taiwan-subdivisions: 苗栗 竹南 新竹 苗栗縣

title: 快訊／17日深夜苗栗竹南連兩震  網：上下搖嚇死!

content_text:
社會中心/綜合報導

17日晚間11點、11點05分在苗栗分別發生芮氏規模3.8及3.7的地震，居中央氣象署資料顯示，晚間11點的地震發生位置在在苗栗縣政府北北東方 18.4 公里，位於苗栗縣竹南鎮，地震深度：7.2公里，芮氏規模3.8。

17日深夜23:00發生規模3.8地震。(圖/中央氣象署)而晚間11點05分的地震震央在苗栗縣政府北北東方 18.2 公里，同樣位於苗栗竹南鎮，地震深度8.3公里

芮氏規模3.7，許多人都準備就寢休息，被這突如其來的地震嚇醒，而社群網站上也有網友馬上分享「剛剛那個上下左右短暫晃動，是地震嗎」、「此生第一次聽到地鳴轟好大聲…」、「巨響之後伴隨地震 連續三次！嚇爛」、「新竹一直震 都不敢去洗澡了」，提醒民眾提高警覺，注意自身安全。


title: China should restrain itself, Lai says

people: 韓國瑜 賴清德

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‘TROUBLEMAKER’:  Most countries believe that it is China — rather than Taiwan — that is undermining regional peace and stability with its coercive tactics, the president said

China should restrain itself and refrain from being a troublemaker that sabotages peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday.

Lai made the remarks after China Coast Guard vessels sailed into disputed waters off the Senkaku Islands — known as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台) in Taiwan — following a remark Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made regarding Taiwan.

Takaichi during a parliamentary session on Nov. 7 said that a “Taiwan contingency” involving a Chinese naval blockade could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, and trigger Tokyo’s deployment of its military for defense.

President William Lai speaks at an event in New Taipei City yesterday.

Photo: screen grab from the Presidential Office’s Flickr page

Asked about the escalating tensions between Japan and China, Lai said that Beijing’s “hybrid coercion” against Japan has seriously disrupted peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The international community should continue to pay attention to the matter, he said.

Lai also urged China to restrain itself and act like a major power by keeping the rules-based international order to maintain regional peace, stability and prosperity, instead of being a “troublemaker.”

Asked about the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) criticism of Takaichi as being “reckless,” Lai told reporters that US Ambassador to Japan George Glass has publicly expressed his support, saying Takaichi’s remarks benefit not only US-Japan ties, but also regional peace and stability.

Politicians in Taiwan, particularly those in the opposition, should respect Japan’s internal affairs and be aware of regional developments, he said, adding that it is inappropriate to negatively interpret Japan’s political efforts.

Asked about China’s threats against Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), Lai condemned Beijing’s transnational repression and attempts to interfere with Taiwan’s constitutional system.

Such violence is intolerable to the global community and democratic countries would certainly voice support for Shen, he said.

“That is why I urged Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) to speak out to defend the legislature’s dignity and freedom of speech,” the president said.

“That is not to take advantage of Shen or use the issue to engage in political infighting. It is simply because Shen is a member of the legislature and one must adopt the right attitude” on the matter,” he said.

In response to Lai’s call, Han on Wednesday last week compared Taiwan’s national security to a table supported by “four legs,” which he said are “defending the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan), defending democracy and freedom, maintaining US-Taiwan ties and maintaining cross-strait ties.”

“Except for the US-Taiwan relationship, Lai had already broken the three other legs,” Han said at the time.

Lai yesterday said that he hoped Han realizes that Chinese transnational repression of any person living in Taiwan is a violation of ROC sovereignty.

China has continued to ramp up military coercion, infiltration campaigns and “united front” work against Taiwan over the past few years, he said.

Most countries think that it is China — rather than Taiwan — that is undermining cross-strait peace and stability, Lai said, adding that Beijing has seized every opportunity to play Taiwan off against the US by spreading a “US skepticism” narrative.

“It is China, instead of Taiwan, that has chopped off the four legs of Han’s table,” he added.

Han should not make excuses for aggressors, he said.

“Competition is inevitable, as we belong to different political parties, but we still belong to the same country and should unite to fight represssion by hostile, external political forces,” he said. “If we make excuses for Chinese cross-border repression today, that would give Beijing an excuse if it decides to launch an invasion against Taiwan.”

Additional reporting by Chiang Chih-hsiung


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The Ministry of Economic Affairs said it plans to revise the export control list for strategic high-tech products by adding 18 items under three categories — advanced 3D printing equipment, advanced semiconductor equipment and quantum computers — which would require local manufacturers to obtain licenses for their export.

The ministry’s announcement yesterday came as the International Trade Administration issued a 60-day preview period for planned revisions to the Export Control List for Dual Use Items and Technology (軍商兩用貨品及技術出口管制清單) and the Common Military List (一般軍用貨品清單), which fall under regulations governing export destinations for strategic high-tech commodities and specific strategic high-tech commodities.

The advanced semiconductor equipment category includes complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor chips, low-temperature cooling systems, scanning electron microscope equipment and low-temperature wafer-probing equipment, the ministry said.

The main entrance of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Taipei Times

The revision would require local manufacturers to obtain prior approval from the International Trade Administration before exporting strategic high-tech commodities, a ministry official told the Taipei Times by telephone.

The ministry would issue export permits only after confirming that the commodities would not be used to proliferate weapons of mass destruction, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The revision aims to prevent such risks through international cooperation, rather than impose a blanket ban on exports of these products, the official said.

The ministry has referred to international export control regulations and protocols — including the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group and the Chemical Weapons Convention — when revising the lists, the official said.

This to ensure that Taiwan’s controlled commodity categories align with international export control regimes, the official said.

The ministry reviews and revises the two lists annually in accordance with international regulations and Article 13 of the Foreign Trade Act (貿易法), the official said.

After the 60-day preview period, the ministry would review the lists again to determine whether further adjustments are needed based on industry feedback, and would issue a final notice before the revisions take effect, the official said.

title: Taiwan to add 18 items to tech export control list


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China is escalating its confrontation with Tokyo over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan, with state media threatening major countermeasures after Beijing’s travel warnings raised the specter of economic retribution.

Yuyuantantian, a social media account linked to China’s state broadcaster and frequently used to signal official policy, published a commentary over the weekend warning that Beijing “has made full preparations for substantive retaliation.”

The post hinted at imposing sanctions, suspending economic, diplomatic and military ties, and restricting trade as forms of potential reprisal.

A man reads local newspapers reporting on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks on Taiwan, at a newsstand in Beijing yesterday.  Photo: AP

Hours after the post, China’s People’s Liberation Army Daily reinforced that message publishing a commentary by a state-affiliated academic warning that if Japan’s military got involved in the Taiwan Strait, “the entire country would risk becoming a battlefield.”

The diplomatic crisis erupted over Takaichi’s comments on Nov. 7 that military force used in any Taiwan conflict could be considered a “survival-threatening situation,” a classification that would provide a legal justification for Japan to support friendly countries that choose to respond.

The row risks unraveling recent progress in bilateral ties, just a few weeks after Takaichi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and agreed to improve relations. The spat also threatens to inflict damage on businesses straddling the key trading partners, as China warns tourists and students about heightened risks in Japan.

Japan yesterday dispatched a senior diplomat to China in a bid to smooth tensions, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing a senior official at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but no details have been released.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning (毛寧) yesterday told reporters that Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強) “has no arrangement to meet with the Japanese leader” during the G20 summit in South Africa on Saturday and Sunday.

The standoff with China represents Takaichi’s first major foreign policy challenge since she became prime minister last month.

While she has relatively high approval ratings, surveys show the public is split on the idea of Japan becoming involved in any conflict over Taiwan.

A Kyodo News poll taken over the weekend showed that 48.8 percent of respondents agreed that Japan could exercise collective self-defense in such a scenario, while 44.2 percent disagreed.

Any further escalation of the spat with China, particularly economic retaliation by Beijing, could also increase the challenge for Takaichi of trying to address inflation and a slowing economy through stimulus measures.

Another poll released by Asahi Shimbun yesterday showed that Takaichi continued to bask in high popularity.

Her Cabinet had a 69 percent approval rating, while 17 percent of survey participants disapproved, a weekend poll by the newspaper showed.

Additional reporting by AP and AFP

title: China media call for economic reprisals in spat with Japan


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Ecuadoran voters roundly rejected the return of US military bases to the country in a referendum on Sunday, a major political blow to the US-friendly Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa.

With three-quarters of the vote counted, about 60 percent of Ecuadorans had voted “no” to lifting a longstanding ban on foreign bases. The rejection effectively blocks the US military from returning to an airbase at Manta on the Pacific coast — once a hub for Washington’s anti-drug operations.

It is a serious defeat for Noboa, who has staked his political fortunes on tackling rampant cartel violence and forging an alliance with US President Donald Trump.

Supporters of the Citizen Revolution Movement celebrate the victory of the “No” vote in the referendum in Quito, Ecuador, on Sunday. Photo: EPA

The vote came against the backdrop of US military airstrikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, a divisive policy that Noboa has backed.

“They wanted to scrap our rights, sell our sovereignty and hand it to Trump, so he could install gringo military bases,” said Ricardo Moreno, 70.

Nearly 14 million Ecuadorans were eligible to cast ballots on whether to overturn a 2008 ban on foreign military bases.

Voters were also asked three other questions: whether they should end public funding for political parties, reduce the number of lawmakers and create an elected body that would draft a new constitution. The early count showed those proposals failing by a large margin, too.

“We respect the will of the Ecuadoran people,” Noboa said, accepting the results.

Noboa had hoped a new constitution would give him more powers to tackle crime, curb the power of the judiciary and reform the economy.

The result is a shock. Polls had predicted that Noboa would win on all four questions, and he remains popular, having recently won a second term in office.

However, Sunday’s results carried signs that under pressure from still-high crime rates Noboa’s might be dimming.

“I had the wrong idea about him. I made a mistake, I voted for him,” said Andres Delgado, a 23-year-old university student.

“I’m celebrating because the nation should not be treated this way by this inept president,” he added.

Noboa won on a promise to tackle violence sparked by turf wars between drug trafficking gangs who transport cocaine from Latin America to North America, Europe and Asia.

He has deployed soldiers on the streets and in prisons, launched dramatic raids on drug strongholds and declared frequent states of emergency, which were criticized by human rights groups.

Once much safer, Ecuador now has one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America, and some would like to give Noboa freer rein.

“It is the only way to toughen the laws a bit and put an end to the insecurity our country is experiencing,” Teresa Jacome, 60, said in the crime-ridden largest city of Guayaquil.

Regarding the other questions on the ballot, Noboa argued that the current constitution, at 400-plus articles, was too long and has “many errors.”

However, he had been coy about what parts of the constitution he would like to change, leading to allegations he wants to consolidate power and curb rights.

The body to draft a new constitution would likely be dominated by Noboa’s allies, given his approval rating of about 56 percent.

title: Ecuador voters reject return of US military bases


title: CCP infiltration efforts intensifying, MAC says

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SPYING: In 2022, 28 people in Taiwan were charged with activities linked to Chinese infiltration, while the number was 86 in 2023 and 168 last year, the MAC said

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) infiltration efforts against Taiwan have intensified, with targets varying from the military to the general public, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a news release yesterday.

The council cited judicial data and information from judge Hsu Kai-hsieh (許凱傑) of the Taipei District Court’s National Security Division.

The CPP uses six known methods to infiltrate Taiwan: intelligence leaks, organizational infiltration, social division, technology-related leaks, election interference and “gray zone” operations, the release said.

An image released by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) warns about Chinese infiltration. Photo: Screen grab from the MAC’s Facebook page

Some members of the military were coerced into handing over classified information after mistakenly signing a “surrender agreement,” the MAC said.

The main methods of organizational infiltration involve using hometown and alumni associations, and using borough leaders’ tour groups to penetrate local communities, the council said.

China has also sent spies to infiltrate political parties in Taiwan to divide Taiwanese society, it added.

The council said that the CCP aims to infiltrate Taiwan’s tech industry through China-funded enterprises or by sending spies to steal core technologies.

As for election interference methods, the council said they occur mostly during election periods, but are difficult to prove.

“Gray zone” operations such as the destruction of Taiwan’s undersea cables have been increasing, MAC said.

How the international community coordinates and divides responsibilities — including reporting and pursuing suspicious vessels — is crucial for safeguarding communication infrastructure, Hsu said in the release.

In 2022, 28 people in Taiwan were charged with activities connected to Chinese infiltration, while the number was 86 in 2023 and last year it nearly doubled to 168, the council said.

The figures showed the CCP’s infiltration of Taiwan has intensified, with targets including high-level officials, military commanders, as well as lower-ranking officers and servicemembers, the release said.

Last month, Hsu briefed the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) in the US about China’s legal warfare and its efforts to infiltrate Taiwan.

The CECC is an independent commission established in October 2000, responsible for monitoring China’s human rights conditions and the development of the rule of law. The commission is required to submit an annual report to the US president and US Congress.

In response to media queries at the time, Hsu said that the US Foreign Agents Registration Act is a good model for Taiwan, and that Taipei and Washington can also cooperate in counterintelligence training to eliminate espionage cases in Taiwan.

The concept of defensive democracy is very important, he said, adding that “too little regulation allows authoritarian infiltration, while too much turns into another form of dictatorship.”

Taiwan can provide case studies and work with other democratic countries to improve national security and the rule of law for democracies in the new era.


title: Archives show journey of Taiwan becoming free: Lai

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President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said the newly launched National Archives offer the public a deeper, unifying understanding of the pioneers of Taiwan’s democracy.

“The opening of the National Archives demonstrates not only the government’s determination to protect national records and preserve collective memory, but also our firm commitment to the openness of political archives — an important milestone in transitional justice,” Lai said at the launch ceremony in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口).

“I believe that through the openness of archives, more people will understand the resolve of those who pursued democracy before us, appreciate the value of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and further unite to safeguard Taiwan’s freedom,” Lai said.

President William Lai, center, holds a placard along with other officials at the opening of the National Archives in New Taipei City’s Linkou District yesterday. Photo: Huang Cheng-chia, Taipei Times

Taiwan, as a democracy, has a political system driven by party politics and competition, but Taiwanese must be united in facing the struggles of the future, he said.

“What aggressors fear most is the strength of unity,” he said. “Together, let us confront the past with truth as our foundation, deepen dialogue and unite our strength so Taiwan could continue to move forward firmly on the path of freedom and democracy.”

The National Archives is responsible for collecting and preserving important records from all levels of government, valuable documents from private groups and Taiwan-related records held overseas, Lai said.

President William Lai, front row, second left, tours the National Archives in New Taipei City’s Linkou District yesterday during its opening. Photo: CNA

Government agencies at all levels must transfer their archives, and no agencies may conceal or refuse to turn over requested documents, he said.

When managing its collections, the National Archives should follow the principle of “maximum openness and minimal restriction,” thereby facilitating efforts to scrutinize government actions and achieve transparency, Lai said.

He encouraged the National Archives to collaborate with schools, civic groups and local cultural institutions to cultivate evidence-based reasoning skills and deepen understanding of how Taiwan’s politics, economy, industry and literature developed, Lai said.

On Sept. 10, the number of days since the lifting of martial law in 1987 has surpassed the number of days Taiwan was under martial law from 1949 to 1987, he said.

Lai expressed his gratitude to the National Archives for displaying original archival documents such as the order lifting martial law, the amendment to Article 100 of the Criminal Code and other landmark documents that were crucial to Taiwan’s democratization.

“I invite the Taiwanese to visit the National Archives, and witness how Taiwan emerged from the shadows of authoritarianism and moved toward the light of democracy, step by step,” he added.


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Taiwan and Japan have ties that run deep, premier says

ALIGNED THINKING: Taiwan and Japan have a mutual interest in trade, culture and engineering, and can work together for stability, Cho Jung-tai said

Taiwan and Japan are two like-minded countries willing to work together to form a “safety barrier” in the Indo-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium in Taipei.

Taiwan and Japan are close geographically and closer emotionally, he added.

Citing the overflowing of a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in September, Cho said the submersible water level sensors given by Japan during the disaster helped Taiwan monitor the lake’s water levels more accurately.

Japan also provided a lot of vaccines early in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cho said, adding that such caring actions were deeply heartwarming to Taiwanese.

Taiwan-Japan collaborations in engineering have been fruitful overseas, including an MRT project in Jakarta and the North-South Commuter Railway project in the Philippines, Cho said.

Taiwan and Japan should expect more win-win collaborations, he said, adding that both sides should cooperate more closely in response to the new trade landscape formed amid global tariff impacts.

Aside from exchanges regarding industries, economy, culture and tourism, Taiwan and Japan are also devoted to maintaining regional peace and stability, he said.

Taiwan would take responsibility and demonstrate its ability to defend national sovereignty and security, he said.

Cho said he expects Taiwan to stand side by side with aligned countries across the world to fight together for freedom, democracy and human rights.

Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Deputy Representative Gen Kawai said that Taiwan is a geographical neighbor and a partner with common core values for Japan, adding that the strong bilateral bond has been forged through numerous face-to-face communications by people of both sides.

Taiwan and Japan face similar social and geographical challenges, including frequent natural disasters such as earthquakes, scarce natural resources, low birthrates and aging societies, he said.

Engineers from both sides can contribute their knowledge and skills to jointly address such challenges, Kawai said, adding that he expects this year’s symposium to consolidate such mutually beneficial ties.


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By Chen Yu-fu and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The government would continue to restrict use of China-made software and hardware for public-sector applications due to information security concerns, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Sunday.

The statement came after the National Security Bureau (NSB) earlier that day said that five China-made artificial intelligence (AI) language models — DeepSeek, Doubao (豆包), Yiyan (文心一言), Qwen (通義千問) and Yuanbao (騰訊元寶) — exhibit pro-China political bias and distorted historical interpretations.

Notably, when generating responses related to cross-strait issues, the South China Sea or China, the systems uniformly adopt Chinese Communist Party (CCP) positions, asserting that “Taiwan is governed by China’s central government” and that “there is no such thing as a national leader in Taiwan,” the NSB said.

The DeepSeek logo is displayed on a mobile phone screen in front of a People’s Republic of China flag on Jan. 29. Photo: Reuters

“We have repeatedly warned the public about the potential risks of using China-based applications, including data leakage, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and threats to the well-being of children and adolescents,” the MAC said.

Beijing is using AI language models and other apps to spread disinformation and sow division in Taiwanese society, the MAC said, adding that the Ministry of Digital Affairs and other government agencies are implementing measures in line with President William Lai’s (賴清德) March 13 directive to strengthen the nation’s information security environment.

The government would continue to bolster media literacy education and help the public better identify disinformation to counter Beijing’s use of Chinese-made apps for infiltration and “united front” work, it said.

Tunghai University Cross-Strait Research Center deputy executive director Hung Pu-chao (洪浦釗) said the NSB’s warning about the pro-China stance of the five AI systems on cross-strait issues does not reflect technological immaturity, but rather the constraints of Chinese law.

Chinese legislation explicitly requires adherence to the CCP’s “core socialist values,” and prohibits the generation of content that “incites subversion of state power, undermines the socialist system, endangers national security or interests, damages the national image, promotes separatism, or disrupts national unity and social stability,” he said.

“Under that framework, any content touching on sovereignty, national identity or Taiwan’s status cannot legally deviate from Beijing’s official position,” he said.

“The real risk of Chinese AI is not just data security, but narrative infiltration — technology that appears neutral, but is effectively a political text generator guided by state ideology.”

Government agencies in Taiwan should remind the public that they are not conversing with AI when using Chinese software; they are being fed the CCP’s official position, Hung said.

“The NSB warning is a reminder that democratic societies must be able to recognize political influence operations wrapped in digital packaging,” he added.

title: MAC warns about Chinese AI models


content_text:
By Chen Yu-fu and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Only 169,159 Chinese tourists have visited Lienchiang (Matsu) and Kinmen counties this year, compared with more than 2.3 million Taiwanese visiting China, as Beijing’s ban on Chinese nationals visiting Taiwan proper continues, data showed.

According to Mainland Affairs Council data, 2.77 million Taiwanese visited China last year, and about 2.34 million visited from January to September this year.

From March last year to September this year, Taiwanese travel agencies organized tours to China for 25,000 people.

People take photos as a Republic of China flag flutters, with China’s Xiamen in the background, on Dadan Island in Kinmen County on Oct. 18. Photo: Reuters

Taiwan from September 2023 have allowed Chinese living outside of China to visit Taiwan as tourists.

A total of 116,000 such tourists came to Taiwan last year, and 96,000 came from January to September this year.

In addition, Chinese residing in China made 43,578 visits to Kinmen and Lienchiang last year, increasing to 169,159 visits this year up to September, data showed.

Although the government bans organized tour groups from visiting China, some domestic travel agencies sell packages to independent travelers or lead groups to China under the pretext of religious exchange or visiting relatives, a person familiar with the matter said yesterday.

These are mostly organized by smaller agencies, which hope the government does not lift the ban so that they do not have to compete with large agencies, the source said.

title: Taiwan-China tourism numbers lopsided


title: Taiwan names new ambassador to Palau

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The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the appointment of Andy Chen (陳剛毅), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ chief liaison officer to the Legislative Yuan, as the nation’s new ambassador to Palau.

Chen, director general of the ministry’s Parliamentarian Affairs since February, will replace sitting ambassador Jessica Lee (黎倩儀), who is heading back to the ministry’s headquarters in Taipei.

Lee became the top envoy in the Pacific island country in October 2021.

Director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Parliamentarian Affairs Andy Chen is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: CNA

Chen, who received his bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language and Culture from National Chengchi University, previously served as Taiwan’s representative to Oman (2021-2022), and head of Taiwan’s office in Vancouver (2018-2021), Brunei and the Philippines.

Palau is one of 12 countries around the world that maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei instead of Beijing.


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ENHANCED FORECASTING CAPABILITY:  The findings could reduce risks triggered by plasma disturbances, such as a loss in aviation communications, researchers said

A National Central University research team has published their discovery of a plasma density hole during a magnetic storm last year, the university’s Center for Astronautical Science and Engineering said yesterday.

The solar magnetic storm on May 10 last year, also called the “Mother’s Day storm,” was the strongest scientists have recorded over the past 20 years, the center said.

The team consisted of researchers from National Central University, Central Weather Administration and University of Colorado in Boulder, it said, adding that their study was published in the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters.

National Central University Department of Space Science and Engineering professors Liu Jann-yenq, second left, and Chao Chi-kuang, second right, pose with research team members in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of National Central University

Using data collected by the Formosat-5 and Formosat-7 satellites, and through Global Ionospheric Specification (GIS), the team found that the storm triggered the creation of a plasma density hole spanning thousands of kilometers, the center said.

Formosat-5 is Taiwan’s first domestically developed remote sensing satellite. In addition to its imaging capabilities, the satellite has an Advanced Ionospheric Probe — developed by National Central University’s space team — capable of measuring ion density, temperature, velocity and composition in the ionosphere.

Formosat-7 is a Taiwan-US collaborative meteorological satellite mission aimed at establishing a high-reliability network for satellite meteorology and space weather observation. Its onboard Ion Velocity Meter can monitor ion parameters at high frequencies, which is crucial for capturing rapidly changing plasma dynamics.

The research team used global ionospheric models and data assimilation techniques to reconstruct 3D electron density distributions in the ionosphere, enhancing the global and systematic nature of their studies.

Researcher Wu Tsung-yu (吳宗祐) integrated data from the satellites and the GIS, and found that plasma density above the Atlantic Ocean during the storm was more than 100 times lower than in other regions, covering a range of 5,000km to 8,000km, the center said.

The most surprising finding was a twin-peak structure in the center of the hole, which was caused by the combination of upward plasma flows at an altitude of 720km and downward plasma flows at 550km, the center said.

“This shows that the Earth’s ionosphere could have unprecedented changes during extreme space weather events,” it said.

When a solar magnetic storm triggers a plasma disturbance, it could result in GPS errors, interruptions to aviation communications and loss of satellite attitude control, the center said.

The study’s findings would significantly enhance the nation’s space weather forecasting capabilities and reduce potential aviation, maritime and disaster-prevention communication risks, it said.

The project receives financial support from the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Sprout Project and the National Science and Technology Council.

title: Study uncovers magnetic storm mystery


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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to increase the frequency of random inspections of cage eggs starting this week, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said yesterday.

The move was in response to reports that pesticide-contaminated eggs from a movement-controlled farm in Changhua County were still making their way into the market.

The FDA on Friday said it received a report from the Taichung Office of Food and Drug Safety saying that they found eggs from Wenya Livestock Farm in a store on Monday last week, despite the movement controls on the farm.

Officials inspect packages of eggs in Changhua County yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Changhua County Government

The store was asked to remove the contaminated eggs from shelves and to stop selling eggs from Wenya Livestock Farm.

Tests on the eggs also detected 0.05 parts per million (ppm) of fipronil and its metabolites, which is in excess of the 0.01ppm limit.

It was “unimaginable” that Wenya Livestock Farm continued to sell eggs, despite being placed under movement control by the central government, Shih said, adding that the ministry asked the local government to investigate and hold people responsible for the distribution of eggs accountable.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Global Health and Welfare Forum in Taiwan in Taipei, Shih said the FDA is this week to increase the frequency of random inspections on eggs in the market.

“The expanded inspections will be conducted according to risk evaluation,” he said, adding that he would not go into detail about the inspections, so that egg dealers would not have time to prepare.

Problems are easier to detect through unannounced inspections, the minister added.

Risk stratification would also be used, so the first target would be eggs labeled “C,” or “cage eggs,” Shih said.

The FDA and agricultural agencies would together review the conditions of egg farms, including stock density, and assess the risk levels of cities and counties, to decide how the inspections should be carried out, he said.

title: Minister announces more random egg inspections


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The Shilin District Court in Taipei yesterday handed guilty verdicts to 15 people, including 10 former athletes, for game-fixing and gambling in semi-professional Super Basketball League (SBL) games.

Ten Yulon Luxgen Dinos players conspired to fix the scores in six matches between February and April 2023, the court said.

Eight of the defendants were found guilty of gambling, while one was found guilty of providing a platform for gambling with the intention of making a profit between December 2022 and April 2023, it said.

The entrance to the Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Wu Cheng-feng, Taipei Times

The court determined that former player Ko Min-hao (柯旻豪) was at the core of the criminal activities and handed him a seven-year sentence.

Players Wu Chi-ying (吳季穎), Chiu Chung-po (邱忠博), Chen Pin-chuan (陳品銓), Huang Hsuan-min (黃鉉閔), Wu Yu-jen (吳祐任), Chou Wei-chen (周暐宸), Yen Wen-tso (顏聞佐), Lee Chi-en (李其恩) and Sengalese national Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Sarr received sentences ranging from one year and eight months to five years and two months.

Former Yulon Luxgen Dinos assistant coach Chiu Chi-wei (邱繼緯), an underground betting bookie and four acquaintances of Wu Chi-ying who helped him to place bets on the gambling Web site were given sentences ranging from eight months to two years.

The rulings can be appealed.

Ko took advantage of his position and influence as a veteran on the team and recruited younger players for the scheme, the court said.

The other players complied, hindering fair play and corrupting Taiwan’s professional basketball development, the court added.

As Wu Chi-ying confessed, and provided important evidence and statements, the court handed him a lenient sentence of two years, which can be deferred for five years, it said.

The bookie and Wu Chi-ying’s four acquaintances also confessed, the court said, adding that they received suspended sentences.

Bamba Sarr was ruled unfit to remain in Taiwan following his prison sentence and would be deported after serving his contract, it said.

The court added that it would report Chou for perjury, as his signed statement during the investigation diverged greatly from his testimony in the trial.

title: Shilin Court finds 15 guilty of game-fixing and gambling


content_text:
NO WORRIES:  Bloggers welcomed the advisory, with one saying travel quality would be better and another saying a rise in Taiwanese travelers would offset any tourism losses

Beijing’s advisory urging Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan would significantly improve the tourism experience for visitors from other countries, travel bloggers said.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday issued a travel warning after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi earlier this month said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute “a survival-threatening situation” that could trigger a military response.

The advisory said that the crime rate in Japan has been rising, with many cases of Chinese being attacked.

“Recently, the Japanese leader made explicit and provocative remarks related to Taiwan, severely worsening the atmosphere of the exchange between Chinese and Japanese nationals, and putting life and safety of Chinese nationals residing in Japan under enormous risks,” the Chinese ministry said.

Chinese citizens should avoid visiting Japan in the near term, while those residing in Japan should closely monitor the security situation and enhance their safety awareness, it said.

Taiwanese travel writer “943” said that fewer Chinese tourists in Japan would make it easier for Taiwanese to book quality hotels and restaurants.

They would have more space to move around when shopping in Japanese stores and might no longer face long lines at checkouts, she said.

Their travel in Japan would be more relaxed and of higher quality as well, she said.

“Taiwanese travelers are actually pleased with the latest development of Japan-China relations, because they are now less likely to encounter loud group travelers, like going to Japan before it was inundated by travelers,” she said.

Taiwanese travel blogger Linshibi (林氏壁), who specializes in independent travel in Japan, joked that Japan is indeed a dangerous country.

“Seriously, Japan has seen a rise in bear attacks on humans, as well as a major flu outbreak. With the yen’s depreciation, one could easily spend a fortune without realizing it. Such a dangerous country is perfect for Taiwanese visitors,” he said.

It is worth monitoring to see if political factors actually lead to a substantial fall in Chinese tourists in Japan, he added.

“Takaichi can be assured that the tourism revenue that Japan has lost due to its dispute with China would be made up by a dramatic increase of Taiwanese visitors,” he said.

However, some Chinese in Shanghai and Beijing said they would still travel to Japan despite the warning, although they are concerned about discrimination in Japan and retribution from fellow citizens.

A man surnamed Yang (楊), who offers technical support services for Japanese corporations in China, frequently travels between the countries for work.

He said that he has become accustomed to shifts in China-Japan relations over the years.

However, it was the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than political factors, that most affected his work, Yang said.

Having permanent residency in Japan, Yang said he is surrounded by mostly Japan-friendly people and has already booked tickets for a sea-fishing trip in Nagasaki next year.

“My position on this issue would not be swayed, and I do not have friends who are populists,” he said.

title: China travel advisory good for other visitors: bloggers


title: Number of staff furloughed due to US tariff impact falls

content_text:
The number of workers on unpaid leave due to US tariffs fell slightly in the first half of this month, thanks to a recovery in orders, the Ministry of Labor said yesterday.

The number of workers impacted by tariffs fell to 7,530 as of Saturday, down by 45 from the end of last month, the ministry said, adding that the number of employers carrying out furlough programs also declined by 17 to 353.

Labor Conditions and Employment Equality specialist Li Yi-hsuan (李怡萱) said the data indicated that employment in the local export-oriented manufacturing sector was stabilizing, on the back of an increase in orders.

A person works at an industrial factory in New Taipei City in an undated photograph. Photo: CNA

The manufacturing sector recorded the largest number of furloughed workers at 7,923, accounting for about 94 percent of the total, ministry data showed.

The metal and electric machinery industry reported the highest number of furloughed workers at 6,029, with 283 employers implementing furlough programs, Li said.

The service sector stayed stable, with the number of workers on unpaid leave in the wholesale and retail industry remaining at 338, while the figure for the lodging, and food and beverage industry fell one to 32, data showed.

The total number of furloughed workers across the country was 8,456, up by 125 from the end of last month, while the number of employers implementing unpaid leave programs fell by 20 to 435, ministry data showed.

As tariff negotiations between Taiwan and the US are still ongoing, with Taipei aiming to lower the 20 percent tariff, the ministry will continue to closely watch the job market, Li said.

The ministry updates its furloughed worker data on the first and 16th of every month.

Most of the enterprises implementing furlough programs are small companies that employ fewer than 50 people.

Unpaid leave programs typically last less than three months, with employees taking five to eight days of unpaid leave per month, the ministry said.


title: Police question driver in baby stroller hit-and-run

content_text:
New Taipei City police yesterday said they questioned a driver who drove off after hitting a baby stroller on a crosswalk in the city’s Sindian District (新店).

In a video posted on Sunday on Threads, a Toyota sedan can be seen driving through a crosswalk and hitting the front of a stroller and then continuing on its way.

The accident occurred at about 3pm on Sunday, when a woman was pushing her baby in a stroller across a crosswalk on Sinwu Road Sec 1 at an intersection to Lane 11, police said.

A sedan is pictured striking a stroller in New Taipei City’s Sindian District on Sunday. Photo courtesy of local authorities via CNA

After hitting the front of the stroller, the driver sped away from the scene without exiting their vehicle to check what they had hit, they said.

The woman, surnamed Lin (林), and the baby were not seriously injured, police said, adding that Lin, 62, began feeling pain in her shoulder a few hours after the accident.

Lin yesterday reported the accident to the police and went to a doctor to have her injury examined, police said.

Police said that after running the vehicle’s license plate, they summoned the driver for questioning, on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident.

Failing to yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk is punishable by a fine of NT$1,200 to NT$6,000, they said.

Drivers who injure or kill a pedestrian on a crosswalk could be fined between NT$7,200 to NT$36,000, and have their license suspended for a year in the case of injury or revoked if the accident resulted in death, police added.

Under the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident that resulted in an injury is punishable by six months to five years in prison, they said.


title: Taipei 25th-richest city in the world: survey

content_text:
Taipei has been ranked the world’s 25th-richest city this year, with a GDP of US$867.83 billion, business magazine CEOWORLD said.

Taipei was the only Taiwanese city to make it into the top 100 of the survey, which ranked 300 metropolises worldwide.

“They are not just cities; they are economic ecosystems shaping how money moves, technology evolves and policy decisions ripple through the markets,” CEOWORLD said.

People walk in Xinyi District in Taipei in an undated photograph. Photo: CNA

Other Taiwanese cities were among the 300 richest cities in the world, with Taichung ranking 116th with a GDP of US$436 billion, Kaohsiung at 117th (US$433 billion), Taoyuan at 152nd (US$334 billion) and Tainan at 174th (US$288 billion).

Tokyo was this year’s richest city in the world, with a “staggering” GDP of US$2.55 trillion, surpassing New York in second place, the magazine said.

The Japanese capital remains a benchmark for operational excellence, technological sophistication and disciplined economic governance, it said.

“Japan’s capital integrates innovation with infrastructure like few others — its transportation systems, financial networks and industrial supply chains operate with unmatched precision,” CEOWORLD said.

Rounding out the top 10 (from third-richest city) were: Los Angeles (Long Beach, Anaheim), London, Seoul, Paris, Chicago (Naperville, Elgin), Osaka-Kobe, San Francisco (Oakland, Berkeley) and Shanghai, the magazine said.

The top 10 accounted for nearly one-third of the global GDP, it added.

Other high-ranking Asian cities included Beijing (11th), Singapore (16th), Shenzhen (21st), Chongqing (26th), Guangzhou (27th), Hong Kong (29th), Nagoya (30th) and Bangkok (46th), CEOWORLD said.

“Asia’s dominance in the 2025 rankings reflects a broader shift in global economic gravity eastward,” the magazine said.


people: 羅智強 賴清德

content_text:
KMT lawmakers urge president to pardon mother in ‘mercy killing’ case

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday urged President William Lai (賴清德) to grant a special pardon to an 80-year-old woman sentenced to prison for killing her severely disabled son after caring for him for five decades.

KMT caucus secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said a pardon is a constitutional human-rights mechanism designed to address such “heartbreaking” cases as that of the woman, whose appeal is currently being heard by the Taiwan High Court.

In an apparent rebuke of the president, Lo said the Constitution did not require a final conviction before a pardon could be granted. Lai’s office has previously stated it will not intervene while the judicial process is ongoing.

From left, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Chen Ching-hui, Lo Chih-chiang and Wang Hung-wei hold up signs at a news conference at the legislature in Taipei yesterday to announce that the caucus plans to petition President William Lai to grant a special pardon to an octogenarian mother who was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for killing her paralyzed son. Photo: Fang Bin-chao, Taipei Times

Lo added that the KMT caucus would formally request a presidential pardon for the woman.

Meanwhile, KMT Legislator Chen Ching-hui (陳菁徽) called on Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) and the ministry to take responsibility beyond merely echoing calls for clemency.

The ministry should thoroughly review long-term caregiving policies and propose concrete improvements to prevent similar tragedies, thereby ensuring that every family gets the support they need, she said.

Court documents show that the 80-year-old woman lived in Taipei’s Songshan District with her adult son and a foreign caregiver.

In April 2023, the woman was hospitalized with COVID-19. Upon returning home, she discovered that her son had also contracted the virus and was suffering from a persistent high fever.

With her own health declining -- she had suffered falls, bone fractures, and undergone multiple heart stent procedures -- the woman began to fear that if she died first, her son would be left without anyone to care for him, the court said.

The Taipei District Court acknowledged the extraordinary hardship the woman had endured and sentenced her to two and a half years in prison, while recommending that the president consider granting a special pardon.


title: Doctor, author Chen Yao-chang dies at 76

content_text:
Chen Yao-chang (陳耀昌), the physician who performed Taiwan’s first bone marrow transplant and the author of the historical novel “Puppet Flower” (傀儡花), has died at the age of 76.

Chen’s death was confirmed yesterday by Wang Jung-wen (王榮文), chairman of Yuan-Liou Publishing Co, which is scheduled to publish two new books by Chen by the end of this year.

Born in 1949, Chen graduated from National Taiwan University’s School of Medicine. In 1983, he completed Taiwan’s first autologous bone marrow transplant, making him the first doctor in the country to perform the procedure. He was also a pioneer in stem cell research, completing Taiwan’s first peripheral blood stem cell transplant in 1992.

Physician and author Chen Yao-chang is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Taipei Times

Among Chen’s students is Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung- liang (石崇良), who yesterday called Chen “my most important instructor, our chief advisor.”

Shih praised Chen for traveling to Vietnam to guide bone marrow transplant procedures, and for his efforts to make regenerative therapies more accessible, saying, “It was always the teacher’s dream to make regenerative medicine not be just for the rich.”

News of Chen’s death led many people to post tributes on his Facebook page, sharing photos and messages in memory of his guidance, help, and contributions.

In addition to his medical legacy, Chen was recognized as a novelist devoted to Taiwanese history, with “Puppet Flower: A Novel of 1867 Formosa,” his most noted work.

“Puppet Flower” recounts the Rover Incident between two Indigenous groups in southern Taiwan and an American merchant ship, which escalated into further conflict. It was later adapted into the television series “Seqalu: Formosa 1867” (斯卡羅).

Tsao Jui-yuan (曹瑞原), director of “Seqalu,” said yesterday that he had been “deeply struck and inspired” when he first read “Puppet Flower,” which offered him “a new way to understand history.”

He described Chen as an elder whom “you never felt pressured around, someone who always treated you with tenderness, patience, and an open mind.”

Chen once told reporters that history is valuable precisely because it reveals multiple perspectives. He said the Chinese-speaking world has long overemphasized exams, “but forgotten that history is what allows us to know ourselves again, or to grow again.”

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Culture said it will recommend that President William Lai (賴清德) posthumously honor Chen.


content_text: Pedestrians walk in rainy weather in Taipei yesterday. Temperatures are to gradually fall nationwide this week, dropping to 15oC to 16oC in the early hours of tomorrow and Thursday.

title: The cold cometh


title: Top firms seek to reassure investors

content_text:
FLUCTUATIONS: Taiwan Life Insurance and Cathay Life Insurance both said that their foreign-exchange reserve funds provide room for expected currency swings

Two of Taiwan’s largest financial groups yesterday sought to reassure investors that they can weather currency volatility, following a rare joint statement by Taiwan’s central bank and the US Department of the Treasury that rekindled expectations of the local currency’s appreciation.

CTBC Financial Holding Co (中信金控) president and spokeswoman Rachael Kao (高麗雪) told an investors’ conference that the local currency is expected to maintain a long-term appreciation trend, with the New Taiwan dollar likely to hover at about NT$30 through the end of this year.

The NT dollar yesterday closed NT$0.030 lower at NT$31.180 against the US dollar in Taipei. The dip came despite the central bank saying in the joint statement on Friday that it would provide the US Treasury with intervention data quarterly beginning next month, up from twice a year previously.

Kao said the statement should not be seen as a shift in the central bank’s foreign-exchange policy or a restriction on Taiwan’s exchange-rate flexibility, adding that the US Treasury has previously issued similar statements for Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Malaysia and Thailand.

Kao highlighted the local currency’s robust outlook, citing strong external balances and resilient capital inflows as supportive factors.

Taiwan Life Insurance Co (台灣人壽), a subsidiary of CTBC Financial, held NT$17.6 billion (US$564.46 million) in foreign-exchange reserves as of Sept. 30, Taiwan Life chief investment officer Yeh Pai-hung (葉?宏) said, adding that currency fluctuations within NT$2 would not materially affect its earnings.

If currency hedging costs — through instruments such as forwards, options or swaps — fall below 3 percent, the company would increase its hedge ratio, Yeh said.

Cathay Life Insurance Co (國泰人壽), Taiwan’s largest insurer by assets, said its foreign-exchange reserve fund provides ample room to absorb currency swings even if the NT dollar strengthens to NT$28 against the greenback.

“We do not expect a material impact from the expected currency appreciation,” Cathay Life spokesman Lin Chao-ting (林昭廷) said.

Lin emphasized that domestic insurers hold substantial offshore portfolios with investment horizons exceeding 20 years, so most foreign-exchange gains or losses remain unrealized and are reflected only on paper.

The life insurance sector has gradually reduced its reliance on traditional hedging tools, which carry elevated costs, in favor of expanding foreign-exchange reserves as a form of “self-insurance,” Lin said.

The sector has enhanced reserve buffers since May, when the NT dollar surged, with plans for an additional 30 percent increase by the end of the year, he said.

The measures leave local insurers well-positioned to withstand further currency volatility, should the NT dollar climb higher, he added.


content_text:
Server shipments to grow 6%, AI servers to rise 24.1%

POWERHOUSE: Nvidia is expected to ship 5.9 million GPUs this year, while server racks based on its units are expected to dominate shipments, an analyst said

Global server shipments this year are expected to grow about 6 percent from last year to 14.49 million units, while artificial intelligence (AI) server shipments are forecast to exceed 2.1 million units, rising 24.1 percent year-on-year, Taipei-based market researcher TrendForce Corp (集邦科技) said on Friday.

Next year, the global server market is expected to grow by more than 4 percent, with the AI server segment set to expand by about 21 percent, it said.

Clients in the AI server market can be broadly grouped into three categories: US cloud service providers (CSPs), Chinese CSPs and international original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), TrendForce research manager Frank Kung (龔明德) said at a forum in Taipei.

Global CSPs’ combined capital expenditures are projected to rise 40 percent this year, signaling strong momentum, even after two years of rapid expansion, Kung said.

The momentum in US CSPs is expected to sustain next year, after leading firms, including Amazon.com Inc, Google, Microsoft Corp and Meta Platforms Inc, significantly raised their capital expenditures, he said.

In China, Baidu Inc (百度), Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (阿里巴巴) and Tencent Holdings Ltd (騰訊) continued to play a key role in driving local AI demand since the beginning of this year, Kung said.

Among OEMs, Dell Technologies Inc has shown the strongest performance, followed by HP Enterprise Co, tier-2 CSPs and sovereign cloud operators, he said.

Despite strong market demand, the server supply chain is facing several key risks, including US export controls on chips supplied to China and tariff policies targeting the country, he said.

Meanwhile, it would take time for upstream semiconductor equipment and components to come fully online to meet demand, he added.

AI server racks — including this year’s mainstream models running on Nvidia Corp’s GB200 and GB300 platforms, and next year’s products powered by the Vera Rubin architecture — are adopting increasingly complex designs that require high-voltage power supplies and advanced cooling solutions, which means that server manufacturers would also need to factor in power infrastructure when expanding capacity in the future, Kung said.

Nvidia is expected to ship 5.9 million advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) this year, and between 6.9 million and 7.1 million units next year, he said.

Among server racks based on Nvidia’s GPUs, the GB200 series is expected to dominate this year’s shipments, accounting for 70 to 80 percent of total shipments, as the GB300 series only entered mass production this quarter and is expected to become mainstream next year, he said.

Total rack shipments of both series are projected to reach 36,000 units this year and increase to 59,000 units next year, he added.


title: Japan-China dispute over Taiwan sinks travel stocks

content_text:
Japanese tourism and retail shares dived yesterday after China warned its citizens to avoid the tourist hot spot in a spat over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan.

A senior Japanese official arrived in China, reports said, seeking to defuse the row sparked by Takaichi’s suggestion that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.

Asia’s two top economies are closely entwined, with China being the biggest source of tourists — almost 7.5 million visitors in the first nine months of this year — coming to Japan.

A Chinese tour group walks past a Shiseido store in Tokyo yesterday. Photo: AFP

Drawn by a weak yen making shopping cheaper, they collectively splurged more than US$1 billion a month in the third quarter, accounting for almost 30 percent of all tourist spending.

Japan was also the fourth-most popular destination for Chinese tourists last year, helping the land of Mount Fuji, sushi and geishas set new records for foreign arrivals.

However, in fears that this might stop, investors yesterday wiped 9 percent off Japanese cosmetics firm Shiseido Co’s market value.

Department store group Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd fell 11.3 percent, Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp, behind discount retail chain and tourist magnet Don Quijote, slid 5.3 percent, and Fast Retailing Co — the owner of Uniqlo — shed 4.8 percent.

Japan Airlines Co, whose shares nosedived 3.4 percent, has not seen any major cancelations on flights to and from China, a spokesperson said.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 closed down 0.1 percent at 50,323.91.

The diplomatic spat could spell further bad news for Japan’s economy, which shrank by 0.4 percent quarter-on-quarter in the third quarter, the first contraction in six quarters, official data showed.

Capital Economics Ltd senior Japan economist Marcel Thieliant warned that the tensions risked escalating “into a full-blown trade spat,” similar to a previous episode in the early 2010s.

That could include China restricting exports of rare earths or imposing restrictions on Japanese exports.

“Carmakers look particularly vulnerable as they are already under enormous pressure from the ascent of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers,” Thieliant added.


content_text:
Surging prices of memory chips could undercut Taiwan’s shipments of notebook computers and smartphones next year, as the chips drive up retail prices of hardware, TrendForce Corp (集邦科技) said yesterday.

The Taipei-based market researcher forecast that notebook computer and smartphone shipments would grow 0.1 percent and 1.7 percent year-on-year respectively next year, down from its previous estimates of 2 percent and 2.4 percent, it said in a report.

If memory supply constraints worsen, or retail price increases surpass consumers’ expectations, TrendForce said it might further cut its shipment growth estimates.

SK Hynix Inc memory modules are displayed at the SK AI Summit in Seoul on Nov. 3. Photo: Bloomberg

DRAM prices this quarter are expected to soar 75 percent year-on-year, it said.

This year as a whole, expensive DRAM would likely push up smartphone manufacturing costs by about 8 to 10 percent, given that DRAM makes up 10 to 15 percent of the overall material costs, it added.

As DRAM and NAND flash memory prices continue to rise, the material costs are expected to climb another 5 to 7 percent next year, TrendForce said.

Against this backdrop, mobile phone vendors are expected to raise retail prices across-the-board to maintain profitability, while reducing exposure to the entry-level segment that delivers slim margins, the researcher said.

The persistent chip crunch could hit smaller smartphone vendors especially hard, it added.

Notebook computer vendors would face similar challenges next year, TrendForce said.

The retail prices of notebook computers are forecast to rise about 5 percent to 15 percent next year due to rising material costs, it said.

Hikes in retail prices would weigh on market demand substantially as users extend replacement cycles, it added.

To mitigate the negative effect on sales and profit margins, PC vendors must strike a balance between retail price increases, inventory management and subsidies for distributors, TrendForce said.

title: Surging memory prices could impact notebook shipments


content_text:
Bitcoin bulls have it all — Wall Street support, political tailwinds, institutional cash. Everything, that is, except a rally.

After topping US$126,000 last month, bitcoin has fallen sharply, briefly wiping out this year’s gains before stabilizing yesterday morning in Asia. The sharp retreat from record highs comes in a year that was supposed to cement bitcoin’s legitimacy.

Wall Street has shown up, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are bringing crypto into mainstream portfolios and US President Donald Trump’s administration has fully embraced crypto.

A representation of a bitcoin is pictured in an illustration photograph taken on Sept. 10. Photo: Reuters

Yet the market has retreated — fast, hard and with no clear trigger. Bitcoin’s total market value has plunged by about US$600 billion from last month’s high, data compiled by Bloomberg showed.

Across trading desks and social media, anxiety is creeping in. Traders are cycling through old charts, dusting off familiar theories, scouring for buyers. With no traditional Wall Street playbook for how bitcoin should behave — no stable correlation, no proven risk framework — some default to the model they know best: the four-year halving cycle.

That is the event that sees bitcoin’s supply growth cut in half, by design, about every four years. Historically, it has spurred speculative booms followed by painful busts, often with a lag as miners — operators of powerful computers supporting the network — tend to unload their holdings just as prices sour.

This cycle, the halving took place in April last year. Then came the price peak last month. That roughly fits the old rhythm, but with deep-pocketed buyers shaping the market, it is no longer clear the script still applies.

“The sentiment in retail crypto is so bad that there could still be some downside in the market,” said Bitwise Asset Management Inc chief investment officer Matthew Hougan, who believes prices will go up next year. “People are afraid that the four-year cycle might repeat, and they don’t want to live through another 50 percent pullback. People are front-running that by stepping out of the market.”

Some of the damage reflects hangover and exhaustion. Retail cash got torched chasing crypto-treasury stocks at the highs. Then, early last month, a surprise escalation in trade tensions triggered liquidations — just as leverage boomed.

The result: a market long on expectations, short on conviction and too fragile to catch the knife once sentiment flipped.

All this, just as the pro-crypto story looked strongest. ETFs hauled in billions by midyear, recasting bitcoin as a macro hedge. Trump’s pro-crypto policies promised even more upside.

However, flows stalled. Some longtime holders cashed out. Poster firms such as Strategy Inc trade close to the value of their bitcoin holdings — a sign conviction is no longer commanding a premium.

“At this point, bitcoin trades much more like a macro asset embedded in institutional portfolios, responding to liquidity, policy and dollar dynamics more than to mechanically predictable supply shocks,” said Jake Kennis, an analyst at crypto data firm Nansen Pte Ltd.

Despite all the talk of institutionalization, the market still trades on vibes. Right now, the vibes are bad.

With gold and stocks near all-time highs, bitcoin is the “tip of the risk-assets iceberg and melting,” Bloomberg Intelligence senior commodity strategist Mike McGlone said. “I expect bitcoin and most cryptos to keep falling.”

For Derek Lim, head of research at crypto market maker Caladan Group, the bitcoin bull runs of 2017 and 2021 were not simply the result of the halving events that preceded them, but of “a more powerful and fundamental driver: global liquidity,” he said.

That might return now that the US government shutdown has come to an end, he added.

title: Bitcoin fall humbles Wall Street faithful


title: Trade tensions force EU to cut 2026 eurozone growth forecast

content_text:
The eurozone economy will grow less than expected next year, the EU executive predicted yesterday, as risks from international trade and geopolitical tensions weigh on the single currency area.

The European Commission forecast the 20-country single currency area to grow by 1.2 percent next year, down from a previous forecast of 1.4 percent.

European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, and for Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis said the EU expected US trade policy moves and responses by “key players like China will dampen global trade.”

European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, and for Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis speaks at a press conference on the Autumn Economic Forecast at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday. Photo: Nicolas Tucat, AFP

“The EU’s highly open economy remains susceptible to ongoing trade restrictions and uncertainty,” Dombrovskis told reporters in Brussels.

The bloc’s executive, however, noted that US trade deals with partners including the European Union “alleviated some of the uncertainties.”

Struck in July, the deal with US President Donald Trump means EU exports face a baseline US levy of 15 percent, rather than a threatened 30 percent, which would have wrought havoc on the European economy.

The EU’s data is based on the implementation of the tariffs as agreed.

For the entire 27-country EU, Brussels expects growth of 1.4 percent next year, slightly lower than the 1.5 percent predicted in May.

Dombrovskis appeared upbeat despite the difficulties.

“The EU’s economy has beaten expectations in the first nine months of the year. Looking further ahead, we expect growth to continue at a moderate pace despite the challenging external environment,” he said.

The commission believes that the ramping up of Europe’s competitiveness paired with higher defence spending “focused on EU production” and new trade deals “could bolster economic activity more than projected.”

However, Europe is still lagging behind the US and China.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month predicted the US economy would grow by 2.1 percent next year.

Even though it anticipated that China’s economy would slow this year, the IMF predicted the Asian powerhouse would grow by 4.2 percent next year.

But the forecast for Europe offered some relief after the commission said it now expected the bloc’s biggest economy, Germany, to grow by 0.2 percent this year, instead of the stagnation it previously predicted.

It also forecast the export-driven German economy to grow by 1.2 percent next year, slightly up from the 1.1 percent past prediction.

France, the second biggest European economy, is faring a little better, with growth of 0.7 percent expected this year and 0.9 percent next year.

Brussels also said inflation in the single currency area is expected to reach 2.1 percent this year, within touching distance of the European Central Bank’s two-percent target.

The “sustained return to stable prices is good news for European consumers who had seen their purchasing power eroded by inflation in recent years,” Dombrovskis said.

The commission believes inflation will slow down to 1.9 percent next year, higher than the 1.7 percent prediction published in May.

Although Brussels said food and services price rises are slowing, this was “counterbalanced by rising energy inflation.”


title: Finger-licking good

content_text: People visit the Kaohsiung Popcorn Chicken Festival at the plaza in front of the FE21’ Mega Far Eastern Department Store in the city’s Lingya District on Sunday. The two-day event featured 65 popcorn chicken stands from across Taiwan, with each offering its own unique flavor, the Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau said yesterday. The fifth annual event drew more than 120,000 visitors over the weekend, the bureau said.


title: EDITORIAL: The ‘Formosa flu’ diagnosis

content_text:
The central bank and the US Department of the Treasury on Friday issued a joint statement that both sides agreed to avoid currency manipulation and the use of exchange rates to gain a competitive advantage, and would only intervene in foreign-exchange markets to combat excess volatility and disorderly movements. The central bank also agreed to disclose its foreign-exchange intervention amounts quarterly rather than every six months, starting from next month. It emphasized that the joint statement is unrelated to tariff negotiations between Taipei and Washington, and that the US never requested the appreciation of the New Taiwan dollar during the consultations.

The release comes as the US Treasury is expected to issue its semi-annual Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the US in the coming weeks. Although the June report did not identify any of the US’ major trading partners as currency manipulators, it nevertheless kept Taiwan, along with China, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland, on its currency manipulation watch list. If the US Treasury names Taiwan a currency manipulator in the forthcoming report, it could create a serious issue amid sensitive tariff talks. Already, Taiwan’s widening trade surplus with the US, driven by strong exports amid an artificial intelligence boom, is complicating those negotiations.

Coincidentally, Thursday’s issue of The Economist warned about Taiwan’s economy in its cover story, titled “The Hidden Risks of Taiwan’s Boom.” The article claimed that Taiwan looks strong and prosperous on the surface, but suffers from the “Formosa flu,” a long-standing structural issue that has been overlooked for years: The central bank’s deliberate undervaluation of the NT dollar has impaired Taiwanese’s purchasing power, pushed up housing prices and created growing financial risks.

The central bank in response said that many factors affect exchange-rate movements, and market dynamics of supply and demand determine the NT dollar’s valuation. It also rejected the British magazine’s use of its Big Mac Index to assess the value of the NT dollar, saying the price of a single product cannot adequately measure the overall valuation of a currency.

The World Bank and the IMF use purchasing power parity (PPP) to calculate exchange rates that equalize the purchasing power of different currencies, or to measure and compare GDP among countries. PPP is calculated based on a basket of goods and services, and it has no causal relationship with exchange rates. The reason is simple: Exchange rates are determined by the foreign exchange market, whereas PPP is determined by the consumer market. In that sense, PPP is already not a sufficient indicator for determining the equilibrium exchange rate, much less when using a single-product index like the Big Mac.

Similar arguments have been raised in the past, and The Economist’s assertion that the NT dollar is undervalued, leading to economic imbalances and problems such as unaffordable housing and stagnant wages, is nothing new. The problem is that macroeconomics is never a simple matter of right and wrong, and there are almost no perfect solutions for economic issues. Instead, most choices involve compromise, opting for decisions where the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and the harm is minimal.

Taiwan’s achievements are real, but the rising pressure on household living standards is no place to hide and, indeed, most people do not feel the benefits of economic growth. Who should pay for Taiwan’s economic boom? There is no exact answer, but policymakers need to rethink the nation’s economic playbook and deal with this long-overdue exchange-rate issue.


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Ongoing delays in teacher hiring is a growing concern. In the past, schools typically completed all hiring prior to the start of the school year. Now, many are still recruiting teachers after classes have begun, reflecting a serious phenomenon: a lack of new talent in education.

The proportion of teachers younger than 40 has fallen by 50 percent over the past decade, according to statistics. Many young people are not enthusiastic about the stability and ideals associated with teaching, and are instead turning to industries that offer higher pay and more flexible career development.

To fill this gap, some schools have been forced to ask teachers to take on extra classes, teach multiple subjects and even work for continuous periods, far beyond their standard hours. Such practices have become commonplace. As a result, the quality of instruction has fallen.

Education should be the foundation for nurturing the next generation, but rigid systems and changes in the work environment have made that difficult.

The instability is not simply a matter of insufficient personnel; rather, it is a result of long-term structural imbalances. The current hiring system is hardly appealing to young teachers. The probationary, substitute and part-time appointment mechanisms make it difficult for teachers to achieve career stability. In addition, the sharp decline in student enrollment, coupled with frequent school district mergers and reductions in available teaching positions, has discouraged many young people with a passion for education from pursuing a teaching career.

At the same time, an increase in administrative burdens and pressure from parents has eroded teachers’ professional dignity. This is particularly true in an atmosphere that treats teaching like the service industry and educators are expected to take on multiple roles — counselor, customer service representative and administrative assistant — yet rarely receive corresponding support.

As policy demands and social expectations make teaching a high-pressure profession, it is natural that fewer people would be interested in the field, and veteran teachers would be expected to fill in the gaps. With teaching losing its appeal, Taiwan faces a fundamental challenge in cultivating new talent.

Another problem is the complaint and investigation mechanisms. Many campus disputes must be handled through school affairs meetings, overwhelming administrators and teachers with the investigation process, and even creating a culture of whistle-blowing. The mechanisms were intended to uphold fairness and transparency, but, in practice, they have cast a shadow of distrust over the field of education.

When teachers worry that even a single remark could be misinterpreted, their creativity and flexibility are severely constrained. Campuses should be spaces for rational and human-centered dialogue, but they are being forced into a model of legalistic and bureaucratic governance.

The atmosphere not only diminishes teachers’ enthusiasm for their jobs, but also makes students indirect victims of systemic pressure.

Educational reform must strike a balance between protecting students’ rights and preserving teachers’ dignity, establishing a campus culture that is based on trust and professionalism.

Under the current circumstances, the education does not just need to hire more staff or raise salaries — it needs a comprehensive systemic and cultural transformation.

The government should review the teacher training and appointment system, and design clear pathways for career development and professional support systems for young teachers, so that teaching can become a sustainable, long-term profession.

Campus governance should shift from a punishment-oriented approach to one focused on guidance and restoration, establishing transparent, yet flexible, investigation mechanisms to reduce excessive administrative interference in professional teaching.

Education is at the heart of society. If teachers cannot receive respect and support, any educational reform would risk becoming empty rhetoric. Only by allowing teachers to return to the essence of education and restoring trust in the profession can we reverse the shortage of qualified teachers and once again make education a career that young people are willing to dedicate themselves to.

Roger Lo is a freelancer.

Translated by Kyra Gustavsen

title: Reviving the passion for teaching


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Since leaving office last year, former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has been journeying across continents. Her ability to connect with international audiences and foster goodwill toward her country continues to enhance understanding of Taiwan. It is possible because she can now walk through doors in Europe that are closed to President William Lai (賴清德).

Tsai last week gave a speech at the Berlin Freedom Conference, where, standing in front of civil society leaders, human rights advocates and political and business figures, she highlighted Taiwan’s indispensable global role and shared its experience as a model for democratic resilience against cognitive warfare and cyberattacks, reminding the European audience of the dangers their nations also face, which would only grow in the coming years.

Her activity abroad is a great help to Lai. Constrained by Taiwan’s limited official recognition internationally, the risk of provoking China and the reluctance of other states to host or even allow a Taiwanese president to transit through their territory, Lai is largely limited to video broadcasted speeches and state visits to Taiwan’s few official diplomatic allies.

From Taiwan, he secures economic security agreements and supply chain partnerships, writes op-eds for foreign media, and uses diplomatic speeches to rally support for Taiwan. Think tanks such as the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation support dialogue by facilitating non-governmental exchange (ie, “track II diplomacy”).

Tsai, on the other hand, is one of Taiwan’s diplomatic aces.

First, although she was once limited by diplomatic restrictions while president, she can now travel quietly and privately. Countries who would previously have refused her visits due to intense scrutiny from Beijing can receive her informally or academically at a lower political cost. Her speeches are not as harshly scrutinized, nor are they interpreted as official policy.

Second, Tsai has built a strong base abroad. She is already well-known among international audiences for her role as president in defending Taiwan’s sovereignty under pressure from Beijing, championing equality and human rights, and helping Taiwan become the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

Her value-based messaging, calm communication style and deft use of social media has worked in her favor, lending her respect in international media. She can now harness her new-found freedom to join vital conversations in Europe and keep Taiwan’s name firmly etched on the map of global influence.

During her presidency, Tsai helped shift Taiwan’s economic policy toward more active engagement with like-minded European partners, which catalyzed deeper cooperation on green energy, high-tech industries and semiconductors — an approach that the Lai administration continues today. This foundation of cooperation significantly contributes to her positive reception in Europe.

Taiwanese foreign diplomacy pulled a double feat in Europe last week

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) made history as the first top Taiwanese official to address an audience in the European Parliament premises in Brussels at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’s annual summit, adding to a series of landmark appearances for Taiwan. Speaking in front of 50 lawmakers from about two dozen countries and receiving a standing ovation from more than 150 international guests was, for Hsiao, a level of engagement that a sitting Taiwanese president cannot so easily replicate.

The back-to-back appearances of Tsai and Hsiao was no coincidence, but an effective piece of diplomatic choreography by the Lai administration — deploying two of Taiwan’s charismatic and trusted figures to boost Taiwan’s profile in key democratic capitals.

Hsiao’s speech was a diplomatic breakthrough for Lai’s administration. It signifies growing normalization of Taiwan’s presence at such international forums and sets potential precedent for more direct, public engagement by Hsiao and other Taiwanese leaders.

Hsiao might continue to deliver impactful speeches internationally, but her reach will sometimes be shaped by the constraints of her office.

The Lai administration should focus on opening more avenues of engagement in Europe for Tsai and to facilitate her involvement in international forums beyond the political and academic spaces, such as in sectors of innovation, climate and sustainability, where Taiwan can showcase its expertise and resonate with European priorities. Speaking at major tech and energy forums would let Tsai promote and elevate Taiwan’s soft power, building cross-sector partnerships, and expanding Taiwan’s influence beyond traditional diplomatic spaces.

Laura Bonsaver is a research fellow and consultant based in Taipei. She leads the Think Tank Collaboration Program at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation.

title: Tsai can enter doors closed to Lai

people: 蔡英文 蕭美琴 賴清德


title: Handling online trolls and false information

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The tactics of online trolls are expanding and becoming increasingly sophisticated. Some specialize in hurling insults, while others pose as experts and spout half-baked “scientific theories.” They are adept at manipulating social media algorithms — they know which words are the most likely to enrage, and which images would be shared.

Once emotions have been stirred, it is nearly impossible for the truth to catch up.

In the face of such manipulation, there is no use in arguing or becoming angry — trolls rely not on facts, but on tempo. To break that rhythm, you need only four moves, but first, observe how they operate.

The first common tactic is labeling and personal attacks, the aim of which is to provoke an emotional reaction and make people lose focus. To counter this, it is important to remain calm and respond succinctly.

Say something like “Labeling; not worth responding to,” or simply ignore it. This immediately interrupts their rhythm and prevents their posts from amplifying anger. Most people lose online debates because they respond too quickly, which only serves to boost the visibility of the troll’s comment.

Another common tactic is to use quotes out of context or site pseudoscientific data, packaging cherry-picked information to appear authoritative.

To counter this, directly share the research abstract. Studies can easily be found on sites such as Google Scholar, direct object identifier databases or government-run open data platforms.

It is alright to not fully understand a study’s content; artificial intelligence can help to explain or summarize the findings.

Those who fear being understood are not real researchers, but fake experts.

Next is emotional manipulation: making loaded statements such as “the government does not care if citizens live or die.” This tactic is meant to provoke and spark controversy.

To respond to these types of comments, trace the issue back to understand what is really at play and who is responsible.

Search the national laws and regulations database or the Legislative Yuan’s online system to determine the responsible authority and find specific legal provisions that address the issue the poster brought up.

All of this information is publicly available; do not allow online rumors to undermine the system.

The last commonly employed tactic is misrepresenting regulatory issues and framing them as government inaction to shift blame.

To counter this, question accountability. Start by asking: “Who holds the majority in the Legislative Yuan?” For issues to be truly solved, laws must be amended. Being aware of an issue, but refusing to pass legislation to address it is irresponsible.

If people only criticize the Executive Yuan, while overlooking the legislature, society would never improve.

Online trolls use rhythm to steal our attention, but we can use facts to regain focus.

Do not engage with insults, do not trust a lone sentence and never be afraid to verify claims.

If just one more person learns how to fact-check or post the original source, disinformation would generate less noise.

The tactics of online trolls are not different from scammer groups — provoke an emotional response, use false information and then shift blame. What would truly put them out of work is not the block button, but when all citizens fact-check them.

Chang Shang-yang is a farmer.

Translated by Kyra Gustavsen


content_text:
A Chinese diplomat’s violent threat against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following her remarks on defending Taiwan marks a dangerous escalation in East Asian tensions, revealing Beijing’s growing intolerance for dissent and the fragility of regional diplomacy.Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian (薛劍) on Saturday posted a chilling message on X: “the dirty neck that sticks itself in must be cut off,” in reference to Takaichi’s remark to Japanese lawmakers that an attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan’s survival.The post, which was later deleted, was not an isolated outburst. Xue has also amplified other incendiary messages, including one suggesting

By KhedroobThondup

Chinese Consul General in Osaka Xue Jian (薛劍) on Saturday last week shared a news article on social media about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, adding that “the dirty neck that sticks itself in must be cut off.” The previous day in the Japanese House of Representatives, Takaichi said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” a reference to a legal legal term introduced in 2015 that allows the prime minister to deploy the Japan Self-Defense Forces.The violent nature of Xue’s comments is notable in that it came from a diplomat,

China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, entered service this week after a commissioning ceremony in China’s Hainan Province on Wednesday last week. Chinese state media reported that the Fujian would be deployed to the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the western Pacific.It seemed that the Taiwan Strait being one of its priorities meant greater military pressure on Taiwan, but it would actually put the Fujian at greater risk of being compromised.If the carrier were to leave its home port of Sanya and sail to the East China Sea or the Yellow Sea, it would have to transit the

By Huang Wei-ping 黃惟冰

title: EDITORIAL CARTOON


content_text:
Women comprise the majority of workers in more than half of the 40 occupations that are most at risk of displacement by AI

In 1986, “Anne,” a data entry clerk, watches an IBM PC land on her desk. Within a year, her job is gone. Four decades later, “Natalie,” a social-media manager, looks on as ChatGPT drafts the posts she once wrote. However, her exit might come even faster than Anne’s.

In July, a new report from Microsoft researchers made headlines by listing the 40 occupations most at risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI). It included sales reps, translators, proofreaders and other knowledge jobs, pointing to a looming white-collar employment apocalypse.

However, the report’s authors, and the subsequent news coverage, seem to have overlooked something crucial: The coming disruption would not be gender-neutral. Women comprise most workers in about 60 percent of the occupations listed, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

While AI is out to eat everyone’s lunch, it is women’s lunches the technology looks likely to gobble up first and fastest. Just as the advent of computers in the 1980s displaced legions of secretaries and data-entry clerks — positions held mainly by women — so, too, is this latest wave of automation likely to have a disproportionate impact on female workers. Women’s jobs in high-income countries are about three times more likely to be automated than men’s, a research by the International Labour Organization showed.

The computer revolution serves as a cautionary tale. Many of the women who lost their jobs in the 1980s because of it never recovered, either finding lower-paid work (primarily in the service and care sectors) after protracted periods of unemployment or leaving the workforce altogether. When the BLS tracked the outcomes of workers who were displaced during this period, the findings were stark: Women were more than twice as likely as men to have subsequently dropped out of the labor market.

Given that women are already at an economic disadvantage relative to men — they earn less, own less and retire with less — policymakers need to prepare for AI hitting women’s jobs the hardest and put in place policies to mitigate the impact.

When crafting their response, they would do well to note too that not all secretaries, data-entry clerks and typists fared equally badly in the 1980s: The women who managed to adapt to the technology and acquire relevant new skills had better outcomes.

Set aside, for now, the question of whether the concept of “upskilling” is redundant in an era in which AI is expected to surpass human intelligence, and instead assume that there would be a transitional phase in which workers with AI-related skills do better than those without them. PwC’s 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer found that workers with AI skills command a 56 percent wage premium, a dramatic increase from the 25 percent wage premium reported the year before.

What this suggests is that if we are to prevent female workers from becoming AI’s most immediate collateral damage, we must ensure that they are fully up to speed on the new technology — or at least as much as their male counterparts.

However, while roughly equal numbers of women and men now use ChatGPT for personal tasks, a clear gender divide has emerged in the workplace. A recent survey of US workers revealed that while 36 percent of men use generative AI daily on the job, only 25 percent of women do. It also reports that 47 percent of men say they are confident using the technology at work, compared with 39 percent of women.

This gap likely reflects the fact that women are more concerned about the increasing use of AI than men — a healthy skepticism people should retain. However, another reason is that companies are investing more in AI upskilling their male employees than they are their female ones. In a global survey of 12,000 professionals conducted this year by Randstad, 41 percent of men said they had been provided with AI access by their employer, compared with 35 percent of women, while 38 percent of men said they had been offered opportunities to build AI skills, compared with 33 percent of women.

Using the technology less — and being given fewer chances to use it — is a toxic combination for female employees, especially as firms increasingly cite “AI fluency” when deciding who to retain and promote.

Failure to address this problem could also expose their employers to legal risk. In the UK, workplace policies that systematically disadvantage women — and offering fewer opportunities for AI upskilling might well fall into this category — could constitute indirect sex discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. This is true even if a firm did not set out to discriminate. Under this law — and similar legislation in other countries — what matters is impact, not intent.

Business leaders should thus be asking themselves basic questions. Who is getting access to AI tools? Who is invited to participate in AI pilots and initiatives? Who is receiving AI training?

Governments around the world seem wholly unprepared for the potential jobs Armageddon that AI could trigger, especially as it affects women. As policymakers develop AI risk-mitigation strategies, it is imperative that gender concerns be firmly on the agenda — and not just for ethical reasons.

At a time when political polarization is increasing and traditional parties are losing ground, winning over female voters is pivotal. As such, ensuring that women do not bear the brunt of AI-induced job displacement, and addressing other AI-related gender disparities as well, is not only the right thing for governments to do. It is also highly pragmatic. After all, there are a lot of Natalies out there.

Noreena Hertz is an honorary professor at the University College London Policy Lab, where she leads research on AI.

Copyright: Project Syndicate

title: The AI labor shock is coming for women