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Taiwan

1. Taiwan's president tells Formosa Club European lawmakers Taiwan stands 'on the front line' on undersea cable risks and transnational repression

   Taiwan's president on Wednesday, Oct 28, received a cross-national delegation of European lawmakers attending the Formosa Club's 2026 annual meeting in Taipei, whose acting chair presented the meeting's joint statement. He said Taiwan will stand firmly on the front line against challenges such as managing risks to international undersea cables and China's transnational repression, and hopes to build trusted supply chains with democratic partners in areas including AI, drones and semiconductors. The acting chair said the delegation visited Kinmen, and that the joint statement supports an undersea cable security initiative and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. The club was founded in 2019 and held its annual meeting in Taiwan for the first time last October.

   Oct 28, 2026 Afternoon
2. Taiwan's foreign minister says CPTPP bid has no working group in its fifth year, mainly due to Chinese political interference

   Taiwan's foreign minister told the Legislative Yuan's foreign affairs and national defence committee on Wednesday, Oct 28, that Taiwan meets the CPTPP's 'Auckland principles' for membership but its bid cannot move forward because of political interference from China. Taiwan applied in 2021 and, now in its fifth year, has still not reached the stage of an accession working group, while three economies that applied later began preparatory discussions this year. He said this year's rotating chair is busy preparing for next year's APEC and that the large number of applications has caused a 'traffic jam'; the CPTPP is studying setting up several working groups to review bids in parallel, and its commission meets next month.

   Oct 28, 2026 Afternoon
3. Taiwan security official says Beijing's interference in local elections has escalated to 'military-level' intimidation

   As Taiwan's nine-in-one local elections approach, China's state-run Global Times ran an article on Tuesday, Oct 27, accusing the DPP government of 'using underground betting to sway the election'. A Taiwanese national security official called it typical cognitive warfare and said Beijing is stepping up interference on multiple fronts. The official said that after a well-known TV host appeared at the opening of the campaign headquarters of the DPP's Taipei mayoral candidate, an account run by the PLA's news communication centre posted criticism warning public figures they would pay a price for 'backing Taiwan independence'. The official said the rare move by the PLA's military propaganda arm against a local election and an entertainer showed interference had risen to 'military-level' psychological intimidation.

   Oct 28, 2026 Morning
4. Taiwan's defence chief calls Chinese state TV's satellite footage of Taipei landmarks 'cognitive warfare'

   China Central Television aired footage on Oct 25 taken by high-precision satellites showing the National Palace Museum in Taipei and the Taipei Dome, saying 'every street is clearly visible'. Taiwan's defence chief said on Oct 27 that Beijing had clearly chosen the day Taiwan calls Retrocession Day to conduct cognitive warfare. He said the military will monitor closely, take appropriate early warning and response measures, and practise concealment and dispersal to keep operations secure.

   Oct 27, 2026 Afternoon
5. Taiwan's defence ministry detects 6 Chinese warships, 9 official ships and 1 aircraft crossing median line in 24 hours

   Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said that from 6am on Oct 25 to 6am on Oct 26 it detected 6 Chinese navy ships and 9 official ships, as well as 1 Chinese military aircraft that crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered airspace to the south-west and east. The military said it used aircraft, ships and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor and respond. Such reports are routine readiness disclosures by Taiwan and do not mean any exchange of fire took place.

   Oct 26, 2026 Afternoon
6. Taiwan's digital ministry plans three-layer system to push Meta, Google and others to clearly label AI-generated images

   A director-general at Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs said on Oct 25 that the ministry has been meeting Meta, Google, LINE and experts this year, seeking prominent labels for AI-generated images. The planned system has three layers: creators tick a disclosure box when uploading; platforms add labels automatically when they detect AI-generated features that were not disclosed; and channels for government notices, user reports and appeals handle anything missed. He noted that YouTube currently places its label under 'more' in the description, which is not prominent enough.

   Oct 26, 2026 Morning
7. Follow-up: Typhoon Champi leaves 1 dead and 616 injured in Taiwan; Taipower says over 340,000 households lost power as storm nears Kyushu

   Typhoon Champi (Typhoon No. 30) came closest to Taiwan early on Oct 24, toppling buildings and trees; the Taipei Times reported one death and 616 injuries, and NHK said the gate of a Japanese school was blown down. Taiwan Power said more than 340,000 households had lost power at some point by 3pm on Oct 24, over 90% had been reconnected and more than 15,000 work shifts had been mobilised for repairs, with remaining outages concentrated in New Taipei, Taoyuan and Yilan. NHK said the storm was moving north over the East China Sea and expected to turn east towards Kyushu, with heavy rain possible across wide areas of eastern and western Japan until Oct 27.

   Oct 25, 2026 Morning
8. Taiwan's ITRI plans rare earths demonstration plant, aiming for 500 tonnes a year and 50% self-sufficiency by end-2030

   Taiwan's Central News Agency reported that the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), whose rare earths pilot line produces about 5,000 kg a year, plans to build a demonstration plant in an industrial zone, completed by end-2028 and reaching 500 tonnes a year by end-2030, so Taiwan could meet 50% of its rare earth needs itself. The budget would need to come from the National Science and Technology Council. China is the world's largest producer and exporter of rare earths and imposes export controls.

   Oct 25, 2026 Morning
9. Follow-up: Typhoon Champi leaves 1 dead and 527 injured in Taiwan; over 280,000 households lost power as storm heads for China's coast and southern Japan

   Typhoon Champi swept past waters off Yilan, Taiwan, early on Saturday, Oct 24, and lingered near the coast, with gusts reaching about 227 kph; Taiwanese authorities said a man was swept away by waves and killed on Xiaoliuqiu off Pingtung, and 527 people were injured island-wide. Taiwan Power said 288,382 households had lost power at some point by 9am on Oct 24, about 80% had been reconnected and 56,580 were still without power. The storm, about 150 km east of Taiwan with gusts easing to about 126 kph, is moving towards China's coast and southern Japan, and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued an advance warning of linear rainbands for Okinawa's Ishigaki Island area at 10:28am on Oct 24.

   Oct 24, 2026 Afternoon
10. Taiwan's life expectancy was 81.27 years in 2025; eliminating cancer would add 3.70 years

    Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior published its 2025 abridged life table excluding specific causes of death, showing average life expectancy of 81.27 years; excluding malignant tumours would add 3.70 years to 84.97, the largest effect of the top 10 causes of death, while excluding heart disease and pneumonia would add 1.54 and 1.13 years respectively. Cancer has been the leading cause of death for 44 consecutive years and killed 54,838 people in 2025, 27.48% of all deaths.

    Oct 24, 2026 Afternoon
11. Follow-up: Typhoon Champi leaves 1 dead and 350 injured in Taiwan; northern cities keep offices and schools shut on Oct 24

    Typhoon Champi, the 30th of the season, engulfed all of Taiwan on Friday, Oct 23, and RFI said it had left one person dead and 350 injured. Taiwan's weather agency said that at 8pm the centre was about 100 km east of Yilan moving north-north-east at 16 kph, with maximum sustained winds of 155 kph, gusts of about 191 kph and a storm radius of 320 km, and mountain areas of New Taipei, Taoyuan and Yilan could see up to 900 mm of rain. Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan and several other cities and counties kept offices and schools closed on Oct 24; Taiwan's Central News Agency said more than 100,000 households lost power at some point and about 25,000 were still waiting for it, and NHK said the typhoon had nearly stalled with Okinawa's Sakishima Islands inside its storm zone.

    Oct 24, 2026 Morning
12. Taiwan's Military Police Command removes Taipei unit's colonel commander pending investigation into alleged abuse of personnel

    Taiwan's Central News Agency reported that the colonel commanding a Taipei military police unit was accused of long-term verbal abuse and bullying of personnel, with several injuries in the unit not reported as required. The Military Police Command said on Oct 23 that it had set up a task force after receiving complaints, found improper leadership and internal management, and removed the commander from his post pending investigation, adding that it would pursue administrative, criminal and disciplinary liability.

    Oct 23, 2026 Afternoon
13. Follow-up: Typhoon Champi closes offices and schools in most of Taiwan on Oct 23; stock market shut all day

    BBC Chinese and The New York Times reported that most Taiwanese cities and counties suspended work and classes on Oct 23 as Typhoon Champi approached. Taipei's closure decision led the Taiwan Stock Exchange, the Taipei Exchange and the futures exchange to shut for the whole day, with settlement postponed. Some local leaders' description of the closure as a day off for everyone prompted public debate.

    Oct 23, 2026 Afternoon
14. Follow-up: Typhoon Champi nears north-eastern Taiwan; Taipei closes offices and schools on Oct 23 and stock market shuts for the day

    CNA Singapore reported Taiwan's Central Weather Administration issued a land warning for Typhoon Champi on Oct 22, with the storm centre about 250 km south-east of Yilan, gusts near the centre above 227 kph and a storm radius of 320 km; it was expected to pass closest to north-eastern Taiwan late on Oct 23 before heading north towards waters off Shanghai. Taiwan's transport ministry said 125 flights, mostly domestic, were cancelled on Thursday, and northern mountain areas could see close to 1,000 mm of rain. Taiwan's Central News Agency said Taipei suspended work and classes on Oct 23 and the Taiwan Stock Exchange and Taipei Exchange closed for the full day; NHK said the typhoon was approaching Okinawa's Sakishima Islands.

    Oct 23, 2026 Morning
15. Taiwan to vote on scrapping 'nuclear-free homeland' policy in Nov 28 referendum; presidential office sets three conditions for any restart

    Taiwan's Central News Agency reported that a Kuomintang-backed referendum to abolish the 'nuclear-free homeland' policy has been approved by the Central Election Commission and will be held alongside the nine-in-one local elections on Nov 28. A presidential office spokesperson said on Oct 22 that Taiwan reached the nuclear-free goal when the last unit of its third nuclear power plant was decommissioned on May 17, 2025, and power supply is sufficient; President Lai Ching-te holds no ideological position and rules out no energy option, but a restart must be safe, have a solution for nuclear waste and have social consensus. The policy is written into Taiwan's Basic Environment Act.

    Oct 23, 2026 Morning
16. Follow-up: Typhoon Champi nears Taiwan as Taipei's mayor suspends campaigning; may become latest typhoon to affect South Korea since 1951

    Taiwan's Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Typhoon No. 30 Champi late on Oct 21 and, according to CNA, expected a land warning around noon on Oct 22; the army ended its brigade-level 'Lu Sheng 2' exercise early at 10 am so troops could prepare. Liberty Times reported Taipei's mayor announced an immediate suspension of all campaign activities while inspecting a pumping station on Oct 22, and the drawing of ballot numbers for Taipei candidates set for Oct 23 would move to Oct 27 if offices close that day. Yonhap News TV said that if a typhoon advisory is issued, Champi would become the latest typhoon to affect South Korea since 1951, beating Typhoon Zeb on Oct 16–18, 1998, with gusts of about 55 kph from the afternoon of Oct 23 on Jeju and waves up to 5 metres.

    Oct 22, 2026 Afternoon
17. Follow-up: Taiwan's security chief says China conducting 'precision' interference in local elections; nearly 100 cases tracked

    CNA reported that the director of Taiwan's National Security Bureau said on Oct 22, before briefing the legislature's foreign affairs and defence committee, that Beijing's interference in the nine-in-one local elections is marked by 'precision', and listed six methods: illegal funding of chosen candidates or groups, cheap mainland trips for candidates' supporters and local brokers, cheap flights home to vote for Taiwanese in the mainland about three weeks before polling, disinformation, underground election betting, and hacking to steal election intelligence. Liberty Times said the bureau is tracking nearly 100 cases and will try to refer them to prosecutors before the vote. The bureau's written report said government networks faced about 2.58 million intrusion attempts a day on average through September, with detections topping 100 million in July.

    Oct 22, 2026 Afternoon
18. Taiwan indicts five men over car attack on comedian Huang Yi-hao; prosecutors say a Chinese national offered NT$450,000

    Taipei Times reported that New Taipei prosecutors on Oct 21 released an indictment charging five Taiwanese men with ramming comedian Huang Yi-hao with a car near his home in New Taipei on Sept 11. Prosecutors said a Chinese national code-named 'K' offered NT$450,000 to a Taiwanese man surnamed Cheng to seriously injure Huang so he could not perform on Sept 20. The five are charged with attempted aggravated assault and violating the Personal Data Protection Act, among other offences; prosecutors sought at least five and a half years for the main suspect and said the case endangered national security and social stability. The Guardian said Huang had joked about Xi Jinping in his shows.

    Oct 22, 2026 Morning
19. TSMC Kaohsiung construction site accident kills 4; steel-structure work halted at new fabs island-wide

    Central News Agency reported that four construction workers died after an accident during steel-structure work at a TSMC Kaohsiung plant site on the evening of Oct 20. TSMC said the site was under a contractor, notified authorities immediately, voluntarily suspended steel-structure work at the Kaohsiung site and all new fabs across Taiwan, and sent its site-safety team to help investigate; company and contractor executives went to the scene. The Kaohsiung and Hsinchu plants are bases for 2-nanometre production, and the company expects 2-nanometre annual capacity to more than double in 2027.

    Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon
20. Mainland Chinese exchange student deported from Taiwan after 'pinching' Lai Ching-te video; barred for 5 years

    Liberty Times reported that when Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te gave a closing speech at National Taiwan University on Oct 12, a mainland Chinese exchange student surnamed Wang used camera angles to appear to 'pinch' Lai's head and posted text such as 'take down little Lai Ching-te'. The National Immigration Agency revoked his entry permit under Article 12 of the Regulations Governing Permission for Mainland Area People to Enter Taiwan, deported him last Friday and barred him from Taiwan for five years. Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han on Oct 21 called it 'green terror' by the DPP authorities; Mainland Affairs Council deputy minister Liang Wen-jie said he agreed with the immigration agency. ABC Australia reported the Straits Exchange Foundation hoped the case would not affect future mainland students coming to Taiwan.

    Oct 21, 2026 Afternoon
21. Taiwan's National Security Bureau: government network faces about 2.58 million intrusion attempts a day ahead of Nov 28 elections

    Central News Agency reported that a written report from Taiwan's National Security Bureau to the legislature said the Government Service Network faced an average of about 2.58 million intrusion attempts a day as of September, rising from June and topping 100 million in July, and it does not rule out Beijing gathering intelligence to interfere in the Nov 28 local elections. Security agencies flagged about 2.5 million pieces of disputed information in January–September, up from about 1.69 million a year earlier, with Facebook's share rising from 43.6% to 68.9% and Threads from 4.5% to 9%. Chinese military aircraft incursions exceeded 1,450 sorties in January–September versus over 3,000 a year earlier, and the number of people indicted in Chinese espionage cases rose from 6 in 2020 to 73 in 2026.

    Oct 21, 2026 Morning
22. Taiwan prosecutors indict four for helping Chinese handlers pay military leakers in cryptocurrency

    Taiwan's High Prosecutors' Office indicted four people for helping Chinese contacts pay Taiwanese military personnel who leaked military secrets. Retired military police captain Yu Cheng-yu, already indicted separately for selling secrets for Tether, is accused of receiving Chinese transfers into his own crypto wallet from March to October 2024, converting them to cash and depositing it in accounts of a retired serviceman surnamed Li and a coast guard officer surnamed Tsai to disguise the source, earning NT$430,403 himself. The other defendants are retired servicemen surnamed Li and Sen; prosecutors asked for heavy sentences and the case has gone to the High Court.

    Oct 20, 2026 Morning
23. Taiwan legislature passes central subsidy of elderly NHI premiums; Executive Yuan urges parties to 'think twice'

    Taiwan's Legislative Yuan on Oct 16 passed on third reading an amendment to Article 22 of the Senior Citizens Welfare Act under which the central competent authority fully subsidises National Health Insurance premiums for elderly people whose recent-year consolidated income is below the filing threshold or whose consolidated income tax rate is below 20%. CNA reported Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chang Tun-han said on Oct 19 the amendment excludes co-payments and non-NHI medical costs for low- and middle-income elderly and may abandon those most in need; the bill has not yet left the legislature, and he hoped parties would 'think twice'. He said central welfare policy sticks to no added borrowing, no crowding out of other policies, and legality and constitutionality; opposition parties argue the central subsidy means the NHI fund 'will not lose a single dollar'.

    Oct 19, 2026 Afternoon
24. Follow-up: Taiwan coast guard drives away 16 Chinese vessels, calls it 'hybrid warfare'

    After two Chinese coast guard ships entered restricted waters around the Pratas (Dongsha) Islands on Oct 16, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration said on Oct 18 that it had driven away 16 Chinese coast guard, research and fishing vessels, including 4 fishing boats. It said the vessels were harassing waters off Taiwan's east, south and southwest and around the Pratas Islands at the same time, in 'unusually large' numbers. The agency described the coordinated activity as 'hybrid warfare' and accused Beijing of trying to unilaterally change the status quo.

    Oct 19, 2026 Morning
25. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council: 458 Taiwanese missing or detained in China this year

    Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said on Oct 17 that 458 Taiwanese who travelled to China this year had gone missing, been detained for questioning or were suspected of having their freedom restricted as of Oct 16, the Taipei Times reports. That is 4 more than in the previous count to Oct 8. Of these, 175 were reported missing.

    Oct 19, 2026 Morning