How would the region respond to a hole left in its defenses if Washington diverted ships and missiles it now uses to deter China? If the war dragged on, there was a realistic possibility that the US could draw down its naval strength in Asia to reinforce the Iran conflict, he added. The Iran conflict is also depleting reserves of US munitions, about which experts have long warned. Since then, Trump has captured the leader of Venezuela in an audacious military strike, threatened to annex Greenland and teamed with Israel to launch the air war against Iran. By hitting Venezuela and Iran, Trump weakened two of its allies that sent China streams of cheap oil, buoying its economy.

A center would be created to monitor drug supplies with smart technology to forewarn the government of possible shortages and advise it on measures to streamline medicine supply chains, he said. Medicine is a crucial component of Taiwan’s societal resilience, economic future and place in global supply chains, he said. The US, the EU and Japan are in the process of implementing similar measures to ensure stable supply of key medicines, he said. Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) said that there are plans to bring a second national controlled drugs manufacturing facility online next year. China and India produce 80 percent of the active ingredients in the world’s medicine supply, a system whose vulnerability was underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lin said.

EDITORIAL: Iran to take US focus from TaiwanAfter “Operation Absolute Resolve” to capture former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, the US joined Israel on Saturday last week in launching “Operation Epic Fury” to remove Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his theocratic regime leadership team. The two blitzes are widely believed to be a prelude to US President Donald Trump changing the geopolitical landscape in the Indo-Pacific region, targeting China’s rise. If the US and Israel’s highly-intense joint operations could successfully suppress Iran, many pundits believe the US would redirect its primary strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific region and inflict structural pressure on Beijing. However, there are also concerns that if the Middle East conflict cannot be brought to a quick end, a war of attrition would restrain the US’ ability to deter China in the Taiwan Strait. US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby on Tuesday said that reports of dwindling US munitions stockpiles following strikes on Iran should not be misinterpreted as weakening deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.

Potential of uncrewed war systemsBy Huang Wei-ping 黃惟冰In a report released on Feb. 26, US think tank the Center for a New American Security asserted that Taiwan could deploy large numbers of drones and other uncrewed systems, in combination with conventional weapons, to create a “hellscape” scenario for Chinese forces attempting to cross the Taiwan Strait, thereby achieving a deterrent effect. In fact, over the past several years, the Ukraine war has already demonstrated the decisive impact that uncrewed systems can have on warfare. In terms of the situation across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, the US and Japan are all democratic systems that assign the utmost importance to the safety of their citizens’ lives and property. However, as battlefields evolve toward greater reliance on uncrewed systems, future conflicts would primarily consume munitions and uncrewed vehicles rather than human lives. In this respect, such a development would be a major strategic advantage for the defense of the Taiwan Strait.

However, the strikes on Iran do pose some risk to China, especially when it comes to oil. Losing cheap oil from Iran would be a blow to China, although a manageable one. Launching a new offensive in Iran would deplete stockpiles of US weapons for both the US and Israel. These weapons are all reliant on semiconductors and radars made with gallium, a critical mineral whose supply chain China controls. “Beijing will be delighted to see the US expending scarce munitions and interceptors in a secondary theater.

Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder over New YorkAFP, LOS ANGELESShai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday sank a clutch three-pointer to secure a hard-fought 103-100 win for the Oklahoma City Thunder over the New York Knicks. “We got the car back on the road in the fourth quarter, we were able to give ourselves a chance,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 26 points plus eight assists. We still got here with a W.”The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, dribbles in front of the New York Knicks’ Mikal Bridges during their NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday. The Knicks took a slender lead into the final stretch, but the advantage did not last, as Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren rallied. With barely a minute remaining, a step-back jump shot by Gilgeous-Alexander opened up a seven-point gap.

Aston Martin to limit laps for safetyReuters, MELBOURNEAston Martin is to limit their laps at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix to avoid the risk of their drivers sustaining nerve damage from vibrations coming through the steering wheel, team principal Adrian Newey said yesterday. Vibrations from the Honda-supplied power unit were transferring to the chassis and placing a strain on Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll’s fingers, Newey said. “Lance is of the opinion that he can’t do more than 15 laps before that threshold. “I want to hurry up, but at this moment, it’s quite difficult to say when and how,” Watanabe told reporters. Aston Martin finished seventh in the constructors championship last year.

New Taipei censured for letting sex offender teachStaff writer, with CNAThe Control Yuan on Wednesday censured the New Taipei City Government for lapses in oversight after the city failed to prevent a sex offender from running a go class where he was found guilty of molesting 12 children. Lee’s criminal history only came to light when the New Taipei City District Court sentenced him to 22 years in March last year. From left, Control Yuan members Chang Chu-fang, Chi Hui-jung and Yeh Ta-hua speak to reporters in Taipei on Wednesday. New Taipei City authorities remained oblivious to Lee’s behavior until parents alerted the city authorities in August 2024, it said. The legislation also mandates psychological treatment and counseling, and introduces electronic monitoring, the official said, adding that these measures improve supervision of sex offenders.

German firms positive on Taiwan: pollBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterGerman companies remain broadly optimistic about Taiwan’s economic outlook despite sentiment that the economy would normalize following the nation’s robust economic expansion last year, a business confidence survey released yesterday by the German Trade Office Taipei showed. The results point to resilient confidence in Taiwan as a business destination, with bilateral trade rising 6 percent to US$21.7 billion, German Trade Office Taipei Chief Representative and Executive Director Eva Langerbeck said. German Trade Office Taipei Chief Representative and Executive Director Eva Langerbeck, left, and Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Cynthia Kiang pose for a photograph at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo courtesy of German Trade Office TaipeiGerman firms operating in Taiwan reported solid business performance last year, although overall satisfaction fell to a five-year low. Investment activity among German companies in Taiwan remained largely stable, with half of respondents saying they carried out their investment plans on schedule, mostly unchanged from a year earlier.

Taiwan’s forex reserves reach record US$605.487bnBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterTaiwan’s foreign exchange reserves hit a record US$605.487 billion last month, rising for three consecutive months and up US$1.03 billion from the previous month, the central bank reported yesterday. February is typically a peak month for investment income, which helped boost the central bank’s foreign exchange reserves, Department of Foreign Exchange Director-General Eugene Tsai (蔡炯民) said. Photo: CNAMovements among other major currencies also affected foreign exchange reserves after the portfolio of non-US dollar assets was converted into the US currency, Tsai said. Meanwhile, foreign investors’ holdings of Taiwanese stocks, bonds and New Taiwan dollar-denominated deposits reached US$1.47 trillion last month, equivalent to about 243 percent of Taiwan’s foreign exchange reserves. Both figures are the highest on record and up from US$1.297 trillion and a ratio of 215 percent in the previous month, central bank data showed.

Broadcom CEO sees AI chip sales topping US$100 billion in 2027BloombergBroadcom Inc chief executive officer Hock Tan (陳福陽) said the company expects its artificial intelligence (AI) chip sales to top US$100 billion next year, marking major inroads into territory dominated by Nvidia Corp.“We have line of sight” to reach this milestone in 2027, he said during a conference call with analysts on Wednesday. Broadcom reported US$20 billion in AI sales last year. The company’s AI chip targets include both accelerators and networking semiconductors. The increase was “driven by robust demand for custom AI accelerators and AI networking,” Tan said in a statement. Beyond Broadcom’s custom AI chip work, the company continues to update its networking equipment to better link up the computing needed to run AI models.

Taiwan lose 3-0 to Australia in WBC openerStaff writer, with CNATaiwan today lost their World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool C opener against Australia 3-0, as they struggled to find their rhythm at the Tokyo Dome. Despite a strong start from pitcher Hsu Jo-hsi, who tossed four scoreless innings, Taiwan’s hitters were stifled throughout the game. They struck out nine times and managed only three singles, failing to capitalize on three opportunities with a runner in scoring position. Taiwan players walk off the field at the Tokyo Dome today, after losing 3-0 to Australia. Taiwan are to face the reigning WBC champions, Japan, at the Tokyo Dome at 7pm (6pm Taiwan time) tomorrow.

Taiwan crucial to Indo-Pacific security framework: foreign ministerBy Fion Khan / Staff writerIncorporating Taiwan into existing security frameworks to create a more robust US-led regional defense architecture is key to deterring Chinese aggression, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) told the Japan Times in an interview published yesterday. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung speaks during an interview in Taipei on Dec. 2 last year. Another key field for cooperation would be contingency planning, which would include extensive coordination in the event of a Chinese quarantine, blockade or military incursion against Taiwan, Lin said. "We’ve held dialogue with Japan, the Philippines and other first island chain countries," he said. The talks could also include topics such as weapons integration and defense-industrial cooperation through frameworks such as the US-led Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience and the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, he added.

US Senate committee approves bill on Taiwan space cooperationBy Hollie Younger / Staff writerA bill aimed at enhancing space cooperation between Taiwan and the US yesterday cleared the committee stage in the US Senate, with senators saying it would help counter threats from Beijing. The Taiwan and American Space Assistance (TASA) Act would now head to the Senate floor after being passed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The act allows for extended cooperation between the Taiwan Space Agency and both NASA and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Photo courtesy of the Taiwan Space AgencyThe act would also allow NASA and NOAA to exchange personnel with the Taiwan Space Agency to bolster Taiwan’s space capabilities. This legislation will enable NASA and NOAA cooperation with Taiwan’s Space Agency, strengthening our joint ability to tackle shared challenges in space,” Bennet said.

Whale carcass found in Hualien’s Chongde BayStaff writer, with CNAA partially decomposed 15m whale carcass was yesterday found in a set-net fishery in Hualien's Chongde Bay (崇德海灘), local officials said. Officials from the Hualien County Government's Agriculture Bureau, who were also sent out to help, towed the carcass onto Chongde Beach, where they measured its length at 15.4m. A whale carcass lies on Hualien County's Chongde Beach yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Hualien County GovernmentBased on its appearance, the whale was likely either a fin whale or an Omura's whale, also known as a dwarf fin whale, the expert said. The whale had died some time before it washed into the bay, the Ocean Conservation Administration said.