Taipei Times
Chinese drone enters Pratas airspace
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday condemned an intrusion by a Chinese drone into the airspace of the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島) as a serious disruption of regional peace. The ministry said it detected the Chinese surveillance and...
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US tariffs lowered to 15% with no stacking: Cabinet
The US has agreed to lower tariffs on Taiwanese goods from 20 percent to 15 percent, without stacking them on existing mostfavored-nation (MFN) rates, the Executive Yuan said yesterday, adding that Taiwan has also become the first country to secure the...
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Trade team heads to US for tariff talks
Taiwan’s trade negotiation team, led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭 and chief trade negotiator Minister Without Portfolio Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮), has departed for the US for a new round of in-person trade talks that officials say are in the final...
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Taiwan, US reach consensus on tariffs
Taiwan and the US have reached a broad consensus on a trade deal, the Executive Yuan’s Office of Trade Negotiations said yesterday, after a report said that Washington is set to reduce Taiwan’s tariff rate to 15 percent. The New York Times on Monday...
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GOOD WISHES
Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions slugger Lin An-ko, center, gestures at a gathering with fans at the Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium yesterday. The team sponsored the event for Lin ahead of his departure to Japan to play for the Saitama Seibu Lions in...
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Budget delay might force borrowing
Six local governments might be forced to borrow due to a funding shortfall of NT$299.2 billion (US$9.48 billion) due to opposition lawmakers blocking this year’s budget, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮said yesterday. This year marks the first time in...
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EQUINE INSTALLATION
A New Taipei City Government official sets up an inflatable horse as one of several themed installations marking the Year of the Horse at Fort Santo Domingo in Tamsui District yesterday.
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Military have plan to protect Lai: Hsu
The armed forces have response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a...
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US to ‘run’ Venezuela after Maduro seizure
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in a New York jail on Saturday, hours after US special forces seized him and flew him out of his country — which US President Donald Trump said would come under effective US control. Trump’s announcement...
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China accused of ‘doxxing’ Puma Shen
The government yesterday accused China of transnational repression after Chinese state media and social media accounts widely circulated personal information about Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), including satellite...
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MARINE WONDER
People visit the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Pingtung County in an undated photograph. The museum received the “Animal Welfare Certi��cation” at the Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association’s annual conference in Singapore....
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Lai urges unity on national defense
President William Lai (賴清德), in his New Year’s Day address yesterday, urged the opposition parties to put national security before partisan politics and swiftly pass a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.76 billion) special defense budget amid China’s “rising...
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Lai urges unity on day two of PLA drills
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday urged unity as China’s latest large-scale military drills around Taiwan entered their second day, accusing Beijing of escalating regional tensions. “The Chinese Communist Party has continued to escalate military...
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Taiwan slams China’s ‘provocation’
The Presidential Office yesterday condemned China’s launch of another military drill around Taiwan, saying such actions are a “unilateral provocation” that destabilizes regional peace and stability. China should immediately stop the irresponsible and...
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DPP legislators propose security bills
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers have proposed amendments to the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法) to address financial flows of “gray zone actors” and counter Beijing’s efforts to infiltrate Taiwan by funding local social media influencers for...
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Israeli move opens room for cooperation: MOFA
Israel recognizes that Somaliland provides an opportunity for trilateral cooperation between Taiwan, Israel and Somaliland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday, adding that Taipei would continue to seek more cooperative opportunities...
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AI MATCHMAKING
Pet owners and their pets pose for a photograph at a news conference hosted by the New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office in the city yesterday. The office announced it has collaborated with the Ministry of Digital Affairs to...
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Asfura named the winner in Honduras
Taiwan has “direct contact” with Honduras’ new president-elect, and with the assistance of the US, the restoration of formal diplomatic relations is “something to look forward to,” a senior foreign affairs official said yesterday. The National Party...
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Lai urges solidarity after knife attack
The Taipei metro knife attack last week was a reminder of solidarity and vigilance, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, in a call to improve Taiwan’s emergency response capabilities. He made the remarks in his opening speech for a...
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Lai, LDP lawmaker vow to boost ties
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan can deepen cooperation in various fields and work together to maintain a free and open IndoPacific region. Lai made the remarks while welcoming a delegation led by Japanese...
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Events get extra security after Taipei knife attacks
Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents,...
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Police to be deployed to crowded areas
The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴 said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the...
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Suspect and two more dead after attacks in MRTs
A 27-year-old suspect allegedly threw smoke grenades in Taipei Main Station and then proceeded to Zhongshan MRT Station in a random killing spree that resulted in the death of the suspect and two other civilians, and six injured, including one in...
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Taiwan to soon apply for hep C certification: Lai
Taiwan is to apply for WHO certification by the end of this year for meeting the global body’s hepatitis C elimination goal five years ahead of schedule, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Taiwan was the first country to launch a universal...
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Ann Kao not guilty of corruption: court
The High Court yesterday found suspended Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) not guilty of embezzling assistant fees, reducing her sentence to six months in prison commutable to a fine from seven years and four months. The verdict acquitted Kao of the...
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Cho not endorsing allocation changes
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday announced that the Cabinet would not countersign the amendments to the local revenue-sharing law passed by the Legislative Yuan last month. Cho said the decision not to countersign the amendments to the Act...
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JAPANESE DANCE
Crowds watch a Japanese Awa Odori troupe’s performance in Taoyuan yesterday. The performance was part of an event organized by the Taoyuan Jingfu Temple that included a market and other performances, attracting more than 30,000 people.
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Revenue allocation change blocked
The Presidential Office and the Executive Yuan have decided on “no countersignature and no promulgation” of an amendment to a government revenue allocation law passed by the Legislative Yuan, sources said yesterday, which would be a first in the...
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Taiwan touts cloud computing center
Taiwan yesterday launched its first national cloud computing center, demonstrating the government’s determination to join the global race to build sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and marking its first step to push for “10 Major AI...
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Military announces loans program
New military hardship loans would start next month to counter Chinese espionage efforts targeting economically vulnerable military service members, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. The announcement comes on the heels of multiple legal...
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Penalties for cable damage tightened
The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved punitive sentences of up to seven years in prison for people convicted of intentionally damaging undersea cables or pipelines, while the vessels involved could be confiscated. Earlier this year, the captain of...
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KMT halts controversial stipends proposal
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday decided to shelve proposed legislation that would give elected officials full control over their stipends, saying it would wait for a consensus to be reached before acting. KMT Legislator Chen...
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Chinese military aircraft lock on to Japanese jets
Japan and Australia urged calm yesterday after Chinese military aircraft locked radar on Japanese fighter jets, a month after the Japanese leader’s remarks on Taiwan that stirred tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. Japanese Minister of Defense...
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Lai reiterates commitment to defense
Taiwan reiterated its commitment to bolstering its self-defense to uphold regional peace, as ranking officials expressed appreciation to the US for prioritizing deterring a conflict over Taiwan and highlighting the importance of the security of the...
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Deterring Taiwan conflict a priority: US
Deterring conflict over Taiwan is a priority, the White House said in its National Security Strategy published yesterday, which also called on Japan and South Korea to increase their defense spending to help protect the first island chain. Taiwan is...
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Taipei, partners seek to deter attack: Lai
President William Lai (賴清德) in a US media interview said that Taiwan is “working side by side” with other democracies to deter a Chinese invasion, and “robust preparations are the best way to avoid war and achieve peace.” Speaking in a prerecorded...
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Trump signs bill on Taiwan into law
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which requires the US Department of State to regularly review and update guidelines governing official US interactions with Taiwan. The new law is an...
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Opposition blocks NT$1.25tn defense budget bill
Opposition lawmakers yesterday blocked a bill authorizing a special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.8 billion) from being placed on the agenda for Friday’s Legislative Yuan plenary session as they urged President William Lai (賴清德) to appear...
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FIGHTING AIDS
Centers for Disease Control Director-General Philip Lo, second right, joins drag queens Chiang Wei, left, Bagel Rim, second left, and Hannah Monina, right, to mark World AIDS Day in Taipei yesterday.
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Military disloyalty not free speech: DPP
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers have proposed revising military laws to stipulate that any active-duty military personnel who express allegiance to the enemy could face two to seven years in prison, adding that soldiers’ loyalty to the...
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Beijing building bases on coast: MAC
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is building large-scale military infrastructure at five sites along the eastern coast of China, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a recent report. The latest issue of the council’s Mainland China Situation...
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Cabinet advances tax exemption plans
The Executive Yuan yesterday advanced proposed increases to the tax-exempt income threshold for some categories, as well as expanded tax deductions for energy-efficient appliances, sugar-free beverages and upgrading to new vehicles. The Ministry of...
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Lai unveils NT$1.25tn defense budget
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday announced a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.9 billion) special defense budget, which includes funding for a “Taiwan dome” air defense system with high-level detection and interception capabilities. The funds would be...
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‘Reunification’ not an option: premier
“Reunification” with China is “not an option” for Taiwan, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday, after Chinese state media reported that the issue was brought up in a telephone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and US President Donald...
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Japan to deploy missiles on Yonaguni
Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi, visiting a military base close to Taiwan, said plans to deploy missiles to the post would move forward as tensions smolder between Tokyo and Beijing. “The deployment can help lower the chance of an armed...
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DRAGON CHEER
The Dragon Beauties, cheerleaders for the Wei Chuan Dragons baseball team, pose for a photograph before a signing session at a Wei Chuan Dragons fan event at the Taipei Arena yesterday.
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IPAC vows to combat China’s moves
A coalition of lawmakers from around the world would support bills and measures to counter China-backed transnational repression in their nations, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers said yesterday. Members of the Interparliamentary Alliance...
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Thousands evacuated ahead of storm
Authorities yesterday evacuated more than 3,000 people ahead of approaching Tropical Storm Fungwong, which is expected to make landfall between Kaohsiung and Pingtung County this evening. Fung-wong was yesterday morning downgraded from a typhoon to a...
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Sea alert raised as Fungwong moves northward
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued a sea alert for Typhoon Fung-wong (鳳 as it threatened vessels operating in waters off the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), the Bashi Channel and south of the Taiwan Strait. A land alert...
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MAC condemns CCTV intimidation
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday condemned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for attempts to intimidate Taiwanese through “transnational repression.” The council issued the remarks after state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV)...
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VP delivers historical speech in Brussels
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭 made history on Friday as the first Taiwanese vice president to deliver a speech in a European parliament while in office, addressing the annual summit of the InterParliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) in...
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Taiwan sets NDC target ahead of COP
Taiwan has set a nationally determined contributions (NDC) target of 36 percent to 40 percent by 2035 ahead of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in line with the international community,...
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Executive Yuan approves NT$10bn tourism proposal
The Executive Yuan yesterday approved a proposal to invest NT$10 billion (US$323.1 million) in domestic and international tourism to spur NT$122.6 billion of economic growth in the sector, the Tourism Administration said. The four-year plan — which...
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Pork transport, slaughter ban to end today, tomorrow
Taiwan is to lift a nationwide ban on live pig transport at noon today, with slaughter, pig auctions and carcass transport to resume at midnight tomorrow, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced yesterday, as the nation is close to eliminating its...
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China triples detentions of Taiwanese
The number of Taiwanese detained because of legal affairs by Chinese authorities has tripled this year, as Beijing intensified its intimidation and division of Taiwanese by combining lawfare and cognitive warfare, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC)...
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China will not attack Taiwan: Trump
US President Donald Trump said that China would not take military action against Taiwan while he is president, as the Chinese leaders “know the consequences.” Trump made the statement during an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes program that aired on...
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Report details arms delivery status
While several US arms procurements are facing delays, 18 sets of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) are expected to arrive ahead of schedule by the end of next year, a Ministry of National Defense report showed. The ministry is to...
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Groups call for greater carbon reduction efforts
The government should step up its efforts to reduce carbon and adapt to climate developments to enhance climate justice and resilience in Taiwan, environmental activists said at a rally in Taipei yesterday. The groups estimated that more than 1,000...
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No ‘one country, two systems,’ Lai says
Taiwan does not want China’s “one country, two systems,” and must uphold its freedom and democracy as well as resolve to defend itself, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, rejecting Beijing’s latest bid to bring the country under Chinese...
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Xi, Trump differ on outcome of talks
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習 and US President Donald Trump had differing takes following their meeting in Busan, South Korea, yesterday. Xi said that the two sides should complete follow-up work as soon as possible to deliver tangible results that...
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Minister thanks Trump and Takaichi
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chialung (林佳龍) yesterday thanked US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for supporting peace in the Taiwan Strait, a day after the two at a summit in Tokyo emphasized the importance of...
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Taiwan unveils undersea cable security initiative
The government yesterday launched an initiative to promote global cooperation on improved security of undersea cables, following reported disruptions of such cables near Taiwan and around the world. The Management Initiative on International Undersea...
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EUROPEAN GET-TOGETHER
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, front third left, and Rihards Kols, chair of the Formosa Club annual conference, front third right, pose for a group photograph with attendees of the Formosa Club’s annual conference at a news conference in...
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HAKKA CELEBRATION
People dressed in traditional Hakka clothing take part a parade in Taipei yesterday. The parade was part of the three-day Taipei Hakka Yimin Festival, an annual event to promote the diverse and rich aspects of Hakka culture in Taiwan.
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Lai unveils defense special budget plan
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said his administration would unveil a special budget for investing in domestic asymmetric weapons production and supply chain resilience to counter the military threat posed by China. Lai made the remarks in a...
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GREEN TRANSITION
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, front row, sixth left, and other guests attend the Taiwan Climate Action Expo at Kaohsiung's Pier 2 Art Center yesterday. Chen said that as Kaohsiung accounts for one-fifth of Taiwan's carbon emissions, the city bears a...
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Hog slaughter ban to last at least 15 days, official says
A ban on transporting and slaughtering pigs would last at least 15 days after African swine fever was detected at a Taichung hog farm, as that is the incubation period for the virus that causes the disease, Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季)...
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African swine fever detected in Taichung
The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday issued a five-day nationwide ban on transporting and slaughtering pigs after African swine fever was confirmed at a hog farm in Taichung’s Wuci District (梧棲) on Tuesday evening. The detection means Taiwan has lost...
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Taiwan, US in close contact: official
Taipei is in close contact with Washington to make sure its interests are protected ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), who are expected to also discuss Taiwan, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
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‘One China’ not key to peace: president
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said that it would be impossible to achieve cross-strait peace simply by accepting the so-called “1992 consensus” and Beijing’s “one China” principle. Lai made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Overseas...
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Urban mining could evade China’s grip
Taiwan could deal with China’s tightened export controls on rare earth metals by turning to “urban mining,” a researcher said yesterday. Rare earth metals, which are used in semiconductors and other electronic components, could be recovered from...
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BELL WINNERS
Actors Rhydian Vaughan, left, and Candy Yang pose with their awards for best male and female lead in a television miniseries at the Golden Bell Awards at the Taipei Music Center yesterday. Vaughn starred in the 2024 Netflix series “The Cleaner,” while...
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Lai vows to enhance combat readiness
The nation’s armed forces would comprehensively enhance their combat capabilities, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday aboard the navy’s Tsoying (左營) destroyer, just hours after the conclusion of the military’s annual Hai Chiang (海強, “Sea...
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WINNING GRINS
President William Lai, back center, poses for a selfie with members of the Taipei Municipal Beitou Junior High School girls’ softball team at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday. The team won the Babe Ruth Softball 16U World Series in Florence,...
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ADULT DAYCARE
Members of an adult daycare center hold a book on adult daycare principles and guidelines at a book launch event in Pingtung County yesterday. The Pingtung County Government and National Cheng Kung University coauthored the new book, which focuses on...
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