“Over the past 30 years, Taiwan’s embrace of democratic elections has transformed it into one of the world’s most vibrant, prosperous and innovative societies,” Curtis said. “Its success stands as a powerful testament to the strength of liberty, the rule of law and the enduring promise of self-government.”“As China continues to take aggressive action toward Taipei, we must recommit to protecting Taiwan’s democratic institutions,” Kaine said. Taiwan urged Beijing to respect the ROC’s existence, stop misleading the international community and cease its provocations, Hsiao said. Only through responsible and rational discussion, based on the principles of respect and equality, with the government directly elected by Taiwanese can cross-strait relations improve, he said. “Taiwan will continue to stand in unity with the US and democratic partners to uphold a ‘democratic umbrella’ and face the challenges from authoritarianism together, safeguard our shared values and the rules-based international order,” he said.

Potential exists for solid US-Taiwan space ties: top officialStaff writer, with CNAOpportunities exist for mutually beneficial cooperation on space between the US and Taiwan, given the complementary nature of each side's strengths, the director-general of Taiwan's space agency said in Washington yesterday. Speaking at a virtual discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) Director-General Wu Jong-shinn (吳宗信) said that the US has a leading edge in space technology, while Taiwan has robust manufacturing capabilities. Taiwan Space Agency Director-General Wu Jong-shinn speaks in an undated photograph. He also highlighted the economic potential of Taiwan's space industry, saying that it has inspired the younger generation and would play an important role in economic growth, much like the semiconductor sector. The virtual discussion, titled "Taiwan's Space Ambitions and the Future of US-Taiwan Cooperation," explored Taiwan's evolving space priorities, opportunities for Taiwan-US collaboration, and the broader implications for security, resilience and innovation in the Indo-Pacific.

S Korea looking to solve Taiwan naming issue: sourcesBy Huang Ching-hsuan and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Korean Mission in Taipei has expressed willingness to propose a solution acceptable to Taiwan regarding South Korea’s e-arrival system listing Taiwan as “China (Taiwan),” sources said, after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced countermeasures this month. South Korea's e-arrival system lists Taiwan as "China (Taiwan)" in an undated screen grab. Taiwan has publicly urged South Korea to respond by the end of the month, otherwise Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation under “place of birth” and “next destination” to “Korea (South)” on its e-arrival system from Wednesday next week, Lin said. Taiwan and South Korea have long maintained close and friendly exchanges in trade, culture and tourism, Lin said. Taiwan values the relationship and hopes that the South Korean government can make the correction as soon as possible so that the two countries can continue developing their friendship, he said.

TB cases hit all-time low last year, CDC saysBy Hou Chia-yu and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe total number of newly reported Tuberculosis (TB) cases last year dropped below 6,000 for the first time, with the incidence rate decreasing 66 percent in 20 years, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said on World Tuberculosis Day today. Taiwan last year recorded 5,742 new TB cases, and the incidence rate dropped to 25 cases per 100,000 people from 73 cases in 2005, the CDC said. Those over the age of 65 account for 65 percent of new TB cases, while those over the age of 85 account for more than 15 percent, data showed. Foreign nationals account for about 10 percent of new cases, or 700 to 800 cases annually, he said. A majority of the cases come from Southeast Asian countries with a higher prevalence of TB, such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, he said.

Ten indicted in Macau casino money laundering schemeStaff writer, with CNAYunlin prosecutors yesterday indicted 10 people for laundering more than NT$33 billion (US$1.03 billion) in illicit gambling gains through casinos in Macau. The probe began in November last year after the Criminal Investigation Bureau received information about a criminal group recruiting money mules to launder funds overseas, the Yunlin District Prosecutors' Office said in a statement. Seized cash from an alleged money laundering operation is counted in an undated photograph. The mules earned not only higher credit limits, but also commissions of 3 to 4.5 percent for assisting in the laundering, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said they completed the investigation yesterday and filed charges against Chen, Lin, Liao and seven others under the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法) and other related legislation.

Defense ministry tackling light national security penalties: KooBy Lin Che-yuan and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Ministry of National Defense is addressing Taiwan’s light sentences for national security contraventions through legal reforms and by improving internal military security, while pushing amendments to the Military Trial Act (軍事審判法), Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said today. The ministry has proposed amendments to the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces (陸海空軍刑法) increasing the penalties for expressing “loyalty” to the enemy and for “conspiracy” and “premeditation,” Koo said. Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo speaks to reporters in Taipei today. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei TimesMilitary personnel involved in an espionage case would also be deprived of their pension rights in accordance with Article 13 of the National Security Act (國家安全法), he said. The military is enhancing internal security through patriotism education to boost awareness, with many cases now uncovered through internal reporting, Koo said.

Migrant worker dies in Tainan recycling plant fireStaff writer, with CNAA fire last night broke out at a scrap metal and auto recycling facility in Tainan's Rende District (仁德), killing a migrant worker, authorities said. At about 7:13pm, firefighters received a report of a blaze on Baoan Road Sec 2, and found the open-air facility engulfed in flames upon arrival, the Tainan City Fire Bureau said. Initial checks indicated that one male migrant worker was missing and possibly trapped inside, but rescuers were unable to enter due to the intensity of the fire, the bureau said. Firefighters battle a blaze at a scrap metal and auto recycling facility in Tainan’s Rende District last night. The cause of the fire and the extent of property losses remain under investigation.

Electronics pollution could cost US$500m in health damages in 2030: studyBy Hollie Younger / Staff writerAir pollution attributable to Taiwan’s electronics manufacturing sector would be linked to nearly US$500 million in health-related economic damages in 2030, a joint report published today by Greenpeace and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed. The report, titled “Clean chips, clear air: Public health impacts from electronics industry electricity consumption in Taiwan,” assessed the air quality impacts of Taiwan’s projected 2030 electricity demand from industries related to artificial intelligence (AI). Four graphs show the health and economic effects of the electronics manufacturing industry in Taiwan in 2030, comparing the 2023 level of renewable energy procurement to the government’s 2030 renewable energy commitment goals. A graph shows the economic effects of the electronics manufacturing industry in Taiwan in 2030, comparing the 2023 level of renewable energy procurement to the government’s 2030 renewable energy commitment goals. “Semiconductor companies must be responsible for residents who have long suffered from air pollution by subsidizing their health checkups, medical care and long-term care costs,” she added.

Improving China ties does not mean being anti-US, KMT leader saysBy Ben Blanchard / Reuters, TAIPEIImproving ties with Beijing does not require being anti-US, while Taiwan's survival depends on stable relations with China, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said yesterday. Then-Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairwoman-elect Cheng Li-wun speaks in a meeting with her party’s legislators in Taipei on Oct. 20 last year. "In terms of the overall narrative, the KMT has long maintained very good relations with the United States. "Why does improving relations with mainland China have to mean being less pro-American?" It is all the more important to have good ties with China, “whose relationship with Taiwan directly affects Taiwan's survival,” she said.

Taiwanese money laundering suspect fatally shot in CambodiaStaff writer, with CNAThe Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) today confirmed media reports that a Taiwanese suspect linked to a money laundering case several years ago was shot and killed in Cambodia. Cambodian authorities have indicated that circumstances related to Lin Ping-wen’s (林秉文) death are still being investigated, the CIB said in a brief statement. In February 2023, Lin was indicted by the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for suspected money laundering in a case linked to Kuo Che-min (郭哲敏), who operated a private club in Taipei called 88 Lounge, which has since been shut down. Meanwhile, Kuo was arrested in Thailand in July 2023 and repatriated to Taiwan after Taipei prosecutors accused him of handling underground foreign currency transactions totaling about NT$2.7 billion. He was also later indicted in Taiwan for suspected contraventions of the Banking Act (銀行法) and Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法).

MOFA slams Denmark for listing Taiwanese residents as ChineseBy Huang Ching-hsuan and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNADenmark’s decision to list Taiwanese residents’ nationality as “China” goes against EU foreign policy and contravenes democratic and human rights principles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said today, urging Denmark to correct the issue or face further action from Taiwan. The Danish government has listed Taiwanese residents’ nationality on Danish residence permits as “China” since 2024. Denmark is the only country in the EU to list Taiwanese residents’ nationality as China, the Danish news platform Berlingske reported on Friday last week. That means the place of birth of Taiwanese nationals could be Taiwan, but their nationality would be recorded as China. While the EU also has a “one China” policy, it has clarified that the policy does not contradict interaction and cooperation with Taiwan, Cheng said.

Musk unveils chip project in TexasAMAZING ABUNDANCE: Elon Musk has announced plans for a new facility in Texas which would manufacture chips for Tesla and SpaceX to use in robotics and AI Elon Musk said his Terafab project — a grand plan to eventually manufacture his own chips for robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and space data centers — would be built in Austin and jointly run by Tesla Inc and Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX). Musk, the chief executive officer of the two companies, said he would start off with an “advanced technology fab” in Austin that would have all of the equipment necessary to make chips of any kind. The project would call for one day supporting 1 terawatt (TW) of computing power per year, the amount Musk expects the companies to

FEATURE: Following K-pop has benefits for elderly people: expertsBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNASeeing concerts and chasing celebrities can be an effective way for elderly people to stay young and healthy, as it gives them new motivation to learn, go out, and interact with others, arts advocates and mental health experts said. Wu Tzu-yi (吳滋懿), an art critic and the founder of Jil Wu Artiste, advocates for arts-based wellness and making art accessible. YouTuber Grandma Xiami attends the K-pop girl band Twice’s concert in Vancouver in an undated photograph. Arts-based wellness differs from art therapy, a clinical practice that requires a physician, as it is suitable for anyone who wants to protect their mental health, Wu added. Meanwhile, 84-year-old Chen is a huge fan of the K-pop boy group Super Junior.

Why women should lift weightsDoctors want more women lifting weights. Photo: APThe National Institutes of Health recommends that everyone — men and women — do resistance training at least twice a week. Some research suggests that women may even benefit more than men from weight training because it staves off osteoporosis and age-related muscle loss, which women are more susceptible to, he said. “The bottom line is, resistance training is a cure for all sorts of issues,” Schoenfeld said. There’s also still a stigma about women lifting weights, Bradley said.

Taiwan’s Lo Chia-ling claims silver medal in BelgiumStaff writer, with CNATaiwan’s Lo Chia-ling on Sunday won silver in the women’s 62kg division at the Belgian Open taekwondo competition in Lommel, her first international podium finish since the 2024 Paris Olympics. Lo, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, had been struggling with a stress fracture in her left leg and underwent surgery last year. Taiwan’s Lo Chia-ling celebrates with her taekwondo women’s 62kg silver medal at the Belgian Open in Lommel on Sunday. Taiwanese athletes won three silver and three bronze medals in Belgium. Lin Wei-chun, Liu You-yun and Tsai Yu-hao took bronze in the women’s 57kg, women’s 49kg and men’s 68kg categories respectively.