Satellite rocket explodes in Japan just after its launchAFP, TOKYOA rocket made by a Japanese company exploded seconds after launch yesterday in a spectacular failure for the start-up’s bid to put a satellite into orbit. Tokyo-based Space One’s 18m Kairos rocket blasted off in Wakayama Prefecture in western Japan, carrying a small government test satellite. Space One’s solid-fuel Kairos rocket explodes shortly after its launch at the Kii Spaceport in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, yesterday. The launch had already reportedly been postponed five times due to parts shortages and other problems, most recently on Saturday. Katsumasa Tashima, the mayor of Kushimoto, the district in Wakayama where Space One’s launch site Spaceport Kii is, voiced his surprise and disappointment.

Impact of China-Bhutan disputeBy Antonio GraceffoChinese villages are being built in the disputed zone between Bhutan and China. Despite its small size, the dispute holds significant importance due to its strategic location between India and China. In 2017, the Doklam plateau dispute erupted between India and China in the tri-junction area claimed by Bhutan, India and China. The dispute adds to broader tensions in the Himalayas, where China also has a border dispute with Nepal. A stronger Chinese presence on Bhutan’s borders could potentially embolden Beijing in its border dispute with Nepal.

Improving Taiwan-India relationsBy Huang Wei-ping 黃惟冰Last month, Taiwan and India signed a memorandum of understanding signaling a willingness to make India a source of migrant workers. The Ministry of Labor said that Indian migrant workers would make up for the shortage of workers in the manufacturing, construction, agricultural and homecare sectors. Indian migrant workers would also be a great source for Taiwan to understand India more. Based on a solid mutual understanding, Taiwan-India relations can be strengthened in a reciprocal way. First, Indian migrant workers would increase the South Asian nation’s foreign exchange, and New Delhi would have to pay more attention to Taiwan’s economic development and political stability.

EDITORIAL: Expanding security partnershipsUS President Joe Biden on Thursday last week vowed to support peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait — the first time he did so in a State of the Union Address. “We’re standing up against China’s unfair economic practices, and standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” he said. Biden added that he has revitalized the nation’s partnerships and alliances in the Asia-Pacific region and made sure the most advanced US technologies cannot be used in Chinese weapons. Taiwan should also advance cooperation with international like-minded democracies, especially with neighboring the Philippines, India, Japan and South Korea. Having a shared threat perception could be one of the most important drivers for closer strategic relations, experts have said.

Taiwan has absolute air superiority: officialStaff writer, with CNATaiwan has “absolute air superiority” over China in its own airspace, Deputy Minister of National Defense Po Horng-huei (柏鴻輝) told a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on Monday, amid concern over whether Taipei could defend itself against a military incursion by Beijing. Po made the remarks in response to a question from Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) on whether Taiwan would have partial or complete air superiority if Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes were to enter Taiwan’s airspace. Photo: CNAWhile the Taiwanese military has often asserted its ability to defend the country, it has rarely claimed to have “air superiority” as Po did. Pentagon analysts concluded that the Chinese air force would find it far easier to establish early air superiority than Russia did in its invasion of Ukraine. The documents were part of a series of documents allegedly leaked by US air national guardsman Jack Teixeira.

The National Security Bureau is working closely with the Ministry of National Defense and national security agencies to monitor Chinese military developments, taking into account multiple factors that could influence cross-strait ties, he added. Chinese military intimidation against Taiwan has become normalized — a combat readiness patrol is conducted every seven to 10 days, with about 10 fighter jets, other aircraft and three to four warships operating in the Taiwan Strait, Tsai said. Taipei has had “discussions” with international allies on whether a Chinese invasion is imminent, but tensions across the Taiwan Strait have not escalated sharply, he said. There is “currently no intelligence indicating an imminent war in the Taiwan Strait,” Tsai said, adding that the government would continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly to avoid escalating tensions and to maintain stability in the strait. Beijing would continue its efforts to limit Taiwan’s international participation by promoting its “one China” principle around the globe in a bid to influence the new administration’s cross-strait policy, he said.

Taipei closely watches US electionsBy Stanley Kao 高碩泰Super Tuesday, the biggest day of the US presidential primaries campaigns, is over and the results are plain for all to see. Regardless of who wins in the general election, the ripple effects would be felt in Washington’s relationships with Taipei and Beijing. Taiwan maintains a neutral stance on US presidential elections and does not show favoritism toward any particular US political party. However, Taipei pays close attention to Democrats’ and Republicans’ international relations and national security policies and dives deeply into the meaning behind their respective stances. Regardless of the results of the US’ Nov. 5 elections, the sustainability, stability and predictability of reinforcement and tenacity of bilateral relations are guaranteed.

Workers march against violence and exploitationBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterMigrant workers yesterday marched against gender-based exploitation and violence against female caretakers, and called for an end to paying high fees to broker agencies, in the lobby of Taipei Railway Station. Activists and spokespeople for migrant workers from Southeast Asian countries said they were marking International Women’s Day, which was on Friday last week, and protesting discrimination, sexual harassment and unfair labor practices in Taiwan. Migrant workers march in a One Billion Rising global campaign event to end violence against women and children while calling for better conditions for workers in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Ann Wang, ReutersThey held up banners and placards calling for rights for migrant workers, an end to the exploitation of female caretakers and justice for victims of abuse. Balderama also requested that her home country take responsibility to provide more financial support for migrant workers who return after working abroad.

AIT celebrates Taiwan-US ties with concertENCORE: The concert to celebrate the anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act embodies the spirit of friendship that defines Taiwan-US ties, the AIT saidBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporterThe American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday celebrated ties between the US and Taiwan through musical performances, with Director Sandra Oudkirk calling the partnership “rock solid.”The AIT held the “AIT@45 Music Exchange Encore!” concert at the Eslite Performance Hall in Taipei to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the promulgation of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, when the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan was founded. American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Sandra Oudkirk, fifth right, poses with performers at the “AIT@45 Music Exchange Encore!” concert in Taipei yesterday. Celebrating “45 years of the rock-solid partnership” between the US and Taiwan through music symbolized the profound effect cultural exchanges can have on people-to-people ties, she said. As part of that effort, the AIT has worked with the State Department to organize cultural exchange programs, including the Youth Leadership Exchange Program, OneBeat, the International Visitor Leadership Program and Center Stage, she said. The AIT named the concert “encore” to show its commitment to promoting cultural exchanges and “the deepening of international friendships,” she said.

Groups urge China to put an end to state-run schools in TibetStaff writer, with CNACivic groups commemorating the 1959 Tibetan uprising in Taipei yesterday called for an end to China’s use of state-run residential schools to “exterminate” Tibet’s culture and language. Participants at a rally commemorating the 65th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising yesterday kowtow to pay tribute to those who died in the uprising. Tibetans in Taiwan and their supporters march with Tibetan flags and a portrait of the Dalai Lama during a rally commemorating the 65th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei TimesSince the Tibetan uprising against Chinese communist rule on March 10, 1959, Tibetans have had no freedom and no human rights, Lhakpa said. “The Chinese communists claim Tibet has become more open these past decades, and that Tibetans are living a great life.

Labor rights groups rally over Indian worker dealDETAILS UNDISCLOSED: Taiwan should establish a government-to-government recruitment system and renounce the labor brokerage system, a legislator saidStaff writer, with CNAA coalition of labor rights advocacy groups on Friday rallied outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, demanding a substantive review of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on sending Indian workers to Taiwan. After Bloomberg last year reported that Taiwan could recruit up to 100,000 Indian workers, there was a backlash, indicating differing opinions on the matter, which would impact local and migrant workers, Taiwan International Workers’ Association member Hsu Wei-tung (許惟棟) said at the rally. Labor rights groups hold a demonstration outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on Friday. Hsu urged the government to adopt South Korea’s recruitment model, which enables migrant workers’ home countries to share information on migrant workers with overseas offices set up by the South Korean government. The ministry said Taiwan’s existing recruitment channels include a G2G model, and the specifics about the recruitment of Indian workers would be ironed out with the Indian government, local Chinese-language media reported.

That is helping South Korean suppliers, including Hanwha Aerospace Co, which makes land-based artillery for a growing list of European customers. Illustration: Constance ChouRomania, shaken by Russia’s attack on its northern neighbor, might be next in line to buy artillery from South Korea. Its backlog of export orders jumped 10-fold from 1.7 trillion won in 2021 to 20 trillion won at the end of last year, a February financial presentation showed. South Korean law prohibits arms sales to a conflict zone. Yet a global shortage of ammunition-production capacity, and no sign of a let-up in the Ukraine war, makes it likely South Korea would be called upon to help meet demand.

Taiwan’s Wang stuns world No. 1IF AT FIRST: Wang Tzu-wei was grateful to have finally defeated Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen after losing to him all six times the two had previously played each otherStaff writer, with CNATaiwan’s Wang Tzu-wei on Thursday upset world No. Taiwan’s Wang Tzu-wei returns to fellow countryman Lin Chun-yi in their Taipei Open men’s singles match at the Tianmu Arena on June 23 last year. The Thai won last year’s BWF World Championships in Copenhagen and has won all five of his career matches against Wang. Aside from Wang, Taiwanese ace Tai Tzu-ying and the men’s doubles duo Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan also advanced to the quarter-finals.

Groups show support for medical fee cap removalSELF-REGULATED: While five medical groups touted the decision to remove a cap on registration fees at medical institutions, some civil groups criticized itBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNAFive major medical groups on Thursday supported the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s decision on Monday to repeal government-imposed limits on medical institutions’ registration fees, and urged etablishments to maintain self-discipline. The groups’ support came following public concern that seeing doctors would be more expensive if medical institutions jointly raise registration fees. Removing the limits would encourage the dynamic development of the medical industry and enhance competitiveness by allowing the market to determine prices, the Taiwan Medical Association said. Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei TimesReference rates for registration fees were not adjusted for inflation, it said. Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation secretary-general Lin Ya-hui (林雅惠) said the foundation opposed the outright removal of registration fee ceilings.

The company, which was founded in China and sells clothing manufactured there, is now the top fast fashion retailer in the US. But the de minimis rule also has powerful defenders. EXPORTSChina’s exports grew only 0.6 percent last year, but the bright spot was cross-border e-commerce, which includes but is not limited to the de minimis packages. It is unclear how much fentanyl and other illicit drugs might be slipping undetected into the country in small packages. On a recent Friday morning at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, small parcels that had arrived by mail from overseas were on conveyor belts going through X-ray machines for inspection.