Majority oppose stalling on defense budget
Majority oppose stalling on defense budgetSUBSTANTIAL DISFAVOR: More than half of those polled said they disapproved of the opposition’s continued stalling of a special defense budget in the legislatureBy Chen Yu-fu and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerMore than half of people disapprove of opposition lawmakers stalling review of the government’s proposed special defense budget, a poll found yesterday. Last month, President William Lai (賴清德) proposed a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.7 billion) special defense budget to be spent over the next eight years. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), using their combined legislative majority, have twice declined to schedule the bill for discussion. Among KMT supporters, 52 percent approved of holding up the budget, while 33 percent disapproved, it said. However, 33 percent of KMT supporters appreciated the comments, compared with 34 percent who did not.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 16:35 UTC
US to supply howitzers as part of new arms sale
The US government on Wednesday last week announced the potential sale of eight arms packages to Taiwan, including HIMARS, anti-tank missiles and drones, at an estimated cost of US$11.1 billion. It was the second round of arms sales to Taiwan during US President Donald Trump’s second term. Five of the eight arms packages — the M109 howitzers, HIMARS, TOW guided anti-tank missiles, anti-armor drones and Javelin anti-tank missiles — are covered in an NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.7 billion) special defense budget put forth last month by the government, pending lawmakers’ review. Taiwan is reported to have reduced the number of M109A7 howitzers requested to 120 from 168 out of concern that the delivery of the weapons might not be completed within the execution timeline for the special budget. The M109A7 is the latest variant in the M109 family of self-propelled howitzers.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 16:35 UTC
Vietnamese immigrant realizes acting dreams in Taiwan
Vietnamese immigrant realizes acting dreams in TaiwanStaff writer, with CNAVietnamese actress Trần Thu Liễu, also known by her Chinese name Chen Chiu-liu (陳秋柳), has realized her acting dream in Taiwan, a place she has called home for more than two decades. While pursuing her dreams on stage, Trần also works as an interpreter, providing judicial and administrative translation services for Vietnamese in Taiwan. "The entire movie conveyed to me the cultural uniqueness of Taiwan's night markets and challenged patriarchal traditions," Trần said. "Through a grassroots immigrant character like mine, the movie also showcased that Taiwan has a diverse society populated by immigrants." Trần said she wishes to use the unique opportunities her acting career has given her to bridge Taiwanese and Vietnamese cultures.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 13:16 UTC
Suspected drug smuggler arrested after airport chase
Suspected drug smuggler arrested after airport chaseStaff writer, with CNAA foreign national who fled yesterday when customs officials searched his suitcase at Kaohsiung International Airport has been arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling, authorities said. Police officers apprehend a suspected drug smuggler at Kaohsiung International Airport yesterday. Photo courtesy of the Aviation Police Bureau Kaohsiung branchAfter being stopped at customs, the man offered "various pretexts" to avoid having his luggage searched before running out of the security restricted area and into the arrival hall, a bureau spokesman said. The suspect, whose name and nationality have not been made public, was taken for questioning on suspicion of drug smuggling, the bureau said. As of yesterday evening, police had yet to confirm the type and quantity of drugs the man is suspected of carrying.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 12:56 UTC
Smoke grenade registration, AI scanners at MRT considered
Smoke grenade registration, AI scanners at MRT consideredBy Lee Wen-hsin and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerAuthorities are considering requiring real-name registration when purchasing smoke grenades following their use in an attack on the Taipei metro on Friday last week, as well as introducing scanners at public transportation entrances, National Police Agency Director-General Chang Jung-hsin (張榮興) said today. The Legislative Yuan’s Internal Administration Committee today invited Chang, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) and others to discuss plans to improve safety in light of the attack. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lai Shih-bao (賴士葆) asked whether smoke grenades and signal flares would be added to the Firearms, Ammunition and Knives Control Act (槍砲彈藥刀械管制條例) for regulation. The orange crisis safety handbook published this year did not include responding to violence and robbery, as the likelihood was considered low, Liu said. Asked how to prevent copycats, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lue Jen-der (呂建德) said that Friday’s case was unusual.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 10:34 UTC
Poll shows majority oppose stalling defense budget
Poll shows majority oppose stalling defense budgetBy Chen Yu-fu and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerMore than half of people disapprove of opposition lawmakers stalling review of the government’s proposed special defense budget, a poll found today. Last month, President William Lai (賴清德) proposed a NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.63 billion) special defense budget to be spent over the next eight years. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) using their combined legislative majority have twice declined to schedule the bill for discussion. Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers hold up signs protesting the opposition over blocking discussion of the government’s special defense budget at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei in an undated photograph. However, 33 percent of KMT supporters appreciated the comments, compared with 34 percent who did not.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 09:57 UTC
Crackdown on threats after Taipei knife attack
Crackdown on threats after Taipei knife attackStaff writer, with CNAAuthorities have detained several suspects in recent days for violent acts and making threats, stepping up efforts to prevent copycat attacks after a deadly stabbing spree in Taipei on Friday. Armed police patrol in Taipei Railway Station today. Citing the risk of flight and repeat offenses, they sought Lu's detention, which was approved by the New Taipei District Court this morning. Authorities launched the crackdown following an indiscriminate knife attack late on Friday near Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan MRT Station that left four people dead, including the suspect, 27-year-old Chang Wen (張文). Police and prosecutors warned that any acts threatening public safety, whether online or offline, would be dealt with swiftly.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 07:49 UTC
MRT patrols increased after social media bomb threat
MRT patrols increased after social media bomb threatBy Wang Kuan-jen and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerPolice today said they are stepping up patrols throughout the Taipei MRT system, after a social media user threatened to detonate a bomb at an unspecified station this afternoon. Many copycat messages have been posted since Friday’s stabbing attacks at Taipei Main Station and near Zhongshan MRT Station that left three dead and 11 injured, police said. Police officers patrol in Taipei Main Station yesterday. Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei TimesLast night, a Threads user in a post said they would detonate a bomb on the Taipei MRT system at 1:30pm today, without specifying where. The stations include Songshan, Nangang and Taipei railway stations in Taipei; Banqiao station in New Taipei City; Songzhu, Daqing and Xinwuri stations in Taichung; and Xinzuoying in Kaohsiung.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 06:01 UTC
OneRepublic thrills packed Kaohsiung crowd
OneRepublic thrills packed Kaohsiung crowdStaff writer, with CNAUS pop-rock band OneRepublic performed to a packed audience at Kaohsiung Arena on Friday night, with frontman Ryan Tedder delighting fans by wearing a Taiwanese temple-style vest and speaking Mandarin on stage. The show opened with the high-energy number Born, sending the crowd into a frenzy that grew as Tedder donned the vest on stage. OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder wears a temple vest while performing in Kaohsiung on Friday last week. OneRepublic performs in Kaohsiung on Friday last week. While performing Runaway, Tedder did some improvisations, changing the lyrics at one point to "My friends in Kaohsiung."
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 05:33 UTC
Visiting Japan delegation to meet president and premier
Visiting Japan delegation to meet president and premierBy Huang Ching-hsuan and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNAA delegation from Japan’s House of Councillors led by lawmaker Hirofumi Takinami is to meet with President William Lai (賴清德) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) while visiting Taiwan from today to Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The delegation of five would also meet Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), Taiwan-Japan Relations Association Chairman Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), the ministry said. The lawmakers are part of the House of Councillors’ “TY Group,” a pro-Taiwan group initiated by Takinami and former house member Yumi Yoshikawa. The former state minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries was also instrumental to a change made earlier this year to Japan’s household registration system allowing Taiwanese to list “Taiwan” as their nationality. Takinami is leader of the household registration task force at the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council.
Source:Taipei Times
December 22, 2025 05:06 UTC
Nine killed in South Africa bar shooting
Nine killed in South Africa bar shootingAP, JOHANNESBURGNine people have died and at least 10 were wounded after a group of gunmen carried out a shooting at a South African pub during the early hours of yesterday, authorities said. It is the second mass shooting to happen in South Africa in three weeks. Bystanders gather at the scene of a mass shooting in Bekkersdal, South Africa, yesterday. Another shooting killed 16 people in the Johannesburg township of Soweto in 2022. On the same day, four people were killed in a mass shooting at a bar in another province.
Source:Taipei Times
December 21, 2025 17:15 UTC
Events get extra security after Taipei knife attacks
Runners take part in the annual Taipei Marathon yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei TimesFor large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives detection measures would be introduced, the Taipei City Government said. The Taipei City Police Department’s Songshan Precinct said it has implemented multilayered security measures for events at the Taipei Arena, deploying armed patrol officers around the venue and at MRT Taipei Arena Station. Security at the annual Taipei Marathon was heavily increased yesterday, with almost 700 armed police officers deployed along the route. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei TimesThe Taipei Marathon drew about 28,000 runners yesterday, with about 9,000 competing in the full marathon, and 19,000 participating in the half-marathon, Chiang said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 21, 2025 17:15 UTC
MOTC to amend road rules
MOTC to amend road rulesBy Wu Liang-yi and Shelley Shan / Staff reportersThe Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has previewed proposed amendments to the Road and Traffic Safety Training Regulations (道路交通安全講習辦法) and Road Traffic Safety Rules (道路交通安全規則) to tackle problems caused by people driving without a license. Photo: Taipei TimesUnder the October amendments, unlicensed motorcyclists face fines ranging from NT$18,000 to NT$36,000, while unlicensed car drivers face fines of NT$36,000 to NT$60,000. The amendments to the regulations would require unlicensed drivers who contravene traffic regulations to take driving safety courses. The maximum number of days for driving safety courses would be extended to three days from two days, based on the amendments. In addition, in line with amendments promulgated by President William Lai (賴清德) last month, the ministry said it is revising pedestrian-related rules.
Source:Taipei Times
December 21, 2025 17:15 UTC
Civic groups back top court’s decision
Civic groups back top court’s decision‘BACK ON TRACK’: The court’s decision was important in reaffirming the separation of powers between the legislature and the executive, the groups’ statement saidBy Lin Hsin-han / Staff reporterMore than 20 civic groups, 160 academics and 130 lawyers yesterday issued a joint statement supporting the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Friday that amendments to the Constitutional Court Procedure Act (憲法訴訟法) passed last year were unconstitutional, saying it was the first step to restoring the nation’s constitutional democracy. A plaque for the Constitutional Court is pictured on its building in Taipei on Friday last week. Three justices from the eight-member court dissented and were not counted toward the total number of justices presiding over the case. The civic groups in the statement said that the first Constitutional Court judgement made this year has brought the court back to life, ending 328 days of paralysis since the amendments were passed. It draws a clear line between judicial and legislative powers, ensuring that the Legislative Yuan could not paralyze the Constitutional Court again, it said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 21, 2025 17:15 UTC
Motion to impeach Lai forthcoming: KMT
The KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) caucuses on Friday last week proposed impeaching Lai. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang is pictured in an undated photograph. The provision allowing the Legislative Yuan to request the impeached person attend a hearing was passed when Lai was a legislator, not by the current legislature, Huang said. “I do not know if Lai would claim the provision is unconstitutional and that the Legislative Yuan has no authority to invite him,” Huang said. The KMT and TPP have acted with impunity since gaining the legislative majority last year, Chung said.
Source:Taipei Times
December 21, 2025 17:14 UTC