略的持續增長和進步，以及對該公司適用利益的前瞻性陳述。您評估該等前瞻性聲明時，應考慮各種因素，包括 BitMine 跟上新科技和不斷變化市場需求的能力、BitMine 為目前業務融資的能力、以太坊財務營運與未來業務規劃、BitMine 業務的競爭環境，以及比特幣和以太坊的未來價值。實際未來表現成果與結果，可能有別於前瞻性陳述所述的。前瞻性陳述須遵守多種條件，而當中許多條件超出 BitMine 的控制範圍，包括 BitMine 於 2025 年 4 月 3 日向美國證券交易委員會（簡稱「SEC」）提交 10-K 表格的風險因素部份。由於不時修訂或更新條件，也包括全部其他向 SEC 提交的文件。如欲查看 BitMine 向美國證券交易委員會提交的文件副本，請瀏覽美國證券交易委員會網站：www.sec.gov。本新聞稿發佈日後，BitMine 不承擔更新該等聲明修訂或變更的義務，法律另有規定除外。

countries: 美國 新加坡


title: NSB moves to foil China poll meddling

people: 馬英九 賴清德

content_text:
NINE-IN-ONE ELECTIONS: Prosecutors’ offices recorded 115 cases of alleged foreign interference in the presidential election campaign from August 2023 to Dec. 13 last year

The National Security Bureau (NSB) yesterday said that it has begun planning early to counter Chinese interference in next year’s nine-in-one elections as its intelligence shows that Beijing might intensify its tactics, while warning of continued efforts to infiltrate the government and military.

The bureau submitted a report to the Legislative Yuan ahead of a meeting today of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

“We will research situations in different localities and keep track of abnormalities to ensure that next year’s elections proceed without disruption,” the bureau said.

Supporters of then-Taipei mayoral candidate Chiang Wan-an celebrate as votes are counted on election day in Taipei on Nov. 26, 2022. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

Although the project is generally launched during election years, reports of alleged Chinese interference throughout the campaign for the elections last year might have prompted officials to begin planning earlier this year.

NSB Deputy Director Hsu Hsi-hsiang (徐錫祥) said in a legislative session in October 2023 that there were five foreign interference operations during the campaign for the local elections in 2022.

Taiwan’s prosecutors’ offices recorded 115 cases of alleged foreign interference in the presidential election campaign from August 2023 to Dec. 13 last year, including borough wardens recruiting residents to join trips to China paid by the Chinese government.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office also noted a significant increase in cases of foreign interference during last year’s elections compared with 2022.

The cases included Chinese organizations providing financial or material assistance to specific groups in Taiwan through local collaborators or illicit remittance networks, and Chinese entities sponsoring Taiwanese voters’ trips to China for hospitality and vote-buying purposes, the office said.

The Ministry of Justice has also identified ways for Beijing to funnel funds or resources to candidates that it supports, such as donating funds or virtual currencies through China-based Taiwanese businesspeople or charities run by Taiwanese temples.

China also helps build momentum for certain candidates by recruiting online influencers, the ministry said.

Beijing’s strategy last year was to frame the presidential election as a choice between war and peace by first accusing then-presidential candidate William Lai (賴清德) of being a troublemaker and subsequently dispatching Chinese aircraft to Taiwan’s airspace to create an atmosphere of imminent cross-strait conflict, the Mainland Affairs Council said.

Prior to the election, China expanded its economic pressure by banning imports of Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products, while allowing imports of agricultural products from counties governed by China-friendly commissioners.

It unilaterally launched investigations into Taiwan’s “trade barriers” and even threatened to terminate the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, which was negotiated by the administration of former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

The bureau today also plans to inform lawmakers about China’s efforts to infiltrate the government and military, by recruiting military personnel on active duty, luring them with monetary gains and pressing them to pay back loans.

As of last month, 24 people had been indicted on espionage charges, 13 of whom were military personnel, the bureau said in the report.

Beijing has persisted in its efforts to collect the personal data of Taiwanese by encouraging them to study in China, and join the Chinese social welfare and healthcare systems, the report said.

It has produced short online videos to attract young Taiwanese to join sports competitions and do internships in China, and waived the application fees for the Taiwan Compatriot Travel Permit for first-time visitors, the report said.

China further sought to have more Taiwanese identify with the Chinese regime by hosting a big celebration of the 80th anniversary of victory in the Sino-Japan war, from organizing summer camps and inviting Taiwanese journalists to cover the events to arranging for Taiwanese visitors to historic sites, the report said.

To minimize the repercussions of US tariffs, Beijing has offered more incentives for Taiwanese businesses to invest in the artificial intelligence, renewable energy and semiconductor sectors in China, the report said.

The bureau’s report also laid out the economic risks facing China.

Chinese revenue generated by exports to the US fell by US$69.6 billion as of last month after the US tariff scheme took effect in April, the report said.

While Beijing sought to avoid tariffs by exporting its goods to ASEAN countries, the transshipment trade revenue was harmed by a 40 percent transshipment duty that the US imposed in August, the report said.

From January to August, investment in China slowed to 0.5 percent, marking the lowest level for the same period since 2020.

Private-sector and real-estate investment declined by 2.3 percent and 12.9 percent year-on-year respectively, indicating weak domestic demand, the report said.

Data collected by Freedom House showed that 3,963 protest incidents were reported in China from January to last month, a 63 percent increase compared with the same period last year, the report said, adding that they were primarily related to wage arrears (44 percent) and unfinished property projects (27 percent).

Chinese data also show that the youth unemployment rate in August reached 18.9 percent, the highest since December 2023.

Labor disputes have exacerbated since the Chinese government mandated that companies and employees contribute to social insurance, which took effect last month.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are struggling to bear the associated costs, leading them to reduce salaries or lay off workers to cut costs.


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US President Donald Trump on Monday hailed a “tremendous day for the Middle East,” as he and regional leaders signed a declaration meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners.

Trump made a lightning visit to Israel, where he lauded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an address to parliament, before flying to Egypt for a Gaza summit, where he and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey signed the declaration as guarantors to the ceasefire deal.

“This is a tremendous day for the world, it’s a tremendous day for the Middle East,” Trump said as more than two dozen world leaders sat down to talk in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

US President Donald Trump, left, greets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday. Photo: AFP

He later declared that the assembled leaders had “achieved what everybody said was impossible.”

“At long last, we have peace in the Middle East,” Trump said in a speech.

According to the declaration, the signatories pledged to “pursue a comprehensive vision of peace, security and shared prosperity in the region,” and also welcomed “the progress achieved in establishing comprehensive and durable peace arrangements in the Gaza Strip.”

However the statement, released on Monday night by the White House, was vague about the path ahead for peace between Israel and its neighbors, including the Palestinians, making no mention of a one or two-state solution.

“We’re talking about rebuilding Gaza. I’m not talking about single state or double state or two state,” Trump told reporters en route back to the White House.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the Gaza deal “closes a painful chapter in human history” and sets the stage for a two-state solution.

As part of Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war, Hamas on Monday freed the last 20 surviving hostages it held after two years of captivity in Gaza.

In exchange, Israel released 1,968 mostly Palestinian prisoners held in its jails, its prison service said.

“For so many families across this land, it has been years since you’ve known a single day of true peace,” Trump told Israel’s parliament, where he received a standing ovation.

None of the hostages spoke directly immediately after their return, but videos filmed and released by the Israeli military captured some of the raw emotion of the reunions.

“My life, you are my life ... you are a hero,” cried Einav Zangauker as she embraced her smiling son Matan in one video.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is also due to return the bodies of 27 hostages who died or were killed in captivity, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in 2014 during a previous Gaza conflict.

In Gaza, the ceasefire has brought relief, but with the territory racked by a humanitarian crisis and much of it flattened by war, the road to recovery remains long.

“The greatest joy is seeing my whole family gathered to welcome me,” Yusef Afana, a 25-year-old released prisoner from north Gaza, said in Khan Yunis. “I spent 10 months in prison — some of the hardest days I’ve ever lived.”

In Ramallah, Palestinian prisoners released by Israel were met by a cheering crowd so dense that they struggled to get off the bus.

“It’s an indescribable feeling, a new birth,” newly released Mahdi Ramadan said flanked by his parents.

title: Trump acclaims ‘tremendous day for Middle East’


content_text:
By Lin Hsin-han, Lin Che-yuan, Jonathan Chin and Hollie Younger / Staff reporters, with staff writers and CNA

About 8,600 people downstream from a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) would be evacuated on Sunday or Monday as a stress test of disaster response capabilities in preparation for a projected typhoon, Central Emergency Operation Center chief coordinator Chi Lien-cheng (季連成) said yesterday.

The center would enact a three-phased compulsory evacuation of residents 24 hours before the storm is expected to cross the alert perimeter, Chi told a news conference.

The evacuation order would apply to residents of Guangfu (光復), Fonglin (鳳林) and Wanrong (萬榮) townships in Hualien County, who could seek refuge in 10 designated shelters, Chi said.

Sandbags are piled up in front of Baoan Temple in Hualien County’s Guangfu Township yesterday in preparation for potential flooding. Photo: Hung Chen-hung, Taipei Times

The center has additionally instructed all government agencies to report the condition and planned evacuation routes of the heavy equipment currently deployed to deal with the flooding in Hualien, he said.

Village wardens in these townships have until tomorrow to repair all damaged public announcement systems, Chi said, adding that he would inspect their work by the deadline.

The Hualien County Government is to conduct the planned evacuations under the center’s supervision as a full-scale exercise to prepare for emergency response operations, he said.

A natural disaster response coordination and strategy meeting is scheduled for today for all officials involved down to the village level, he added.

Meanwhile, the Legislative Yuan yesterday unanimously passed to a second reading of amendments to a special act for rebuilding in the aftermath of flooding in Hualien.

The Cabinet on Thursday last week approved amendments to its existing budget bill for Typhoon Danas recovery in southern Taiwan, seeking an additional budget of NT$25 billion (US$812.7 million) to address the flooding in Hualien, increasing the total relief package to NT$85 billion.

However, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus said that the nature of recovery for the two disasters and their scale are entirely different, requiring a separate bill.

The KMT version would allocate NT$20 billion until March 31, 2028.

Meanwhile, the central and local governments have been debating who should take responsibility for evacuation efforts, with the Hualien County Government requesting that the Executive Yuan draft and implement a disaster evacuation and shelter plan.

However, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said that, according to the law, the responsibility lies with local governments.

Legislators and the Hualien County Government cannot pass on the responsibility to the central government or township offices, he said.

Additional reporting by Kayleigh Madjar

taiwan-subdivisions: 光復 鳳林 萬榮

title: Evacuation plan for Mataian River area announced


content_text:
By Yang Mien-chieh and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Taiwanese scientists have identified a genetic mechanism behind the growth of brain tumors in children that could potentially be used to create more targeted cancer therapy, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University said yesterday.

The university’s research team found that the TTBK2 and HUWE1 genes might play a key role in the spread of medulloblastoma, the most common type of brain cancer in children, it said in a statement.

The study, which utilized genetically manipulated mice and zebrafish, was published in the journal Cell Death & Differentiation in June last year.

Research coauthors Tsai Jin-wu, second left, and Wang Won-jing, center, pose with fellow researchers at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

The main clinical treatments for medulloblastoma are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, all of which are associated with risk of cognitive impediment, high cancer recurrence and other side effects, it said.

The research, which linked dysfunctions in specific genes to the propagation of medulloblastoma tumors, could contribute to the creation of new brain cancer treatments, said Tsai Jin-wu (蔡金吾), paper coauthor and professor of brain science at the university.

TTBK2 regulates the primary cilia of granule progenitor cells, which function as a kind of antenna that receives the signals guiding development of the undifferentiated cells into parts of the hindbrain, he said.

The related gene HUWE1 governs the growth of progenitor cells by disassembling the primary cilia after their purpose is complete, achieving a dynamic balance essential for normal development, Tsai said.

A malfunctioning HUWE1 breaks the dynamic balance by allowing the cells to proliferate unchecked, leading to the manifestation of brain tumors, he said.

By suppressing the TTBK2 expression, the team discovered that granule progenitor cells could be forced into shedding their antennae, resulting in a significant reduction in the rate of tumor growth, Tsai said.

Coauthor Wang Won-jing (王琬菁) said the study contradicted the scientific community’s previous belief that primary cilia were vestigial remains of evolution that serve no function.

Instead, the researchers uncovered that the cilia performed a vital function for granule progenitor cells by receiving the signals that would control their differentiation and division, she said.

The discovery means that primary cilia might be correlated to drug resistance of brain cancer cells, pointing to a possible method to develop targeted therapeutics for brain tumors, she added.

title: Taiwanese researchers identify brain cancer genes


title: US backs Manila after China warns over vessel clash

content_text:
MARITIME CLASHES: In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed grave concern over China’s behavior that affects regional peace and stability

The US on Monday said that it stood by its Philippine ally and emphasized their mutual defense treaty after vessels from China and the Philippines clashed amid heightened tensions in the disputed South China Sea.

Earlier, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Manila not to challenge Beijing’s efforts to “safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests” after Sunday’s incident in the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島), in which the Philippines said China deployed a water cannon and rammed a Philippine vessel.

US Department of State spokesman Tommy Pigott condemned China’s “ramming and water cannoning” of a Philippine vessel and said Washington stood with its ally “as they confront China’s dangerous actions which undermine regional stability.”

A China Coast Guard ship, right, deploys its water cannon on a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries vessel in the South China Sea on Sunday. Photo: AFP / Philippine Coast Guard

Pigott in a statement reaffirmed that Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty “extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft — including those of its Coast Guard — anywhere in the South China Sea.”

China and the Philippines have traded accusations over the confrontation near Sandy Cay (Tiexian Reef, 鐵線礁), a coral reef in the Spratly Islands.

The two nations have confronted each other repeatedly in the South China Sea, a strategic trade route that facilitates more than US$3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, and which China claims most of.

Tensions have heightened and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian (林劍) told a regular news briefing that the Philippines should immediately stop “violations and provocations.”

The US state department said: “China’s sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea and its increasingly coercive actions to advance them at the expense of its neighbors continue to undermine regional stability and fly in the face of its prior commitments to resolve disputes peacefully.”

Two senior US senators last year called for a list of options developed by the Pentagon and state department to support the Philippines against Beijing in the South China Sea, saying that limiting responses to verbal assurances of the applicability of Article IV undermines the credibility and value of those commitments.

In Taipei, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) yesterday expressed grave concern over China’s behavior, saying it seriously affects regional peace and stability, adding that it opposed any action by China that escalates tensions, endangers personal safety, or harms the peaceful and stable “status quo” in the South China Sea.

The ministry called for a peaceful solution through multilateral dialogue and a dispute resolution mechanism, he said.

Taiwan, together with like-minded countries, would continue to pay attention to the situation in the South China Sea, and commit to maintaining regional security and stability, he added.

Additional reporting by Lee I-chia


content_text:
Hospital visits for flu fall by 10.2 percent, CDC says

POPULAR JABS:  Since government-funded flu vaccines were rolled out on Oct. 1, more than 2.1 million doses have been administered, up 1.35-fold from a year earlier

Hospital visits for flu-like illnesses fell by 10.2 percent last week, but observation for the next two weeks is necessary to determine whether the peak has passed, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.

Flu viruses remained the most common pathogen in the past four weeks, with influenza A(H3N2) the dominant strain locally, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Deputy Director Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳) said, citing surveillance data.

There were 137,988 hospital visits for flu-like illnesses last week, about 10.2 percent fewer than the previous week, Lee said.

However, emergency room visits accounted for 13.6 percent of the cases — higher than the 11 percent epidemic threshold — so the flu is still in its epidemic period, she said.

CDC Deputy Director-General and spokeswoman Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said that the drop in the data from Oct. 5 to Sunday was likely because many outpatient services were not open for the Mid-Autumn Festival and Double Ten National Day.

The drop does not necessarily mean the peak has passed, but with vaccinations and expanded use of oral antiviral drugs, it is possible that the data would continue to decline, she said.

However, the trend has to persist for at least two weeks to confirm the peak has passed, she added.

There were 75 cases of flu with severe complications reported last week, with all of them testing positive for influenza A viruses — 30 with subtype A(H1N1), 42 with A(H3N2) and three unidentified cases, she said.

There were also 10 flu-related deaths last week, and while nine of them had chronic health issues, none were vaccinated against the flu, she said.

Regarding international flu activity, case numbers are high in Hong Kong, and increasing in China and Japan, while they are low in South Korea, the US, Canada and European countries, Lee said.

Since the government-funded flu vaccination program was launched on Oct. 1, more than 2.1 million doses have been administered, 1.35 times the number administered in the same period last year, Tseng said.

As there is a high willingness among the public to get vaccinated and with flu infection risk still high, the CDC has ordered an additional 200,000 doses, she said.

After distributing vaccines allocated for flood-affected areas in Hualien County’s Guangfu Township (光復), the rest would be distributed to local health departments according to the proportion of eligible recipients in their regions by early next month, she said.

Since a peak of COVID-19 cases in late May and early June, weekly cases have dropped for 18 consecutive weeks, Tseng said.

However, COVID-19 activity is rising in many countries, including Japan, South Korea and the US, she said, adding that the CDC encourages eligible recipients to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

With today being World Hand Hygiene Day, people should remember to wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, as it is one of the most important and effective methods for preventing infectious diseases, Tseng said.


title: Ex-executive of airline indicted over spying

content_text:
MAC TARGET: An airline executive was allegedly recruited by Chinese agents to hand over information about MAC-commissioned projects, prosecutors said

A former airline executive has been indicted for allegedly attempting to bribe an official at the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) to obtain business secrets, the High Prosecutors’ Office said in a statement yesterday.

The suspect, surnamed Chiao (喬), was an EVA Airways representative in China from 2022 to last year, Chinese-language media reported.

Chiao was allegedly recruited by a Chinese intelligence agency to hand over information about external research projects commissioned by the council, which are classified as business secrets, the statement said.

Chiao attempted to bribe a MAC official with NT$100,000 provided by the Chinese agency in exchange for the confidential information, but the offer was rejected, prosecutors said.

The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau received a tip about the case and asked the office to conduct further investigations, the statement said.

Prosecutors were granted a warrant to search Chiao’s residence and summoned him for questioning, it said.

Following the conclusion of the investigation on Monday, prosecutors indicted Chiao for allegedly attempting to obtain government secrets and developing an espionage network in Taiwan on behalf of Chinese political parties and military or administrative agencies, as well as attempting to bribe a civil servant, contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) respectively, the statement said.

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) told reporters at the legislature in Taipei that the military must improve training to counter infiltration and intelligence-gathering efforts by Chinese spies, and fully enforce the government’s security clearance system.


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By Tung Kuan-yi,Lin Hsin-hanand Jason Pan / Staff reporters

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) on Monday suspended her office assistant and ordered an administrative probe following accusations of improper influence and demands for payments while representing the lawmaker’s office and a promotions firm.

On Monday, representatives of a youth alliance (青年監督聯盟) told a news conference that they had documents showing that the office assistant, Chang Kai-wei (張凱維), had allegedly contravened the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) by soliciting “business cooperation” and demanding annual payments of NT$2.3 million (US$74,770) from pharmaceutical firm Amgen Taiwan for consultation and promotional work.

Alliance founder Chen Yu-hsin (陳又新) and director Hsu Yu-teng (許譽騰), as well as media personality Wendy Ma (馬郁雯), asked Chang and Wang to explain the business proposal to the public, as well as why cash had been sought from Amgen.

From left, Chen Yu-hsin and Hsu Yu-teng, members of a youth alliance, and media personality Wendy Ma hold documents outside the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times

They asked if Chang had acted alone or if Wang had consented to the plan.

In May last year, Chang, representing Taipei-based Air Force Marketing Media Co, had proposed the business plan to Amgen, which has been developing treatments for cancer and had been seeking approval to conduct clinical trials and to put drugs on the market, Chen, Hsu and Ma told the news conference.

“Chang’s plan included short, medium and long-term goals,” Chen said. “Chang’s roadmap outlined how he and the media company would organize media events, meetings with lawmakers, academic conferences and public hearings for Amgen, even promising to have their work presented to legislative committees.”

Chang sought payments for consultation and publicity work, as well as NT$10,000 for each media event or public hearings and NT$200,000 for arranging access to an academic conference involving the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, Ma said.

“Chang introduced himself as an office assistant to Wang, who has the authority to convene public hearings, draft bills and influence public policy,” Chen said.

“The only way the model made sense was if Chang was a legitimate representative of Wang, which is typical in cases of improper influence and corruption,” Chen said, citing Article 4, Item 2 of the act, which stipulates prison terms of 10 years to life, or a fine of up to NT$100 million for those convicted of “acquiring valuables or property through the use of undue influence, blackmail, forced acquisition, forced seizure or forced collection.”

“Chang wore a vest bearing Wang’s name at public events and handed out business cards that said he worked in a legislative office,” Hsu said. “It is not difficult to believe that he had Wang’s consent.”

Separately, Wang said in a statement that she would never demand a bribe or tolerate such behavior among her assistants.

Chang has been suspended from his position with immediate effect while an administrative probe is conducted, she said.

The allegations have no basis in fact, she added.

Chang later told reporters that he would file a lawsuit against Chen, Hsu and Ma, saying that the accusations were false.

He said that he presented a “brief report” to Amgen and was not working for Air Force Marketing Media.

Moreover, Wang’s office has not introduced bills related to the pharmaceutical sector, he added.

title: Lawmaker suspends aide amid corruption scandal


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A Taiwanese man who allegedly lured more than 10 people into working for a fraud ring in Cambodia has been arrested in Vietnam and repatriated, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) told a news conference in Taipei yesterday.

The 21-year-old suspect, surnamed Fan (范), was a recruiter for a Cambodian fraud syndicate that tricked Taiwanese into traveling to the country with fake job advertisements, CIB International Criminal Affairs Division Captain Chen Ssu-han (陳思翰) said.

Fan traveled to Cambodia in 2022 and took part in telecom fraud operations and became a core member of the group, Chen said.

A man suspected of telecom fraud is escorted to a bus in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on July 26, 2017. Photo: Reuters

People who have been rescued from the operation told Taiwanese authorities that Fan was an enforcer, beating those who disobeyed orders, as well as forcing them to do push-ups or carry heavy buckets.

Pregnant women were also subject to the abuse, Chen said.

People who wanted to leave were forced to pay US$5,000 or more, he said.

The syndicate Fan belonged to was raided by police in 2023, after which he was placed on a wanted list by five district prosecutors’ offices on suspicion of human trafficking, Chen said.

He fled, traveling to Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to avoid capture, the CIB said.

Fan was apprehended by Vietnamese authorities in July while attempting to enter the country illegally, the bureau said.

Following negotiations conducted by the CIB’s liaison office in Vietnam, local officials agreed to allow Taiwanese officers to escort Fan back to Taiwan on Sept. 24, Chen said.

Since then, he has been in detention after a court approved the measure, he added.

title: Taiwanese arrested in Vietnam in fraud case is repatriated


title: Ministry unveils program for elderly transport subsidies

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People aged 70 or older who do not renew their driver’s license would be entitled to a monthly NT$1,500 public transportation and taxi subsidy as part of a program to improve traffic safety, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday.

The ministry is to introduce 17 driving reforms next year, including removing true-or-false questions on the written exam for cars and scooters and lowering the age at which elderly people must renew their driver’s license to 70 from 75.

The Highway Bureau would offer preferential rates equivalent to the T-Pass program of 50 percent fares up to a maximum of NT$1,500 per month, the ministry said.

A Taichung City Government official helps a man renew his driver’s license on April 12 last year. Photo: Huang Hsu-lei, Taipei Times

Services that the program covers includes city buses, intercity buses, Taiwan Railways and light rail trains, MRTs, public bikes, ferries and taxis, it said.

The subsidies are based on similar local government programs for elderly people, the bureau said, adding that they would only be applied if an elderly card is presented.

Eleven of Taiwan’s 22 administrative regions have elderly card systems for taxi fare payments, it said.

Elderly people who do not renew their driver’s license would be able to use the card to pay taxi fares, with the funds deducted from the e-wallet tied to the card, it said.

The subsidies would be available to anyone who registers once the program is launched next year and would be provided for two years, the ministry said.

The subsidies would be issued on top of other social welfare subsidies, Bureau Secretary-General Lin Yi-sheng (林義勝) said.

The bureau is mulling how to provide the new subsidies to residents of regions that do not have an elderly card system, Lin said.

Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Yen-po (陳彥伯) said it is possible that the subsidies would be run entirely through the T-Pass program.


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REGIONAL PEACE: The ministry expressed sincere admiration to the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for their mediation in facilitating the the Israel-Hamas ceasefire

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday welcomed the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement and expressed appreciation for the countries that helped broker it, saying that Taiwan would continue to work with like-minded partners to provide humanitarian aid and post-war reconstruction assistance.

Ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said US President Donald Trump on Wednesday last week announced that Israel and Hamas had reached a first-phase ceasefire deal to end their war in Gaza.

On Monday, Hamas released the remaining 20 surviving hostages, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, he said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of General Affairs Director-General Chen Jin-ling speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Huang Chin-hsuan, Taipei Times

Trump and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi cochaired a peace summit on Monday, during which leaders from the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey signed a declaration endorsing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Hsiao said.

“The ministry welcomes and appreciates the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and is heartened to see the safe return of Israeli hostages and displaced Gazans,” he said.

The ministry also expresses sincere admiration to the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for their mediation in facilitating the agreement, he said.

Taiwan would continue to work with like-minded countries and credible international non-governmental organizations to provide humanitarian aid and rebuilding assistance to those who have been affected by the war, he added.

When asked about a Nikkei Asia report on Sunday that said Taiwan’s efforts to expand global trade partnerships have been hindered by Chinese pressure — including a trade deal with Canada reached in April — Hsiao said that Taiwan and Canada remain like-minded partners engaged in close cooperation in public health, technology, customs, trade, the economy and indigenous affairs.

Such collaboration highlights the deepening exchanges between the two sides and opens up new opportunities for future partnership, he said.

Giving an example of Taiwan’s expanding cooperation with Canada, Hsiao said the two sides in August signed a memorandum of understanding on the use of a dark vessel detection system to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Also yesterday, the ministry announced that it has allocated NT$156 million (US$5.07 million) to purchase a property to house its representative office in Boston.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston is in a rented building at 99 Summer Street.

The budget is pending approval by the Cabinet and legislature, MOFA Department of General Affairs Director-General Chen Jin-ling (陳錦玲) told reporters.

In addition to Boston, the ministry plans to purchase properties in Houston, Texas, and Denver, Colarado, to house its US representative offices, she said.

It is also seeking to purchase a property in Sydney, although a suitable site has not yet been identified, she added.

The goal is to reduce rental costs and make more efficient use of taxpayers’ money, Chen said.

MOFA operates 111 overseas offices, of which 19 are housed in government-owned properties.

In recent years, it has purchased offices in Italy, as well as in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Additional reporting by CNA

title: MOFA welcomes Middle East ceasefire agreement


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CYBERPOLITICS: Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang called the report’s allegations that one of the suspects had worked with him ‘absolutely absurd’   By Wang Ting-chuan, Chen Yu-fu and Hollie Younger / Staff reporters, with staff writer

The hacking of Radio Taiwan International’s (RTI) Web site last month was an “internal breach,” representing a new level of cognitive warfare from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as it seeks to undermine public trust in the media, an expert said yesterday.

RTI on Sept. 11 reported to authorities an online attack in which the banner on its Web site was replaced with the People’s Republic of China flag.

Mirror Media yesterday reported that the purported for-hire hacker, a Web administrator at RTI surnamed Wu (吳), allegedly accessed sensitive information online, including household registration systems.

Wu denied any criminal conduct and said that the Web site’s backend system had major security loopholes, which he had alerted the company to, but to no avail.

The case is being investigated by the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office, which has named as suspects Wu and a section supervisor, surnamed Yue (岳), as well as an RTI contractor surnamed Huang (黃).

The Taipei District Court on Friday released Yue on NT$100,000 bail, prohibiting him from leaving the country and ordering him to wear an electronic monitoring device.

It also released Wu and Huang on NT$270,000 and NT$150,000 bail respectively.

CCP cyberattacks usually come from outside an organization, but the RTI hack originated from inside the company, said Hung Pu-chao (洪浦釗), deputy director of the Center for Mainland China and Regional Development Research at Tunghai University.

The incident shows that the aim was not just to obtain information and shut down the Web site, but to undermine the credibility of Taiwanese media, Hung said.

Taiwan has heavily focused on guarding against the spread of disinformation and manipulation using artificial intelligence, but has overlooked that news media are on the front line of cognitive warfare, he added.

Legislation, including the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the Cyber Security Management Act (資通安全管理法), fails to address incidents of internal collusion or outsourcing vulnerabilities, resulting in systemic blind spots, he said.

The government should integrate legislation, cybersecurity and internal controls to build a cross-ministerial mechanism that can prevent media infiltration, Hung said.

Real defense does not mean covering up incidents, but exposing them and educating society on cyberattacks so that public trust becomes “the strongest firewall of democracy,” he said.

The Mirror Media report said that Wu was allegedly working on behalf of Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌).

Wu provided the news outlet with screenshots of chat conversations with Huang Kuo-chang and his office assistant, which showed that he had previously been contracted to assist in investigating corruption.

However, Mirror Media reported that Huang Kuo-chang had used unpaid hackers to access data from a chat on the messaging service Telegram in which former Democratic Progressive Party secretary-general Lin Hsi-yao (林錫耀), then-minister of justice Tsai Ching-hsiang (蔡清祥) and then-National Security Council adviser Chen Chun-lin (陳俊麟) discussed high-level judicial appointments.

Huang Kuo-chang allegedly compiled, processed and disseminated the data, with the hackers uploading screenshots to the “dark Web” priced at NT$20,000 each, the report said.

The High Prosecutors’ Office has launched a separate criminal investigation into the matter, it added.

Huang Kuo-chang called the report “absolutely absurd,” saying that Wu had simply reported cybersecurity vulnerabilities to him.

He said he asked Wu to provide further information, although Wu did not provide complete data.

Additional reporting by Lin Che-yuan

people: 蔡清祥 黃國昌

title: RTI hack was an ‘internal breach,’ expert says


people: 郝龍斌 賴清德

title: Hau calls for Beijing to respect ROC, vow no force

content_text:
By Shih Hsiao-kuang and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA

Former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chair candidate, yesterday said he would call on Beijing to acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China (ROC) and pledge not to use force against Taiwan so long as it does not declare independence.

At a news conference outlining his proposed cross-strait policy, Hau detailed how he would guide the KMT’s approach to China if elected chairman.

Hau called for an internal party debate on cross-strait policy, the establishment of KMT liaison offices in Beijing and Shanghai, the expansion of the Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum into a broader cross-strait platform and ensuring that the party’s policy adheres to the Constitution.

Former Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin gives a presentation on his proposed cross-strait policy in Taipei yesterday.

Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times

Good cross-strait relations require effort from both sides, Hau said.

The biggest obstacle to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is China’s repeated military drills and continuous air and naval incursions near Taiwan, Hau said, adding that if elected, he would call on Beijing to commit to a “no independence, no force” framework — refraining from military action as long as Taiwan does not seek formal independence.

Although Hau did not specify how such a commitment could be secured, he emphasized that his conversations with Chinese officials have always been sincere efforts to promote exchanges and peace, rather than simply flattering them.

The KMT’s cross-strait policy should return to the framework of the ROC Constitution, Hau said, describing it as Taiwan’s best safeguard and the strongest legal link between the two sides.

He said that President William Lai (賴清德) was “hollowing out” the ROC and deliberately distorting the Constitution.

Beijing must acknowledge the reality of the ROC’s existence, he said, adding that if it does not, the legal and historical connection between the two sides would continue to wither.

“The two sides are not in a state-to-state relationship,” Hau said. “For me, cross-strait relations are relations between the Taiwan area and the Mainland area; and China is the Republic of China.”

The people of Taiwan can only feel protected if the ROC is acknowledged and respected, and only then can they rationally work toward goals beneficial to people on both sides of the Strait, while continuing to preserve their democratic way of life, he said.

Hau said that the “one China” mentioned in the so-called “1992 consensus” refers to the ROC.

The “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.

If China wishes for dialogue and exchanges to proceed on that basis, it must first respect the ROC’s existence, Hau said.


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Meeting with Germany’s new representative to Taiwan, Karsten Tietz, yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) urged Berlin to be alert to China’s use of “lawfare” and distorted historical narratives to mislead the international community about Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Lin also expressed hope that Taiwan-Germany cooperation would continue and that both sides could work together to uphold international law and shared democratic values.

In a post on Facebook summarizing the meeting, Lin wrote that China has been waging a campaign of lawfare and disinformation aimed at undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty, exploiting the 80th anniversaries of the end of World War II, the founding of the UN and “Taiwan’s retrocession” to advance the false claim that Taiwan is part of China.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Chia-lung, right, meets with German Representative to Taiwan Karsten Tietz, left, in Taipei on Monday.  Photo from Lin’s Facebook

“Lawfare is not a play on words, but a concrete tool through which China seeks to expand and distort international law,” Lin said. “The international community must not allow such misinterpretations to gain traction.”

He said he welcomed Taiwan-Germany collaboration and research on the issue, which would help jointly uphold international law and reduce the risk of other countries adopting China’s unilateral interpretations.

Lin cited remarks by German Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul during the first Germany-Japan Strategic Dialogue in August, saying that Germany and Japan share common security interests in the Indo-Pacific region — including the Taiwan Strait, as well as the South and East China seas — and that the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force applies equally to these areas.

Germany has long been a model for Taiwan in industrialization and advanced manufacturing, Lin said, adding that he hopes Taiwan-Germany trade relations would grow even closer following Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s investment in Germany.

“We look forward to working with Europe to build an integrated ecosystem for semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence, and we welcome Germany’s role in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and upholding a rules-based international order,” he said.

Lin cited Tietz as saying that the situation in the Taiwan Strait is not wholly unrelated to Germany, as free trade and a rules-based international order are intrinsic to Germany’s national interests.

Tietz echoed Wadephul’s comments and said the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force should apply not only to UN members, but also to Taiwan.

As democratic societies that uphold freedom and the rule of law, Taiwan and Germany, face similar challenges from increasingly aggressive and belligerent neighbors, he said.

Their is a a broad range of topics and areas in which the two sides could collaborate, he added.

title: Minister cautions German envoy on China’s ‘lawfare’


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China’s rapid expansion and diversification of its nuclear arsenal has raised the prospect that Beijing could resort to “nuclear blackmail” or even nuclear warfare against Western nations should they intervene in a conflict over Taiwan, much like the Kremlin’s warnings during its invasion of Ukraine, defense experts said.

At a Sept. 3 military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, China unveiled three nuclear-capable missiles: the JL-1 air-launched ballistic missile, the JL-3 submarine-launched intercontinental missile and the DF-61 surface-to-surface intercontinental missile.

Analysts described the display as signaling China’s emergence as a potential “nuclear triad” power — capable of delivering nuclear strikes from air, land and sea — a development that has put democratic nations on alert.

Members of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army stand as the strategic strike group displays DF-61 nuclear missiles during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing on Sept. 3.  Photo: Reuters

Until recently, China lacked the capability to conduct airborne nuclear strikes.

However, a Sept. 29 New York Times report quoted Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, a Washington-based foreign affairs think tank, as saying that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would “have a nuclear dimension,” particularly if the US intervenes or threatens to do so.

The same report cited evidence of increased missile activity at the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force’s 611th Brigade base in China’s Anhui Province, about 700km from Taiwan, where nuclear-capable Dongfeng-26 (DF-26) missiles have been deployed.

With an estimated range of 5,000km, the DF-26 could reach US military bases on Guam and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region.

Eric Heginbotham, a principal research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Security Studies Program, said that China’s advanced tactical nuclear weapons, such as the DF-26, provide a “more credible” deterrent than its strategic warheads, as Washington might view them as weapons Beijing could realistically employ in response to a US tactical nuclear strike.

“Not only does it mitigate US escalation dominance in terms of the overall capability, but it also gives [China] more realistic capabilities to retaliate in kind against potential US employment of tactical nuclear weapons,” Heginbotham said.

Previously, China’s nuclear posture was limited to a purely strategic retaliatory capability, meaning that any nuclear response against the US would have been tantamount to a “suicidal” act, he said, as it would likely trigger an overwhelming US counterstrike and result in massive civilian casualties.

“All of this contributes to China’s ability to wage conventional war ‘safely’ — with less fear of a US nuclear response — against Taiwan,” Heginbotham said.

Asked whether China might act on its nuclear threats if the US intervenes directly in a Taiwan Strait conflict, Shu Hsiao-huang (舒孝煌), an associate research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said the possibility cannot be ruled out.

He outlined two potential scenarios in which China could employ nuclear weapons in a regional conflict: if Beijing feels cornered, or if the US were to use nuclear weapons first.

“As China expands and diversifies its nuclear arsenal and strengthens its strike capabilities, its theater commanders will have greater flexibility in using force,” Shu said.

“That could lead to changes in its ‘no first use’ nuclear policy,” he said, referring to China’s long-standing stance on the use of nuclear weapons, which it has maintained since 1964.

According to a US Department of Defense report released last year on China’s military power, Beijing possessed more than 600 operational nuclear warheads as of last year and is projected to have more than 1,000 by 2030.

Another factor influencing Beijing’s potential decision to use nuclear weapons is its confidence in the strength of its defenses against nuclear retaliation, Shu said.

“When two adversaries have equally sharp spears, the one with the stronger shield will strike first,” he said.

Citing the US’ planned “Golden Dome” multilayered missile defense system — designed to intercept and destroy ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles — Shu said that if completed, the system could shield the US homeland from Chinese nuclear attacks and limit Beijing’s ability to engage in nuclear coercion.

Yang Tai-yuan (楊太源), chairman of the Secure Taiwan Associate Corp, said that the nuclear developments could make the US more hesitant to commit troops to Taiwan’s defense in the event of a Chinese invasion.

“The Chinese Communist Party likely learned the tactic of nuclear blackmail from Russia during the war in Ukraine and could threaten to use tactical nuclear weapons against major powers that intervene in regional conflicts, including in the Taiwan Strait,” Yang said.

If the US were to send troops to assist in Taiwan’s defense, China could use its tactical nuclear warheads to threaten US forces stationed across the western Pacific, he said.

“The US would likely take such threats seriously and carefully weigh its options, whether to deploy troops to the Taiwan Strait or limit its response to diplomatic actions, such as expressing solidarity through the United Nations, to avoid direct confrontation,” he added.

“We need to think seriously and assume that if a conflict breaks out, we must be prepared to defend ourselves independently,” Yang said. “What should we strengthen? What should we prepare? Those are the questions we must confront — rather than simply hoping the US will come to our aid.”

title: China’s nuclear buildup reshaping security risks


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Taiwan donates US$200,000 to help Cebu rebuild after deadly quake

Taiwan’s government on Tuesday donated US$200,000 to the Philippines to support post- earthquake relief and recovery efforts, following a powerful magnitude-6.9 quake that struck Cebu Province late last month, killing at least 72 people and injuring 559 others.

The donation was presented earlier Tuesday by Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines, Wallace Chow (周民淦), to Cherbett Maralit, deputy resident representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), at Taiwan’s representative office in Manila. MECO represents Manila’s interests in Taipei in the absence of official diplomatic ties.

In his remarks, Chow expressed his concern for those affected by the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck the central Philippines on the night of Sept. 30.

Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines, Wallace Chow, second left, presents Taiwan’s US$200,000 donation to Phlippine counterparts in Manila on Tuesday to support Cebu’s post- earthquake relief and recovery efforts. Photo: CNA

"We sincerely hope for the earliest possible return to normalcy for those affected by the disaster, and for a swift recovery and restoration of the affected areas," he said.

"Taiwan is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Philippines on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) to better respond to natural disasters in both our countries. Let us stand united, and together we will overcome the challenges that lie ahead," he added.

Maralit and Kevin Dinsay, legal counsel in the Office of the Cebu Governor, both expressed gratitude for Taiwan’s donation and said the funds would be used for reconstruction in the affected areas.

Dinsay told CNA after the ceremony that Cebu is working to rebuild following the devastating earthquake, which damaged or destroyed more than 36,000 buildings.

He said the Cebu government is focusing on restoring infrastructure such as roads, bridges and harbors.


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Stage play highlighting Taiwan’s diplomatic challenges to go on European tour

tage play that highlights Taiwan’s diplomatic challenges will embark on a European tour starting Thursday and continuing into 2026, with performances scheduled in France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

"This is not an Embassy (Made in Taiwan)" (這不是個大使館) is a Taiwanese-European co-production written and directed by Swiss-German director Stefan Kaegi, co- founder of the Rimini Protokoll theater company in Berlin.

The play features three novice actors from vastly different backgrounds -- retired Taiwanese diplomat David Wu (吳建國), vibraphonist Debby Wang (王思雅) and Chiayo Kuo (郭家佑), founder of the NGO Digital Diplomacy -- and explores the diplomatic challenges Taiwan would face if it were to launch a new embassy, the Ministry of Culture said in a press release Tuesday.

The audience takes a selfie with the cast of “This Is Not an Embassy (Made in Taiwan)” after the show in Paris, France on Monday. Photo courtesy of Claudia Ndebele

By doing so, the production seeks to prompt reflection on Taiwan’s unique international status and its diplomatic efforts, the ministry said.

According to Kaegi, the work emerged from his conversations with Taiwanese diplomats, businesspeople, politicians and semiconductor engineers during his seven- week residency at the National Theater in Taipei in 2022.

In 2025, the production will be staged from Oct. 16 to 18 at Theatre des Celestins during the Festival Sens Interdits in Lyon, France; from Oct. 25 to 26 at the Teatro Astra during the Festival delle Colline Torinesi in Turin, Italy; from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 at the Spielart Festival in Munich, Germany; and from Nov. 6 to 7 at the Centre Dramatique National d’Orleans in Orleans, France, according to the ministry.

In 2026, performances are scheduled from Feb. 24 to 28 at Theatre Vidy-Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland, and from March 5 to 7 at Le Maillon in Strasbourg, France, the ministry said.


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Over 100,000 visit National Archives in first month of trial opening

Taiwan’s first National Archives, located in Linkou, New Taipei, has drawn more than 100,000 visitors since its soft opening on Sept. 2, featuring exhibits on the nation’s high-tech development and documents by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀), according to the National Archives Administration (NAA).

A centerpiece of the archives is the permanent exhibition "Island Reading: Our Story," which presents rare government records chronicling Taiwan’s economic transformation and the roots of its high-tech industry in the 1970s and 1980s.

Among the highlights are documents related to the establishment of the Industrial Technology Research Institute and Chang’s policy proposals outlining a blueprint for the country’s electronics sector.

Visitors line-up on the first day of the National Archives trial operation on September 3. Photo: CNA

One notable exhibit showcases Chang’s 1981 recommendations to the Executive Yuan, in which he urged a transition from labor-intensive to technology-driven industries -- a vision that helped shape Taiwan’s rise as a global technology hub.

The archives’ first to third floors are open to the public and include permanent and special exhibitions, a children’s interactive area, cultural and creative shops and a cafe. The upper floors house professional facilities for the preservation, maintenance and research of archival materials.

NAA Director Lin Chiu-yen (林秋燕) said public enthusiasm since the Sept. 2 trial opening has far exceeded expectations. The agency is improving visitor flow and signage ahead of the official opening on Nov. 22, which will coincide with the NAA’s 25th anniversary, she added.


content_text: President William Lai, front row, second left, and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, second right, present a gift to centenarian Chen Huo-sen, center, in Taichung yesterday. The officials were visiting centenarians in the city ahead of the Double Ninth Day, to be observed on Oct. 29.

title: Honoring longevity


title: Catching the breeze

content_text: Representatives from the Miaoli City Office fly kites at a riverside park yesterday to promote the Miaoli City International Kite Culture and Hakka Food Festival, to be held from Oct. 24 to 26.


title: Photo finish

content_text: Business students from Tunghai University on Thursday last week cross the finish line in Dunhuang, China, in the Ultra Gobi A, a four-day, 121km team run. A record 70 students from the university competed in the race this year, winning four awards, the university said yesterday. It was the 11th year in a row that students from the university had participated in the race, one of five in the Ultra Gobi Series.


title: FSC urges life insurers to tap local asset managers

content_text:
INVESTMENT MANDATES: The FSC expects insurers to move an initial NT$1 trillion to local asset management firms as the government moves to broaden the economy

Taiwan is calling on its asset-rich life insurers to give billions of investment mandates to domestic money managers in a government push to turn the chipmaking economy into a regional financial hub.

The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) expects insurers to move an initial NT$1 trillion (US$32.51 billion) to local asset management firms, as the government builds out a new special wealth management zone in Kaohsiung in a bid to compete with Singapore and Hong Kong.

Until recently, local regulations led life insurers to mandate only a small part of their aggregated US$1.2 trillion of funds to local asset managers, while a significant portion went to foreign firms. The majority of the rules restricting related-party transactions were relaxed last year.

Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Peng Jin-lung speaks during an interview in Taipei on Thursday last week. Photo: An Rong Xu, Bloomberg

“We should take back the right to manage assets in Taiwan,” FSC Chairman Peng Jin-lung (彭金隆) said in an interview on Thursday last week. “Based on a rough estimate, around NT$1 trillion in assets should be transferred” to local managers in the near future, he said.

The regulator is seeking to double total assets booked in Taiwan to US$2 trillion in six years, Peng said, adding that it is a big challenge for the local financial sector.

Cathay Life Insurance Co (國泰人壽) is considering giving more mandates to its parent Cathay Financial Holding Co’s (國泰金控) asset management arm, people familiar with the matter said.

The company is planning to fold its life insurance division’s investment team into the asset management arm within several years, the people added.

Cathay Financial did not respond to a Bloomberg request for comment.

The practice that the FSC is encouraging is not uncommon globally for insurers, Taiwan Ratings Corp (中華信評) analyst Serene Hsieh (謝雅瑛) said.

“Based on the experience and long history of managing sizeable investment assets, we think Taiwan lifers have good capability to formulate investment mandates,” she said.

The move could help broaden Taiwan’s economy, which remains heavily dependent on manufacturing and advanced tech like semiconductors.

Redirecting the initial NT$1 trillion would serve as a cornerstone to draw in more assets, Peng said, adding that it signals the necessary scale to convince clients that Taiwan’s asset management industry can compete internationally.

To safeguard its relevance in the global economy amid increasing geopolitical pressure from China, the government is working to attract more foreign banks to its new wealth management zone by deepening integration with international financial markets.

Peng said the move would add a “financial shield” to the existing “silicon shield,” the notion that Taiwan’s dominance in producing cutting-edge semiconductors would persuade governments around the world to come to Taiwan’s defense in the event of a Chinese invasion.

The global boom in artificial intelligence has fueled rapid wealth creation in Taiwan as company profits and Taipei-listed shares have surged.

The local stock market has grown to become the eighth-largest in the world in terms of market capitalization, a huge change from just 20 years ago, Peng said.

As part of the wealth management push, regulators are also easing regulations, greenlighting new wealth products and loosening restrictions on banks.

To assist the transition, Peng said the FSC is open to any potential new financial instruments, including derivative-linked and bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Taiwan’s ETF market is gaining momentum, with the FSC estimating that active funds could reach NT$200 billion within three years following the first batch of issuances earlier this year.

The nation’s broader ETF market saw total assets surge 64 percent to NT$6.4 trillion last year and now ranks third in the region, according to industry data and Bloomberg Intelligence.

Despite the push to diversify its ETF offerings, Taiwan still lags behind other Asian markets, such as Japan, Singapore and China, in terms of product breadth.

However, Peng cautioned that regulators need to wait for the Taiwan market to be ready for further easing.


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Power supply and electronic components maker Delta Electronics Inc (台達電) maintained its forecast that revenue in the second half of the year would exceed the first half’s NT$242.9 billion (US$7.9 billion), after third-quarter sales hit a record high, a company official told the Taipei Times by telephone on Monday.

Delta on Friday reported sales of NT$150.32 billion for last quarter, up 21.2 percent from the previous quarter and 34 percent from a year earlier.

The figure beat Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting Co’s (元大投顧) forecast of NT$140.32 billion and a market consensus estimate of NT$138.24 billion.

The logo of Delta Electronics Inc is pictured in Taipei’s Neihu Technology Park in an undated photograph. Photo: Fang Wei-chieh, Taipei Times

The company’s strong performance last quarter was supported by stable shipments of power and heat-dissipation products to artificial intelligence (AI) server customers, said the official, who declined to be named.

It also came as demand for power electronics and liquid-to-air heat dissipation racks in the quarter exceeded expectations, after overheating issues during the assembly of Nvidia Corp’s GB200 servers were resolved, the company said.

Nvidia’s GB200 servers entered mass production in the second quarter, and Delta mainly supplies in-rack coolant distribution units, liquid-to-air busbars, high-voltage direct-current systems and grid-to-chip infrastructure solutions for the GB200 model, the company said.

Revenue in the first nine months of the year was NT$393.27 billion, up 28.1 percent from the same period last year, company data showed.

Delta is developing power supply products for an 800-volt high-voltage direct-current (DC) structure and a +/-400-volt DC system, with mass production scheduled to start in the second half of next year.

Regarding future power distribution architecture, a centralized power rack design is likely to become a major trend for newly built hyperscale data centers, the official said.

While some customers might still opt for power shelves, the company is able to supply both power racks and shelf products going forward, depending on demand, the official added.

As Nvidia’s future-generation superchip platform, Vera Rubin, which is set to launch in the second half of next year, would require more than three times the 120 kilowatts used by the GB200 model, it would likely need a power-rack design, Delta said earlier.

title: Delta posts record Q3 sales, sticks to H2 forecast


title: Eclat expects ‘challenging’ Q4

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CHALLENGES: The garment and fabric supplier has a six-month order visibility, but inflationary pressure could affect holiday sales in the US this quarter, its chairman said

Eclat Textile Co (儒鴻) yesterday said its operating performance was stable in the first three quarters of this year, but forecast a “very challenging” fourth quarter, citing the potential impacts of inflation in the US during the holiday season.

The garment and fabric supplier has a six-month order visibility and has secured 80 percent of forecast orders, but the remaining 20 percent would depend on holiday sales in the US this quarter, Eclat chairman Richard Wang (王樹文) said on the sidelines of the Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show.

The fourth quarter would be “challenging” mainly because of reports in the US last week showing prices had risen sharply, he said.

Eclat Textile Co chairman Richard Wang poses for a photograph at the company’s booth at the Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center’s Hall 1 yesterday. Photo: CNA

“The price of food and beverages has almost doubled, which is terrible,” cable TV station USTV quoted Wang as saying.

Rising inflationary pressures could reduce consumer purchasing power, and force them to postpone spending on nonessential items, he said.

If holiday sales fall short of expectations, it could affect the company’s first-quarter orders, he added.

“Under inflationary pressure, people might postpone purchases of cars and homes, but they still need to wear clothes,” meaning that overall demand for clothing would remain rigid, but not necessarily for high-priced brands, Wang said.

Such a scenario would affect sales momentum in retail channels and also impact the orders of downstream firms, he added.

The company’s order backlog remains at a reasonable level, but the challenge lies in whether it can ship the goods smoothly this quarter, he said.

Eclat, which counts global brands such as Nike Inc, Gap Inc, Target Corp, Lululemon Athletica Inc and Under Armour Inc among its top customers, last week reported that revenue for last month fell 3.25 percent from August to NT$3.24 billion (US$105.33 million).

However, it increased 1.59 percent from a year earlier, marking a record high for September.

Third-quarter revenue was NT$9.63 billion, down 0.87 percent from the previous quarter and 3.97 percent from a year earlier, the company said.

Cumulative revenue for the first three quarters totaled NT$28.73 billion, up 5.39 percent year-on-year, it said.

So far this year, the company’s monthly revenue has been more than NT$3 billion except for February, when it was NT$2.63 billion.

“This year has been a good year for Eclat, especially given the difficult macro environment,” Wang was quoted as saying. “The impact of tariffs on the company is limited.”

The textile exhibition opened yesterday at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center’s Hall 1. Highlighting sustainability, functional applications and intelligent manufacturing, the three-day event runs through tomorrow.


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Average wages in Taiwan climbed in August, lifted by higher base pay and robust bonuses in the technology sector, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said yesterday.

The average regular monthly wage stood at NT$48,098 (US$1,564), up 2.92 percent from a year earlier, while total monthly earnings — including bonuses and overtime pay — averaged NT$61,646, an increase of 4.38 percent, the DGBAS said.

For the first eight months of the year, the average regular wage reached NT$47,709, up 2.98 percent, the fastest growth in 25 years, DGBAS data showed.

A man works at a construction site in Taipei’s Zhongshan District yesterday. Photo: CNA

Census Department Deputy Director Tan Wen-ling (譚文玲) attributed the steady gains to minimum wage hikes and corporate salary adjustments.

After adjusting for inflation, real regular wages rose 1.12 percent and real total wages increased 2 percent, the largest gains in five and seven years respectively, as consumer prices moderated.

While averages can be skewed by high earners, the median regular wage — a better indicator of typical pay — was NT$38,217, up 2.79 percent from a year earlier.

The real median regular wage rose 0.94 percent, still signaling a modest improvement, Tan said.

By industry, the highest-paying sectors in the first eight months were finance and insurance at NT$77,300, followed by publishing, audiovisual and information services at NT$69,481, and professional, scientific and technical services at NT$58,152, the agency said.

At the lower end, accommodation and food services averaged NT$32,100, and other service industries averaged NT$36,620 — both below the overall average, reflecting a high share of nonstandard employment.

In manufacturing, the median regular wage was NT$36,500, rising to NT$46,000 in electronic components, underscoring the pay gap between the tech and traditional industries, Tan said.

Average total working hours in August reached 172.4 hours, including 8.8 hours of overtime, which generated NT$2,404 in extra pay — a 3.75 percent increase from a year earlier, she said.

Overtime in manufacturing averaged 17.3 hours, marking 15 consecutive months of growth, while the electronic components sector posted 29.6 hours — a 45-year high — fueled by strong demand for consumer electronics used in artificial intelligence applications, Tan said.

In contrast, overtime in auto parts and base metal manufacturing declined by two to three hours from a year earlier, as trade friction between the US and China and tariffs weighed on traditional industries, she added.

From January to August, the number of employees reached 8.51 million, edging up 0.79 percent year-on-year. The accommodation and food services sector recorded the largest gain, adding 18,000 workers, followed by healthcare and social work services, which added 11,000.

In August, the labor market saw an entry rate of 2.41 percent and an exit rate of 2.35 percent, indicating continued labor mobility.

Among those who left their jobs, retirees accounted for 4.8 percent, while about 74 percent had worked for less than three years, suggesting that short-term employment remains prevalent.

title: Minimum wage hike, bonuses lift average earnings


title: Tax revenue dips 1.9% as corporate income tax falls

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Taiwan’s total tax revenue fell 1.9 percent year-on-year to NT$415.2 billion (US$13.5 billion) last month, as declines in corporate income and land value increment taxes outweighed gains from securities transaction levies, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said yesterday.

Corporate income tax receipts dropped 7.5 percent to NT$175.3 billion from a year earlier, mainly because some provisional payments have yet to be booked, ministry official Liu Shun-rong (劉訓蓉) said in an online briefing.

The delay stemmed from the government’s decision to give businesses more time to cope with uncertainties arising from the US’ tariff measures, Liu said.

Ministry of Finance signage is pictured at the ministry in Taipei on May 27. Photo: CNA

The relief measure adds uncertainty to this year’s fiscal outlook, as cumulative tax revenue in the first nine months totaled NT$2.87 trillion — down 2.5 percent from a year earlier and 6.5 percent short of the annual target, she said.

“Things might become clearer next month,” Liu added.

In contrast, robust trading activity on the local bourse buoyed securities transaction tax collections. Average daily turnover jumped 43.4 percent to NT$600.6 billion from NT$418.8 billion a year earlier, lifting tax revenue from this category by 52.6 percent to NT$31.2 billion — the second straight month of double-digit percentage growth, Liu said.

Property-related tax revenue continued its slump amid subdued real-estate transactions.

Land value increment tax revenue tumbled 40 percent year-on-year to NT$4.4 billion — the lowest since March 2016 and the seventh consecutive month of double-digit declines, she said.

The weakness was most evident in Taipei, New Taipei City and Kaohsiung, as the central bank’s tightened mortgage rules further dampened buying interest, Liu said.


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China Airlines reports 2nd-highest September sales, while EVA Airways’ revenue falls in September

China Airlines Ltd (CAL, 中華航空) said it expects peak season effects in the fourth quarter to continue to boost demand for passenger flights and cargo services, after reporting its second-highest-ever September sales on Monday.

The carrier said it posted NT$15.88 billion (US$517 million) in consolidated sales last month, trailing only September last year’s NT$16.01 billion.

Last month, CAL generated NT$8.77 billion from its passenger flights and NT$5.37 billion from cargo services, it said.

Aircraft operated by China Airlines Ltd, Eva Airways Corp and Starlux Airlines Co are pictured at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Aug. 25. Photo: Wu Liang-yi, Taipei Times

In the first nine months of this year, the carrier posted NT$154.93 billion in cumulative sales, up 2.62 percent from a year earlier, marking the second-highest level for the January-September period.

CAL said cargo service prices continued to rise last month and are expected to keep rising in the fourth quarter as the year-end shopping season approaches.

In addition, global demand for artificial intelligence servers, chips and semiconductor equipment is expected to stay strong this quarter to further push up sales from its cargo services, it said.

In terms of passenger flights, CAL said it will raise the number of weekly flights between Taipei and Tokyo’s Narita Airport to four starting from Oct. 26 to boost ticket sales, while the autumn foliage season in Japan and South Korea is expected to bring the load factor — an industry metric that measures percentage of passenger capacity used — of flights to Tokyo and Seoul to around 90 percent this month.

CAL added the factor of flights to destinations in Australia are expected to top 90 percent this month as demand remains high and stable.

Last week, EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) said it posted NT$15.62 billion in sales for last month, down 10 percent from a year earlier.

The carrier said the decline came as Ghost Month, which was from Aug. 23 to Sept. 21 this year, affected consumer appetite to take overseas trips, while demand also fell after the summer vacation ended.

Last month, sales posted by its passenger flights totaled NT$9.32 billion and revenue generated by cargo services hit NT$4.33 billion, it said.

In the first nine months of the year, cumulative sales fell 1.07 percent from a year earlier to NT $162.69 billion, it added.

EVA Airways said it remains upbeat about this month as the month has three national holidays that are likely to boost travel demand. In addition, the carrier will launch flights to Busan, South Korea, later this month and the new route is expected to generate more sales in the month as well as the fourth quarter.

The carrier said the fourth quarter is peak season for cargo services so sales are also likely to move higher.

Meanwhile, Starlux Airlines Co (星宇航空) posted NT$2.95 billion in sales last month, up 5 percent from a year earlier after revenue from cargo services rose 26 percent from a year earlier to NT$444 million.

Starlux Airlines said it will introduce a new winter flight schedule at the end of this month by providing more flights in the region, resuming flights to Manila on Dec. 16 and launching flights to Phoenix, Arizona, on Jan. 15 next year, further boosting sales.

During the January-September period, Starlux Airlines posted NT$32.7 billion in cumulative sales, up 26 percent from a year earlier.


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Hon Hai teams up with Nvidia on AI factory infrastructure development

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) yesterday announced that it would partner with US artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer Nvidia Corp to develop AI factory infrastructure.

Hon Hai, also known globally as Foxconn Technology Group (富士康科技集團), said at the ongoing OCP Global Summit in San Jose, California, that it would introduce Nvidia’s 800 VDC data center power architecture to its K-1 AI data center project in Kaohsiung for the first time.

The installation will demonstrate Hon Hai’s efforts in AI servers, data centers and renewable energy integration.

People visit Foxconn’s booth at the Computex Taipei exhibition on May 20. Photo: Chiang Ying-ying, AP

According to Hon Hai, the 800 VDC power architecture is designed for high-density AI workloads, featuring a modular and scalable setup that significantly reduces current and resistive losses, minimizes conductor use, simplifies power distribution, and improves energy conversion efficiency and system safety.

The architecture will support next-generation Nvidia’s graphics processing units (GPUs), laying a foundation for highly efficient AI servers and data centers with improved power resilience to meet growing computing demand, Hon Hai said.

In addition to adopting the new architecture, Hon Hai will continue to enhance its design capabilities in AI servers, power, and cooling systems to provide rapid solutions for AI data centers, it said.

"Through continuous innovation in high-efficiency power and thermal design, Foxconn reinforces its leadership and highlights Taiwan’s pivotal role in the global AI supply chain," the company said.

Also at the OCP Global Summit, Hon Hai’s cloud solutions subsidiary, Ingrasys Technology Inc (鴻佰科技), showcased several next-generation AI platforms, including the Nvidia GB300 NVL72, Nvidia HGX B300, and Nvidia MGX servers for enterprise-grade AI applications.

Hon Hai said these Ingrasys innovations underscore its strong capabilities in AI infrastructure development and system integration.


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AMD says Oracle is committing to widespread use of new AI chips

Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD), Nvidia Corp’s nearest rival in artificial intelligence (AI) processors, said Oracle Corp will deploy a large batch of its forthcoming MI450 chips next year.

Oracle will put 50,000 of the semiconductors in data center computers starting in the third quarter of next year, according to a statement yesterday. The systems will contain AMD processors and networking components.

The announcement is the latest in a frenzy of commitments by big tech and AI companies to build more computing infrastructure. They’re all racing to meet demand for AI services that they say is skyrocketing.

A smartphone with a displayed Advanced Micro Devices Inc logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken on March 6, 2023. Photo: REUTERS

It’s also another endorsement of AMD technology. The Santa Clara, California-based company is working to become a credible alternative to Nvidia, the dominant provider of AI processors.

Like its much larger rival, AMD offers so-called AI accelerators — based on graphics processing units — as well as general-purpose processors and some networking chips. It’s now trying to up its game further and match Nvidia’s ability to provide data center owners with complete computers.

In the second quarter, AMD shipped about 100,000 AI processors, according to research firm IDC. Nvidia delivered 1.5 million in the same period.

Oracle and AMD didn’t specify when they expect to complete the installation, but they see it expanding in 2027 “and beyond.” The companies also didn’t say how much of AMD’s total supply would be claimed by Oracle.

The Oracle announcement follows an AMD deal with OpenAI, the AI start-up that has clinched computing agreements with a number of chipmakers. In that longer-term partnership, OpenAI is slated to buy 6 gigawatts’ worth of computers featuring AMD accelerators over multiple years.

On Monday, OpenAI also announced an agreement with chipmaker Broadcom Inc. The start-up agreed to buy custom chips and networking components from Broadcom to help power its AI services.

OpenAI had already struck deals for data centers and chips that easily top US$1 trillion, and the company plans to spend tens of billions of dollars more on Broadcom chips, according to people familiar with the matter.

The agreement, which follows OpenAI deals with Nvidia and AMD, is meant to add 10 gigawatts’ worth of AI data center capacity — a level equivalent to the peak energy demand of New York City.

The wrinkle with the Broadcom pact is it will let OpenAI tailor the chips to meet specific needs. The start-up said it would unlock “new levels of capability and intelligence” by applying lessons gleaned developing AI models to hardware technology.


title: EDITORIAL: Bringing the ‘Taiwan model’ to the US

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Taiwan’s business-friendly environment and science parks designed to foster technology industries are the key elements of the nation’s winning chip formula, inspiring the US and other countries to try to replicate it. Representatives from US business groups — such as the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and the Arizona-Taiwan Trade and Investment Office — in July visited the Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區), home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) headquarters and its first fab. They showed great interest in creating similar science parks, with aims to build an extensive semiconductor chain suitable for the US, with chip designing, packaging and manufacturing.

The representatives last month also attended an annual forum hosted by the Taiwan High-Tech Facility Association to discuss the creation of advanced chip fabs. Association members such as United Integrated Services Co and Marketech International Corp help TSMC build manufacturing facilities in Taiwan and overseas, and are known for their incredible efficiency. It takes one-and-a-half to two years for TSMC to build a new factory, outpacing the three to five years it takes global rivals, such as Intel Corp, to set up a fab.

Operating a chip plant in the science park is efficient, lowering operating costs and fostering technology development, which are essential for firms to be able to produce new and cost-competitive technologies. Companies in Taiwan’s science parks are eligible for lower rent and utility costs, and can more easily acquire talent, compared with traditional “industrial areas” created by the central and local governments.

To facilitate the formation of industrial clusters in the science parks, Taiwan set up “single windows” to assist companies in solving problems related to factory construction or the creation of start-ups. With heavy government investment, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry cluster and TSMC were created in the Hsinchu Science Park more than 30 years ago. The results are significant, as the semiconductor industry has become a key pillar of Taiwan’s economy.

The “Taiwan model” has even become a talking point for Taipei’s negotiations with Washington to lower the US’ “reciprocal” tariff and gain preferential rates for semiconductors and related products under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君), who leads the tariff talks, earlier this month said that both sides are exploring the possibility of expanding investment in the US through the “Taiwan model,” under which Taipei would help the US build industrial parks, similar to those in Taiwan.

Local semiconductor component and equipment suppliers had previously avoided setting up operations in the US given the expensive labor costs, but the situation has reversed. Two or three years ago, most Taiwanese corporate executives thought it would be a long shot for the US to reproduce the Hsinchu Science Park. Some said it would not happen during their lifetime. Now they have changed their tune after TSMC increased its total investment in the US to US$165 billion, which implies a significant increase in demand.

The development raises concerns about the outflow of experienced talent, which could undermine the development of the local semiconductor industry and Taiwan’s economy. Compared with imminent tariff risks and escalating geopolitical risks, that should be a longer-term worry, as Taiwan has spent three decades perfecting its chip ecosystem, which cannot be overturned in the blink of an eye. Facing such challenges, Taiwan should consider how to use this business opportunity to spur an industrial transformation. For smaller-scale component and development suppliers, it represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to expand overseas; for others, it could mean a painful restructuring.


title: Addressing generational conflict

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Taiwan is rapidly accelerating toward becoming a “super-aged society” — moving at one of the fastest rates globally — with the proportion of elderly people in the population sharply rising. While the demographic shift of “fewer births than deaths” is no longer an anomaly, the nation’s legal framework and social customs appear stuck in the last century. Without adjustments, incidents like last month’s viral kicking incident on the Taipei MRT involving a 73-year-old woman would continue to proliferate, sowing seeds of generational distrust and conflict.

The Senior Citizens Welfare Act (老人福利法), originally enacted in 1980 and revised multiple times, positions older Taiwanese primarily as recipients who require care and support. That framing poses a significant hurdle to creating a society based on intergenerational coexistence and prosperity.

As nations such as Japan, South Korea and the US strive to reframe norms of respect and balance intergenerational responsibility, Taiwan must be vigilant about the three major consequences the “care recipient” legal framework might bring.

Legal definitions carry profound meaning. When the law categorizes elderly people as mere welfare beneficiaries, society reinforces the stereotype that old age equals frailty. It is more than a resource allocation issue; it is a matter of older adults’ self-identity.

Do the “young-old” — people who are healthy, experienced and newly retired — need a basic stipend, or do they need a social platform that enables them to continue contributing and realizing their self-worth? Laws should prioritize securing older adults’ right to employment and professional engagement, rather than just focusing on care and subsidies.

Taiwan is wasting substantial human capital. International trends clearly show that governments should focus on empowerment rather than protection. The US Older Americans Act has over the years been amended to emphasize anti-ageism, promote the social participation of older adults and reduce isolation, reflecting a mindset that views older adults as autonomous citizens.

Japan’s Act on Stabilization of Employment of Elderly Persons mandates that companies protect employees’ rights to work until age 70. Many Japanese corporations have responded by implementing flexible employment measures, such as reassigning older workers to highly specialized “consultant” roles or offering short, high-intensity part-time contracts. The approach treats older adults as contributors, not burdens, allowing them to leverage their experience and knowledge according to their personal capacity and desire.

When older adults are unilaterally defined as people demanding welfare, younger taxpayers are consequently presumed to be their sole supporters who must bear the societal burden. It intensifies young people’s anxiety over social security and healthcare costs, leading them to blame older adults and fueling a sense of generational inequity.

A sustainable intergenerational relationship must be reciprocal and multidirectional. Taiwan’s baby boomers have accumulated immense experience, networks and assets. Legal reforms should initiate a social dialogue on creating a mechanism that allows that experience and wisdom to flow more effectively and equitably to the next generation, rather than solely consuming public resources.

The government should amend the Senior Citizens Welfare Act to drive a comprehensive social design, shifting its focus from what kind of welfare older adults need to what value they bring to society. The priority must expand from merely providing long-term care services to building the essential infrastructure for “active aging.”

What Taiwan truly needs is an “Act for the Empowerment and Coexistence of Senior Citizens.” Only by viewing older adults as people who possess autonomy and can still contribute to society and the economy, and by providing corresponding legal empowerment and anti-discrimination safeguards, can Taiwan genuinely achieve generational coexistence and find a sustainable, universally accepted way of managing an aging society.

Tang Chieh-lang is CEO of the Association of Formosa Retired Persons Union.


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“We won the First World War. We won the Second World War. We won everything before that and in between, and then we decided to go woke, and we changed the name to Department of Defense,” US President Donald Trump said on Sept. 5 when he announced its rebranding with the secondary title of the Department of War. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reinforced the message in the same meeting, saying: “We haven’t won a major war since... Words matter.”

Although the US is not a direct combatant in Ukraine, it is certainly a party to the conflict as the main supplier of weapons and intelligence to Ukraine. However, for three years, former US president Joe Biden’s administration temporized and restrained Ukraine in a war of attrition that was becoming another “forever war.”

For eight months, the Trump team followed the same approach even as it sought a quick end to the war. Worse, Trump sided, almost malevolently, with Moscow under Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In the wake of the Department of War announcement, Trump last week suddenly switched his perception of Putin from a “brilliant and strong” leader destined to prevail in his ambitions, to a “paper tiger,” a weak and feckless loser who could not crush a smaller opponent shackled by Western fears of triggering World War III.

Nevertheless, as former US Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell cautioned: “The world is watching to see if President Trump’s administration translates his rhetoric into action.”

Trump defined a victory for Kyiv as fighting and winning “all of Ukraine back in its original form.” To demonstrate a real commitment to that end, Washington would need to provide Kyiv, either directly or through European conduits, long-range Tomahawk missiles Ukraine needs to strike deep inside Russia, as well as the required intelligence and targeting information to make the attacks effective.

The US would also have to give Ukraine what the Biden and Trump administrations have feared providing — official permission to execute potentially decisive strikes.

Putin is relying on his ability to flatter and intimidate Trump into inaction. The Russian leader earlier this month said that he doubted Trump would provide the Tomahawks because “he knows how to listen” and because it would trigger “a qualitatively new stage of escalation.”

Trump, if he is so inclined, can easily disabuse Putin. He can implement his putative philosophy on fighting and winning wars by giving Ukraine missiles and intelligence, while withholding approval for an immediate strike. If Putin fails within 24 hours to halt all missile and drone attacks and begin pulling back Russia’s frontline forces, he could authorize the first Tomahawk strikes.

Until now, serious deterrence has not been tried against Russian aggression, but if the new forceful Trump-Hegseth rhetoric is backed up by action, Trump’s claim to have seized former US president Ronald Reagan’s peace-through-strength mantle would have gone a long way toward justification. It would also prove, contrary to the fears of many, that tyrannies can still be deterred and defeated even in the nuclear age.

That would be a crucially important message for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), who harbors the same explicit ambitions to destroy the independent, democratic status of Taiwan that Putin directs at Ukraine.

The parallels are striking. The Budapest Memorandum — signed in 1997 by the US, the UK and Russia — guaranteed Ukraine’s political independence and territorial integrity in exchange for giving up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons. However, without enforcement, it did not withstand the relentless pressure from Putin to reconstitute at least the Russian, if not the Soviet, empire, whose disintegration he called “the greatest geopolitical disaster of the [20th] century.”

Similarly in many respects, the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act states that “any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, [would be] a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States.” The act also committed the US to provide “arms of a defensive character” to Taiwan and “to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion” against Taiwan.

It does not commit the US to exercise that “capacity” by directly defending Taiwan. Hence, the policy of “strategic ambiguity,” practiced by every administration since then and perfectly articulated by former US president Bill Clinton’s administration, which told Chinese interlocutors that the US decision to intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan “would depend on the circumstances” — precisely the language Trump used when asked if he would authorize US action against Russian aircraft violating NATO airspace.

A positive response on Ukraine would help avoid the need for action on Taiwan — as long as Beijing is made to understand that Washington is prepared to take it.

Trump and Hegseth say the war department name signifies actual US intent to resist and defeat aggression against the US or its allies and democratic partners. To get that message across to Beijing, Trump must eliminate US ambiguity on Taiwan and declare official US intent to defend Taiwan — without the “clarifications” and walk-backs from his administration that characterized Biden’s many futile attempts to send a deterrent message to China.

Trump can no more rely on Xi’s assurance that he would not move on Taiwan while Trump is in office than former US president Barack Obama should have believed Xi’s promise not to militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea. Hegseth said words matter; so do actions.

Joseph Bosco served as China country director for the US secretary of defense from 2005 to 2006, and as Asia-Pacific director of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief from 2009 to 2010.

title: Back up war department with action