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社會中心／程正邦報導

張文持刀戴防毒面罩在北車地下街無差別砍人，一旁星巴克的客人全程目擊嚇壞。（圖／翻攝自Threads @jmmiu_tw）19日傍晚在充滿煙硝味與恐慌的台北車站，一扇緩緩降下的鐵捲門，意外成為隔絕生死的最強護盾。當逃兵通緝犯張文在北捷M7出口引爆煙霧彈、揮舞長刀時，位於出口樞紐的星巴克門市上演了一場教科書等級的危機應對。這場驚心動魄的「鐵門救援」隨後在社群平台引發熱議，網友紛紛感嘆：若非店員當機立斷，傷亡名單恐怕會更加沉重。

目擊者表示，歹徒佔據了M7到M8的路口，並且持續向下方的板南線月台丟煙霧彈。（圖／翻攝自Threads @jmmiu_tw）惡魔在門外：刺鼻白煙中的冷靜決策

案發當下，台北車站地下街正值下班高峰，空氣中突然瀰漫起類似硫磺與燒塑膠的惡臭異味。多名目擊者指出，當時一名戴著防毒面具的黑衣人（嫌犯張文）正手持汽油彈與長刀在街頭肆虐。就在眾人驚慌逃竄、不知往何處躲避時，緊鄰犯案現場的星巴克店員展現了驚人的警覺性。

張文戴防毒面具持刀追著路人砍，殺紅了眼，現場宛如人間煉獄。（圖／翻攝自Threads @jmmiu_tw）現場民眾在社群媒體Threads上分享，店員在察覺異狀的幾秒鐘內，便果斷按下鐵捲門開關，並大聲安撫店內顧客：「請大家往內靠，留在店裡不要出去！」事後流出的監視器畫面顯示，張文在行經該店時，曾一度隔著玻璃門朝店內張望，眼神冰冷刺骨。幸而此時鐵捲門已完全閉鎖，阻斷了他闖入行兇的可能性，這一幕讓事後獲救的顧客至今仍驚魂未定，直呼「那是與死神最接近的距離」。

星巴克店員機警拉下鐵門，救了全店客人一命。（圖／翻攝自Threads @jmmiu_tw）系統連動還是人為機警？「鐵門之爭」的真相

隨著討論升溫，網路也出現了不同的聲音。部分網友指出，北捷車站設有連動防火系統，當偵煙器感應到煙霧彈的高濃度煙霧後，防火鐵捲門會自動下降。對此，有相關產業背景的網友分析，即便有系統輔助，現場店員在混亂中能迅速引導、不讓慌亂的民眾衝出店外，同樣起到了關鍵作用。

據了解，統一星巴克體系平時針對火警與緊急突發狀況皆有固定演練，這讓第一線人員在面對如「恐攻級」的威脅時，能比一般民眾更早做出反應。相較於捷運站內當時被批評「廣播不明、導引混亂」的情況，這間民營門市的表現無疑成了對比鮮明的標竿。

事件過後，該門市的顧客評論紛紛給出五顆星好評，網友狂點讚表示：「這不是單純的系統問題，是員工的責任感救了大家」、「應該給這門市全體員工表揚加薪」。

星巴克店員安撫客人不要驚慌，先待在店裡避難。（圖／翻攝自Threads @jmmiu_tw）

title: 死神隔窗對望！星巴克店員「神速降門」 全網淚讚：救了無數家庭 | 社會


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財經中心／廖珪如報導

勞動部長洪申翰19日暢談職安、職災雙重加強新制，尤其鎖定營造業，要求業者對職安有更多投資。（圖／翻攝畫面）為更有效遏止職業災害，守住勞工生命安全，勞動部宣布自明（115）年1 月1日起，啟動為期3年的「強化職場減災行動計畫」，首波即鎖定職災風險最高的營造業，部長洪申翰19日與內政部國土署吳欣修署長共同說明減災策略重點，將透過跨部會合作，從工程源頭到施工現場全面把關，強化安全管理，守護勞工生命與工作安全。

洪申翰表示，我國重大職業災害死亡人數從103年的346人降至113年的287人，營造業亦由168人下降至145人，整體職災數據雖有下降，但近5 年的減災曲線已經趨於平緩，顯示仍有進步空間。特別是營造業，每年仍奪走約150條人命，佔全體重大職災的一半，風險最高。同時指出，營造業的工安現況，存在著許多根本性的結構問題，包括業主工安投資不足、缺乏選商機制、工程層層轉包以及人員缺乏危害意識。這也說明，營造減災單靠勞檢不斷的檢查及處分，已經面臨到瓶頸，需要尋求更積極的減災作為，才能有效持續減災。

工程業主納防災

勞動部說明，研究發現英國、日本、新加坡等國家能突破職災瓶頸的關鍵，都在於「制度改變」與「源頭管理」，是要將防線前推至規劃、設計階段的風險管理。因此，勞動部完成了職安法的重大修正，將「工程業主」納入防災體系，也加重營造廠跟各包商的安全管理責任，但法律要真正落實，還需要更完整的策略，所以提出「強化職場減災行動計畫」。在營造業方面，將透過 3 項具體措施翻轉工安體質：

第一：推動「源頭防災」，要求工程業主在規劃設計階段就要做風險評估，讓安全從一開始就被納入，減少後續施工的風險。第二：建立「職安履歷」，是本計畫最重要的亮點之一，將與國土署合作建置「全國營造廠商職安衛履歷平台」，公開廠商的事故、裁罰與得獎紀錄，讓資訊像信用紀錄一樣透明，強化社會監督，提升重視工安廠商的競爭力，並促使忽視勞工安全的業者被市場淘汰。第三：推動「全員工安」，計畫在3年內將「台灣職安卡」訓練人數提升至 50 萬人次，確保勞工具備基本安全知識。

公開重大職災資訊

勞動部表示，除了上述核心措施之外，為了要讓社會大眾更清楚的瞭解整個職災發生的情形，明年起也會擴大公開重大職災案件的完整資訊，包括工程業主、營造廠及各級承攬商的名稱、災害原因，還有所有違反法令也都會一併公布。同時也會按季公布各縣市重大職災的統計數據，希望能跟地方政府一起合作共同減災。洪部長強調，這份行動計畫，除了接軌國際重要預防職災經驗，也整合了跨部會的力量，就是希望改變「職災無可避免」的錯誤觀念。洪申翰認為，在處理關係到人命的勞工職災事務上，我們絕不會迴避這些問題，也要用更嚴謹的態度去面對。勞動部的目標是──每一位勞工都能安心出門工作，也都能平平安安回家。

journalist: 廖珪如

countries: 新加坡 英國 台灣 日本

people: 廖珪如 洪申翰

title: 職安新規啟動 營造業必看！ | 財經


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記者黃耿誼／台北報導

樂天桃猿魔神樂。（圖／記者劉彥池攝影）樂天桃猿在去年賽季倚重的洋投之一魔神樂（Marcelo Martinez），在休賽季還沒續約，對此副領隊礒江厚綺就透露目前跟去年的另外3位洋投都還保持溝通聯繫。

目前桃猿已經續約王牌威能帝（Pedro Fernandez），至於其他洋將的部分，副領隊礒江厚綺就表示，「與魔神樂的經紀公司一直保有的溝通聯繫，不管是波賽樂（Beau Sulser）、凱樂（Caleb Baragar）或其他洋將都在觀察，只要是能補強球隊戰力的都會列入整體評估，積極規劃以補強明年球季的戰力。」

魔神樂在上賽季繳出13勝8敗的表現，責失分率是2.51，賽季有1場完投完封，個人2個賽季累積26勝11敗，責失分率維2.28，在這2個賽季和威能帝組成桃猿的「左右護法」。此外，除了去年有合作過的洋投以外，桃猿也傳出鎖定新人選馬爾曼（暫譯）（Kyle Marman)，過去他最高層級曾到達3A，今年他在美國獨立聯盟19場先發繳出8勝3敗，責失分率為3.07。

journalist: 黃耿誼

title: 中職／桃猿持續與魔神樂談約 目標留住上季4洋投！另傳鎖定新人選 | 運動


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（記者林博文／嘉縣報導）由新港文教基金會承辦國家文化藝術金會「2010-2011年度嘉義獻表演藝術行銷平台」專案計畫，首次與偶寶貝劇團合作。偶寶貝劇團以「孩子的故事精靈」為出發點，運用造型搶眼、動作幽默、說話風趣的動物偶，要為嘉義親子觀眾帶來創團作品《傻猴波波》。猴子波波和他的好朋友們將於10月23日（六）下午14：30在嘉義縣表演藝術中心實驗劇場，為嘉義的鄉親帶來不一樣的偶戲歌舞小品。

《傻猴波波》融合多首或優美或逗趣的歌曲，可愛的動物舞蹈，串連眾多鮮明角色，如不會游泳的鴨子、鼻子不靈光的狗，有蛀牙的獅子…等，毛茸茸的可愛系動物偶，與猴子波波把現場的大朋友與小朋友帶入牠們的開心農場，告訴大家什麼是「好朋友精神」，分享一個活潑有趣、啟發學習的快樂故事。

偶寶貝劇團的創團作品《傻猴波波》，專為幼稚園、國小低年級的孩童所創作。故事圍繞在傻猴波波和他的動物朋友之間，講述愚笨與聰明的寓言故事。三位資深劇場工作者不僅要操偶，一下台前一下台後，分飾不同角色，雖然只有三個人，卻有千變萬化的聲音及表情。另外，充滿巧思的佈景道具，常讓小觀眾大呼驚奇。偶寶貝劇團團長曾麗真說，因為「每個孩子都是父母心中的小太陽，他們有很多做不完的夢：透過精緻、專業的偶戲，推動親子藝術生活，實現孩子們一個個的夢，會是偶寶貝持續不斷的目標」。

taiwan-subdivisions: 高雄 獅子 嘉義 嘉義縣 新港

title: 高雄偶寶貝劇團 回嘉唱歌跳舞給你聽-活動


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【記者郭政隆/嘉縣報導】屏風表演班經典喜劇「三人行不行Ⅰ」將在12月24日於嘉義縣表演藝術中心演藝廳爆笑演出。由李國修首席女大弟子黃毓棠導演，率領硬底子戰將組－朱德剛、杜詩梅、狄志杰等實力派演員精彩演出，絕對帶給觀眾們物超所值、料想不到的爆笑驚奇！

「三人行不行Ⅰ」是由藝術總監李國修於1987年草創屏風時期，將晦澀艱難的實驗劇場轉型為娛樂創意走向的經典作品。標榜在開演第十秒後，就讓觀眾無法抑制、放聲爆笑的「三人行不行Ⅰ」，在極簡的舞台上展現演員高難度喜劇奶O，更是「第一個把台灣小劇場搞的那麼好笑的作品」。

本劇最令人激賞之處，在於三個演員運用簡單的道具、聲音與肢體動作，不到3秒鐘急速的轉換身分，創造三人共飾30個角色。透過演員精湛突出的表演特技，以及似曾相似的生活情節，讓觀眾心神領會、捧腹大笑。「三人行不行Ⅰ」也開啟了屏風表演班「一人分飾多角，挑戰演員極限」之濫觴，在屏風表演班的劇作中，具有不可抹滅，深具指標性的歷史價值。

屏風表演班表示，而為延續屏風表演班承先啟後、回饋分享的精神，特別以超低破盤票價回饋給嘉義在地的朋友，歡迎年輕學子帶著同學、朋友、愛人或爸爸媽媽們，利用這特別的聖誕節前夕，觀賞這齣老少咸宜的《三人行不行Ⅰ》一起跟屏風共度溫馨歡樂的平安夜。

journalist: 郭政隆

title: 喜劇三人行不行 將於演藝廳演出-政治


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G-Dragon（中）在LIV Golf Korea演唱會第三天活動中的表演資料照。(Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)【大紀元2025年12月20日訊】（大紀元記者樂慧萱編譯報導）20日下午，第17屆甜瓜音樂節「2025 Melon Music Awards」（MMA 2025）在首爾高尺天空巨蛋舉行。G-Dragon（GD）一舉拿下4項大賞中的「年度專輯」「年度藝人」「年度最佳歌曲」三獎，而「年度唱片」大賞則由BLACKPINK成員Jennie捧回。

GD（權志龍）憑藉時隔8年推出的個人專輯《Übermensch》，不僅榮獲本届三項大賞，還獲得「詞曲創作者獎」、「最佳男子Solo」、「TOP 10」、「MILLIONS TOP10」共七個獎項，成為當晚最大的贏家。

GD摘下本届大賞「年度專輯」時，他表示：「剛結束舞台演出，腦袋仍有些混亂，卻能拿到這個獎，真的非常感謝。每一年都很特別、很珍貴，但今年對我來說尤其意義非凡，會長久留在記憶裡。」

談到專輯製作，他分享道，這次嘗試了許多全新的挑戰，因此製作期比以往更長。至於專輯名《Übermensch》，他笑說當初只是覺得「很有氣勢、很好看」，實際上意指「超越自我的人」。對他而言，這更像是一句咒語、一種期許，他正是抱著想成為那樣的心情完成這張作品。他也特別感謝所有在背後共同努力的人。

同時，GD也向粉絲與成員表達思念之情：「一直以來成為我靈感與原動力的 V.I.P（粉絲名），真的很謝謝你們，也很想念BIGBANG的成員們。」

隨後，他再度獲得大賞「年度藝人」。他幽默地說：「現在不是重播喔。」引發全場笑聲。他接著表示：「這是我今天拿到的第二個大賞，而且是由我尊敬的前輩頒發的，更顯得意義非凡。除了開心與感謝，現在真的沒什麼話可說了，但我會更加努力回報大家。」

他更進一步說道：「我會持續努力成為配得上此刻的藝人。剛出道的時候，『藝人』這個詞曾經離我很遙遠。但如今我希望在場的每個人都能記住——每個人都是藝術家，不都是在編導自己的人生嗎？故事或許不同，但沒有標準答案，因此要活得像自己的主角一樣。2025年，我就先拿走了。」

最後，他與太陽、大聲合作的歌曲《HOME SWEET HOME》獲得大賞「年度最佳歌曲」獎。

時隔6年再度現身韓國年末頒獎典禮的Jennie，在獲得大賞「年度製作」時致辭表示：「今年對我來說意義重大，推出了第一張專輯，也能在年末畫下開心的句點。公司、所有工作人員，以及今天一起完成舞台的夥伴們，真的非常感謝。」她接著說：「還有我們成員們，真的很想你們，一個人真的很孤單。BLINK（粉絲名），我愛你們。」

EXO時隔8年再度踏上MMA 舞台，一登場便以《狼與美女》拉開序幕，隨後接連演出《Monster》、《The Eve》、《Love Shot》等多首代表作串燒。整齊俐落的編舞與穩定的現場實力讓氣氛迅速升溫，全面點燃全場情緒。當《咆哮》的前奏響起時，觀眾反應更是沸騰，應援聲浪震撼整座高尺巨蛋，被形容為當天最高潮的瞬間。

連續兩年展現高人氣的aespa，當天雖然成員寧寧因身體健康原因無法參加頒獎典禮，仍獲得「TOP10」「年度舞台」「全球藝人」三項殊榮，她們表示：「今年也非常感謝大家，能夠用音樂帶給大家一點力量，我們感到非常榮幸，未來會更加努力，用更好的音樂回報大家。」

女團IVE也拿下三個獎項，分別是「TOP10」、「Millions TOP10」與「最佳女子團體」，成員們在台上致詞時表示，能獲得這些肯定深感榮幸，未來也會努力成為更具影響力的藝人，與大家一同描繪前進的道路。同時，她們也向粉絲DIVE表達感謝，感謝一路以來的支持與陪伴。

六人男團 BOYNEXTDOOR 橫掃「TOP10」、「男子最佳團體」、「日本最受歡迎藝人」以及「Millions TOP10」四個獎項。成員們在致詞時表示：「今年感覺收到了很多愛，真的很感謝。也感謝所有在背後默默付出的工作人員。我們會把這些獎視為更大的責任，明年將會帶來更棒的音樂和舞台。OneDoor（粉絲名），真的非常愛你們。」

此外，年度新人獎由ALLDAY PROJECT與Hearts2Hearts獲得，最佳表演獎則分別頒給了ILLIT與RIIZE，Rosé雖然沒有出席，但仍抱回「最佳女子Solo」 、「TOP 10」與「MILLIONS TOP10」三個獎項，KiiiKiii 憑藉出道曲《I DO ME》拿下了「年度MV」與「1theK Global Icon」兩座獎項。

2025甜瓜音樂節獲獎名單如下：

♫ 大賞年度專輯：《Übermensch》- GD

♫ 大賞年度藝人：GD

♫ 大賞年度最佳歌曲：《HOME SWEET HOME (feat. 太陽、大聲)》- GD

♫ 大賞年度製作：Jennie

♫ 年度新人：ALLDAY PROJECT、Hearts2Hearts

♫ TOP 10：Rosé、林英雄、Jennie、aespa、BOYNEXTDOOR、GD、IVE、NCT WISH、PLAVE、RIIZE

♫ MILLIONS TOP10：

IVE -《IVE EMPATHY》、Jennie -《Ruby》、GD -《Übermensch》、PLAVE -《Caligo Pt.1》、RIIZE -《ODYSSEY – The 1st Album》、BOYNEXTDOOR -《No Genre》、IU -《花書籤3》、Rosé -《rosie》、SEVENTEEN -《SEVENTEEN 5th Album ‘HAPPY BURSTDAY’》、林英雄 -《IM HERO 2》

♫ 最佳女子Solo：Rosé

♫ 最佳男子Solo：GD

♫ 最佳女子團體：IVE

♫ 最佳男子團體：BOYNEXTDOOR

♫ 最佳OST：《Golden》- HUNTR/X

♫ 年度舞台：aespa

♫ 年度MV：KiiiKiii – 《I DO ME》

♫ 詞曲創作者獎：GD

♫ 最佳女子表演：ILLIT

♫ 最佳男子表演：RIIZE

♫ 最佳音樂風格：10cm、ALLDAY PROJECT

♫ 全球新銳藝人：IDID

♫ 全球藝人：aespa

♫ 1theK Global Icon：KiiiKiii

♫ 熱門趨勢獎：WOODZ

♫ 最佳製作人：ZICO

♫ Track Zero Choice：HANRORO《時間倒流》（音譯）

♫ Berriz 全球粉絲選擇：Hearts2Hearts

♫ 日本最受歡迎藝人：BOYNEXTDOOR

♫ kakaobank 全民之星獎：NCT WISH

責任編輯：梁夢竹

journalist: 樂慧萱

countries: 日本 韓國

title: MMA 2025 GD斬獲年度專輯、年度藝人等7獎項


content_text:
材料：烤熟火腿1個（約3磅，用刀切成兩公分片狀，但不要切斷底部）

菠蘿粒、櫻桃蕃茄、酸瓜適量

火腿。（梁志生提供）烤火腿汁材料：紅糖1/2杯

菠蘿汁1/4杯

蜂蜜1/4杯

橙1個（橙皮磨成茸，橙榨汁備用）

法國芥末1湯匙

丁香粉少許

檸檬汁1茶匙

烤火腿汁材料（梁志生提供）作法：1、所有烤火腿汁材料分放入鍋中，煮溶備用。

所有烤火腿汁材料分放入鍋中，煮溶備用。（梁志生提供）2、烤箱預熱至375℉。烤盤內放入火腿，每一片火腿塗上汁液。

烤箱預熱至375℉。烤盤內放入火腿，每一片火腿塗上汁液。（梁志生提供）3、放入烤箱，烤30分鐘至表皮金黃。中間每10分鐘塗一次汁液。

裝盤：把火腿片切出放碟上，旁邊放菠蘿粒、櫻桃蕃茄、酸瓜，淋上汁液。◇

主廚梁志生經歷：1.掌廚經驗已超過四十年

2.曾任美心飲食集團日本首間中菜旗艦店副主廚

3.曾任海城酒樓（Ocean City）主廚

4.作為特邀嘉賓參與著名烹飪節目主持人甄文達的《Yan Can Cook》

5.曾任美國富商George Bowles 御用廚師

責任編輯：伊芙

journalist: 伊芙

countries: 美國 日本 法國

title: 【梁廚美食】歡慶聖誕節～美味烤火腿 | 聖誕美食


content_text:
《龍文鞭影》是一部明清時代學者修編的歷史典故啟蒙讀物。全書將典故按照詩韻分類編排（詳見《龍文鞭影》序言），四字一句，共1030句，每句描述一個或兩個人物的故事。

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

【原文】yàn yīng néng jiǎn，sū shì wéi qiān 。

晏嬰能儉，蘇軾為慳。

ㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄥ ㄋㄥˊ ㄐㄧㄢˇ，ㄙㄨ ㄕˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄑㄧㄢ。

晏嬰能儉，蘇軾為慳。

【注釋】（1）晏嬰：字仲，尊稱晏子，諡平，又稱晏平仲，春秋齊國萊地夷維人（今屬山東）。品格高尚，廉潔儉樸，任齊國三朝（齊靈公、莊公、景公）宰相。

（2）蘇軾：字子瞻，號東坡居士，北宋眉州眉山（今屬四川）人。詩、詞、賦、散文、書法、繪畫成就都極高，是史上罕見的全才。歷經仁、英、神、哲、徽宗五朝，官至禮部尚書。曾因反對新法，連貶數州。

（3）慳：吝嗇。

【語譯】晏嬰居相位而能節儉力行，做齊國人民的榜樣。蘇軾自嘲慳吝也可惜福延壽。

【人物故事】晏嬰據《晏子春秋》，晏子非常貧窮且節儉。有一回晏子正吃飯時，齊景公派使者到來，晏子分飯食給他吃，使者吃不飽，晏子也吃不飽。使者回去告訴齊景公。景公說：「唉！晏子之家如此貧窮，我卻不知道，是我的過錯。」景公派官吏送他千金和商業稅，請他拿來招待賓客。晏子推辭，景公再三送他，最後晏子拜而又拜，辭謝說：「晏嬰之家不貧窮，由於君王的賞賜，恩澤廣施父、母、妻三族，擴展到朋友，又賑濟百姓，君王的賞賜很豐厚了，晏嬰之家不貧窮啊！晏嬰聽說，拿君王的厚賞而施予人民，是臣子代替君王統領百姓，這是忠臣所不為的；拿君王厚賞而不施予人民，是藏起財物占為己有，這是仁者所不為的；拿君王厚賞而得罪士人，死後財物轉移他人，如同家臣為主人積存財物，這是智者所不為的。有粗布衣服穿，有一碗食物吃，內心滿足，就免得憂慮了。」

晏子任齊國宰相，三年後，政治安定人民喜悅。梁丘據看見晏子吃飯，而肉不足夠，以此告訴齊景公，第二天，景公割地要封給晏子。晏子推辭不肯接受，說：「富貴而不驕縱的人，未曾聽說。貧困而不怨恨的人，就是我晏嬰了。之所以貧困而不怨恨，是因為以善為師啊！今日封地，等於改變晏嬰的老師，已經看輕善師，看重封地了，所以我請求推辭封地。」

晏平仲像（取自清乾隆年間《歷代名臣像解》）。（公有領域）晏子上朝，坐破舊的車子，駕著劣馬。齊景公看見說：「唉！先生的俸祿太少了嗎？為何坐的車子這麼破舊不堪呢？」晏子回答說：「仰賴君王的賜予，得以養活三族，以及國內遊士，都得以生存。我能穿得暖吃得飽，有破車劣馬可坐，對我而言足夠了。」晏子退出後，景公派梁丘據送他大車四馬，三次被晏子遣返不肯接受。景公不高興，召見晏子，景公說：「先生不接受，我也不坐車了。」晏子回答說：「國君派我管理百官，我節衣縮食，做齊國人民的榜樣，還恐怕他們奢侈浪費而不顧品行。如今大車四馬，國君在上乘坐，臣子在下也乘坐，人民無道義，衣食奢侈而不顧品行的人，我就無法禁止了。」於是晏子推讓不接受。

晏嬰節儉樸實，努力做事，受到齊國君民的敬重。雖然身為宰相，但「食不重肉，妾不衣帛」，一件狐裘穿了三十年沒換，而推辭齊景公贈賜的千金之裘。他以善為師，安於貧困而無怨恨，把自家存糧分給災民，多次為民請命直諫國君。晏子過世，景公伏屍痛哭，哀傷不再有人能直言過失。晏子正直無私、儉樸謙讓的美德，令人景仰！無怪乎司馬遷願為晏子執鞭趕車，孔子也稱讚他：「救濟百姓而不自誇，努力彌補三位君王的缺失而不居功，晏子果然是位君子啊！」

蘇軾北宋蘇軾在《與李公擇書》中說：「我到了五十歲，才知道怎麼過日子，主要是慳吝，說好聽一點，叫做節儉樸素。然而我們所為，則不像庸俗之人，真可稱得上是淡而有味。口腹和身體的慾望哪有止境呢？每天多加節儉，也是惜福延壽的方法啊！」

司馬光在洛陽常與故老聚會，相約食品不得超過五種，稱為真率會。蘇軾在黃州與鄰居往來，更減為三種。蘇軾自己說有三養：「安分以養福，寬胃以養氣，省費以養財。」（宋代葉夢得《避暑錄話》）

蘇軾後來屢次貶官，生活拮据，雖出於不得已，但他粗衣淡飯，知足常樂，「儉素」、「三養」的生活態度，反映了修身惜福、以苦為樂的理念。

——轉自正見網

看更多 【龍文鞭影】系列責任編輯：王愉悅#

journalist: 王愉悅

title: 從故事學典故：晏嬰能儉 蘇軾為慳 | 龍文鞭影


content_text:
（中央社基輔20日綜合外電報導）烏克蘭總統澤倫斯基今天說，美國提議在邁阿密與俄烏兩國代表團舉行談判；對於俄羅斯總統普丁暗示為讓烏克蘭舉行總統選舉可暫停打擊，他表示莫斯科無權干涉烏克蘭選舉安排。

為了結束俄烏戰爭，美國、俄羅斯、烏克蘭和歐洲的官員正齊聚美國佛羅里達州大城邁阿密舉行新一輪各別會談。昨天是美烏歐官員進行磋商，今天則是美俄雙方代表談判。

法新社報導，澤倫斯基（Volodymyr Zelenskyy）表示：「據我了解，他們提議烏克蘭、美國、俄羅斯（3方會談）模式。」但他也說，歐洲代表可能在場。

澤倫斯基指出，根據「我們對已進行過的會議可能產生的結果具有的理解，...舉行這樣的聯合會談很合邏輯」。

此外澤倫斯基表示，烏克蘭何時舉行選舉或以什麼形式舉行，都「不是由普丁（Vladimir Putin）來決定」。他並排除在遭到俄羅斯占領的烏克蘭領土上舉行投票的可能性。（編譯：張正芊）1141220

countries: 美國 俄羅斯 烏克蘭

taiwan-subdivisions: 新社 大城

title: 澤倫斯基：美國提議在邁阿密與烏俄團隊一同談判 | 國際


content_text:
（中央社台北20日電）海外中國軍事網紅「說真話的徐某人」18日在X平台公布一段錄音檔，指中國網紅「落日海盜」去年9月嘗試招募他為中共做外宣。錄音對話顯示，「落日海盜」自稱中共解放軍中間人，向徐某人開出每月4萬歐元高薪，要他批評台灣軍事不足，讓台灣人喪失信心。

錄音檔公布引發關注後，「落日海盜」（X帳號bright_hawkins）旋即刪除所有社群帳號未發聲。徐某人今晚進一步在其Youtube帳號公布未消音的43分鐘錄音檔，兩人對話內容涉及多名中外網紅。

「說真話的徐某人」社群帳號IP顯示在義大利，發表內容以國際軍事議題為主，因為挺台灣不時獲得台媒轉發。他在X帳號自我介紹稱「驅逐馬列，恢復中華； 反川反共，拯救世界。」

錄音檔顯示，網名「落日海盜」的中國男子自稱是中共軍方中間人，早年曾在北京市公安局情報偵蒐輿情處任職。他宣稱已在日本、義大利、美國費城吸收多名網紅，領域涵蓋音樂、旅遊、美食與汽車，要求他們「宣傳中國傳統文化美好」。

落日海盜說，找上徐某人是因為徐某人曾做過一期如何攻台的節目。只要徐某人講講台海戰爭，台灣軍事議題的不足，攪亂台灣內部對自己防禦信心的不足，他就可以體面拿去向上面交差，「最好讓你的節目…我再讓『中天』轉一下」。

他又說，只要徐某人在海外中文社區保持中立客觀，就足以對台獨進行一種殺傷和震懾。

落日海盜還說，「潤物細無聲」（不張揚、不顯露、溫和地產生深遠影響）是這次上面定的調子。徐某人反問，那就不是只做一兩期節目的意思，肯定要一個長期的規劃是吧？

落日海盜接著向徐某人開價，提供每個月4萬歐元（約新台幣148萬元），並表示他從中抽3成。

對於徐某人提問「邊界」在哪裡？落日海盜說，「小罵大幫忙」，可以小罵共產黨，偶而罵一點是可以的，但習近平是絕對不能罵的。

落日海盜還提出，在俄烏戰爭方面，組織對於烏克蘭的了解還有所不足，希望徐某人除了協助外宣，還要對烏克蘭做一些客觀的評述，到時提供給組織「內參」。

他說，徐某人如果做烏克蘭不足的內容，本身也容易打擊到台灣軍力的自信，這也是外宣的工作。

落日海盜最後提到X平台中國第一網紅「李老師不是你老師」，表示組織知道徐某人跟同在義大利的李老師在一起又很接近。

他向徐某人暗示：「萬一哪一天拿李老師開刀的時候，這條子到你家，然後你也可以說一句：都是自己同志…起碼別讓父母擔心受怕。」（編輯：楊昇儒/洪啓原）1141220

journalist: 編輯：楊昇儒/洪啓原

countries: 台灣 中國 義大利 日本 烏克蘭 美國

title: 海外中國網紅公布錄音 指共軍中間人欲收買批評台灣 | 兩岸


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countries: 香港 中國 美國 烏克蘭 日本 以色列 台灣 俄羅斯 伊朗 歐盟 義大利 印度

people: 蔣萬安 川普 卓榮泰 鄭麗文

taiwan-subdivisions: 中山 和平 宜蘭縣 三星

things: 資安 經濟 電競 油價

title: 蔣萬安 | 關鍵字新聞


taiwan-subdivisions: 高雄 成功

content_text:
墨新聞｜記者游宏琦／高雄報導

有些人一得勢，說話像站在高台上—不是在分享觀點，而是在宣告「我的優越」。

有些人一失意，心就像被抽走骨架—不是在面對挫敗，而是在給自己判刑：「我沒用、我完了。」

如何在傲慢與失落間，超越情緒？記者 游宏琦 編輯整理

我們常以為這是兩種性格，其實更像同一種「內在機制」在不同情境下的兩種反應：得意時的傲慢，失意時的自我否定。表面是高低起伏，骨子裡是一件事—「把外在的成敗，誤認為內在的價值。」

第41任薩迦法王的一段開示，正好把這種人性擺盪照得清清楚楚：無常不是叫人消沉，而是叫人清醒；清醒之後，傲慢自然放下，失落也不必把你埋葬。

心理學先說穿：傲慢與崩潰，常是同一種「外控式自尊」

心理學有個概念叫「外控式自尊」：當一個人的自我價值主要依附在外在指標——金錢、權力、頭銜、名聲、掌聲——他的心就像行情指數。

行情大好時，你會出現一種「上癮式自信」：

你變得更愛糾正別人、更沒耐心、更覺得自己「講話比較有份量」。傲慢不一定是壞心眼，有時是恐懼的盔甲：越怕失去，越要用優越感證明「我還在上面」。

行情下跌時，另一個極端就出現：

選舉落敗、公司倒閉、資產縮水、頭銜消失——你忽然覺得自己被整個世界撤職。內在旁白很容易變成：「我一無所有」「我沒有價值」「我再也回不去了」。

更糟的是，幾個認知陷阱常會連鎖爆發：

全有全無：不是贏家就是廢人災難化：一次挫敗＝人生終局事件等同自我：失去頭銜＝失去人的根本價值

於是人就被兩端拉扯：得意時飄，失意時垮。看起來像兩種人格，其實是一個錯誤的等式：

「我擁有什麼」＝「我是誰」。

被譽為人間文殊菩薩的真實化現，第41任薩迦法王，對傲慢與失落，有精闢的開示。《薩迦哲思》

薩迦法王～兩段重要的開示連結

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D6bKmL7kM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FzatWynoK/?mibextid=wwXIfr

薩迦法王的第一刀：四個必然，讓你看見「我執」的存在其實如泡泡一般

第41任薩迦法王引用佛陀：「一切有為法皆是無常。」並用四句話，把人生的結構講得毫不含糊：

聚極必散：再深的情、再熱鬧的相聚，終究會分離。積極必盡：財富、名聲、資源終有耗盡時。高極必墮：飛得再高也要降落，登高必有回落。生極必死：有生必有死，連日月須彌亦在無常中。

法王以「泡泡」譬喻身命：身體脆弱如水泡，瞬間成形，隨即破滅。

這不是要你悲觀，而是要你醒來：

你用來撐住自我的那些外在條件，本就不穩。把不穩當作永恆，心必然起舞—

得勢時誤以為「我永遠在上面」，所以傲慢；

失勢時誤以為「我永遠下去了」，所以絕望。

無常真正的慈悲，在於它提醒你：

任何狀態，都不必被你當成永久身份。

法王的解方很簡單，也很難：中道，不是折衷，是不被外境牽走

法王直指兩端的解方：

得勢時，不傲慢自大失意時，不自輕怯弱

這兩句話看似簡單，卻是「心境的防災演練」。因為傲慢與怯弱，本質上都是對無常的誤解。

藏傳佛教中的沙壇城，意喻了世間的無常。1）對傲慢：你不是基地台，你只是訊號暫時滿格

當你手握權力、資源、掌聲，法王提醒你看見「高極必墮、積極必盡」。

不是叫你否定成就，而是叫你在成就裡收心：你可以成功，但別把自己封神；你可以被讚美，但別把別人踩成塵埃。

真正的尊貴，不是「我比較高」，而是「我清楚明白，這一切都是因緣使然。」

2）對失落：失去很多，不等於一無所有

法王指出：「失去一切就等於一無所有—這想法是錯的。」

他教的不是廉價安慰，而是「擴大視野」：從六道輪迴去觀照、看見當下，在人道的價值之外，更要從人間更艱困處境觀照，生出離開輪迴的「出離心」讓心從「封閉的自我否定」鬆開，找回平靜心。

法王沒有否認你的痛，他只是拒絕你把痛變成「自我判決書」。

超越心理學的千年智慧：你要修的不是面子，是清明

「心理學」能教你辨識偏誤、重建敘事、建立支持系統；

「薩迦哲思」更進一步告訴你：外境本就無常，你要修的是一顆不被八風吹走的心。

佛教常說八風：利、衰、毀、譽、稱、譏、苦、樂。

你把自我押在八風上，就必然被外界牽引：風順就飄，風逆就沉。

中道不是「剛剛好」而已，而是—外境來去，我不必跟著失控。

給讀者的三招「中道練習」：把心從兩端拉回來

第一招：給自己一句「拆等式」的話

當你得意時，提醒自己：

「我擁有的，只是因緣具足，不是永恆的我。」

當你失意時，提醒自己：

「我失去的是條件，不是我這個人。」

這一句，就是把「擁有／失去」和「自我價值」拆開。

第二招：用「無常四句」做日常校準

每天遇到情緒起伏，就默念一次：

聚極必散、積極必盡、高極必墮、生極必死。

它不是咒語，但像羅盤：讓你知道自己正被哪一股風帶走。

成功時別封神，失敗時別判死刑；

世間成就像浪花，漂亮，但終究回到海裡。你若把浪花當自己，就會在高浪時傲慢，在退潮時崩潰。

第41任薩迦法王的開示，是把人從兩端拉回正中：成功時不封神，失敗時不判死刑。

你不是頭銜，也不是廢墟；你只是正在無常中行走的人。而中道，就是你在風浪裡仍能走得穩的原因。

此篇文章最開始出處為: 高傲與低谷；從心理學的兩極擺盪，讀懂41任薩迦法王拆解「傲慢」與「失落」

title: 高傲與低谷；從心理學的兩極擺盪，讀懂41任薩迦法王拆解「傲慢」與「失落」


people: 賴清德 卓榮泰

content_text:
PUBLIC SAFETY: The premier said that security would be tightened in transport hubs, while President Lai commended the public for their bravery   By Chiu Chun-fu and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the previous day.

Lai made the remarks following a briefing by the National Police Agency on the progress of the investigation, saying that the attack underscored the importance of cooperation in public security between the central and local governments.

The attack unfolded in the early evening on Friday around Taipei Main Station’s M7 exit and later near the Taipei MRT’s Zhongshan Station. The 27-year-old suspect, later identified as Chang Wen (張文), threw smoke grenades and randomly attacked people with a knife near the two metro hubs, killing three people before apparently jumping from a building to his death.

Lai said that to protect public safety, police rapid response units would increase their counterterrorism training, and deploy in crowded spaces and at large events.

The response times of law enforcement agencies at all levels are to be enhanced to facilitate rapid reaction to disturbances, he said.

Police are to establish a task force to investigate the incident, with particular attention to the attacker’s motives, whether he had accomplices and financial support, and the source of his equipment, Lai said.

Hospitals should be ready to provide long-term counseling for those affected by the incident, and honors should be conferred on the people who helped to contain the attack, he said, adding that he commended members of the public for their bravery in trying to stop the attacker.

“Your brave deeds were truly admirable,” Lai said.

Lai also visited injured victims, met with their families and offered his condolences to the bereaved families.

The government would ensure that compensation would be offered to victims and survivors of the attack, including the heroes who were killed or injured attempting to subdue the assailant, he said.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said the government would seek to improve preventive measures.

Security would be tightened on major railways and highways, in MRT and train stations, and at airports nationwide, with increased police presence and enhanced equipment, Cho said, adding that the measures would remain in place in the long term to improve confidence in public security.

He also urged the public not to spread unverified information and to remain calm, and asked for the government to be given “a little more time” as the investigation continues.

Additional reporting by Huang Tze-yang and CNA

title: Police to be deployed to crowded areas


title: US affirms Taiwan commitments

content_text:
REBUFFED: In response to Chinese criticism over recent arms sales, Washington urged Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue instead of threats and intimidation

Washington’s long-term commitment to Taiwan would not change, the US Department of State said yesterday, urging Beijing to stop pressuring Taiwan and engage in meaningful bilateral dialogues.

The remarks came in response to a backlash from Beijing about Washington’s latest approval of arms sales to Taiwan.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement on Wednesday that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US has asked to purchase an arms package, including Tactical Mission Network Software; AH-1W helicopter spare and repair parts; M109A7 self-propelled howitzers; HIMARS long range precision strike systems; tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missiles; Javelin missiles; refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles; and Altius-600M and Altius-700M loitering munition drones.

The package is worth more than US$11.15 billion, it said, adding that it has approved the arms sale and let the agency inform the US Congress of the deal.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted with strong opposition soon after the arms sale was announced.

Washington is undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait by sending a seriously wrong signal to the pro-Taiwanese independence forces, it said.

In response to Central News Agency queries about the matter, a source from the US State Department said on condition of anonymity that the US administration has explicitly expressed its position on the US’ relations with Taiwan.

The US would not change its long-term commitment to Taiwan, which has continued for more than 40 years, they said.

Washington urges Beijing to refrain from imposing military, diplomatic or economic pressure on Taiwan, they said, adding that Beijing should instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan.

This is the second time that the US has announced an arms sale to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

The previous sale occurred about one month ago when Washington on Nov. 13 announced a US$330 million arms sale to Taiwan, which included spare parts for fighter and transportation aircraft, marking the first US arms sale to Taiwan under “Trump 2.0.”

In other developments, the US Senate on Friday approved a set of US Cabinet nominees proposed by Trump by a 53-43 vote.

The nominations included many ministerial officials at the defense and state departments, such as John Noh for assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs at the US Department of Defense, as well as Tammy Bruce, who was nominated by Trump as US deputy representative to the UN.

Asked about US-Taiwan security cooperation while attending the US Senate Armed Services Committee’s nomination hearing in October, Noh said that major reforms in various aspects to Taiwan’s defense capabilities are required, including training, mobilization and civil-military integration.

Defensive infrastructure and cybersecurity operations must also be strengthened, he added.

Noh also said that he would accelerate the delivery of US arms sales to Taiwan by giving optimal advice to the US government based on currently available institutional means, such as the US Foreign Military Sales program, the presidential drawdown authority, and the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.

Regarding Taiwan’s defense budget, Noh at the hearing expressed strong support in line with Trump’s viewpoint.

He cited Trump as saying that Taiwan should increase defense spending to 10 percent of its GDP, as it is facing an existential threat from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.


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The Ministry of Environment said it is planning to require carbon storage projects to undergo an environmental impact assessment (EIA) regardless of size.

The ministry on Friday announced draft amendments to articles 29, 42 and 46 of the Standards for Determining Specific Items and Scope of Environmental Impact Assessments for Development Activities (開發行為應實施環境影響評估細目及範圍認定標準).

The standards were revised to align with amendments to Article 5 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act (環境影響評估法), which passed the third reading at the legislature and were promulgated by President William Lai (賴清德) last month, the ministry said.

The entrance to the Ministry of Environment in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Chen Chia-yi, Taipei Times

Articles 29 and 46 of the standards were revised to specify the clauses of the act relevant to the EIA review criteria for solar facility projects, while Article 42 was revised to include carbon storage as one of the construction project types subject to EIA review.

Department of Environmental Protection Director-General Hsu Su-chih (徐淑芷) said that carbon capture and storage is one of the critical techniques to achieving the national greenhouse gas reduction targets, adding that it has been incorporated into the flagship carbon reduction projects for six major sectors.

Given that carbon storage could result in environmental impacts, such as leakages, groundwater pollution or geological safety risks, EIA reviews are indispensable to preventing adverse impacts caused by such development behaviors, she said.

Therefore, carbon storage projects must be subject to EIA review, regardless of the size of each project, she added.

The ministry also announced revisions to its List of Industries Required to Conduct Inventory and Registration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (事業應盤查登錄溫室氣體排放量之排放源) to include more than 460 additional businesses or entities under the regulation from next year.

The inventory reporting process would not be difficult, the ministry said.

The businesses or entities — mostly healthcare institutions, colleges or universities, or from the service or transportation industry — would not be required to commission a third party to verify their inventories as major greenhouse gas emitters do, it said.

They would also be exempted from carbon fees, it added.

Additional reporting by CNA

title: Ministry to require EIA for carbon storage projects


title: Trump declines to rule out possibility of Venezuela war

content_text:
US President Donald Trump left open the possibility of war with Venezuela, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday vowed to enforce a blockade on the country’s oil wealth.

Asked in an interview with NBC News conducted on Thursday about a war with Venezuela, Trump said: “I don’t rule it out, no.”

Trump declined to say whether he wants to oust Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, after saying in an earlier interview that the leftist firebrand’s “days are numbered.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a news conference at the US Department of State in Washington on Friday. Photo: AP

“He knows exactly what I want,” Trump said. “He knows better than anybody.”

Rubio, who was repeatedly asked about Venezuela during a two-hour news conference at the US Department of State, also declined to answer explicitly if the US was aiming to overthrow Maduro, but he promised to press on.

“It is clear that the current status quo with the Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States,” Rubio said.

“So yes, our goal is to change that dynamic, and that’s why the president is doing what he’s doing,” he said of Trump.

Rubio, a Cuban American and vociferous critic of the government in Havana, has pressed for a hard line on Venezuela after Trump initially appeared open to a transactional relationship with Maduro. Rubio did not rule out talks with Maduro.

Trump earlier this week declared that Venezuela is “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America.”

Trump vowed that the US would stop Venezuela’s shipments of oil, in what he described as enforcement of sanctions imposed unilaterally by Washington.

“There’s nothing that’s going to impede our ability to enforce US law when it comes to sanctions,” Rubio said.

Trump aide Stephen Miller has accused Venezuela of “expropriation,” as US companies were involved in early oil exploration on sovereign Venezuelan territory.

Venezuela, which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has promised security to keep its ships sailing. The oil is critical to Venezuela’s budget and offers a key lifeline for Cuba.

In its latest pressure, the US on Friday imposed sanctions on several more family members or associates of Maduro’s family.

However, the administration has stopped short of seeking formal approval by the US Congress, which constitutionally is in charge of declarations of war.

“I’m not going to speculate about things that, you know, haven’t happened and may never happen,” Rubio said.

“I can tell you that to this point, nothing has happened that requires us to notify Congress or get congressional approval or cross the threshold in the war,” he said.

The US House of Representatives, narrowly controlled by Trump’s Republicans, on Wednesday rejected a bid to restrict Trump from attacking Venezuela without congressional approval.

Trump has long criticized US interventionism overseas and promised to keep the country out of wars, although he has also insisted on US supremacy in the Western Hemisphere.

The administration previously argued that its military deployment was in response to drug trafficking, with the US sinking boats to kill people it alleges were smugglers.


content_text:
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES:  The US blockade of the oil-rich South American country could be used as a legal pretext by China against Taiwan in a future conflict

US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a partial blockade on Venezuela is a dramatic escalation in US pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but it risks undermining a top US policy goal: deterring a potential Chinese naval encirclement of Taiwan.

Trump on Tuesday last week ordered the “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a move aimed at strangling the Maduro government’s main source of income. The action immediately raised questions under international law about whether it amounts to an act of war.

In the Indo-Pacific region, military planners have long feared that China might use a naval blockade to coerce democratically governed Taiwan to accept Beijing’s rule.

US forces rappel onto an oil tanker during a raid described by US Attorney General Pam Bondi as its seizure by the United States off the coast of Venezuela, December 10, 2025, in a still image from video. Photo: Reuters

Experts say Beijing could exploit a US blockade of Venezuela to undercut any American efforts to drum up international diplomatic opposition to such a move in the Taiwan Strait.

“If the US blockades to change political outcomes in Venezuela, China can justify coercive measures against Taiwan on so-called security grounds,” said Craig Singleton, a China expert at the think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.

“The legal contexts differ, but the propaganda opening is real,” he said, adding that precedent in international relations is set not only by law, but by narrative.

BLURRED TERMS

“When Washington blurs terms, it weakens its ability to call out coercion elsewhere,” he said.

The blockade is the latest step in a US military buildup that has included more than two dozen strikes on alleged drug boats to pressure Maduro and other senior Venezuelan officials, who the Trump administration says are linked to drug traffickers.

Maduro has said that the US action is aimed at overthrowing him and gaining control of the OPEC nation’s oil resources, which are the world’s largest crude reserves.

“President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice,” a White House official said in response to Reuters’ questions, without addressing the Taiwan issue.

China, the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude, has sided with Venezuela, saying on Thursday that it “opposes all acts of unilateralism and bullying and supports countries in defending their sovereignty and national dignity.”

Beijing has repeatedly signaled that a de facto naval blockade could be a key element of a campaign to gain control of Taiwan.

China’s military has practiced blockade-style drills with increasing frequency in recent years around Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing’s claims.

To an international audience, Chinese officials would probably portray such a move around Taiwan as a domestic quarantine or law enforcement matter.

Taiwanese officials have said a Chinese blockade of Taiwan would be an act of war and have far-reaching consequences for international trade.

Washington, which opposes unilateral changes to the “status quo” over Taiwan, would say that Chinese naval encirclement of Taiwan would amount to a blockade.

The Trump administration’s national security strategy released earlier this month called deterring conflict over Taiwan a priority due to its strategic location and economic importance.

CHINA’S GOAL

Isaac Kardon, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who studies China’s maritime power, said Beijing would want to prevent the US from building a global coalition to oppose Chinese action toward Taiwan. International concern about a US blockade of Venezuela would be useful for China’s effort.

“Ultimately, the US is doing a lot of damage to the normative quality of the rules,” Kardon said. “That is a major blow to the credibility of international law to restrain other actors.”

Kardon said US action on Venezuelan tankers could open the door for China to take similar actions, such as interdicting Taiwan-bound vessels carrying vital natural gas supplies.

“Everything about it muddies the waters,” he said.

Protracted deployment to the Caribbean of US naval assets could undermine US military readiness and its ability to respond to a crisis in the Taiwan Strait, experts said.

Wartime blockades are permitted under international law, but only under strict conditions.

A full US blockade of Venezuela would likely be illegal without clear evidence that the US was in armed conflict with the country, said Milena Sterio, a maritime law expert at Cleveland State University.

“A US blockade would undermine our ability to criticize a Chinese blockade of Taiwan,” Sterio said. “The same rules of international law apply to all states and it would be inconsistent for the US to criticize others for doing what we are doing.”

Michael Hunzeker, a specialist on Taiwan’s military deterrence at George Mason University, said he was skeptical that Trump’s actions would hurt the effort that really matters: building US allied support for counter-blockade efforts in a crisis over Taiwan.

Any reference by allies to Venezuela in that context, Hunzeker said, would likely be rhetorical justification for a realpolitik decision to remain on the sidelines.

“I highly doubt that this episode will significantly reshape how they assess those interests,” he said.

title: ANALYSIS:US blockade of Venezuela could hurt Taiwan


content_text:
The Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025 initiative has successfully showcased Taiwan’s freedom, openness and diversity through cultural events in Europe, a senior Taiwanese diplomat has said.

The initiative, launched this year by the Ministry of Culture and National Palace Museum, has held more than 70 art festivals, music fairs, and dancing and singing performances in 26 European countries, said Eric Huang (黃鈞耀), head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of European Affairs.

Among the highlights of the months-long project were the palace museum’s “100 Treasures, 100 Stories: Treasures from the National Palace Museum” exhibition in the Czech Republic, marking the first overseas showing of its most iconic artifact, the Jadeite Cabbage, since 2014.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of European Affairs Eric Huang speaks in an interivew in Taipoei on Dec. 16. Photo: CNA

The museum, known for its collection that offers a comprehensive record of Chinese history spanning thousands of years, held a separate exhibition in Paris last month, exploring the cultural and historical significance of dragons across Asia.

“The goal of the year-round campaign is to link Taiwan and Europe further via culture and art,” Huang said on Tuesday last week, adding that culture is “a shared language that transcends borders.”

“The essence of Taiwanese culture is its openness, diversity, depth, and vitality,” he said.

Only by embracing democracy, freedom, and human rights has Taiwan been able to give birth to such a creative and diversified culture, he added.

An exemplar of Taiwan’s cultural fusion is artist Xie Sheng-min (謝省民), who the foreign ministry invited to stage a woodblock printmaking exhibition in the country’s only diplomatic ally in Europe, the Holy See, in September.

Raised in a Catholic family, Xie grew up near the famous Chaotian Temple, dedicated to the Taoist goddess Matsu, in Yunlin County’s Beigang Township (北港).

His works are a combination of Taiwanese religious beliefs and Catholicism, exemplifying the spirit of peace and freedom, Huang said.

Another example is the

U-Theatre performing arts group, whose shows are known for their combination of theater arts and drumming, with a dash of traditional Japanese culture, according to Huang.

Under the foreign ministry campaign, the troupe performed in Italy in September.

Huang said this cultural diplomacy not only brought Taiwan and Europe closer, but helped pave the way for Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to visit several European countries, including the Czech Republic, Italy and Austria.

Taiwan’s foreign ministers rarely make public visits to countries that do not have official diplomatic ties with the nation.

Looking ahead, Huang said that one of the highlights for next year’s program would be an exchange between Taiwanese hand puppet groups and their European counterparts.

title: Ministry shows Taiwan’s art, culture across Europe


content_text:
NUMBERS TALK: A recent poll showed that a significant majority of respondents oppose the KMT’s recent pension amendment drafts

Almost half the public are opposed to suspension of the pension reform program, according to a poll conducted by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation.

Draft amendments for two pension laws proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to raise pensions for retired civil servants and public school teachers, and end the 10-year period of pension cuts that began in 2018, passed the legislature on Dec. 12.

Under the amendments, income replacement ratios for retirees, depending on recipients’ years of service (ranging from 15 to 40 years), would be restored to their 2023 levels — 39 to 71.5 percent — up from this year’s 36 to 68.5 percent.

The amendments reversed the 2018 reform enacted by then-president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration, which would have gradually reduced the ratios over the course of 10 years from 45 to 77.5 percent in 2018, to 30 to 62.5 percent by 2029.

In the polling results released on Friday, 47.6 percent of respondents said they do not support the amendments, 35.5 percent said they support them, 6.8 percent said they did not know about the amendments, and 10.0 percent said they have no opinion.

A detailed breakdown showed 27.9 percent said they highly disagree, 19.7 percent said they do not agree, 13.5 percent said they agreed, and 22 percent said they highly agreed.

Except for those aged 20-24, a majority in all other age groups oppose the latest amendments, foundation chairman Michael You (游盈隆) said.

Across all education levels, a clear majority oppose the amendments, he said, adding that by occupational background, with the exception of farmers and students, a majority in all professions oppose the amendment.

It is noteworthy that “there is no consensus among military personnel, civil servants, and teachers themselves, with opponents slightly outnumbering supporters,” he said.

Looking at party affiliation, supporters of the ruling and opposition parties hold sharply divergent views on the amendment to halt the pension cuts, he added.

The poll was conducted from Monday to Wednesday via home phone and cellphone sampling. There were 1,077 valid respondents with a margin of error of 2.99 percentage points.

Additional reporting by CNA

title: Majority disagree with pension amendment: poll

people: 蔡英文 游盈隆


content_text:
METRO RAMPAGE: Taipei attack premeditated, NPA says

PLANNED: The suspect visited the crime scene before the killings, seeking information on how to access the roof, and had extensively researched a 2014 stabbing incident

The suspect in a stabbing attack that killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei on Friday had planned the assault and set fires at other locations earlier in the day, law enforcement officials said yesterday.

National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General Chang Jung-hsin (張榮興) said the suspect, a 27-year-old man named Chang Wen (張文), began the attacks at 3:40pm, first setting off smoke bombs on a road, damaging cars and motorbikes.

Earlier, Chang Wen set fire to a rental room where he was staying on Gongyuan Road in Zhongzheng District (中正), Chang Jung-hsin said.

Police officers yesterday keep watch at a busy shopping center near the scene of a knife attack in Taipei on Friday. Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA

The suspect later threw smoke grenades near two exits of Taipei Main Station and fatally stabbed a person who tried to stop him, Chang Jung-hsin said.

After the attack, the suspect returned to a hotel room near Zhongshan MRT Station, which he had rented two days earlier, the official said.

The suspect was next seen on a road outside Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store near Zhongshan MRT Station, where he threw more smoke grenades before fatally stabbing another person outside the department store, the official said.

The suspect stormed into the department store and fatally wounded another person on the fourth floor before he jumped from the sixth floor, the official said, adding that he was rushed to Cathay General Hospital and pronounced dead at 7:42pm.

The suspect had visited the Eslite department store the day before the attack and asked the staff how he could access the roof “to take photos of Christmas decorations,” Chang Jung-hsin said.

The suspect also purchased gasoline containers and a trolley he used to carry Molotov cocktails, which were not used, indicating that the attack had been premeditated, the official said.

The smoke grenades the assailant used could be purchased online, he said.

“The suspect planned an indiscriminate attack. He acted according to a plan,” Chang Jung-hsin said, adding that the initial investigation had not found anyone else who might have acted with the suspect.

Police unlocked two password-protected tablets found in the hotel room and were searching the devices for information, the NPA chief said.

Authorities added that they had obtained a laptop computer and a cellphone belonging to the suspect during a search of his family home in Taoyuan.

Sources said that a Taipei police task force had preliminarily succeeded in decrypting the suspect’s “crime plan” stored in the cloud.

The suspect had extensively browsed and recorded information related to Cheng Chieh (鄭捷) — who killed four people and injured 23 in a stabbing frenzy on a Taipei MRT in 2014, police said.

Authorities were still unable to determine a motive for the crime, but initially said that they believe he was a “copycat offender,” as he attempted to use Cheng’s method to attract societal attention and create fear.

Taipei Police Department Commissioner Li Hsi-ho (李西河) said the suspect had not been in contact with his parents after he was expelled from the military two years ago for driving under the influence of alcohol.

He was scheduled to report for reserve military service training on Nov. 25 last year, and an arrest warrant for him was issued on July 11 for contravening military service regulations, authorities said.

People used their phones to record the scene at the time of the attack after smoke from the grenades permeated the air near the M7 exit of Taipei Main Station.

A netizen wrote on social media yesterday that a video they captured showed the moment that the suspect had finished throwing the grenades and was covering his mouth and nose, pretending to be a passerby.

“It’s shocking to know that I brushed past him,” the netizen said.


people: 蔣萬安 卓榮泰

content_text:
METRO RAMPAGE: Man died trying to stop Taipei stabbing suspect

HORROR STORIES:  One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing

A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said.

The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.”

Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning.

National Taiwan University Hospital said Yu died from a fatal wound about 5cm deep that reached from his right lung to his left heart atrium.

Chiang said a contact window has been established to provide psychological counseling and legal consultation for people who were injured in the attack and the families of the deceased, as well as to assist them in applying for compensation from the Association for Victims Support and claiming insurance from TRTC or Eslite Spectrum Nanxi, where the stabbing happened.

Taipei Department of Legal Affairs head Lien Tang-kai (連堂凱) said one lawyer would be assigned to each injured person and each of the victims’ families to assist in insurance claims and compensation.

Chiang said the city would bolster security for large-scale public events, particularly the New Year’s Eve countdown parties, by deploying special police units, among other measures.

Police have been instructed to raise alert levels for crowded areas in Taipei, increase patrols and step up inspections during weekends and nighttime hours, particularly around Taipei Main Station, the Zhongshan commercial area, the Ximending (西門町) shopping area and Xinyi District (信義), he said.

Separately yesterday, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) visited injured victims at Mackay Memorial Hospital and thanked those who had tried to deter the suspect.

One of them was a TRTC employee surnamed Liu (劉).

Liu was on duty at a data center at Taipei Main Station when he saw smoke and fire nearby, Cho said.

He rushed to the scene and tried to extinguish the blaze, sustaining a smoke inhalation injury, Cho said, adding that he has asked the TRTC to formally commend Liu for his bravery.

A female victim told EBC News that she was stabbed by the suspect outside the department store while she was waiting for her daughter for a dinner appointment.

“It did not feel like a stabbing — it felt more like being hit,” she said. “Then it really hurt.”

The victim said that when she turned around, she saw “people lying on the ground and needing first aid, because they were bleeding.”

One person who was in the Zhongshan shopping district at the time of the attack recounted the incident on Threads, saying she witnessed the suspect, Chang Wen (張文), injure one person and then continue walking forward.

After the victim collapsed, a group of people immediately rushed in to help stop the bleeding, she said.

As the victim’s consciousness was fading, they said: “Remember to tell my parents that I love them,” she added.

In an update, the witness said she found out that the injured person had passed away.

The victim’s relatives and colleagues contacted her, she said, adding that she asked them to pass along the victim’s message to their parents.

Another witness, a woman who was inside Eslite, said she saw the suspect wielding a long knife and stabbing people.

She helped a terrified woman who had fallen while trying to flee, she said, adding that they later both broke down in tears.

A man surnamed Chen (陳) said he saw injured people surrounded by bystanders as emergency crews rushed in.

“It was complete confusion. People were just standing there in shock,” Chen said.

Additional reporting by AP


title: METRO RAMPAGE: Tests urged amid HIV-positive victim

content_text:
The Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday confirmed that one of the injured people in Friday’s random stabbing incident in Taipei is HIV positive, urging people who were wounded during the incident or who had contact with blood to call the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) hotline.

Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) told an impromptu news conference at the CDC that four people, including the assailant, died in the attack, and 11 people sustained injuries, with six in the hospital.

“We found out that one of the injured is HIV positive,” he said.

Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang, center, and Centers for Disease Control Director-General Philip Lo, right, attend a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times

The ministry immediately consulted with specialists on the potential infection risks, he said, adding that they are recommending follow-up measures.

The HIV-positive person has been taking oral medication regularly to control the virus, so the viral load and risk of infecting others are low, CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞).

“However, the possibility of other people’s open wounds or mucous membranes having been exposed to the [HIV-positive] person’s blood through the perpetrator’s weapon cannot be ruled out,” he said.

As administering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to these people can almost eliminate their HIV infection risk, the CDC has initiated a special program to assist them, Lo said.

People who were wounded or came in contact with other people’s blood should call the CDC’s “1922” hotline, he said.

The hotline would refer them to an infectious disease specialist to help them evaluate whether they need PrEP, he said.

If needed, they should go to a hospital and get PrEP administered within the “golden hours” — 72 hours following exposure — to reduce their infection risk, he added.

Citing a similar situation in Berlin in 2006, Lo said there was an HIV-positive person among 33 people who were wounded in a serial knife stabbing, so 31 people received PrEP after the incident, and none were infected.

“The risk of HIV infection from blood exposure is generally low, estimated to be lower than 0.01 percent, and as viral loads of the person [in Friday’s incident] have been at undetectable levels, we believe the transmission risk is extremely low,” he said.

Aside from PrEP, the injured people would also be tested for HIV in the following weeks, with the last test at 12 weeks after exposure, he added.


content_text:
METRO RAMPAGE: Free counseling offered for victims and families

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) yesterday said it is offering three free psychological counseling sessions to anyone who has been mentally affected by the random stabbing in Taipei on Friday evening.

Department of Mental Health Director-General Chen Po-hsi (陳柏熹) said the Taipei City Community Mental Health Center has stepped in to provide mental health support to the victims and their family members.

The ministry has also expanded its psychological counseling resources to help people who were affected by the incident, he said.

Just like the ministry’s “youth mental health support program,” three free counseling sessions would be offered to anyone who has been mentally affected by the incident, irrespective of their age, Chen said.

A “leniency principle” would be adopted for recognizing eligible recipients: As long as the person is able to subjectively state how they were mentally affected by the incident, they would be eligible for the service and would not need to go through other identity or qualification reviews, he said.

The free counseling program is to run until the end of next year, to ensure affected people do not miss their chance to ask for help, he added.

The funding for the service has been discussed with the local government and the budget has been secured, so mental health support measures can continue, Chen said.

The ministry said it is normal for people who have gone through sudden and violent ordeals to feel nervous or anxious, or repeatedly replay the incident in their mind.

It suggested a simple “five character formula” that could help people stabilize their emotions: secure, calm, self-efficacy, contact and hope (安, 靜, 能, 繫, 望).

People should find an environment that makes them feel “secure” and make good use of the ministry’s support resources, it said.

They could “calm” their emotions by taking deep breaths, doing stretches and avoiding images or information about the incident, it added.

People should maintain their daily routine and life, and regain self-confidence and “self-efficacy” by completing planned and controllable small tasks, and stay in “contact” with friends and family, such as by listening to each other, sharing their feelings and helping each other relieve stress, the ministry said.

To bring a sense of “hope,” they should approach warm and caring massages, remain flexible in the face of change, set achievable short-term goals and have an optimistic outlook, it said.

In related news, Taoyuan Psychiatric Center deputy-superintendent and psychiatrist Lee Chun-hung (李俊宏) on Facebook wrote that oversimplified attribution of a perpetrator’s motives should not be made before the facts are clarified.

The focus should be on reducing harm and subsequent risks, which includes not excessively revealing the perpetrator’s information to reduce the chances of a copycat crime, he said.

The priority should be offering integrated healthcare, mental and social support for the victims and their families, and reducing the risks of mental trauma or secondary trauma in witnesses and frontline workers.

Equally important is enhanced public safety, which not only includes increased security patrols, but also better self-safety awareness and capability to protect oneself, as well as reducing the risk of copycat crimes, he said.


content_text:
METRO RAMPAGE: Police tracing user who threatened to attack Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung police are tracing a copycat threat made on social media after Friday’s deadly knife attack in Taipei that killed three people and injured 11.

A user on Threads on Friday wrote that the suspect in the Taipei Main Station attack was his “brother” and that they belonged to the same organization, the Kaohsiung Precinct of the Railway Police Bureau said.

They threatened to continue what the suspect had “failed to complete,” warning that Kaohsiung Station would be the next target, the bureau said yesterday, adding that the user also said they would “reshape a dysfunctional society.”

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, center, inspect police mobilization at the Kaohsiung Station yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Kaohsiung City Government

The threat is being investigated and Kaohsiung’s Criminal Investigation Corps is racing to trace the source of the post, the bureau said.

The threat was posted hours after an attack on Friday evening in Taipei Main Station and the nearby Zhongshan MRT Station. The suspect, Chang Wen (張文), 27, threw smoke grenades and randomly attacked people with a knife near the two metro hubs, killing three people and injuring several others before apparently jumping to his death from a multistory building, police said.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said the authorities have already obtained the Threads user’s IP addresses and are in close contact with the National Police Agency (NPA) and other national security units.

The account is overseas and all the IP addresses are being monitored, Chen said.

An initial screening identified six IP addresses, but one has been ruled out, he said, adding that police would vigorously pursue people who pose a threat to public order and bring them to justice.

The city also would step up security at its railway, metro and high-speed rail stations, Chen said.

Additional reporting by Wang Jung-hsiang


content_text:
METRO RAMPAGE: Foreign offices offer condolences after deadly stabbing

Several foreign representative offices in Taiwan have offered their condolences after a deadly knife attack in Taipei on Friday left three dead and injured several others.

The Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei on Facebook wrote that it was saddened by the news of the attack in the capital.

“We extend our sincere condolences and stand with the families and loved ones of those affected,” the Czech office said.

A person lays flowers near Exit M7 at Taipei Main Station yesterday to pay tribute to victims of Friday’s knife attack. Photo: CNA

The Canadian Trade Office in Taipei in a Facebook post said it was shocked and saddened by what happened.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who lost their lives and wish a full and speedy recovery to those injured,” it said.

The Slovak Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei also wrote a message on social media, saying it stands in solidarity with the people of Taipei and hopes for strength, healing and peace during these difficult times.

UK Representative to Taiwan Ruth Bradley-Jones posted her condolences on her personal Facebook page, writing: “What a shocking sadness.”

“Taipei, tonight we grieve together for those who have died and been injured,” she wrote.

The French office in Taipei also expressed similar sentiments, saying it was in full solidarity with the people and authorities of Taiwan.

Also in a Facebook post, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) extended its condolences to the victims and families “affected by the senseless and tragic attack,” and expressed solidarity with Taiwan.

“We commend the first responders and medical personnel for their swift and courageous actions, and we stand in solidarity, as always, with the people of Taiwan,” the AIT said.

The suspect, 27-year-old Chang Wen (張文), on Friday threw smoke grenades in Taipei Main Station, stabbed a man with a knife, then ran to the nearby Zhongshan MRT Station, where he continued his stabbing spree, police said.

Chang allegedly fell to his death from the sixth floor of the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi building in Taipei while he was being pursued by police.


title: Festival flourish

content_text: Members of the Chiayi Municipal Nansing High School Color Guards perform on the Carnival Day of the Chiayi City International Band Festival in the city yesterday.


title: How China built its ‘Manhattan Project’ to rival the West in chips

content_text:
Nevertheless, China still faces major technical challenges, particularly in replicating the precision optical systems that Western suppliers produce.

The availability of parts from older ASML machines on secondary markets has allowed China to build a domestic prototype, with Beijing setting a goal of producing working chips on the prototype by 2028, according to the two people.

However, those close to the project say a more realistic target is 2030, which is still years earlier than the decade that analysts believed it would take China to match the West on chips.

Chinese authorities did not respond to requests for comment.

The breakthrough marks the culmination of a six-year government initiative to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency, one of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) highest priorities.

While China’s semiconductor goals have been public, the Shenzhen EUV project has been conducted in secret, the sources said.

The project falls under the country’s semiconductor strategy, which state media has identified as being run by Xi confidant Ding Xuexiang (丁薛祥), who heads the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Science and Technology Commission. Chinese electronics giant Huawei Technologies Co (華為) plays a key role coordinating a web of companies and state research institutes across the country involving thousands of engineers, according to the two people and a third source.

The people described it as China’s version of the Manhattan Project, the US effort during World War II to develop the atomic bomb.

“The aim is for China to eventually be able to make advanced chips on machines that are entirely China-made,” one of the people said. “China wants the United States 100 percent kicked out of its supply chains.”

Huawei, the State Council of China, the Chinese embassy in Washington and the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology did not respond to requests for comment.

Until now, only one company has mastered EUV technology: ASML, headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands. Its machines, which cost about US$250 million, are indispensable for manufacturing the most advanced chips designed by companies such as Nvidia and AMD — and produced by chipmakers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電), Intel and Samsung. ASML built its first working prototype of EUV technology in 2001.

RESEARCH TOLL

It took nearly two decades and billions of euros in research and development spending before it produced its first commercially available chips in 2019, the company said.

“It makes sense that companies would want to replicate our technology, but doing so is no small feat,” ASML said in a statement.

ASML’s EUV systems are available to US allies including Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. Starting in 2018, the US began pressuring the Netherlands to block ASML from selling EUV systems to China. The restrictions expanded in 2022, when the administration of then-US president Joe Biden imposed sweeping export controls designed to cut off China’s access to advanced semiconductor technology.

No EUV system has ever been sold to a customer in China, ASML told Reuters.

The controls targeted not just EUV systems, but also older deep ultraviolet lithography machines that produce less-advanced chips like Huawei’s, aiming to keep China at least a generation behind in chipmaking capabilities.

The US Department of State said that the administration of US President Donald Trump has bolstered enforcement of export controls on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment and is working with partners “to close loopholes as technology advances.”

The Dutch Ministry of Defense said that the Netherlands is developing policies requiring “knowledge institutions” to perform personnel screenings to prevent access to sensitive technology “by individuals that have ill intentions or who are at risk of being pressured.”

Export restrictions have slowed China’s progress toward semiconductor self-sufficiency for years and constrained advanced chip production at Huawei, the two people and a third person said.

The sources spoke on condition they not be identified due to the confidentiality of the project.

One veteran Chinese engineer from ASML recruited to the project was surprised to find that his generous signing bonus came with an identification card issued under a false name, according to one of the people, who was familiar with his recruitment.

Once inside, he recognized other former ASML colleagues who were also working under aliases and was instructed to use their fake names at work to maintain secrecy, the person said.

Another person independently confirmed that recruits were given fake IDs to conceal their identities from other workers inside the secure facility.

The guidance was clear, the two people said: Classified under national security, no one outside the compound could know what they were building — or that they were there at all.

The team includes recently retired, Chinese-born former ASML engineers and scientists — prime recruitment targets because they possess sensitive technical knowledge and face fewer professional constraints after leaving the company, the people said.

Two current ASML employees of Chinese nationality in the Netherlands told reporters that they have been approached by recruiters from Huawei since at least 2020.

Huawei did not respond to requests for comment.

European privacy laws limit ASML’s ability to track former employees. Although employees sign non-disclosure agreements, enforcing them across borders has proven difficult.

ASML SECURITY

ASML won an US$845 million judgement in 2019 against a former Chinese engineer accused of stealing trade secrets, but the defendant filed for bankruptcy and continues to operate in Beijing with Chinese government support, according to court documents.

ASML told reporters that it “vigilantly guards” trade secrets and confidential information.

“While ASML cannot control or restrict where former employees work, all employees are bound by the confidentiality clauses in their contracts,” the company said, adding that it has “successfully pursued legal action in response to the theft of trade secrets.”

Reuters was unable to determine if any legal actions have been taken against former ASML employees involved in China’s lithography program.

The company said it safeguards EUV knowledge by ensuring only select employees can access the information even inside the company.

Dutch intelligence warned in an April report that China “used extensive espionage programs in its attempts to obtain advanced technology and knowledge from Western countries,” including recruiting “Western scientists and employees of high-tech companies.”

The ASML veterans made the breakthrough in Shenzhen possible, the people said. Without their intimate knowledge of the technology, reverse-engineering the machines would have been nearly impossible.

Their recruitment was part of an aggressive drive China launched in 2019 for semiconductor experts working abroad, offering signing bonuses that started at 3 million to 5 million yuan (US$420,000 to US$700,000) and home-purchase subsidies, according to a Reuters review of government policy documents.

Recruits included Lin Nan, ASML’s former head of light source technology, whose team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shanghai Institute of Optics has filed eight patents on EUV light sources in 18 months, according to patent filings.

The Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics did not respond to requests for comment.

Lin could not be reached for comment.

Two additional people familiar with China’s recruitment efforts said some naturalized citizens of other countries were given Chinese passports and allowed to maintain dual citizenship.

China officially prohibits dual citizenship and did not answer questions on issuing passports.

Chinese authorities did not respond to requests for comment.

ASML’s most advanced EUV systems are roughly the size of a school bus and weigh 180 tonnes.

After failed attempts to replicate its size, the prototype inside the Shenzhen lab became many times larger to improve its power, according to the two people.

The Chinese prototype is crude compared with ASML’s machines, but operational enough for testing, the people said.

China’s prototype lags behind ASML’s machines largely because researchers have struggled to obtain optical systems like those from Germany’s Carl Zeiss AG, one of ASML’s key suppliers, the two people said.

Zeiss declined to comment.

LASER FIRE

The machines fire lasers at molten tin 50,000 times per second, generating plasma at 200,000°C. The light is focused using mirrors that take months to produce, according to Zeiss’ Web site.

China’s top research institutes have played key roles in developing homegrown alternatives, according to the two people.

The Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CIOMP) achieved a breakthrough in integrating extreme-ultraviolet light into the prototype’s optical system, enabling it to become operational early this year, one of the people said, although the optics still require significant refinement.

CIOMP did not respond to requests for comment.

In a March online recruitment call on its Web site, the institute said it was offering “uncapped” salaries to doctoral lithography researchers and research grants worth up to 4 million yuan plus 1 million yuan in personal subsidies.

Jeff Koch, an analyst at research firm SemiAnalysis and a former ASML engineer, said that China will have achieved “meaningful progress” if the “light source has enough power, is reliable, and doesn’t generate too much contamination.”

“No doubt this is technically feasible, it’s just a question of timeline,” he said. “China has the advantage that commercial EUV now exists, so they aren’t starting from zero.”

To get the required parts, China is salvaging components from older ASML machines and sourcing parts from ASML suppliers through secondhand markets, the two people said.

Networks of intermediary companies are sometimes used to mask the ultimate buyer, the people said.

Export-restricted components from Japan’s Nikon and Canon are being used for the prototype, one of the people and an additional source said.

Nikon declined to comment.

Canon said it was not aware of such reports.

The Japanese embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

International banks regularly auction older semiconductor fabrication equipment, the sources said.

Auctions in China sold older ASML lithography equipment as recently as October, according to a review of listings on Alibaba Auction, an Alibaba-owned platform.

A team of about 100 recent university graduates is focused on reverse-engineering components from EUV and DUV lithography machines, according to the people.

Each worker’s desk is filmed by an individual camera to document their efforts to disassemble and reassemble parts — work the people described as key to China’s lithography efforts.

Staffers who successfully reassemble a component receive bonuses, the people said.

While the EUV project is run by the Chinese government, Huawei is involved in every step of the supply chain from chip design and fabrication equipment to manufacturing and final integration into products like smartphones, according to four people familiar with Huawei’s operations.

Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei (任正非) briefs senior Chinese leaders on progress, according to one of the people.

The US placed Huawei on an entity list in 2019, banning American companies from doing business with it without a license.

Huawei has deployed employees to offices, fabrication plants and research centers across the country for the effort. Employees assigned to semiconductor teams often sleep on-site and are barred from returning home during the work week, with phone access restricted for teams handling more sensitive tasks, according to the people.

Inside Huawei, few employees know the scope of this work.

“The teams are kept isolated from each other to protect the confidentiality of the project,” one of the people said. “They don’t know what the other teams work on.”


people: 卓榮泰 賴清德 鄭麗文

title: EDITORIAL: Processing problematic poll results

content_text:
The most recent My Formosa opinion poll was released on Dec. 1, outlining findings of opinions last month on issues such as the level of trust in President William Lai (賴清德) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), as well as the degree of satisfaction with their performances, the state of the nation’s economy and perceptions about the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s handling of cross-strait relations.

The poll also looked at the public’s evaluation of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), and perceptions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the political intentions of KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文).

The details and the cross-referenced analyses are interesting in their own right, but another level of analysis can be made on what the poll, and the ways in which it might be interpreted, are a reminder about the very nature of democracy, including its weaknesses and how caution is needed to preserve its strengths.

On this page, Yang Chih-chiang (楊智強) sounds a word of warning about a worrying trend revealed by the poll: a significant increase in the percentage of Taiwanese who believed that “both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong under one China,” together with a roughly corresponding drop in respondents who believed that Taiwan and China are separate, sovereign countries.

Yang puts this down to the influence of Cheng, who the majority of respondents believe stands for eventual unification of the two nations. Cheng has only been KMT chair since Nov. 1. Yang suggests that her election has “consolidated the party’s base,” and that her influence has facilitated the fracturing of Taiwan’s social and psychological defenses.

Both might be true, and yet another reading is that Cheng’s election, which was quite an upset for the party establishment, represents a consolidation among KMT supporters of affinity with the position that she espouses.

That is, the trend is less a symptom of her victory than her victory was a symptom of the trend. If the trend is real, then in a democracy it is potentially a reflection of a growing desire within the country, and so must be respected.

Yang characterizes the trend he has identified with a fracturing of resolve in resistance against an influence campaign at the hands of the CCP. He is probably right in this. The inherent weakness of democracy is that it only makes sense and can only operate efficiently within the context of the public’s universal access to reliable information. Without it, the freedom to choose is distorted beyond any meaningfulness.

The job of political leaders is to persuade voters to see things from their point of view, having provided the pertinent information. If the trend Yang identified is real, then the CCP and the KMT are doing their job well, while Lai and the government are not.

This goes beyond theoretical approaches to the value and strength of democracy. In her article on today’s page, “Uninformed, high emotion voters,” Lo Ming-cheng (駱明正), a professor of sociology at the University of California, writes that the ongoing standoff between Cho and the opposition parties over the former’s refusal to countersign amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) could lead to the dissolution of the legislature and new elections for every legislative seat.

If such a scenario comes to pass, the levels of trust in Lai and the government and the assessment of their performances would become all the more crucial.

Trust in Lai’s leadership last month fell almost 14 percentage points to 42.3 percent from 55.8 percent at the same time last year, the poll showed. That is a problem not only for the government, but for Taiwanese who disagree with Cheng’s position that unification with China is a desirable outcome.

Lo writes that it is crucial for Lai and the government to more effectively engage with what political scientists refer to as “low-information voters,” those who are unable to process complex debates and default instead to party lines, responding more to fear, anger, frustration and hope. In Taiwan, one manifestation of this “high emotion” aspect is the fracture of resolve that Yang identified. Lo warns that Lai and the DPP have “fallen short in speaking to the emotions of these voters.”


title: The bigotry storm of Miss Finland

content_text:
The saga of Sarah Dzafce, the disgraced former Miss Finland, is far more significant than a mere beauty pageant controversy. It serves as a potent and painful contemporary lesson in global cultural ethics and the absolute necessity of racial respect. Her public career was instantly pulverized not by a lapse in judgement, but by a deliberate act of racial hostility, the flames of which swiftly encircled the globe.

The offensive action was simple, yet profoundly provocative: a 15-second video in which Dzafce performed the infamous “slanted eyes” gesture — a crude, historically loaded caricature of East Asian features used in Western contexts — captioned with an inflammatory reference to Chinese people.

In today’s world, a physical gesture steeped in colonial-era malice is neither a “joke,” a “misunderstanding” nor, as she called it, a “temple massage.” It is a cultural weapon. When Dzafce deployed it, she aimed a direct insult at the global Chinese diaspora and the wider Asian community.

Her response to the crisis was a textbook example of poor crisis management. Her initial defense — absurdly claiming she was trying to alleviate a headache by massaging her temples — followed by the classic “a friend posted it” excuse — did not signal remorse. Instead, it exposed a deep arrogance and a profound disregard for the severity of the offense.

Even more infuriating were her subsequent actions. The defiant social media post from a business class seat, which was widely interpreted as a mocking display of privilege, only deepened the public outrage.

This arrogance, distressingly, found supporters among some Finnish right-wing politicians, who openly defended her and even mimicked the discriminatory gesture, showing that the issue transcended mere personal misconduct to touch upon systemic societal biases.

However, the power of unified public opinion proved overwhelming. Her business contracts were canceled one after another, pageant organizers swiftly revoked her title and she was ultimately forced to deactivate her social media accounts, marking the complete termination of her public life.

The speed and thoroughness of her downfall underscore a critical development: Global public opinion, particularly driven by Asian communities and forces for justice, has an unyielding, zero tolerance line against racial discrimination. For public figures, discrimination is no longer just a risk of embarrassment, it is a guaranteed act of self-immolation.

The Dzafce incident is but the latest manifestation of a deeper, ongoing cultural struggle. As our readers are acutely aware, for generations, ethnic slurs have been used as a tool to diminish and dehumanize Asians. The “slanted eyes” gesture is the visual twin of verbal assaults such as “Chink” or “Ching-chong.”

My comprehensive study identifying more than 50 English anti-Chinese or anti-Asian slurs is a sobering reminder that this prejudice is not random; it is historically and linguistically codified.

Understanding this arsenal of bigotry — from anatomical insults such as slope-head to cultural slurs such as banana (implying the person is “yellow on the outside, white on the inside”) — is crucial. This awareness is not about dwelling on offense, but about strategic empowerment. We must know the tools of our detractors to effectively counter them.

The beauty of global digital connectivity is that it ensures these gestures and slurs could no longer fester unchecked in local corners. When prejudice emerges, it is instantly illuminated by a global spotlight.

Miss Finland’s story is ultimately a victory for dignity. It confirms that the power to demand respect now firmly resides with the people. By acting in a unified condemnation, we send an unmistakable signal: Every act of prejudice, visual or verbal, would be met with an immediate and decisive reckoning.

The cost Sarah Dzafce paid was heavy, but it serves as a crystal-clear warning to anyone contemplating a racist “joke”: The world is watching, and your career is not worth the price of disrespecting billions.

Hugo Tseng has a doctorate in linguistics, and is a lexicographer and former chair of the Soochow University English Department.


content_text:
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Monday announced that he would not countersign or promulgate amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) passed by the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan. Cho argued that the legislation would force the central government to borrow beyond legal limits, undermining long-term financial stability.

Cho and President William Lai (賴清德) also highlighted another controversial legislative action: the proposed bill to reverse pension reform. Lai warned that the bill to counter reforms would lead to premature collapse of the pension system and jeopardize other social insurance programs.

Cho’s announcement, unprecedented in Taiwan’s democratic history, reflects growing tensions between the executive and legislative branches. Commentators have expressed deep concerns about a series of bills rushed through the legislature, often without deliberation, in the past 18 months.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s constitutional system does not grant the executive branch final authority. If the Legislative Yuan rejects the Executive Yuan’s reasoning, it may initiate a vote of no confidence against the premier. Should such a motion pass, the Cabinet must resign, and the president may dissolve the legislature and call new elections. In short, the confrontation would ultimately return power to voters.

Thus, taking the pulse of voters is crucial. Specifically, an important question concerns how to engage “low information, high emotion” voters.

Political scientists have long used the term “low-information voters” to describe people who make electoral decisions without detailed knowledge of policies or institutions, relying instead on party labels or identity cues. While analytically useful, the label “low information” risks sounding dismissive and missing mechanisms for change.

As contemporary policy debates have become too complex for many ordinary citizens to decipher, voters are, in effect, not merely low information, but often high emotion. Fear, anger, frustration and hope shape political judgement at least as much as factual understanding. Such people are not irrational, they are responding to emotional signals that resonate with their experiences. Simple slogans and narratives of recognition often carry more weight than technocratic explanations.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has fallen short in speaking to the emotions of such voters. Its slogans, such as “loving Taiwan” and “defending democracy,” might still move core supporters, but they have struggled to connect with people who feel economically left behind or politically ignored.

What does successful emotional engagement look like?

Former US president Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns offer a useful model. Rather than broadcasting uniform messages, they identified groups of weakly attached voters through data-driven targeting, then engaged them through personal interactions, such as door-to-door conversations and community organizing that emphasized listening rather than lecturing. These efforts were further reinforced by emotionally affirming messaging on social media, such as “Yes, we can.”

Granted, these strategies did not convert large numbers of hardened partisan opponents, but political science research on the campaign trail of Obama when he was running shows that they were effective in persuading marginal voters and weak partisans. Even small shifts among these groups proved electorally consequential.

At this crucial moment, Lai would be well served to shift away from his abstract and emotionally thin gestures of inclusivity, characterized by his “ten talks of solidarity” during the mass recall movement. Instead, his staff must help him develop a more relatable and emotionally warm communication style.

Who must the Lai administration reach if it is to engage “low information, high emotion” voters? At least three groups come to mind: The first is the identity-anchored voters, whose emotional attachment to China is rooted in personal or family history and whose fear of a sovereign Taiwan is fundamentally existential. While the Lai government should show compassion toward these feelings, it is nonetheless unrealistic to expect these deep-seated identities to change overnight.

The Lai administration should also be attentive to anti-elite voters, who might lack strong policy convictions, but feel that political and economic elites have prospered while they have not.

After nearly a decade in power, the DPP has become the natural target of this frustration. Finally, economic grievance voters are similarly frustrated with the “status quo,” but their grievances are focused on stagnant wages and housing unaffordability.

It is the ruling party’s job to come up with concrete and effective policy solutions for affordability issues, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) astonishing success does not amount to a credible excuse for the government’s shortcomings in this area. The DPP government should also connect pension reform discussions with widespread anti-elite sentiments, puzzling through how intergenerational justice might play out in these policy contexts.

Instead of relying merely on news conferences or political speeches, DPP officials must reach these voting groups through trusted local channels and Obama-style face-to-face conversations. They urgently need to adopt communication styles that recognize fear, frustration and dignity, as well as the very human need for voters to feel connected to their leaders.

The DPP itself has, in the past, demonstrated the power of emotionally resonant communication. Former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) widely circulated “Iron Cat Lady” image humanized political leadership and reached audiences far beyond policy-engaged voters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health authorities used a friendly cartoon spokesdog to convey guidance that offered instruction and humor.

It is high time that the current administration revitalized its own emotional intelligence.

Lo Ming-cheng is a professor of sociology at the University of California, Davis, whose research addresses civil society, political cultures and medical sociology.

title: Uninformed, high emotion voters

people: 蔡英文 賴清德 卓榮泰


content_text:
According to the most recent My Formosa poll released on Dec. 1, 26.4 percent of respondents agreed that “both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong under one China,” up from 17.4 percent in March from the same pollster.

The proportion of those who disagreed fell from 76.4 to 65.7 percent over the same period — nearly 20 percent over just eight short months. This is not a random fluctuation. It is a sign that Taiwan’s social and psychological defenses are fracturing.

Cross-analysis suggests that the shift was primarily driven by supporters of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The proportion of respondents supportive of the KMT who agreed with “one China” increased significantly, likely a reflection of the party’s recent election of Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) as its chairwoman.

Cheng has long advocated for a Chinese national identity. Her election has consolidated the party’s base and sent a signal to wider society in Taiwan: The KMT has shifted from an ambiguously defensive position to one that embraces a “one China” narrative.

The Dec. 1 poll, which covered last month, showed that 46.9 percent of respondents view her as inclined toward cross-strait unification, an otherwise exceptionally rare position for a mainstream politician to hold.

When opposition leaders can promote a Chinese identity without incurring a ruinous backlash, their supporters can become psychologically entrenched in their identification with “one China” — a view perhaps once held in private, but now expressed explicitly.

Even more concerning is the rapid shift among supporters of the TPP, a party that brands itself as being rational, pragmatic and outside the traditional blue-green divide, but lacks a clear stance on cross-strait relations. The poll showed that the proportion of respondents supportive of the TPP who agreed with “one China” increased by more than 20 percent from March, suggesting that it is a lack of position itself that might pose the greatest risk.

In the information war, these supporters are among the most vulnerable and are easily swayed by narratives that prioritize pragmatic conflict avoidance and the economy.

A broader issue was revealed when respondents were asked what they see the cross-strait relationship ultimately evolving to. Regardless of voting tendency, 37.4 percent said a business partnership, while only 16.9 percent said enemies. This naive economization of the cross-strait relationship is a primer to the most insidious form of cognitive warfare and neatly avoids acknowledging the risks of annexation or erosion of sovereignty. Some people, who might not be explicitly in favor of unification, are perhaps beginning to feel that it would not be entirely unacceptable.

The fear is that these shifts in polling numbers are just the beginning. When politicians cozy up to China, the social consensus can shift faster than expected. If the proportion of support for “one China” breaches the 30 percent threshold and the effects of the Chinese Communist Party’s “united front” campaign fully take shape, Taiwan’s ability to bargain for sovereignty at the international negotiating table will be severely undermined.

This is no longer a question of party politics — it is about whether Taiwan can still distinguish between true peace and being absorbed. Taiwan cannot afford to sit and watch as its sovereign defenses erode. If the crisis is ignored, it is Taiwanese who will pay the price. As a matter of urgency, we must solidify our defenses by strengthening democratic education and information literacy. Civil society must remain vigilant and come together to defend Taiwanese agency. Once lost, freedom is not easily regained.

Yang Chih-chiang is a teacher.

Translated by Gilda Knox Streader

title: Concerning polling on Taiwanese identity


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