title: 深耕高雄核心生活圈30年！「遠雄峰蘊」國家級耐震設計標章，再造安心住宅新標準

taiwan-subdivisions: 高雄 高雄市 九如 三民區

content_text:
生活中心 / 高雄報導

在高雄三民區的城市脈動之中，遠雄集團已陪伴在地超過三十年。每個遠雄社區都像是時間的印記，見證城市如何成長，也承載著居民對生活的期待，更為高雄人形塑一份安全與生活美學並存、對「家」的想像。新推出的預售案「遠雄峰蘊」座落於九如路上，憑藉優越地段與細膩規劃，自公開即受到市場高度關注。

一座讓人「傾心」且「安心」的家

遠雄房地產行銷經理朱可筠分享：「有許多客戶是原本就住在遠雄社區，換屋時依然選擇我們；也有許多是舊住戶介紹親友來購買，因為信任遠雄的品質與售後服務。」

這份信任，來自遠雄對建築品質的堅持。從結構安全、防水工程到地壁磚施工，遠雄提供明確的品質標準與延長保固年限：防水保固5年、地壁磚5年、結構安全更長達25年。「遠雄峰蘊」更規劃國家級耐震設計標章，全台僅百餘件住宅通過認證。這不僅是一張證書，更是一份讓人住得安心的保證。

在細節裡，看見有溫度的誠意與巧思

「遠雄峰蘊」坐擁1598坪大基地，規劃37至43坪邊間三房，採光與通風皆極佳。其中43坪產品格局精心設計，全室皆享自然採光、衛浴皆開窗，讓家中每一處都能真正迎接陽光與清新空氣，住起來更舒適。

獨立玄關讓回家成為儀式；獨立廚房隔絕油煙；陽台放大整體居家機能與空間尺度，搭配大棟距引入充足採光通風，在家開窗就能自然森呼吸，放上兩張高腳椅，就是一座小型的高空酒吧，可享都會中難得的開闊視野。許多賞屋客人正是被這份生活感的設計打動，當天便決定下訂。

▲「遠雄峰蘊」43坪格局全室皆享自然採光，陽台搭配大棟距，提升居家機能，享受都會中難得的開闊視野。 (圖/遠雄房地產提供)

33.5%公設比，漂浮森林×永續思維

「遠雄峰蘊」在市區中以少見的大型社區規模亮相，展現難以複製的生活場域。中庭花園特別抬升至二樓，化身為一座漂浮森林，提升隱私與安全性，讓小孩與毛孩能自在奔跑、盡情放電，家長也能在綠意之間，獲得真正放鬆的片刻。

33.5%的公設比，延展出六大主題公設，從親子遊戲、休閒健身，打造全齡共融空間，讓從0歲到99歲的住戶都能找到屬於自己的角落。

停車規劃更見貼心，除了有區域少見的全坡平停車位，更設計一樓室內機車專區，汽機車分流動線，讓日常通勤更安全順暢。順應永續環保潮流，社區設有太陽能發電與雨水回收系統，有效節能更節費。

▲中庭花園抬升至二樓，打造一座隱私與安全兼備的漂浮森林，讓小孩與毛孩能自在奔跑，家長也能安心放鬆。 (圖/遠雄房地產提供)

城心之上，移動自如

「遠雄峰蘊」坐擁民族、博愛、九如三大幹道，串聯百貨、超市、商圈與醫療資源。步行可達國中小學區，實現「9年免接送」的理想生活圈。

交通方面，5分鐘上國道、10分鐘串接雙鐵，輕軌科工館站步行僅3分鐘、黃線高雄高工站約5分鐘。未來捷運紅線延伸、台鐵地下化與高鐵南延計畫齊發，將讓高雄的城市動脈更為完整。

朱可筠補充道：「『遠雄峰蘊』樓高27層，又位於主幹道上，是自帶光環的區域指標宅，不僅是在地換屋族的首選，也吸引了隨著台積電南進的工程師族群入住。」

穩定市場中的「韌性住宅」

與外圍區域相比，高雄市中心因剛性自住需求，市場流動性佳且價格相對穩定，具備「好買、好賣、好穩健」的市場韌性與價值穩定性。朱可筠觀察，「遠雄峰蘊」以4字頭合理價格，在這波房市趨緩期中仍維持穩定交易量，證明真正的好產品具有韌性與保值力，經得起市場檢驗。

許多住戶說：「遠雄的房子，只要住過一次，就會想繼續擁有；那是一種從品質、信任到生活感的延續。」「遠雄峰蘊」以細膩工法與生活理解，書寫出高雄人最嚮往的生活節奏，見證好宅的價值不在一時的市場熱度，而在歲月沉澱後依然安心的底氣。

高雄市心 科工館特區【遠雄峰蘊】37-43坪

免付費諮詢專線：0800-502-555

線上預約：https://www.fgrealty.tw/8d3rrt

▲遠雄峰蘊基本資料。 (圖/遠雄房地產提供)


title: 有怕過 沒輸過 50 歲以上男子單人賽勇敢挑戰自我

taiwan-subdivisions: 民雄 高雄

content_text:
墨新聞｜記者梁偉華／台北報導

《最強的身體》全新主題 50 歲以上男子單人賽(右起)王中皇、丁力騏、民雄、陳壹豪、陳熙鋒。 （圖：好看娛樂）

全台首創大型混合健身運動競技節目《最強的身體》開播以來話題不斷、收視節節攀升，本週日即將播出全新第16集，本週日即將播出全新第16集，祭出全新主題「50歲以上男子單人賽」，邀來王中皇、丁力騏、民雄、陳熙鋒等資深藝人同場較勁。51歲丁力騏霸氣放話：「有怕過、沒輸過！」64歲的王中皇則以最高齡身份迎戰，喊話：「想證明自己，看看還行不行！」

陳熙鋒為孩子而戰。（圖：好看娛樂）

王中皇他透露自己從小就運動細胞發達，曾是校內田徑隊、棒球隊成員，當兵時更接受海龍蛙兵蛙人訓練。他相信運動能帶來強健體魄與正向心態，也鼓勵全民勇敢挑戰自我。同樣參戰50+男單的還有55歲的民雄，當兵時在傘兵部隊，訓練量比一般單位更重，每天跑15公里，他現在每週仍跑山2至3次、每次2小時，家中配備完整健身器材，更花了兩年練出八塊腹肌，民雄更表示：「我對我的耐力是滿有自信的。」

八點檔演員丁力騏也投入50 + 男單挑戰。（圖：好看娛樂）

八點檔演員丁力騏和陳熙鋒也投入50+男單挑戰，兩人都視此次參賽為「享受與自我突破」。陳熙鋒平時因照顧小孩而難以規律運動，他笑說這次比賽「逼」自己流汗也不錯，更直言是為孩子而戰：「不能被看沒有，證明爸爸還可以！」更喊話：「我會把我們高雄的氣勢拿出來！」

王中皇他透露自己從小就運動細胞發達，曾是校內田徑隊。（圖：好看娛樂）

除了50+男單，本週男雙賽事曾子余攜手前統一獅職棒選手黃恩賜出擊，兩人因實境節目《九條好漢在一班》結識。曾子余坦言是因為看重恩賜的強悍實力才相邀組隊，希望不要與其他隊伍差距太大。兩人平時互相鼓勵，黃恩賜甚至笑說：「不要太拚，當第二就好。」沒想到正式比賽時兩人大爆發，展現驚人實力，相當值得期待。

民雄花了兩年練出八塊腹肌。（圖：好看娛樂）

另一組男雙則是無尊和包偉銘之子包庭政的黃金友誼搭檔，兩人是大學同學，也是彼此最要好的兄弟，感情一路從校園延續到出社會，包庭政結婚時，無尊還擔任伴郎。默契十足的兩人，賭上輔仁大學體育系的名號，小包甚至從台南開車北上與無尊合訓，上前吳尊更放話：「今天我會保證不搞笑！」不過無尊比到推雪橇項目時突然「不行了」，自嘲：「前面跑步可能沒配好速度，力量用盡。」

男雙賽事曾子余(左)攜手前統一獅職棒選手黃恩賜(右)出擊。（圖：好看娛樂）照片提供：好看娛樂

更多精彩的內容，請一定要鎖定全台首創大型混合健身運動競技節目《最強的身體》熱血開賽時間。台視主頻道8月17日起每週日晚上8點 熱血開賽、中華電信 MOD / Hami Video8月24日起每週日晚上12點上線、《最強的身體》YT頻道 8月19日起每週二中午12:00上架。

無尊(左)和包偉銘之子包庭政(右)的黃金友誼搭檔。（圖：好看娛樂）

此篇文章最開始出處為: 有怕過 沒輸過 50 歲以上男子單人賽勇敢挑戰自我


content_text:
墨新聞｜記者林錫淵／高雄報導

詐騙無所不在，令人厭惡！台灣有不少人更因相信海外高報酬打工而淪為豬仔，囚禁詐騙園區。為防止莘莘學子受騙，三商美邦人壽「反詐防騙我來說2.0－校園防詐公益講座」巡迴最終場，今（27）日在高雄正修科技大學舉辦，邀請火舞表演者謝岳鵬分享被騙去緬甸詐騙園區的20天恐怖驚魂，提醒同學要提升日常防詐意識，確保自身安全。

火舞表演者謝岳鵬現身說法，呼籲同學小心詐騙。主辦單位提供謝岳鵬於講座中回顧自己去年12月因應徵泰國火舞表演者工作而遭詐，被囚禁於緬甸詐騙園區20天，歷經小黑屋及軍事監獄的關押與虐待，並被迫從事詐騙工作，所幸最後在台灣與泰國警方的聯手合作下，幸運地被園區釋放並順利返台。現場同學對於出國求職或旅遊應注意哪些事項以避免意外落入詐騙陷阱中，表現出濃厚興趣，謝岳鵬以親身經歷整理出以下幾點注意事項：

第一，要留意徵才管道，並多方查證公司資訊：儘管該公司設有官網，表面上看似正常，但仍應透過多方查證或撥打165防詐專線確認，以避免受騙。

第二，若公司提供的來回機票為不同航空，恐有求職詐騙疑慮：若發現假徵才公司提供的來回機票為不同航空公司，且抵達當地後回程機票隨即被取消，則有高機率是求職詐騙。

三商美邦人壽業務經理陳璟璐以投資詐騙案例，提醒同學提升日常防詐意識並建立正確理財觀念之重要性。第三，車程比預期的時間長，應提高警覺把握脫逃機會：謝岳鵬回顧，在公司安排的接駁車即將入境緬甸時，其實已有發現車程超過預期的時間，若那時把握機會以上廁所或其他藉口逃離，或許尚有脫逃的機會。

第四，旅遊期間應避免陌生人搭訕招待，恐有高度風險：若赴東南亞等高風險地區旅遊，同樣有可能落入詐騙陷阱，在園區內就有因旅遊被陌生人搭訕招待而意外被擄進詐騙園區的案例，應要隨時提高警覺。

副分局長張明彰也提供反詐技巧，要多查證。主辦單位提供現場與會的高市警局仁武分局副分局長張明彰提醒，除了個人應提高海外求職的警覺外，日常生活也應關心身旁親友，適時勸阻他們可能從事海外違法線上博奕、電信詐騙等危險工作的行為，或避免成為人口販運的受害者，我們應共同努力以防範此類案件發生。

三商美邦人壽與刑事警察局合作推動的校園防詐公益講座已邁入第二年，其中邀請警政單位、律師、資深記者、理財網紅、財經專家及詐騙受害者等講師，以多元觀點及豐富案例提高大學生防詐意識，並響應政府打詐政策。講座至今已巡迴淡江大學、東吳大學、實踐大學、國立政治大學、朝陽科技大學、中國醫藥大學、正修科技大學及國立屏東科技大學共8所大專院校，累積宣導超過700位學生。

三商美邦人壽表示，公司長期投入防詐公益，積極響應全球永續發展趨勢與聯合國永續發展目標（SDGs），並呼應金管會「公平待客原則」，持續強化防制詐騙的措施與成效。自去年起，陸續針對偏鄉小學、大專院校及高齡長者舉辦一系列公益防詐講座，迄今已走訪超過58所校園及社區活動中心，累積觸及超過7,800人。

此篇文章最開始出處為: 三商美邦人壽前進正修科大反詐宣導 火舞表演者謝岳鵬現身說法

taiwan-subdivisions: 高雄 屏東 仁武

countries: 中國 台灣 緬甸 泰國

title: 三商美邦人壽前進正修科大反詐宣導     火舞表演者謝岳鵬現身說法


content_text:
墨新聞｜記者梁偉華／台北報導

宋芸樺(左)與謝瓊煖(右)演母女融入真情。 劇照提供：公共電視、台灣大哥大MyVideo

影集《人浮於愛》播出後話題持續升溫，本週六將開播11、12集，下週將迎來精彩完結篇，劇中宋芸樺、范少勳組成的「純愛 CP」大受觀眾好評；與謝瓊煖詮釋動人母女情，宋芸樺坦言揪心到不像在演戲！《人浮於愛》本週預告： https://youtu.be/J3EBxu3Jq38

宋芸樺到靈骨塔探望母親忍不住情緒潰堤。 劇照提供：公共電視、台灣大哥大MyVideo

改編自侯文詠同名小說的愛情影集《人浮於愛》，自開播後便持續口碑好評不斷，近日還登上國際影音平台「Viki」，在美洲、歐洲、大洋洲、中東、印度等地區皆可觀賞。劇中宋芸樺飾演的角色潘心彤，與由范少勳所飾演的辛毅夫，兩人的感情線單純，雖然偶有情侶間的爭吵，但粉紅泡泡依舊十分充足。就有不少網友笑稱他們兩個是全劇的救贖，更表示其他人都太沉重了，還好有他們能夠輕鬆一下，但本週他們之間的關係將迎來重大考驗，最後是否還能繼續甜蜜下去？敬請鎖定本週六公視頻道首播。

宋芸樺(右)與范少勳(左)合作默契十足。 劇照提供：公共電視、台灣大哥大MyVideo

宋芸樺坦言這個角色對她來說非常難詮釋，因為角色在劇中經歷了很多階段的自我成長，最大的困難點在於如何去理解跟感受她的這些過程。她表示自己也曾與角色相似：「以前的我也曾常把自己放在最後面，把別人的感受與想法擺第一，雖然我現在已經跨過那個階段，但看到角色就讓我回想起以前的狀態，就覺得非常心疼這個角色。」

宋芸樺(左)欲揭露蘇達飾演的錢孝安(右)收賄卻遭其襲擊重傷。 劇照提供：公共電視、台灣大哥大MyVideo

被問到劇中最印象深刻的是哪場戲？宋芸樺分享是與謝瓊煖飾演母女的互動，劇中女兒的角色反倒比較像照顧者，會幫媽媽顧前顧後，而自己在原生家庭中也很擅長照顧大家，所以特別有共鳴。劇中謝瓊煖經歷癌症復發到離世的過程，也讓宋芸樺面對生死課題特別有感觸，她感性表示：「其實那個揪心對我來講，真的已經不是在演戲了！」

林映唯(左)與長時間相處讓范少勳(右)與宋芸樺感情面臨挑戰。 劇照提供：公共電視、台灣大哥大MyVideo

其中有一場戲，是宋芸樺要到靈骨塔去看媽媽的骨灰罈，她直言光是走進去的那一剎那，馬上就感到很沉重的情緒，她表示：「那一刻我真的不敢先排練走戲，我就說我們直接來，真的是一看到那個畫面，馬上就情緒潰堤。」對宋芸樺而言，從拍戲以來第一次覺得與角色完全融合在一起，是一次很難得在心理上很赤裸的經驗。

簡嫚書決定向八卦周刊爆料秘密錄音檔。 劇照提供：公共電視、台灣大哥大MyVideo

聊起角色的愛情觀，宋芸樺也大方表示自己這點也跟角色相似，並說道：「其實我覺得要擁有很大的愛，跟很大的安全感，你才有辦法把愛散播出去給別人；劇中心彤即使被傷害過，但還是始終相信愛情，我覺得這是很美的，也會希望自己可以做到這點。」對於宋芸樺來說，愛情就是兩個自由獨立的靈魂相遇，也期望未來遇到的另一半，是很清楚知道自己想要的是什麼，這樣相處起來才能是最舒服、最自在的。

邵雨薇(右)與楊祐寧(左)背負輿論壓力，事業雙雙面臨危機。 劇照提供：公共電視、台灣大哥大MyVideo

談到片中的搭檔范少勳，兩人因過去曾合作過，再度同台不約而同表示跟彼此默契非常足夠，宋芸樺笑說：「在拍很多戲的時候，都很自然而然的就可以投入角色狀態」，范少勳也表示兩人很常一起討論，例如如何讓角色同居的相處能再更生活化等等。

《人浮於愛》本週劇情發展，潘心彤欲揭露錢孝安(蘇達 飾)收賄卻遭其襲擊重傷，辛毅夫卻因與林風樺(林映唯 飾)一起加班、吃飯，而錯過心彤的求救電話，兩人感情再次面臨挑戰；范月姣決定向八卦周刊爆料秘密錄音檔，揭露周曉琪與顧厚澤疑似串通對詹董謀財害命，讓兩人背負巨大的輿論壓力，事業雙雙面臨危機…。更多精彩內容敬請鎖定每週六連播兩集，晚間9點於公視頻道首播、晚間10點於公視影音平台「公視+」與台灣大哥大MyVideo新集數上架。

此篇文章最開始出處為: 宋芸樺觸及生死課題忍不住情緒潰堤 與謝瓊煖演母女融入真情

countries: 印度 台灣

title: 宋芸樺觸及生死課題忍不住情緒潰堤 與謝瓊煖演母女融入真情


title: 「不是挺台，是挺自己」　高市早苗「台灣有事」論的背後真相

countries: 台灣 臺灣 日本 中國 美國 韓國

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墨新聞｜編輯中心

在任何地緣情勢下，最重要的永遠是：守住自己的身家與親友的生命財產安全。尤其身處兩岸之間的臺灣，更不應忽視大陸的骨肉同胞與兩岸民族的連結。然而，面對日本首相高市早苗近期高調宣示「將介入臺海戰爭」，臺灣卻仍有人天真地以為，日本此舉是為了「保護臺灣」。這種想法，不僅天真，更可能危及台灣的前途。

事實上，日本做不做得到是一回事，但為什麼要說這些話，答案非常清楚——因為日本已深陷兩大結構性危機：經濟崩壞與人口急速老化。

日本兩大危機：崩壞的經濟、急凍的人口

日本國債占 GDP 的 266%，是全球最高。從安倍到岸田，所有政策幾乎都只能在負債堆裡硬撐，日本早已失去從前的黃金年代。再加上平均年齡逼近 50 歲，少子化無解，日本厚生省預估：日本人口將從現在的 1 億多，掉到 2080 年僅剩 5,000 多萬。

孩子愈生愈少，物價愈漲愈兇，年輕世代愈不敢結婚生子。社會結構正在被「不可逆的老化」推向深淵——不只是日本，韓國也同樣如此。

在這樣的背景下，日本政壇為何愈來愈多聲音鼓吹與中國「早晚一戰」？原因不難理解：戰爭，成了日本最後的賭注。

日本新首相高市早苗(圖／翻攝新華社）為何高市敢喊？因為她說出的是日本主流

走進任何日本書店，有關「如何與中國開戰」的書籍琳瑯滿目。這不是政治人物的失言，而是某種主流民意累積的結果。

因此，高市早苗在國會喊出「日本將介入台海戰爭」時，日本社會支持度居然高達 82%。這不是她莽撞，而是她正踩在日本社會情緒的浪尖上。

她為何不道歉？因為她沒有需要道歉的對象——在日本國內，這是她的政治資本。

美國會袖手旁觀嗎？當然不會，因為它也深陷財政地雷

美國國債突破 38 兆美元，各國紛紛去美元化、增加人民幣使用。甚至有分析估計，美國政府的實際負債可能高達 230 兆美元。若說日本是經濟負債的火藥庫，美國就是那根搖搖欲墜的引信。

在這種情況下，美國為何急於在國際局勢上「找槓桿」？也就不難理解。

戰爭對美國而言，是重新調整全球秩序——甚至轉嫁危機——的手段。

需要一隻「血牛」？中國自然成為目標。

於是，美國默許日本挑釁中國，自然也就不足為奇了。

臺灣必須問自己的問題：

日本真的會為我們而戰嗎？還是只是需要一個棋子？

若日本與美國今天的戰略目標，是維持自身國力、尋求突破困境，那麼台灣在這盤棋裡的位置會是什麼？

中日衝突是為了臺灣？

還是為了讓日本解除內部危機、美國借題發揮以對付中國？

如果答案不是前者，那麼台灣就不能假裝這些威脅與自己無關。

當台海成為大國競逐的戰略舞台，

台灣人真的準備好為「別人的戰略目的」付出代價？

我們是否願意犧牲自己、犧牲家庭、犧牲整座島嶼，只為了滿足他國的地緣政治計算？

真正該保持清醒的，是臺灣自己

國際政治從來沒有「誰要保護誰」的浪漫情節。只有利益、算計、國家存續。

日本說要介入台海，是為了「保護臺灣」？還是為了「拯救自己」？美國鼓勵日本強硬，是為了「和平」？還是為了「拖住中國」、「轉嫁危機」？

當各國都在盤算自己的未來，台灣人更應該問：我們是在被保護？還是被推向戰爭？（前民眾日報資深記者 屈文峰）

※以上言論不代表本報立場※

此篇文章最開始出處為: 「不是挺台，是挺自己」 高市早苗「台灣有事」論的背後真相


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▼枋寮分局交通組以詳盡的簡報資料，並搭配實際交通事故案例影像，讓學生們了解事故防制採取措施。（圖／屏東縣政府警察局枋寮分局）

【記者何勁陞／枋寮報導】 屏東縣政府警察局枋寮分局為積極強化青少年交通安全意識，並落實防禦駕駛觀念，於日前至轄區枋寮高中，舉辦「機車安全騎乘技巧與無照駕駛防制」專題宣導活動。

枋寮分局交通組以詳盡的簡報資料，並搭配實際交通事故案例影像，讓學生們了解事故防制採取措施，避免成為車禍的當事者。現場以互動問答與有獎徵答方式，讓學生在輕鬆氛圍中學習交通知識。

這次宣導活動特別利用學校電腦教室，引導學生實際連線至交通部建置「機車危險感知教育平台」，透過實境影片測驗與情境模擬，學生們得以親身體驗各種潛在的道路危險，並在模擬中學習如何提早預判、緊急應變。互動式的數位教學模式，有效且深刻地加強了學生的危險感知能力與防禦駕駛觀念，讓安全教育不再僅限於口頭宣講。

枋寮分局長盧恒隆表示，青少年正值培養用路習慣的關鍵時期，透過校園教育與結合科技的實地宣導，以期從源頭降低年輕族群的交通事故發生率，共同為下一代打造更安全的交通環境。

title: 枋寮分局攜手枋寮高中 以「科技輔助教育」　提升學生機車駕馭安全性與風險感知能力

taiwan-subdivisions: 枋寮 屏東縣


content_text:
記者鄭南寶、陳木隆/宜蘭報導

蘭陽越夜越美麗歡樂迎耶誕燈飾裝置，今天11月27日晚上在宜蘭縣議會紅磚廣場燦然點亮，各式各樣融入耶誕元素與在地特產造型的可愛燈飾，從縣政中心向外散發出耶誕節慶氛圍與濃濃的宜蘭味，吸引不少民眾到場遊賞取景。

宜蘭縣政府再度攜手宜蘭縣基督徒聯禱會及社團法人宜蘭縣全福關懷協會，推出「2025愛在聖誕．愛在宜蘭」系列活動。今天晚間由代理縣長林茂盛、議長張勝德、縣基督徒聯禱會主席張新創，以及全福關懷協會會長林維政共同點亮耶誕樹與周邊大小燈飾，揭開溫馨祝福的序幕。

點燈演出由蘇澳岳明國中小學的學生，以歌曲結合手語、踢踏舞與rap呈現孩子們對「愛地球、要和平、挺台灣」的想望，象徵以音樂向世界傳遞愛與溫暖。

今年燈飾布置範圍再度擴大，打造成兼具創意與在地特色的節慶景觀。特別推出冬山河流域品牌「心咚山河」，高8.5米的「泡湯耶誕老人」象徵冬山河成功探鑿溫泉資源，將成為宜蘭下一個重要觀光亮點；一旁高9.4米的麋鹿牽引著鴨母船，滿載著多項宜蘭特產，增添喜悅與童趣。廣場中央高12米的主題聖誕樹，則融合稻米與穗花棋盤腳的意象，呈現濃厚的宜蘭風情。

另於縣議會前方廣場，則以近9米高的耶誕樹搭配可愛薑餅人，逐一呈現各鄉鎮的特色物產，展現遊客心目中的蘭陽印象。

代理縣長林茂盛強調，這些燈飾不只是節慶裝置，更代表著宜蘭在地文化的創意展現，希望讓民眾在冬夜中感受美麗、平安與祝福。蘭陽越夜越美麗-歡樂迎耶誕燈飾展示：114/11/27-115/3/3每天17:00-22:00；音樂燈光秀：17:00/18:00/19:00/20:00/21:00。

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taiwan-subdivisions: 宜蘭 宜蘭縣 和平 蘇澳 成功 冬山

title: 影音/蘭陽歡樂迎耶誕燈飾裝置點燈 散發陣陣宜蘭味


content_text:
CARS, APPLIANCES:  If approved, tax law for 2027 filings would be that those who earn NT$1.33 million or more would receive tax breaks that average NT$50,000   By Chung Li-hua and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA

The Executive Yuan yesterday advanced proposed increases to the tax-exempt income threshold for some categories, as well as expanded tax deductions for energy-efficient appliances, sugar-free beverages and upgrading to new vehicles.

The Ministry of Finance presented the planned tax breaks and deductions at a Cabinet meeting, with the changes, if approved, to take effect next year.

The adjustments are needed to reflect changes in the cost of living, the ministry said.

Individual income tax exempt thresholds for filing in 2027 would be increased by NT$4,000 (US$127.63) to NT$101,000 and to NT$151,500 for people aged 70 or older, it said.

The thresholds would be NT$136,000 for single people and NT$272,000 for married couples, increases of NT$5,000 and NT$10,000 respectively, the ministry said.

The tax-exempt threshold for annual income for people living alone in rented properties would rise to NT$644,000, it said.

The threshold would be raised to NT$1.108 million for dual-income families living in rented properties without children, and NT$1.685 million for dual-income families living in rented properties with two or more children under six years old, it said.

Taxpayers who earn NT$590,000 or more annually would on average receive tax breaks totaling NT$20,000, while the average for those earning at least NT$1.33 million would be NT$50,000, the ministry said.

The average for those earning NT$2.66 million or more would be NT$110,000 and NT$210,000 for those making at least NT$4.98 million annually, it said.

The tax breaks are estimated to cut NT$14.4 billion from tax revenue and would apply to 6.96 million families, it said.

In addition, the annual income exemption threshold for families with one elderly member qualifying for long-term care deductibles and two or more children under six would be raised to NT$2.1835 million, it said.

The deductions for elderly dependents with long-term care needs would increase to NT$180,000 from NT$120,000, the ministry said.

Special deductions for low-income families and people with physical or mental disabilities would increase to NT$227,000, it said.

Excise tax exemptions would be applied to purchases of energy-efficient appliances and vehicles to reduce the burden on families, promote sustainability and stimulate the economy, the ministry said.

Purchases of refrigerators, air-conditioners and dehumidifiers with class 1 or 2 energy-saving ratings made between June 15 and Dec. 31, 2029, would qualify for up to NT$2,000 in excise rebates, it said.

The measure is expected to save consumers a combined NT$4.11 billion, as well as 515 million kilowatt-hours in reduced electricity use, it added.

Purchases of new cars with an engine displacement of up to 2,000cc would qualify for excise rebates of up to NT$50,000 and purchases of motorcycles with engine displacements under 150cc would qualify for rebates of up to NT$2,000, it said.

The rebates are cumulative with those for trading in old motor vehicles, with buyers of small cars able to save up to NT$100,000 and up to NT$6,000 for motorcycles, it said.

The implementation period for tax rebates on replacing aging motor vehicles would be extended for another five years to the end of 2030, it said, adding that combined savings for people who buy vehicles are estimated at NT$25.4 billion.

Commodity tax breaks for electric vehicles would also be extended by five years, assuming that the legislature approves amendments to the Commodity Tax Act (貨物稅條例) and the Vehicle License Tax Act (使用牌照稅法), the ministry added.

The bill is to be sent to the legislature for review.

title: Cabinet advances tax exemption plans


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ARRESTS MADE:  Fires in four of the apartment buildings had been effectively put out, with the remaining three towers under control, Hong Kong authorities said

President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday expressed condolences on social media to people killed in a deadly multi-apartment fire in Hong Kong.

The death toll from the blaze as of press time last night was 65, with more than 200 people missing as firefighting and rescue efforts continued, Hong Kong officials said.

Lai on X offered condolences to the deceased and their families, and voiced concern for the injured and missing, urging everyone to “pray for Hong Kong.”

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) also extended her condolences on Facebook, writing: “May the departed rest in peace and may all suffering families find strength again.”

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong reported that no Taiwanese were known to have been affected, the Mainland Affairs Council said.

Thick smoke continued to pour out of the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po District.

title: President Lai extends condolences over HK blaze

people: 鄭麗文 賴清德


content_text:
By Chung Li-hua and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The Executive Yuan yesterday advanced a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.89 billion) special defense budget bill announced by President William Lai (賴清德) a day earlier, explicitly citing “military threats from the Chinese Communist Party” (CCP) for the first time.

Article 1 of the bill says that the proposed law would counter sustained growth of the CCP’s military threats by acquiring weapons and equipment to enhance the armed forces’ defensive resilience and asymmetric capabilities.

That would include building a “Taiwan dome” air-defense system with high-level detection and interception capabilities using high-tech systems and artificial intelligence to accelerate the kill chain, and building a “non-red” supply chain by investing in the national defense industry, the Ministry of National Defense said.

Premier Cho Jung-tai, center, speaks at a post-Cabinet news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) urged opposition parties to back the bill, stressing the need to improve self-defense amid rising Chinese threats.

Given the military coercion of Beijing, the government has a responsibility to show its determination to safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty, Cho said.

The bill is to be sent to the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan for review.

The opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party have said that the budget would rely heavily on debt financing, and would lead to cuts to social welfare, education and other programs.

The parties said that they would scrutinize the plan to ensure tax funds are used responsibly.

The bill lists seven major procurement categories: precision artillery; long-range precision-strike missiles; uncrewed vehicles and anti-drone systems; air-defense, anti-ballistic missile and anti-armor missile systems; artificial intelligence-assisted systems; equipment to enhance sustained combat endurance; and systems jointly developed or procured with the US.

The spending is to be funded through special budgets and would not be subject to Article 23 the Budget Act (預算法) that restricts use of capital for recurrent expenditures, the bill says.

Funding can be drawn from prior-year budget surpluses or raised through borrowing, with annual borrowing limits exempted from restrictions under Article 5-7 of the Public Debt Act (公共債務法).

The special ordinance and special budgets would take effect on the date of promulgation and remain in force until Dec. 31, 2033.

Separately, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said that Taiwan has already held preliminary talks with the US about what weapons it wants to buy as part of the budget.

Purchases from the US naturally constitute a significant part of the spending plans, Koo said.

Taiwan has formally obtained from the US Department of Defense the procurement item quantities, pricing information, transaction timelines and other details, showing that the US is willing to provide the weapons, he said, adding that no details can be revealed before a formal notification to the US Congress.

The budget would also generate 90,000 jobs and bring a direct economic benefit to Taiwan of NT$400 billion, Koo said.

Additional reporting by Reuters and CNA

title: Executive Yuan names CCP as threat in defense push

people: 顧立雄 賴清德 卓榮泰


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NZ says it sailed its largest navy ship through Taiwan StraitBy Lucy Craymer, Greg Torode and Yimou Lee / Reuters, TAIPEI, WELLINGTON and HONG KONG

The New Zealand navy’s largest ship, the HMNZS Aotearoa, an oiler, transited the Taiwan Strait earlier this month, New Zealand Minister for Defense Judith Collins said.

A source with knowledge of the situation said that the ship was tracked and followed by Chinese forces as it sailed through the strait.

Collins did not comment on any Chinese activity, but said the transit was conducted in accordance with international law.

“This includes exercising the right to freedom of navigation, as guaranteed under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea,” she said in an e-mail.

The ship sailed from the South China Sea to the North Asian region via the Taiwan Strait on Nov. 5, she said.

The last publicized strait transit by the Royal New Zealand Navy, accompanied by an Australian naval vessel, took place in September last year.

That was the first time a New Zealand naval vessel had passed through the strait since 2017.

The source said that during the sailing, Chinese ships and aircraft monitored the Aotearoa, with Chinese jets carrying out simulated attacks.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense did not respond to a request for comment.

In Taipei, the Ministry of National Defense in a statement said that its armed forces “maintain comprehensive awareness of all military activities across the region and respond appropriately, ensuring national defense security.”

It did not elaborate.

The transit coincided with Taiwan reporting that China had, on Nov. 6, carried out another “joint combat readiness patrol” around the nation involving J-16 fighters, with the activity concentrated in the Strait and to Taiwan’s southwest.

The South Korea-built Aotearoa is not armed with heavy weapons, but is equipped to carry a helicopter.

It is used for under way replenishment of fuel and other goods.

The New Zealand Defence Force last month said that the ship was planning to take part in UN sanctions enforcement missions related to North Korea around Japan.

New Zealand is one of only two major countries, along with Singapore, to have a free-trade agreement with Taiwan.

US warships sail through the Strait every few months, and some US allies such as Canada and Britain have also made transits.


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AFP and AP, JOHANNESBURG and WEST PALM BEACH, Florida

South Africa criticized US President Donald Trump after he said he is barring the nation from participating in the G20 summit next year at his Miami-area club, and would stop payments and subsidies to the country over its treatment of a US government representative at this year’s meeting.

“South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democratic country, and does not appreciate insults from another country about its membership and worth in participating in global platforms,” the South African presidency said late on Wednesday, vowing to continue participating in all G20 meetings.

The two countries are at odds over a range of domestic and foreign policies — a standoff that came to a head after Washington skipped the G20 summit in Johannesburg last week.

People walk by a TV, on which South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is shown at the G20 leaders summit in Johannesburg on Sunday. Photo: AP

Trump said that South Africa would not be invited to next year’s meeting.

Pretoria said that South Africa is a G20 member in its own right and that its place in the bloc was decided by the other members.

Trump had cited what he described as “horrific Human Right Abuses” endured by white farmers, and South Africa’s refusal to symbolically hand off the G20 presidency at the end of the Johannesburg summit to the US.

“South Africa has demonstrated to the World they are not a country worthy of Membership anywhere and we are going to stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately,” Trump wrote on Wednesday.

South Africa on Tuesday handed over the G20 presidency at a low-key foreign ministry event after refusing to do so at the summit to a US embassy representative, saying that Washington should be represented “at the right level.”

“It is regrettable that despite the efforts and numerous attempts by [South African] President [Cyril] Ramaphosa and his administration to reset the diplomatic relationship with the US, President Trump continues to apply punitive measures against South Africa based on misinformation and distortions about our country,” Pretoria said.

title: South Africa complains over Trump’s G20 ban


people: 呂建德 賴清德

title: Ministry to launch new overall healthcare plan

content_text:
THINKING LONG TERM:  As Taiwan’s population ages and draws on more medical resources, the government is looking toward the future to assure quality of care   By Chen Yun, Lin Chih-yi and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writer

The government is launching the third iteration of its long-term healthcare program ahead of schedule next year, proposing an integrated health policy that would apply to people, animals, plants and the environment, President William Lai (賴清德) said following a meeting of the government’s Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee yesterday.

The early implementation of the long-term healthcare program is due to Taiwan’s status as a hyper-aged society, Lai said.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has a detailed plan to address the challenges facing long-term healthcare, so that the elderly can age healthily, remain in their homes, and enjoy hospice and palliative care until their deaths, Lai said.

The government should achieve this through forward-looking and effective policies, use of “smart” technology, providing effective support for families of the elderly and empowering care facilities, Lai said.

Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lu Chien-te (呂建德) said that the implementation of the long-term healthcare policy next year aims to provide better support for families in need and reduce the number of days between a patient’s hospital discharge and the start of care by the program, which is currently four days, down from 51 when the previous version was first introduced.

The ministry hopes that the transition would be seamless by 2030, Lu said, adding that the interim goal is to reduce the transition period to two days by next year.

Under the revised program, at-home care for acute symptoms would be expanded to provide long-term home health to those in need, Lu said.

In addition to the challenges posed by a hyper-aged society, contagious diseases, climate change and changes to ecological systems have affected the health of not only humans, but also plants and animals, Lai said.

Lai said Taiwan should observe the WHO’s “One Health” concept and recognize that the “health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent,” and propose policies and frameworks that would allow the government to better protect Taiwanese.

Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said that the ministry has budgeted NT$1.6 billion (US$51.1 million) to observe the “One Health” concept from next year through 2030.

The government has implemented a ministry-level platform to coordinate and develop plans to address the possibility of composite disasters caused by contagious diseases, climate change and antibiotic resistance, which the committee would oversee, he said.

The government would assess Taiwan’s capabilities to prevent contagious diseases and its response speed compared with the rest of the international community to develop precisely crafted policies and systems, Chuang added.

Additional reporting by Chiu Chih-jou


title: Ex-KMT lawmaker sentenced for corruption

content_text:
CORPORATE CASE:  The former lawmaker was arrested for activities that occurred in 2020, indicted last year and sentenced together with others involved yesterday

The Taipei District Court yesterday sentenced former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmaker Liao Kuo-tung (廖國棟) to seven years and six months in prison for his role in a 2020 corruption case.

Liao was found guilty of soliciting NT$700,000 in bribes from Kung Hsiang-ke (孔祥科), who worked for New Taipei City-based Number Media Ltd, a provider of cloud computing and big data services.

The company is affiliated with Huizhong IOT Hong Kong Technology Ltd, which is itself owned by Chinese IT firm Inspur Co.

Then-Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Liao Kuo-tung, front center, attends Double Ten National Day celebrations in Taipei on Oct. 10, 2023. Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times

In 2018, Number Media sought approval from the Investment Commission to raise its capital. The request was suspended after the commission found it was engaging in business activities beyond its permitted scope, Taipei prosecutors said.

In March 2020, Number Media hired Kung as a consultant on a contract basis to lobby lawmakers for the capital increase.

A month later, he approached Liao, who directed his office chief, Ting Fu-hua (丁復華), to handle the matter, prosecutors said.

At the time, prosecutors alleged that to secure approval for the request, Kung had paid NT$700,000 to Liao through Ting, who kept NT$200,000 as a commission.

In August last year, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Liao, Ting and Kung on charges of corruption.

During the trial, Liao denied any wrongdoing, while Ting and Kung admitted to the offenses during questioning, the court said.

The former lawmaker was found to have held coordination meetings with the commission and the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Industrial Development Administration (then the Industrial Development Bureau) regarding the capital increase request, and that he and Ting took the money from Kung in return.

The Taipei court sentenced Liao to seven years and six months in prison and stripped him of his civil rights for three years, while Ting received a sentence of one year and four months and was deprived of his civil rights for two years.

Kung received a four-month sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay NT$100,000, while being deprived of his civil rights for one year. Their rulings can be appealed.


content_text:
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications yesterday said it plans to provide subsidies to scooter rental service operators on some outlying islands to purchase electric scooters and replace part of their gasoline-powered fleets.

The transportation ministry has budgeted a total of NT$90 million (US$2.9 million) — NT$60 million this year and NT$30 million next year — to help scooter rental service operators on outlying islands purchase electric scooters.

The funding, awaiting legislative approval, would be appropriated to enforce the Executive Yuan-approved project to create a transportation environment with low-carbon emissions and low energy consumption.

People view scooters outside a rental store in an undated photograph. Photo: Taipei Times

Alongside purchasing electric scooters, the funding would be used to help install power charging ports for electric scooters, provide scooter maintenance and communicate with all stakeholders.

Department of Public Transportation and Supervision Director Lin Cheng-yen (林政彥) said that the ministry has begun to accept applications for the subsidies, adding that applications demonstrating policy highlights would get priority.

The ministry said that a-new electric scooter would receive a subsidy of NT$30,000 per vehicle, which would cover maintenance.

For purchase of electric scooters that are less than two years old, are registered, but not yet scrapped, and have traveled less than 3,500km, a subsidy of NT$5,000 per vehicle would be provided, it said.

The actual subsidy rate would be determined using the latest “Fiscal Capacity Classification Table for Municipalities and Counties” published by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the ministry said.

Lin said that Taitung County and Pingtung County have already expressed interest, adding that applicants on Lambai Island (小琉球) of Pingtung County, and Green Island (綠島) and Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) of Taitung County can receive the full NT$30,000 subsidy per electric scooter.

The aim is to replace 3,000 gasoline-powered scooters, he said.

taiwan-subdivisions: 琉球 蘭嶼 綠島

title: E-scooter subsidy to aid operators


content_text:
Taiwan Railway Corp on Wednesday said that it plans to lift a ban on the release of sky lanterns from railway tracks in New Taipei City’s Pingsi District (平溪) for the next two months, beginning this weekend.

In Pingsi, the release of paper lanterns is a popular tourist activity year-round, with many people inscribing them with wishes before releasing them into the sky propelled by the small flame at the center.

The activity is currently allowed only in designated areas, and it is banned by law on railway tracks.

People from Keelung release paper lanterns on train tracks in New Taipei City’s Pingsi District on July 12. Photo: Lu Hsien-hsiu, Taipei Times

However, many people tend to ignore the regulations, standing on the train tracks which run through some main streets in the district to release the lanterns.

The practice was highlighted in August when a Taiwanese social media duo was fined NT$10,000 for going on the Shifen railway track in Pingsi to release sky lanterns.

In an apology video, the duo, known as “Tsai Tai-tai and Tsai Sheng-sheng” (菜苔苔與菜生生), said that they were directed onto the tracks by vendors, and that many other visitors were also releasing lanterns from there at the time.

In an effort to balance tourism and public safety, authorities are test-lifting the ban during designated hours and within restricted areas, starting at Shifen Station, then later at Pingsi and Jingtong stations, the railway company said.

The ban would be lifted from this weekend to the end of January, as train services on the line are suspended for repairs following erosion caused by heavy rain, the company said.

Pingsi District Administrator Lee Tien-ming (李天民) said in an interview that the district office had already submitted proposed time frames and designated areas for the release of lanterns at the three stations listed by the railway.

The New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau said that the people releasing the lanterns would have to comply with regulations on time, safety and areas, or risk fines of up to NT$3,000, in line with the Fire Services Act (消防法).

The city would disseminate information about the regulations and ask lantern vendors to comply, the bureau said.

title: Sky lantern ban for Pingsi railroad to be lifted for a time


content_text:
Taiwan to offer e-Gate access to New Zealand passport holders from Nov. 29

Taiwan will open its Automated Immigration Clearance (e-Gate) system to New Zealand biometric passport holders starting Saturday, the National Immigration Agency (NIA) said Thursday.

The move reciprocates New Zealand’s decision to grant the same access to Taiwanese travelers on Oct. 13.

According to the NIA, eligible travelers from New Zealand -- those aged 12 or above, at least 120 centimeters tall, and holding a biometric passport valid for at least six months -- will be able to use Taiwan’s 121 installed e-Gates when entering the country for leisure, business or study.

Travelers must also complete the online Taiwan Arrival Card before entry, as paper arrival cards were abolished on Oct. 1, the agency added.

New Zealand is the eighth country to allow e-Gate access to Taiwanese passport holders, following South Korea, Australia, Italy, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States. Taiwan said it extends automated clearance on a reciprocal basis with these nations.


content_text:
Advocates yesterday called on authorities to reverse a land expropriation decision in Hsinchu County saying that it is based on a wrongful subdivision that encroached on private property.

Located in Jhubei City (竹北) near the Fongshan River (鳳山溪), buildings owned by Tseng Li-chen (曾莉蓁) have been facing demolition since the Jhubei Land Office allegedly wrongfully subdivided the land in 2012.

The northern part of the Tseng family land was expropriated by the Water Resources Agency (WRA) in 1986 for hydraulic development, with the construction of a levee, nearby roads and drainage facilities completed in 2000.

Jhubei City resident Tseng Li-chen, left, and Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Chen Gau-tzu attend a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

In 2003, Tseng’s family put up buildings on what they say remained their property, which is defined by a trench along a levee in the north and a riprap in the south.

However, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) in 2010 approved revocation of the land expropriation for unclear reasons, while the office in 2012 conducted the allegedly wrongful land subdivision.

The subdivision moved the edge of Tseng’s property south by about 5m on its updated land registry map, National Cheng Kung University geomatics professor Chiu Chung-ming (邱仲銘) said.

The subdivision was incorrect, as the boundaries it delineated do not align with those that had been established over the past decades, which can be traced as far back as the Japanese colonial era, he said.

The incorrect survey placed part of Tseng’s property into the area to be expropriated, Chiu said, adding that the land in this erroneously defined area was acquired by the WRA’s Second River Management Branch and sold to a third party after the planned project was scrapped.

Chiu also suspected that the wrongful subdivision was planned, not a mistake, as the farmland readjustment zone south of the riprap was not affected by the subdivision accordingly.

It has also led to several incidents, he said.

A landowner was accused of “grabbing” the land around the riprap and asked to pay five years’ rent to the county government, he said.

Similarly, Tseng was accused by her neighbors of “unlawfully occupying” their land and asked to buy it or demolish her buildings.

A court ruling in 2018 said her property “unlawfully occupies” the land defined by what Chiu said are incorrectly delineated boundaries, demanding that she return “illegal gains” of NT$6,618.

Government Watch Alliance organizer Chen Jiau-hua (陳椒華) said the Land Administration Department provided documents about the land expropriation in 1986, which showed that the trench constructed by the agency matched the boundary defined in the original land registry maps.

That means there is no land in the area for the MOI to conduct so-called “expropriation revocation,” she said.

The department said land expropriation was conducted according to Article 50 of the Land Expropriation Act (土地徵收條例) and further handling must be applied for by people who need or use the land.

title: Advocates say land improperly surveyed, taken

taiwan-subdivisions: 竹北 鳳山


content_text:
PUNISHING BETRAYAL: People who provide China with information regarding ‘wanted notices’ could be sentenced to a maximum of seven years in prison, the official said

The government will take measures to protect those listed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as “die-hard separatists” and punish local collaborators, a government official said yesterday.

The comments came after President William Lai (賴清德) on Wednesday announced action plans to defend Taiwan’s democratic systems and invest in national defense, including an NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.9 billion) budget for equipment procurement.

The Executive Yuan would work with the National Security Council to implement countermeasures against Chinese transnational oppression, Lai said.

The CCP has listed 74 people as “die-hard Taiwanese separatists,” presenting a severe national security threat to Taiwan, an official said yesterday on condition of anonymity.

Government measures would include channels through which people could inform the government of the situation and request protection, and punishments for local actors who hurt Taiwan and their fellow citizens by assisting the CCP in its acts of transnational oppression, they said.

Any person or industry providing China with information regarding “wanted notices” is at risk of contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法), the National Intelligence Services Act (國家情報工作法), the Criminal Code, and the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), they added.

The most severe penalty is a seven-year prison sentence, the official said.

Regarding the president’s instructions to expedite passage of legislation related to national defense, the official said policies have been implemented in line with the president’s 17-point national defense directive issued in March.

Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said the majority of the legislation is being reviewed by the Executive Yuan, and changes would be proposed if necessary.

The Executive Yuan has established a cross-ministerial task force to better address potential scenarios faced by Taiwanese abroad, Lee said, adding that the government would work with international organizations, and foreign friends and allies.

Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said China was able to obtain information on “die-hard separatists” due to Taiwan’s transparency.

The Ministry of National Defense is taking steps to protect the identities of its personnel, he said, but added that he was not at liberty to clarify.

Mainland Affairs Council official Tung Yu-yun (董玉芸) said China has no jurisdiction over Taiwan, and that its transnational oppressive actions contravene international accords.

The government will protect its citizens’ safety and severely punish those who aid and abet China, Tung said.

The 74 “separatists” include former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), former legislative speaker You Si-kun (游錫?), National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), United Microelectronics Corp founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠), and groups such as the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, the International Cooperation and Development Fund and the Vision Foundation.

The CCP has also issued wanted notices for people in the Taiwanese information, communications and technology sector, accusing them of being hackers and attacking Chinese networks, the official said.

title: Taiwan to protect ‘separatists’: official

people: 顧立雄 蘇貞昌 賴清德 吳釗燮


content_text:
BEING PREPARED:  One must focus on whether a country has the capability to invade, rather than on its ‘intention,’ which could be hidden or embellished, an official said

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday defended President William Lai’s (賴清德) plan to raise defense spending to NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.9 billion) over eight years, saying that the nation must be prepared for the worst-case scenario in the Taiwan Strait.

Lai on Wednesday said the spending was decided on under the premise that Beijing aims to take Taiwan by force by 2027.

However, some said the specific statement was changed to “Beijing aims to complete all the preparations needed to unify Taiwan by force by 2027” when the speech was posted on the Presidential Office’s Web site and on Lai’s Facebook page.

Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister and spokesman Liang Wen-chieh speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Lin Che-yuan, Taipei Times

Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) criticized Lai’s statement, saying it was pushing the country to a state of war and impedes cross-strait exchanges.

Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister and spokesman Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said China has regularly dispatched military aircraft and vessels around Taiwan since 2022, adding that Beijing intends to reach its unification goal through “gray zone” harassment and creating division in Taiwan.

Cross-strait tensions have been caused by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), not Taiwan, he added.

“It seems that the former president always blames Taiwan first when China is provoked to anger. Such a remark is really inappropriate,” Liang said.

The 2027 time frame was first mentioned during the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CCP in October 2020, when the party announced that it would celebrate the centenary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) by creating the world’s foremost military, Liang said.

The CCP said the PLA would offer military support for “safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territories to fulfill the dream of a Chinese revival,” he added.

Beijing has since then annually increased its defense spending by more than 7 percent, Liang said, adding that China has the largest navy worldwide, with 370 military vessels on active duty, while the US Navy has about 290 to 300.

Studies by several defense think tanks said that China’s four major shipyards have built 39 military ships over the past four years, showing that China has accelerated its military buildup, he said.

“In international politics, one focuses on whether a country has the capabilities to conduct military invasion, rather than on its intention, which can be changed, hidden and embellished,” Liang said, citing as an example Russia, which on multiple occasions denied it intended to invade Ukraine, then attacked in 2022.

As such, the president mentioned 2027 as the time frame for China to reach its goal, he said, adding that one must be prepared for the worst-case scenario when it comes to national security.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office yesterday said the Democratic Progressive Party could have spent that money improving people’s lives instead of purchasing weapons and pleasing an external force.

Liang said China’s defense spending is 12 to 13 times higher than that of Taiwan.

“If the CCP really cares about cross-strait peace, its funding for defense projects should be used to improve the Chinese economy,” Liang said. “The tension between China and Taiwan could ease, which is good for everyone.”

title: MAC defends NT$1.25tn defense spending plan

people: 賴清德 梁文傑 馬英九


title: Ex-air force officer in spy case gets 12 year sentence

content_text:
The High Court yesterday upheld the guilty verdict handed to former air force officer Lou Wen-ching (樓文卿) for providing internal air force documents to Chinese agents, but reduced the sentence to 12 years in prison in a third retrial of the case that has been ongoing for more than eight years.

Judges said they found sufficient evidence that Lou took classified materials from the air force and went to a foreign country to pass them on to a Chinese official, so Lou has been convicted of several offenses related to espionage and undermining national security.

Lou contravened Article 17 of the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces (陸海空軍刑法) by “committing an act of espionage for an enemy” and Article 76 for “offenses of malfeasance in office,” as well as the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) for accepting bribes, they said.

Former air force officer Lou Wen-ching shields his face on his way to the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning on April 9, 2015. Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times

The ruling included the confiscation of the money Lou earned from selling classified military materials, about NT$170,000, and deprivation of civil rights for eight years, which can still be appealed.

Lou during the second retrial in November last year was sentenced to 17 years in prison and deprived of his civil rights for 10 years, which overturned a ruling in September 2020 that acquitted him.

His sentence was reduced to 12 years in the third retrial, which judges said was due to the fact that the money Lou earned was not a large amount and the materials he handed over were not of “high-level secrecy,” despite being in locked storage in a controlled unit office.

Lou did not attend the retrial, as he was granted bail at the end of last month. He wears an electronic device that monitors his movement.

Judges said Lou received training at the Air Force Academy, was a military instructor at the school for years and had been promoted to lieutenant colonel.

“He would know the basics of safeguarding sensitive materials against enemy espionage, and that he should protect national security,” they said. “Yet important files and documents related to air force flight missions he was assigned to keep safe, he passed on to the Chinese side in exchange for monetary rewards, assisting in Chinese espionage.”

“Lou’s actions harmed the clean ethics and good reputation of his fellow military officials,” they added.

The court filing said Lou served as a military instructor at an air force unit from July 2009 to 2015, during which he was convinced by fellow air force officer Liu Chi-ju (劉其儒) to go to a foreign country to meet and hand over internal documents in exchange for money.

An outstanding wanted bulletin is still out for Liu, who fled abroad, after he was convicted of spying on China’s behalf.

Lou, Liu and another air force officer, colonel Ko Chi-hsien (葛季賢), were part of spy networks set up by Chinese intelligence officer Zhen Xiaojiang (鎮小江), who recruited Taiwanese military personnel to obtain and pass on classified materials.

Zhen had enticed them with financial rewards, according to investigation findings.


content_text:
Japan denies report Trump urged Takaichi not to provoke China

A report saying that US President Donald Trump advised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to avoid provoking China over Taiwan is not based on fact, a Japanese government official said yesterday.

The official, who asked not to be identified, did not offer details on what was actually said during the call.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump advised Takaichi during their call this week not to provoke Beijing over the question of Taiwan’s sovereignty, citing unnamed Japanese officials and an American briefed on the call.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a party leaders’ debate at the upper house of parliament in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: Bloomberg

The advice was subtle and the president did not pressure Takaichi to retract her comments, the report said.

The US embassy in Japan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“I can’t comment further on foreign policy related exchanges,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said yesterday, when asked whether the report was true.

In Tuesday’s call between Trump and Takaichi, “the two leaders confirmed close cooperation between the US and Japan,” he said.

Kihara reiterated that during the call, Trump said Takaichi is his close friend and she can call him anytime.

Takaichi had said Trump discussed his call with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), which preceded his call with her, without elaborating on the content.

Takaichi has not retracted remarks she made on Nov. 7 that linked Japan’s security to a Taiwan contingency, the first such instance for a sitting prime minister.

At the time, she said an attack on Taiwan could be considered a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan.

Takaichi reiterated Japan’s position on responding to regional contingencies — namely, that for any specific incident, Japan would make a judgement taking into account all relevant information.


content_text:
Ministry, legislators submit versions of draft amendments to Forestry Act

The Ministry of Agriculture and legislators yesterday put forward their versions of draft amendments to the Forestry Act (森林法), with the common goal of enhancing penalties for illegal or inappropriate activities in forests.

Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) at the legislature’s Economics Committee meeting said the draft amendments proposed by the ministry were aimed at properly managing forest resources to ensure ecological conservation and sustainable development, given the increased human activities in forests and mountains.

The ministry’s version has three main points, he said.

An illegally logged tree is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo copied by Hung Mei-hsiu, Taipei Times

First, local authorities would be authorized to establish regulations banning recreational activities in state-owned or public forests due to concerns over their negative impact on ecosystems, Chen said.

Second, valuable trees would be protected by stricter regulations and illegally imported foreign timber would be banned to ensure fair timber trade, in line with international trends, he said.

Third, penalties for forest fires caused by human activities would be increased, given that such incidents has led to serious consequences, Chen said.

The ministry’s proposed amendment to Article 53 states that people who set fire to someone else’s forest would be fined up to NT$5 million (US$159,541), as well as the currently applicable penalty of three to 10 years in prison.

Those who set forests on fire would be punishable by a prison term of at least 10 years if it kills someone or five to 12 years if it heavily injures someone, it states.

The draft amendments proposed by lawmakers would require people who cause forest fires to report such disasters to authorities and restore the forests to their original state, but the ministry advised against including them.

It is unrealistic to expect perpetrators to report their wrongdoings, Chen said.

While forests devastated by fires might not be restored to their former condition, perpetrators could instead be required to conduct reforestation via substituted fulfilment, he said.

The ministry also advised against the lawmakers’ draft amendment to Article 8-1, which would directly recognize people as lessees of land occupied or cultivated in state-owned or public forests if the situations existed before July 21, 1993.

The ministry has been tackling the issue of land being cultivated without authorization, and there are many different ways to lease such land, Chen said.

However, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) said the issue was about the right to residency, urging the ministry to safeguard the rights and benefits of all people with a long history of living in mountainous areas, such as indigenous people.

Many families would be indefinitely labeled as “unlawful occupiers” in state-owned or public forests if their residency is not legally recognized, she said.


people: 侯友宜 顧立雄

title: Taiwan News Quick Take

content_text:
DEFENSE

‘Hai Kun’ takes fourth SAT

The nation’s first indigenous submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤), yesterday underwent its fourth sea acceptance test (SAT), and a fifth SAT might be planned if the tests are successful, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said yesterday. The vessel underwent its third test on July 3, followed by inspections and fine-tuning in drydocking, after which it was moved to the Port of Kaohsiung on Sept. 2. Plans to hand the submarine over to the navy by this month have been scrapped, the navy said. The Hai Kun has not yet progressed to formal diving tests, but it conducted floating tests on Wednesday and yesterday, the primary goal of which was to test its central systems and power management, which has to pass before it can be approved for a diving test, Koo said. Platforms and the vessel’s watertightness are also to be tested, he added. The navy would move forward with shallow-dive tests if the fifth test is promising, Koo said.

Navy personnel stand on Taiwan’s first indigenously developed submarine, the “Hai Kun,” or “Narwhal,” as it sails in the Port of Kaohsiung yesterday. The vessel was conducting its fourth sea acceptance test. Photo: Lee Hui-chou, Taipei Times

DIPLOMACY

E-Gates open to New Zealand

Travelers holding biometric New Zealand passports would be able to use the e-Gate starting tomorrow, the National Immigration Agency said yesterday. New Zealand granted the same access to Taiwanese on Oct. 13. Eligible New Zealanders — those aged 12 or older, at least 120cm tall and have a biometric passport valid for at least six months — would be able to use the 121 e-Gates when they enter Taiwan for leisure, business or study, the agency said, adding that travelers must also complete the online Taiwan Arrival Card before entry. New Zealand is the eighth country with reciprocal e-Gate access, following South Korea, Australia, Italy, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia and the US.

SOCIETY

Man hit by turning bus dies

An 87-year-old man who got hit by a bus while crossing a street in Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) at about 4pm on Wednesday was pronounced dead at a hospital, local authorities said. Police said they received a report of an accident at the intersection of Zhongzheng Road and Yanping N Road Sec 5 at 4:21pm and found the man, surnamed Yang (楊) without vital signs. He was rushed to Shin Kong Hospital for emergency treatment, but died that evening. Preliminary investigations found that the bus driver, a man surnamed Chen (陳), accidentally hit Yang as he was making a right turn on the road. Police ruled out drunk driving after administering a breath test on Chen, but referred him to prosecutors on suspicion of negligent homicide. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.

SOCIETY

YouBiker wins free rides

The New Taipei City Government on Wednesday awarded the city’s 300 millionth YouBike user with a one-year free travel pass. The rider, Huang Chih-wei (黃誌偉), can renew his monthly NT$1,200 TPass for free for 12 months. Huang hit the milestone on Oct. 27 when he rented a YouBike during the morning rush hour to catch the MRT to his job in Taipei, the city government said. Huang said he had been commuting that way using the TPass for more than a year, adding that he values the comfort of having air-conditioning and the convenience of not having to worry about parking. The YouBike policy where the first 30 minutes of YouBike rides are free is “one of the greatest perks of being a commuter,” he said. New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said Huang’s commuting habits perfectly illustrate the city’s goal of promoting “green transport connecting with public transit.”


title: Celebratory kiss

content_text: An army service member and his bride kiss in front of an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter at a mass wedding hosted at the Republic of China Army Command Headquarters in Longtan District, Taoyuan, yesterday. Ninety-three couples got married during the ceremony, which featured a horse-drawn carriage and rings delivered by drones.


content_text:
INNOCENT? The High Prosecutors’ Office opened a case and ordered a search of Lo’s residences, while Intel claimed he was welcomed back to ‘revitalize’ the company

The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday dismissed Intel Corp’s comment questioning evidence in the case surrounding alleged leaks of trade secrets from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), saying that all allegations must be determined by judicial authorities rather than by any one party.

Relevant evidence should be determined through the prosecutors’ investigation and the court’s verification, and “cannot be concluded based on one side’s claims,” Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) told reporters before the ministry’s weekly business meeting.

As the case involves national security and core technologies, the High Prosecutors’ Office has launched an investigation, and the government will also provide necessary assistance to TSMC regarding the potential leak of its trade secrets, he said.

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co logo is displayed outside its fabrication plant in Hsinchu on Oct. 9. Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA

TSMC on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against former executive Lo Wei-jen (羅唯仁) in the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court over suspected contraventions of his employment contract, confidentiality and non-compete agreements, and breaches of the Trade Secrets Act (營業秘密法).

TSMC said Lo did not reveal any plans to take a position at Intel and instead claimed that he planned to enter academia upon retirement.

Chinese-language media have reported that Lo, who retired from TSMC in July after 21 years at the company, allegedly stole TSMC’s most advanced process technologies — including 2-nanometer, 16A and 14A nodes — before he joined Intel.

Intel on Wednesday issued a statement denying that Lo had taken confidential information before joining the US chipmaker as an executive vice president late last month.

Intel said that it maintains rigorous policies and controls that strictly prohibit the use or transfer of any third-party confidential information or intellectual property.

“Based on everything we know, we have no reason to believe there is any merit to the allegations involving Mr Lo,” Intel said in the statement.

Intel said it welcomed him back as part of its effort to “revitalize its engineering-driven, customer-first culture with a renewed focus on strengthening our x86 franchise, building a trusted US foundry, and accelerating our AI [artificial intelligence] strategy,” the statement said.

The High Prosecutors’ Office on Tuesday opened an investigation into whether Lo contravened the Trade Secrets Act and the National Security Act (國家安全法).

The office yesterday said that it had directed the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau on Wednesday to search Lo’s residences in Taipei and Hsinchu County, seizing computers, USB drives and other items.

The office also obtained approval from the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court to seize Lo’s stocks and real estate, it said.

Prosecutors have not yet filed any criminal charges against Lo.

In the investigation under the National Security Act, the ministry is responsible for determining which semiconductor production technologies fall under the nation’s core key technologies, which are prohibited from being conducted overseas without permission, Kung said yesterday.

If Lo did take important data or technologies overseas for use, the ministry would provide the necessary identification for judicial authorities to determine the case, he said.

Meanwhile, the Industrial Technology Research Institute is in the process of revoking Lo’s laureate title, which was granted to him in September, Kung said, adding that it would not take long to complete the process.

Additional reporting by CNA

title: Ministry rejects Intel leak comments


content_text:
BUBBLE WORRIES:  While confidence was boosted by surging exports, stock market investments dropped, as the TAIEX’s repeated record highs fueled AI bubble fears

Taiwan’s consumer confidence inched higher this month, supported by robust exports, even as sentiment toward stock investment fell to a five-month low amid concerns over a potential artificial intelligence (AI) bubble, according to a survey released yesterday by National Central University.

The consumer confidence index rose 0.69 points to 64.65, with five of six subindices hitting six-month highs.

“The broad sentiment improvement is closely linked to strong export momentum, which lent support to the economy and family finances,” said Dachrahn Wu (吳大任), head of the university’s Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development, which conducts the monthly survey.

The impressive export performance has played a major role in lifting GDP growth toward 6 percent this year, providing stability for the labor market and household consumption, Wu said.

The drop in stock investment confidence largely reflected profit-taking after the TAIEX repeatedly reached record highs last month, he said.

Meanwhile, the consumption of durable goods also rebounded, apparently aided by eased real-estate lending rules for first-time homebuyers and relocators, Wu said.

Automobile and motorcycle sales also recovered from earlier tariff-related weakness, he said.

However, Wu cautioned that uncertainties remain, including the risk of an AI-driven market bubble and Taiwan’s ongoing trade negotiations with the US.

In a related development, the government’s business climate gauge last month remained in the “yellow-red” expansion zone for a second consecutive month, indicating sustained economic growth, the National Development Council (NDC) said in a report yesterday.

The council’s composite monitoring indicator rose to 35 from a revised 34 in September, bolstered by surging equities and strong demand in the tech sector, NDC Department of Economic Development Director Chen Mei-chu (陳美菊) said.

The index of leading indicators, which projects the economic landscape over the next six months, increased 0.41 percent to 101.18, as gains in export orders, equity prices, manufacturing sentiment and money supply offset declines in construction floor areas, semiconductor equipment imports, and net hiring in the industry and services sectors, the report showed.

The coincident indicators index, which reflects current economic conditions, fell slightly to 104.85, weighed down by mild drops in industrial production, machinery and electrical imports, and manufacturing sales, even as exports, electricity use, retail and restaurant revenue, and overtime hours rose, the report showed.

Investment momentum is expected to remain strong, as semiconductor and supply-chain companies expand capacity to seize AI opportunities, Chen said.

Multinational firms are also increasing operations in Taiwan, while government-led AI initiatives and public-works projects continue at record speed, underpinning domestic demand and business confidence, she said.

title: Consumer confidence inches up on robust exports


title: US suggests listing China firms as aiding military

content_text:
The US Department of Defense concluded that Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (阿里巴巴), Baidu Inc (百度) and BYD Co (比亞迪) should be added to a list of companies that aid the Chinese military, according to a letter to the US Congress sent about three weeks before US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) agreed to a broad trade truce.

US Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg informed lawmakers of the conclusion in the Oct. 7 letter, a copy of which was seen by Bloomberg News, to the heads of the US House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

It was not clear whether the companies have been formally included in the Pentagon’s so-called 1260H list, which carries no direct legal repercussions, but serves as a major warning to US investors.

The logo of Chinese technology firm Alibaba is seen at its office in Beijing on Aug. 10, 2021. Photo: AP

Feinberg said the three companies, along with five others — Eoptolink Technology Inc (新易盛通信技術), Hua Hong Semiconductor Ltd (華虹半導體), RoboSense Technology Co (速騰聚創科技), WuXi AppTec Co (無錫藥明康德) and Zhongji Innolight Co (中際旭創) — merit inclusion on the 1260H list, which identifies businesses connected to the Chinese military operating in the US.

The list is published annually, and the most recent version, which was updated in January before Trump took office, does not include them.

“In our review of the latest information available, the Department has identified eight entities that it has determined are ‘Chinese military companies’ in accordance with the statute that should be added to the 1260H list,” Feinberg wrote in the letter.

Inclusion on the list could amount to a serious challenge for Alibaba, which is stepping up efforts to compete globally in artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the other firms.

In a statement, Alibaba said there was “no basis” for its inclusion on the list.

“Alibaba is not a Chinese military company nor part of any military-civil fusion strategy,” the company said. “We further note that, because Alibaba does not do business related to US military procurement, being on the Section 1260H List would not affect our ability to conduct business as usual in the United States or anywhere in the world.”

Baidu said that its products were designed for civilian use.

“There is no credible basis for adding Baidu to the 1260H list or any other US government list of restricted companies,” it said in a statement. “The suggestion that Baidu has military connections is entirely baseless and no evidence has been produced that would prove otherwise.”

Representatives for the other Chinese companies named in the letter did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The list, first published in 2021, now includes more than 130 entities accused of working with the Chinese military. The names include those of airlines, construction companies, shipping companies, computer hardware manufacturers and communications companies.

Analysis by the law firm Hogan Lovells said inclusion on the 1260H List has “several direct and indirect implications,” including restrictions on US defense contracts, potential inclusion on other restricted party lists, reputational damage and increased compliance costs.


title: Cheng Mei delivers next-gen chip tool

content_text:
Cheng Mei Instrument Technology Co (政美應用), an advanced chip packaging inspection tool supplier, yesterday said it delivered its first chip inspection tool for next-generation panel-level packaging (PLP) technology for artificial intelligence (AI) chips this month, eight to 10 months ahead of its rivals.

In addition, the company has made a breakthrough in developing chip-on-panel-on-substrate (CoPoS) inspection and passed a customer’s verification, enabling shipment of the equipment to a local chip testing and packaging service provider earlier this month, it said.

The PLP, or CoPoS, technology is widely expected to be a successor to chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) technology, which is currently used in packaging Nvidia Corp’s AI chips. The major technology shift would replace 300mm round wafer carriers with 310mm by 310mm square panel carriers, addressing constraints on usable areas and capacity, the company said.

Cheng Mei Instrument Technology Co chairman Tony Tsai poses for a photograph in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA

“The company expects demand for advanced inspection metrology equipment to outpace traditional equipment in the 2026 to 2029 period, given rapidly rising demand for advanced chip packaging technologies such as CoPoS and CoWoS,” Cheng Mei chairman Tony Tsai (蔡政道) told reporters in Taipei yesterday.

“The company is targeting the advanced packaging segment for growth,” Tsai said.

The addressable market of the world’s advanced chip inspection and metrology tools used in advanced chip packaging is expected to soar 71 percent to NT$60 billion (US$1.91 billion) in 2029 from NT$35 billion next year, the company predicted.

Traditional tools are expected to grow 67 percent to NT$20 billion, it said.

Cheng Mei reported a net loss of NT$54.2 million in the first half of this year, compared with a net loss of NT$71.45 million in the same period last year.

The company is optimistic about next year’s business outlook, driven by aggressive CoWoS capacity expansion by its major customer amid booming AI demand, Tsai said.

That would help the company boost its semiconductor-related equipment revenue to make up more than 70 percent of its total revenue next year, compared with about 60 percent this year, it said.

Global CoWoS capacity is expected to expand significantly to 137,000 wafers per month next year from about 80,000 wafers this year, including those by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電), chip packagers and testers ASE Technology Holding Co (日月光投控) and Amkor Technology Inc, Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting Co (元大投顧) said in a report.


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Taiwan has imposed anti-dumping duties on China-made beer and hot-rolled steel for five years after a probe found the domestic industry had suffered “substantial harm,” the Ministry of Finance said yesterday.

An investigation was launched in March following complaints of unfair competition and levies were applied in July for an initial period of four months.

The finance ministry yesterday said that it and the Ministry of Economic Affairs had “finally determined that the companies involved had engaged in dumping, and that such dumping had caused substantial harm to the domestic industry.”

Cans and bottles of China-made beer are displayed at a news conference at the legislature in Taipei on June 27. Warning: Excessive consumption of alcohol can damage your health Photo: CNA

Companies cited by the ministry included the Chinese subsidiaries of Budweiser and Kirin beer.

The levies on Chinese-made beer would range from 19.13 percent to 51.94 percent, while for steel they would be either 16.1 percent or 20.15 percent.

They would be in place for five years, starting from July.

Some beer importers likely knew “that foreign exporters were engaging in dumping likely to cause harm” between April 4 and July 2, and those goods would also be hit with duties, the ministry said.

China was the biggest source of beer imports to Taiwan last year, Bloomberg News reported previously, with shipments topping US$125 million.

Taiwan currently has 13 cases of anti-dumping duties on products, including 10 from China, which is its largest trade partner, official data show.

Tensions between Taiwan and China remain high, as Beijing maintains military, political and diplomatic pressure on the democratic nation.

title: Anti-dumping duties put on China-made beer, steel


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Apple set to become world’s top phone maker, overtaking Samsung

Apple Inc will retake its crown as the world’s largest smartphone maker for the first time in more than a decade, lifted by the successful debut of a new iPhone series and a rush of consumers upgrading devices, according to Counterpoint Research.

The iPhone 17 models introduced in September have been a hit both domestically in the US and in Apple’s other critical market, China. They’ve enticed more people to upgrade, leading to double-digit year-over-year sales growth in both markets, according to the researchers. The US company also is benefiting from a cooling of US-China trade tensions and a depreciating US dollar that has boosted purchases in emerging markets, they added.

The growth will propel Apple past longtime rival Samsung Electronics Co this year, according to Counterpoint’s figures. Shipments of the iPhone are set to grow at 10 percent this year, compared with 4.6 percent for Samsung.

Appe Inc’s iPhone 17 models are displayed for sale at a store in Shanghai on Nov. 2. Photo: Hector Retamal, AFP

The overall smartphone market is expected to expand by 3.3 percent this year, with Apple projected to claim a share of 19.4 percent. It will be the first time since 2011 that the company takes the No. 1 position.

“Beyond the highly positive market reception for the iPhone 17 series, the key driver behind the upgraded shipment outlook lies in the replacement cycle reaching its inflection point,” Counterpoint analyst Yang Wang said. “Consumers who purchased smartphones during the COVID-19 boom are now entering their upgrade phase. Furthermore, 358 million secondhand iPhones were sold between 2023 and Q2 2025. These users are also likely to upgrade to a new iPhone in the coming years.”

Looking further into the future, Wang sees Apple extending its lead. The upcoming debut of a foldable iPhone and a budget-friendly iPhone 17e next year will both help sales. And Apple is expected to follow those models with a major iPhone design revamp in 2027, as Bloomberg News has previously reported.

With those tailwinds, Counterpoint expects Apple to remain the No. 1 phone seller through 2029.

Apple said last month that sales are growing faster than anticipated, with the holiday quarter poised to approach a record US$140 billion in revenue.


title: Christmas treat

content_text: A woman looks at buildings made of gingerbread at the exhibition “The Gingerbread City” in London yesterday. The edible city includes more than 50 unique gingerbread structures.


title: EDITORIAL: KMT proposal embeds inequality

content_text:
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has proposed an amendment to the Nationality Act (國籍法) exempting Chinese spouses from renouncing their People’s Republic of China (PRC) citizenship when running for public office, triggering concern about privileging Chinese nationals and putting national security at risk.

According to Article 20 of the act, a national of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan who also holds the nationality of another country shall have no right to hold government offices. Someone with dual nationality wanting to hold a government office must renounce the other country’s nationality within one year of taking office.

The act aims to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and security, preventing foreign forces from influencing domestic policy and interfering in governance. It is a basic norm to require a country’s elected officials to be loyal to that country, as having dual citizenship could cause conflicts of interest.

The government found that at least five local wardens and a county councilor, all Chinese spouses, failed to complete the paperwork renouncing their foreign nationality, as demanded of every naturalized citizen. The Ministry of the Interior has ordered local governments to remove those wardens from office. However, the KMT-ruled Hualien County Government granted a Chinese spouse’s appeal to be restored to her position.

In proposing the amendment, the KMT legislative caucus has argued that the Constitution and the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) define the special legal relationship between Taiwan and China as two areas, not “state-to-state” relations, so people from the PRC should not be defined as “foreign nationals.”

That argument does not hold water, as Article 9-1 of the cross-strait act clearly says: “The people of the Taiwan Area may not have household registrations in the Mainland Area or hold passports issued by the Mainland Area,” signifying a non-dual citizenship principle. It also stipulates that people in Taiwan who have household registrations or hold PRC passports shall be deprived of their status as a Taiwanese citizen.

Furthermore, Article 1 of the act states: “With regard to matters not provided for in this Act, the provisions of other relevant laws and regulations shall apply.” Although the act stipulates that the Chinese spouses could run for election after 10 years of residency, they still have to follow the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法), and the Nationality Act on renouncing their PRC nationality to hold public office.

The KMT previously proposed shortening the time required for Chinese spouses to gain ROC citizenship from six years to four years, which drew criticism that it would widen the inequality between Chinese spouses and spouses from other countries, who need eight years to apply for citizenship.

The party’s proposal to allow Chinese spouses to hold dual citizenship would further deepen social injustice, granting them a privilege denied to other immigrants and Taiwanese.

It would also send the wrong message to the world; that Taiwan, as “part of China,” holds Chinese in a higher position over other foreigners.

China has over the past few years revised its laws to obligate all Chinese citizens to serve its national interests, including complying with its “united front” tactics and spying to achieve its unification ambitions.

Chinese spouses in Taiwan number 384,381, accounting for more than 64 percent of all foreign spouses. It is necessary to eliminate differential treatment to solidify their loyalty to Taiwan. The KMT amendments would only adversely affect Taiwan’s sovereignty and security.


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According to data released by the Mainland Affairs Council, in the first 10 months of this year, 178 Taiwanese who traveled to China went missing, were detained, were questioned or had their personal freedom restricted — a threefold increase compared with last year.

Taiwanese university students next month begin their longest winter break in history thanks to the new 16-week semester system many universities have adopted. This extended break has been prioritized by Chinese “united front” organizations as a prime opportunity to lure young Taiwanese to visit.

Through civic organizations cooperating with China’s United Front Work Department and Taiwan Affairs Office, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has begun offering extremely low-cost “exchange” trips to attract Taiwanese university students to travel to China, with some eight-day trips costing as little as NT$4,000.

Although the trip itineraries are framed as “cultural exchange,” “youth forums” or “holiday travel,” they are carefully designed for political indoctrination. Participants are required to provide detailed information, such as their social media accounts, campus roles and views on cross-strait relations — tactics the CCP uses for talent screening and political evaluation.

International research indicates that tens of thousands of Taiwanese students have already taken part in similar programs, some of which place students in tightly controlled campus environments to receive Chinese nationalist messaging.

The CCP is conducting talent screening and political orientation assessments in preparation for future “united front” work.

People must recognize that traveling to China for “exchanges” involves not only political indoctrination, but risks to one’s personal safety. State Organs (國有器官), a documentary released in October last year, exposed how Chinese government officials engage in organ harvesting and other illegal activities, and covered the issue of human organs from unknown sources being used in China’s organ transplant market.

The UN, the US Department of State and multiple national parliaments have confirmed that the CCP has carried out large-scale forced organ harvesting.

Under China’s judicial system, which lacks legitimate legal protections, individual rights and personal safety are completely disregarded. This is why Taiwanese must remain highly suspicious of these ridiculously cheap “exchange” trips.

In March, a 56-year-old travel industry operator from Hualien County surnamed Chen (陳), who was part of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi’s (傅?萁) delegation to Hong Kong, was arrested upon arrival and accused of involvement in a money laundering case from 25 years ago. She was reportedly arrested before she even had the chance to claim her luggage, and Fu later stated that he “had never known” her.

Chen’s case is proof that once you step into any territory under CCP control, personal safety and legal protections can vanish instantly — past cases can be revived and used against you at any time.

The Ministry of Education issued a warning to universities, reminding faculty and students not to participate in China’s “united front” activities. It emphasized that cross-strait exchanges must be based on mutual respect, and adherence to laws and regulations.

Universities should turn this warning into concrete action by providing information literacy education, establishing registration mechanisms for travel to China, offering alternative international exchange opportunities, strengthening communication with parents and providing psychological counseling for students returning from these “exchange” trips.

Taiwan’s freedom, democracy and respect for human rights are what makes this nation precious.

As the CCP attempts to use this year’s unusually long winter break as an opening for “united front” infiltration, every parent must become a guardian. People must help university students understand that even a single low-cost “exchange” trip might carry multiple risks — such as being included on “united front” lists, having personal freedom restricted, or even facing threats to personal safety.

Only adequate education and vigilance can ensure that future Taiwanese generations do not become captives of the CCP’s “united front” efforts and human rights violations, so that we might continue safeguarding our nation’s democratic system and the dignity of our way of life.

Yang Chih-chiang is a teacher.

Translated by Kyra Gustavsen

title: Countering China’s ‘exchange’ trips


title: Obstacle for spouses is in Beijing

content_text:
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is pushing to amend the Nationality Act (國籍法) so that People’s Republic of China (PRC) spouses would no longer need to renounce PRC nationality before taking office. To justify this change, its legislators repeat two claims: First, that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is refusing to give PRC spouses political rights. Second, that under the Republic of China (ROC) constitutional framework, the PRC is not a “foreign state,” so PRC nationality should not be treated as foreign at all.

In fact, as a democracy, Taiwan already guarantees PRC spouses who hold ROC national IDs the same basic political rights as any other citizen. They can vote and register as candidates. The real legal issue begins only after they win an election. At that stage, Article 20 of the Nationality Act requires certain public officials to hold only ROC nationality. This rule does not target PRC spouses. It defines what it means to exercise public power in a sovereign state.

The Mainland Affairs Council has reiterated that the core of this rule is allegiance. A public official should owe loyalty to one country. Whether someone has dual nationality is a question of fact, not ideology. It does not matter whether the other nationality belongs to a state that Taiwan recognizes diplomatically or to a “political entity” such as the PRC. Article 20 does not speak of “foreign states.” It refers to “any nationality other than ROC nationality,” which clearly covers holding a PRC passport.

This requirement also applies to all dual nationals in sensitive positions. Some countries, for example Argentina, do not allow their citizens to give up their nationality. A dual national from such a country who runs for public office in Taiwan faces the same hurdle as a PRC spouse. If they cannot prove loss of the other nationality, they cannot legally take or keep the job. The principle is the same in every case. The barrier comes from the law of the other state, not from discrimination by Taiwan.

PRC spouses are stuck in a trap that was built in Beijing, not in Taipei. PRC law tightly controls loss of nationality and household registration. It does not offer a simple and transparent route for people who have settled abroad and wish to give up that status. Asking Taiwan to “solve” this by weakening its own safeguards, and by giving the PRC passport a shortcut that no other passport enjoys, turns a problem created in Beijing into a concession forced on Taipei. It is also deeply unfair to immigrants from Southeast Asia, North America, Europe and elsewhere who already went through the painful process of renouncing their original citizenship to commit fully to Taiwan.

However, this does not mean the state can simply walk away. Once someone holds an ROC ID, the government has a duty to protect that person’s right to take part in public affairs. The real question is how to offer relief in hard cases, while still respecting the principle of single allegiance.

Here Taiwan already has a concrete model. Article 28 of the Public Functionaries Appointment Act (公務人員任用法) allows, in exceptional situations, the appointment of people who have done everything required by Taiwan to renounce a foreign nationality, but are prevented by another state’s law. Even in such cases, they may only work in positions that do not involve national security or state secrets. In other words, Taiwanese law already recognizes that some countries refuse to let their citizens go, and it responds with targeted, case by case remedies instead of abandoning the basic rule.

By contrast, the KMT proposal would carve PRC spouses out of Article 20 entirely and pretend that the allegiance problem simply disappears. It does not. The Constitution and the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) clearly distinguish “Taiwan area people” from “Mainland area people,” who are governed by special rules precisely because they are not treated as ordinary citizens in practice. If PRC citizens were truly just ROC nationals, we would have to abolish the cross-strait act, let PRC passport holders live, move and vote here like domestic citizens, and cancel existing security screening. No major party is prepared to argue for that outcome.

Taiwan should treat PRC spouses with dignity and fairness, and preserve paths to residency, family life, naturalization and meaningful participation in public life. Yet when it comes to serving in public office, the principle of single allegiance needs to remain firm. PRC spouses who hope one day to serve in public life deserve our respect. They should not be turned into an excuse to weaken Taiwan’s safeguards.

Gahon Chiang is a congressional staff member in the office of Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Kuan-ting, focusing on national security policy.


title: Important checks and balances for governance

content_text:
National defense and foreign affairs are the president’s core constitutional powers — national security, international negotiations and military secrets require a stable and coherent chain of command. Yet in recent years, opposition lawmakers, waving the banner of “oversight” to engage in interference, have used their legislative majority to override the head of state’s defense-related decisions. Their actions have thrown the nation’s constitutional system off balance and exposed national security to unnecessary risks.

Article 35 of the Constitution states that “the President shall be the head of the State and shall represent the Republic of China in foreign relations.” Article 36 designates the president as commander of “the land, sea and air forces of the whole country,” responsible for formulating major national security policies.

Why does the Constitution vest issues of national defense and foreign affairs in the president? The answer is clear: To prevent the legislative branch from intervening in the military chain of command, so as to avoid military decisions from being swayed by party politics and confusion in command or breaches of national security. This is one of the most important principles of constitutional checks and balances — foreign affairs are unified and outward-facing under the head of state, national defense is unified under the president, the Executive Yuan implements policies, and the Legislative Yuan supervises.

The legislature’s power of oversight has never equated to the power to command. Reviewing budgets does not mean disclosing classified information, questioning the Executive Yuan does not mean demanding that the president hand over the power to issue military orders, and pursuing transparency does not mean interfering in international negotiations.

For national defense and diplomacy in particular, there are three fundamental boundaries that the legislature must respect. First is high confidentiality — arms purchases, weapons deployments and operational plans must not be fully disclosed. Next is diplomatic timeliness — negotiations require speed and flexibility. Action cannot wait for a legislative vote. Third is unity of military command — military orders must be unified. They cannot be issued by the Legislative Yuan, nor should they be based on partisan majorities.

However, the legislature has repeatedly overstepped its authority — demanding that the Ministry of National Defense disclose details of Taiwan-US arms sales that have not yet been finalized, delaying weapons procurement and pressuring the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hand over records of sensitive conversations. This no longer constitutes “oversight” — it is blatant usurpation that undermines international trust in Taiwan.

If the Legislative Yuan could demand access to all military secrets, would the US be willing to share its sensitive defense plans? If it could intervene in diplomatic negotiations, would our allies still feel at ease engaging in dialogue? If military command were subject to partisan influence, how could Taiwan maintain a coherent strategy?

Taiwan must have checks and balances. The legislature may review budgets and question the Cabinet, but it cannot replace the president in commanding the military, interfere in diplomatic negotiations or demand access to state secrets. The constitutional division of powers exists to prevent political infighting from harming national security.

National defense and foreign affairs should be unified under the president’s leadership, implemented by the Executive Yuan and overseen by the legislature — such is Taiwan’s constitutional order, and the baseline of any democratic nation.

Hsiao Hsi-huei is a freelance writer.

Translated by Kyra Gustavsen


people: 習近平 賴清德

title: EDITORIAL CARTOON

content_text: There has been much catastrophizing in Taiwan recently about America becoming more unreliable as a bulwark against Chinese pressure. Some of this has been sparked by debates in Washington about whether the United States should defend Taiwan in event of conflict. There also were understandable anxieties about whether President Trump would sacrifice Taiwan’s interests for a trade deal when he sat down with President Xi (習近平) in late October. On top of that, Taiwan’s opposition political leaders have sought to score political points by attacking the Lai (賴清德) administration for mishandling relations with the United States.Part of this budding anxiety


content_text:
G20 declaration in defiance of US marks rare victory for global multilateralismFaced with US President Donald Trump’s ire, G20 leaders had to choose between buttering him up or standing up to him — uncharacteristically, they chose the latter

Born of crisis but torn by years of tensions among its members, the group of 20 major economies scored a rare victory for multilateralism after overcoming the boycott and objections of its most powerful member, the US.

South Africa, this year’s G20 president, rallied all but two member nations — the US and Argentina — to issue a declaration, ignoring Washington’s warnings and quelling questions about the G20’s future — at least for now.

Many doubted Pretoria would secure a declaration, much less tackle issues such as helping poor nations cope with climate change and external debt.

That success strengthened a body which for years was struggling to reach meaningful agreements, and highlighted the power of multilateralism when it seemed in retreat, researchers and delegates said.

The outcome infuriated the US, next year’s G20 host. The White House accused South Africa of weaponizing its presidency to undermine the G20’s founding principles on unanimous consensus.

US President Donald Trump would restore its “legitimacy” while hosting next year, it said.

The White House had no immediate comment when asked if it planned to disinvite South Africa from next year’s G20 events.

The declaration’s final paragraph was carefully worded to commit to meeting in future G20 summits in the UK and South Korea, but only to “working together” under the US presidency, a South African delegate said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declined a US offer to hand over the rotating G20 presidency to a junior diplomat. That ceremony took place between equivalent diplomats this week.

The summit had seemed hopelessly overshadowed by Trump’s boycott over false allegations that South Africa’s black majority government mistreats its white minority.

A South African delegate at the summit, who declined to be named, because they were not authorized to speak, said the agreement on a draft caused a visible ripple of relief among negotiators.

“News of the G20’s demise is greatly exaggerated,” said Josh Lipsky, the Atlantic Council’s international economics chair and ex-aide to former US president Barack Obama.

“In a crisis ... it will be there — regardless of which leaders are present at any ... summit,” he said. The declaration tackled issues such as climate and renewable energy that often divide G20 members. It proposed the first global panel to address inequality.

“This is the first meeting of world leaders ... which put the inequality emergency at the center of the international agenda,” Oxfam economic justice senior director Nabil Ahmed said.

Faced with Trump’s ire, G20 leaders had a choice: “Do we butter him up or stand up to him?” Atlantic Council Eurasia Center nonresident senior fellow Michael Bociurkiw said. They chose the latter.

“Leaders were getting fed up,” he said.

“This could set a new approach to dealing with Donald Trump,” he added, a view several delegates echoed.

Saturday’s show of unity was aimed at supporting the hosts and decrying the US’ refusal to engage in the G20’s first African summit, one said.

The US’ actions brought together countries at odds with Trump, such as India and South Africa, with others seeking to maintain good relations, including the UK and France, another said.

With the US taking up the mantle, there is a risk much of the work in Johannesburg could be undone. Washington is expected to narrow the G20’s focus during its presidency, which coincides with the US’ 250th anniversary, to just the leaders’ summit and financial forum, jettisoning other working groups and ministers’ meetings on energy, health and the environment.

“The United States looks forward to emphasizing economic growth, deregulation and energy abundance as key pillars of its 2026 G20 host year,” a US Department of the Treasury spokesman said. “A back-to-basics approach at the G20 is long overdue.”

Entities including the IMF and the World Bank are still invited, but Washington plans to exclude UN organizations, a source familiar with the plans said.

Then again, it is only for a year.

At worst, countries could “lay low” during the US presidency then resume work later, said one delegate who also declined to be named.

Despite the bitter differences, Washington’s G20 agenda overlaps with Pretoria’s in key areas such as development, economic growth and financial stability, UN adviser and Jubilee USA Network executive director Eric LeCompte said.

“I think there is going to be carry-over in certain areas with the US taking the mantle,” he said.