Regime risk is constraining the CCPBy Simon H. Tang 湯先鈍International debate on Taiwan is obsessed with “invasion countdowns,” framing the cross-strait crisis as a matter of military timetables and political opportunity. Beijing is constrained not by a lack of capability, but by an acute fear of regime-threatening military failure. If Xi cannot trust his hand-picked military leadership, he cannot trust them with a high-stakes war where failure could trigger a blame cascade and threaten the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) survival. These tactics allow the CCP to impose cumulative costs on Taiwan while controlling the domestic narrative and avoiding the “all-or-nothing” gamble of a full-scale invasion. Third is crisis stability: bolstering communication channels to prevent miscalculations from spiraling into the war the CCP fears.

A MOVEMENT’S FAST GROWTHAn anonymous protester wearing “destruction of commie” cap on Jan. 10 in Seoul, South Korea. Lee Saya, a Student at Jeonbuk University, majoring in art, and a member of “Free University,” an anti-China protest organizer is pictured on Jan. 19 in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: Don HuhAnti-China sentiment in South Korea has been building for more than a decade. As a result, some Taiwanese tourists now wear badges stating “I am Taiwanese” while visiting South Korea. As anti-China sentiment increasingly moves from opinion polls to the streets, the protests are evolving from purely political concerns into cultural and everyday-life issues.

Military plans to build submarine rescue shipStaff writer, with CNAThe military is planning to build a submarine rescue vessel after the completion of its first domestically built submarine prototype, a Ministry of National Defense report said. The funds would be allocated by the navy to build a vessel that would boost its submarine rescue capabilities, the report said. The indigenous submarine Hai Kun is pictured in an undated photograph. The report was released a day after Taiwan’s first indigenous defense submarine prototype, the Hai Kun (海鯤), or “Narwhal,” began its long-awaited submerged tests. When the Hai Kun is completed, a second submarine is scheduled to be built by next year, the ministry said.

Child exploitation tops list of 2025 sexual health newsBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAA significant increase in child sexual exploitation cases topped a list of the 10 most impactful sexual and reproductive health news stories from last year, announced today by sex education advocacy groups. They advocated for more comprehensive sexual education that focuses not only on anatomy, but interpersonal relationships and emotional awareness. Sex education advocacy groups hold a news conference in Taipei today. The top-voted story of last year was that child and youth sexual exploitation cases increased 2.2-fold from 2017 to 2024, while complaints involving sexual images of children last year increased eightfold compared with 2023. The story reflects a shift of child sexual exploitation into the digital sphere, while perpetrators exploit trust or intimate relationships to groom and emotionally manipulate victims, Taiwan Association for Sexuality Education board supervisor Yang Tsung-tsai (楊聰財) said.

KMT to act as industry advocate, peacemaker on Beijing trip: vice chairStaff writer, with CNAA Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) delegation traveling to Beijing for a think tank exchange with the Chinese Communist Party would focus on advocating for Taiwanese companies and advancing peace, KMT Vice Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) said today. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen speaks at an event in Taipei on Monday last week. Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei TimesThe delegation would also attend a dinner hosted by China's Taiwan Affairs Office tonight, and visit Tsinghua University on Wednesday before returning to Taiwan, Hsiao said. However, the KMT delegation's visit to China would not focus on political issues, Hsiao said. Most members of the delegation are not KMT members, but rather "academics and experts" across a range of professional fields in which Taiwan "needs to make a breakthrough," Lee said.

Nvidia CEO promises to attend Computex Taipei in JuneStaff writer, with CNAVisiting Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) today confirmed he would return to Taiwan in June to attend the annual Computex Taipei expo, where the company plans to make multiple announcements and he would deliver a keynote address. Huang arrived in Taiwan last week and hosted a dinner for key Taiwanese suppliers in Taipei on Saturday. Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang, center, walks in Taipei yesterday. "This is going to be a super busy year for me," he said, adding that he would definitely attend this year's Computex Taipei, scheduled for June 2 to 5. On competition in the artificial intelligence (AI) market, Huang acknowledged that Nvidia faces many rivals.

Labor funds report record profits and returnsBy Li Ching-hui and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerLabor funds generated record-breaking profit and returns last year, with profits of NT$1.1177 trillion (US$35.398 billion) and a return rate of 16.06 percent, the Bureau of Labor Funds said today. Meanwhile, the new Labor Pension Fund posted returns of 15.6 percent and profits of NT$746.9 billion, growing to NT$5.1795 trillion, it said. Bureau of Labor Funds signage is pictured at the Ministry of Labor in Taipei in an undated photograph. As of December last year, the total size of all labor funds reached NT$7.7925 trillion, with profits for that month alone topping NT$141.5 billion, the bureau said. Meanwhile, sharp fluctuations in the exchange rate between the US dollar and the New Taiwan dollar led to short-term swings in unrealized gains and losses for the labor funds, it said.

Taiwan Railway adds 64 more trains over Lunar New YearBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNATaiwan Railway Corp (TRC) today announced that it would add 64 additional train services over the Lunar New Year holiday, with tickets for the newly added trains going on sale at midnight on Thursday. With this year’s Lunar New Year holiday running for nine days from Feb. 14 to Feb. 22, TRC set a 12-day travel holiday period from Feb. 12 to 23. The company previously announced two rounds of additional train services, adding up to 323 additional trains over the 12-day period. People prepare to board a Taiwan Railways Corp train on a platform at Taipei Railway Station on Feb. 5 last year. Photo: CNATRC today said in a statement that it would add 64 additional trains from Feb. 14 to 22.

Yushan reports 1cm of snow within an hourStaff writer, with CNASnow at 6am today began falling on Yushan (Jade Mountain, 玉山), reaching an accumulation of 1cm by 7am, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, citing data from its weather station on the mountain. The snowfall on Yushan, Taiwan's highest peak, was caused by a continental cold air mass that sent the mercury plunging across the nation early today, the CWA said. The lowest temperature recorded was minus-2°C at the CWA's Yushan Weather Station at 4am, the weather agency said. Snow falls at Yushan Weather Station this morning. The continental cold air mass would gradually weaken from Wednesday, but by Friday evening another weather front would arrive, bringing cold temperatures and rain to northern Taiwan, he said.

CEC certifies six to fill TPP at-large seats, including China-born Li ZhenxiuStaff writer, with CNAThe Central Election Commission (CEC) yesterday certified six people to fill vacant at-large legislative seats for the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), including Li Zhenxiu (李貞秀), a naturalized Taiwanese citizen who was born in China. Li was among six people certified by the CEC to take over the TPP's at-large seats after Lin Kuo-chen (林國成), Lin Yi-chun (林憶君), Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷), Mai Yu-chen (麥玉珍), Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊) and party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) resigned on Sunday. For those who have dual nationality, the law requires them to waive the other nationality and submit proof of doing so within a year of taking office. As of press time, Li had not commented on the status of any related administrative procedures. The TPP would handle the matter in accordance with existing laws, Huang Kuo-chang said on Friday.

Pingtung farm turns manure into mosquito coilsBy Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNAAs Taiwan’s dairy sector looks to innovate and evolve, a Pingtung County-based operator on Thursday last week showcased products aimed at sustainability, drawing attention with a natural mosquito repellent coil made from cow dung deodorized by earthworms. Dairy farmers, milk processors and food and beverage businesses that use fresh milk produced in Taiwan were featured at a news conference on “Domestic Fresh Milk and Industry Collaboration” organized by the Ministry of Agriculture. In addition to fresh milk and a range of dairy products, Kaodah Milk displayed an item that resembled a handmade cookie, but was actually a natural mosquito coil derived from cattle manure. The material is then sun-dried and mixed with used coffee grounds to produce a natural mosquito coil, she said. As some people avoid fresh milk due to lactose intolerance, the farm introduced “night milk,” which contains gamma-aminobutyric acid, and lactose-free yogurt, she said.

Hundreds swim in memorial to boy killed by sharkAFP, SYDNEYHundreds of swimmers and surfers paddled their boards into the waves off Sydney’s Bondi Beach yesterday in memory of a 12-year-old boy who died after being attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour. Family and friends formed in a large circle in the ocean, splashing the water to honor the youngster, Nico Antic, television images showed. We’re going to miss him, miss him forever,” the boy’s father told people gathered on the Sydney beach, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald. A warning sign is pictured at a beach in Sydney on Jan. 19, one day after Nico Antic was attacked by a shark. Officials said heavy rain draining into the harbor and ocean beaches had turned the water brackish, raising the risk of shark attacks.

India is resigned to a new status quo with ChinaNecessity compels; will economic forces make uncomfortable bedmates out of the fractious neighbors despite deep mistrust? By MIHIR SHARMA / Bloomberg OpinionIt is still mid-winter in the high Himalayas along the disputed border between India and China. Far from it; if anything, it is India that has resigned itself to a new status quo, one in which it has lost several strategic advantages. Indian companies’ immediate need for China is not as a destination for their products but as a supply-chain partner. They think that re-allowing cheaper and more efficient Chinese companies to bid in the $700 billion procurement market might make their job easier.

Middle powers can reshape world orderBy James J.Y. Ukraine has been able to stand up against a superpower bully, with the help of middle powers through military support and economic sanctions. The economic and defense alliance of middle powers can and must uphold the value-based international order of human rights, sovereignty and democracy. The rise of a new world order of middle powers is timely to help secure stability when the US is more inclined toward serving its own interests. The resilience of middle powers might be their greatest asset for tackling worldly challenges.

Guermantes Lailari On Taiwan: Chinese Drone Overflies Taiwan’s Airspace: New LawfareThe Chinese Communist Party (CCP) challenges and ignores the international rules-based order by violating Taiwanese airspace using a high-flying drone: This incident is a multi-layered challenge, including a lawfare challenge against the First Island Chain, the US, and the world. On July 28, 2022, a PLA reconnaissance drone appeared twice over Taiwan’s Dongyin Island, Matsu. As early as 2022, the ROC military was challenged by drone overflights of Taiwan’s islands close to China. However, these “innocent” PLA balloons could carry intelligence collection systems to investigate vulnerabilities and assist in war planning. Guermantes Lailari is a retired US Air Force Foreign Area Officer specializing in counterterrorism, irregular warfare, missile defense, and strategy.