Ex-colonel denied final appeal in spy recruitment case
Ex-colonel denied final appeal in spy recruitment caseStaff writer, with CNAThe Supreme Court on Thursday denied the final appeal for an 11-year prison sentence for an ex-air force colonel who recruited spies for China while on active duty, but handed charges involving the leak of military info back to a lower court. Taichung prosecutors said Chang received NT$1.34 million (US$42,583) from his handlers between 2019 and 2023, with some monthly payments reaching NT$65,000 for his role in providing intelligence and recruiting other spies for China. The Supreme Court in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph. In the same ruling, the court dismissed all charges against Chung due to his death and acquitted Yeh, citing insufficient evidence. On Thursday, the Supreme Court remanded two other charges of Chang — for which he received four and three-year prison terms, respectively — to the lower court for a retrial.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 17:13 UTC
Peace and prosperity are path forward: Lai to Pope
Peace and prosperity are path forward: Lai to PopeBy Ben Blanchard / ReutersAny attempt to change Taiwan’s “status quo” by force or coercion cannot bring true peace, President William Lai (賴清德) said in a letter to Pope Leo XIV released by the Presidential Office yesterday. Writing to Leo in response to his Jan. 1 World Day of Peace message, Lai said he had repeatedly emphasized that democracy, peace and prosperity are Taiwan’s path forward and the country’s link with the world. President William Lai, front center, inspects an air base in Hualien yesterday with a Sky Bow III Missile Tactical Command Vehicle behind him. “Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are crucial to the safety and well-being of people and form an essential cornerstone of global security and prosperity. “I firmly believe that any attempt to change Taiwan’s status quo through force or coercion cannot bring true peace,” he said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 17:13 UTC
Giants trade top Taiwanese Teng Kai-wei to Astros
Giants trade top Taiwanese Teng Kai-wei to AstrosStaff writer, with CNATeng Kai-wei, the only Taiwanese pitcher to have appeared in a Major League Baseball (MLB) game over the past two seasons, has been traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Houston Astros. “I’m truly grateful to the @sfgiants organization for all the development and support they’ve given me during this period,” Teng wrote on social media yesterday. Photo: CNAThe Astros waived pitcher J.P. France to make room for the Taiwanese right-hander on their 40-man roster, while the Giants received minor league catcher Jancel Villarroel and international bonus pool money in exchange. “His experience serving as a long reliever can also add depth to the Astros’ bullpen, which lacks right-handers,” Lee wrote on social media, adding that the Giants’ pitching staff is deeper than that of the Astros. Teng appeared in 12 MLB games over the past two seasons, including seven starts in eight outings last year.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 17:13 UTC
Alcaraz prevails in monster semi-final
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after defeating Alexander Zverev in their Australian Open men’s singles semi-final match in Melbourne yesterday. Alexander Zverev serves to Carlos Alcaraz at the end of their Australian Open men’s singles semi-final match in Melbourne yesterday. Photo: AFP“Believing all the time,” Alcaraz, who is into his eighth major final and fourth in a row, said of how he got through. The first set went on serve with few meaningful rallies until Alcaraz unleashed a backhand winner at 3-3 to earn the first break point of the match. Alcaraz sensationally broke back as Zverev served at 5-3, and it went to a tense tiebreak where the world No.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 17:13 UTC
Trump nominates Kevin Warsh as next Fed chairman
Trump nominates Kevin Warsh as next Fed chairmanAP, WASHINGTONUS President Donald Trump yesterday announced that he is nominating former US Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to be the next central bank chief. “On top of everything else, he is ‘central casting,’ and he will never let you down.”Former US Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh is pictured at a conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 10, 2024. Trump’s selection ends a race that had narrowed to four contenders — Warsh, Fed Governor Christopher Waller, BlackRock senior managing director Rick Rieder and Trump’s top economic adviser Kevin Hassett. Warsh has stepped up his criticism of the Fed, endorsing many of the policy positions of Trump and his administration. In Trump’s first term, the president considered Warsh for the Fed chair position as well, but eventually chose Powell.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 17:13 UTC
Taiwan on currency watchlist
The bank reported net purchases of foreign exchange of US$5.9 billion for the four quarters ending in June last year, or about 0.7 percent of GDP, it said, quoting the report. It said it would continue to engage constructively with the Treasury on macroeconomic and exchange rate issues, while maintaining a market-determined exchange rate and safeguarding financial stability. In its latest semi-annual currency report, the Treasury said no major trading partner met all three criteria for enhanced analysis of currency practices during the second half of 2024 and the first six months of last year. The addition took the monitoring list to 10 economies, with China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland also on the list. The report has traditionally focused on whether countries are engaging in one-sided currency intervention or other manipulation to resist appreciation against the US dollar to keep their exports cheaper.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC
TPP threatens Taiwan’s democracy
In response, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) accused the president of evading oversight, contravening constitutional principles and seeking a “rubber-stamp legislature.” The party framed its attack as a defense of democracy and legality. The TPP accuses the government of treating the law like a buffet, picking what it likes and discarding the rest. What the TPP presents as accountability is, in effect, an effort to remake Taiwan’s presidential system into a parliamentary one — a change that requires a constitutional amendment. The party describes Taiwan’s engagement with the US as surrender and humiliation, accusing the government of “selling out” the country’s future. A party that constantly pushes against those limits in the name of righteousness is not defending democracy, it is destroying it.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC
US, Indo-Pacific fighting cyberthreats
US, Indo-Pacific fighting cyberthreatsCOLLABORATION: The US Indo-Pacific Command said it maintains contact with regional partners, and operates, trains and conducts joint exercises with allies to deter aggressionStaff writer, with CNAThe US works daily with Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines to counter cyberattacks, US Indo-Pacific Command Deputy Commander Joshua Rudd said yesterday, adding that the command has deployed liaison officers to regional allies and partners to maintain ongoing engagement. The primary threats most closely related to US national security and the NSA include China’s comprehensive threat and rising tensions in multiple regions, Rudd said. Photo: ReutersHe said he has amassed extensive experience in the Indo-Pacific theater and gained a deep understanding of the challenges related to China. Asked by US Senator Ted Budd how the US plans to deepen its collaboration with Indo-Pacific allies such as Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines in building capabilities to counter cyberthreats, Rudd said they are already engaged in cooperation every day. Rudd said the Indo-Pacific Command deploys liaison officers to maintain contact with regional allies and partners.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC
EDITORIAL: Managing Taiwan’s stray problem
EDITORIAL: Managing Taiwan’s stray problemMinister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) on Wednesday said that animal welfare groups should be allowed to reach a consensus on the issue of feeding stray animals before regulations are written into law. Wildlife researchers have documented rising conflicts between stray dogs and protected species, particularly in national parks and wetlands. In 2023, residents in Miaoli and Tainan raised alarms over large packs of stray dogs prowling residential areas at night. Thus, the Ministry of Agriculture’s recently launched app to crowdsource sightings of stray dogs is a step in the right direction. Managing the stray animal population calls for a multifaceted approach grounded in enforcement, data, education and a shared sense of responsibility.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC
Window of opportunity in Chile
Window of opportunity in ChileBy Marcel OppligerChile has elected a new government that has the opportunity to take a fresh look at some key aspects of foreign economic policy, mainly a greater focus on Asia, including Taiwan. The early 2000s “pink wave” included Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, then-Argentine president Nestor Kirchner, then-Bolivian president Evo Morales, then-Ecuadoran president Rafael Correa and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, among others. The next election cycle brought successors from the opposition in most of the region (including Chile), though not in Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua or Cuba. However, this “conservative” counterwave did not last long and it was followed by a “second pink wave” in many of the same nations — until now. What it means for Taiwan is a window of opportunity, because it should be easier to strengthen ties with a new crop of nonsocialist governments.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC
GDP grew at fastest pace of 8.63% last year: DGBAS
GDP expanded 12.68 percent in the fourth quarter — the strongest quarterly pace in nearly 38 years — lifting full-year GDP growth to 8.63 percent. That significantly exceeded the government’s 7.37 percent forecast, highlighting the nation’s importance in the global technology supply chain. Government spending grew 1.83 percent, contributing 0.25 percentage points to overall GDP growth, although it was slower than projected. Overall domestic demand rose 0.89 percent, accounting for 0.77 percentage points of the economy’s expansion. The data reflected export-driven growth and resilient domestic consumption, underscoring Taiwan’s integral role in the global AI and semiconductor ecosystem.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC
DeepSeek gets Nvidia chips nod
DeepSeek gets Nvidia chips nodCHINESE AI: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said his firm had not received information that permission had been granted, adding that China was still finalizing the dealReuters, SINGAPOREChina has given major artificial intelligence (AI) start-up DeepSeek (深度求索) approval to buy Nvidia’s H200 chips with regulatory conditions that are still being finalized, two sources said. ByteDance (字節跳動), Alibaba (阿里巴巴) and Tencent (騰訊) had been given permission to purchase more than 400,000 H200 chips in total, said the sources, who are familiar with the deal. Nvidia chief executive officer Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) yesterday said that his company had not received such information. The logos of DeepSeek and Nvidia are displayed on screens in Hangzhou, China, on Tuesday. Any purchases of H200 chips by DeepSeek could draw scrutiny by US lawmakers.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC
Donovan’s Deep Dives: The era of anxiety
Donovan’s Deep Dives: The era of anxietyFrom geopolitics and climate change to technology and demographics, rising global instability is fueling anxiety — especially in TaiwanBy Courtney Donovan Smith 石東文 / Staff ColumnistWe have reached the point where, on any given day, it has become shocking if nothing shocking is happening in the news. Meanwhile, more and more countries are reaching the “point of no return” demographically, including Taiwan. They did that, and NATO countries have been stepping up, perhaps thinking the pressure would ease. Challenges and risks are rising fast, and the political unity and stability that underpinned the post-war era is unravelling. The problem is the sharp rise in uncertainty on every level, and the insecurity and anxiety that comes with it.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC
Global server market tipped to grow 12.8%
Global server market tipped to grow 12.8%By Meryl Kao / Staff reporterThe global server market is expected to grow 12.8 percent annually this year, with artificial intelligence (AI) servers projected to account for 16.5 percent, driven by continued investment in AI infrastructure by major cloud service providers (CSPs), market researcher TrendForce Corp (集邦科技) said yesterday. The growth in the global server market this year would be driven by continued momentum in AI servers, with the rapid expansion of AI inference applications in particular fueling rising demand for storage and edge AI servers, Kung said. Inference-based AI servers are expected to account for 44 percent of total AI server shipments this year, with the share projected to rise above 50 percent by 2029, he said. As CSPs and enterprises expand AI applications across endpoints, the market is expected to develop along two main tracks, Kung said. The first involves broader deployment of GPU-based systems, such as Nvidia’s platforms, as well as in-house ASIC rack solutions to support large language model training and generative AI inference, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC
Putin agreed to pause Kyiv strikes amid cold: Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked Trump and said he was counting on Washington to secure the pause in attacks. People collect water at a public well in a Kyiv neighborhood without water and heating during sub-zero temperatures on Tuesday last week. Photo: Reuters“Because of the cold, extreme cold ... I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kyiv and the cities and towns for a week during this,” Trump said. And I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and the various towns for a week.
Source:Taipei Times
January 30, 2026 16:06 UTC