Search expands for missing pilot of crashed F-16V jet
Search expands for missing pilot of crashed F-16V jetStaff writer, with CNAThe military has expanded the scope of its search-and-rescue operation for the missing pilot of an F-16V jet, deploying sea, air and ground forces around the clock, but had made no further progress as of noon yesterday. The F-16V piloted by Hsin went missing off the coast of Hualien County during a nighttime training mission on Tuesday evening. Waves bound against a Coast Guard Administration vessle searching for missing air force Captain Hsin Po-yi off the coast of Hualien County yesterday. As of 9am yesterday, four vessels and 16 boat sorties had been dispatched, along with 132 vehicles and 296 personnel for shore operations, the coast guard said. The army’s Taitung Area Command said that about 40 personnel are deployed daily for coastal search operations.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 17:45 UTC
Make correct choices for resilience
Make correct choices for resilienceBy Roger LoA succession of disasters of natural and human origin over the course of last year have hit Taiwan hard. From earthquakes and extreme weather events to public security incidents, disasters became a part of everyday life. From a longer-term perspective, climate change and earthquake risks are compounding to amplify Taiwan’s disaster challenges. The issue is that this resilience comes not just from emergency response efficiency, but everyday investment choices. Accelerating the reinforcement of aging buildings, integrating cross-agency public safety governance and establishing more transparent risk-information mechanisms are tasks that can no longer be deferred.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 17:45 UTC
Export growth sees very strong year
Exports surged 43.4 percent from a year earlier to US$62.48 billion last month, extending growth to 26 consecutive months. Photo: EPADepartment of Statistics Director-General Beatrice Tsai (蔡美娜) described the performance as “surprisingly outstanding,” forecasting export growth of 50 percent to 56 percent for this month, reflecting a low base due to the timing of the Lunar New Year. Together, the two categories accounted for over two-thirds of the month’s export growth, underscoring Taiwan’s pivotal role in supplying chips, servers and related hardware to global datacenter operators. Taiwan’s export expansion has accelerated rapidly in recent years. Last year’s export growth was the strongest in close to 15 years, far outpacing major economies, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 17:45 UTC
KMT, TPP again block review of budget bills
Legislators hold up placards stating their respective stances during a vote at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. The Cabinet has declined to earmark funds for the raises and has sought constitutional interpretations of the bills, which are still pending. Lawmakers from the two opposition parties also blocked a proposed NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget unveiled by Lai on Nov. 26 last year. It was the sixth time opposition lawmakers had voted against the special budget. The opposition has demanded that Lai brief the legislature on the special budget and respond to lawmakers’ questions before any review of the spending plan begins.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 17:45 UTC
KMT offers legal assistance to challenge pension cut
KMT offers legal assistance to challenge pension cutStaff writer, with CNAThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday promised to provide legal assistance to retired police officers and firefighters affected by the government’s refusal to budget pension increases mandated by a bill passed by the legislature and signed by President William Lai (賴清德). Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Wu Tsung-hsien, center, speaks at a news confernce at party headquarters in Taipei yesterday. Lawyers who regularly work with the party are willing to represent affected retirees and the party would cover any legal fees, he said. The KMT would also file a lawsuit demanding that the Cabinet allocate funding for the pension increases, he added. In September last year, a coalition of retired police officers’ associations filed a lawsuit against Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), accusing him of malfeasance over the Cabinet’s refusal to earmark funds for the pension increases.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 17:45 UTC
Client consultation
Hon Hai posts record growth in revenueREVENUE PERFORMANCE: Cloud and network products, and electronic components saw strong increases, while smart consumer electronics and computing products fell Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) yesterday posted 26.51 percent quarterly growth in revenue for last quarter to NT$2.6 trillion (US$82.44 billion), the strongest on record for the period and above expectations, but the company forecast a slight revenue dip this quarter due to seasonal factors. On an annual basis, revenue last quarter grew 22.07 percent, the company said. Analysts on average estimated about NT$2.4 trillion increase. Hon Hai, which assembles servers for Nvidia Corp and iPhones for Apple Inc, is expanding its capacity in the US, adding artificial intelligence (AI) server production in Wisconsin and Texas, where it operates established campuses. ThisBy Meryl Kao
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 16:01 UTC
South Korea looks ahead
South Korea looks aheadBloombergSouth Korea’s government is more optimistic about the economy’s prospects than the central bank, striking a more upbeat tone as authorities move to further open the nation’s currency and financial markets to global investors. In its economic growth strategy report for this year, the government forecast the economy would grow 2 percent, more than the Bank of Korea’s 1.8 percent estimate, the South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance said in a statement Friday. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, center, rear, speaks during a meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. The foreign exchange reforms are part of a broader push to attract foreign investment as South Korea pursues inclusion in global benchmarks such as MSCI Inc’s developed markets index. The strategy reaffirmed the government’s industrial priorities, with artificial intelligence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing positioned as key growth engines.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 16:01 UTC
Rio Tinto and Glencore revive merger discussion
Rio Tinto and Glencore revive merger discussionBloombergRio Tinto Group is in talks to buy Glencore PLC to create the world’s biggest mining company with a combined market value of more than US$200 billion, a little over a year after earlier talks between the two collapsed. Glencore and Rio both own large copper assets, and the potential deal would create a new mining behemoth to rival BHP Group, which has long held the title of the biggest miner. The Rio Tinto Group logo atop Central Park tower, which houses the company`s offices, in Perth, Australia, yesterday. Trott, who ran Rio’s iron ore division before taking the helm in August last year, aims to sharpen an organization that critics say became bloated in recent years. Since then, Rio replaced its CEO, while Glencore made an effort to publicly outline its copper growth prospects.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 16:01 UTC
Road safety groups call for driving test reform
Road safety groups call for driving test reformBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNARoad and pedestrian safety advocacy groups today called for reform of Taiwan’s driving test and certification system, citing five key demands. Among their demands were including commercial and urban areas with pedestrians in the driving test and establishing a nationwide curriculum. Photo: Huang Mei-chu, Taipei TimesThe groups included the Taiwan Vision Zero Alliance and the Taiwan Traffic Safe Association, with Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Yue-chin (林月琴) and Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Liu Shu-pin (劉書彬) also in attendance. They then called for a nationwide driving curriculum in line with international practices, and speed differentiation training to ensure safety for young people on the roads. The groups also recommended increased oversight of driving schools to ensure that new drivers reach the legally mandated minimum hours of on-road training before taking the test.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 15:50 UTC
Main festival lantern to feature Alishan
Main festival lantern to feature AlishanBy Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNAThe Tourism Administration today unveiled the main lantern and handheld lantern designs for this year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi County, featuring a centerpiece inspired by the ancient forests of Alishan (阿里山). Handheld lanterns for this year's Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi County are pictured today at an event in Taipei. The Taiwan Lantern Festival is the largest and most important Lunar New Year event in the nation, Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Kuo-shian (林國顯) said. Entering its 37th edition this year and returning to Chiayi for the third time, the main lantern design team centered on Alishan, he said. The main lantern conveys strong cultural symbolism and local characteristics, while incorporating artificial intelligence, culture and recycled materials to highlight environmental sustainability, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 15:35 UTC
Opposition again blocks special defense budget
Opposition again blocks special defense budgetBy Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNAOpposition legislators today for the sixth time blocked a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.8 billion) special defense budget bill from proceeding to the committee review stage. During today’s plenary session, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) caucuses voted down the proposal with a 59-50 vote. The Executive Yuan on Nov. 27 approved a special budget to bolster defense resilience and asymmetric capabilities by funding weapons procurement and joint development programs with the US from next year to 2033. As the plenary agenda remained undecided, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus secretary-general Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) and other lawmakers yesterday night queued outside the legislative chamber to formally submit their proposal to refer the special defense budget bill to committee review today. The opposition parties again, using their numerical advantage, successfully prevented the special defense act from being sent to committee for review.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 06:45 UTC
Taiwan officially super-aged society: MOI
Taiwan officially super-aged society: MOIBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAWith 20.06 percent of its population now 65 years old or older, Taiwan has officially become a super-aged society, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) said today. The WHO defines a society as “super-aged” when at least 20 percent of people are 65 or older. Photo courtesy of Lee Women’s HospitalTaiwan’s population fell by 101,088 last year compared with 2024, marking the second consecutive year that the population has declined, the data showed. There were 107,812 babies born last year, compared with 134,856 in 2024, marking the 10th consecutive year that the birthrate has declined, the ministry said. In addition, 200,268 people died last year, a decline in 1,839 deaths compared with 2024, the data showed.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 06:28 UTC
Snow falls on Yushan as cold continues
Snow falls on Yushan as cold continuesStaff writer, with CNASnow fell on Yushan (Jade Mountain, 玉山), Taiwan's highest mountain, at about 6am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of about 8am, the CWA's Yushan Weather Station in Nantou County had recorded 1cm of snow, with temperatures at minus-4.1°C and snowfall continuing. The Yushan Weather Station in Nantou County is covered in snow early this morning. Independent meteorologist Wu Der-rong (吳德榮) said another wave of cold air would keep chilly conditions in place over the weekend. From Monday morning through Thursday, sunny skies would prevail during the daytime as the cold air gradually weakens, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 04:44 UTC
‘Up to Xi’ how to handle Taiwan, but Venezuela no precedent: Trump
‘Up to Xi’ how to handle Taiwan, but Venezuela no precedent: TrumpReuters, WASHINGTONUS President Donald Trump said "it’s up to" Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) what China does on Taiwan, but that he would be "very unhappy" with a change in the "status quo," the New York Times said in an interview published yesterday. He also repeated his belief that Xi would not make a move against Taiwan during his presidency, which ends in 2029. "He may do it after we have a different president, but I don’t think he’s going to do it with me as president," Trump said. “The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, and how to resolve it is a matter purely within China’s sovereign rights,” said Liu Pengyu (劉鵬宇), a spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington. Trump has largely avoided directly saying how he would respond to a rise in tensions over Taiwan.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 03:21 UTC
Free counseling program renewed, open to foreign nationals
Free counseling program renewed, open to foreign nationalsBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAThe Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday said it would invest NT$350 million (US$11.06 million) this year to continue its mental health support program, which offers three free psychological counseling sessions to people aged 15 to 45. The program is also available to foreign nationals with a National Health Insurance card. First launched on Aug. 1, 2023, the program aims to support mental health among young people. Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei TimesIn its first year, the program helped more than 30,000 people aged 15 to 30, and sponsored more than 80,000 counseling sessions. Foreigners aged 15 to 45 with National Health Insurance are also eligible to participate and receive three free counseling sessions, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
January 09, 2026 03:20 UTC