Energy crisis threatens global economy: IEA headAFP, SYDNEYThe global economy is under “major threat” from the energy crisis caused by the Middle East war and “no country will be immune” to its effects, International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol said yesterday. Speaking at the National Press Club in Australia’s capital, Birol compared the current energy crisis to those of the 1970s and the impact of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “This crisis, as things stand, is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together,” Birol said. Photo: Lukas Coch, AAP Image via AP“The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible,” he said. Birol told Australian media that at least 40 energy assets across the region had been “severely or very severely damaged” in the conflict.

Cabinet’s special defense bill best among three: KooStaff writer, with CNAA government-proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$38.95 billion) special defense budget is the most comprehensive among competing proposals, as it supports long-term domestic weapons production, Minister of National Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said yesterday, adding that the US is unlikely to accept the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus’ proposed NT$380 billion version. Yesterday’s session focused on questioning defense officials about the proposed measures, while a clause-by-clause review of each bill is scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday, according to the legislature’s agenda. Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo speaks at a joint committee meeting at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Koo said that acquiring drones through the annual general defense budget would only meet the military’s needs on a year-to-year basis and would not support the long-term development of the local drone industry. By introducing a long-term, multiyear special defense budget, the government would give local drone manufacturers greater incentive to set up production lines in Taiwan and encourage more companies to invest in the sector, Koo said.

Natural gas supply stable despite rising concerns about Qatari LNG: ministryBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterTaiwan’s natural gas supply remains stable through the end of May, despite rising concerns about potential disruptions to Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies due to escalating conflicts in the Middle East, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday. The ministry in a statement said that Taiwan has completed preparations for natural gas supply and shipping schedules through the end of May. It has also made plans to increase natural gas imports from regions outside the Middle East in June to ensure a stable supply, it added. A security guard stands at the entrance of Guantang Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal in Taoyuan on Friday. Photo: Ann Wang, ReutersTaiwan sources natural gas from 14 countries and is not solely dependent on the Middle East, the ministry said.

MAC head refuses to answer questions from China-born TPP lawmakerStaff writer, with CNAMainland Affairs Council (MAC) official yesterday refused to answer questions from China-born Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Li Chen-hsiu (李貞秀) during a legislative committee session, saying it would be "illegal" to answer someone not legally qualified to hold office. Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Li Zhenxiu, second right, stands next to TPP lawmakers Jacky Chen and Chen Gau-tzu at a meeting of the Internal Administration Committee in Taipei yesterday. Chiu was responding to a joint interpellation by TPP lawmakers Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍), Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿) and Li. Chiu then said he would respond to Liao -- rather than Li -- on questions surrounding her legitimacy as a lawmaker. Yesterday’s exchange was not the first time government officials had refused to answer questions from Li.

Poor air quality forecast until later this weekBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAThe Ministry of Environment has issued an orange alert for poor air quality in the central region, which is not expected to improve until Thursday or Friday. The air quality index across Taiwan is pictured as of 3pm today. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of EnvironmentToday’s air quality index reached 125 this morning, with PM2.5 hourly concentrations reaching up to 40.2 micrograms per cubic meter in the Yunnan-Chiayi-Tainan region. The poor air quality was caused by local pollution under poor dispersion conditions and overseas pollutants from China's coastal areas, it said. General air quality is set to improve from Friday as the southwesterly winds strengthen, it said.

Taiwan eyeing ‘Korea (South)’ designation if arrival system not updatedStaff writer, with CNAMinister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday said that Taiwan would change South Korea's designation in its online immigration entry system to "Korea (South)" if Seoul continues to ignore Taipei's repeated requests to correct its labeling of Taiwan in its e-arrival system by the end of this month. South Korea's e-arrival system lists Taiwan as "China (Taiwan)" in an undated screen grab. If South Korea does not respond positively before the deadline, Taiwan would make a revision in its own online immigration entry system, changing the nation's listing from the "Republic of Korea" to "Korea (South)," Lin said in the interview. About a decade ago, the South Korean government requested that Taiwan use its official name, "Republic of Korea," instead of "South Korea," Lin said. The dispute began after South Korea introduced a new online immigration entry system on Feb. 24 last year as an alternative to paper landing cards, listing Taiwan as "China (Taiwan)."

Lai hails efforts to promote sign language, deaf sportsBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAThe government must address the crisis facing Taiwanese Sign Language, President William Lai (賴清德) said today while receiving members of the Tainan Athletic Association of the Deaf. Since 2024, the government has been compiling a sign language database and is holding certification exams this year to encourage more people to study the endangered language, Lai said. The government announced the Development of National Languages Act (國家語言發展法) in 2019, defining Taiwanese Sign Language as a national language, Lai said. The government is holding Taiwanese Sign Language certification exams this year to encourage more people to study the language and promote its sustainable development, Lai said. “The power of silence has no limits,” Lai said, thanking everyone for their efforts to promote deaf sports and sign language.

MAC minister refuses to answer questions from China-born legislatorBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAMainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) today remained silent when questioned at the Legislative Yuan regarding China-born Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Legislator Li Zhenxiu’s (李貞秀) eligibility to hold office. He refused to answer any direct questions posed by Li, although he responded to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Liao Hsien-hsiang (廖先翔) when she repeated Li’s questions. From left, Taiwan People’s Party legislators Jacky Chen, Li Zhenxiu and Chen Chao-chi jointly question officials at a meeting of the Internal Administration Committee today in Taipei. Li, alongside fellow TPP legislators Chen Chao-chi (陳昭姿) and caucus whip Jacky Chen (陳清龍), today requested to give joint questioning. Similarly, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) on Monday last week refused to answer to Li’s line of questioning at a meeting of the Internal Administration Committee.

September ‘possible’ for first F-16V delivery: KooBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNA and ReutersDeliveries of delayed F-16V ‌jets are expected to begin in September, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said today, after senior defense officials visited the US last week. Koo appeared today before a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, which is discussing different versions of the special defense budget this week. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of National DefenseThe committee is questioning officials today, followed by deliberations on Wednesday and Thursday. "We continue to work closely with the US government to accelerate delivery where possible," it added. There are currently 59 F-16Vs on the production line, Koo said.

Fugitive ex-CPC exec handed 25 years for corruptionBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAThe Ciaotou District Court in Kaohsiung today sentenced a fugitive former executive at CPC Corp, Taiwan to 25 years in prison on 11 charges, including corruption. Former CPC Corp, Taiwan refinery division head Hsu Han is pictured in an undated photograph. The court thereby forfeited his NT$5 million (US$155,694) bail and issued a warrant for his arrest. Hsu was chief executive of CPC’s refinery division in Kaohsiung from 2019 to 2022. The court also required Hsu and three other defendants to attend today’s sentencing in person, with failure to appear resulting in immediate detention.

Morning fog blankets north, outlying islandsStaff writer, with CNAFog covered parts of northern Taiwan and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang counties early this morning, before lifting a few hours later, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, forecasting similar conditions for those areas in the evening. At 8:40am, the CWA issued a dense fog advisory for Lienchiang, Kinmen, northern Taiwan and areas of western Taiwan from Yunlin County to Tainan, warning that fog and low clouds would affect visibility early in the morning and in the evening. From Taoyuan to Kaohsiung, the weather would be mostly cloudy to sunny, with isolated afternoon showers in the mountainous areas of southern Taiwan, the CWA said. While the weather across Taiwan is to be generally sunny and stable over the two days, foggy conditions can be expected, he said. Daytime temperatures would be relatively warm, with "summer-like" highs of more than 33°C in central and southern Taiwan, but mornings and evenings would be cooler, Wu said.

German Institute Taipei remembers late NTU professor Wolfgang KrollStaff writer, with CNAThe German Institute Taipei on Saturday celebrated the life of late National Taiwan University (NTU) professor Wolfgang Kroll, a theoretical physicist who was the first scientist in Taiwan to publish in an international scientific journal. In the video, the institute’s science and technology officer, Julian Goldmann, praised Kroll as an example of academic exchanges between Taiwan and Germany. Late National Taiwan University professor Wolfgang Kroll is pictured in an undated photograph. He eventually offered courses outside NTU, guest teaching in many schools around Taiwan even after his mandatory retirement from the university in 1976. Kroll passed away in Taipei in 1992 from emphysema at the age of 87.

MOFA to retaliate if S Korea does not fix Taiwan’s name on travel systemThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today said that if South Korea does not reply appropriately to its request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, it would take corresponding measures to alter how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. The ministry said that it changed the nationality for South Koreans on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificates from “Korea” to “South Korea” on March 1, in a gesture of goodwill and based on theBy Hollie Younger

Notes from Central Taiwan: Taiwan is running out of TaiwaneseAs births plunge and young workers vanish, labor shortages are colliding with old KMT dreams of opening the door to Chinese labor, goods and influenceBy Michael Turton / Contributing ReporterWhat was the population of Taiwan when the first Negritos arrived? When we think of the foreigners working in Taiwan, migrant workers from southeast Asia, roughly 860,000, stand out. Ma at one point suggested recognizing credentials from the PRC, a clear indicator that he was considering bringing in PRC workers. At present the KMT legislature’s plans to flood Taiwan with PRC labor and goods are frustrated by a DPP administration. Among many things, a far stronger push to bring PRC labor and products into Taiwan.

Blackstone private credit fund BCRED suffers first monthly loss since 2022BloombergBlackstone Inc’s flagship private credit fund posted its first monthly loss in more than three years, one of the clearest signs yet of weakening performance in the US$1.8 trillion market. The US$83 billion fund, known as BCRED, lost 0.4 percent last month, according to its Web site. Blackstone told investors its loss last month reflected wider spreads across public and private markets, as well as unrealized marks on individual names including Medallia Inc, according to a message to financial advisers. BCRED is among a number of private credit vehicles that have faced elevated redemptions in recent quarters, amid concerns about valuations and underwriting standards in credit markets, as well as the potential for artificial intelligence to disrupt software businesses. The loan has become a weak spot for private credit lenders, exposing sharp differences in valuations across managers.