China Replaces Commanders Overseeing Beijing, Taiwan Operations
China Replaces Commanders Overseeing Beijing, Taiwan OperationsBloombergChinese President Xi Jinping installed new military leadership for its central and eastern regions amid an unprecedented purge of the top defense echelons. General Yang Zhibin(楊志斌) has become commander of the Eastern Theater Command, responsible for Taiwan operations, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. The former commander of the Taiwan command, Lin Xiangyang(林向陽), was removed in October for violating party discipline and laws. Meanwhile, Wang Qiang(王強), ex-Central Theater Commander, missed a military parade in Beijing in September without reason. Yang, who also has an air force background, was until recently the vice commander of the Eastern Theater Command.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 16:46 UTC
China likely loaded more than 100 ICBMs in silo fields, Pentagon report says
China likely loaded more than 100 ICBMs in silo fields, Pentagon report saysBy Idrees Ali, Jonathan Landay / Staff Reporter, ReutersChina is likely to have loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles across its latest three silo fields and has no desire for arms control talks, according to a draft Pentagon report which highlighted Beijing’s growing military ambitions. But the draft Pentagon report, which was seen by Reuters, said Beijing did not appear to be interested. Photo: Reuters“We continue to see no appetite from Beijing for pursuing such measures or more comprehensive arms control discussions,” the report said. In particular, the report said that China had likely put in more than 100 solid-fuelled DF-31 ICBMs in silo fields close to China’s border with Mongolia - the latest in a series of silo sites. The draft Pentagon report did not identify any potential target of the reported newly placed missiles.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 16:46 UTC
Legislature passes amendments to protect railway workers
Legislature passes amendments to protect railway workersStaff writer, with CNAThe Legislature today passed amendments to the Railway Act (鐵路法) that impose criminal penalties on those who use violence, coercion or threats to obstruct railway personnel while they are carrying out their duties. Under the amendments, such offenses are punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to NT$300,000. The amendments would authorize railway operators to refuse service when there is a risk that passengers could obstruct railway personnel using violence, coercion or threats. The new amendments would also raise fines to deter improper profit-seeking involving train tickets. The amendments today passed their third reading at a legislative plenary session without objections.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 10:58 UTC
Tax exemptions for EVs to be extended
Tax exemptions for EVs to be extendedStaff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan today passed amendments to commodity and vehicle license tax laws for electric vehicles (EVs) that would extend an exemption of these taxes for an additional five years. An amendment to the Commodity Tax Act (貨物稅條例) would extend the exemption of the commodity tax for EV purchases, but continue to limit it to a taxable value of NT$1.4 million (US$44,430) per EV, with amounts in excess of that not receiving tax-free status. Photo: Taipei Times file photoAn amendment to the Vehicle License Tax Act (使用牌照稅法) would also extend the exemption of the license tax for another five years. The commodity tax and vehicle license tax exemptions for EVs took effect in January 2011 and in January 2012 respectively, and have been extended several times, the Ministry of Finance said. As of the end of last month, the EV commodity tax exemption had cost the treasury a cumulative NT$28.9 billion, while the EV vehicle license tax exemption had cost the government NT$9.2 billion, the ministry said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 10:35 UTC
Fines to be raised for using phones, smoking while driving
Fines to be raised for using phones, smoking while drivingBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan today passed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例) that raise the penalties for certain traffic contraventions. The amendments would raise the fine for using mobile phones, computers or other similar devices to call, text or send or receive data while driving a motorcycle from NT$1,000 to NT$1,200. A scooter driver holds his cellphone while stopped at a traffic light in Taipei on June 8, 2012. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei TimesThe fine for doing that while driving a car is NT$3,000. They would also raise the fine for holding, smoking or lighting a cigarette while driving a car or motorcycle from NT$600 to NT$1,200.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 10:33 UTC
Taipei attacker mainly financed by mother: police
Taipei attacker mainly financed by mother: policeBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAChang Wen (張文), who went on a stabbing spree in Taipei on Friday last week, was living solely on savings and financial support from his mother, the Taipei Police Department said today. Last week’s attacks at Taipei Main Station and near Zhongshan MRT station left four people dead, including Chang, while at least 11 others were injured. Taipei Metro Police Chief Liao Luo-yu speaks at a news conference in Taipei today. The task force concluded that Chang meticulously prepared for the attack after reviewing the timing and site-survey footage related to Chang’s purchases of weapons, investigators said. Meanwhile, Taipei Metro Police Chief Liao Luo-yu (廖洛育) today said that Taipei Metro Police are responsible for 117 metro stations across Taipei and New Taipei City — a system that handles more than 2 million passengers per day.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 10:17 UTC
KMT, TPP move forward with motion to impeach Lai
KMT, TPP move forward with motion to impeach LaiBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAThe motion to impeach President William Lai (賴清德) has been placed on the agenda for the Legislative Yuan’s session on Friday, after the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party today used their majority in the Procedure Committee to schedule it. The Legislative Yuan’s Procedure Committee today met to set the agenda for the legislative sessions from Friday through Tuesday next week. Chinese Nationalist Party caucus secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang speaks at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei in an undated photograph. The KMT caucus proposed impeaching Lai for allegedly contravening Article 72 of the Constitution by refusing to promulgate amendments to the fiscal planning act passed by the Legislative Yuan. The article states that the Legislative Yuan can initiate impeachment proceedings against the president if more than one-half of legislators agree.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 10:16 UTC
High Court raises teens’ sentences in school stabbing case
High Court raises teens’ sentences in school stabbing caseBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAThe High Court today increased the sentences of two New Taipei City teenagers over the fatal school stabbing of a classmate to 12 years for the boy and 11 years for the girl. In the second trial in the case, the panel of judges said that the facts of the crime were clearly established. The parents of the victim of a fatal school stabbing, left and right, on March 7 appear with New Taipei City Councilor Shih Yi-yu, center, to question the case’s judicial process. The High Court said that it also considered the opinions of the victim’s family. The sentences should indeed have been heavier to restore justice, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 09:59 UTC
KMT, TPP again stall special defense budget
KMT, TPP again stall special defense budgetBy Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNAThe Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), using their combined legislative majority, today again declined to schedule the government’s proposed special defense budget for discussion. The KMT and the TPP deliberately disregard basic legislative procedure, DPP spokeswoman Han Ying (韓瑩) said in a statement. The KMT has refused to acknowledge public support for improving national defense and turned its back on Taiwanese, she said. According to legislative procedure, bills and budget proposals must first pass the Procedure Committee and then be referred to a committee before they can be explained and substantively debated, she said. Apart from the special defense budget, several other amendments were also shelved from the agenda for plenary sessions scheduled from Friday through Tuesday next week.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 09:52 UTC
Social safety net needs repair, VP says after stabbings
Social safety net needs repair, VP says after stabbingsStaff writer, with CNAVice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) yesterday said Friday’s deadly stabbing attacks in downtown Taipei indicate that anxiety continues to exist in society, and that the social safety net needs to be repaired and improved. Hsiao made the comments while meeting recipients of the 22nd Golden Rudder Awards and the Bright Youth Awards at the Presidential Office in Taipei. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim speaks to Golden Rudder Award and Bright Youth Award recipients at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday. Friday's attacks near two Taipei MRT railway stations once again highlighted “lingering social anxiety in Taiwan and the need to repair and strengthen the social safety net,” Hsiao said. Four people died, including Chang, who fell to his death from the six-story department store's roof while being pursued by police.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 04:48 UTC
Temperatures could drop below 14°C from Thursday
Temperatures could drop below 14°C from ThursdayStaff writer, with CNAA new wave of cold air is on Thursday expected to move in from the north and could strengthen into a continental cold air mass affecting Taiwan through Saturday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The CWA defines a continental cold air mass as conditions in which temperatures at the Taipei weather station fall to 14°C or below. The Central Weather Administration has forecast cooler temperatures from Thursday. Today, weakening northeasterly winds would cause temperatures to rebound across Taiwan under mostly cloudy to sunny skies, it said. Seasonal winds would strengthen slightly tomorrow, lowering temperatures in the north and northeast and increasing moisture, the agency said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 23, 2025 04:12 UTC
Crosby breaks scoring record
Crosby breaks scoring recordHISTORIC MOMENT: Sidney Crosby broke the record in the first period when his shot hit Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell tapped the rebound behind goalie Jakub DobesAP, PITTSBURGH, PennsylvaniaAs far as Sidney Crosby is concerned, Mario Lemieux is still No. Crosby broke Lemieux’s franchise scoring record with a goal and an assist in the first period of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 4-3 shoot-out win against the Montreal Canadiens. Crosby previously broke Lemieux’s record for the most assists in franchise history on Dec. 29 last year against the New York Islanders. Crosby is 45 goals behind Lemieux’s franchise record of 690. The biggest number on Sunday was Lemieux’ franchise scoring record.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 20:12 UTC
Japan’s Mimura warns against yen movements
“We’re seeing one-directional, sudden moves especially after last week’s monetary policy meeting, so I’m deeply concerned,” Japanese Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs Atsushi Mimura told reporters. Japanese yen banknotes are pictured on September 22, 2022. After Mimura’s comments yesterday, the yen strengthened to as much as 157.51 to the greenback. The two-year yield, which is sensitive to monetary policy expectations, rose to the highest since 1997. Looser monetary policy typically is a tailwind for gold and silver, which do not pay interest.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 17:13 UTC
Groups urge government to streamline reviews
Groups urge government to streamline reviewsBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterSolar energy associations yesterday urged the government to streamline a review of solar installations to help local companies ride through an industry slump, as some large-scale solar projects above fisheries were stalled due to new environmental protection regulations. That is adding to the already struggling solar companies,” Shen said. In addition, insufficient green energy supply would dent the competitive edge of local exporters as green energy adoption has become a major consideration of their global customers, he said. Green energy supply constraints would force local manufacturers to allocate their production lines overseas or to locations with a sufficient supply of renewable energy, Hu said. Lin (林甜宇) said that solar companies are facing challenges, such as securing land to deploy solar panels, time-consuming reviews, insufficient green energy supply and delays in energy storage deployment.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 17:13 UTC
Global server shipments to reach 15m: consultancy
Global server shipments to reach 15m: consultancyBy Meryl Kao / Staff reporterGlobal server shipments are expected to surge to 15 million units next year, from 4 million units this year, with artificial intelligence (AI) servers accounting for about 30 percent, driven by massive capital spending by major cloud service providers, the Market Intelligence and Consulting Institute (MIC) said on Thursday last week. Cloud operators Oracle Corp and CoreWeave Inc are also expected to ramp up purchases of AI and general-purpose servers for their data centers, Lin said. People examine an Nvidia GPU at the Pegatron Corp booth during the Computex Taipei trade show on May 20. Photo: Annabelle Chih, BloombergThe institute projected servers powered by Nvidia Corp’s graphics processing units to account for about 80 percent of total AI servers next year, with application-specific integrated circuit-based servers making up the remaining 20 percent. Meanwhile, for server and related component makers, “those who can integrate power, cooling, server racks and infrastructure are expected to secure more critical positions in the next wave of data center expansion, while those only sell components risk being commoditized,” Wei said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 17:13 UTC