Nvidia’s Huang touts OpenAI investmentCONCERNS: Tech companies investing in AI businesses that purchase their products have raised questions among investors that they are artificially propping up demand Nvidia Corp chief executive officer Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) on Saturday said that the company would be participating in OpenAI’s latest funding round, describing it as potentially “the largest investment we’ve ever made.” “We will invest a great deal of money,” Huang told reporters while visiting Taipei. “I believe in OpenAI. The work that they do is incredible. They’re one of the most consequential companies of our time.” Huang did not say exactly how much Nvidia might contribute, but described the investment as “huge.” “Let Sam announce how much he’s going to raise — it’s for him to decide,” Huang said, referring to OpenAI

Farmer detained over illegal disposal of dead poultryStaff writer, with CNAA Taichung egg farm operator was yesterday detained by prosecutors and held incommunicado on suspicion of illegally disposing of chickens that died following an avian influenza outbreak. The Taichung District Court approved the detention, finding that the farmer, surnamed Yun (雲), operator of Fengkang Egg Ranch in the city’s Fongyuan District (豐原), met the legal grounds and necessity for custody. Disease prevention workers get ready to disinfect an egg farm in Taichung’s Fongyuan District on Thursday. Prosecutors searched the farm and Yun’s residence, and questioned Yun, two employees and Yen. Yen is suspected of illegally allowing hazardous waste to be dumped and buried on his land without approval from authorities, prosecutors said.

Taipei international book fair opens, focus on ThailandStaff writer, with CNAThe Taipei International Book Exhibition (TiBE) opened yesterday. It is the 34th edition of Taiwan’s largest international book event of the year. The exhibition, taking place at Taipei World Trade Center, runs through Sunday, featuring 509 booths from 29 countries and more than 60 international authors, co-organizer Taipei Book Fair Foundation said in a statement yesterday. People walk among booths at the Taipei International Book Exhibition at the Taipei World Trade Center yesterday. At least 18 Thai writers are expected to attend, including Veeraporn Nitiprapha, the first Thai writer to receive the Southeast Asian Writers Award twice, and former Thai parliamentarian Pita Limjaroenrat, the foundation said.

China unity talks ‘premature,’ KMT saysDIALOGUE HOPES: KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun said that the most important task was to establish a peace framework, if it is also acceptable to Taiwan and ChinaBy Lin Hsin-han, Hollie Younger and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writers and CNAChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) told The Economist in an interview that she considers talks on peaceful unification with China “premature,” the party said in a statement yesterday. Cheng spoke about cross-strait peace, national identity, national defense and security, and US-China relations in the interview, the statement said. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun speaks at the party’s Central Standing Committee meeting in Tapei on Wednesday last week. She said she hopes for exchanges and dialogue with China, including meeting with Xi, as she advocates for cross-strait reconciliation. The so-called “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese government that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.

Personal imports of cosmetics, lenses banned from salesBy Tsai Kai-hung, Huang Liang-chieh and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writerThe Taipei and Kaohsiung city governments yesterday warned the public against bringing in contact lenses and cosmetic products from abroad and selling them online domestically, with violators facing fines of up to millions of New Taiwan dollars. The Taipei Department of Health said that pharmaceutical items or medical equipment brought from abroad should be for personal use only, and the quantities of approved pharmaceuticals or medical equipment should be within reasonable limits. Items bought by travelers abroad cannot be sold on Shopee, Facebook, Line or other shopping platforms, it said. Sale of medical equipment without a license is punishable by a fine of up to NT$1 million (US$31,676), it said. Ampoules imported in this manner cannot be used to sell cosmetic items, it added.

Lin Rong San biography shows his love for TaiwanBy Tung Po-ting / Staff reporterA biography of Lin Rong San (林榮三), the late founder of the Taipei Times and its sister newspaper, the Chinese-language Liberty Times, has been published, serving as a reminder of his love for Taiwan and his hope that Taiwanese would cherish this love from “generation to generation.”Titled Lin Rong San and Taiwan (林榮三與台灣), the book was edited and published by the Lin Rong San Foundation of Culture and Social Welfare to mark the 10th anniversary of his passing. It moves on to describe the transformations in different stages of his life and his influence on Taiwan. The cover of the biography of Liberty Times Group founder Lin Rong San is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the Lin Rong San Foundation of Culture and Social WelfareLin, the founder of the Liberty Times Group, the Union Group and the foundation, had served as a legislator, member of the Control Yuan, national policy adviser to the president and senior adviser to the president. The foundation is accepting public requests for free copies of the book.

Car window tint rules start on Feb. 28NEW VEHICLES: Drivers whose cars fail to comply with visible light transmittance rules may be fined NT$1,800 or have their license suspended or plates revokedBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterStarting on Feb. 28, newly registered vehicles would be required to meet new window tint standards, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. Thirty-nine window tint manufacturers have filed for compliance certification, of which 29 have been certified, it added. After Feb. 28, new car window tint standards should be followed when registering new vehicles, as well as in subsequent annual vehicle inspections, the bureau said. He said that new drivers could apply non-compliant window tint films during this five-year period, which could compromise road safety. It should also consider setting a date when existing motor vehicles must also begin following new window tint standards, he said.

Banks instructed to freeze ‘high-risk’ accounts of departed foreignersStaff writer, with CNATaiwan’s financial regulator has instructed banks to freeze suspected mule accounts held by foreign nationals who depart under certain circumstances, provided a review deems the action necessary to prevent fraud, an official confirmed yesterday. Bank accounts registered to foreign nationals who leave Taiwan under one of four designated scenarios will be flagged as high-risk for potential misuse as mule accounts, said an official with the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC). Photo: Kelson Wang, Taipei TimesStarting in January, banks have been required to cross- reference accounts against a list of departed foreign nationals provided by the National Immigration Agency (NIA) and may exercise discretion to freeze those accounts following a review, the official said. While the policy applies to all foreign nationals, in practice it is primarily aimed at migrant workers from Southeast Asian countries, in response to reports of fraud rings using the accounts of workers who have departed Taiwan to commit crimes. When asked how quickly accounts would be frozen after a holder leaves Taiwan, the FSC official did not provide a specific timeline, noting that the speed of account freezes depends on cross-referencing NIA lists and fraud risk reviews.

MOFA warns on getting involved in scams abroadVISA ABUSE: There has been an uptick in the number of Taiwanese arrested in visa-free nations for involvement in scams and other illegal activitiesBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterSix Taiwanese were arrested last month in South Korea for allegedly engaging in scams, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday, urging the public not to take advantage of visa-free privileges to conduct illegal activities in other countries. “Six Taiwanese were arrested in South Korea [over alleged involvement in] scamming-related cases last month, and another Taiwanese was arrested for [allegedly] taking unauthorized photos of military facilities,” Hsiao said. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei speaks at a news conference at the ministry in Taipei yesterday. Travelers who frequently visit Thailand and stay for long periods of time, but are unable to clearly explain their itinerary might be denied entry, the ministry said. If they have doubts about the jobs, they can call the government’s “165” anti-fraud hotline for inquiry, he said.

Speeches by KMT and CCP align at forum in BeijingBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Deputy Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤) both spoke about upholding the so-called “1992 consensus,” opposing Taiwanese independence and “rejuvenating the Chinese nation” as pillars of cross-strait relations at a KMT-Chinese Communist Party (CPP) forum in Beijing yesterday. The forum, titled “Prospects for Cross-Strait Exchange and Cooperation,” was held at the China World Hotel. The forum focused on three topics: cross-strait tourism, industrial exchanges and environmental sustainability cooperation, Song said in his opening remarks. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Deputy Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen speaks at a KMT-Chinese Communist Party forum in Beijing yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)The KMT and the CCP are responsible for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and protecting the “Chinese homeland,” Song added.

Seven avian flu outbreaks last month: CDCBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterSeven outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) were reported last month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday, urging poultry farm workers to enhance protective measures and offering the public tips on avoiding the novel influenza A virus. Avian influenza outbreaks peak during winter, especially between December and March the following year, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠) said. As of Friday last week, seven avian influenza A(H5N1) outbreaks had been reported at poultry farms this year, he said. The CDC encourages people to prevent novel influenza A virus infections by implementing the “five do’s and six don’ts,” Lin said. There were also 25 cases of severe flu and one flu-related death reported between Tuesday last week and Monday, she added.

Missile plans await fundingBy Lo Tien-pin and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Ministry of National Defense is ready to move forward with mass production of Tien Kung IV (天弓, Sky Bow) missiles, if lawmakers authorize the funds, a defense official said yesterday on condition of anonymity. The ministry has secured suppliers and manufacturers to source at least two air defense systems and 128 missiles for an estimated NT$36.6 billion (US$1.16 billion) from the stalled special defense budget, the official said. The project is developing the Tien Kung V, an air defense system with a hoped-for interception altitude of 100km, they said. Transcom Inc, a major player in the Chiang Kung project, told investors late last year that the company expects the government to place orders next month for Tieng Kung III and IV missiles. Military demand for the systems would surge next year, the company said, citing projections of the time.

Final batch of M1A2T tanks to be delivered soon, source saysThe manufacture of the remaining 28 M1A2T Abrams tanks Taiwan purchased from the US has recently been completed, and they are expected to be delivered within the next one to two months, a source said yesterday. The Ministry of National Defense is arranging cargo ships to transport the tanks to Taiwan as soon as possible, said the source, who is familiar with the matter. The estimated arrival time ranges from late this month to early next month, the source said. The 28 Abrams tanks make up the third and final batch of a total of 108 tanks, valued at about NT$40.5 billion

Taiwan, US eyeing supply chain, drone plans: Lai‘INDISPENSaBLE’ PARTNERS: Taiwan would accelerate aligning its trade standards with international norms, creating a predictable legal realm, the president saidBy Chen Yun / Staff reporterTaiwan and the US are preparing to establish working groups to advance initiatives in critical areas such as supply chain resilience and drone system certification, with the aim of building a secure and resilient supply chain, President William Lai (賴清德) told a news conference at the Presidential Office yesterday as he unveiled three key strategic directions for bilateral cooperation. The three key strategic directions for Taiwan-US cooperation are “strengthening economic security, fostering an innovation economy and securing a prosperous future,” he said. Moving forward, the two governments would set up working groups to develop a safer, more resilient supply chain, he said. Taiwan and the US are highly complementary strategic partners and together they aim to build an innovation-driven economy, Lai said. Asked about supply chain security, Kung said that the two sides also discussed ensuring the security of AI supply chains.

TPP’s Li sworn in and vows loyaltyBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNATaiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀), who was sworn in yesterday, said that her application to renounce her Chinese citizenship was not accepted by authorities in her hometown, adding that she is loyal to the Republic of China (ROC) and its Constitution. Li was among six people who the Central Election Commission on Sunday certified to fill at-large legislative seats due to the TPP’s two-year legislator-at-large clause. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator-at-Large Li Zhenxiu shows her Republic of China passport at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. No Chinese spouse has successfully renounced their Chinese citizenship when it is to gain a Taiwanese identity, Li said, citing the Mainland Affairs Council. Li said she would forward the document rejecting her application to renounce her Chinese citizenship to the ministry to show that renouncing Chinese citizenship is not so simple.