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China used fake profiles to spy on NATO, EU: source

China used fake LinkedIn profiles to harvest sensitive data from NATO and EU institutions by soliciting information from staff, a European security source said on Friday.

The operation, allegedly orchestrated by the Chinese Ministry of State Security, targeted dozens of employees at the military alliance or EU organizations through fictitious accounts, the source said, confirming reports in French and Belgian media.

Posing as recruiters on the online professional networking platform, Chinese spies would initially request paid reports before later soliciting non-public or even classified information.

Belgian Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden speaks during a plenary session at the Belgian Federal Parliament in Brussels on Feb. 5. Photo: AFP

One particularly active fake profile used the name “Kevin Zhang,” claiming to be the head of a fictitious Hong Kong-based firm called “Oriental Consulting,” the security source said.

In return, recruits from countries including France, Belgium and the UK were paid several hundred — and in some cases several thousand — US dollars, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

For years, “various civil servants, academics and other influential figures around the world have been approached by what turned out to be an agent of the Chinese intelligence services,” Belgian Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden said.

Through this operation, “a great deal of important information and intelligence might have reached China,” she added.

She laid blame on social media, saying the Internet was a “breeding ground” that made it possible for major powers to persuade people to “engage in espionage and spread propaganda.”

Topics of interest reportedly included EU sanctions and other measures targeting China, as well as NATO’s strategy in Asia — particularly concerning Taiwan.

The former head of France’s foreign intelligence service warned in 2023 of a “massive espionage operation” launched by Beijing in 2014 — if not earlier — via social media, notably LinkedIn.

In November last year, Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 warned that China was using spies disguised as head-hunters to recruit parliamentarians, through LinkedIn among others.

The Chinese embassy in London denied the allegations.


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Cabinet defense budget good for regional security contribution: Greene

The United States’ representative to Taiwan reiterated his support for the NT$1.25 trillion (US $39 billion) special defense budget proposed by the Cabinet in a recent TV interview, saying it would help Taiwan adapt to modern warfare and contribute to regional security.

In an interview with TVBS that aired yesterday, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene said he perceived cross-party commitment to Taiwan’s security, and he hopes Taiwan’s Legislature will review defense budgets in the same spirit.

Commenting on the Cabinet’s special defense budget, Greene said the United States believes it would provide Taiwan with “all of the capabilities we believe the Taiwan military needs to fulfill its role in deterring conflict across the Taiwan Strait.”

American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene speaks with TVBS in an interview that was aired yesterday. Photo: Screengrab from TVBS’ YouTube channel

Those include integrated air and missile defenses, distributed command and control, communications facilities, and anti-ship or anti-armor capabilities, Greene said.

Asked to comment on Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) recent remark that the special budget, which includes drone production and other local initiatives, was the result of extensive consultations between Taipei and Washington, Greene confirmed Hsiao’s statement.

The special budget was planned with “changing character of warfare” in mind -- for example the war in Ukraine, he said.

“The traditional focus on conventional forces is now -- not being replaced -- but being very much influenced by new technologies, especially unmanned and AI capabilities,” hence the focus on these systems in the special budget, he said.

Asked what are the implications if the amount requested by the Cabinet fell short, Greene said he “wouldn’t think so much in terms of specific numbers, but rather specific capabilities.”

Under the US’ National Security Strategy, the US seeks to deter conflict up and down the first island chain -- a series of islands that extend from Japan to Borneo -- and that the US is working with all of its partners in the region to ensure they are making the right investments to help the US achieve that objective, Greene said.

“I think nobody, any of our partners, wants to be the one party that causes other parties to have to adjust their posture,” he said.

Therefore, he said, it is important for Taiwan to not only build a “physical deterrent effect” but also “symbolically showing its commitment to our joint efforts.”


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Coast guard says Taiwanese boat in Xiamen, crew safe

The Coast Guard Administration confirmed yesterday that a Taiwanese fishing vessel was docked at Zhangzhou Port in China’s Xiamen City, but did not comment on reports that the boat had been involved in illegal activities.

Penghu-registered Da Jin Man No. 8 departed Taiwan’s Magong Harbor at noon on Monday with seven crew members aboard — three Taiwanese and four Indonesians — the coast guard said in a statement.

The vessel turned off its automatic identification system (AIS) shortly after departing and did not switch it back on until about 2am on Wednesday, it said.

At that time, the boat was about 50 nautical miles northwest of Penghu — in international waters 13 nautical miles west of the Taiwan Strait median line — and was sailing toward Xiamen City, the coast guard said.

It issued the statement after the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported that the Taiwanese boat had appeared off the coast of Xiamen and had been escorted into Zhangzhou Port by a China Coast Guard ship.

Da Jin Man No. 8 might have been involved in the illegal sale of fuel to Chinese fishing vessels and intercepted at sea by the Chinese Coast Guard, the report said, citing sources in China.

The Coast Guard Administration did not respond to those allegations, saying that the boat owner and relatives of the crew members had no information about the situation.

It said it would continue to track the movements of the vessel and provide any necessary assistance.

Boats should keep their AIS on at all times for safety purposes, it said, adding that they can call the “118” hotline if they encounter emergencies at sea, so the coast guard could respond promptly.

The Mainland Affairs Council said that information from the coast guard indicated that the vessel was impounded by Chinese authorities, but its crew were safe.


title: KMT caucus voices support for the TPP’s Ko rally

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The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday voiced support for a Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) rally today, saying the judiciary “must not become a tool for political reckoning” and warned against what it described as selective enforcement of the law to target opposition figures.

The KMT made the comment after the TPP called on its supporters to rally in Taipei today in protest against the guilty verdict that sentenced former TPP chairman and Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) to 17 years in prison for corruption.

The TPP wrote on Facebook that its supporters were angry and unable to accept the verdict, which was handed down on Thursday, and that TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) called for a nationwide mobilization of protesters.

A poster for the Taiwan People’s Party’s rally in Taipei today. Photo: Screen grab from the party’s Facebook page

“Do not allow prosecutors and investigators to continue abusing their power and to unlawfully victimize political opponents in tandem with those in power,” the TPP said, adding that the rally would be held today at 2pm on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office Building.

The TPP said the ruling Democratic Progressive Party was undermining judicial independence and that the system had become a political tool.

The TPP also pledged to push for judicial reform and to “defend Ko’s innocence.”

The KMT caucus on Facebook post expressed its support, saying: “This is not just about any single political party, but about preventing Taiwan from sliding into the abyss of authoritarianism.”

Huang proposed the rally shortly after the Taipei District Court found Ko guilty of corruption and bribery linked to the Core Pacific City development project and three other cases, calling the verdict a “political judgement.”

He urged supporters to “seek justice” and called on President William Lai (賴清德) to address concerns over judicial independence.

Separately yesterday, KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) did not respond to questions about whether she would join the rally to support Ko.

Ko has pleaded not guilty and the case can be appealed.

people: 賴清德 黃國昌 柯文哲 鄭麗文


taiwan-subdivisions: 樹林 鶯歌

title: Rail services resume after major fault

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NEW TAIPEI CITY:  Taiwan Railway said that 201 services were affected, resulting in cumulative delays of 342 hours, 30 minutes, adding that tickets can be refunded

Taiwan Railway Corp resumed normal services yesterday after major delays the previous day due to an electrical fault between Shulin (樹林) and Yingge (鶯歌) stations in New Taipei City.

Two-way rail traffic was fully restored late on Friday night, and the first train yesterday morning departed on time, the company said in a statement.

Services were suspended at 9:17am on Friday after a fault was reported at Shanjia Station (山佳), it said.

Taiwan Railway Corp personnel work on a line between Shulin and Yingge stations in New Taipei City on Friday. Photo: Screen grab from the Taiwan Bento Bureau Affiliated Railway Department Facebook page

After about four hours, limited services resumed, with a single track used for trains going both ways, which caused massive delays of local trains, particularly during rush hour, the company said.

In an effort to ease the congestion, people with e-tickets were allowed to board Tze-Chiang express trains on the Keelung-Hsinchu route on Friday afternoon.

In addition, Taiwan High Speed Rail dispatched two trains with non-reserved seats to run during rush hour.

Taiwan Railway said that 201 services were affected by the fault, resulting in cumulative delays of 342 hours, 30 minutes.

People who experienced travel disruptions on Friday can request a refund within one year, it said, adding that refund fees would be waived.

The Taiwan Railways Engineering Union wrote on Facebook on Friday that the incident exposed a “structural crisis” that has built up over a long period and “is now fully erupting.”

Personnel in the company’s engineering and electrical units are no longer handling just one job each — many are shouldering the workload of two or three people, the union wrote.

Each unit is often responsible for more than 10km of railways, with inspection schedules and workloads that far exceed what is physically or legally manageable, it said.

Staffing has not kept pace with the growing workload, while senior management is even considering further “cuts to on-site personnel” to save costs — completely out of touch with the reality on the ground, it said.

Taiwan Railway said that it would outline within a week concrete measures in response to the incident, including a thorough investigation of root causes, improvements to reporting systems and stronger cross-unit collaboration.

Since corporatization, salaries and benefits have been enhanced, it said, adding that entry-level employees start at NT$37,000 to NT$45,000, and with hazard and night-shift allowances, frontline workers can earn NT$47,000 to NT$55,000 per month.

The company said it has continued to boost employee benefits, including holiday transportation bonuses, higher repair incentives, and expanded travel discounts for staff and their families.

Overall salaries have been raised by 7 percent, increasing the base pay, it said, adding that hazard duty allowances, remote area pay and night-shift premiums have also been implemented, with night-shift pay this year rising from NT$120 to as much as NT$400.


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DUAL SPECIALITIES:  Students should specialize in special-needs dentistry in addition to their main focus, as demand for the role has increased, an expert said   By Lin Chih-yi, Lo Pi and William Hetherington / Staff reporters, with staff writer

Demand for dentists trained to help elderly people and those with special needs is not being met, so dentistry students should be encouraged to take on dual academic specialties, said Chen Hsin-ming (陳信銘), director of National Taiwan University Hospital’s (NTUH) Oral Health Care Center for Special Needs.

Special-needs dentistry covers several areas, including care for people with physical or mental disabilities, people with systemic conditions such as cancer or hypertension, pregnant women and long-term care recipients, Chen said.

Demand for dentists who specialize in those areas has increased, but positions frequently go unfilled, he said.

A dentist examines a patient while an assistant looks on in an undated photograph in Yunlin County. Photo: Huang Shu-li, Taipei Times

Students should plan to obtain “dual specialties,” adding special-needs dentistry to another area, he said.

Most dental treatment focuses primarily on the condition of the patient’s teeth, treatment techniques and instrument use, but special-needs dentistry requires dentists to devote significant effort to behavioral guidance and patient assistance, Chen said.

For students, these aspects can seem relatively abstract and provide limited immediate sense of achievement, making them more likely to prefer specialties with lower risk and higher income, he said.

“Two years ago, only NTUH trained new specialists in special-needs dentistry, while nobody signed up for courses at other hospitals,” he said.

Special-needs treatments, as well as equipment related to chewing and swallowing, have been developed in the past few years, and courses have been designed to attract more young professionals, Chen said.

Most government policy planning relies mainly on the views of the Taiwan Dental Association, but the association’s structure — composed mainly of dentists in private practice — differs from what happens at a typical hospital, he said.

The perspectives and expectations of private practitioners regarding the development of national health policy might differ from those of hospital-based dentists, he said, adding that the government should pay more attention to views from academia.

Separately, Chiang Meng-ling (蔣孟玲), head of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, said students who enter special-needs dentistry are likely already prepared for relatively limited income.

Most students are unlikely to limit their specialty training to a special-needs qualification, Chiang said.

Efforts should be made to enable students to develop two or more specialties, giving them flexibility in their practice, she said.

Chiang said that she has specialist qualifications in oral pathology, pediatric dentistry and special-needs dentistry.

Hopefully, Taiwan can introduce more incentives and create a better environment for dentists willing to work in special-needs care, which would help retain talent, she said.

Chang Yung-min (張雍敏), director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Department of Oral Health, said that Taiwan has about 633 certified specialists in special-needs dentistry.

No one entered the training program in 2023, four people joined in 2024 and six joined last year, Chang said.

The government would continue to promote policies to promote the specialist area in a “steady and pragmatic” manner, she said.

title: Dentists with special-needs training needed: experts


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No action on Taichung airport project, councilor saysBy Su Meng-chuan, Chang Hsuan-che and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writer

The Taichung City Government should be admonished for its inaction over the Taichung International Airport Gateway Project, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taichung City Councilor Yang Tien-chung (楊典忠) said on Friday during a review of the project.

The project aims to integrate the airport and the Port of Taichung, positioning them as hubs for manufacturing, trade and logistics in the Asia-Pacific region, while supporting domestic industries.

International flight routes serving Taichung have increased to 26 and there has been a steady rise in travelers using the airport, Yang said.

Democratic Progressive Party Taichung City Councilor Yang Tien-chung holds documents at the Taichung City Council on Friday. Photo courtesy of Yang Tien-chung

However, parking at the airport is insufficient and supporting facilities are underdeveloped, he said.

Some Taichung councilors have complained that public transportation serving the city’s central Fengyuan District (豐原) is severely lacking, he said.

The Taichung Transportation Bureau said that on weekdays there are 68 bus routes serving the airport and 70 on weekends and holidays — comprising about 10 percent of public transportation serving the airport — and it would continue to do what it can to address transportation issues.

While the city government has assessed the viability of an airport MRT route, expanding the main road to the airport and adding freeway exits that would increase access, the cornerstone of the development plan — the Gateway Project — has seen no progress, Yang said.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen’s (盧秀燕) administration wants to bring Taichung closer to the international community, but despite eight years in office, people visiting Taichung still walk out of the airport and are greeted by residents hanging their laundry, Yang said.

Proposals submitted by the city government to the central government have failed to meet additional documentation requirements requested by the Ministry of the Interior in 2018, he said.

DPP Taichung Councilor Wang Li-jen (王立任) said that the lack of progress on the project, despite the growth in travel to Taichung, highlights the city government’s failure to keep up with demand.

Taichung Urban Development Bureau Director Lee Cheng-wei (李正偉) said that the project has not moved forward because the central government has not made its stance clear on what it envisions for the airport.

The uncertainty has affected the municipal government’s effort to develop the region, Lee said.

Yang said that the central government should not be blamed.

Even if there were an impasse, legislators from Taichung or Lu should step in and engage in discussions with the central government, he added.

people: 王立任 盧秀燕 楊典忠


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The Kaohsiung branch of the High Court has convicted a man surnamed Liu (劉) and a woman surnamed Hong (洪) for online purchases and resales of the private data of Chinese citizens.

Liu and Hong were sentenced to five months and six months respectively for contravening the Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法), the court said.

A third suspect, a man surnamed Chiu (邱), is in hiding, it said.

The main entrance of the Kaohsiung branch of the High Court is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Pao Chien-hsin, Taipei Times

The trio in July 2021 used the Telegram messaging app to arrange purchases of personal files on people in China, with the data including names, mobile phone numbers, ID card numbers, home addresses, education levels and bank account numbers, the court said.

They purchased the data from a Chinese contact who used the handle “Baoma Database” (寶媽數據庫), it said.

The trio resold the data via Telegram and Skype, with Chiu collecting payments, while Hong managed the accounts and financial records, it said.

Police were investigating a fraud complaint submitted by a man surnamed Tseng (曾), who implicated the trio, the court said.

Authorities searched a rented premises in Kaohsiung in September 2021, seizing material pertaining to the investigation, including devices containing the personal data, it said.

The Ciaotou District Court in the first ruling found Liu and Hong guilty, handing them five-month and six-month sentences, which could be commuted to fines of NT$1,000 per day of imprisonment.

The defendants appealed to the High Court, which upheld the first ruling. The second ruling can be appealed.

Legal experts said that the act provides broad protection of personal private information, extending to people in other countries.

Article 2, Item 1 of the act defines personal data as a person’s name, date of birth, ID number, passport number, physical features, fingerprints, marital and family status, education level, occupation, medical and healthcare records, sex life, health records, criminal records, contact information, financial status, social and networking affiliations, and other data that can be used to directly or indirectly identify people.

title: Court convicts pair over sale of data of Chinese


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It could be the next big consumer market, but luxury brands are finding it hard to make a beachhead with limited floor space

In India’s rapidly growing economy, millions of newly affluent consumers are fuelling demand for luxury goods from the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Dior. However, getting to a store can be a problem — there are not that many of them.

With nearly 1.5 billion people and an economy growing more than 6 percent, India is expanding faster than China, the luxury industry’s growth engine for more than a decade.

However, top brands are struggling to expand amid a severe shortage of high-quality retail space. India only has three true luxury malls: two in New Delhi — the Emporio and the Chanakya, owned by real estate developer DLF, and the Jio World Plaza in Mumbai, owned by the Reliance conglomerate.

“We have regular requests from the parent companies — from LVMH Group, from Kering, from Richemont — to give them more space for the brands they want to get into India,” said Saurabh Bharara, head of luxury malls at DLF.

“We have top 15 brands that are ready to enter India, if we give them space tomorrow,” he said, but added there was “zero availability” right now.

DLF is planning an expansion of the Emporio, which would double its leasable space of 160,000 square feet but is unlikely to come online before the end of 2028.

LVMH, Kering and Richemont declined to comment.

India ranks fourth globally in the number of individuals with wealth above US$100 million, behind the US, China and Japan, according to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2025.

It has a rapidly growing middle class. However, India’s luxury goods market was estimated at just US$12.1 billion last year, less than 3 percent of China’s, according to Euromonitor data reviewed by Reuters.

“Quality real estate is the single largest stumbling block,” said R. Satyajit, CEO of international brands at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail. The firm opened a franchise of France’s famed department store Galeries Lafayette in Mumbai in November, affording 200 foreign brands an entry into India.

Four luxury-focused malls, including the expansion of the Emporio, are being planned, although all are expected to take years before opening. Of the other three, one is in Mumbai, another in Hyderabad, and one in Gurgaon, part of the National Capital Region near New Delhi.

That has given hope to the likes of Chanel’s managing director, Amit Goyal, who said although “there are currently only a few luxury malls in the country, several promising projects are in development,” adding that a store in Mumbai is a near-term priority for the brand.

Some high-end labels have set up shop in less exclusive but still premium malls. Encouraged by what it calls a young, confident Indian Gen-Z population, luxury sneaker brand Golden Goose has opened three stores in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

The shortage of high-end mall space has resulted in notable gaps in India’s luxury market. Several leading brands such as Patek Philippe and Loro Piana have no physical stores in India.

Prada has no fashion stores and only one beauty store, while Chanel has just one fashion store and seven fragrance and beauty boutiques.

In China, by contrast, Prada has 14 fashion stores while Chanel has 18. It is not uncommon for brands to have 40-50 stores in China, including Louis Vuitton and Gucci.

Even if a label is willing to forgo ultra-high-end spaces characterised by large column-free stores, high ceilings and ample parking, options remain limited.

India has only about 10.2 million square meters of grade-A mall stock, compared with more than 37.2 million square meters in China and about 65 million square meters in the US, said property consultancy Anarock.

Opening branded stores on high streets is not seen as an attractive business proposition, given Indian cities’ problems with cleanliness and pollution.

Given the hurdles, some brands prefer to enter India through franchise agreements with the retail arms of conglomerates Reliance, Aditya Birla Group and Tata Group, which act as gateways to the market, providing store networks and capital.

Developers face a chicken-and-egg problem.

Securing funding can be a struggle without firm commitments from brands. However, that does “not flow in until such a time as the project is near completion,” said Rajneesh Mahajan, CEO of Inorbit Malls, part of property firm K. Raheja Corp, which is developing a luxury mall in Hyderabad.

Luxury players must also grapple with import duties of 35 to 40 percent that have traditionally pushed wealthy Indian shoppers toward Paris, Dubai and Singapore.

Some brands are content to take their time.

Prada family scion Lorenzo Bertelli said that India is the only major new market the group is analyzing, but a decision on how to enter, which would involve offices for corporate operations, could take three to five years.

“So when you want to open one store, you also have a plan, not just for one store, but for more than one store because you have a lot of other cost attached to it,” he said.

title: India lacks mall space for luxury stores


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Tech companies are joining the old guard of arms manufacturers as the US and its cyclopean military budget consider new ways of making war

The US’ and Israel’s war with Iran has highlighted the newfound alliance between the tech sector and the US military after decades of strained relations, displaying a synergy that investors see as a gold mine.

Military-industrial heavyweights such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing are being joined by rising tech giants Palantir, Anthropic and Anduril in helping to keep the US war machine going.

Tech firms are increasingly involved in helping the US Department of Defense with everything from cloud computing to artificial intelligence (AI) powered drones.

US Department of War and Anthropic logos are seen in this illustration taken March 1. Photo: Reuters

Maven, Palantir’s data analytics platform, has been used extensively in the offensive against Iran, as has Anthropic’s AI.

Anduril president Matthew Steckman said Monday that it was providing “one of the main defense systems” against Iran’s low-cost, long-range Shahed drones. The company announced a 10-year, US$20 billion contract with the US military.

Palantir’s chief Alex Karp called the developments “a huge shift in Silicon Valley.”

“When we started Palantir,” he said this month, “we couldn’t get funding” because the company was still too focused on civilian applications for its technology.

Employee revolts at Microsoft, Amazon and Google in the late 2010s helped keep those giants out of the military market. Google ended up relinquishing the Maven contract in 2018, with Palantir getting onboard in 2024.

Times have changed.

Investors and tech companies have “moved from being hostile to skeptical to neutral, from neutral to positive on the idea that Silicon Valley, like every other part of industry, has to support the warfighter,” Karp said.

Last year, private equity invested a record US$49 billion in defense technology companies, nearly twice 2024’s US$27 billion, PitchBook said.

That shift relates to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and concerns about China’s ambition toward Taiwan, Silicon Valley Defense Group chief operating officer Merritt Ogle said, which promotes closer ties between the two sectors.

“When you start to think about protecting democracy and protecting freedom and protecting things that I think a lot of the countries that are allied with the US appreciate,” she said, the concept that “all defense is bad becomes a harder argument to make.”

However, generative AI has raised concerns.

Anthropic has refused to allow its systems to be used by the Pentagon for mass surveillance, prompting the Trump administration to brand the trailblazing company a “supply chain risk” — even as Anthropic’s AI systems continue to be used for fighting in the Middle East.

Behind the shift has been a wider recognition among military and political leaders that the US “needs to tap into a broader innovation base for national security,” Mark Valentine, head of defense strategy at Skydio, a drone manufacturer, said.

Funding has never been an issue for the US Department of Defense, which has the world’s largest defense budget by far — US$962 billion for this fiscal year.

Almost all of that funding has historically gone to the usual major suppliers. For about a decade, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, the Pentagon has launched numerous initiatives to foster the development and adoption of new technologies.

“There’s a broader understanding that maintaining a technological edge depends on integrating the best capabilities and doing it faster than we have in the past,” Valentine said.

Several programs have been initiated to strengthen ties with the private sector and “the government has seemingly shown a lot more appetite to support earlier stage companies,” Drew Wandzilak, principal of the strategic tech fund at the private equity firm Alumni Ventures, said.

Broad use of drones and missiles in the Ukrainian conflict and the war with Iran has shown that having “the most expensive, most exquisite system was no longer a differentiator,” Wandzilak said.

“There’s competition on volume, there’s competition on capacity. And I think ultimately it’s a mix of the two.”

Ogle said that signals sent by the government had encouraged technology companies to envision military uses for their products.

“It has allowed Americans and people who work in this ecosystem to feel more excited about it, and more open to the idea that we’re not just making bullets here,” she said.

title: Tech companies leaning hard into the US defense industry


people: 賴清德 柯文哲 黃國昌

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There is a photograph of former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) taken at a news conference on Thursday after the Taipei District Court sentenced him to 17 years in jail for corruption, embezzlement and mismanagement of political donations: Right arm raised, finger pointing for emphasis, his mouth locked in a snarl, he stares into the press pack before him. His expression is not one of contrition, but of defiance in the face of the verdict, which was the theme of the news conference. It has been the theme of his response to the charges ever since he was originally indicted on Dec. 26, 2024.

Ko sat between his lawyer Cheng Shen-yuan (鄭深元) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌). He opened with musings on how the judiciary was the last line of defense, how important it was to have the public’s trust and how its sole objective is to maintain fairness and justice in the country; he said that it should not be used as a political tool by leaders seeking to suppress opposition parties.

He talked about how biased the judiciary was, how public trust was at an all-time low, how the judiciary had been weaponized against him by an autocratic president bringing to bear the weight of the state machinery against him, how he was innocent of all charges and how, if he could be wronged in this way, then so could anyone. He told the public not to fear, as this case is so important and its implementation so egregiously corrupt that it would set a milestone for Taiwan, and that from this point on, real judicial reform can truly begin.

Ko closed his remarks with a message for President William Lai (賴清德), spoken softly at first: “I will absolutely not surrender!” Then louder and with defiance: “I will not yield!”

This picture of defiance is a deliberate strategy, and should be read as that, without the distractions of the protestations of bias, persecution and absence of due process Ko and Cheng levied during the news conference. It is a strategy of legal defense and political offense. It is transparent and predictable.

Just four days after Ko was originally indicted, the Liberty Times — the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper — published an editorial that appeared in translation under the headline “Ko Wen-je’s case a test for the TPP” (page 8, Jan. 1, 2025). The strategy playing out at the news conference was accurately predicted in that editorial.

The editorial said that, from the initiation of the case against Ko, Huang and other party members had insisted on pushing the line that the charges were nothing but political persecution, and had directly accused Lai of pursuing a witch hunt against Ko.

It says that, having protested against the presiding judge in the indictment hearing, Huang had led a group of supporters to protest, but when they heard that Ko would be released on bail, the crowd “changed their tune entirely, expressing their gratitude to the judge.” They were only interested in accepting the court’s decision if it were beneficial to Ko, even if the granting of bail had no bearing on the question of guilt. Huang, who has a doctorate in law, chose not to explain this to the supporters, and continued to encourage them to question the judiciary and foment social tensions.

The editorial then compared Ko’s autocratic style of leadership as mayor to that of Mao Zedong (毛澤東), who would “often initiate… social movements to consolidate his power, with little regard for the good of the nation or the populace.”

Huang’s approach was to insist on the idea of a “political witch hunt” orchestrated by the green camp, instead of “trying to produce some evidence or analysis to refute the allegations put forward by the prosecutors.”

Neither Ko nor Huang have diverted from this playbook established back in 2024. Consistency is important from the perspective of legal defense and political offense, but it is deleterious to social harmony and public trust in institutions, all for the benefit of one man and one party, with little regard for the public good.

If Ko and Huang continue to insist on levying these accusations, it is incumbent upon them to provide evidence for them.

title: EDITORIAL: The picture of defiance


title: Ko’s full awareness of his crime self-evident

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In Taiwan’s judicial practice, it is not easy to establish the crime of corruption. Amendments in 2001 to the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) significantly narrowed the conditions for a conviction, requiring proof that the official in question intended to seek unlawful gains while clearly knowing their act contravenes the law, and that profits were ultimately gained. Therefore, in most cases, lower-level civil servants are not convicted of a criminal offense for misinterpreting the law and allowing a member of the public to benefit as a result.

That said, is former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) justified in claiming he is innocent, and are his supporters justified in shouting accusations of judicial injustice and political persecution?

Firstly, in the case of the Core Pacific City (京華城購物中心) redevelopment project, there was no alleged cognitive gap. Typically, an “information deficiency error” refers to a situation where a public official fails to keep abreast of the latest administrative interpretations or legal changes and makes a decision based on their existing understanding of the law, only to later discover a discrepancy.

Because such cases lack awareness of illegality, they generally do not constitute a crime of seeking unlawful gains. However, in this case, expert meetings had already clearly identified concerns over legality and the lack of public interest, and relevant authorities had also issued multiple warnings — even explicitly pointing out the possibility of private parties receiving improper gains.

More importantly, all of these opinions were attached to the signed official document that was used for decisionmaking. In other words, when Ko made the final decision, it was not out of ignorance — he made the choice with full knowledge of all relevant information.

Secondly, discretionary authority is also difficult to establish in this case. When an administrative agency makes differing decisions within the scope of its lawful authorization — even if the result benefits a specific party — it generally falls within the bounds of administrative discretion. However, the core issue in this case is that the floor area ratio (FAR) bonuses granted to the project lacked any legal basis.

Moreover, the allocation of FAR involves significant public interests, and — according to the constitutional principle of legal reservation — should be supported by clear statutory authorization. The absence of such authorization constitutes an overreach of authority. Therefore, Ko’s claim that there existed room for professional judgement is legally untenable.

Lastly, from the perspective of the decisionmaking timeline, “subjective intent” is even more concrete. The relevant claims in this case had already been rejected through administrative appeal and failed in administrative litigation, so the legal judgement was not undetermined. If, despite this, the applicant was still granted benefits through the creation of an alternative plan, it would effectively amount to the deliberate circumvention of existing legal conclusions. Ko chose to approve the plan, making his cognizance of the situation a clearly identifiable form of subjective intent.

In summary, the Core Pacific City corruption case was not a mere error in administrative judgement. Rather than continuing to frame the matter in political terms and claiming injustice or persecution, Ko would be better served by returning to and examining the legal facts. The crux of the issue is not that Ko failed to understand the law, but that he understood it clearly and nonetheless chose to cross the legal red line.

Yeh Yu-cheng is a legal professional.

Translated by Kyra Gustavsen


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What would Adam Smith think of today’s global economy?

This year marks the 250th anniversary of two seminal texts: the US Declaration of Independence and The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. One made popular sovereignty the basis of political liberty; the other helped make markets the central organizing force of modern society. Amid accelerating deglobalization, escalating climate change, the rise of AI and growing government intervention, it is worth revisiting Smith and asking what he would make of the forces reshaping the world economy.

Smith’s concept of the invisible hand — the idea that individuals pursuing their own interests in competitive markets can advance the broader good — offers a useful lens through which to consider what he might think about deglobalization. His famous example of the pin factory, which illustrated how specialization across the stages of production dramatically increased efficiency and output, is equally instructive.

Modern globalization extended ideas like market exchange and specialization across borders, fueling decades of global growth. By contrast, the forces driving deglobalization run directly counter to Smith’s belief in competitive markets, because tariffs distort trade, regulatory barriers restrict capital flows, and closed borders limit labor mobility (and this amid an unprecedented migration crisis that has displaced more than 100 million people worldwide). Smith would almost certainly view today’s increasingly siloed economic order as a drag on efficiency, growth, and prosperity.

When it comes to climate change, Smith would likely reproach himself for grossly underestimating the societal costs of the industrialization his ideas helped unleash. While the industrial revolution generated immense wealth, Smith did not anticipate its significant negative externalities, most notably pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

PUNISH POLLUTERS

Faced with these problems today, Smith would probably still favor market-based mechanisms. He would likely emphasize investment and incentives rather than heavy-handed regulation, in line with Ronald Coase’s insight that clearly defining who bears the costs of externalities like emissions can enable markets to find efficient solutions.

Smith would also oppose sweeping bans that restrict individual choice. To the extent that carbon taxes are needed, he would insist they be transparent and designed to encourage cleaner production rather than punish polluters.

While Smith would welcome AI’s potential to boost productivity and economic growth, he would be troubled by the growing market power of major tech companies. As a fierce critic of monopolistic behavior, he was wary of any arrangement that resembled collusion or excessive concentration. Given that most of the economic value generated by AI is accruing to the owners of capital rather than workers, he would also worry about the distribution of those gains.

Smith, who wrote extensively about social cohesion, would probably be appalled by growing income and wealth inequality and by disparities in access to essential public goods like education and health care. These realities might lead him to conclude that the role of government must evolve to address imbalances that markets alone cannot correct.

PUBLIC GOODS

In particular, in a world where machines generate vast amounts of wealth without creating enough jobs, today’s Smith might advocate shifting more of the tax burden onto highly productive firms while strengthening social safety nets. He might also give the state greater latitude to fund public goods through taxation, intervene when markets fail, and protect competition.

In certain sectors, such as defense, Smith might even accept limited government investment when markets cannot provide essential capabilities. He would not go so far as to make the state the primary arbiter of capital and labor. His instinct would be to preserve the central role of markets whenever possible.

Smith is often portrayed as the original champion of unfettered capitalism, a thinker who believed that markets could solve every problem. However, this is a caricature of his views. Smith was, above all, a pragmatist. Although he believed societies should first look to markets for solutions, he also recognized their limits, a view partly shaped by the financial excesses and speculative manias behind the Mississippi Bubble and South Sea Bubble of the early 18th century.

Moreover, Smith’s economic ideas were always grounded in a broader moral philosophy. Keenly aware of the frailties of human behavior, he recognized how easily individuals can distort markets through cronyism, collusion, and monopoly.

If he were alive today, he would still advocate a balance between markets as the primary engine of prosperity and thoughtful oversight aimed at mitigating externalities and preventing excessive market power.

In confronting the defining economic challenges of our time, we should keep that equilibrium in mind: trust markets where they work, correct them when they fail and never lose sight of the moral foundations that underpin a healthy economic system.

Dambisa Moyo, an international economist, is the author of Edge of Chaos: Why Democracy Is Failing to Deliver Economic Growth — and How to Fix It.

Copyright: Project Syndicate


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SPEED vs. POWER: The US might have the best (or only) football players in the world, but flag football is an entirely different game to them

Team USA does not need NFL players to help it go for the gold when flag football debuts at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic in LA last Saturday showed the men’s national team can bring it home.

The men dominated games against teams made up of current and former NFL stars, including Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels. The national team is undefeated in International Federation of American Football games since 2018, winning by an average score of 50-17, and has captured five straight world titles.

That should be the end of discussion, but NFL players have made it clear they want an opportunity to compete for their country and league owners have voted to allow it. Burrow treated last week’s tournament in Southern California like an audition: He was running, cutting, juking more than he has ever done in an NFL game. Bengals fans might have been scared he would get injured with the intensity with which he played.

US National Flag team’s Tyler Davis misses a catch against the Wildcats FFC during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21 in Los Angeles. Photo: AP

Flag football and the Olympics are on the agenda for the NFL’s annual meeting in Phoenix next week where USA Football is selecting its roster for the this year’s season. The list of athletes in consideration include flag football’s reigning world champions, along with those from basketball, track and tackle football backgrounds. Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL QB Robert Griffin III is also in the mix.

Brady, who still showed at age 48 that he excels at throwing a football, took his name out of the conversation for Team USA after going 0-2 in the tourney.

“LA ’28 will be a lot of guys like you saw out there on the field who make a big commitment to trying to be their best and go out there and showcase their skillset to a global audience,” Brady said.

Flag football and tackle football are not the same game. The games are so different that Brady was already talking about modifying flag rules to emphasize more passing.

It was clear that NFL players and coaches were not prepared for the round-robin tournament after only a couple practices. They could not rely on superior football talent to outplay an elite team that understands how to take advantage.

Flag football requires a unique set of skills. Exceptional speed, quickness and elusiveness, especially in a 5-on-5 setting, are priorities.

The game is suited to the fastest players, which rules out many NFL superstars. The league’s best edge rushers are among some of the greatest athletes because they combine power and speed, but Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons are not going to get to the quarterback fast enough to pull flags. Forget about interior defensive linemen. Linebackers do not make the cut. Most safeties would not, either.

“I think when you look at it, you build it with corners and nickels on the defensive side of the ball and fast, skilled guys on the offensive side,” said Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly, who played in the showcase. “I think linebackers are going to want to get themselves in that game but it feels a lot like a nickel, corner game on the defensive side of the ball.”

Pulling flags is an art in itself, one that requires plenty of practice.

“When you traditionally go to tackle somebody, you want to have the man in front of them versus this game [where] you gotta be on the side, your eyes have to be in the right place and you really have to track that flag,” Kuechly said. “These guys do a tremendous job of sinking lower and you miss that flag. So the technique that we learned as the game went on was attack that near hip, play with our eyes directly on that flag and then anticipate them dropping. That’s what they are so good at and it was, quite frankly, very difficult for us to get those flags.”

The NFL plays a violent, physical sport. Flag football is built on finesse, so being bigger and more powerful can work against players.

Team USA’s offense led by Darrell “Housh” Doucette III, Nico Casares, Velton Brown Jr. and Pablo Smith was unstoppable in three games last Saturday, scoring a touchdown on every possession except for a kneel-down to end one victory.

“Their skillset was very different than anything we’ve seen in the NFL — the speed, the quickness, the ability to create,” Kuechly said. “Our inability to put our hands on those guys made this game very difficult. The scheme is very different. The concepts are very different. With time, it’ll change and we’ll have a better feel for it.”

The right mix of NFL players — speedy cornerbacks, quick wide receivers, shifty running backs and elusive quarterbacks — could probably win the gold if they had the time to dedicate themselves to learning the intricacies of the sport.

“If we’re looking at great athletes, the NFL players are athletes,” Brady said.

It is difficult to imagine any team being willing to allow players to take time away from preparing for the NFL season and to risk injury doing it. It is surprising players such as Burrow, Daniels, Hurts, Saquon Barkley and others even had permission to play in the Fanatics showcase.

So who plays for the US in 2028?

“Whoever gives the team the best chance to win should be out there,” Brady said.

Right now, that is Team USA.

title: NFL players give flag football a toss


title: Monkeys defeat Brothers to open CPBL’s 37th season

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The 2026 edition of Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) season opened with the Rakuten Monkeys winning 3-2 against the CTBC Brothers at the Taipei Dome yesterday.

The game was a repeat of last year’s Taiwan Series, where the Monkeys outlasted the Brothers 9-7 in Game 5 in Taichung to capture the championship.

That title marked the Monkeys’ eighth CPBL championship and the first since Rakuten took over the team in 2020. It was also only the second time in league history that a challenger defeated a half-season champion.

More than 40,000 fans attend the opening game for the Chinese Professional Baseball League’s 37th season, a clash between the Rakuten Monkeys and the CTBC Brothers at the Taipei Dome yesterday. The Rakuten Monkeys won 3-2.  Photo: CNA

Currently, 360 games have been scheduled to take place across Taiwan’s 11 baseball stadiums, with each of Taiwan’s six teams in the CPBL to participate in 120 games at least, split between 60 home and 60 away games.

The Tainan Asia-Pacific International Baseball Stadiums and Training Centers have been inducted this year to replace the Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium as Uni- President 7-Eleven Lions’ home base.

Additionally, Taipei Dome had initially been scheduled to host 52 games for the CPBL in 2025 before adding 14 more days for the second half of the league’s 36th season to house a total of 66 matches.

Currently, the Taipei Dome has planned to host 58 games for the 2026 season, with the Saturday Monkeys-Brothers match being the opener.


title: China starts trade probes against US

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RIVALRY: ‘We know that these are merely symbolic investigations initiated by China, which is in fact the world’s most profligate disrupter of supply chains,’ a US official said

China has started a pair of investigations into US trade practices, retaliating against similar probes by US President Donald Trump’s administration as the superpowers stake out positions before an expected presidential summit in May.

The move, announced by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Friday, is a direct mirror of steps Trump took to revive his tariff agenda after the US Supreme Court last month struck down some of his duties.

“China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to these actions,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement, referring to the so-called Section 301 investigations initiated on March 11.

US President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30 last year. Photo: Reuters

The Chinese measures come days after the White House said Trump would travel to China in mid-May to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) for a summit delayed by the US conflict with Iran. The world’s two biggest economies have largely stabilized ties after a tariff tit-for-tat last year, although Beijing has signaled its opposition to fresh US actions.

“We know that these are merely symbolic investigations initiated by China, which is in fact the world’s most profligate disrupter of supply chains and trade in green products. No one is fooled,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. “Despite this posturing, the US objective continues to be economic stability and balanced trade with China, in line with the US-China deal reached last year in Busan, [South] Korea.”

The attacks on Iran, a partner of China, also brought new strains to US-China ties, although both governments have sought to continue on a path of engagement. Relations are also dogged by lingering issues including China’s record trade surplus and US arms sales to Taiwan.

Beijing has not yet confirmed Trump’s visit to China.

Each of the new investigations carries a six-month deadline, with a possible three-month extension, giving Beijing a legal justification for future countermeasures and leverage ahead of any talks.

One such probe, brought separately against Mexico in September last year, concluded on Monday. Beijing found the country’s tariffs on Chinese goods to be trade barriers and vowed to take measures to defend the interests of China’s firms, without specifying.

An investigation announced on Friday targets US practices that Beijing said disrupt global supply chains, covering restrictions on Chinese goods entering US markets, export controls on advanced technology and limits on bilateral investment in critical sectors.

The other action focuses specifically on what China described as US barriers to trade in green products, including restrictions on exports of Chinese renewable goods to the US and limits on cooperation in green technology.


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ROCKY RELATIONS: The figures on residents come as Chinese tourist numbers drop following Beijing’s warnings to avoid traveling to Japan

The number of Chinese residents in Japan has continued to rise, even as ties between the two countries have become increasingly fractious, data released on Friday showed.

As of the end of December last year, the number of Chinese residents had increased by 6.5 percent from the previous year to 930,428. Chinese people accounted for 22.6 percent of all foreign residents in Japan, making them by far the largest group, Japanese Ministry of Justice data showed.

Beijing has criticized Tokyo in increasingly strident terms since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last year suggested that a military conflict around Taiwan could prompt Japan to dispatch its own military. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory.

A man walks past cherry blossom trees and headstones in the Yanaka Cemetery in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

China stepped up its rhetoric again this week after an officer belonging to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces breached the grounds of China’s embassy in Tokyo armed with a knife.

The man was arrested and Japan’s top government spokesman expressed regret over the incident.

The data on residents comes as Chinese tourist numbers plunge following government warnings to steer clear of Japan. Visits by Chinese nationals are down by more than half so far this year compared with the same period last year.

The overall number of foreign residents in Japan climbed 9.5 percent from the previous year to 4.13 million, compared with Japan’s total population of about 123 million.

title: Japan’s Chinese population growing amid souring ties


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Man sentenced to prison for assault witnessed by Barron Trump

A Russian man was on Friday sentenced to four years in prison for assaulting a woman in London in an attack that was witnessed on a video call and reported to police by US President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron.

Matvei Rumiantsev, 23, was convicted by a jury on Jan. 28 of assault with bodily harm, but was acquitted of rape and choking charges. He was also convicted of perverting the course of justice, because he sent the woman a letter from jail asking her to retract her allegations.

In his sentencing remarks at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London, Justice Joel Bennathan said Rumiantsev was “totally unrepentant” and a “man given to jealousy.”

Barron Trump watches as his father, US President Donald Trump, attends an indoor inauguration parade event at Capital One Arena in Washington on Jan. 20 last year. Photo: AP

“Your lack of insight and empathy was apparent at trial,” the judge said. “You continue to try to blame the complainant for everything that has happened.”

In the attack on Jan. 18 last year, Rumiantsev drunkenly beat up the woman, who is entitled to anonymity under British law, when he became jealous of her friendship with Barron Trump. She had met the US president’s son, who lives in the US, through social media.

During the assault, Rumiantsev answered a FaceTime call from Barron Trump on the woman’s phone and turned the camera to show her crying on the floor.

The US president’s son then called police in the British capital and pleaded for help for the woman, telling the operator during a sometimes strained conversation: “It’s really an emergency ... I’m calling from the US, uh, I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up.”

Police went to the address and arrested Rumiantsev, a receptionist who lived in London.

Rumiantsev testified that he was jealous of Trump, but that he also felt badly for him, because he thought that his girlfriend was leading him on.

During the trial, defense lawyer Sasha Wass said that Trump did not know the woman had a boyfriend and questioned how much he could have seen in five or seven seconds of video.

She said the woman had exploited her ties to Trump to make her boyfriend envious in a “relationship full of dramas.”

Barron, 20, the only child of Donald and Melania Trump, did not testify in the case.

The judge praised Barron Trump for contacting police and for helping prevent something worse.

He said the victim feared she was about to be killed.

“Mr Trump, properly and responsibly, despite being in the United States, made sure the emergency services here were called, and he told them what he had seen,” the judge said.


title: Fishy trades spark insider trading allegations

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Unusual bursts of trading on the oil and stock markets this week, just minutes before social media posts on the Iran war by US President Donald Trump, have added to suspicions of insider trading linked to his administration.

Democratic lawmakers, traders and industry watchdogs are raising alarms, saying such seemingly prescient bets are forming a pattern that suggests people are profiting from prior knowledge of White House decision-making.

“This is the kind of thing that makes people wonder if their government is acting in their best interest or trying to enrich certain individuals,” said Jordan Libowitz, vice president of the ethics watchdog Crew.

US Representative Greg Casar, left, and Senator Chris Murphy attend a news conference in Washington on March 17. Photo: Bloomberg

In the latest case, trading in oil and S&P 500 futures contracts, in which an investor promises to buy or sell an asset at a fixed price at a later date, saw an unusual spike in trading early on Monday.

Just 15 minutes later, Trump posted on Truth Social that talks with Iran were “very productive” — a dramatic shift in tone after Trump warned on Saturday last week that he had given Tehran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its energy grid.

The news sent oil prices plunging and stocks surging. People who placed the flurry of futures trades beforehand likely pocketed tens of millions of dollars, calculations by a market operator showed.

“Seeing large transactions like these before an announcement is a little suspicious,” Strategic Energy and Economic Research analyst Michael Lynch said. “It’s unusual. You don’t see this at this level in the oil market.”

Monday’s incident came a few weeks after six accounts on the betting site Polymarket made US$1.2 million on bets that the US would attack Iran on Feb. 28, the day the war began.

The bets were placed just hours before the bombings were reported, an analysis by the analytics firm Bubblemaps showed. In early January, a person pocketed more than US$400,000 after betting on Polymarket that then-Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro would be ousted just hours before he was abducted in a raid by US forces.

So far, there is no evidence to suggest that Trump or White House officials are linked in any way to these transactions.

“Any insinuation, without evidence, that a member of the government engaged in these acts is baseless and irresponsible,” a White House spokesperson told several media outlets.

Still, critics of the administration see the trades as evidence of corruption.

Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy posted on X: “Who was it? Trump? A member of his family? Someone in the White House? This is unbelievable corruption.”

The transactions have provided further ammunition for Democratic lawmakers and other critics who have accused Trump of conflicts of interest since the beginning of his second term last year.

Members of his family have made hundreds of millions of dollars in profits from cryptocurrencies, a market he has sought to deregulate.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the world’s largest market for trading derivative financial products, and the US Securities and Exchange Commission declined to comment.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates derivatives markets, did not respond to requests for comment.

On Thursday, a group of congressional Democrats introduced a bill that that would ban bets on elections, government actions, war and sports, CNBC reported.

Even some members of Trump’s party are seeking clarity on the trades.

“Someone needs to be publicly shamed for insider trading,” said Republican Jeremy Munson, a candidate for the Minnesota Senate.

Hero Asset Management chief investment officer Mark Neuman said it should be possible to discover the identities of those who placed the trades in question, and suggested the problem resulted more from lax oversight.

“When you make a transaction, there are details you have to provide” to the exchanges, “so there’s no secret,” Neuman said.

“If there were stricter regulators in this country, we would find out” their identities, he said.

“But it seems this administration favors less regulation,” he added. “It’s really sad, because the integrity of the markets is being torn to shreds.”


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The robbery and murder of 24 Taiwanese tourists in China in 1994 sparked outrage over Beijing’s handling of the case

March 30 to April 5

The discovery of 32 charred bodies on a smoldering ferry in China’s Qiandao Lake shocked the nation, as 24 were Taiwanese tourists.

For over two weeks, Chinese authorities insisted that the blaze was an accident and kept silent about the details, igniting outrage in Taiwan over the handling of the investigation and treatment of the victims’ loved ones.

By the time authorities revealed that the deaths were a result of robbery and murder, the tragedy had already escalated into a diplomatic row, with Taiwan threatening to ban tourism to China, curb investment and cancel planned cross-strait exchanges and performances.

Three local young men were arrested, swiftly convicted of carrying out the robbery and murders and executed soon after. Taiwan refused to accept the verdict, saying key questions remained unanswered and raising suspicions of a cover-up.

The tragedy occurred at a time when cross-strait relations were only beginning to thaw, after Taiwan lifted its 38-year ban on travel to China in 1987. Tourism and investment dropped the following year, and public opinion polls reflected rising distrust of Beijing.

title: Taiwan in Time: Ferry in flames: The Qiandao Lake tragedy


taiwan-subdivisions: 和平 成功

things: 經濟 油價

countries: 伊朗 美國 阿聯

title: 魯比歐：對伊戰事還需2～4週 暗示超出川普時間表 戰事規模擴大

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美國國務卿魯比歐（後排左二）在巴黎出席七大工業國集團（G7）外長會議時表示，美以伊戰爭預計還將持續二至四週。（美聯社）

美國國務卿魯比歐廿七日在巴黎出席七大工業國集團（G7）外長會議時表示，美以伊戰爭預計還將持續二至四週，這是美國高官首次暗示戰事將超出川普總統自二月廿八日開戰以來所稱的四至六週時間表，顯示戰事規模正在擴大。

川普特使預期 伊朗本週展開談判川普已將要求伊朗重新開放荷姆茲海峽的期限延長至四月六日，否則將摧毀伊朗的能源設施。川普特使魏科夫廿七日表示，他預期伊朗將在「本週」展開談判，華府期待伊朗回應美方提出的十五點和平方案，「這可能解決一切問題」。

魯比歐在G7會議中強調，美國決心達成所有戰爭目標，同時表示無需地面部隊即可達成。三名消息來源向新聞網站Axios透露，魯比歐坦承，美國仍透過中間人與伊朗溝通，目前德黑蘭的實際決策者不明，有兩名官員希望談判，但需最高領導階層同意。他補充，中間人難以與伊方聯繫，因官員為躲避暗殺而遠離手機，拖慢溝通速度。

魯比歐說服盟友 戰後護航荷姆茲魯比歐表示，即使美國達成軍事目標，確保荷姆茲海峽的航運開放仍可能是「立即挑戰」。他說伊朗可能試圖對海峽徵收通行費，損害多國經濟。魯比歐成功說服盟友支持戰後「護航機制」，G7外長聯合聲明重申恢復海峽航行自由，呼籲停止攻擊平民及民用基礎設施。

美國已加派陸戰隊及空降部隊前往波斯灣，為強行重開航道預作準備。伊朗副總統薩格哈布．伊斯法哈尼廿七日威脅，若美軍入侵，「油價一五〇美元將成為地板價」，將攻擊沙國紅海港口延布及阿聯富查伊哈石油設施報復。


title: 一生處理47國、8千多宗刑案「一位讓真相被看見的人」

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國際知名鑑識專家李昌鈺辭世，警政署發文悼念，強調李昌鈺是「一位讓真相被看見的人」，畢生致力推動刑事鑑識科學、犯罪現場重建、法庭科學教育及跨國專業交流，對全球刑事偵查、鑑識科學發展及司法正義實踐，均有深遠而卓著的影響。

弟子稱恩師：化不可能為可能的科學神探擔任李昌鈺物證科學教育基金會監察人的李承龍，也是國內培養出的警察幹才，兩人不約而同投向刑事鑑識領域，並有師徒子弟兵的深厚情誼。李承龍昨聞噩訊，沈痛寫下「永遠的恩師，化不可能為可能的科學神探」追思文。

李承龍當年有幸前往美國康州紐黑文大學 （University of New Haven） ，擔任李昌鈺鑑識科學研究院的訪問學者。他表示，白天在康州警政廳的鑑識科學實驗室做博士論文實驗，晚上到紐黑文大學上課進修，接受李昌鈺的親炙教導，逐步奠定他在鑑識科學方面的知識。

他的追思文表示，跟隨李博士奔走全球，傳承鑑識薪火的無倦行者，為了推廣鑑識科學與進行國際學術交流，曾一同前往菲律賓、印度、波蘭、克羅埃西亞、維也納、卡達、沙烏地阿拉伯、土耳其、美國及中國等地參加國際研討會。那種為科學奉獻的體力與熱忱，總是讓晚輩自嘆不如。

他說，李昌鈺一生處理過全球四十七個國家、超過八千多宗刑事案件，出庭作證逾千次，即便在生命的最後幾天，依然在病榻前埋首撰寫新書，這種將一生奉獻給真相與正義的精神，令人無比敬佩。

警政署表示，早年刑事局籌建DNA實驗室期間，李昌鈺不僅提供技術、實習及訓練支援，更促成警察機關首座DNA實驗室於一九九三年三月八日成立，使DNA鑑定正式成為我國刑事司法的重要科學工具，其後，更促成刑事局刑事鑑識中心二〇二三年八月十六日法制化，成為我國警政鑑識工作一項重要里程碑。

countries: 卡達 克羅埃西亞 中國 美國 沙烏地阿拉伯 菲律賓 印度 土耳其 波蘭


countries: 台灣 中國 英國 美國

people: 賴清德 川普

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由美國參議院外交委員會首席民主黨人夏亨、共和黨參議員匡希恆率領的訪問團，將於週一抵達台灣，成員還包括共和黨參議員提里斯與民主黨參議員羅森。（美聯社、法新社）

英國金融時報廿八日報導，在中國對台軍事壓力升高之際，一支美國聯邦參議員跨黨派訪問團於廿八日訪台，除表達對台支持外，也將呼籲立法院儘速通過國防特別預算。此行由參院外交委員會首席民主黨人夏亨與共和黨參議員匡希恆率領，成員還包括共和黨參議員提里斯與民主黨參議員羅森。

參院外委會夏亨率團 週一抵台根據掌握，參議員訪問團將於週一抵達台灣。總統府昨僅回應，訪團相關行程有任何確定安排，將會適時向國人公布。

這是自去年夏天以來首度有美國參議員訪台。時機正值賴清德總統推動一項為期八年、總額四〇〇億美元的國防特別預算，內容涵蓋對美軍購、國防自主及強化不對稱作戰能力。然而該案目前仍卡在立法院審議。同時，此行也發生在外界關注五月初美中領袖「川習會」前夕，憂心華府對台支持可能出現變化。

國防預算遲未過 挺台議員憂心夏亨在出發前表示，此行除重申對台承諾，更在於強調台灣展現自我防衛決心的重要性，並指訪團將與總統及朝野政黨會面，傳達通過國防預算有助展現台美共同維護台灣自主未來的立場。匡希恆則指出，預算案遲未通過使此行更具關鍵性，即便僅是強調其重要性，也足以構成訪台理由。匡希恆曾在台灣擔任摩門教傳教士。

報導中稱近來包括部分堅定挺台派的美國國會議員，都對立法院未能通過國防特別預算感到失望，部分華府挺台人士甚至擔心，川普可能會因為該法案遲遲未過而更不願協助台灣。夏亨就說，他擔心川普是否會致力於強化美國挺台及不損害台灣主權。

title: 中國軍事壓力升高 關注台灣防衛 美參議員訪台 籲通過國防預算


people: 韓國瑜 王定宇 陳培瑜

countries: 美國 台灣 日本

title: 海馬士首期款支付後天到期 立委籲韓國瑜速召集協商

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民進黨團：打破冷凍期 提早處理國防特別條例多項條文皆保留待協商，而台灣增購海馬士多管火箭系統（HIMARS）發價書付款截止日將於三十一日到期，面臨延宕危機。民進黨團表示，只要朝野有共識即可提早處理，打破一個月冷凍期，期盼立法院長韓國瑜盡快召集協商通過，在野黨朝符合國家最大利益的方向推進，軍購、商購與委製缺一不可。

立法院聯席委員會上週審查國防特別條例草案，多數關鍵條文皆保留送交黨團協商。據「立法院職權行使法」規定，議案自交黨團協商逾一個月無法達成共識者，由院會定期處理。即所謂「一個月冷凍期」。

外委會民進黨召委陳冠廷受訪指出，審議期程當然希望能加快，但核心是條例包括商購與委製，民進黨在接下來一個月的協商期會全力溝通，期待在野黨能夠調整到接近行政院版本。預算會在條例通過後審查監督，但若條例沒有彈性，對於未來國防將有負面影響。

民進黨團副幹事長陳培瑜也說，一個月冷凍期並非必要，只要朝野黨團有共識，可以提早協商，把冷凍期的時間縮短，而韓國瑜春節期間向美方議員承諾，將國防特別條例列為最優先議案，盼能盡快召集協商通過。她提到，在野黨立委對軍購案一定也面臨壓力，這股壓力不僅來自美方，也來自國內選區的民意期待。

王定宇：軍購延宕 唯一得利是共軍對於海馬士等軍購品項首期款支付將屆期，民進黨立委王定宇提醒，美國戰爭部表達很難給予展延，若錯過這個戰略窗口，整體簽約期程將延到年底；歐洲、日本等國防預算幾乎倍增，海馬士更是各國搶著要的先進軍事裝備，台灣的順序恐將從優先移到後面，取得裝備的時程不只差半年，可能會有非常嚴重的延後，影響我國安全、以及對中共的嚇阻力。

「藍白立委這樣做到底為了什麼？唯一得利的只有中共解放軍」，王定宇強調，美國願意把台灣放在最優先名單，若延宕對互信機制的傷害無可估量；國民黨立委只弄了一份緊急授權、卻不給予半毛錢，首期款若無法源依據要如何付款？這已經不是擔憂、無奈或憤怒可形容。


countries: 台灣 美國

title: 支出排行前10大 胰臟癌首進榜

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健保署公布最新二〇二五年「前十大癌別醫療費用支出統計」，胰臟癌首度擠進榜單。醫師分析，這並不代表胰臟癌發生率上升，費用增加主要與治療、給付改善有關。

統計顯示，二〇二五年醫療費用支出前十大癌症依序為肺癌、乳癌、大腸癌、肝癌、口腔癌、攝護腺癌、非何杰金氏淋巴瘤、白血病、食道癌與胰臟癌，其中胰臟癌首度擠下胃癌入榜。

台大醫院外科部醫師吳健暉指出，胰臟癌缺乏有效篩檢工具，短期內人數不易大幅增加，這波成長主要來自治療進步與就醫可近性提升，帶動醫療費用上升。此外，第四期化療藥物與膽道支架納入健保也是原因，但目前術前前導性與術後輔助性化療仍有部分需自費、約十五萬至廿五萬元，建議逐步納入給付。

幽門桿菌篩檢有成效 胃癌未入榜健保署醫審及藥材組組長黃育文說，胰臟癌病人數雖不多，但健保署仍持續追蹤成長情形，並將臨床用藥納入給付檢討。她也提到，「胃癌」因幽門螺旋桿菌篩檢與治療推動已有成效，今年仍會針對胃腸道癌、頭頸癌等常見癌症進行盤點跟上國際治療指引。

值得注意的是，攝護腺癌是近五年來就醫人數及醫療費用支出增幅最高的癌別，其中人數年均成長達八．六三％。台灣泌尿科醫學會理事長查岱龍指出，攝護腺癌已是國內男性第三大癌症，預估每年新診斷人數將突破萬人，主要與人口老化有關。

查岱龍提到，近年晚期治療已有多項新型抗荷爾蒙藥物，且健保在一定條件下納入給付，不過目前台灣第四期轉移性攝護腺癌比例仍接近三成，明顯高於美國推動PSA篩檢後約三．五％至五％，未來應可朝精準篩檢發展，及早找出高風險族群。

預期10年後 肺癌晚期病例下降「肺癌」去年醫療費用約二八七億元居首，就醫人數約十一萬人，近五年罹癌人數成長高達八．三三％。台北榮總胸腔腫瘤科主任羅永鴻說，早期肺癌多可治癒、晚期則需長期治療，負擔差異大，低劑量電腦斷層（LDCT）篩檢推動下，將原本晚期才發現的個案提前找出，短期內人數與費用雖上升，但預期五至十年後，晚期病例可望下降。


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國民黨新竹縣長初選昨進行黨員投票，第一時間聽到初選勝出，徐欣瑩（右）當場哽咽並深深一鞠躬，對手陳見賢（左）則是大方地鼓掌道賀。（記者廖雪茹攝）

贏黨員票輸民調 陳見賢大方鼓掌道賀國民黨新竹縣長提名初選結果昨晚揭曉。占初選三成比重的黨員投票得票率，新竹縣副縣長陳見賢獲得五十六．七八％，勝過立委徐欣瑩的四十三．二二％；但加權占七成比重的民調支持度後，徐欣瑩反以五十．六三四％險勝陳見賢的四十九．三六六％，差距僅一．二六八％。徐欣瑩將獲得國民黨提名參選新竹縣長。

徐欣瑩在場獲知勝出後，當場哽咽並深深一鞠躬，對手陳見賢則是大方鼓掌道賀。徐欣瑩表示，能走到這一步，她心中只有謙卑與感謝；但高興一晚就好，真正魔王關是民進黨候選人。

民進黨目前已鎖定徵召竹北市長鄭朝方參選。他對國民黨初選結果僅表示尊重。

國民黨昨在新竹縣舉行縣長初選黨員投票，投票結果併計廿五、廿六、廿七日三天進行的民調後，產生提名的候選人。

國民黨新竹縣黨部昨晚宣布，黨員投票部分，總選舉人數九三一二人，投票數五〇九五，投票率五十四．七一％。投票結果，陳見賢拿二八七〇票、五十六．七八％得票率，勝過徐欣瑩二一八五票、四十三．二二％。

不過，加權民調結果後，徐欣瑩逆轉勝！國民黨竹縣黨部表示，根據艾普羅民意調查、公信力民調、世新大學知識經濟發展研究院民調研究中心三家民調結果，陳見賢的支持度都輸給對手。在三成黨員投票支持度加計七成民調支持度後，陳見賢最終獲四十九．三六六％，以一．二六八％的些微差距，敗給徐欣瑩五十．六三四％。

陳見賢、徐欣瑩爭取國民黨新竹縣長提名參選，過程紛擾不斷，甚至鬧到向檢方告發。徐欣瑩昨天發表感言時，特別向陳見賢致意，「初選結束了，我們都是為了新竹縣更美好的未來而努力」。

徐欣瑩表示，相信大家一定期盼新竹縣未來能成為世界級的科技首都，成為最溫暖有愛幸福的長健之鄉，更可以成為世界客家中心。團隊會繼續捲起袖子加倍努力，完成承諾的願景！

陳見賢也簡短發表感言，他恭喜徐欣瑩，也感謝支持他的鄉親，接著說，「我只有一句話：中國國民黨加油！新竹縣加油！」

新竹縣長楊文科則是語氣沈重地說，結果已定，希望國民黨團結。

徐將拜會陳 修補裂痕對於如何修復初選造成的黨內裂痕，徐欣瑩受訪時表示，團隊會以最大的誠意面對黨員同志與陳見賢，爭取團結合作，她將拜會陳見賢、聽取陳的意見想法。

title: 國民黨竹縣長初選 徐欣瑩險勝

people: 徐欣瑩 陳見賢

events: 選舉 參選

taiwan-subdivisions: 竹北 新竹縣


title: 「讓證據說話」 啟蒙現代鑑識學／李昌鈺辭世 享壽87歲

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有「華人神探」、「當代福爾摩斯」等稱號，名聲享譽國際的刑事鑑識科學專家李昌鈺，本月二十七日晚間在美國內華達州家中安詳辭世，享壽八十七歲。他生前留下「讓證據說話」等名言，強調鑑識科學必須建立在客觀證據，而非主觀推測，為醫學和執法領域做出深遠貢獻，並啟蒙了現代刑事鑑識科學，他也多次回台參與刑案偵辦，把我國的偵查方式推向科學辦案，影響深遠。

李昌鈺於一九四八年隨母親來台，後續考入中央警官學校（中央警察大學）第二十四期正科，隨後赴美深造，取得約翰傑刑事判決學院學士、紐約大學生物化學碩士及博士學位，其後受聘於康乃狄克州紐哈芬大學教授刑事科學，並且設立「李昌鈺法醫學研究所」。

從辛普森案到三一九槍擊案專業形象深受國際信賴

李昌鈺參與調查過全球數千起重大案件，最知名的是在辛普森案中，針對血跡噴濺與現場採證的精闢分析，成為判決的關鍵轉折點。他也曾參與過甘迺迪總統遇刺案重審、柯林頓醜聞等多項影響美國歷史的重大事件，專業形象深受國際信賴。

李昌鈺多次受邀回台協助辦案。他在台灣參與最深且影響最鉅的案件莫過於二〇〇四年的三一九槍擊案，當時他受命組成專案小組，針對前總統陳水扁遭槍擊的彈道、吉普車擋風玻璃彈孔及火藥殘留進行精密分析，最終提出的一槍兩彈與彈道重建結論，成為該案偵查的重要依據。

一九九六年發生的桃園縣長劉邦友血案及彭婉如命案，李也應邀回台協助，對現場指紋、毛髮及DNA檢體進行複驗，儘管兩案最終都因當年現場保全不力及技術局限而成為懸案，但李昌鈺引進的現場保全觀念，促使刑事局後續在現場勘查制度上進行大規模改革。

李昌鈺一生留下許多名言，最知名的就是他的核心理念「讓證據說話」，強調鑑識科學必須建立在客觀證據，而非主觀推測。他也常說「要化不可能為可能」，並謙虛表示「自己只是很普通的一個人，和大家一樣」。

證據到哪 案子就辦到哪侯友宜視為人生導師

李昌鈺是新北市長侯友宜的警大學長，兩人也是舊識，侯友宜說，李昌鈺曾表示「證據到哪，案子就辦到哪」，讓警界在人權保障、鑑定品質上更能跟國際接軌，多年來他非常感恩，不管轉換任何崗位，都隨時跟李昌鈺請益，對方是他的人生導師，也是他的兄弟。

countries: 美國 台灣

taiwan-subdivisions: 桃園縣 新北市

people: 陳水扁 侯友宜


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中職37年昨開打，球迷連兩年擠滿大巨蛋。（記者林正堃攝）

〔記者林宥辰／台北報導〕尋求衛冕的樂天桃猿昨在中職37年開幕戰，靠著經典賽國手陳晨威8局下追平轟、9局下滿壘時林政華挨了再見觸身球，終場3：2險勝中信兄弟，拿下本季首勝；球迷連兩年擠滿大巨蛋。

桃猿5局靠著宋嘉翔適時安打先馳得點，兄弟則在7局連拿2分超前，但擋不住陳晨威本季首轟，最終吞下隊史最長的開幕戰3連敗。桃猿總教練曾豪駒表示，感謝滿場4萬名球迷支持，兩隊在本季首戰都打得有些緊繃，桃猿隊把握細節並留住勝利。

title: 中職37開戰 大巨蛋連2年滿場


countries: 葉門 美國 伊朗 沙烏地阿拉伯 以色列

title: 戰事升溫! 伊空襲駐沙美軍 葉門轟以

content_text:
美軍基地15傷 2加油機毀損美以伊朗戰爭廿八日進入第二個月，葉門「青年運動」當日正式參戰，向以色列發射一枚彈道飛彈，加劇外界擔憂紅海航運可能中斷，進一步衝擊全球經濟。此外，駐有美軍的沙烏地阿拉伯蘇爾坦王子空軍基地廿七日遭伊朗空襲，至少十五人受傷。

以色列首攔青年運動飛彈 青年運動發言人薩里廿七日警告，若有任何新同盟加入華盛頓和特拉維夫打擊伊朗及其盟友的行動，或是紅海被用於對抗德黑蘭的敵對行動，青年運動便會直接介入，並準備好在衝突升高的情況下採取行動。數小時後，以軍聲明表示，已攔截到一枚從葉門發射、瞄準以色列領土的飛彈，未傳出傷亡或損害報告。

紅海航運恐中斷 衝擊全球經濟在以色列與哈瑪斯戰爭期間，青年運動以飛彈和無人機攻擊紅海與亞丁灣超過一百艘商船，重創紅海航運，戰前每年約有價值一兆美元的商品通過該海域。二〇二五年三月，川普政府對青年運動發動大規模報復性攻擊。紅海在當前美以伊戰爭中日益重要。沙烏地阿拉伯已將大量石油出口轉向紅海港口延布，以避開伊朗封鎖的荷姆茲海峽。

6彈道飛彈29無人機 突破美防空此外，伊朗對沙國蘇爾坦王子空軍基地發射六枚彈道飛彈及廿九架無人機，突破防空部署。十五名傷者中五人傷重，還有至少兩架KC-135空中加油機嚴重毀損。紐約時報引述兩名未獲授權公開發言的美國官員證實，這次飛彈與無人機聯合攻擊是這場持續一個月對伊戰爭中，美國防空系統最嚴重的突破之一。

自二月廿八日戰爭爆發以來，伊朗持續透過彈道飛彈和無人機打擊中東各地美軍基地，藉此報復、擾亂美軍轟炸行動。伊軍的行動對美基地造成顯著損害，迫使美軍中央司令部疏散部隊遠離砲火。根據中央司令部資料，對伊朗的戰爭已造成六名美軍陣亡，近三百人受傷，當中約二二五人因飛彈造成的爆炸受到腦部創傷。

以狂轟伊朗軍火生產地與核設施以色列在廿七日威脅升高、擴大打擊行動後，聲稱轟炸伊朗彈道飛彈及其它軍火生產地，破壞西部的飛彈發射器和貯存設施，以及對伊朗中部一座重水反應爐及鈾處理廠發動空襲。伊朗原子能組織表示，位於阿拉克的洪達卜重水廠及雅茲德省阿爾達坎的黃餅核燃料鈾處理廠遇襲。以軍後續表示，伊朗在雅茲德工廠進行用於濃縮鈾的原物料加工程序，空襲是對德黑蘭核計畫的重大打擊。

據德黑蘭向國際原子能總署（IAEA）回報，一枚飛行物擊中伊朗唯一一座運作中的核能發電廠布什爾核電廠周邊，但未導致放射性物質外洩或反應爐損傷，也無造成技術或結構性衝擊，仍能照常運作。


title: 健保癌症支出 1566億元創新高

content_text:
健保署：篩檢擴大 讓更多早期個案被找出 治療效果提升 健保癌症醫療支出再創新高，健保署最新統計，去年癌症醫療費用突破一五六六億元，相較於五年前，增加逾二六五億，且逐年增加，就醫人數也逼近百萬人，年平均成長約五％。健保署醫審及藥材組組長黃育文表示，支出成長主要是早期病人變多、治療效果提升，短期支出雖增加，但長期有機會改善存活率，甚至讓費用成長趨緩。

標靶藥物、免疫治療陸續納健保給付黃育文分析，癌症支出上升主要來自三大因素，一是人口老化，癌症與年齡高度相關，帶動病人數增加；二是篩檢擴大，包括針對肺癌的低劑量電腦斷層（LDCT）等政策推動，讓更多早期個案被找出；三是治療進步，標靶藥物、免疫治療及新型療法陸續納入，延長病人存活時間，也提高整體醫療利用。

她強調，政策重點不是壓低支出，而是透過「早期篩檢、早期確診、早期治療」，搭配基因檢測（NGS）與精準用藥，將治療時機往前移。若能在零期或第一期發現癌症，不僅治療較簡單、費用較低，後續多以追蹤為主，可降低晚期重症與長期醫療負擔。

大腸癌已建立「癌症歷程」監測系統黃育文舉例，大腸癌已建立「癌症歷程」監測系統，從篩檢到治療流程逐步串接，目前糞便潛血陽性個案中，半年內完成大腸鏡檢查比例達七十八％，高風險個案一年內確診並就醫比例達九十一％，顯示過去從篩檢到確診治療的「最後一哩路」正在改善，未來醫療費用成長有機會趨緩。

黃育文也說，近年台灣癌症治療快速與國際接軌，細胞與基因治療等新技術陸續導入，短期確實推升藥費，但應視為「健康投資」，隨著治療提前介入，部分病人可避免長期住院與高強度用藥，整體支出未必等比例上升。

為落實總統賴清德提出的「百億癌症新藥基金」政見，行政院去年編列五十億元癌症新藥暫時性支付預算，今年再編五十億元，逐步朝百億規模累積。

黃育文說，新藥可先透過暫時性支付進入臨床使用，並在二至三年內蒐集真實世界數據，再評估是否納入常規健保，形成「有進有出」的滾動式機制；癌藥基金採專款專用設計，未用完可累積至下一年度，今年截至目前仍約有八十七億元可用於新藥收載，透過前瞻式預算與滾動管理機制，能持續提升癌症新藥可近性，減輕病人治療負擔。


countries: 伊朗 英國 以色列 荷蘭 黎巴嫩 美國

events: 死亡 發電

things: 人權 油價

content_text:
一份由多個人權團體組成的聯盟所發布的報告指出，美國與以色列2月28日對伊朗開戰以來的空襲殃及學校、醫院及其他非軍事設施，已造成伊朗平民近1500人喪生。

華盛頓郵報指出，在這份堪稱目前對伊朗戰事平民死傷估計最全面的報告裡，研究人員記錄到自2月28日至3月23日共有平民1443死，其中至少217人為兒童。報告稱數字是「經核實後的最起碼人數」，並指隨評估與空襲持續，數字勢必還會上升。報告未具體分每起攻擊究竟是美軍還是以軍所為。

報告指從美國官員的公開發言可看出，美國並未完全遵守將平民傷害降至最低的法律要求；批評人士也指控以色列無視保護戰區平民的國際法，尤其在加薩與黎巴嫩地區。

報告認為，造成平民死亡的主因包括：過時或缺陷情報所致的目標判定與識別錯誤、在人口稠密城市地區使用爆炸物，以及針對同時具軍民兩用的基礎設施（包括交通與能源系統）攻擊。

人權專家指出，攻擊民用基礎設施違反武裝衝突法。然而美國總統川普日前曾揚言摧毀伊朗發電設施，藉此施壓德黑蘭重開荷莫茲海峽（Strait of Hormuz）。海峽停擺已重創全球石油市場，並導致包括美國在內各國汽油價格大幅上升。

報告發現，自戰事爆發後已有40多間伊朗學校在攻擊中受損，包含一起開戰之初疑因目標錯判而遭擊中的伊朗南部一所女校，當時造成至少168名兒童死亡、110名平民受傷。若調查最終確認美軍需負責，將成自1991年以來美軍單次攻擊所釀平民死亡最多的一次事件。

參與這份報告者包含伊朗人權行動者（HRAI）、總部設於英國的非營利組織Airwars（致力於透過公開資料追蹤平民傷亡），以及人道保護團體「衝突下平民研究中心」（CIVIC）。在華府與荷蘭都設有機構的HRAI是研究伊朗境內疑似人權侵害事件的獨立機構，靠它們在伊朗境內運作數十年的網絡蒐集證據。

報告中說「在人口稠密地區的空襲造成人員死難驟增、流離失所及關鍵基礎設施受損；與此同時，伊朗國內鎮壓加劇也進一步讓民眾行動、通訊和尋求醫療與安全能力受限」「美國與以色列所建構的敘事，將傷害描述為個案或合理化事件，掩蓋對平民的累積性衝擊」。

報告指出，伊朗大多數平民死亡的攻擊發生在首都德黑蘭及其周邊地區。迄今為止平民死傷最嚴重的一天是3月9日，當天發生400起空襲，造成平民262死，包括一次對德黑蘭東部一棟公寓的攻擊。

報告記錄一名31歲的受訪母親說：「我的孩子們躲在桌子底下。我不知道該怎麼跟他們說。你無法向一個7歲孩子解釋，為什麼他們城市的天空會突然被照亮，接著就傳來爆炸聲。」（編譯：陳亦偉）1150329

title: 華郵：人權報告揭美以空襲逾3週　伊朗平民近1500死


title: 謠言終結站》允能風場放水少罰？經部：沒收3.5億履約保證金！

content_text:
謠言終結站

網傳內容：近來國民黨立委頻頻質疑，未針對離岸風電廠商允能違規事項進行裁罰，以及用較低的「迴避成本」電價收購，涉及圖利？

查證結果：經濟部澄清，針對允能風場股權變更已於2023年進行行政裁罰，沒收3.5億元履約保證金，並無立委所稱「故意隱匿或少罰」。

一手掌握經濟脈動 點我訂閱自由財經Youtube頻道


things: 油價 經濟

content_text:
下週國內汽、柴油價格各調漲1.7元及1.5元。（記者林菁樺攝）

〔記者林菁樺／台北報導〕台灣中油昨日宣布，自週一起國內汽、柴油每公升價格將各調漲一．七元及一．五元，汽油漲幅僅略低於上週一角，且發油量最大的九五汽油牌價直逼三十四元。

週一起中油各式油品參考零售價格，九二無鉛汽油每公升三十二．四元、九五無鉛汽油每公升三十三．九元、九八無鉛汽油每公升三十五．九元、超級柴油每公升三十一元。

中油說明，依據浮動油價機制調整原則，汽柴油價格原應各調漲十．九元及十三元，因國際油價仍處相對高檔，亞鄰國家油價也大幅調升並增加補貼金額，綜合考量亞鄰國家油價漲幅及其政府補貼等因素，根據亞鄰最低價原則，中油再擴大增加汽、柴油吸收金額，而最後一道機制，是此次祭出的緊急緩漲，中油維持上週相同的吸收比例七十五％，整體汽、柴油各共吸收九．二元與十一．五元。

根據中油統計，二月二十八日中東爆發美伊戰爭起，到二十九日止，依據中油浮動油價機制、亞鄰最低價與配合政策啟動美伊戰爭專案平穩機制，中油在汽、柴油合計吸收金額已逼近六十九．九億元。

一手掌握經濟脈動 點我訂閱自由財經Youtube頻道

title: 亞鄰最低＋緊急緩漲 下週汽油漲1.7元


content_text:
美國投資人憂心攀升的油價恐引發通膨走高；專家指出，市場已經出現一八〇度的轉變，市場參與者已從詢問下一次何時降息，轉而預期二〇二六年可能升息。（彭博）

美10年期公債殖利率跳漲達4.46％ 去年7月以來最高〔編譯魏國金／綜合報導〕美國公債二十七日遭到拋售，顯示憂心攀升的油價恐引發通膨走高的投資人，預期聯準會（Fed）可能採取更加鷹派的利率政策。道明證券利率策略師布魯克斯指出，「市場已經出現一八〇度的轉變，市場參與者已從詢問下一次何時降息，轉而預期二〇二六年可能升息」。

美國總統川普延後攻擊伊朗基礎設施的行動，未能平息投資人的焦慮，美國十年期公債殖利率二十七日一度跳漲至四．四六％，為去年七月以來最高點，兩年期公債殖利率則上漲至四％。

地平線投資研究與量化策略師狄克森說，「在數月來預期聯準會今年將降息之後，投資人已回到熟悉的論調：『高利率將維持更長時間』」。

FedWatch工具顯示9月升息機率20％根據芝商所（CME）FedWatch工具二十七日顯示，投資人預期聯準會九月會議將升息的機率為二十％，而在一個月前，預期至少降息一次的機率超過九十％。此外，投資人已不再認為聯準會今年有降息的可能，在中東戰火爆發前，市場預期今年有望兩次降息。

費城聯邦儲備銀行總裁鮑森二十七日警告，美國長期高於目標的通膨，可能使伊朗戰爭引發的大宗商品衝擊，成為更嚴重的問題，而非僅是一次性的不利事件。她補充，「高燃料與高化肥價格傳導至通膨預期的速度可能更快、也更持久，我對此感到憂慮」。

經濟合作暨發展組織（OECD）日前公布報告，大幅上調今年美國通膨預期至四．二％，遠高於其先前預期的二．八％，以及聯準會預期的二．七％。

密西根大學消費信心3月降至53.3 近4月最低持續一個月的中東戰火已使油價飆漲逾三十％，零售汽油價格跳漲一美元至平均每加侖達三．九八美元，加劇通膨疑慮，為經濟前景投下陰影。美國密西根大學的消費者調查顯示，三月美國消費者信心指數從二月的五十六．六降至五十三．三，為去年十二月以來最低點。

一手掌握經濟脈動 點我訂閱自由財經Youtube頻道

title: 通膨疑慮飆升 Fed降息預期轉升息

countries: 伊朗 美國


title: 全支付減、增資補虧損 街口挺過風暴

content_text:
國內行動支付龍頭LINE Pay旗下電子支付LINE Pay Money上線後，展現強勁的爆發力，圖為LINE Pay經營團隊。（業者提供）

全盈支付去年每股25元募資5億元 日前公告延長繳款期限〔記者李靚慧／台北報導〕不只一卡通要增資，近期電支業者再掀減增資潮。全支付日前發布重大訊息，董事會決議通過辦理減資彌補虧損，預計減資二．〇五億元，市場預期，後續全支付將進一步辦理增資；全盈支付則於去年底以每股二十五元溢價發行新股增資五億元，日前甫公告延長繳款期限，尚未完成增資；街口電支因累積虧損縮小，預期今年無須辦理增資。

用戶數超過七百萬戶的街口電支，雖然去年一度遭遇泰山經營權之爭的亂流，但全年虧損已縮小至一億元，且過去幾年透過多次辦理減增資，自二〇二二年以來累積虧損逐年縮小；據透露，至去年底累積虧損已縮小至一億元，預期今年無需辦理增資，甚至力拚單月損益兩平。

LINE Pay Money破300萬重度用戶搶進電支業者指出，各家電支業者的用戶數重疊，無法得知哪些是死忠用戶，但LINE Pay Money成立電支，自去年十二月三日上線首日即突破五十六萬戶、七十小時破百萬戶，短短二個月就破三百萬戶，創下電支業務新紀錄，這些近三百萬搶先加入的用戶，在轉帳、儲值、交易上都極度活躍，幾可確認就是「重度用戶」，且與其他業者用戶高度重疊。

依據金管會最新一月底的統計，LINE Pay Money客戶數二九八萬人，但代理收付（交易）達四十八億元、小額匯兌（轉帳）七十．六億元，每人貢獻近四〇〇〇元，高居各電支之冠，顯示搶先註冊的近三百萬人中，多數為LINE Pay電支的重度使用者。

一卡通在客戶數上雖保持領先地位，達到七一六萬人，但代理收付大跌至十四億元、小額匯兌僅剩十七億元，合計三十一億元，換算每人貢獻僅四三八元。

用戶數高達七一七萬人的街口電支，代理收付五十四億元、國內外匯兌五十一．九億元，換算每人貢獻一四七八元；用戶數成長最快的全支付，用戶數也超過七百萬人，但其支付場域大多集中在全聯及大全聯，交易金額達五十三億元，但轉帳僅四．五億元，換算每人貢獻八一五元。

一手掌握經濟脈動 點我訂閱自由財經Youtube頻道


taiwan-subdivisions: 新北市 宜蘭

title: 規模最大 北北基特教園遊會今登場

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以「小王子」為主軸 規劃8大主題星球與120個公益攤位新北市教育局與南山中學校友總會主辦的北北基特教小王子星願園遊會，廿九日在南山中學登場，範圍並延伸到隔鄰的漳和國中，規劃八大主題星球與一百廿個公益攤位，內容活潑豐富。「新北市兒童安全宣導活動」，昨日在新北市民廣場登場，設置廿多個攤車，首次設置防災地震車，讓小朋友從玩樂中學會自我保護。

主辦單位表示，這次活動為北北基首度跨縣市合作，也是目前最大規模的特教家庭友善園遊會，希望活動持續運作成為支持平台，讓共融成為日常。

任務、闖關集點 並可兌換完成禮園遊會以「小王子」為故事主軸，讓特教孩子化身旅程中的「小王子」，由家人、師長與志工夥伴扮演引路的「狐狸」，透過任務互動、闖關集點與兌換完成禮，引導孩子安心探索；同時也讓家庭能在現場接觸到更多的支持資源與未來發展方向。

活動當天除園遊會互動攤位外，邀請「社團法人台灣動物權益促進會」人員帶領動物生命教育體驗，安排羊駝與狐獴等動物與孩子安全互動，現場也規劃High Kart友善遊戲攤位，除扭蛋機、抓寶機與娃娃車等體驗外，也加入微型卡丁車與電動車駕駛體驗，透過遊戲化方式引導孩子認識交通號誌、理解基本交通規則。

新北兒童安全宣導 設防災地震車新北市兒童月系列活動「新北市兒童安全宣導活動」，昨天在市民廣場登場，現場透過闖關遊戲與實境體驗，讓孩子在遊戲中學習自我保護知識，第二波集點活動將於四月一日至卅日於各親子館展開，各式主題活動可累積點數，相關活動可上新北育兒資訊網查詢。

「宜蘭童樂會」昨在宜蘭運動公園登場，現場除有巨型氣墊童趣樂園、市集外，還安排大型腕龍玩偶及恐龍探險隊穿梭園區，吸引超過六千人同歡，今天還有活動，歡迎大小朋友一起來場童話歷險記。

宜蘭市公所今年以「奇幻樂園大冒險」為主題，在運動公園打造多項遊戲設施，還舉辦多場藝文展演及兼具娛樂教育的節目，昨由「愛麗絲夢遊仙境」開場演出，下午由「紙風車劇團」壓軸，帶來「巫頂環遊世界」的奇幻旅程。

公園四處有大型腕龍玩偶穿梭，有雜技、魔術與音樂饗宴，還有五十攤以上市集，提供親子一起玩樂，活動今天還有一天。


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國民黨台中市長初選於三月二十五至三十一日間進行三天民調，據了解就在昨晚開始進行，兩位競選對手立法院副院長江啟臣與立委楊瓊瓔昨日同框，陪同台中市長盧秀燕贈匾樂成宮，盧致詞祝福時，特別望向江啟臣「今年要參選的，所求如願！」江、楊兩人台上無互動，但江離開時主動向楊打招呼，一派輕鬆。

兩人勤跑基層 盧祝「所求如願」根據國民黨中央與江啟臣、楊瓊瓔所簽協議，初選民調時間為三月最後一周的三天，具體日期不公布，民調內容包含江、楊各自與民進黨參選人何欣純的對比，以及江楊互比，權重各占八十五％與十五％。楊瓊瓔昨天上午在群組發出圖卡，表示民調「就在今晚」；江啟臣被問及民調日期，仍強調「不知道！」

江啟臣、楊瓊瓔昨也陪同盧秀燕贈匾樂成宮，接著與盧到廟埕參加集團婚禮祝福，江與盧併肩一路聊天，楊瓊瓔則在後方牽著廟方董事同行。

江、楊兩人爭取民調出線，各自舉辦多場造勢活動。江啟臣在山海屯及市區舉辦千人見面會，並邀請美國在台協會處長谷立言等國際友人到台中參訪；楊瓊瓔則舉辦萬人造勢晚會，深入市場鄰里與民眾搏感情。

面對民調在即，江啟臣這兩天仍跑勤基層活動，他強調，市民的期待，一定全力以赴，目前就是平常心，用行動認真回應市民的期待，做每天該做的工作，以不辜負台中市民的託付。

楊瓊瓔則持續每天跑十幾個行程，農會、社團、廟會活動都參與，主打「台中的女兒」始終站在第一線，她說，從傳統市場到產業園區都與鄉親並肩在一起，準備好接棒市長的幸福政績邁向國際升級，重申團結勝選、守護台中目標。

title: 初選民調起跑 江啟臣、楊瓊瓔同框盧秀燕

people: 楊瓊瓔 江啟臣 盧秀燕 何欣純


taiwan-subdivisions: 宜蘭縣 宜蘭

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民進黨發言人韓瑩（右）獲黨內徵召投入宜蘭市長選舉，昨首度和宜蘭縣長參選人林國漳（左）「同框」出席活動。（記者王峻祺攝）

民進黨發言人韓瑩獲黨內徵召投入宜蘭市長選舉，昨首度和縣長參選人林國漳「同框」出席活動，對於投入「艱困選區」，坦言感到責任重大，會謹慎且努力參選，林國漳也期待未來一起「縣市合作，共創共榮」。國民黨籍宜蘭市長陳美玲則說，不論競爭對手是誰，都會專注市政繼續向前行。

韓瑩以「美女刺客」之姿參選，將對陣尋求連任的陳美玲，韓瑩知道這次選戰「艱困也極具挑戰」，但表示會用「勇氣」爭取宜蘭市更美好的未來。

韓︰以經濟、外交專業帶領宜市韓瑩說，自己受律師林國漳「光榮宜蘭」的信念感召，決定在關鍵時刻挺身而出，宜蘭市被外界視為是挑戰高峰的「不可能任務」，將以「經濟專業」與「外交、中央歷練」，為市民提供國際化與專業化的新選項，將宜蘭市帶上國際舞台。

林國漳說，宜蘭市對民進黨是艱困選區，尤其面對陳美玲尋求連任，但韓瑩年輕、口才好、思路清晰，以及優異學經歷等優勢，足以做出區隔，帶領宜蘭市「重新起飛」。

陳美玲說，就職近四年，在建設、觀光、文化與教育領域的成果，市民有目共睹，自己做事腳踏實地，任何可能出現的競爭對手都是民主常態，身為現任市長，將繼續保持兢兢業業的態度，專注做好市政工作。

title: 韓瑩挑戰宜市「艱困選區」 聯手林國漳拚綠地


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花蓮吉安鄉的田野，會發現竟然有「土芭樂田」？吉安鄉農會總幹事張德奇說，它們其實是「佛手瓜」。（記者花孟璟攝）

春季到花蓮吉安鄉的田野，會發現竟然有「土芭樂田」？只見一顆一顆芭樂整齊在高畦上列隊，常常會讓都市的觀光客誤會「吉安名產是土芭樂」？吉安鄉農會總幹事張德奇笑說，它們其實是「佛手瓜」，約一個半月後就可採收嫩葉也就是龍鬚菜。

他說，吉安鄉栽培面積約一二〇公頃至一六〇公頃，只是民眾吃菜卻不一定知道如何種，只有到產地才看得到「土芭樂田」奇景！

title: 《花蓮吉安種160公頃》芭樂長在土裡？佛手瓜啦

taiwan-subdivisions: 吉安 花蓮


taiwan-subdivisions: 湖口 中山 中正 竹東 新竹縣

title: 《歡慶兒童節》湖口童趣嘉年華 打造大型遊樂園

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4月3至4日 引進遊樂設施、大型氣墊城堡、火舞表演 煙火秀壓軸新竹縣湖口鄉兒童節「歡樂派對 童趣嘉年華」，四月三、 四日在王爺壟停三、停四停車場登場，引進巴黎夢幻鞦韆等十組遊樂設施、四組大型氣墊城堡及闖關遊戲，還邀請「即將成真火舞團」帶來震撼視覺的火舞特技演出，並以二百一十秒的閉幕煙火秀壓軸，希望打造專屬湖口、一年一度的大型遊樂園。

王爺壟停車場登場 周邊交管湖口兒童節活動才開始宣傳，已引起大小朋友熱烈關注。吳淑君表示，今年規劃的「兒童歡樂天地」，引進豪華白金旋轉木馬、瘋狂摩托車、巴黎夢幻鞦韆等十組遊樂設施，四組大型氣墊城堡、「追風卡丁車」；舞台表演則規劃超人氣插畫角色「麻吉貓」與「小水豚豆仔」線下見面會，並安排MOMO家族與東森YOYO家族帶領活力唱跳。

「闖五關 送好禮」分為客家闖關區與童趣闖關區，現場還有文創市集、胖卡美食、限量拍貼機體驗及童玩手作DIY等多元活動。

湖口鄉公所提醒，四月三日上午八點到四日晚上九點，中正七街（達生一街至達生六街）與達生五街（中山路一段至中正七街）將交通管制，請民眾配合義交引導，並多加利用大眾運輸工具抵活動現場。

竹東二重國小 4/2「藝童講客」另外，竹東鎮公所四月二日下午五點到晚上九點將在二重國小舉辦「藝童講客 當好尞」兒童節活動，安排熊貓人偶帶動跳、折氣球、客語挑戰送手拋飛機、客家元素創意變裝，並邀請竹東鳳凰舞蹈班、未央特技表演，哇哈哈兒童劇團演出。憑三、四月統一發票一張可兌換園遊券一張，每人限一次。


countries: 中國 台灣

people: 鍾小平 柯文哲

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記者甘孟霖／特稿

京華城容積率弊案廿六日一審宣判出爐，民眾黨創黨主席柯文哲被判有期徒刑十七年，褫奪公權六年。本案吹哨者、國民黨籍議員鍾小平近期也被盛讚是為民除害的台灣英雄。而從政以前的鍾小平是籃壇明日之星，尤其「射籃精準」著稱，他的單場「十七記」三分球個人紀錄至今仍為人所津津樂道，他本人也依此為傲。

曾創單場17記三分球紀錄現年六十四歲的鍾小平，自國中迷上籃球，後進入世界新聞專科學校（今世新大學）接受專業訓練，練就三分球能力，一九八八年就讀中國文化大學時，獲選大專籃球聯賽大學明星隊球員。一九九二年六月，鍾小平在全國夜大杯籃球賽對上逢甲大學，投進十六記三分球，創下全國個人單場三分球最高紀錄，隔年又單場投進十七記三分球，刷新紀錄。

服完兵役後，鍾小平積極參與公眾事務，一九九三年首度參選台北縣議員就當選，之後轉戰台北市議會，但在二〇〇二年落敗未連任，二〇一〇年才又當選議員連任至今。

問政風格展現勝負欲、侵略性鍾小平籃球選手背景，賦予他極強的勝負欲與體力，在議場展現出的風格也帶有濃厚的運動員色彩，節奏快、侵略性強。他不走溫情路線，總是發揮射手本色，尋找敵營最薄弱的環節發動猛烈進攻。

鍾小平敢怒敢言的個性也讓他評價兩極，他並非典型的「乖乖牌」政客，他能言善道，善於利用媒體造勢，懂得如何將議題炒熱成全國焦點，近年更狂攻京華城案、北士科案等柯市府爭議，以極高的頻率出現在媒體鏡頭前遞狀告發。在國民黨內他像匹「孤狼」，雖然有時與集體格格不入，但在需要破壞力與話題性的戰場，總能找到發揮空間。

不過，鍾小平政治光譜跨度也相當大，他曾退出過國民黨，也曾被開除黨籍，過去還是台北市議會內親柯文哲的「柯友友」，曾想尋求與民眾黨合作參選立委，批評者則質疑其政治忠誠度與「大砲式」發言的精準度。

title: 《城市人物誌》籃球神射手從政 鍾小平吹響京華城弊案


people: 許淑華 洪健益 柯文哲 鍾小平

title: 北市議會回顧調查京華城 批「特權特快車」

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民眾黨創黨主席、前台北市長柯文哲因京華城案被重判十七年徒刑、褫奪公權六年。台北市議會二〇二四年時進行政黨協商，決議成立京華城調查專案小組，成員包含國民黨籍議員游淑慧、鍾小平、楊植斗、曾獻瑩，民進黨籍議員洪健益、許淑華、趙怡翔，民眾黨籍議員陳宥丞，以及社會民主黨籍議員苗博雅，共九人，專案小組選舉游淑慧擔任召集人。調查小組形容此案為「特權特快車」，市府為財團量身打造高額容積獎勵。

表示柯市府為財團量身打造高額容積獎勵京華城調查小組會議結論指出，柯文哲以指定都發局、都委會主席受理京華城陳情案的手法，破壞都發局及都委會的客觀公正性；而後簽准由都委會為私人陳情案研議容積獎勵方案，再由都委會球員兼裁判，於市長指定京華城案負責人彭振聲主持的都委會，通過自行研議的自創容積獎勵案。

結論也指出，回顧京華城容積獎勵案歷程，堪稱「特權特快車」。京華城本於行政法庭被駁回訴求（允建樓地板面積），卻仍能取得與京華城敗訴判決相類似的容積獎勵，法院關上了京華城爭取容積的大門，市府卻為京華城開了一扇特權之窗，「升斗小民的老屋，期盼都更望穿秋水；京華城非老屋，市府卻量身打造高額容積獎勵，財團特權，莫此為甚」。

陳宥丞當時則提出不同意見書指出，京華城容積獎勵審議過程，經過專家諮詢會議、都委會專案小組會議依據專業意見討論，並經都委會依共識決方式決議給予廿％容積獎勵，過程柯文哲均未參與。

陳宥丞強調，柯文哲恪遵職守、依法辦理，沒有任何下指導棋或試圖影響過程與結果情事。


title: 石門水庫上游多處乾枯 北水分署籲節約用水

content_text:
截至昨日上午十一點，石門水庫有效蓄水量一億一一七五萬立方公尺、蓄水率五十四．四％，比前一天下降〇．七八％，水庫湖區上游石秀灣水面，與高水位時的林木生長線落差約三層樓高，溪口部落碼頭露出淤積沙灘、舢舨擱淺，水情令人憂心。水利署北區水資源分署表示，目前水位與五年平均值相當，並非低點，但時節屬枯水期，呼籲節約用水。

北水分署副署長郭耀程說，石門水庫一九六四年完工時，桃園縣才六十多萬人口，如今已經二三六萬人，幾乎達四倍，當時水庫提供農業及民生（含工業）用水的比例是九比一，如今為五比五，由於水庫無法隨著人口增加擴大容量，目前水庫每年周轉率（滿庫）要四到五次，這也是一月底的蓄水率還有九十六％，三月底只剩五十四％的原因。

預測下週下春雨 可能人工增雨他表示，正值一期稻的灌溉期，每天農業用水量在四十五到一四〇噸之間，民生用水大約是一二〇噸，這兩天下雨雖然水庫進帳不多，但依中央氣象署預測，後天到四月五日會有場不小的春雨，屆時如有必要，分署會進行人工增雨作業，若雨下在平地，將與農田水利署桃園、石門管理處配合減少農業用水的放水量。

郭耀程提到，每年五月底、六月初就是梅雨季節，之後汛期來臨，反而要小心颱風的強大風雨，除非碰到大旱，否則石門水庫可以支撐起桃園地區農業、民生用水。

因應氣候變遷與百年大旱，水利署推動珍珠串計畫，打通西部供水瓶頸，石門水庫原水可以支援新竹，另從二〇一七推動的板二計畫，讓板新給水場可以使用翡翠水庫水源，北台灣水網能互相支援。

taiwan-subdivisions: 石門 北區 溪口 新竹 桃園縣


title: 全中運跆拳道開賽 嘉縣提高獎金

content_text:
全國中等學校運動會將於四月十八至廿三日在嘉義縣登場，其中，跆拳道賽事因與國際比賽撞期，提前自三月廿五日至四月二日在縣立體育館舉行，縣長翁章梁昨到場觀賽，鼓勵選手爭取佳績，並宣布提高嘉縣子弟兵奪牌獎勵金額，金牌獎金由八萬元提升至十萬元等。

全中運對競賽場地須與國際賽事接軌，嘉縣有些項目無法提供合乎規定的比賽場地，因而移師其他縣市舉行，包括新北微風運河輕艇、桃園公西靶場射擊、南投日月潭划船、台中自由車場地賽、彰化員林自由車登山賽、雲林縣立體育館競技與韻律體操、台南市新營網球、嘉南藥理科技大學擊劍及高雄國際游泳池游泳等。

翁章梁說，為激勵嘉縣選手拿出最佳表現，縣府決定提高奪牌獎勵金額，金牌獎金由八萬提升至十萬元，銀牌由四萬提高至五萬元，透過實質鼓勵，讓嘉縣選手在主場全力以赴，為家鄉爭光。

永慶高中國中部三年級陳彥蓉，曾代表台灣出征世界級賽事，在二〇二五亞洲青少年跆拳道錦標賽過關斬將勇奪金牌，此次全中運參加國女組比賽，第一場就提前擊敗對手，很有機會為嘉縣留下金牌。

taiwan-subdivisions: 南投 桃園 員林 新北 雲林縣 嘉義縣 彰化 高雄 新營


title: 台中國漫館九重葛遭剪「齊頭」 劉克襄不捨

content_text:
嘆「童年玩伴被欺負」 國漫館︰因苞片多修剪下垂枝條 將尋求更全面做法台中市西區「國家漫畫博物館」內百年九重葛滿開，桃色苞葉如「桃色瀑布」傾洩，吸引賞景搶拍人潮，住在附近的知名作家劉克襄卻逆風發文，感慨原應恣意茂發的九重葛被修剪成齊頭式的平整，「有種小時候玩伴，被人欺負的感覺」；國漫館籌備處回應，因苞片量太多枝條負重下垂，基於維持九重葛健康適度修剪，日後會尋求更全面的做法。

盛開「桃色瀑布」 吸引搶拍朝聖國漫館內樹齡近百年的九重葛近來值盛放期，桃色苞葉佈滿樹梢形成「桃色瀑布」，與一旁台中刑務所建築群的復古日式建築形成特殊氛圍與視覺效果，經網友分享美照推波助瀾下，讓九重葛頓成「網紅」，近來吸引大批搶拍朝聖人潮。

但住在國漫館附近、從小看著九重葛成長的劉克襄卻感慨，每年此時均能欣賞到九重葛「固定一次精彩的華麗」，但最近九重葛被剪出齊頭式的平整，旁邊另擺有人工花卉裝飾，每每觀看均出現奇怪的疏離感，他另遇到跟他一樣也是六十年來看著九重葛成長的老鄰居，也對九重葛現在的樣子若有所失。

老鄰居出示照片 長裙公主變短裙劉克襄說，鄰居拿出之前拍攝的照片，形容之前的九重葛「像穿著長裙的公主，現在卻被理成短裙樣子」，修剪的人對老鄰居說，若不修剪垂下來會刺到人，令人不解「人若不隨便靠近，哪會被傷到」。

民眾批修剪太單一 破壞垂墜美感劉克襄與鄰居更憂心若每年都這樣修剪，百年九重葛如何能承受得往折磨，九重葛已是鎮館之寶，盼未來更宜小心呵護；不少民眾也反映修剪方式過於單一，採取齊頭式的平整修剪，雖符合安全管理效率，卻破壞九重葛自然的垂墜美感。

國漫館籌備處則指出，因近期九重葛進入盛放期，苞片與花量增加，使枝條負重而明顯下垂，委託專業的植栽維護與病蟲害防治廠商進行適度的修剪，導致樣貌跟過去大家記憶中的有所差異，虛心接受各界意見指教，日後也會尋求更能兼顧全面的做法。


title: 烏克蘭官員：無人機抗俄 全靠民間起步

content_text:
烏克蘭自由民主聯盟昨與黑熊學院共同舉辦「二〇二六台灣民防年會」，烏克蘭國防部反貪腐委員會委員奧萊娜（Olena Tregub）揭露，烏克蘭在戰場上取得優勢的無人機防衛力量，初期並非由政府主導，反而「全靠民間起步」。她指出，二〇二二年俄羅斯全面入侵之初，烏克蘭政府的無人機數量「基本上是零」，至於改變全球戰爭型態的無人機運動，完全是由志工、公民社會與私營企業家從基層推動，隨後才促使政府改變政策並集中採購。

指台零件助俄伊產無人機 盼堵住漏洞烏克蘭代表團昨於會中分享對抗俄羅斯侵略的實戰經驗。奧萊娜指出，戰爭爆發前，民間志工大多從中國購買被戲稱「只適合在婚禮上拍影片」的廉價無人機用於偵察。由於烏克蘭是農業大國，民間早具備無人機監督農田的操作經驗，這些人後來無縫接軌成為軍用技術的開發主力。

她指出，面對人口與軍力懸殊的不對稱戰爭，民間驅動的技術創新讓烏克蘭得以用極低的成本進行防禦，例如目前能以大約五千美元的成本，成功攔截造價高達三萬美元的伊朗「見證者」無人機。

除科技創新，奧萊娜也強調，「良好的治理與反貪腐本身就是國防」，這是全社會防衛概念的核心。她回顧二〇一四年時，親俄的獨裁總統亞努科維奇不僅非常腐敗，更摧毀了烏克蘭國防部，意圖為俄羅斯佔領做準備。對此，公民社會強勢介入重建，不但起草相關國防與反貪腐法律，更直接向國防部長要求成立由公民選出的反貪腐委員會，成功介入監督重大軍事採購合約，成為社會與政府間的重要橋樑。

在國際供應鏈上，奧萊娜也揭露，俄羅斯、伊朗無人機的內部，高達八〇％的微電子零件遺憾地來自西方與台灣。由於政府部門有時缺乏識別漏洞的能力與速度，她強烈敦促台灣公民社會應主動與政府合作，協助補上這些關鍵科技的制裁漏洞。

烏克蘭自由民主聯盟東亞辦公室代表馬卡洛維奇則強調，國家與公民社會對國防貢獻的界線早已模糊，提醒台灣必須準備好自衛。「強大並不意味著挑釁」，而是創造出一種條件，讓獨裁政權在決定發動攻擊前會三思而後行。

countries: 烏克蘭 中國 伊朗 台灣 俄羅斯


countries: 中華人民共和國 台灣

title: 劉世芳談李貞秀：提放棄國籍證明 防跨境鎮壓

content_text:
內政部長劉世芳日前應邀出席台灣外國記者會（TFCC）國際媒體座談，以「台灣：韌性島嶼的挑戰與機遇」為題談話致詞。（內政部提供）

內政部長劉世芳日前應邀出席台灣外國記者會（TFCC）國際媒體座談，她於會中提到，擔任公職者負有對國家單一忠誠義務，因此依法要求相關人士如李貞秀女士，提出放棄中華人民共和國國籍證明，是基於維護國家安全，防範中共跨境鎮壓的必要作為。

漢光演習與城鎮韌性演習 今年將整合內政部表示，劉世芳在座談中向多家國際主流媒體，闡述台灣在社會與民主韌性的政策布局。劉指出，內政部去年已培訓十一萬名防災士，今年目標將突破廿萬人。今年將首度整合漢光演習與城鎮韌性演習，全台計十一個地方政府參與操演；同時評估於今年九二一國家防災日進行數百至數千人規模的社區防救災撤離演練的可行性，以驗證我國救災體系的完備。

面對外媒關注中共滲透的社會弱點，劉世芳指出，宮廟（如媽祖遶境）已出現紅色滲透跡象，因此政府在保障宗教自由的前提下，請宗教團體如果有赴中交流，就以公開透明的方式，在政府平台登錄、揭露相關資訊。

在中配參政可能引發的國安風險與雙重國籍爭議上，劉世芳重申，政府保障人民的參政權，但依據「國籍法」第廿條相關規定，擔任公職者負有對國家單一忠誠義務，因此依法要求相關人士如李貞秀女士，提出放棄中華人民共和國國籍證明，是基於維護國家安全，防範中共跨境鎮壓的必要作為。


content_text:
立法院外交及國防、財政聯席會日前完成朝野各版本國防特別條例草案初審，僅兩條文有共識，其餘條文保留送協商。藍白立委坦言，數字上能調整的不多，以目前美方的發價書項目為主；國民黨立委直言，立委擔憂各國都在搶武器，美國最後有可能沒辦法賣給台灣，但黨中央態度非常強硬，立場不可能改變，最後若真的發生，在野黨也要面對，沒辦法逃避。

徐巧芯：第二波軍購 沒有非常急迫國民黨立委徐巧芯表示，協商前在野黨會再討論、整合，因為民眾黨和國民黨的數字並非一樣，這部份會有調整空間，「但要要調到四千億元以上是有難度的」。在第一階段，以美方知會可以購買的為主，不過民眾黨有多加一點金額可自由運用，「所以這邊一點點金額有機會討論出共識」。

徐巧芯說，不過藍白可能增加的金額仍與一．二五兆元差異太大，民進黨立委王定宇說要把一．二五兆元數字放上去基本上不太可能，但些微調升是可能的，而且機會很高。重點是先讓第一階段先啟動，能夠順利進行，第二波軍購的部分，川習會後可能都會延後，似乎沒有非常急迫。

徐巧芯也說，國民黨版限期到一一七年，國防部反映做不到，這部分可以跟民眾黨協商，讓它可以送立法院延長，有這個機制在，條例列幾年都一樣，因為只要有必要延長，立法院通過就可以，這部分我們會去努力。

藍委：鄭主席軍購立場 非常強硬不過，有國民黨立委擔憂，因為戰爭爆發，各國對武器的需求急迫，最後會不會變成美國自己不夠用，加上各國都在搶，反而無法賣給台灣。藍委直言，但我們也沒辦法，黨中央在軍購議題上，立場非常強硬，主席鄭麗文沒同意，提了也白講。

國民黨團表示，該買的武器，國民黨團絕對支持，立法院已依法儘速審查相關預算與條例，從未拖延，更沒有杯葛國防。問題在於行政部門提出的特別條例充斥著「包裹式設計」，將多項性質不同、急迫性不一的項目混雜其中，讓國會在審查時只能「全收或全退」。

此外，關於國防自主產業的推動，國民黨團堅定認為應回歸年度預算，逐項審查、逐案檢視，確保資源配置合理、效益清楚，而不是硬塞進特別條例企圖矇混過關。

title: 藍白立委：軍購金額能調整的不多

people: 鄭麗文 徐巧芯 王定宇


content_text:
副總統蕭美琴昨出席台灣民防年會致詞表示，政府透過國防特別預算，不僅採購傳統武器裝備，更致力推動本土自主的國防科技能力與無人機量能。（記者叢昌瑾攝）

副總統蕭美琴昨說，建構全社會防衛韌性需仰賴公私協力，將相關工作由國安單位擴展至整體政府體系並結合民間力量。她指出，面對複合式威脅，現代國土防衛前線已延伸至網際網路與太空，台灣迫切需要具備守護自由民主的實力。政府透過國防特別預算，不僅採購傳統武器裝備，更致力推動本土自主的國防科技能力與無人機量能。她期盼透過各界集結智慧與實際行動，讓國家力量更加壯大。

蕭美琴昨天出席「二〇二六台灣民防年會」開幕典禮致詞表示，近年台灣逐步提升對全社會防衛的重視，將相關工作朝制度化與分工化穩健推進，已獲得相當成果；在「能源韌性、社會韌性、通訊不中斷」等緊急情境下，維持社會與民生基礎設施運作，公私協力更是關鍵所在。

國防特別預算 強化全社會韌性針對國防特別預算，蕭美琴強調，政府透過國防特別預算所推動的，不僅涵蓋傳統武器裝備，更著重於本土自主的國防科技能力與無人載具科技。

蕭美琴指出，國家安全前線已從海域、空域與灘岸，延伸至網際網路與太空領域，國防特別預算的規劃也強調資訊整合，同時也需要運用科技，支撐全社會韌性的整體建構。「韌性並非在平靜無事中形成」，台灣面臨多天災的挑戰，能在一次次災難後迅速復原，這就是韌性的展現。

馬士元：中國發動錯位戰、侵蝕戰針對當前國安威脅，內政部政務次長馬士元則示警，台灣面對的敵人並非正常的國家與政權，除傳統的輿論、心理與法律等「三戰」外，中國正對台發動「錯位戰」與「侵蝕戰」二種新戰法。他指出，「錯位戰」意圖將民主社會制度中應有的功能與人事徹底錯亂，導致國會與政府間的關係無法好好運作；「侵蝕戰」則是利用各種代理人，在台灣內部侵蝕整個民主自由的基礎。

馬士元坦言，這項防衛挑戰極大，政府稍一不慎，就會被批評為「在內部找敵人」或被指控從事「麥卡錫主義」的污名化陷阱。

馬士元呼籲，全社會必須一起對外明確說明，當前推動民防的努力是在保衛民主自由制度；是在中國「法西斯納粹政權」的威脅下，確保台灣經濟、政治與宗教體系能繼續自由存在與發展。

title: 談國防特別預算》蕭美琴：不只軍購 更要建構本土科技能量

countries: 台灣 中國


title: 藍營堅持砍委製、商購 谷立言：投資本土國防工業同樣重要

content_text:
美國在台協會處長谷立言昨受訪說，美方關注國防部所提特別預算，已具備嚇阻台海衝突中所需的所有能力，同時也反映台灣對自身國防工業基礎的投資，特別是無人機造等無人系統的製造，美方認為這同樣重要。（資料照）

若遭封鎖或無法補給 台灣有更多韌性國防特別條例審查陷入僵局，國民黨堅持特別預算不列入「委製」、「商購」案項，因此朝野無法達成共識，目前全案正在院會協商冷凍期中，對美軍購案項即將面臨首期款到期困境，恐延宕至年底才能議約。美國在台協會處長谷立言昨受訪說，美方關注國防部所提特別預算，已具備嚇阻台海衝突中所需的所有能力，同時也反映台灣對自身國防工業基礎的投資，特別是無人機造等無人系統的製造，美方認為這同樣重要。

谷立言接受《TVBS》專訪昨天播出，他說，川普政府已要求所有盟友夥伴提升國防支出至GDP五％，因此美方歡迎賴清德總統宣布台灣將在二〇三〇年達成此目標，而美方也認為台灣政府提出的國防特別預算是通往此目標的重要一步，但對台灣而言，這筆金額如何使用也極為重要。

谷立言說，國防部所提特別預算，已包含美方認為台灣軍方嚇阻台海衝突所需的所有能力，包括整合式防空與飛彈防禦，分散式指揮控制或通訊設施，以及反艦或反裝甲能力。同時，預算也反映了對台灣自身國防工業基礎的投資，特別是無人機及其他無人系統的生產，美方認為這同樣重要。

谷立言說明，這將為台灣產業帶來經濟優勢，不僅受到許多台灣人支持，從美方角度來看，更賦予了台灣額外的嚇阻能力。況且台灣已擁有深厚的工業製造基礎，可以非常迅速地獲得這些能力。他說，台灣能夠自己生產無人機、彈藥或其他裝備，假設遭封鎖或發生無法補給的衝突情況下，也能給予台灣更多的韌性，美方非常支持這份特別預算的內容，鑑於台灣面臨威脅的緊迫性，希望各方能迅速達成共識。

美與第一島鏈夥伴 建構整體嚇阻能力至於預算倘若縮水，會否對美方印太戰略及政策造成影響？谷立言強調，建議不過度考慮「數字」，而是考慮「具體能力」，美國國家安全戰略清楚指出，正尋求建構第一島鏈整體嚇阻衝突的能力，因此美方正與區域內夥伴合作，確保各方投資於正確的能力以共同達成此目標。他說，美方相信台灣透過特別預算和年度預算尋求獲得的能力，都將達到這一效果，這對所有人都有利，應沒有夥伴會希望成為導致其他方必須調整姿態的政黨。


title: 民進黨竹市長人選 莊競程證實獲徵詢：全力以赴

content_text:
民進黨布局新竹市長選舉，傳出鎖定前立委、台灣智庫執行長莊競程，迎戰藍白共推的現任市長高虹安。莊敬程昨證實，接獲民進黨中央徵詢，若黨有需要他貢獻專業，將會全力以赴。（資料照）

民進黨布局新竹市長選舉，傳出鎖定前立委、台灣智庫執行長莊競程，迎戰藍白共推的現任市長高虹安。莊競程昨證實，接獲民進黨中央徵詢，後續尊重選對會程序與決策，若黨有需要他貢獻專業，將會全力以赴。

莊競程與竹市的淵源是曾任陽明交大助理教授，且具生醫工程博士，與竹科園區有所連結。綠營在地人士認為，竹市作為科技城市，莊競程切入生醫產業與科技治理議題，對竹科族群具一定吸引力，也可帶動地方選情。

莊競程二〇二〇年首度參選立委，在台中第五選區擊敗尋求連任的國民黨立委沈智慧，一戰成名；二〇二四年立委選舉雖敗，仍拿下十一萬餘票，具選戰實力。近期他已由民進黨立委柯建銘與基層民代安排積極拜會地方，期成為綠營年底竹市長選戰的即戰力。

民進黨新竹市長人選遲未定案，之前包括陽明交大特聘教授林志潔、僑委會副委員長李姸慧、行政院發言人李慧芝，以及新竹市議員陳建名、施乃如等人都曾被點名，甚至討論與時代力量黨主席王婉諭合作的可能性。惟據了解，相關人選有的缺乏意願，部分也未取得地方共識。

莊競程昨受訪證實，曾接獲民進黨中央徵詢，後續一切尊重選對會機制與決策。台灣智庫剛辦完「台灣總統直選三十週年研討會」，他深刻體會台灣民主過程的艱辛，期許自己能有勇氣傳承這份精神，為台灣面對任何挑戰；若民進黨需要他貢獻己力，將會全力以赴。

對於高虹安在竹科族群有一定支持度，莊競程說，他首次挑戰立委就是在「藍大於綠」的台中市北、北屯區選區，「哪一次好選過」，他不會怯戰，會勇於為台灣接受挑戰。

taiwan-subdivisions: 北屯區 新竹市

events: 參選 選舉

people: 莊競程 王婉諭 高虹安 沈智慧 柯建銘


countries: 台灣 中國 美國 英國

people: 川普 賴清德

title: 中國軍事壓力升高 關注台灣防衛 美參議員訪台 籲通過國防預算

content_text:
由美國參議院外交委員會首席民主黨人夏亨、共和黨參議員匡希恆率領的訪問團，將於週一抵達台灣，成員還包括共和黨參議員提里斯與民主黨參議員羅森。（美聯社、法新社）

英國金融時報廿八日報導，在中國對台軍事壓力升高之際，一支美國聯邦參議員跨黨派訪問團於廿八日訪台，除表達對台支持外，也將呼籲立法院儘速通過國防特別預算。此行由參院外交委員會首席民主黨人夏亨與共和黨參議員匡希恆率領，成員還包括共和黨參議員提里斯與民主黨參議員羅森。

參院外委會夏亨率團 週一抵台根據掌握，參議員訪問團將於週一抵達台灣。總統府昨僅回應，訪團相關行程有任何確定安排，將會適時向國人公布。

這是自去年夏天以來首度有美國參議員訪台。時機正值賴清德總統推動一項為期八年、總額四〇〇億美元的國防特別預算，內容涵蓋對美軍購、國防自主及強化不對稱作戰能力。然而該案目前仍卡在立法院審議。同時，此行也發生在外界關注五月初美中領袖「川習會」前夕，憂心華府對台支持可能出現變化。

國防預算遲未過 挺台議員憂心夏亨在出發前表示，此行除重申對台承諾，更在於強調台灣展現自我防衛決心的重要性，並指訪團將與總統及朝野政黨會面，傳達通過國防預算有助展現台美共同維護台灣自主未來的立場。匡希恆則指出，預算案遲未通過使此行更具關鍵性，即便僅是強調其重要性，也足以構成訪台理由。匡希恆曾在台灣擔任摩門教傳教士。

報導中稱近來包括部分堅定挺台派的美國國會議員，都對立法院未能通過國防特別預算感到失望，部分華府挺台人士甚至擔心，川普可能會因為該法案遲遲未過而更不願協助台灣。夏亨就說，他擔心川普是否會致力於強化美國挺台及不損害台灣主權。


title: 海馬士首期款支付後天到期 立委籲韓國瑜速召集協商

content_text:
民進黨團：打破冷凍期 提早處理國防特別條例多項條文皆保留待協商，而台灣增購海馬士多管火箭系統（HIMARS）發價書付款截止日將於三十一日到期，面臨延宕危機。民進黨團表示，只要朝野有共識即可提早處理，打破一個月冷凍期，期盼立法院長韓國瑜盡快召集協商通過，在野黨朝符合國家最大利益的方向推進，軍購、商購與委製缺一不可。

立法院聯席委員會上週審查國防特別條例草案，多數關鍵條文皆保留送交黨團協商。據「立法院職權行使法」規定，議案自交黨團協商逾一個月無法達成共識者，由院會定期處理。即所謂「一個月冷凍期」。

外委會民進黨召委陳冠廷受訪指出，審議期程當然希望能加快，但核心是條例包括商購與委製，民進黨在接下來一個月的協商期會全力溝通，期待在野黨能夠調整到接近行政院版本。預算會在條例通過後審查監督，但若條例沒有彈性，對於未來國防將有負面影響。

民進黨團副幹事長陳培瑜也說，一個月冷凍期並非必要，只要朝野黨團有共識，可以提早協商，把冷凍期的時間縮短，而韓國瑜春節期間向美方議員承諾，將國防特別條例列為最優先議案，盼能盡快召集協商通過。她提到，在野黨立委對軍購案一定也面臨壓力，這股壓力不僅來自美方，也來自國內選區的民意期待。

王定宇：軍購延宕 唯一得利是共軍對於海馬士等軍購品項首期款支付將屆期，民進黨立委王定宇提醒，美國戰爭部表達很難給予展延，若錯過這個戰略窗口，整體簽約期程將延到年底；歐洲、日本等國防預算幾乎倍增，海馬士更是各國搶著要的先進軍事裝備，台灣的順序恐將從優先移到後面，取得裝備的時程不只差半年，可能會有非常嚴重的延後，影響我國安全、以及對中共的嚇阻力。

「藍白立委這樣做到底為了什麼？唯一得利的只有中共解放軍」，王定宇強調，美國願意把台灣放在最優先名單，若延宕對互信機制的傷害無可估量；國民黨立委只弄了一份緊急授權、卻不給予半毛錢，首期款若無法源依據要如何付款？這已經不是擔憂、無奈或憤怒可形容。

countries: 日本 台灣 美國

people: 韓國瑜 陳培瑜 王定宇


title: 國民黨竹縣長初選 徐欣瑩險勝

content_text:
國民黨新竹縣長初選昨進行黨員投票，第一時間聽到初選勝出，徐欣瑩（右）當場哽咽並深深一鞠躬，對手陳見賢（左）則是大方地鼓掌道賀。（記者廖雪茹攝）

贏黨員票輸民調 陳見賢大方鼓掌道賀國民黨新竹縣長提名初選結果昨晚揭曉。占初選三成比重的黨員投票得票率，新竹縣副縣長陳見賢獲得五十六．七八％，勝過立委徐欣瑩的四十三．二二％；但加權占七成比重的民調支持度後，徐欣瑩反以五十．六三四％險勝陳見賢的四十九．三六六％，差距僅一．二六八％。徐欣瑩將獲得國民黨提名參選新竹縣長。

徐欣瑩在場獲知勝出後，當場哽咽並深深一鞠躬，對手陳見賢則是大方鼓掌道賀。徐欣瑩表示，能走到這一步，她心中只有謙卑與感謝；但高興一晚就好，真正魔王關是民進黨候選人。

民進黨目前已鎖定徵召竹北市長鄭朝方參選。他對國民黨初選結果僅表示尊重。

國民黨昨在新竹縣舉行縣長初選黨員投票，投票結果併計廿五、廿六、廿七日三天進行的民調後，產生提名的候選人。

國民黨新竹縣黨部昨晚宣布，黨員投票部分，總選舉人數九三一二人，投票數五〇九五，投票率五十四．七一％。投票結果，陳見賢拿二八七〇票、五十六．七八％得票率，勝過徐欣瑩二一八五票、四十三．二二％。

不過，加權民調結果後，徐欣瑩逆轉勝！國民黨竹縣黨部表示，根據艾普羅民意調查、公信力民調、世新大學知識經濟發展研究院民調研究中心三家民調結果，陳見賢的支持度都輸給對手。在三成黨員投票支持度加計七成民調支持度後，陳見賢最終獲四十九．三六六％，以一．二六八％的些微差距，敗給徐欣瑩五十．六三四％。

陳見賢、徐欣瑩爭取國民黨新竹縣長提名參選，過程紛擾不斷，甚至鬧到向檢方告發。徐欣瑩昨天發表感言時，特別向陳見賢致意，「初選結束了，我們都是為了新竹縣更美好的未來而努力」。

徐欣瑩表示，相信大家一定期盼新竹縣未來能成為世界級的科技首都，成為最溫暖有愛幸福的長健之鄉，更可以成為世界客家中心。團隊會繼續捲起袖子加倍努力，完成承諾的願景！

陳見賢也簡短發表感言，他恭喜徐欣瑩，也感謝支持他的鄉親，接著說，「我只有一句話：中國國民黨加油！新竹縣加油！」

新竹縣長楊文科則是語氣沈重地說，結果已定，希望國民黨團結。

徐將拜會陳 修補裂痕對於如何修復初選造成的黨內裂痕，徐欣瑩受訪時表示，團隊會以最大的誠意面對黨員同志與陳見賢，爭取團結合作，她將拜會陳見賢、聽取陳的意見想法。


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新北市長選戰，藍綠兩黨參選人勤跑基層。民進黨新北市長參選人蘇巧慧昨前往汐止中正市場掃街拜票，沿途民眾熱情招呼，高喊「市長好」、「加油」，蘇巧慧表示將啟動第二輪市場拜訪。國民黨新北市長參選人李四川昨從北海岸石門一路到土城，參拜五龍宮、金剛宮及珊瑚貝殼廟並與地方交流，民眾送他「凍蒜可樂」。

蘇巧慧昨上午由市議員張錦豪及市議員參選人蔡美華陪同掃街。她指出，過年前已與團隊走訪超過卅個市場、參拜卅多間廟宇，未來新北隊將分進合擊，展現團隊值得信任的力量。

蘇︰照顧孩童與長輩 經費規模80億元在政策面，蘇巧慧表示，她是此次選戰中最早提出育兒優惠與補助的參選人之一，六大福利政見包括公立國中小免費營養午餐、〇至六歲幼兒免門診與住院部分負擔、六歲以下兒童免費輪狀病毒與腸病毒疫苗、早產兒家庭照顧津貼三萬元、六十五歲以上老人裝假牙補助五萬元，以及敬老卡提升至一千點且採年度計算，不會每月歸零，盼同時照顧孩童與長輩，減輕「三明治世代」壓力，政見經費試算規模約為八十億元，經計算財力可負擔的政見。

李鼓勵企業設托兒所 員工帶孩子上班李四川昨從北海岸石門一路南下土城，參拜五龍宮、金剛宮及珊瑚貝殼廟並與地方交流，現場更獲贈「凍蒜可樂」。隨後出席婦女會新春團拜，面對上千名民眾熱情力挺，他不僅開口唱歌與基層互動，也強調將以四十二年公務經驗推動市政。

日前他才提出以容積獎勵與房屋稅優惠，鼓勵企業設置托兒所，擴大托育量能，昨再分享參訪企業托兒所經驗，主張中小企業可透過共同設置或利用閒置空間、合租場地推動員工托育，同時在新建商辦大樓設托育空間將減稅，讓企業員工可「帶孩子上班」。

title: 《新北》蘇巧慧第二輪市場拜票 李四川獲贈「凍蒜可樂」

taiwan-subdivisions: 新北 汐止 土城 石門 中正 新北市


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民進黨發言人韓瑩（右）獲黨內徵召投入宜蘭市長選舉，昨首度和宜蘭縣長參選人林國漳（左）「同框」出席活動。（記者王峻祺攝）

民進黨發言人韓瑩獲黨內徵召投入宜蘭市長選舉，昨首度和縣長參選人林國漳「同框」出席活動，對於投入「艱困選區」，坦言感到責任重大，會謹慎且努力參選，林國漳也期待未來一起「縣市合作，共創共榮」。國民黨籍宜蘭市長陳美玲則說，不論競爭對手是誰，都會專注市政繼續向前行。

韓瑩以「美女刺客」之姿參選，將對陣尋求連任的陳美玲，韓瑩知道這次選戰「艱困也極具挑戰」，但表示會用「勇氣」爭取宜蘭市更美好的未來。

韓︰以經濟、外交專業帶領宜市韓瑩說，自己受律師林國漳「光榮宜蘭」的信念感召，決定在關鍵時刻挺身而出，宜蘭市被外界視為是挑戰高峰的「不可能任務」，將以「經濟專業」與「外交、中央歷練」，為市民提供國際化與專業化的新選項，將宜蘭市帶上國際舞台。

林國漳說，宜蘭市對民進黨是艱困選區，尤其面對陳美玲尋求連任，但韓瑩年輕、口才好、思路清晰，以及優異學經歷等優勢，足以做出區隔，帶領宜蘭市「重新起飛」。

陳美玲說，就職近四年，在建設、觀光、文化與教育領域的成果，市民有目共睹，自己做事腳踏實地，任何可能出現的競爭對手都是民主常態，身為現任市長，將繼續保持兢兢業業的態度，專注做好市政工作。

title: 韓瑩挑戰宜市「艱困選區」 聯手林國漳拚綠地


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新竹市議會第四選區（北區）第十二屆應選出九席議員，國民黨吳旭豐、蕭志潔和黃美慧都要拚連任，民進黨四月九日及十日先進行黨內市話全民調初選。無黨籍六屆資深議員孫鍚洲宣布不連任，擬交棒兒子孫宗孝參選，時代力量林彥甫與無黨籍議員鄭慶欽和彭昆耀也確定拚連任，選情精彩可期。

綠營北區議員提名競爭激烈，現任楊玲宜爭取提名，現任劉康彥推辦公室主任林士凱挑戰初選，柯建銘立院助理戴振博與黨內執評委曾國維也參與初選，透過全民調從四人中提名三人參與北區議員選舉，盼從現有兩席擴大版圖增一席。

藍營吳旭豐、蕭志潔和黃美慧都要尋求連任，本屆北區最高票的吳旭豐接棒父親吳青山，年輕且擁有亮眼學經歷；蕭志潔與黃美慧都是資深議員，具基層服務實力。

三席無黨籍議員中，六屆資深議員孫鍚洲確定不拚連任，交棒給兒子孫宗孝參選，孫宗孝是竹塹青年協會負責人，經常舉辦環保淨灘及大型演唱會，同樣無黨籍鄭慶欽與彭昆耀都要爭取連任；時力黨團總召林彥甫有兩屆議員資歷，積極尋求連任，另本屆代表民眾黨參選失利的農產運銷公司總經理蔡文盛，將再披白營戰袍。

title: 《竹市北區下屆議員選舉》孫鍚洲不選 綠辦初選、藍3席拚連任

taiwan-subdivisions: 北區 新竹市

people: 孫鍚洲 彭昆耀 吳青山 柯建銘 蕭志潔


people: 川普 習近平

countries: 美國 台灣 伊朗 烏克蘭 中國

taiwan-subdivisions: 新興 太平 和平

title: 星期專論》美國對台立場是否分歧—及其對台灣的啟示

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◎何瑞恩（Ryan Hass）

華盛頓外交政策菁英與美國廣大民眾之間，在美國應該如何應對中國崛起的問題上，似乎正出現裂痕。從我在華府智庫工作的觀察，以及在全美各地的定期往訪中，我日益感受到兩種截然不同的論調。這種分歧——美國菁英主張強硬迎戰，一般大眾則持謹慎立場——可能成為未來幾年影響台灣安全環境，最被低估但也最具關鍵性的外部因素之一。

如何應對中國 美菁英與民眾出現裂痕在美國政策圈內，看待中國的主流觀點已變得毫不掩飾地強硬。許多國會議員，以及曾效力於民主黨與共和黨政府的現任與前任官員，都認為中國一心想取代美國的全球領導地位。中國被廣泛視為唯一既有野心、又有能力超越美國的國家。華府激辯的核心問題在於，美國應該如何防止中國主導亞洲，防止其主導新興科技的全球規則，以獲取自身優勢。

這種菁英共識並非侷限於單一政黨。許多曾在小布希（George W. Bush）、歐巴馬（Barack Obama）、拜登（Joe Biden）及川普等歷任總統麾下任事的高層要角，主要都是透過競爭視角來看待中國，涵蓋戰略、科技、意識形態及軍事等領域。不過，在美國政治的中樞，有一個重要的例外：就是川普本人。

川普談論中國時，並未將其視為美國的首要對手。相反地，他經常試圖安撫美國民眾，聲稱他與中國國家主席習近平關係深厚，兩人可以達成交易並解決問題。川普經常援引他與習近平之間的「默契」，即中國在他擔任總統期間，不會對台灣動武。川普反覆無常的傾向，正如他最近在美國和伊朗進行談判之際，仍然不惜對伊朗發動襲擊，想必會讓北京如坐針氈。儘管如此，從中國的角度來看，川普願意摒棄將「大國競爭」做為美國政策的核心原則，是值得慶幸的事。

川普在國內採取較為和緩的對中路線，並未付出明顯的政治代價。以短影音平台TikTok為例，在川普重返白宮之前，華府對於禁用這款中國社群媒體程式，幾乎已經達成跨黨派的高度共識。然而，川普對此持不同看法。儘管國會通過禁用TikTok的法律，最高法院也認證該法的合法性，川普還是推翻這項決定。如今，TikTok在全美各地廣泛使用，國會對此幾乎不置一詞。

川普在擘劃對中路線上可以如此率性而為，部分原因在於他的作法更貼近華府以外美國人的心聲：即確保與中國的關係不會失控，雙方不會爆發激烈衝突。對於已經因為烏克蘭和伊朗戰爭而疲憊不堪，又對通貨膨脹、移民和就業問題感到焦慮的美國民眾來說，大國對抗引不起他們的興趣。民調一致顯示，美國人在對中關係上的首要課題，是避免戰爭。

大國對抗 引不起美國人民的興趣民調結果印證了我經常在全美各地對話中聽到的觀點。根據卡內基國際和平基金會（CEIP）最近的一項全國調查，「將近三分之二的受訪者表示，中國目前在全球的實力和影響力，已與美國並駕齊驅，甚至超越美國……甚至有更多美國人認為，中國未來將會超越美國。」

值得注意的是，有高達六十二％的受訪者表示，如果中國的實力超越美國，他們的生活也不會變得更糟。換句話說，華府專家擔心對美國具有戰略災難性的結果，似乎並未在美國一般民眾的心目中，激起相同的警覺。

在最近一次前往西雅圖的行程中，我切身感受到這些動向。我會見學者、學生、公民領袖、企業主管，以及親朋好友。在幾乎每一場關於中國的對話中，問題如出一轍：「我們是否必須與中國開戰？」與我交談的人，更關注中國如何直接影響他們的生活，而不是對美中實力的綜合評估。他們關切的範圍，涵蓋中國對其就業機會的衝擊、網路攻擊、芬太尼（fentanyl）前驅物質的流動，以及他們的子女可能必須在太平洋地區參戰的可能性。

這種菁英與公眾觀點日益擴大的分歧，勢必形塑二〇二八年美國總統大選前的政治辯論。對於共和黨人來說，在競選期間可能很難與川普的對中政策軌跡切割。然而，如果是共和黨候選人贏得大選，對中立場轉趨強硬的可能性很高。川普對他以個人風格推動對中外交的自信，純屬他的獨特作風。

至於民主黨人，這場辯論將會更公開也更激烈。參選人的本能反應，將是主張川普對中國過於軟弱，美國必須採取更具競爭性的姿態，來維護其世界領導地位。其他人則可能試圖更貼近民意，強調有需要管理緊張局勢，避免與中國發生不必要的對抗。如果民眾對美國外交政策菁英的信任進一步下降——尤其是如果對伊朗或其他地方的軍事失策，損害他們在民眾眼中的公信力——後者的路線可能會獲得更多支持。

這些美國內部的辯論，將對台灣產生重大影響。如果外交政策仍主要由菁英偏好所驅動，而且在川普之後出現一位較為傳統的美國領袖，華府可能會重返以戰略競爭為核心的對中政策。或者，如果一位更具民粹色彩的領袖接替川普，美國可能會進一步過渡到管理中國崛起，而非採取對抗姿態。

台灣加強經營跨黨派關係 至關重要對台灣而言，可以從中獲得的啟發之一，是美國政策潛在走向的範圍，現在可能要比過去數十年來的任何時候更為廣泛。有鑑於此，台灣加強經營跨黨派關係將至關重要，而且不僅是在華府，還應該深耕全美各地。台灣若能展現其做為地緣政治穩定者的格局，並樹立在美國打造人工智慧驅動未來的過程中不可或缺的夥伴形象，也將大有助益。

（作者何瑞恩為美國智庫布魯金斯研究所資深研究員、中國中心主任、辜振甫暨辜嚴倬雲台灣研究講座；國際新聞中心陳泓達譯）


title: 初選民調起跑 江啟臣、楊瓊瓔同框盧秀燕

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國民黨台中市長初選於三月二十五至三十一日間進行三天民調，據了解就在昨晚開始進行，兩位競選對手立法院副院長江啟臣與立委楊瓊瓔昨日同框，陪同台中市長盧秀燕贈匾樂成宮，盧致詞祝福時，特別望向江啟臣「今年要參選的，所求如願！」江、楊兩人台上無互動，但江離開時主動向楊打招呼，一派輕鬆。

兩人勤跑基層 盧祝「所求如願」根據國民黨中央與江啟臣、楊瓊瓔所簽協議，初選民調時間為三月最後一周的三天，具體日期不公布，民調內容包含江、楊各自與民進黨參選人何欣純的對比，以及江楊互比，權重各占八十五％與十五％。楊瓊瓔昨天上午在群組發出圖卡，表示民調「就在今晚」；江啟臣被問及民調日期，仍強調「不知道！」

江啟臣、楊瓊瓔昨也陪同盧秀燕贈匾樂成宮，接著與盧到廟埕參加集團婚禮祝福，江與盧併肩一路聊天，楊瓊瓔則在後方牽著廟方董事同行。

江、楊兩人爭取民調出線，各自舉辦多場造勢活動。江啟臣在山海屯及市區舉辦千人見面會，並邀請美國在台協會處長谷立言等國際友人到台中參訪；楊瓊瓔則舉辦萬人造勢晚會，深入市場鄰里與民眾搏感情。

面對民調在即，江啟臣這兩天仍跑勤基層活動，他強調，市民的期待，一定全力以赴，目前就是平常心，用行動認真回應市民的期待，做每天該做的工作，以不辜負台中市民的託付。

楊瓊瓔則持續每天跑十幾個行程，農會、社團、廟會活動都參與，主打「台中的女兒」始終站在第一線，她說，從傳統市場到產業園區都與鄉親並肩在一起，準備好接棒市長的幸福政績邁向國際升級，重申團結勝選、守護台中目標。

people: 盧秀燕 楊瓊瓔 江啟臣 何欣純


taiwan-subdivisions: 豐原 清水 東勢

people: 何欣純 謝志忠 蔡英文

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前總統蔡英文卸任後，仍舊關心台灣地方產業，她繼一月底至台中市東勢民宿過夜後，昨在立委何欣純陪同下，到台中進行兩天一夜訪問。蔡重返二〇一四年擔任民進黨主席期間租屋的豐原「德川家康」社區，與老鄰居茶敘，並向山海線民眾推薦將代表民進黨參選台中市長的何欣純。

蔡任黨主席曾租在德川家康社區二〇一六年總統大選前一天，最重要的車隊遊行，就是從德川家康社區出發，何欣純與市議員謝志忠昨陪同蔡英文參加德川家康社區茶敘，蔡英文時隔十年重返舊時地，吸引逾百名住戶排隊合影。她致詞說，德川家康社區是一個很溫暖的地方，因為以前總選舉選到三更半夜才回來，回到這裡，就有一種回到家的感覺，自己卸任總統後，專程來看看豐原有沒有改變。

蔡英文喜歡貓狗，她也跟住戶分享飼養小動物經驗。由於德川家康社區規定貓狗在社區公設區域不能落地，住戶笑稱，如果蔡搬回來住，她的貓狗可以落地，蔡英文說「我現在不是總統，沒叫特權，這是溫情。」

蔡英文隨後參拜慈濟宮媽祖，與廟方幹部合影，並到訪廟東商圈，受到攤販跟民眾歡迎，有攤販高喊「總統，我愛你！」展現高人氣。蔡英文今天將參加清水鰲峰山健行活動。

title: 何欣純陪蔡回豐原 與老鄰居敘舊


people: 馬英九 謝龍介 柯文哲 黃國昌 賴清德 陳水扁 蔡英文

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民眾黨主席黃國昌稱柯文哲案是政治判決，號召支持者29日上凱道討公道。國民黨團傳出已有超過20位黨籍立委決定出席民眾黨凱道活動，將「全力捍衛柯文哲」。對此，媒體人陳揮文表示，前總統陳水扁弊案，難不成也是「司法不公」、「政治追殺」？他痛批，說穿了，這就是部分國民黨黨公職「雙重標準」，心心念念「藍白合」，想討好柯文哲與小草。過去柯文哲視藍綠為垃圾，「被罵垃圾的部分國民黨黨公職還堅持力挺？那就去吧......。」

陳揮文今日在臉書發文表示，柯文哲弊案其實發生在前總統蔡英文任內，在賴清德執政時，搜索、收押、起訴、判決，目前一審判刑17年。如今，部分國民黨黨公職擬上凱道，替柯文哲喊「司法不公」、「政治追殺」。然而，陳水扁弊案，在馬英九執政時，搜索、收押、起訴、判決，有罪定讞。難不成，海角七億的陳水扁也是「司法不公」？「政治追殺」？

「說穿了，其實是部分國民黨黨公職『雙重標準』！」陳揮文表示。他也痛批出席的藍營人士：「心心念念『藍白合』，想討好柯文哲與小草。」他依照台北地檢署新聞稿其中一段，以台南市長參選人謝龍介為例，舉例表示：即將參選台南市長的他，能否成立「言身寸」公司，先把政治獻金專戶的1500萬元轉入「言身寸」公司，然後，匯款450萬元到謝龍介個人帳戶，其中的244萬元（剛好、好巧阿，每年贈與稅的免稅額）再轉匯到謝龍介家人的證券帳戶？

最後，陳揮文表示，柯文哲在法庭對檢察官摔水杯、丟資料，還爆粗口罵「X」。行徑如此乖張。過去金句「垃圾不分藍綠」更是把國民黨、民進黨視為垃圾，「被罵垃圾的部分國民黨黨公職還堅持力挺？那就去吧......。」

title: 藍黨公職上凱道挺柯！陳揮文提「扁案」開轟：雙標、討好小草


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（中央社華盛頓28日綜合外電報導）Axios新聞網引述消息人士透露，美國國務卿盧比歐27日在七大工業國（G7）外長會議時說，伊朗戰事還會再持續2到4週；盧比歐另與歐盟最高外交官在俄烏議題言詞交鋒。

Axios指出，這等於第一次有美方高層官員暗示，戰爭將超出美國總統川普一直以來稱戰爭時間會在4到6週的範圍。盧比歐（Marco Rubio）當時在會後簡短記者會的說法是美國預期戰爭將在「數週而非數月」內結束。

盧比歐當天還在法國所舉行的G7外長會議聲稱，美國已接近與伊朗展開實質談判。3名消息人士表示，盧比歐告訴其他外長，美國仍是透過中間人與伊朗溝通，而非直接接觸。

消息人士轉述，盧比歐表示由於擔心被定位並遭暗殺，伊朗官員都避免使用手機，這使中間人的聯繫作業變難，導致進度放緩；另一消息人士說，盧比歐還強調美國不需要G7國家協助打通荷莫茲海峽，但希望盟國在戰後加入一支海上特遣隊，負責維持海峽航運正常。

Axios另披露，歐盟外交暨安全政策高級代表卡拉斯（Kaja Kallas）當天在G7外長會議上問盧比歐，美國究竟何時才要對俄羅斯採取更強硬立場時，引發對方強烈回應。

消息人士指出，在討論烏克蘭問題時，向來對俄強硬的卡拉斯批評美國未加大對莫斯科施壓。她提到一年前盧比歐在同一場合曾表示，如果俄國阻撓美國尋求止戰的努力，美方將失去耐心並對俄方施更大壓力。

消息人士轉述，卡拉斯當時對盧比歐說「一年過去了，俄羅斯沒有改變。你們的耐心什麼時候用完？」此時盧比歐明顯感到不悅，提高音量回應「我們正盡最大努力結束戰爭。如果妳認為你們能做得更好，那你們來，我們可以讓位」。

一名消息人士指出，幾名歐洲的外長插話打圓場，表示仍希望美國繼續推動俄烏外交努力；兩名消息人士表示，會議結束後盧比歐與卡拉斯曾短暫私下交談，試圖緩和氣氛。

上週末一個烏克蘭高層代表團再次抵達美國邁阿密，與川普特使魏科夫（Steve Witkoff）及女婿庫許納（Jared Kushner）會面討論和平進程。烏方官員表示，近期都未取得重大進展，很明顯美國注意力完全轉向伊朗。（編譯：陳亦偉）1150329

countries: 伊朗 美國 法國 歐盟 烏克蘭 俄羅斯

title: Axios：盧比歐稱伊朗戰事還要再2到4週 | 國際