Transport ministry eyes reforms after knife attackBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Transportation and Communications yesterday pledged to set new criteria to prevent disasters in major transport hubs, following a knife attack at Taipei Main Station on Dec. 19. Three Special Police Corps officers stand with other police officers and a police dog at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The National Police Agency should consider merging the operations of 110 and 119 hotlines to better respond to incidents at the station, Tsai said. “People do not need to know the division of labor among law enforcement agencies, but they should know one number they can call whenever they see an abnormality at the railway station,” Tsai said. We are reviewing whether we should increase the number of emergency buttons inside Taipei Main Station.

Flights and shipping affected by Chinese drillsBy Shelley Shan / Staff ReporterTrips for more than 100,000 international and domestic air travelers could be disrupted as China launches a military exercise around Taiwan today, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said yesterday. A notice issued by the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration showed there would be seven temporary zones around the Taiwan Strait which would be used for live-fire exercises, lasting from 8am to 6pm today. Photo: Wu Liang-yi, Taipei TimesTaipei FIR has 14 international air routes and four domestic air routes, the CAA said. Approximately 857 international flights would be affected by the drill today, including 296 outbound flights, 265 inbound flights and 296 transit flights, the CAA data showed. More than 100,000 international air travelers are estimated to be affected by the military exercise, based on the data.

Ministry unveils new targets to reduce plasticSTEP-BY-STEP: First, the environment ministry would urge companies to adopt green designs for packaging before enacting new restrictions, it saidBy Wu Po-hsuan and Esme Yeh / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Ministry of Environment yesterday announced new plastic reduction targets of 5 percent by 2030 and 10 percent by 2035 from last year, with plastic wrapping for e-commerce and retail products to be restricted. Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭?明) said the ministry has been promoting plastic reduction and restriction since 2018, but most targets went unmet over the past seven years, with disposable beverage cups being the only item included in a full-scale plastic ban. Given that previous regulations have reached a bottleneck, the ministry updated its targets for the next decade, he said. In addition to banning or restricting plastic use, the ministry would also enhance “user pays” mechanisms, introduce economic incentives, expand regulation scale and expand plastic reduction education, he said. Plastic wrapping for retail and e-commerce goods would be targets for reduction, as well as plastic bags, straws, beverage cups and disposable utensils, Resource Circulation Administration Director-General Lai Ying-ying (賴瑩瑩) said.

DPP urges support for budget plansBy Hsieh Chun-lin / Staff reporter, with CNADemocratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday urged opposition parties not to obstruct military procurement and national defense budgets at the legislative Procedure Committee meeting today, given China’s latest exercise around Taiwan. The central government’s fiscal budget proposal for next year has yet to be submitted for legislative committee review. Democratic Progressive Party caucus chief executive Chung Chia-pin, second left, speaks at a press conference in Taipei yesterday. DPP caucus chief executive Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) yesterday said that investing in national defense is investing inself-defense and peace. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang, right, speaks at a press conference in Taipei yesterday.

Models to keep multilateralism alive exist in the wildMultilateral cooperation can still exist, if organizations focus on a few thingsBy Jose Manuel Barroso / GENEVAFew would deny that there has been a shift away from multilateral cooperation in recent years. My confidence stems from my experience as the chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Gavi exists to save lives and protect health by expanding access to vaccines in lower-income countries. In each case, historic changes needed a catalyst, which is exactly the role that Gavi has played in promoting public health. Jose Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission and former prime minister of Portugal, is chair of the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

TAIEX up 0.89 percent as TSMC hits record highStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese shares closed higher yesterday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) hit a record high on reports that the contract chipmaker would raise prices for its advanced chips, even as China staged military exercises near the nation. The TAIEX ended up 254.87 points, or 0.89 percent, at 28,810.89. Turnover on the local main board totaled NT$439.098 billion (US$13.96 billion), Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed. In South Korea, the KOSPI jumped 2.2 percent to 4,220.56, less than 2 points away from its record high early last month, but on pace for its best year since 1999. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was 3.27 percent higher at US$12,560 per tonne, having set a record high of US$12,960 earlier yesterday.

Taiwan slams China’s ‘provocation’‘IRRESPONSIBLE’: Beijing’s constant disruption of the ‘status quo’ in the Taiwan Strait has damaged peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region, MOFA saidStaff writer, with agenciesThe Presidential Office yesterday condemned China’s launch of another military drill around Taiwan, saying such actions are a “unilateral provocation” that destabilizes regional peace and stability. An air defense missile system is deployed next to a Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000 jet in a hangar at an airbase in Hsinchu yesterday. Ministry of National Defense spokesman Major General Sun Li-fang speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNAThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also condemned China’s military drills and called on Beijing to cease its unprovoked military provocative actions immediately. The exercises began 11 days after the US announced US$11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest-ever weapons package for the nation.

‘Culture Points’ age eligibility to expand next yearStaff writer, with CNAResidents aged 13 to 22 would be eligible to claim NT$1,200 (US$38.27) in cash handouts, known as Culture Points, from Thursday to spend on cultural activities or at related venues, the Ministry of Culture said today. Photo: CNAIt was expanded last year to include those aged 16 to 17, and this year began offering NT$600 in Culture Points to children aged 13 to 15 on a trial basis. At a news conference, Minister of Culture Li Yuan (李遠) said the program would be expanded once again next year by making all Taiwanese residents aged 13 to 22 eligible for NT$1,200 in Culture Points. This year, foreign nationals with alien permanent resident certificates or spouse-based resident visas who met the age requirements were eligible to claim Culture Points. The ministry said that more than 80 percent of those eligible had used their 2025 Culture Points as of today, spending nearly NT$1.5 billion.

MND releases images tracking PLA vessels after drills beginBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAThe Ministry of National Defense (MND) today released images of the military tracking China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) movements during the latest round of Chinese drills around Taiwan. The PLA began "Justice Mission 2025" drills today, carrying out live-fire drills, simulated strikes on land and maritime targets, and exercises to blockade the nation's main ports. The exercises are to continue tomorrow, with the PLA announcing sea and air space restrictions for five zones around Taiwan for 10 hours starting from 8:30am. A Chinese J-16 fighter jet is tracked by a Taiwanese F-16V Block 20 jet using Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod AN/AAQ-33 technology today. The jet was equipped with Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod AN/AAQ-33 technology, which enabled it to monitor the Chinese jet.

Status of 278 Chinese spouses without paperwork safe: MACBy Chen Yu-fu and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe 278 Chinese spouses who have yet to submit proof that they have given up their Chinese household registration would not lose their Taiwanese identity before they are located, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said today, countering a media report that nearly 1,000 would lose their Taiwanese status on Thursday. The National Immigration Agency (NIA) in early April sent notices to some Chinese spouses requesting that they submit proof of having renounced their Chinese household registration within three months of receiving the notice. Photo: Chen Yu-fu, Taipei TimesAmong the 12,146 Chinese spouses who received the notice, only 278 had yet to submit paperwork as of Friday last week due to an inability to contact them, the MAC said. The government has announced multiple times that their Taiwanese identity would not be revoked before the spouses could be located, it said. The council urged Chinese spouses to contact the NIA if they see any inaccurate reports or have difficulty submitting the required documents.

Hops, malt tariff exemptions pass initial reviewBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee today advanced a bill that would make malt and hops duty-free, aiming to lower production costs and support the long-term viability of the domestic beer industry. Photo: Taipei TimesThe legislators said they drafted the amendments to support the long-term survival and development of domestic beer brands. Lowering tariffs on malt and hops would cause about a NT$74.35 million (US$2.36 million) loss in tariff revenue, the National Treasury Administration said. However, the tax cut would increase the competitiveness and demand for domestic beer, which is projected to generate an additional NT$169.74 million in tax revenue, the agency said. After subtracting the loss in tariff revenue, the net fiscal benefit is estimated to be NT$95.39 million, it added.

Lai open to addressing legislature, but not taking questionsStaff writer, with CNAPresident William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said that he is willing to deliver a state-of-the-nation address in the legislature, but would not submit to questioning by lawmakers, as it would breach the Constitution. President William Lai speaks in an undated photograph. Photo: Taipei TimesHe was commenting on a stalemate in the legislature over a proposed eight-year special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.81 billion), which has been blocked four times by opposition lawmakers, who have been calling on Lai to answer questions in the legislature. While the KMT has denied that there were such preconditions, Lai said that its continued obstruction without justification raises public doubts. It would be hard for the public to believe that a meeting between Cheng and Xi would not be subject to preconditions, Lai said.

Sexual harassment trial begins for former Disciplinary Court chief justiceBy Yang Kuo-wen and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Disciplinary Court today began the trial of former Disciplinary Court chief justice Lee Po-tao (李伯道), accused of sexually harassing and bullying his female subordinates and a female section chief. Former Disciplinary Court chief justice Lee Po-tao is pictured in an undated photograph. The Judicial Yuan transferred the two cases to the Disciplinary Court, while the Control Yuan impeached Lee. Lee previously served as the chief justice of the Supreme Court and chief justice of the Taichung High Court, before his promotion to chief justice of the Disciplinary Court in October 2020. The Disciplinary Court handles cases for public servants who contravene conduct regulations.

KMT chair to prioritize meeting with Xi next yearBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) today said she plans to visit Beijing and Washington in the first half of next year, but would prioritize Beijing, as meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) would carry significance. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun speaks in an undated photograph. Meeting with Xi would carry strategic significance and convey important information, so it makes sense to go to Beijing before the US, Cheng said. Discussing the local elections, Cheng said that the KMT still needs to coordinate in Yilan, Hsinchu and Changhua counties, as well as Chiayi and Taichung. Hopefully, the KMT would maintain its leadership in the cities and counties it currently governs, Cheng said, but added that this would be challenging.

Taiwan to expand publicly funded HIV treatment to foreign residentsStaff writer, with CNAThe Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is planning to expand eligibility for publicly funded HIV treatment for foreign nationals next year, although it has not released many details on how the expansion would work. CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) told a press event on Monday last week that subsidy regulations are being revised and eligibility for publicly funded treatment for foreign residents would be expanded. Photo: CNALo at the time said the expansion would initially prioritize foreign nationals holding permanent residency and those under 18, but he offered no other details. When the CDC was asked later in the week about how many more foreign nationals would become eligible for publicly funded treatment, it said it was still assessing the potential impact and "has no clear figure yet." As of late last month, 36,494 Taiwanese and 615 foreign nationals in Taiwan were living with HIV, the CDC said in a written response on Friday.