EDITORIAL: Managing the plastics problemThe Ministry of Environment on Monday announced new plastic-reduction targets, including proposed restrictions on plastic wrapping for e-commerce and retail products. Measures could include banning polyvinyl chloride containers, promoting packaging-free shopping and encouraging the adoption of reusable packaging. A large majority — roughly 80 to 90 percent — of plastic waste is either sent to landfill or wantonly discarded, entering the environment. Although reducing non-recyclable plastics is a necessary goal, reuse schemes alone are unlikely to achieve the scale required to significantly reduce plastic waste. Sharing such innovations would not only enhance the nation’s standing on the global stage, but also help address the growing problem of plastic waste.

A Coast Guard Administration patrol vessel moves in Keelung as China conducts “Justice Mission 2025” military drills around the nation on Tuesday. Chinese ships were moving away from Taiwan, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said. As China has not announced the conclusion of the military exercises, the emergency response center remains operational,” Kuan wrote on Facebook late on Tuesday night. A CGA official said that all 11 Chinese coast guard ships had left waters near Taiwan and were continuing to move away. The Ministry of National Defense yesterday said that 77 Chinese military aircraft, and 25 navy and coast guard vessels had been operating around the nation in the previous 24 hours.

Taiwan lacks cost-effective missile defenses: expertsStaff writer, with CNATaiwan lacks effective and cost-efficient armaments to intercept rockets, making the planned “T-Dome” interception system necessary, two experts said on Tuesday. Photo: CNAThose rockets landed 70 nautical miles (129.6km) northeast of Keelung without flying over Taiwan, Hsieh told a news conference on Tuesday evening. The second wave involved 10 rockets launched at 1pm from Shishi in Fujian Province, which landed 50 nautical miles west of Tainan, Hsieh said. Chieh said the rockets have “some precision characteristics” and could serve as a low-cost option for large-volume joint firepower output compared with ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, but Taiwan lacks suitable interception systems for such rockets. Lai announced that Taiwan would build the system during his Double Ten National Day address on Oct. 10 last year.

Climate activists contend such plans might conflict with the country’s pledges to help curb climate change and could lock South Korea into a fossil fuel-dependent future. Liberal South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who won a snap election in June last year, campaigned for stronger climate commitments. South Korea’s goal to cut carbon emissions by 53 to 61 percent of 2018 levels fell short of climate activists’ expectations. The South Korean government’s target was to cut that to 10.6 percent by 2038. The pledge to retire 40 of South Korea’s 61 coal sites by 2040 might be “an enforced transition” for coal exporters in the Asia-Pacific region, Global Renewables Alliance’s James Bowen said.

The PLA’s script to blockade TaiwanBy Liao Ming-hui 廖明輝On Monday, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command abruptly announced a joint drill code-named “Justice Mission 2025,” staging 10 hours of live-fire drills across five maritime and air zones surrounding Taiwan. In the past, PLA drills aimed at Taiwan were typically preceded by extended political signaling and information priming, allowing outside observers to anticipate escalation. Beijing needs a military response to Washington’s recent approval of major arms sales to Taiwan. At the same time, rising debate within Japan over Taiwan contingency scenarios has clearly caught China’s attention. Together, they created a deliberately blurred space where drills, blockade enforcement and the prelude to war become difficult to distinguish.

However, many rice farmers in the country’s agricultural heartlands are in a less celebratory mood. That dependence makes rice farmers in both states particularly vulnerable to climate change, since aquifers are not fully recharged when monsoon rains are weak. There are some signs that Indian officials are hoping to break the vicious cycle between rice subsidies and groundwater extraction. The government would also save by paring back on the amount of rice subsidies paid out, he said. Farmers would be willing to swap crops if properly incentivized, Punjab rice grower Gurmeet Singh said.

Taiwan prepares to ring in 2026: Watch hereBy Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNATaiwan is gearing up to celebrate the New Year at events across the country, headlined by the annual countdown and Taipei 101 fireworks display at midnight. See below for lineups and links:Fireworks are set off along the Tamsui River in New Taipei City to welcome 2025 on Dec. 31 last year. The livestream can be viewed on the Taipei City Government’s YouTube. New Taipei CityNew Taipei City is to hold its fireworks display earlier in the evening at 8:26pm in Tamsui District (淡水). More information is available on the event’s Web site.

Taiwan’s overall air quality slightly better than last yearBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNATaiwan’s average PM2.5 concentration was 12.6 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³) this year, showing that overall air quality has improved slightly since last year, the Ministry of Environment said today. The average PM2.5 concentration this year as of Dec. 3 was 12.6mg/m³, slightly better than 12.8mg/m³ last year, the ministry told a news conference. Such particulates are a key component of air pollution and a known cause of many health issues, including cardiovascular and neurological diseases. On Jan. 26 next year, the ministers of environment and health are planning to meet with the presidential National Climate Change Committee and Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee to discuss air pollution and health, and to promote air quality management in schools, he said. Huang cited kindergartens as an example, saying about 30 schools across Taiwan would be monitored for potential indoor pollutants, such as kitchen fumes, to gradually develop ways to improve air quality.

Starlux to launch Taichung-Tokyo route on March 30Staff writer, with CNATaiwan-based carrier Starlux Airlines today announced that it would begin nonstop flights between Taichung and Tokyo starting on March 30. The new route would be operated using Airbus A321 aircraft, with four weekly flights at launch. A Starlux Airlines airplane is pictured in an undated photograph. Starlux, which commenced operations in 2020, currently offers flights from Taichung to Kobe, Okinawa, Takamatsu, Macau, Da Nang and Phu Quoc. It also plans to launch a service from Taichung to the Miyako Islands (between Okinawa Island and Taiwan) on Feb. 13, the airline said.

Philippines office welcomes Taiwan plan to open recruitment centerStaff writer, with CNAThe Manila Economic and Cultural Office yesterday said it "warmly welcomes" Taiwan's plan to set up its first cross-border recruitment center in the Philippines to enable Taiwanese employers to directly hire Philippine migrant workers. "This initiative reflects the growing partnership between the Philippines and Taiwan and marks an important step toward more ethical, transparent and worker-centered recruitment," office Chairperson and Resident Representative Corazon Avecilla-Padiernos said in a statement. The Ministry of Labor logo is displayed at the ministry in Taipei in an undated photograph. Photo: Lee Chin-huei, Taipei TimesMECO serves as the Philippines' de facto embassy in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties. Currently, most migrant workers in Taiwan are recruited through brokers, and many workers pay pre-employment expenses to brokers in their home countries.

Response centers still active as PLA vessels pull backBy Yimou Lee / Reuters, TAIPEITaiwan remained on high alert today after China staged massive military drills around the nation yesterday, keeping its emergency maritime response center running as it monitored Chinese naval maneuvers, the coast guard said. Coast Guard Administration Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin at a news conference in Taipei yesterday displays an image of a Taiwanese coast guard vessel driving away a China Coast Guard ship during Chinese drills near Taiwan. A Coast Guard Administration official said that all 11 Chinese coast guard ships had left waters near Taiwan and were continuing to move away. A security official said emergency response centers for the military and coast guard stayed active. The Ministry of National Defense today said that 77 Chinese military aircraft and 25 navy and coast guard vessels had been operating around the nation in the past 24 hours.

High Court upholds acquittal of former president MaBy Yang Hsin-hui and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe High Court today upheld a not-guilty verdict for three defendants, including former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), in connection to a case involving the sale of three media companies by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) that resulted in significant losses. Former president Ma Ying-jeou gestures in an undated photograph. Charges were brought against three defendants: Ma, former Central Investment Co chairman Chang Che-chen (張哲琛) and former general manager Wang Hai-ching (汪海清). Today’s verdict upheld the not-guilty ruling for Ma, Chang and Wang, and upheld the prior verdict and sentencing for Tsai. The case has been in litigation for seven years, with more than three years of High Court proceedings.

Navy does not deny locking onto PLA warship with fire control radarStaff writer, with CNAThe navy yesterday was mum over whether it locked its fire control radar onto a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) warship participating in a drill in waters off Taiwan's southwestern shores, but did not deny employing such a maneuver. "After a Chinese warship enters the area within 24 nautical miles, we will designate a corresponding vessel to issue a defensive warning," Chiu said. "The Pan Chao adopted the necessary measure — issuing a warning — which fell within said scope, with the aim being to repel [the PLA vessel]," he said. "The navy has different protocols for varying contingencies, and in this case, we adopted the established protocol for a PLA military exercise," Chiu said. The protocol entails a "communication process" in which a warning is issued, followed by a "defensive measure," he said.

First dawn of 2026 to appear on Hualien’s MasishanStaff writer, with CNAThe first dawn sunlight of the new year in Taiwan is to appear at 6:03am tomorrow on Masishan (馬錫山) in Hualien County, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said today. The earliest dawn sunlight at sea level is to be seen at Oluanpi Lighthouse at 6:11am, the museum said in a news release. A sunrise and sea of clouds are pictured from Alishan in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the Chiayi County GovernmentThe museum said Oluanpi Lighthouse, located in Taiwan's southernmost Pingtung County, is a practical alternative viewing site of the first dawn of next year because Masishan, also known as Bonan Mountain (柏南山), is located at an elevation above 3,000m that is "difficult to reach."

Public school teacher pay raised retroactively from Sept. 1By Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAThe Ministry of Education today announced it would raise pay for homeroom teachers, substitute and part-time teachers, and teachers handling administrative work in public schools, with the changes effective retroactively from Sept. 1. Additional pay for public elementary, middle and high-school homeroom teachers would be raised from NT$3,000 to NT$4,000 per month, part-time and substitute teachers’ hourly pay would be increased by 20 percent, and bonuses for teachers handling administrative work would be raised from NT$1,000 to NT$2,000, the ministry said. A teacher interacts with children at a kindergarten in Taichung in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the Taichung City GovernmentIt would also expand eligibility for injury insurance for teachers who voluntarily work in remote areas, it said. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) has taken a keen interest in the matter and agrees with improving teachers’ compensation retroactively from Sept. 1, Cheng said.