Taipei Times
TAIEX tumbles 2,953.71 points amid tech selloff
Taiwanese stocks suffered a historic rout yesterday as investors locked in gains from the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, triggering a broad-based selloff in technology shares that marked the largest point decline in the TAIEX’s history. The...
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China-born candidates face new rules
People born in China who wish to run for public office must have submitted proof that they their household registration in China had been canceled at least 10 years before registering as candidates, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said yesterday,...
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EMPTY SKYSCRAPERS
Considered the world’s tallest unoccupied building, Tianjin’s Goldin Finance 117 exemplifies China’s ongoing property crisis
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Euthanasia, nuclear vote bills advance
The opposition alliance yesterday advanced proposed referendums on legalizing euthanasia and reactivating nuclear power plants directly to a second reading, moving the motions into the legislature’s formal review process. Should the Legislative Yuan...
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Marines join Taipei defense exercise
The military yesterday began a joint defense exercise featuring Marine Corps units mobilizing to reinforce the Taipei metropolitan area. The five-day exercise simulates scenarios including the detection of hostile vessels entering Taiwan’s territorial...
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Taipei reiterates position on South China Sea issue
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday reiterated the Republic of China’s (ROC) “Four Principles” regarding South China Sea issues, urged all parties to strictly abide by international laws, and opposed unilateral expansionism and actions that...
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Bavi injures 113, leaves hundreds of homes in dark
Typhoon Bavi lashed Taiwan yesterday, injuring 113 people, prompting the evacuation of 14,605 residents and knocking out power in 234,481 households, the government said. Most of the injuries were due to people falling off motorcycles or bicycles due...
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Warning, cancelations issued for storm
The outer rain bands of Typhoon Bavi would begin affecting Taiwan today, with its storm circle reaching land this evening and its level-10 wind radius covering all of northern Taiwan by noon tomorrow, an official said yesterday. The Central Weather...
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Chinese tactics risk new ‘status quo,’ official says
China’s gradually increasing pressure tactics risk creating an entirely new “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait, which the international community might not realize until it is too late, Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Biling (管碧玲) told the...
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President touts democratic cooperation
Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with democratic partners to address the challenges posed by authoritarianism, as China’s continued military and “gray zone” activities have raised widespread international concern, President William Lai...
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Typhoon rocks Saipan; might pass Taiwan by
Typhoon Bavi’s center is looking more likely to pass north of Taiwan than to make landfall in the northern part of the country, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm is still too far away to forecast its exact...
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Opposition to unification keeps growing, poll shows
Despite Beijing intensifying its legal warfare against Taiwan, public opposition to unification with China has grown significantly over the past two decades, with the proportion of Taiwanese who reject unification rising to 61.7 percent this year from...
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President Lai congratulates US on 250th anniversary
Freedom and democracy can help further strengthen Taiwan-US ties, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday as he congratulated the US on its Independence Day, expressing hope for continued deepening of relations based on the Taiwan Relations Act and...
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CREATIVE AND FUN
Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, left, and a junior-high school student, a recipient of this year’s Mayor’s Award, pose during an award ceremony in Tainan yesterday. More than 500 award recipients yesterday took turns striking poses with Huang, with some...
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KMT-TPP drone bills an overstep: Lai
Plans by opposition parties in the legislature to fund defense drone development through the annual budget would violate the division of powers stipulated by the Constitution and disrupt fiscal planning, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. The...
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SCHOOL’S OUT
Newly graduated cadets fling their caps in celebration during the Taiwan Military Academy graduation ceremony in Taipei yesterday.
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ECFA exports to China fall to new low
Taiwan’s exports to China under the Early Harvest Program of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) fell to a record low last year, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday on the agreement’s 16th anniversary. Exports covered by...
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Defense net may be finished this year
Taiwan’s integrated air defense intelligence system is on track to be completed by the end of the year, and, if additional funding is approved, the military aims to deploy it next year, a military source said. The system combines the Huanzhan Project...
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Tsai attends leaders’ summit in Italy
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡 attended a diplomatic outreach in Italy earlier this week, sharing the stage with current and former female leaders around the world, including former US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Ministry of...
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US lawmakers vow support for Taiwan
Members of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday pledged firm support for Taiwan as they welcomed Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) to Washington, at a time when the administration of US President Donald Trump is reviewing a US$14 billion...
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Experts raise concern over China’s ‘ethnic unity’ law
Taiwanese academics and civic groups have raised concerns that extraterritorial provisions in China’s new “ethnic unity” law, set to take effect on Wednesday next week, could expose Taiwanese to legal and political risks. A senior Chinese official...
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Lai touts efforts to protect democracy
The government has launched interministerial mechanisms focused on prevention, protection and response to combat Beijing-directed transnational repression, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks at a seminar on building a...
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Combat readiness exercises launched
Taiwan yesterday launched five days of military drills aimed at boosting its combat readiness in case of a Chinese military attack. The “immediate combat readiness drills” are meant to test how rapidly military units can deploy, especially in the face...
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Expert flags China online poll scheme
A cybersecurity expert has warned of a coordinated social media disinformation campaign, suspected to be a Chinese psychological warfare exercise designed to build networks for manipulating information and influencing this year’s local...
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Lai urges PRC to abandon expansionism
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday urged China to abandon its military expansion in the South and East China seas, and the Taiwan Strait, as well as any use of force against Taiwan. Taiwan remains willing, on the basis of equality and dignity, to...
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MARUKO IN TAIPEI
Visitors take photos at a promotional event before the opening of the “Chibi Maruko-chan” original series’ 40th anniversary special exhibition at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei yesterday. The exhibition opens today and runs through Sept....
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Lai unveils plans for a drone squadron
The army is next month to establish a drone squadron that would be funded by a new special defense budget or supplementary budgets, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai spoke about the drone squadron in an address to military service...
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First F-16V for Taiwan spotted in Texas
The first of Taiwan’s order of F-16V Block 70 aircraft has been sighted in Texas ahead of delivery, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said. Taiwan’s first F-16V Block 70 two-seat aircraft, tail number 6831, was seen...
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Lai vows to work with partners to bolster resilience
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said Taiwan would deepen cooperation with democratic partners to bolster supply chain and economic resilience, while helping maintain regional peace and stability. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Rotary...
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MAC slams CCP’s ‘deceptive’ approach
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday criticized Beijing’s two-pronged “fake integration, real pressure” approach toward Taiwan as deceptive, and said it laid bare its intention to annex the nation. The council issued the remarks after Chinese...
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Taiwan defense bill advances in the US
The US Senate Committee on Armed Services on Thursday approved a defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2027 (FY27), which included a provision that would authorize the US Department of Defense to establish a war reserve stockpile program for...
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Control Yuan nominations announced
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday nominated former Taiwan Association for Human Rights chairman Chen Yung-hsing (陳永興) as president of the Control Yuan and Control Yuan member Wang Jung-chang (王榮璋) as the body’s vice president. Lai also named 27...
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Whipps expresses support for Taiwan
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr expressed strong support for Taiwan during Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) visit to the Pacific ally, saying on Sunday that failure to recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty would call into question the sovereignty of...
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Taiwan underscores maritime rights
Taiwan’s rights over its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone must not be violated by any country, the Mainland Affairs Council said yesterday, adding that it will not accept any unprovoked actions. The council issued the remarks in response...
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US envoy lauds Taiwan’s investments
Taiwan’s continued investment in deterrence and resilience remains vital, especially in uncrewed systems and other emerging technologies, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene said yesterday. Greene made the remarks at the annual...
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PACIFIC GALA
From left, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu, Palau head of mission David Adams Orrukem, Tuvalu Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae, President William Lai, Marshall Islands Ambassador Anjanette Kattil and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin...
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Lai remembers Tiananmen massacre
President William Lai (賴清德) on the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre yesterday wrote on social media that he hoped China could face the incident, acknowledge the truth and work to heal the wounds it left behind. A country’s might is...
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Taiwan on US forced labor tariff list
Taiwan is among 60 economies determined by the US to have failed to impose or enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor, according to a notice released on Tuesday by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), which...
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Taiwan key to AI development: Lai
Taiwan has become indispensable to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) worldwide, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday at the opening of Computex Taipei. Lai said global tech giants had gathered in Taiwan for this year’s Computex,...
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VP Hsiao to visit diplomatic ally Palau
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美 is to embark on a five-day visit to Palau later this week to bolster diplomatic relations with the Pacific ally, the Presidential Office said yesterday. Hsiao is to meet with Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr and...
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China patrols near disputed South China Sea waters
China’s military and coast guard said they yesterday carried out patrols near disputed waters in the South China Sea, a day after the Philippines said it remained under threat from Beijing despite a recent easing in US-China tensions. Philippine and...
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Lai vows to bolster defense, resilience
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said Taiwan would bolster its defense capabilities and economic resilience in response to growing threats from China, emphasizing that the aim is to deter conflict through strength. Lai made the remarks during a...
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Legislature okays NT$8.8bn arms fund
The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved a special defense procurement budget for this year of more than NT$8.811 billion (US$280.75 million) to fund purchases of five US weapons systems. Lawmakers also passed 35 accompanying resolutions, including a...
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US releases Section 232 tariff changes
The US has announced that preferential tariff treatment for Taiwan’s non-semiconductor Section 232 goods would take effect retroactively from May 1, the Executive Yuan said yesterday. The US government yesterday posted a notice on the Federal...
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OTTER PLAY
Two Eurasian otters from Kinmen County are pictured at Taipei Zoo on World Otter Day yesterday. There are estimated to be only about 100 of the critically endangered species in the outlying county due to habitat loss, the zoo said, adding that it has 10.
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Taiwan-Germany ties not subject to PRC: lawmaker
German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group chairman Till Steffen yesterday said that exchanges between democratic nations should not be subject to third-party interference, during a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) in Taipei. During a...
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HISTORIC VENUE
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, fourth right, along with former Industrial Technology Research Institute president Shih Chin-tay, third left, former Global Unichip Corp chairman Tseng Fan-cheng, second left, Fortune Consulting Group chairman James Chew,...
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Coast guards argue in South China Sea
The Taiwanese and Chinese coast guards had a standoff near the strategically located Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島) in the north of the South China Sea, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said yesterday. The two sides engaged in intense...
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People rally in protest of slashed defense spending
More than 8,000 people took part in a rally in Taipei yesterday to express support for more defense spending, after the opposition slashed the Cabinet’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.6 billion) special defense budget and capped it at NT$780...
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Education ministry launches AI Talent Ark
The Ministry of Education yesterday launched a four-year, NT$11.76 billion (US$372.53 million) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Talent Ark Project aimed at cultivating AI literacy among students and attaining a nationwide one-to-one student-totablet...
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US raises pressure with Castro indictment
US prosecutors on Wednesday announced criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro over the 1996 downing of civilian planes flown by Miami-based exiles as the White House escalated pressure on the nation’s socialist government. The...
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Only Taiwan can decide its future: Lai
The future of Taiwan must not be decided by external forces nor can it be held hostage by fear, division or short-term gain, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday in an address marking the second anniversary of his inauguration. Speaking at the...
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LEST WE FORGET
Dancers dressed in black perform at an event held by the 519 Action Coalition along with more than 50 civic organizations at the Liberty Square in Taipei yesterday, urging the legislature to restore White Terror Remembrance Day. The performance was...
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LAST STOP
From left, National Railway Museum preparatory office head Cheng Ming-chang, Top-D Restr Corp president Dai Sheng-tang and Ministry of Culture Department of Cultural Resources Commissioner Chen Hsiu-cheng make the “point-and-confirm” gesture in front...
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ROC not subordinate to PRC, Lai says
The meaning of Taiwanese independence is that “Taiwan is not part of the People’s Republic of China [PRC]” and that “the Republic of China [ROC] and the PRC are not subordinate to each other,” President William Lai (賴清said yesterday. Lai made the...
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Taiwan vows to maintain ‘status quo’
Taiwan is committed to preserving the cross-strait “status quo” and contributing to regional peace and stability, the Presidential Office said yesterday. “It is an undeniable fact that the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent democratic...
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Trump weighs Taiwan arms package
US President Donald Trump yesterday said he has not made a decision on whether to move forward with a major arms package for Taiwan after hearing concerns about it from Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). Trump’s comments on Taiwan came as he flew...
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No surprises at XiTrump talks: MAC
There were no surprises on the first day of the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday, as the government reiterated that cross-strait stability is crucial to...
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Donald Trump vows to push Xi to ‘open up’ China US shrugs off potential breach of ‘assurances’
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he would ask Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to “open up” China to US firms as he headed to Beijing for a summit. “I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to ‘open up’...
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Nursing ratio to be implemented next year: Lai
Amendments to the Medical Care Act (醫療法) stipulating a threeshift nurse-to-patient ratio are to be implemented in phases starting on May 20 next year, President William Lai (賴清德) said at an event observing International Nurses Day yesterday. Lai’s...
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US senators urge expedited arms sale
US senators have reportedly urged US President Donald Trump to move ahead with a Taiwan arms sale package that has been delayed ahead of his upcoming visit to China. Trump is expected to arrive in Beijing today for a summit with Chinese President Xi...
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HIMARS to be deployed to islands
A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) would be deployed to Penghu County and Dongyin Island (東引) in Lienchiang County (Matsu) to force the Chinese military to retreat at least 100km from the coastline, a military source said...
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Cuts to budget ‘concession’ to China: US
While welcoming the Legislative Yuan’s approval of a supplementary defense budget, the US Department of State said that further delays to Taiwan military spending are a “concession” to China. The remarks came after the legislature on Friday passed the...
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Taiwan to open to Paraguayan poultry, Lai says
Taiwan is to open its market to Paraguayan poultry imports as the two nations continue to deepen bilateral economic ties, President William Lai (賴清德) announced yesterday following a ceremony in Taipei welcoming Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. The...
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CDC seeks to confirm whether Taiwanese on ‘Hondius’
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it is verifying whether any Taiwanese passengers were aboard the hantavirus-hit MV cruise ship, adding that it has established a task force to monitor the outbreak overseas and coordinate preventive...
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HOMEWARD BOUND
Coast Guard Administration personnel and experts from the Taiwan Cetacean Society yesterday release four melon-headed whales stranded near Bali beach in New Taipei City back to sea after assessing their condition.
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State visits are a basic right: president
Bilateral visits between heads of state are a “basic right” and should not be seen as “breakthroughs,” President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday upon returning from a delayed trip to the Kingdom of Eswatini. “Some media outlets described [overcoming]...
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Premier directs ministries to assist shipping companies US denies Iran struck navy ship in new Hormuz
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday instructed ministries to coordinate assistance for Taiwanese shipping firms whose vessels were stranded due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and the US. In a news release, the Cabinet said the...
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President Lai, King Mswati reaffirm ties
President William Lai (賴清德) and King Mswati III on Saturday reaffirmed diplomatic ties during the first day of Lai’s visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini, after an earlier trip to Taiwan’s sole African ally was suspended due to revoked overflight...
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Lai lands in Eswatini despite revoked flight permits
President Willaim Lai (賴清德) yesterday arrived in Eswatini, more than a week after his planned visit to Taiwan’s sole African ally was suspended because of revoked overflight permits. “The visit, originally scheduled for April 22, was postponed due to...
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Workers march for a reform of pension system
Labor groups and unions rallied on Workers’ Day yesterday, calling for pension reform to prevent poverty among older people caused by wage polarization and structural unemployment. They demanded that pensions be increased and the labor insurance’s...
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Budget is key to defense plans: official
The government’s special defense budget is key to the armed forces’ plans to augment command and control, lethality, defense resilience and full-domain awareness, a top Ministry of National Defense official told a Cabinet meeting yesterday. The...
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President details income tax reductions
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday detailed cuts to income tax and excises aimed at improving workers’ livelihoods ahead of the tax filing period, which starts tomorrow. Lai, who is chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, made the remarks at...
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Coast guard overhaul planned, Lai says
The government is planning a major coast guard overhaul to counter growing “gray zone” threats from China, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during the Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) inaugural “National Sea Light...
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Four sentenced for spying on TSMC
A former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) engineer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in leaking trade secrets involving the company’s advanced 2-nanometer process, a court ruled yesterday. The Intellectual Property...
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