Trump’s Monroe Doctrine corollaryBy Liao Ming-hui 廖明輝In the US’ National Security Strategy (NSS) report released last month, US President Donald Trump offered his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine. This is a logic that appeals to the safeguarding of national security, but in reality comes closer to economic nationalism and military expansionist aims. Although packaged as a national security issue, it amounts to a serious blow to regional sovereignty and the international order. With Trump’s statements on the Monroe Doctrine, asserting that it “was very important, but we forgot about it. While the western hemisphere has already become an arena for Trumpism, the chill of the geopolitical storm brewing is starting to be felt worldwide.

Not time to worry about TSMC’s reported expansion in US: ExpertsStaff writer, with CNASpeculation surrounding Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s (TSMC, 台積電) potential expansion in the US should not be overinterpreted, as structural and economic constraints mean such moves are unlikely to weaken Taiwan’s central role in advanced chipmaking in the near future, experts said. The logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co is pictured at the company’s earnings conference in Taipei yesterday. Tech commentator Owen Lin (林宏文) said TSMC’s US investments have always been long-term in nature. TSMC yesterday projected its capital expenditure at between US$52 billion and US$56 billion this year, up 27-37 percent from US$40.9 billion last year. About 60-80 percent of the spending will go toward advanced process development, TSMC chief financial officer Wendell Huang (黃仁昭) said.

US sets 25 percent tariff on select chipsNVIDIA DEAL: US sets 25 percent tariff on select chipsBloombergThe US has imposed a 25 percent tariff on imports of certain advanced semiconductors, a key step in an agreement blessed by US President Donald Trump allowing Nvidia Corp to ship Taiwan-made H200 artificial intelligence (AI) processors to China. The 25 percent tariff applies to “a very narrow category of semiconductors that are an important element of my administration’s AI and technology policies,” the proclamation said. There is an exception for those chips that are imported to support the build-out of the US technology supply chain, it said. Trump signed the measure a day after the US Bureau of Industry and Security eased its criteria for securing licenses to export H200 chips to China. The US must still take additional actions before Nvidia can send the chips to China, including the approval of export licenses by the bureau.

Taiwan, Phoenix ink start-up MOUStaff writer, with CNATaiwan and Phoenix, Arizona, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at expanding cooperation on start-up innovation in semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The agreement, titled the “Taiwan-Phoenix Strategic Technology Partnership,” was signed by Startup Island Taiwan, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Phoenix, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Tesoro VC. The MOU aims to help US start-ups connect with Taiwan’s semiconductor research and development (R&D) and manufacturing ecosystem, while supporting Taiwanese start-ups in using Phoenix as a foothold and launchpad to enter the US market, Startup Island Taiwan said. Startup Island Taiwan is a partnership between the government and a group of start-ups aimed at helping Taiwanese start-ups boost their international presence. The initiative is to focus on AI, semiconductors and advanced packaging, physical AI intelligent systems, advanced manufacturing, photonics, dual-use technologies, and AI-enabled healthcare applications, Startup Island Taiwan said.

Approved FDI up more than 44% in 2025 to US$11.39 billionStaff writer, with CNAThe value of approved foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Taiwan last year reached US$11.39 billion, up 44.98 percent from the previous year, the Department of Investment Review said yesterday. A total of 1,296 new foreign-invested companies had investment in Taiwan approved last year, with the combined investment totaling about US$1.05 billion. As for foreign-bound investments by Taiwanese companies, the department said 69 outbound investment applications were approved in the final month of last year, with total investment of about US$2.13 billion. Last year as a whole, 817 projects were approved, with combined investment of about US$38.43 billion, down 14.47 percent from a year earlier. Investment by Taiwanese companies in China continued to decline, the department said, with 241 projects approved for all of last year putting up combined investment of about US $1.50 billion, down 58.98 percent from a year earlier.

Interview: Trumpf expanding its Taiwan facilitiesSEMICONDUCTORS: The German laser and plasma generator company will expand its local services as its specialized offerings support Taiwan’s semiconductor industries Trumpf SE + Co KG, a global leader in supplying laser technology and plasma generators used in chip production, is expanding its investments in Taiwan in an effort to deeply integrate into the global semiconductor supply chain in the pursuit of growth. The company, headquartered in Ditzingen, Germany, has invested significantly in a newly inaugurated regional technical center for plasma generators in Taoyuan, its latest expansion in Taiwan after being engaged in various industries for more than 25 years. The center, the first of its kind Trumpf built outside Germany, aims to serve customers from Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia and South Korea,By Lisa Wang

Plum blossoms in Taitung County's Luanshan hit by typhoon damageStaff writer, with CNAPlum blossoms are flowering unevenly in Taitung County's Luanshan (鸞山) area because of last year's typhoon damage combined with the area's hilly terrain, an agricultural association official said yesterday. Plum trees that were not hit by strong winds have bloomed normally, while affected trees are flowering later because their newly grown trunks remain tender, said Ho Chieh-chen (何介臣), a standing committee member of the Taitung Organic Agriculture Development Association. Plum blossoms usually flower about one month before the Lunar New Year and this year's season is expected to wind down by early next month, said Ho, who is also a plum farmer. Plum blossoms flower unevenly in Taitung County yesterday. Typhoon damage has also caused a disrupted flowering cycle, with some trees bearing blooming and non-blooming branches at the same time, he said.

Investigation into Taipei attack closes, no charges madeBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAThe Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office today said it has completed its investigation into last month’s stabbing attack at Taipei Main Station and would not press any charges, as the main culprit is dead and is believed to have acted alone. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office today holds a news conference announcing that it would not press charges after last month’s Taipei stabbing attack. Following the incident, the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office instructed district prosecutors’ offices nationwide to specifically handle cases involving online threats, public transportation and public spaces, and to initiate reporting and response measures, they said. As of yesterday, prosecutors’ offices nationwide had investigated 51 related cases, with no evidence linking them to Chang or the Taipei attack, they said. Separately, the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office announced that it has concluded its investigation into Chang on suspicion of contravening the Punishment Act for Violation to Military Service System (妨害兵役治罪條例).

Prosecutors seek to hold mayor incommunicado after deadly floodBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAHualien County prosecutors have asked to hold Guangfu Township (光復) Mayor Lin Ching-shui (林清水) incommunicado on suspicion of negligence in evacuation duties during last year’s Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) flood, which left 19 dead and five missing. The Hualien District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday searched eight locations, including Lin’s home and the township office, summoning Lin and three others for questioning. Guangfu Township Mayor Lin Ching-shui is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Taipei Times file photoLin’s detention is necessary because he poses a risk of colluding with accomplices and witnesses, prosecutors said. Many agencies were involved with the Mataian River disaster, which involved monitoring, alerts, dredging and evacuations, prosecutors said, adding that they would not rule out further searches and questioning.

More US arms sales in the pipeline, vice defense minister saysReporting by Ben Blanchard and Jeanny Kao / Reuters, TAIPEIMore US arms sales to Taiwan are in the pipeline, with four deals pending notification to the US Congress, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) said today, following the announcement of a US$11 billion package last month, the largest ever for the nation. The US is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties. The arms sales announced last month cover eight items, including Lockheed Martin High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and Altius loitering munition drones. Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) would give lawmakers a confidential briefing on Monday next week, and the ministry is happy to share more details, Hsu said. Taiwan has to spend more given the threat, Hsu said.

DPP’s Chen Ting-fei to run for Tainan mayorBy Chen Cheng-yu, Hung Jui-chin and Fion Khan / Staff reporters, with staff writer and CNADemocratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) is set to be nominated by her party as its Tainan mayoral candidate after winning the party's primary. The DPP today announced the results of its telephone poll for the Tainan mayoral primary, with Chen defeating fellow DPP Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) by more than 2 percentage points. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Ting-fei campaigns in Tainan yesterday. Born in Tainan, Chen, 51, has served three terms as a Tainan city councilor and five consecutive terms as a legislator. Chen lost to Huang in the DPP's Tainan mayoral primary in 2018, marking her first electoral defeat.

Taiwan signals tariff deal with US could come soonBy Ben Blanchard, Trevor Hunnicutt and Dagmarah Mackos / Reuters, TAIPEI and WASHINGTONTaiwan today signaled that a tariff deal with the US could come soon, after its negotiators left for the latest round of talks with Washington, saying both sides are expected to announce where they have reached a "consensus." Taiwan, a global semiconductor powerhouse, has been in talks with the US to get the tariff on its exports cut from 20 to 15 percent. Two people familiar with the matter said an announcement on the tariffs deal could come by the end of the month. Under the deal, it is expected that chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) would commit to building more facilities in Arizona, one of the people said. Regarding that new order, Taiwan has previously held multiple discussions with the US and reached a consensus on preferential tariff treatment for semiconductors and related products, the statement said.

Black box of missing F-16V locatedStaff writer, with CNAThe flight data recorder of an F-16V fighter jet that last week disappeared off eastern Taiwan has been located, the air force said today, adding that it would soon deploy a salvage team to try to retrieve it. Although the location of the flight data recorder, also known as the black box, had been pinned down, the aircraft's sole pilot, air force Captain Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅), was still missing, the Air Force Command Headquarters said in a statement. Without providing details, the air force said that it had located the black box days after detecting some intermittent signals and would engage a team of professionals to retrieve it. Members of the Coast Guard Administration search for missing air force Captain Hsin Po-yi in an undated photograph. The air force subsequently set up an emergency response center and launched a search-and-rescue operation, but has not yet been able to find Hsin or the aircraft.

SPEAK UP: Bloomberg : Taipei among the world’s top 25 travel destinations (1/2) 台北入選全球25個旅遊熱點（上）A: Bloomberg just released its annual travel guide, titled “25 Best Places to Travel in 2026.” What were the best Asian destinations? B: There were actually six Asian hotspots: Taiwan’s Taipei, Malaysia’s Penang, Kazakhstan’s Almaty, Indonesia’s Rote Island, India’s Tiger Reserves, and Oman. A: With its mix of traditional food and modern culinary, Taipei has become a rising food capital in Asia. Taipei restaurant Din Tai Fung’s “xiaolongbao.” 台北的「鼎泰豐」小籠包。 Photo: Liberty Times 照片：自由時報B: As Bloomberg reported, “Taiwan is a place that bubbles up in culinary conversation because of its famed beverage, bubble tea, and its early adoption of modern night markets.”A: And Din Tai Fung has now conquered the world with its “xiaolongbao.” Did Bloomberg recommend any local restaurants? A: 彭博旅遊指南公布了《2026年全球25個最佳旅遊地點》，亞洲有哪些地點上榜？B: 亞洲有6個唷，他們是：台灣台北、馬來西亞檳城、哈薩克阿拉木圖、印尼羅特島、印度老虎保護區國家公園、阿曼王國。A: 台北兼具了各類傳統美食與現代餐飲文化，現在已是許多遊客心目中的亞洲美食之都！B: 報導說：「台灣因其知名的珍奶，並打造現代夜市文化，在美食圈中嶄露頭角。」A: 台北的「鼎泰豐」小籠包更是征服全球，彭博有推薦什麼本地餐廳嗎？（By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）

Building a sustainable birthrateBy Tsai Yu-te 蔡育德Taiwan’s low birthrate is no longer an abstract statistical concern, but an unfolding structural crisis. Any form of reproduction that departs from traditional family models is often scrutinized, and questioned on matters of ethics and social consensus. The international reality is that many countries recognized for their commitment to human rights and the rule of law have long permitted surrogacy under a closely regulated system. Unless a particular reproductive method clearly violates human rights or public morals, the state and society should approach it with cautious recognition rather than instinctive rejection. Only by doing so can Taiwan build a truly healthy and sustainable future.