TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (   ) said Friday that Taiwan will coordinate across government agencies to ban imports of products made with forced labor.

CNA reported that the US imposed tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners after completing a Section 301 investigation into forced-labor imports. Taiwan received a 10% tariff rate that will not be added on top of the standard tariff already applied to its goods.

Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (   ) said the US gave Taiwan the lower rate because the country had agreed to meet its trade commitments. She added that the US created a special exemption list covering some Taiwan products.

Speaking at a vocational training event, Hung said the labor ministry will work with the economics ministry to carry out those commitments. Their work will focus on stopping products made through forced labor from entering the country.

The plan is to use US customs decisions that identify products linked to forced labor when determining which imports to ban. The government must first complete its own legal and administrative review before the policy takes effect.

It also plans to amend its laws to prevent employers and recruitment agencies from keeping workers' passports or other identity documents. It has also promised to end recruitment fees for migrant workers in manufacturing and fishing within three years.

The government will gradually improve workers' rights to form and join unions over the next five years. These measures are part of the labor protections included in the Taiwan-US trade agreement.

As part of its wider effort to improve migrant worker protections, Taiwan also plans to establish an overseas recruitment center in the Philippines. Hung said fair recruitment is receiving greater international attention as the country strengthens cooperation with countries that provide foreign workers.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan will not face an additional 10% US tariff on top of its existing most-favored-nation (MFN) rates under a Section 301 probe into forced labor imports, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (   ) said Friday.

US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Thursday directing the US trade representative to announce final measures under a Section 301 investigation into the importation of products made with forced labor, per FTNN News. The measures apply to the 60 largest US trading partners, which account for 99.4% of total US imports.

Cheng, who serves as the convener of the US-Taiwan economic and trade task force, said Washington recognized Taiwan's commitment under the US-Taiwan Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) to ban imports made with forced labor. As a result, Taiwan will face a maximum 10% tariff under the Section 301 probe without an additional MFN levy and will qualify for exemptions under a designated list.

However, Cheng said the US has not yet released the results of a separate Section 301 investigation into structural overcapacity, according to FTNN News. The final tariff rate will be determined by Washington after both investigations are completed, and Taiwan will continue talks to preserve favorable treatment obtained through the ART and MOU negotiations, she added.

Taiwan and the EU will avoid additional MFN levies because they have committed through trade agreements or related arrangements to prohibit imports linked to forced labor. The tariff will account for existing MFN rates, meaning additional duties will only apply when needed to bring covered products to a total tariff rate of 10%.

The tariff order also listed exemptions such as pharmaceuticals, certain electronics, several vehicle categories, and products already subject to Section 232 tariffs. The exemptions also include products critical to supply chain security and economic interests, including goods that could cause shortages in the US or cannot be reasonably sourced elsewhere.

The Cabinet's task force said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has indicated that final tariff rates will consider trade agreements reached with individual economies, according to FTNN News. Taiwan will continue communicating closely with Washington to seek the most favorable tariff treatment, it said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The KMT said up to 150,000 people attended a protest against tainted salad oil in front of the Presidential Office Building Saturday evening.

Concern about salad oil emerged when an estimated 1,300 metric tons of soybean oil produced in April by Central Union Oil Corp. was found to contain excessive levels of the carcinogen benzopyrene. The find led to massive recalls affecting products from a wide range of brands and to the detention of Central Union Oil executives.

Visiting Nantou Saturday, Cho responded that the government was already taking measures to toughen up legislation. The Cabinet proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Sanitation Act Thursday requiring quicker reporting of food safety issues by manufacturers and stiffer fines for failing to do so. The Food and Drug Administration said it was conducting preventive recalls, investigations to track the supply chain, and testing products using the salad oil, per CNA.

The main initiative for Saturday's protest came from Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (   ). The KMT has been criticized for politicizing the food safety issue in the run-up to the Nov. 28 local elections. At the start of the protest, the party said at least 50,000 people were present at the event. After 7 p.m., organizers said the total had reached 150,000, Liberty Times reported. Earlier in the day, the opposition party held a conference promoting its candidates for city mayor and county magistrate.

OBJECTIVITY: The watchdog said that 'food safety issues should return to facts and science,' and that it would continue to enforce guidance based on scientific evidence

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi ( ? ) on Thursday last week cited data presented by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Shu-fen (   ) at a meeting a day before, saying that an FDA report in 2021 showed initial Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) inspections at cooking oil plants had a passing rate of less than 60 percent.

Some local Chinese-language media reported that Fu, while attending an election campaign event in Hualien yesterday, said that the health minister admitted that random inspections on cooking oil since 2021 found failure rates up to 60 percent, so all Taiwanese might have been under food safety risks for the past five years.

Most of the inspections failed, as they did not keep required records or had made poor records of their manufacturing process, it said.

The 2021 report did not indicate that "60 percent of edible oil products failed inspections since 2023," the agency added.

The FDA said random sampling of 275 cooking oil and fats products between 2022 and last year all passed benzopyrene testing.

"Food safety issues should return to facts and science," it said, adding that it would continue to enforce inspections, guidance and supervision based on scientific evidence and risk management principles to strictly monitor cooking oil safety and safeguard public health.

THE TALENT PIPELINE: The ministry had planned to help fund 7,010 drones for 175 schools after a student team placed second and fourth in a drone soccer competition

Under the program, NT$464.85 million would be granted to 175 high schools and vocational high schools, as well as five vocational education career cluster centers, for the purchase of 7,010 drones, including soccer, programmable and aerial photography drones.

However, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucus proposed cutting NT$200 million from the budget, saying that the ministry lacks relevant supporting measures for school drone programs.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus originally proposed reducing the budget to NT$232.42 million and freezing half of the remaining funds, before deciding to freeze the budget for all projects under the Cabinet's drone program.

KMT Legislator Chiu Cheng-chun (   ) also proposed freezing an additional NT$10 million from the budget, while the TPP caucus proposed freezing NT$230 million from the remaining funds.

The TPP and KMT caucuses have also proposed freezing part of a NT$158 million drone budget allocated to universities.

In total, TPP legislators proposed cutting NT$200 million and freezing NT$310 million in the Ministry of Education's drone training budget.

The KMT caucus initially sought to cut about NT$311 million and freeze about NT$166 million, but last week revised its proposal to freeze the entire budget for the Executive Yuan program.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (   ) yesterday questioned the move, saying that not long ago, a TPP councilor invited Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (   ) to try soccer drones at the Taipei City Council, where Chiang expressed his support for the activity.

Wu asked whether the KMT and the TPP were trying to undermine the mayor.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The health ministry on Saturday removed 4 tonnes of goat milk products from sale after a goat linked to a milk supplier tested above legal limits for dioxins.

CNA reported that the contaminated meat was not sold and did not reach consumers. Officials removed the milk products as a precaution because they contained milk supplied by a farm linked to the goat.

The Food and Drug Administration collected the meat at the Yunlin County Meat Market on July 6. Final results confirmed Thursday that it contained 4.6 picograms of dioxins per gram of fat, above the legal limit of 2.5 picograms.

Tests also found 6.1 picograms per gram of fat of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls combined. These harmful industrial chemicals have a combined legal limit of 4 picograms per gram of fat.

Liberty Times reported that slaughter documents listed Yun Nong Livestock Farm as the owner of the goat. However, officials found that a Yunlin resident surnamed Lee ( ) had actually raised the animal.

Lee kept about eight goats and told officials that the contaminated meat had not been sold. Authorities suspect he used another livestock farm's name on a required document declaring the animal's ownership and health status.

PTS News reported that Yunlin officials referred the case to prosecutors on Friday for further investigation. Agriculture officials also restricted animal movements after preliminary tests showed excessive dioxin levels.

Officials collected 12 feed samples, four grass samples, and one raw goat milk sample from the farm and Lee's home. Environmental inspectors also examined the area to determine how the goat may have been exposed.

Inspectors found that the goats were kept on a concrete surface and did not directly touch the soil. The animals drank groundwater.

UDN reported that officials found no regulated source of dioxin emissions within 1 kilometer of the site. The environment ministry has begun testing water, soil, and other materials for possible contamination.

Authorities said the contaminated meat did not enter the market. They added that the precautionary removal of the milk products had reduced any immediate risk to consumers.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (   ) called for closer Taiwan-Canada ties during a meeting Friday with a visiting delegation of Canadian academics and think tank members.

Chiang said Taiwan and Canada share core values such as democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and human rights, and that the two peoples have long maintained close ties, according to the Legislative Yuan.

Beyond shared democratic values, Taiwan and Canada have developed increasingly close economic and trade ties, with bilateral trade continuing to grow last year, Chiang said. He said he hoped the two countries would expand cooperation in areas such as technology and education.

Chiang thanked Canada for its longstanding support for Taiwan, particularly its repeated advocacy for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations and concern for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Palmer Canadian Leadership Institute Director Jeffrey Francis Collins, who led the delegation, said Taiwan and Canada share strong common values such as democracy and freedom. During the visit, the delegation exchanged views with Taiwanese counterparts on enhancing cooperation in education, the economy, defense, and security, Collins said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   A magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit New Taipei on Sunday at 8:36 p.m., according to the Central Weather Administration.

The quake's epicenter was 35.8 kilometers east-southeast of New Taipei City Hall, with a focal depth of 95.7 km.

The strongest shaking, measuring Level 3 on Taiwan's intensity scale, was recorded in Yilan, New Taipei, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Hualien, Taichung, and Miaoli.

Level 2 shaking was reported in Keelung, Hsinchu, Nantou, Changhua, and Yunlin.

Level 1 shaking was felt in Taitung, Chiayi, and Tainan.

Taiwan uses a scale of 1 to 7 to measure an earthquake's intensity at a specific location.

The CWA said the earthquake occurred in the subduction zone where the Philippine Sea Plate descends beneath the Eurasian Plate and was not associated with an active fault. Basin amplification made the tremor feel particularly strong in Taipei and New Taipei.

Over the past decade, three earthquakes of magnitude 3 or greater have occurred in the same area near Shuangxi District in New Taipei. The most recent was a magnitude 5.3 quake on March 13, 2019, at a depth of 138 kilometers.

The CWA also noted that two earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater have struck the broader area east of Yilan in recent years: a magnitude 7 quake on Dec. 27, 2025, and a magnitude 6.1 quake on May 1, 2026.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Central Taiwan gained a new backup route for shifting water between two major supply systems after the Daan Dajia River interconnection pipeline entered service.

The 16.38-km pipeline links Shigang Dam in Taichung with Liyutan Reservoir in Miaoli and can add 255,000 metric tons to daily supply capacity, per CNA.

The project was approved by the Executive Yuan in 2021 with a budget of NT$15.2 billion (US$471.1 million). It is intended to remove a bottleneck in regional water transfers and forms part of the government's "String of Pearls" plan that calls for 16 trunk pipelines nationwide, 11 of which are ready.

Taichung's daily water demand is expected to hit 1.77 million metric tons by 2036 as precision machinery and smart manufacturing expand across central Taiwan, per UDN.

Water Resources Agency Director-General Lin Yuan-peng (   ) said future supply planning would also draw on reclaimed water, subsurface flow from the Daan and Wu rivers, and the proposed Tianhuahu Reservoir.

Construction crews encountered active faults and difficult geological conditions. The project used egg-shaped shield tunneling and flexible earthquake-resistant steel pipes, while limiting road excavation so the Houfeng Bikeway could remain open, according to the reports.

The pipeline began operating six months ahead of schedule. The Water Resources Agency said it would keep expanding reservoir links, reclaimed-water systems, subsurface-water projects, and desalination capacity to increase reserve and emergency supply.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan's military plans to prioritize deployment of Cheetah armored vehicles to units stationed on outlying islands such as Kinmen to fill the capability gap left by the retirement of M41D light tanks in June.

The move would help maintain overall defensive capabilities, Liberty Times reported.

The M41D light tanks have temporarily been replaced by M60A3 Patton tanks, which have greater firepower but reduced mobility due to their heavier weight.

The Army plans to acquire 178 Cheetahs through a force development program set to run from 2027 to 2033, according to Liberty Times.

The Cheetah's turret can hold 16 rounds, while an additional 17 can be stored inside the vehicle. Its reconnaissance system supports all-weather operations and can identify vehicles at distances of 2,500 meters and personnel at 1,500 meters, according to CNA.

The turret system features dual-axis servo stabilization, allowing the vehicle to fire while moving. The main gun can penetrate 500 mm steel plates at a range of 2,000 meters.

The vehicle also incorporates a hunter-killer capability similar to that of the M1A2T Abrams tank, helping shorten engagement times and improve attack efficiency, per CNA. It has a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour and a range of 500 kilometers.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology has accelerated mass production and delivery of more than 1,000 Hsiung Feng missiles within five years, strengthening Taiwan's maritime strike capability.

The increase was achieved through new automated facilities and optimized production lines, Liberty Times reported.

The Hsiung Feng II missile and Hsiung Feng IIE cruise missile share the same production line, with a combined annual output of about 131 missiles. Meanwhile, the Hsiung Feng III and its extended-range variant have combined annual production of approximately 70 missiles.

The first phase of the production plan was implemented from 2022 to 2026 and allocated about NT$35.6 billion (US$1.1 billion) to build Hsiung Feng II and III missiles along with their mobile launch vehicles. The second phase, running concurrently from 2023 to 2026, invested about NT$44 billion in developing and producing the extended-range Hsiung Feng III missile.

The Ministry of National Defense said it plans to continue expanding production, allocating additional annual funding to procure 232 upgraded missiles, per Liberty Times.

Years of Chinese gray-zone bullying designed to fracture international coalitions have backfired. Instead of isolating individual nations, coercive behavior has catalyzed global unity, driving a historic 20-nation coalition straight into Australia's Northern Territory to draw a collective line in the sand.

As forces mobilize across northern Australia for Exercise Pitch Black    running from July 17 to Aug. 7   the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is hosting a stabilized deployment of up to 100 advanced aircraft and 2,500 personnel.

This massive multinational asset integration network serves as a live-theater masterclass, demonstrating how the mechanics of deterrence and assurance theory work to neutralize Beijing's expansionist ambitions.

According to deterrence theory, a state successfully deters an adversary only when the challenger views its capability to resist and retaliate as entirely credible and frictionless. A coalition cannot project this level of deterrence if operations stall because a localized ground crew lacks the parts or training to service a partner's aircraft.

This reality has driven a strategic pivot toward interchangeability, an operational doctrine demanding that ground crews seamlessly service, refuel, and rearm any allied jet using local infrastructure and common munitions. Pitch Black provides the physical baseline for this component of deterrence by integrating a diverse, entirely NATO-capable combat fleet into a single land-based air force.

Plug-and-play


Advanced fifth-generation stealth assets, led by the US Air Force, RAAF, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35 Lightning II, serve as the technical backbone, pairing directly with NATO-standard fighters. These include the Indian Air Force Rafale, the German and Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Republic of Korea Air Force F-16.

Crucially, this plug-and-play combat footprint is enabled by a cross-compatible aerial refueling fleet acting as a universal technical translator. Boom-and-drogue dual-rigged platforms   such as the Singaporean and French A330 MRTT alongside the RAAF KC-30A   deploy both underwing hose pods and rigid tail booms.

Operating in unison with probe-only tankers like the British Voyager and Spanish A330, this collective umbrella sustains joint fighter formations containing completely disparate national refueling architectures. By extending the combat radius of these combined wings across the vast expanse of the Indo-Pacific without friction, this refueling framework directly neutralizes Beijing's strategy of forcing Western forces to operate from vulnerable, long-range stand-off distances.

To appreciate the distinct tactical architecture of Pitch Black, it must be contrasted with Exercise Talisman Sabre. Held biennially, Talisman Sabre represents a multi-domain joint warfare framework focused on concentrated power projection, recently bringing together allied carrier strike groups to practice large-scale amphibious landings through overwhelming conventional mass.

Pitch Black shifts the strategic focus entirely to land-based air superiority and survival via asymmetric architecture, implementing the operational logistics philosophy that winning a high-intensity war against China requires a rapid transition from static, centralized distribution to a highly kinetic, flexible network.

This is achieved by operationalizing Agile Combat Employment, effectively transforming the coalition into an airborne guerrilla force. Instead of clustering assets on single, vulnerable target grids like Guam, forces are scattered and relocated across multiple alternative, austere airfields operating seamlessly across RAAF Bases Darwin, Tindal, and Amberley.

Information Dominance


This geographic dispersion forces China to scatter its surveillance assets and allows highly disparate units to combine overwhelming combat power simultaneously. To systematically dismantle China's Anti-Access/Area-Denial bubbles, the coalition pairs this distributed guerrilla posture with advanced electronic attack jamming, multi-domain maritime tracking, and emission control (managing or silencing electronic, radio, and infrared signals to avoid enemy detection while keeping essential combat systems working).

This environment serves as a critical testbed for Information Dominance and AUKUS Pillar II electronic warfare protocols, using older aircraft as "missile trucks" for stealth platforms to render China's massive investments in land-based missile grids obsolete through network integration.

A sophisticated irony of this strategic landscape is the participation of non-aligned Southeast Asian nations who maintain vital economic ties with China. The answer lies in strategic hedging. While local commerce dependencies tilt toward cooperation with Beijing, regional governments acutely understand that total, unchecked Chinese military hegemony serves no one's sovereign interests.

By participating, non-aligned states like the Indonesian Air Force, utilizing its T-50i jets, alongside the Philippine Air Force FA-50PH, build the vital muscle memory required to manage regional airspace and protect global trade flows. These South Korean-built combat assets utilize native, built-in Western configurations, making them entirely NATO-capable out of the box.

They are joined by embedded personnel deployments from Brunei and Malaysia, who participate alongside specialized enablers like the Singaporean G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft and European partners to build shared security baselines. The singular exception is Papua New Guinea's PAC-750 utility transport, which bypasses the high-speed tactical network to operate safely via standard civil-military voice radio.

Shattered illusion of coercion


This collective participation directly fulfills the core tenets of assurance theory. In international statecraft, small or non-aligned nations often face intense pressure to capitulate to aggressive neighbors out of a profound sense of isolation.

True assurance requires a dominant power or coalition to demonstrate a binding, credible commitment to protect and uphold the sovereignty of its partners, directly disrupting China's strategy of using bilateral economic leverage to isolate individual states.

Pitch Black acts as an inclusive Credible Assurance Platform. It physically assembles all four Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) nations' air arms   the US, Australia, Japan, and India   on a single flight line alongside non-aligned partners.

By integrating these non-aligned states directly into a high-end allied air umbrella that shares a native software language, the exercise provides the psychological and operational backing these nations need to resist gray-zone coercion. It signals to Beijing that its tactics of incremental intimidation will fail against a unified, cross-regional alignment anchoring the Second Island Chain.

The strategic message for Beijing is simple: collective political will and decentralized combat capability are the only real-world antidotes to revisionist expansion. For a decade, China operated under the illusion that gray-zone bullying could isolate individual Indo-Pacific states.

Pitch Black shatters that calculation completely. By attempting to intimidate its neighbors, Beijing has instead forced a fractured hemisphere to rapidly mature into a unified, combat-interchangeable air combat machine under the guidance of RAAF commanders.

As Winston Churchill famously warned: "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last."

Across the outback corridors of Australia, the 20 nations of Pitch Black have delivered a definitive response: the era of regional appeasement is over. If Beijing chooses to trigger a conflict, it will not find vulnerable, isolated targets, but a highly synchronized, multinational expeditionary network ready to project instant, unified retaliation across the entire Indo-Pacific.

GRAY ZONE' TACTICS: It was the first time a PLA chopper had crossed the line and could be part of training maneuvers in an invasion scenario, a researcher said

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) sent a helicopter across the median line of the Taiwan Strait to traverse a restricted flight zone east of the line for the first time on Monday, introducing two new "gray zone" tactics in a single day, a researcher said yesterday.

Four PLA aircraft entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone in the 24 hours ending at 6am yesterday, the Ministry of National Defense said in its daily report on PLA activities.

Among them were PLA helicopters and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV), which were detected operating around the median line of the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the northern and southeastern air defense identification zones between 10:20am and 7:40pm on Monday, the report said.

The ministry also detected five navy ships and six other government vessels operating around Taiwan, it added.

The helicopter not only crossed the median line, but carried out a prolonged flight within Taiwan's R9 restricted zone east of the line, following a route roughly parallel to the median line, Chieh said.

This appeared to be the first time a PLA helicopter had crossed the line in the narrower section of the Taiwan Strait between central and northern Taiwan since Beijing abandoned a long-standing custom of not crossing the line in August 2022, he said.

It was the first time that a PLA helicopter traversed a restricted zone east of the median line, meaning that two new "gray zone" tactics debuted on a single day, he said.

While PLA helicopters have frequently flown around Taiwan since August 2022, many of them are ship-based aircraft, including two detected on Monday operating outside the contiguous zone to the north and southeast, he said.

Based on information released by the ministry, it is unclear whether the PLA helicopter detected crossing the median line was maritime or land-based, he said.

If the aircraft was a PLA army aviation helicopter, the development would be particularly concerning, as the R9 zone is the closest of the four restricted areas east of the median line to northern Taiwan, he said.

Such activity could signal that the PLA is beginning to conduct irregular training missions in the Taiwan Strait and east of the median line to prepare for supporting maneuvers in an invasion scenario, he said.

The PLA has conducted increasing numbers of cross-strait assault drills involving coordinated helicopter and UAV operations as part of preparations for a possible attack on Taiwan in the past few years, he said.

The exercises focused primarily on integrated reconnaissance-and-strike missions and follow-on transport operations, he said, adding that such training had not been observed in the Taiwan Strait before.

That a helicopter and a UAV operated east of the median line and within the military-designated R9 restricted zone raises questions about whether the PLA was conducting its first coordinated helicopter-drone training exercise in the area, he said.

A People's Liberation Army helicopter's unprecedented flight in the Taiwan Strait has raised concerns in Taipei that Beijing is rehearsing a new kind of operation for a potential cross-strait conflict.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected four PLA aircraft, including a helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), operating around the island on July 20 and the following morning.

The helicopter and drone crossed the median line and remained east of it for nearly 9.5 hours in the "R9" area   which Taiwan has designated as restricted   the first publicly reported case of a PLA helicopter lingering there for an extended period.

The median line is an unofficial boundary in the Taiwan Strait that divides the self-ruled island and mainland China.

The ministry said it closely monitored the aircraft using joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets and responded appropriately.

Military analysts, however, said the flight might signal a new operational pattern.

"This should not be viewed as an isolated flight," said Chieh Chung, a research fellow at the Association of Strategic Foresight, a Taipei-based military think tank.

Ji Chaoqun was a promising young engineer from Beijing heading to the US to study. Then China's Ministry of State Security came calling with bags of cash, the promise of glory and an offer that would change his life forever. Student, Mormon, gamer, spy   who was Ji Chaoqun, and how did he come to be at the center of a corporate espionage showdown?

This is the story of Christina Chapman, a suburban TikTok creator who ran a covert "laptop farm" from her Arizona home. The scheme became a gateway for North Korean IT operatives who infiltrated US companies and, according to the Justice Department, funneled millions of dollars to the North Korean government.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Presidential Office on Monday rebutted criticism of President Lai Ching-te's (   ) planned attendance at this year's Han Kuang military exercise.

The live-fire portion of the annual exercise will run from Aug. 5 14.

A UDN report accused Lai of staging a "political show" by observing the exercise in person. Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (   ) said in a statement that "it is standard international practice for heads of state to participate in major national military exercises, including in Europe, the US, Japan, and South Korea."

Kuo said the president's participation demonstrates "the government and public's support for the armed forces and underscores the importance placed on national defense." She said it also symbolizes "a country's determination and capability for self-defense."

She added that, as commander-in-chief, it is both the president's responsibility and duty to inspect troops during major military exercises. Kuo said the UDN report distorted the facts and unfairly stigmatized the military and national defense efforts.

Kuo said the Ministry of National Defense arranges presidential inspections in accordance with the exercise schedule.

"Allegations that the visit was meant to divert opposition criticism or appeal to voters are baseless and unfair to all personnel working to strengthen national defense," she said.

Lin Peixiang, secretary of the Kuomintang Legislative Court, said that if the Hanguang exercise really resumed the "live-fire show", it would contradict the previous declaration of the Ministry of National Defense, and it made people feel that the government intended to shift the focus and avoid food safety by hyped the national security issue.

In the past few years, Hanguang exercises, there must be a "main show" by the president's guidance, the subject is usually anti-landing, anti-air landing exercise, the former is a variety of artillery shelling to the sea, the latter is surrounded by the role of imaginary enemy paratroopers. The 2018 Hanguang 34 exercise, when President Tsai Ing-wen also invited the visiting King of Swaziland to participate.

In 2024, when the newly appointed defense minister Gu Lixiong used the media dinner opportunity to explain that in the future, the Hanguang exercise will still invite the president and the media, but did not cooperate with the "big" subject of the guest; in addition to the combination of regular live-fire shooting training on the island of Jinma Peng, the real soldiers in the field of the exercise are not live ammunition. The officials explained that the focus of Hanguang is not to show firepower, but to train the units to cope with the situation of the battlefield; the exhibition subject is limited to the venue and time, often make the idea deviate from reality, and must be pre-rehearsed, the troops "stripped several times", but delayed the business.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan is expanding preparations to maintain energy and supply lines as China increases maritime pressure around the country, the New York Times reported Saturday.

Taiwanese officials are reviewing ways to keep fuel and other essential imports flowing if Beijing attempts to restrict access to Taiwan, according to officials familiar with the planning. China has conducted military exercises in recent years simulating operations to isolate Taiwan.

The issue has gained urgency as Taiwan depends on imports for about 95% of its energy needs, with natural gas accounting for roughly half of its electricity generation. Recent disruptions to global energy routes, including concerns over the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran conflict, have highlighted the risks facing energy-dependent economies.

Officials have conducted tabletop exercises to prepare for a potential siege scenario and are planning drills involving ship escorts, rerouting vessels to ports, and managing critical supplies. Four officials said the exercises are aimed at identifying weaknesses in Taiwan's response plans.

Taiwan is also exploring options to strengthen energy security, including floating liquefied natural gas storage and processing facilities, emergency reserves, and extending the use of nuclear power. Energy Administration Deputy Director-General Chen Chung-hsien (   ) said Taiwan has been reviewing worst-case scenarios and regularly conducts exercises related to national security.

Taiwan currently maintains at least 11 days of natural gas reserves and has storage capacity for up to 20 days. Chen said floating facilities could provide more flexibility in receiving and distributing natural gas during an emergency, though finding suitable locations remains difficult.

Taiwan's three liquefied natural gas terminals are on the west coast, where they could be vulnerable during a conflict. While the mountainous east coast is farther from China, officials said it lacks the ports, roads, and infrastructure needed to handle large gas shipments.

Taiwan is also considering whether to reverse the closure of some nuclear power plants to strengthen electricity supplies, per the New York Times. Foundation for Defense of Democracies China Program Senior Director Craig Singleton said a recent tabletop exercise with Taiwanese officials and business leaders showed the need to diversify both energy sources and delivery routes.

Prospect Foundation President Lai I-chung (   ) said China's recent actions in waters east of Taiwan appeared to test a possible quarantine operation, per the New York Times. Taiwanese security officials said China has regularly deployed naval vessels around Taiwan, while coast guard ships have increased their presence.

Taiwanese officials have also held simulations involving scenarios in which China requires ships approaching Taiwan to seek approval and sends coast guard vessels to inspect or seize cargo. The exercises highlighted the need for better coordination among government agencies responsible for energy, agriculture, transportation, and emergency response.

China's maritime activities around Taiwan have increased in recent months, with the Taiwan Coast Guard estimating Chinese government ships sailed near Taiwan's main island 85 times in May and June, compared with 45 times during the same period last year.

Tamkang University adjunct professor Jing Yuan-chou (   ) said China's gradual use of gray zone tactics could intensify, per the New York Times.

"But the nibbling lays the way for if they ever want to try to devour us," he added.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Philippines cannot remain neutral in a conflict between Taiwan and China, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said in an interview published Saturday.

Speaking to One News PH, Teodoro said, "We have Filipino citizens in Taiwan, which we need to get out." He added that "logically speaking, any (Chinese) action against Taiwan will involve the northern Philippines to challenge our hold over the Bashi Channel."

Teodoro called China's military and gray-zone actions in the Indo-Pacific "unilateral and unreasonable."

"This should be a clear signal to our people that the threat is real. The intention is not good at all," he said.

The defense secretary said the military must build more bases across the country to "secure the exclusive economic zone and other areas." He added that "defense is more (about) avoiding conflict through deterrence."

Teodoro's comments came after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in May that the country would inevitably be involved in a Taiwan Strait conflict "because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan."

Marcos added that the Philippines was urging Taiwan to seek a peaceful solution to cross-strait tensions. Despite his concerns, Marcos said the Philippines would not intervene in the Taiwan issue.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan stands ready to provide assistance if requested by Japan following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, Premier Cho Jung-tai (   ) said.

The Cabinet's special search and rescue team has been placed on standby and is ready to deploy if requested by Japanese authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also closely monitoring the situation and will assist Taiwanese nationals in Japan.

The quake struck Kumamoto on Kyushu Island in southwestern Japan on Tuesday afternoon, leaving at least 50 people hospitalized. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said preliminary reports indicated injuries, infrastructure damage, and fires in several areas, while authorities continued to assess the full extent of the impact, according to DW.

Cho said Taiwan and Japan have a long history of mutual assistance in response to natural disasters. He expressed condolences to those affected by the earthquake.

Cho urged Taiwanese nationals in the region to remain vigilant and prioritize their safety. He also advised them to monitor updates from local authorities and follow evacuation instructions if necessary.

Cho noted that Japan had issued tsunami advisories for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea, with waves of up to around 1 meter possible. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration said the tsunami posed no threat to Taiwan, while tsunami warnings across the Pacific region had also been lifted.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan is a reliable maritime partner to the US, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (   ) said Tuesday.

Kuan was responding to an American Institute in Taiwan Facebook post highlighting cooperation between the Taiwan and US coast guards in search and rescue, disaster relief, and countering illegal fishing and drug shipments.

AIT said the US "appreciates Taiwan's partnership in maritime security and safety, and supports Taiwan's meaningful contributions on global issues including maritime law enforcement exchange and international cooperation."

Kuan said AIT's message "carries significant meaning" given China's harassment tactics aimed at undermining the rules-based international order and regional stability. She said the post also reaffirmed US recognition of Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration as "the sole law enforcement authority" and only partner for maritime law enforcement cooperation in Taiwanese waters.

Kuan said strengthening coast guard cooperation between Taiwan and the US will help protect regional maritime security and preserve the international order.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan has stopped buying spot liquefied natural gas from Papua New Guinea following Port Moresby's decision to close Taiwan's representative office in its capital, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko announced earlier this month that the Taipei Economic Office should cease operations immediately. The move drew criticism from several countries, while Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (   ) said Taiwan would reconsider LNG imports.

Ministry officials said Tuesday that Taiwan had stopped making spot purchases of LNG from Papua New Guinea, per Liberty Times. Spot purchases refer to LNG delivered within a few weeks to three months, rather than through long-term contracts.

MOFA said bilateral programs, including scholarships and agricultural development aid, were not affected. Taiwan's office was also continuing to operate as usual while contacts with senior Papua New Guinea foreign ministry officials continued, according to Taipei officials.

Diplomats are trying to persuade Papua New Guinea that allowing the Taiwan office to continue operating is in the interest of both sides. LNG imports will continue to depend on Taiwan's energy needs, MOFA said.

Taiwan bought 500,000 metric tons of LNG from Papua New Guinea on the spot market during the first quarter of the year, while state-run energy company CPC Corp., Taiwan had a one-year contract to import 1.2 million metric tons, per Liberty Times. Officials said Taiwan can also buy LNG from other countries on the spot market.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (   ) said Tuesday that an AI-generated imitation of President Lai Ching-te's (   ) voice could mislead the public.

Kuo said an online political video used AI-generated audio resembling Lai's voice. Police began reviewing the video after receiving a complaint that viewers could mistake the narration for a genuine statement by the president, CNA reported.

Freedom of speech protects humorous and satirical political content in a democratic society, Kuo said. However, it does not give people the right to impersonate others by copying or altering their voices, she added.

Political parties should use AI responsibly during political disputes, Kuo said. They should not knowingly use altered voices to attack political opponents or mislead the public, she added.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chuang Jui-hsiung (   ) said Tuesday the party was not afraid of a potential legislative election battle triggered by a vote of no confidence against Premier Cho Jung-tai (   ), while questioning whether the opposition would support such a move.

During a Monday interview, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (   ) suggested that the legislature could initiate a vote of no confidence to seek accountability from Cho over the tainted oil scandal, per UDN. Chiang said some lawmakers had privately discussed the possibility and that he would support the move if the opposition could unite behind it.

Chiang said a no-confidence vote could separate legislative elections from presidential elections, arguing that this could strengthen the legislature's ability to hold the presidency accountable. Asked how he would respond if Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (   ) replaced Cho as premier, Chiang said the issue required further discussion.

Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (   ) said that while attending food safety meetings and conducting inspections were part of Chiang's responsibilities as mayor, issues related to a no-confidence vote fell under the authority of the legislature, per Tai Sounds.

Cabinet Spokesperson Michelle Lee (   ) echoed that view, adding that the legislature should focus on reviewing the 2026 central government budget to avoid having to simultaneously review the 2026 and 2027 budgets, per Liberty Times.

Meanwhile, KMT Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu (   ) backed Chiang's proposal, calling for President Lai Ching-te (   ) to apologize and Cho to resign, per Newtalk. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (   ) said that while the matter falls within the legislature's authority, she believed it warranted further discussion, per Liberty Times.

TPP Legislative Caucus Convener Chen Ching-lung (   ) said his party respected Chiang's proposal but noted that the KMT had not reached a consensus, per Storm Media. KMT lawmakers from across Taiwan reportedly told Chiang Friday that a no-confidence vote against Cho had legitimacy and that the electoral process could benefit the party, per UDN.

However, party insiders said that even if a Cabinet reshuffle occurred, the overall political dynamics were unlikely to change. A KMT lawmaker also noted that at-large legislators and TPP lawmakers may not support the move, adding that support from KMT Chair Cheng Li-wen (   ), former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (   ), and Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (   ) could be decisive.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan's military plans to mass-produce 246 newly developed scout vehicles between 2028 and 2033.

Under the "Iron Cavalry Project," the Armaments Bureau is developing a scout vehicle based on operational requirements proposed by the Army, according to Liberty Times. The vehicle's overall design and system integration are being handled by the Armaments Bureau's Production and Manufacturing Center.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute is assisting with systems including the powertrain, transmission, steering, braking, and central tire inflation. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is in charge of developing the vehicle's electro-optical reconnaissance system, per Liberty Times.

The vehicle features four-wheel drive and is powered by a 205-horsepower engine. It has a top speed of 100 kph and a cruising range of about 500 km.

It also has a mast-mounted, elevating electro-optical reconnaissance system with a maximum detection range of up to 12 km, Liberty Times said. The vehicle is equipped with a 12.7 mm remote weapon station that can fire accurately while moving.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   This year's Han Kuang military exercise will adopt a continuous scenario format to strengthen troops' ability to respond under realistic battlefield conditions, Major General Lu Wen-yuan (   ), the military's joint operations chief, said Tuesday.

The exercise, which runs from Aug. 5 14, builds on previous computer-assisted command exercises, combat readiness drills, and joint defense exercises, Lu said, per CNA. Troops will conduct rapid deployment and rehearse force preservation, joint anti-landing operations, and prolonged warfare drills, he said.

The exercise will also focus on enhancing multi-domain denial and resilient defense capabilities, Lu said.

About 20,000 reserve and active-duty troops will take part, Lieutenant General Yu Wen-chen (   ) said, according to Liberty Times. Reservists will undergo 14-day training cycles aimed at validating sustained combat operations and full mobilization procedures.

Urban resilience drills will also be held in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County on Aug. 7, and in New Taipei and Yilan County on Aug. 13, per Liberty Times. Lu said the drills will include evacuations, mass casualty treatment, traffic control, and distribution of essential supplies.

Foreign-agent filings reveal that operatives working for a Chinese Communist Party-linked influence organization planned free trips for American journalists based on the potential for "favorable coverage" and sought to "effectively disseminate positive messages" about Beijing.

But the filings did not plainly identify the reporters who received the access.

By cross-referencing the filings with archived newsletters, annual reports and contemporaneous accounts, this investigation has uncovered the names of prominent American journalists who participated in China trips organized or funded by the China-United States Exchange Foundation, or CUSEF.

The roster includes current and former journalists from The New York Times, CNN, MSNBC, The Washington Post, NPR, the Associated Press, Vox, The Atlantic, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and other major American news organizations.

In several cases, the trips were followed by columns and reports defending Chinese government policies, attacking President Trump's confrontation with Beijing or presenting the decline of American manufacturing as unavoidable.

CUSEF was founded by Tung Chee-hwa, a former vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a central component of the Chinese Communist Party's United Front system.

A bipartisan congressional report explains that the United Front seeks to "co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority" of the CCP. Its targets include foreign governments, universities, businesses, media organizations and other institutions capable of shaping public opinion.

CUSEF's own foreign-agent records reveal how that strategy was applied to the American press.

Washington lobbyists and public-relations firms working for the organization described plans to recruit influential journalists, generate "favorable coverage" and "effectively disseminate positive messages to the media, key influencers and opinion leaders, and the general public" regarding China.

The identities of the journalists were not presented together in the filings. They emerge only after matching those records with CUSEF's own publications and accounts from the trips.

The Names


Records identify the following journalists as participants in CUSEF-sponsored delegations, funded trips or related media exchange programs:

   Ezra Klein, Vox co-founder and New York Times columnist;

   Matthew Yglesias, Vox co-founder;

   Ronald Brownstein, CNN senior political analyst and Atlantic senior editor;

   Bradford Plumer, New York Times reporter;

   Marjorie Miller, former Associated Press vice president and editor;

   Steve Clemons, former editor-at-large of The Hill;

   David Rohde, former New Yorker editor and current MS NOW national security reporter;

   Jonathan Alter, MSNBC commentator;

   David Sweeney, former NPR managing editor;

   Daniel Gross, former Yahoo Finance columnist;

   Marilyn Geewax, former NPR senior editor;

   Kathleen Deveny, former Newsweek and Wall Street Journal Marketplace editor;

   Tom Omestad, former U.S. News & World Report correspondent;

   Steve Chapman, former Chicago Tribune columnist and editorial writer;

   Bruce Stokes, former National Journal correspondent;

   Craig Gilbert, former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Washington bureau chief;

   Tony Semerad, Salt Lake Tribune reporter;

   Shikha Dalmia, former columnist for The Week;

   Jonathan Broder, former Newsweek senior writer;

   Cristi Kempf, former Chicago Tribune associate managing editor;

   Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times deputy editorial page editor; and

   Julian Pecquet, former Foreign Affairs reporter.

Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell also disclosed that CUSEF funded one of her China trips, writing at the bottom of two columns:

   "Disclosure: My trip is being paid for by the China-United States Exchange Foundation, a Hong Kong-based nonprofit that aims to improve Americans' understanding of China."

The disclosure acknowledged who paid for the travel. It did not tell readers that the organization's foreign-agent representatives had discussed journalist trips in terms of favorable coverage and disseminating positive messages about Beijing.

The Coverage That Followed


Trip participant Shikha Dalmia published an op-ed titled "China Bashing is for Losers" during the same year she traveled to China.

Bradford Plumer later praised Beijing's climate agenda in a piece titled "China's ambitious plan to limit carbon emissions, explained."

Bruce Stokes warned that economic "decoupling" from China would "backfire."

Catherine Rampell repeatedly criticized the Trump administration's China policies, including in a column titled "Team Trump should be careful what it wishes for on China."

One of Rampell's dispatches from her CUSEF-funded trip amplified complaints from Chinese officials who portrayed the United States as the aggressor attempting to contain China's rise. The column repeated Beijing's objections to American scrutiny of Huawei, criticism of currency manipulation and the Trans-Pacific Partnership before urging Washington to defuse the "zero-sum-game attitude" between the two countries.

David Rohde produced one of the starkest examples.

After participating in a CUSEF-organized trip, Rohde praised the role of the Chinese state in building and expanding businesses:

   "Unlike the United States where free-market advocates deride the role of government, the Chinese state has played a central role in creating, supporting and expanding businesses here."

He also defended the economic opportunities created by Beijing's system:

   "Those successes show that, for all the attacks from American politicians on Chinese currency manipulation, American companies can find profits in China."

Rohde then argued that Americans should accept the permanent disappearance of large-scale domestic industry:

   "Americans, meanwhile, should accept that large-scale manufacturing will never return to the United States."

He concluded that American companies should profit from China's rise while dismissing political objections in Washington as "ideological babble."

Ezra Klein defended aspects of China's response to COVID-19, writing on X:

   "I keep hearing that China bought us some real time and our government wasted it doing nothing and downplaying the threat."

Matthew Yglesias joked about helping Communist Party propagandists improve their messaging, writing that he wanted to "give Party flunkies notes" on how to better craft "propaganda."

He separately quipped:

   "Moody's, S&P, and the People's Bank of China should just run the government."

At the time of his trip, Yglesias was affiliated with the Center for American Progress, whose alumni later filled numerous positions in the Biden administration.

Steve Chapman repeatedly attacked President Trump's trade policies toward China, tweeting:

   "China may have a bad human rights record, but you don't have to take off your shoes for airport security."

He also authored a now-deleted column making "the case for buying U.S. Olympic outfits from China."

Ronald Brownstein opposed President Trump's trade confrontation with Beijing and later attacked criticism of China's handling of COVID-19.

Former NPR editor Marilyn Geewax went on to serve as a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, Xi Jinping's alma mater and one of China's most politically connected academic institutions.

All Roads Lead to Biden


The CUSEF network also intersected repeatedly with the political apparatus surrounding Joe Biden.

Bruce Stokes is the husband of Wendy Sherman, who became Biden's deputy secretary of state and one of the administration's most senior foreign-policy officials.

Steve Clemons enjoyed an especially warm relationship with Biden during the then-vice president's 2013 trip to China.

Biden publicly introduced Clemons to Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao as:

   "A very important man."

Biden then encouraged the Chinese official to speak with Clemons, declaring:

   "He's the one you really want to speak to."

Later that day, while accompanied by Hunter Biden, the vice president jokingly attempted to buy Clemons an ice cream bar.

Clemons has since authored commentary arguing that "Biden gets China" and wrote approvingly about the emergence of "a new global order" with China serving as its "anchor."

This Is What Foreign Influence Looks Like


The scandal is not simply that American journalists traveled to China.

It is that a CCP-linked organization quietly selected and cultivated influential members of the American press while its registered foreign agents discussed opportunities for "favorable coverage" and the dissemination of "positive messages."

The public was shown the resulting articles.

It was not shown the influence operation behind them.

Beijing did not need to purchase an American newspaper or dictate every sentence. It could pay for access, curate the itinerary, arrange meetings with officials and allow trusted American voices to deliver the preferred conclusions.

A charity that opposes nuclear weapons is paying for the CNN reporter who covers nuclear issues.

The Outrider Foundation, a Madison, Wisconsin-based charity funded by Democratic donor Frank Burgess, describes itself as a "non-political, nonpartisan 501c3 organization that educates the public about nuclear security threats and climate issues." Its website claims "it is possible to dismantle our nuclear weapons" and urges readers to act.

On July 27, 2026, we confirmed that a total of four vessels—comprising a Renhai-class missile destroyer from the Chinese Navy, a Luyang III-class missile destroyer from the Chinese Navy, a Fuchi-class replenishment ship from the Chinese Navy, and a Steregushchiy-class frigate from the Russian Navy—transited westward through the Tsugaru Strait.

The Ministry of Defense and Japan Self-Defense Forces conducted surveillance, monitoring, and intelligence gathering using the "Suzunami" (Ōminato), affiliated with the 4th Escort Squadron of the Maritime Self-Defense Force; the "Kumataka" (Yoichi), affiliated with the 5th Patrol Squadron; and the P-3C from the 2nd Air Group (Hachinohe).

On July 27, Reiwa 8 (Monday), we confirmed that a Russian reconnaissance aircraft (IL-20) flew in from the continental direction and flew over the Sea of Japan as far as offshore of Shimane Prefecture.  
In response, we scrambled fighter aircraft from the Air Self-Defense Force's Northern Air Defense Force and other units to respond.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Family members of KMT Legislator Wan Mei-ling (   ) were reportedly involved in a residential development in Taoyuan accused of selling parking spaces built on farmland.

Mirror Media reported that Kuan Chuang Construction Inc.'s residential project in Taoyuan's Luzhu District marketed homes together with parking spaces on adjacent farmland. According to the project's building permit, the development has only 18 legal parking spaces for its 85 households.

Homebuyers said sales representatives told them the farmland parking spaces, which sold for more than NT$1 million (US$30,852), were available for purchase with the homes. However, buyers said that when they applied for loans to finance the parking spaces, even banks recommended by Kuan Chuang declined to lend, with some advising them to return the purchases to the company, per Mirror Media.

Buyers who purchased the farmland parking spaces were reportedly required to sign an additional agreement acknowledging that part of their purchase involved farmland and that the land could not legally be used for purposes other than agriculture, per Mirror Media.

Although Chang Yung-yin (   ) is listed as Kuan Chuang's legal representative, Mirror Media reported that Wan's husband, Ssu Tung-ssu (   ), and her elder son, Ssu Kuang-yu (   ), were effectively running the company. Internal company matters, including sales figures and employee leave requests, were reportedly forwarded to the father-and-son pair.

Mirror Media estimated that Kuan Chuang may have generated about NT$120 million from sales of the farmland parking spaces. Wan denied any connection to the company, urging the public to contact Chang regarding the allegations. She said neither she nor her family had any involvement with Kuan Chuang.

The Taoyuan City Government said that after receiving reports in 2025 that the farmland was being used for nonagricultural purposes, it issued fines later that year, per UDN. The city added that it has asked the Civil Affairs Office of Luzhu District to conduct follow-up inspections.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (   ) on Wednesday criticized the Taipei City Government for organizing a welcome ceremony for two red pandas from Shanghai, arguing the event was part of China's united front tactics.

The MAC reportedly barred Shanghai Deputy Secretary-General Zhang Yuxin, Shanghai Taiwan Affairs Office Director Jin Mei, Deputy Director Li Xiaodong, and an accompanying media delegation from entering Taiwan, per NOWNews.

Chiu said that although the Taipei City Government had inquired about the visit, it never formally applied for the officials' entry permits, per NOWNews. He added that the planned event raised concerns about potential united front activities.

Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (   ) disputed that account, saying the city government did not proceed with the next stage of the application process or contact the National Immigration Agency after the MAC informed it that Zhang, Jin, Li, and two other officials would not be permitted to enter Taiwan, per Liberty Times. She added that Taipei had formally submitted its application on June 17 and urged the MAC to review its records.

Lin said the exchange was conducted under agreements between Taipei Zoo and Shanghai Zoo and was intended to promote species conservation and genetic diversity. She argued that the MAC had politicized the exchange.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (   ) echoed that view, saying the red pandas symbolize Taipei Zoo's commitment to conserving endangered species and represent an achievement of the Taipei-Shanghai City Forum, per RTI. He rejected Chiu's characterization of the event as part of China's united front tactics.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua condemned the MAC's decision, saying it obstructed cross-strait exchanges, per China Times. He said the move reflected the DPP's "tendency toward confrontation and Taiwan independence."

Responding to lawmakers' questions, Chiu maintained that the event itself was part of China's united front tactics and said Jin's planned attendance was particularly inappropriate, per ETtoday. He added that the Shanghai Taiwan Affairs Office has previously prevented Taiwanese businesspeople from returning to Taiwan to attend events organized by Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation.

Chiu also questioned why the Taipei City Government did not hold a similar ceremony for Chien Chien (  ), a red panda that arrived at Taipei Zoo in May, per CNA. The zoo said at the time that Chien Chien came from Asahiyama Zoo through a recommendation by the International Red Panda Coordinator and coordination by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The DPP legislative caucus voiced similar concerns. Caucus official Fan Yun (  ) said Taipei Zoo should be able to cooperate with zoos around the world, particularly those in democratic countries, per SETN. Fan added that exchanges with political conditions attached were unwelcome and said the MAC was reminding the public that China often pursues political objectives through such exchanges.

DPP caucus official Chen Pei-yu (   ) called on Chiang to explain why the city organized the event. She said he should clarify whether he understood what she described as the united front purpose behind the ceremony and what political objective he hoped to achieve.

KMT Taipei City Councilor Chin Huei-chu (   ) rejected the DPP's characterization, noting that Chinese officials have attended events in Taipei for more than a decade under previous KMT and TPP city administrations without major controversy, per UDN. She argued that if welcoming red pandas is considered part of China's united front tactics, the MAC should not have allowed the animals to enter Taiwan.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (   ) on Wednesday defended the government's investigation into a deepfake video created by former KMT Youth Department Director Wei Chun-yu (   ), arguing that AI-generated impersonation is not protected by freedom of speech.

Wei created the video at the request of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (   ) to promote the KMT's protest over the government's handling of the tainted oil scandal, per Liberty Times. The interior ministry said Wednesday that an analysis by the Criminal Investigation Bureau found the video's narration, which resembles the voice of President Lai Ching-te (   ), bore characteristics of AI-generated audio, per UDN.

Liu defended the investigation, saying that while Taiwan protects freedom of speech, impersonating another person's voice is unacceptable, per Tai Sounds. She said the government has a duty to intervene when deepfakes are used to spread false information, disrupt public order, influence public judgment, or facilitate identity fraud.

Wei said Saturday that police officers visited his home to ask whether he had created the video and whether he was willing to remove it from the platform, per China Times. He argued that anyone seeking to have the video removed should have contacted him directly instead of sending police officers.

National Police Agency Director-General Chang Jung-hsing (   ) said the visit was solely to verify the facts and that officers neither asked Wei to remove the video nor sought to restrict his freedom of expression. The interior ministry said Wei's video may constitute forgery, defamation, and violations of the Personal Data Protection Act, per Liberty Times.

Political reactions largely split along party lines. Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (   ) said that while freedom of speech protects parody, it does not permit the unauthorized use of another person's voice, per Tai Sounds. Kuo argued that using Lai's voice in the deepfake was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (   ) said deepfaking the voice of a head of state is typically associated with hostile state actors, per Liberty Times. He said he suspected "there might be people behind the scenes giving the KMT pointers," adding that the apparent goal was to influence Taiwan's political landscape.

The KMT, meanwhile, argued that the investigation amounted to suppression of free speech. Chiang said police officers visiting Wei's home constituted state intimidation and could have a chilling effect on free expression. The KMT legislative caucus echoed that criticism, saying authorities had acted more swiftly in this case than in investigating the tainted oil scandal, per UDN.

TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (   ) also criticized the investigation, saying it was intended to deter further parody of Lai, per Liberty Times. He argued that former President Ma Ying-jeou's (   ) administration did not respond in the same way to satirical content targeting Ma.

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University law professor Chin Mong-hwa (   ) called for legislation requiring political AI-generated content to disclose that it was created using artificial intelligence, per SETN. He warned that while parody is protected speech, the spread of deepfake content could undermine democratic decision-making, which depends on informed public debate and accurate information.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   President Lai Ching-te (   ) on Wednesday urged lawmakers to support the government's proposed unmanned vehicle procurement bill, saying autonomous systems have become essential to Taiwan's defense strategy.

Speaking at a military promotion ceremony at the Presidential Office, Lai said unmanned vehicles are changing the nature of warfare, per CNA. He said long-term procurement would strengthen Taiwan's domestic defense industry.

Lai said the Cabinet's proposal would allow the Ministry of National Defense to coordinate military requirements and procurement, while the Ministry of Economic Affairs would support industrial development and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology would handle research.

Under the plan, Lai said Taiwan would acquire coastal surveillance and reconnaissance drones, coastal attack drones, and small unmanned suicide boats. He said unmanned systems are quickly consumed during conflicts and require continuous upgrades, making stable procurement and production essential.

Lai also congratulated newly promoted military officers, including Chiu Chih-feng (   ), who was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed commander of the Huadong Defense Command, per RTI.

Lai said the armed forces have conducted readiness and joint defense drills since June and will hold the Han Kuang 42 exercise to test their ability to respond during crises. He called on newly promoted officers to improve Taiwan's asymmetric defense capabilities and build a more resilient military.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan will test relocating weapons production lines and converting civilian factories for military use during the Aug. 5 14 Han Kuang 42 exercise, which will simulate a Chinese invasion under the guise of routine military drills, Reuters reported.

The aim is to determine whether Taiwan can disperse factory production while still producing enough supplies to support its military during a war, per Reuters. If a conflict broke out, China would likely target Taiwan's command centers, logistics infrastructure, and defense facilities.

Major General Lu Wen-yuan (   ), head of the military's Joint Operations Division, said Tuesday that the Armaments Bureau's 202nd Arsenal would be moved out of Taipei and civilian factories would begin assembling military equipment once a mock emergency order is given.

The exercise will also assess whether Taiwan can keep key shipping routes open and safely deliver essential supplies. Lu said the Navy and Coast Guard will hold joint live-fire drills, including coastal defense operations, maritime law enforcement, and protection of supply ships.

About 20,000 reserve and active-duty troops will take part, Lieutenant General Yu Wen-chen (   ) said, according to Liberty Times. Reservists will undergo 14-day training cycles to validate sustained combat operations and full mobilization procedures.

Urban resilience drills will also be held in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County on Aug. 7, and in New Taipei and Yilan County on Aug. 13, per Liberty Times.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (   ) defended the government's travel warnings for China on Wednesday after KMT lawmakers questioned whether the council was overstating national security risks.

Appearing before the legislature's Internal Affairs Committee, Chiu presented data showing that 402 Taiwanese citizens had been reported missing, detained, or imprisoned in China between the beginning of 2024 and July 22. According to the MAC, 134 of the cases involved alleged fraud, 58 involved other alleged criminal offenses, 23 were related to religious matters, and one involved national security, per Liberty Times.

KMT Legislator Liao Hsien-hsiang (   ) argued that roughly half of the cases were allegedly linked to fraud or other criminal activity. He noted there was only one national security case, for which no family members had sought government assistance, and questioned whether the MAC was publishing the statistics as part of a broader political campaign to "resist China and protect Taiwan."

Chiu rejected the criticism, saying the MAC has a responsibility to remind Taiwanese citizens of the risks of traveling to China regardless of the reasons behind individual cases. He added that details of the national security case could not be disclosed at the family's request.

KMT Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (   ) also questioned Chiu about reports that a relative of a senior DPP official had gone missing after traveling to China.

Chiu confirmed the MAC received a report on the case Tuesday afternoon and said the council would actively assist. He added that officials had been aware of the case since early July, but the family only recently requested government help.

During the hearing, Hsieh said multiple rumors about the individual's activities were circulating online and asked Chiu to clarify whether the case involved a criminal offense or was simply a disappearance, per Liberty Times.

Chiu declined to comment on the specifics, saying he could not discuss the case publicly. He added that Hsieh appeared to be familiar with the individual and suggested the lawmaker could help arrange contact with the family so MAC officials could offer assistance.

The MAC has issued an orange travel alert for China, Hong Kong, and Macau, advising Taiwanese citizens to avoid all nonessential travel.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   US Senators Tammy Duckworth and Marsha Blackburn introduced the "Countering Gray Zone Aggression by the People's Republic of China Act" on Wednesday to bolster US capabilities and combat China's intimidation in the Indo-Pacific.

The bill mandates the US Secretary of State to formulate a strategy to improve monitoring of Chinese activities in the Indo-Pacific and "identify relevant branches, programs and actors to enhance Indo-Pacific oversight." It also calls for a task force to develop and improve tools to counter gray-zone operations, and to track progress and report results to Congress.

Additionally, the bill orders the state department to explore ways to work with Indo-Pacific allies, partners, and private groups to protect US interests, the global economy, and regional stability.

Duckworth said in a press release, "Increasing PRC aggression in the Indo-Pacific doesn't just impact our partners in the region   it threatens America's economic and national security." She added, "As the PRC works to undermine regional stability through its gray-zone tactics, our bipartisan bill would help ensure the US better coordinates with our partners and deters these efforts that pose a real threat to our security."

Blackburn accused China of finding new ways to avoid detection and harm US allies "through cyberattacks, economic coercion, information warfare, and other 'gray-zone' tactics that undermine the US and our allies without using open military conflict," per the press release. "This legislation would strengthen our ability to counter the CCP's malign geopolitical interests and its increasingly aggressive tactics in the Indo-Pacific," she said.

Duckworth last visited Taiwan earlier this month, while Blackburn visited in August 2022.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday it would suspend most visa applications from Moroccan nationals seeking to enter Taiwan, except in specially approved cases, effective immediately.

CNA reported that the ministry described the restriction as a reciprocal response to Morocco's suspension of visa services for Taiwanese travelers. It urged Morocco to restore the services and ensure convenient travel for businesspeople and tourists.

Morocco's embassy in Japan informed travel agencies in Taiwan last Thursday that it had stopped accepting applications for visa confirmation letters from Taiwanese nationals. The foreign ministry later confirmed that Morocco had instructed its embassies and consulates worldwide to suspend the service.

Taiwanese passport holders cannot apply for Morocco's electronic visas and need confirmation letters before obtaining visas for short business or tourism visits. The ministry said Morocco's sudden decision had created travel barriers and disrupted exchanges between the two sides.

Taiwanese travelers who received valid confirmation letters before July 20 may still use them to enter Morocco before they expire. The foreign ministry said it would continue to monitor Morocco's visa policy and adjust Taiwan's measures when necessary.

1.Date:
6 a.m. Jul. 30 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Jul. 31 (Fri.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:
27 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN ships and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 22 out of 27 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern,  central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

New York City's Democratic Socialists of America, the political home of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have been actively courting favor with the Chinese Communist Party. Internal meeting minutes reveal members eager to "interface" with CCP officials, self-censoring on Beijing's atrocities to maintain the relationship all under the banner of fighting "imperialism."

In other words, they know where their allegiance will end up if they're able to take control of America. It is the logical endpoint of a movement that now holds significant power in America's largest city, and that power is spreading.

The revelations, drawn from extensive DSA documents obtained by Newsweek, expose a sustained effort to align with the world's most powerful totalitarian regime.

   "China wants to interface with the DSA," one New York-based political activist told a meeting on October 8 last year of the China Working Group of the DSA's International Committee, which helps set policy and advises leaders. "If we develop a killer two-week itinerary, hire  pic.twitter.com/h5ukn2AZ0C

     Bill Bishop (@niubi) June 27, 2026

Participants in the DSA's International Committee China Working Group discussed developing itineraries for engagement, hiring locals to deepen ties with the Communist Party of China, and avoiding any criticism of sensitive issues like the threatened invasion of Taiwan, the crackdown in Hong Kong, or the Uyghur genocide. One activist enthused that if they played their cards right, "we're golden."

Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who now occupies Gracie Mansion, has long been tied to this organization. While he has publicly distanced himself from certain national DSA positions at times, the group powered his rise and shares his ideological roots. Socialism, whether wrapped in democratic rhetoric or not, inevitably drifts toward authoritarianism. History has shown this repeatedly from the Soviet Union to Venezuela to Mao's China itself.

The DSA's deference to the CCP confirms what many have warned: these are not mere reformers but radicals comfortable with bending the knee to actual communists.

The Mechanics of Influence


The minutes paint a picture of ideological capture. DSA members agreed to sidestep topics that might offend their Chinese counterparts, dismissing reports of Uyghur oppression as American propaganda in some cases. They explored partnerships with pro-CCP media outlets and celebrated direct meetings facilitated by Chinese officials during trips to places like Guizhou. Chinese authorities encouraged formal exchanges, and the DSA appeared all too willing to oblige.

This is not harmless internationalism. The CCP is engaged in a long-term strategy of influence operations across the West subverting institutions, stealing technology, and advancing its vision of global dominance. An American political organization with real sway in a major city volunteering to filter its discourse to appease Beijing represents a profound security and ideological vulnerability.

When socialists prioritize solidarity with a regime that runs concentration camps, crushes dissent, and spies on its own citizens over the defense of liberty, the mask slips entirely.

Connections extend beyond the DSA's internal circles. Bernie Sanders, the elder statesman of American democratic socialism, has drawn scrutiny for his own engagements, including efforts that critics argue would hamstring U.S. AI development while China surges ahead.

The pattern is consistent: a reflexive opposition to American strength paired with strange indulgence for regimes that embody the very authoritarianism they claim to oppose.

A Threat to Constitutional Order


America's Founders designed a republic to guard against concentrated power and foreign entanglements that compromise sovereignty. They understood that alliances with tyrannical governments erode the moral and political foundations of self-government.

Today's DSA-aligned leaders in New York appear to view the Constitution not as a safeguard but as an obstacle to their transformative agenda. By cozying up to the CCP, they signal whose side they ultimately favor in the global contest between freedom and control.

The irony abounds. These are the same voices who lecture endlessly about threats to democracy while partnering with a party that has never won a free election, bans opposition parties, and maintains total surveillance over its people. They decry "fascism" at home yet make excuses for a communist superpower that exports repression through economic coercion and influence networks. The American people, particularly in New York, deserve leaders who prioritize their security and prosperity not those auditioning for approval from Beijing.

Mamdani's mayoralty places this ideology in a position of governance. Policies that weaken law enforcement, burden taxpayers, and prioritize ideological purity over practical governance will compound the damage if informed by a worldview sympathetic to the CCP model. New Yorkers who voted for affordability and change may soon discover the steeper price of socialist governance: diminished freedom, economic stagnation, and compromised national loyalty.

As the prophet Isaiah warned of those who seek alliances that defy God's order, "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and stay on horses, and trust in chariots  but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!" (Isaiah 31:1).

In our age, the modern equivalent of misplaced trust is exchanging American principles for solidarity with a godless regime that persecutes believers and exalts the state above all. Christians and conservatives must discern these influences clearly and stand firm for truth, liberty, and the defense of the innocent against tyranny in all its forms.

The DSA's outreach to the CCP is a warning. Socialism does not moderate in power; it seeks fellow travelers abroad who share its contempt for individual rights and limited government. Americans committed to the constitutional republic cannot afford complacency. The battle for the soul of the nation and its great cities requires vigilance, moral clarity, and an unyielding defense of the freedoms that distinguish us from the authoritarian darkness now being courted in plain sight.

About a dozen Democratic Socialists of America activists have publicly pledged to "support" and "defend" China amid an apparent push by the communist nation to court members of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's party.

Friends of Socialist China, a London-based group, touts 952 signatories on its pledge to "support the People's Republic of China and to promote understanding of Chinese socialism."

Eleven self-described DSA or DSA International Committee members are among those that "resolve to support, defend and build understanding of Chinese socialism," The Post found.

The Times of London first reported on the DSA signatories.

The pledge argues that "the global advance to socialism is indispensable if humanity is to survive and to flourish," while decrying capitalism as "totally incapable of solving the problems of poverty and inequality" and being " inextricably linked with war, empire, racism, misogyny, alienation, and environmental destruction."

"Why China?" the pledge continues. "We support all states building or aspiring to socialism, and we favour the highest level of unity and friendship between them. We foreground China in particular because its size and level of development give it an objectively critical role in the global transition to socialism."

The document lauds China as "the most prominent force pushing for the establishment of a multipolar system of international relations and a new international economic order" and "a global leader in the struggle to avoid climate breakdown.

"As such, the continued survival of Chinese socialism is a crucial matter not only for the Chinese people but for all humanity."

The Post previously reported that in order to meet a rising interest in the Chinese Communist Party, the DSA launched a monthly seminar last year about "modern China and lessons for US socialists."

Among the wild claims made during the DSA's first CCP seminar was that China has a "strong democracy." There was no mention of China's tight restrictions on freedom of expression.

A few weeks before the launch of the seminar series, a five-person DSA delegation flew to Beijing to celebrate China's 80th anniversary of the victory against Japan.

"It was an impressive display of 'unity in multi-polarity' featuring Russian President Putin and Indian Prime Minister Modi, as well as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un," wrote NYC DSA member Dee Knight. "Beijing buzzed with excitement."

DSA meeting minutes dating back to 2021, obtained by Newsweek in January, show that members have openly discussed repeated trips to China to meet with CCP officials under the banner of "anti-imperialism."

Originally Posted By zoinks:
Now that the computer has finally finished updating itself.........

This block will deal with what we all pretty much intrinsically knew, but first a little back ground:

When I first started this thread one thought was the joke of the Biden Admin (Obama's Third Term) physically doing anything to oppose China everywhere. As there was a lot of talk on the board about China taking Taiwan at the time, my other thought was that China wants to destroy the US, hence the Chinese involved in US elections, fentanyl and synthetic drugs production and exportation into the US, organizing enemies of the US around the World, cyber attacks on US infrastructure, human trafficking into the US, the list goes on and on and on.

China can't take Taiwan without expanding to the 9-Dash line, and China can't hold the 9-Dash line without attacking the Second island chain, and attacking the second island chain is through treaty obligation attacking the US. But going one on one with the US is a tricky situation, therefore China wants the US to be involved with multiple conflicts around the World in order to disperse US Combat power which is really very low as a comparative to what US combat power was during the Cold War. There was a couple of pieces of just brilliant deflection during the bought and paid for Clinton years in the form of "The Peace Dividend" and then "The Partnership for Peace." Both were full of the shit that the Clinton people were known for. The '90s is where China's ascendancy is assured.

So here we are!!

First up is an opinion piece from the end of June:

Revealed: Mamdani and the DSA Love the CCP and Cannot Wait to Bend the Knee

The attribution to Newsweek is a x.com tweet that no longer exists, hence we're using this opinion piece.




Yes, the author gets religious at the end, but who doesn't when they're looking at forces that change millions of lives in a second.

The above was published on 28JUN26.

The below was published on 30JUL26.

Members of Mamdani's DSA pledge to 'support' and 'defend' China: 'Survival of Chinese socialism is a crucial matter'

As the connection is now a matter of public record, it's harder to hide the truth in the dark! Yup, a dramatic statement, but it's corollary is that the lies will now have to be bigger and more complex.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Coast Guard Administration sent the patrol ship Taipei to track two Chinese coast guard vessels operating east of Taitung's Lanyu island, reports said Friday.

At 8 a.m. Friday, China's Xiushan was located 280 kilometers east of Lanyu, while the Chongming was found 80 km northeast of the island, per Liberty Times. The Chinese coast guard claimed the ships were on a legal and routine law enforcement mission.

Taiwan's administration rejected the claims, condemning the Chinese actions as "fake law enforcement, real expansion of power." Taiwan's Coast Guard will continue to defend the nation's sovereignty and to safeguard the security of its waters, the administration said.

Chinese coast guard ships have repeatedly intruded into restricted Taiwanese waters in several areas, including near the island of Kinmen and near Dongsha in the South China Sea.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Ministry of the Interior said Thursday it will ask the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Chinese Unification Promotion Party over alleged threats to national security and the democratic system.

Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (   ) said the ministry had completed its review of evidence involving the party. Several senior members have been linked to alleged violations of national security, election, anti-infiltration, and organized crime laws, CTS News reported.

The Constitution says political parties cannot threaten the country's existence or its free and democratic constitutional order. Under the Political Parties Act, the interior ministry must present its evidence to the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether the party should be dissolved.

The ministry said party founder Chang An-le (   ) is identified in the party charter as its symbolic leader and president. It said Chang has publicly expressed support for the Chinese Communist Party and promoted its ideology.

Chang, widely known by his nickname "White Wolf," was once a leader of the Bamboo Union, one of Taiwan's largest organized crime groups. He has openly acknowledged his past involvement with the group.

Chang also spent about 10 years in a US prison on drug-smuggling charges. He later lived in China after leaving Taiwan while wanted in connection with an organized crime investigation, though he was not ultimately tried in that case, Reuters reported.

CNA reported that courts in Spain and South Korea have previously dissolved political parties found to threaten national security or democratic rule. Those cases were based on evidence involving violence, cooperation with hostile forces, or plans to damage democratic institutions rather than political views alone.

The ministry said Taiwan protects the right to form political parties but that this freedom has constitutional limits. It said parties cannot accept instructions, assignments, or funding from hostile foreign forces to conduct activities that threaten Taiwan's security and democracy.

Belgian prosecutors this week announced the arrest of a Canadian intern for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) who was accused of espionage.

Media investigations soon revealed the suspect is a Chinese-born Canadian national who was allegedly spying for China.

The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office said it made the arrest based on a tip from NATO security services, who warned the female suspect was spending an excessive amount of time at sensitive NATO facilities and asking too many questions.

The suspect was employed as an intern at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), which is located in the city of Mons, Belgium. SHAPE handles planning and execution for all NATO operations.

"She is suspected of spying on behalf of a third country and of being a member of a criminal organization," prosecutors said in a statement released Saturday.

The suspect's home and workspace in SHAPE's information technology department were raided when she was taken into custody. On Tuesday, prosecutors extended her pretrial detention by one month and the suspect immediately filed an appeal.

Canada's CBC News on Wednesday identified the suspect as Biwei Zhang, a systems engineer who previously worked for the Canadian Space Agency and Statistics Canada. She has also used the names Claire Zhang and Catina Zhang.

CBC said Zhang's personal and professional profiles matched the limited information provided by Belgian prosecutors, as do numerous posts she made on Facebook and LinkedIn. A group of European news outlets reached the same conclusion about her identity.

Zhang appears to be 32 or 33 years old and holds a master's degree from the University of Ottawa, class of 2022. She reportedly worked as an economist for Statistics Canada from 2018 to 2022, then took a job as a systems engineer for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in May 2022. Her resume also includes work as a policy analyst for the European Space Agency (ESA) and a researcher for the World Trade Organization (WTO).

To date, there have been no details of the allegations against Zhang from Belgium, Canada, or NATO, beyond the vague description of her alarming behavior and assurances from SHAPE that her questionable activities did not interfere with operational readiness. The week since her arrest was announced has included some awkward excuses about who was supposed to vet her for a security clearance and how thorough a job they did.

The ESA told Reuters on Thursday that Zhang's position with the agency did not require a security clearance, but she was subjected to "standard human resources screening procedures." The WTO declined a request for comment about her work history.

NATO officials said responsibility for security clearances lay with contributing member nations, which in this case would mean Canada. Canadian Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree said on Monday that national screening procedures would be reviewed to "get to the bottom of what happened."

According to CBC News, there was a rather large red flag in Zhang's background: the Public Service Commission of Canada in 2023 found that she "committed fraud in an application for a position at the Canada Border Services Agency by applying under two different names and emails and failing to later clarify whether she had submitted multiple applications."

Canada's Globe and Mail explained that Zhang "submitted applications from two e-mail addresses, one from York University and the other from the University of Montreal and twice wrote the same standardized exams in an effort, the commission found, 'to increase her chances of being appointed.'"

Zhang requested a judicial review of this finding in February 2024, but it was dismissed by a federal court judge.

"I think the concern level would be very high in government. Everybody wants to know what happened. There are a lot of questions to be asked," former Canadian national security adviser Jody Thomas told the Globe and Mail.

One missing underscore in a Skyrim-themed username put an innocent Nova Scotia man in prison for 18 months.

A 2018 child-luring investigation, which began in Madison, Wisconsin, and eventually extended to Halifax, Canada, was based on a false premise.

Police were looking for a man using the Kik messaging service under the name "fus__ro_dah" (two underscores after "fus"), but they accidentally requested records for the username "fus_ro_dah" (one underscore after "fus"). This one-character difference led them not to the perpetrator but to a Canadian man named Brandon Klayme.

(Ars readers may recognize "fus ro dah" as the Unrelenting Force "dragon shout" from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.)

Despite finding no evidence of the crime on his digital devices, Canadian police arrested Klayme in 2020 on child sex abuse charges. He was convicted after a trial in 2023 and sentenced in 2024 to 18 months in prison. He served the full term.

Even after release, Klayme continued to fight his conviction. In the process of preparing his appeal, the username mistake that led to all these years of disruption was finally discovered. On Thursday, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal overturned Klayme's conviction, writing: "Mr. Klayme is factually innocent of the offences. He should never have been charged, let alone convicted."

One underscore


The case began in 2018. From August through December of that year, a 12-year-old Wisconsin girl communicated with an adult male through the Kik messaging service. During a check of the girl's phone, her mother found an "inappropriate" photo of the male and called local police.

The Dane County Sheriff's Department responded. A deputy took the phone, and the department ran a forensic search on it. The report identified 125 Kik messages between the girl and an adult with the username "fus__ro_dah" (two underscores after "fus").

To identify this person, the cops contacted Kik, but their subpoena accidentally requested information about the Kik user "fus_ro_dah" (one underscore after "fus"). Kik provided Klayme's email address in response.

Google records showed that this email address was used to access Google services from an IP address in Canada, so the Dane County investigators turned the case over to Halifax Regional Police. Halifax police took the IP address they had been given to local Internet provider Bell Aliant. Bell connected the IP address to the physical address of their subscriber, Brandon Klayme.

The cops then obtained a search warrant for Klayme's residence and took phones and laptops from his bedroom. Searching these devices produced no evidence relevant to the case. Nothing linked Klayme to the girl. No intimate images were found. Klayme did have a Kik account, but cops couldn't even show that he had accessed the service during the period in question.

Still, Klayme was arrested and hit with three charges:

- Luring a person under 14 years of age by means of telecommunication
- Providing sexually explicit material to a child
- Possession of child pornography

The case went to trial, where Klayme was found guilty. He then went to prison for 18 months. No one involved, even on the defense side, appears to have noticed the username confusion.

The appeal


Klayme continued to press his appeal, but only late in the process did his team figure out what had happened. Here's how Klayme himself describes the discovery:

   In the latter stages of preparing my appeal arguments, it was discovered that the subpoena contained a subtle mistake that changed the course of my life. Instead of requesting details for the username "fus__ro_dah", the subpoena requested details for the username "fus_ro_dah". The police officer did not notice that the perpetrator's Kik username "fus__ro_dah" contains a double underscore. This discrepancy went completely unnoticed at the trial. It was never brought to the attention of the trial judge.

After this was pointed out, prosecutors took another look. They agreed that Klayme's appeal should be allowed. Had the case been properly investigated, the court says now, evidence "would have identified an individual whose first name is Jay whose IP address appears to be in California."

Given this, the Court of Appeal last week acquitted Klayme on all charges. His sentence (including his ongoing probation) was vacated.

How could such a crucial mistake have been missed for so long? No one seems to know. As the court puts it, "Although the information about the usernames was available at the time of the trial, there is no evidence confirming or explaining how it went unnoticed."

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The National Communications Commission has no commissioners serving for the first time since its establishment in 2006, CNA reported Friday.

UDN reported that the terms of its three remaining commissioners ended Friday. The legislature has not begun reviewing the Cabinet's latest list of seven nominees.

The commission said it cannot hold formal meetings or advisory meetings without any commissioners. Formal meetings are required to approve major decisions and cases set out by law.

As a result, about 748 cases must remain pending. They include broadcast license renewals, changes to company boards and operating plans, broadcast content cases, and major communications policies.

The Cabinet announced its latest nominees on July 24 after the legislature rejected two previous lists. Lawyer Yuan Hsiu-hui (   ) was nominated as chair, while National Sun Yat-sen University Professor Hsiao Ping (  ) was nominated as deputy chair.

The commission has asked the Cabinet for instructions on how to operate during the vacancy. Before the final commissioners' terms ended, internal departments and advisory meetings could handle some routine matters.

Advisory meetings processed 27,589 cases between Dec. 1, 2024, and Friday. However, cases requiring approval at a formal commission meeting must now remain on hold.

Several television and radio licenses are due to expire while the commission has no members. The commission has asked cable television operators to continue carrying affected channels temporarily to protect the interests of viewers.

The vacancy is not expected to delay approval of new mobile phones, Wi-Fi devices, or Bluetooth equipment. Fourteen authorized testing organizations handle those reviews without requiring approval from commissioners.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The New Power Party, the Taiwan Statebuilding Party, the Green Party Taiwan, and the Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party have decided to join forces for the local elections, reports said Saturday.

The alliance, known as "Taiwan Go Go" (      ), held a fundraiser in Taichung Saturday, per UDN. The event served to recruit support in Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi City, and Chiayi County.

NPP Chair Claire Wang (   ) said she hoped alliance candidates could win seats in the Nov. 28 elections in Taichung, Yunlin, and Chiayi City. The group emphasized Taiwan-centric, clean, and rational politics to improve both local and central government, she said.

Wang said that if each city or county council could have at least one alliance member in its midst, it would change politics for the better and create a more open and transparent government, UDN reported.

The Green Party Taiwan said the third-party space in Taiwan politics between KMT and DPP was now being occupied by the TPP, but it had been leaning too far toward the KMT. The Taiwan Go Go alliance should overtake the TPP in the number of seats it wins in the year-end election to claim the center space in Taiwan politics, Green Party co-convener Gan Chong-wei (   ) said.

Last month, the alliance also unveiled joint candidates for the council elections in Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli, Liberty Times reported. The NPP had three incumbents in the Hsinchu City Council running for re-election, while three new candidates were trying for seats in the Hsinchu County Council. The alliance also presented candidates for local township councils in Hsinchu County.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan and the US should build secure drone supply chains and expand production across democratic countries, President Lai Ching-te (   ) said Friday.

Speaking during a meeting with a bipartisan US congressional delegation led by House East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chair Young Kim, Lai said drones have become essential to modern defense, creating greater demand for reliable suppliers.

Taiwan's semiconductor, communications technology, and precision manufacturing industries give it a strong base for developing the drone sector, Lai said. He added that Taiwan could become a trusted supplier for democratic partners.

The government has proposed a special budget to purchase unmanned systems. It is also moving from drone research and testing to mass production to meet defense needs.

Closer Taiwan-US cooperation would help both sides respond more quickly to military and commercial demand, Lai said. It would also strengthen research and production capacity among democratic countries.

Lai said China continues to increase military pressure on Taiwan and conduct operations below the level of open conflict. He said Taiwan would neither provoke conflict nor back down and would continue working to preserve peace across the Taiwan Strait.

He also pledged to increase Taiwan's defense budget and strengthen civil defense. Taiwan would deepen cooperation with democratic partners to deter aggression and respond to security threats, he said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   An estimated 2,000 reservists reporting in Tainan for next week's Han Kuang 42 military drills will be equipped with US-made M4A1 carbines, reports said Saturday.

The reservists with the 137th Infantry Brigade were only the second unit after the Marines to receive the guns, per UDN. This year's edition of the Han Kuang exercises runs Aug. 5-14.

Because the reservists were used to work with T65K2 and T91 rifles, officers needed to explain the differences, the report said. The new guns were reportedly manufactured in Columbia, South Carolina, at a plant run by Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal.

The aim of the exercises for the reservists was to make sure they could return to become a fighting force within a short period if necessary. The reservists will be allocated courses relevant to their past military experience.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Tibetan groups and human rights advocates in Taiwan held a protest Sunday outside the Bank of China's Taipei branch to mark one month since Tibetan activist Loga Rangzen's self-immolation protest outside United Nations headquarters in New York.

Rangzen, a Tibetan exile, carried out the protest following China's implementation of its ethnic unity law. At the urging of his family, Tibetan groups launched a global action day in his honor, calling for greater solidarity between the Tibetan exile community and human rights organizations to oppose what they described as China's repression, per LTN.

During Sunday's demonstration, protesters lay down in front of the bank to symbolize Rangzen's sacrifice.

The Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan, the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association, and other Taiwanese human rights groups jointly held a press conference outside the Bank of China branch to protest China's passage of the act.

Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa, chair of the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, said Rangzen sacrificed his life to show the world that Tibetans have endured tremendous suffering in defense of their freedom, faith, and national dignity.

"We call upon all those who cherish human rights and freedom to take to the streets, to roar against China's tyranny, and to ask the United Nations: How many more Tibetan lives must be sacrificed?" he said. "Silence is not neutrality, but rather condoning tyranny."

Taiwanese human rights activist Lee Ming-che (   ) criticized the ethnic unity law as a serious violation of human rights, saying laws in democratic countries regulate external behavior to protect public order rather than control people's thoughts or family lives, per LTN.

Lee said China's definition of progress includes the detention of Uyghurs in re-education camps, the erosion of Tibetan religious culture, the placement of Tibetan children in state-run boarding schools, and threats against Taiwan's sovereignty.

He said China views allowing ethnic minorities to preserve and choose their own cultures as backward. "If this is what barbarism means, then I have no choice but to take pride in being barbaric," Lee said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   President Lai Ching-te (   ) marked Taiwan's Indigenous Peoples' Day on Saturday by celebrating the Cabinet's official recognition of the Siraya as the nation's 17th Indigenous group, per CNA.

The Siraya are the first Pingpu Indigenous group to complete official ethnic registration under the Pingpu Indigenous Peoples Identity Act, marking a major milestone in Taiwan's efforts to advance Indigenous historical and transitional justice.

Lai said in a Facebook post that recognition of the Siraya has been a long-standing goal of his. During his tenure as Tainan mayor, he accompanied Siraya representatives to the Council of Indigenous Peoples to submit their application for official recognition.

He said the Tainan City Government also supported the Siraya through administrative litigation and established an administrative support group. Later, while serving as vice president, Lai said he urged the Council of Indigenous Peoples to actively advance the legal framework needed to protect the identity rights of Pingpu Indigenous peoples.

Lai said the recognition followed a three-decade campaign that progressed from local advocacy and administrative litigation to constitutional rulings, special legislation, and finally the completion of ethnic registration. He described the designation as a historic moment for the Siraya and an important milestone in Taiwan's pursuit of Indigenous historical and transitional justice.

Lai thanked Siraya community members, elders, cultural workers, academics, and other supporters who worked toward official recognition, as well as successive central and local governments, the legislature, and civil society for their contributions, per his Facebook post.

The president said the government will continue improving the Indigenous identity registration system and strengthen legal protections for Indigenous peoples. He added that authorities will continue processing registration applications from other Pingpu Indigenous groups in accordance with the law.

Lai said Indigenous peoples are Taiwan's earliest inhabitants and, together with later generations of settlers, have helped shape the nation. He said the government will continue promoting a more diverse and equitable society, ensuring every ethnic group can preserve its identity, sustain its cultural heritage, and pursue its future with dignity.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Tainan City Government has received several AI-powered tracking kits designed to help first responders conduct search-and-rescue operations more efficiently, according to a press release.

The city said the platform combines AI, global positioning, and long-range wireless communication to track rescuers' locations and movements in areas without conventional network coverage. The kits were donated by Taipei Medical Alliance Chair Chao Chung-chieh (   ) and BioArmor Intelligent Co. Chair Liu Chien-sheng (   ).

The system uses LoRa wireless communication, a low-power, long-range technology designed to transmit data in challenging environments. The city said the technology can help maintain communication through dense terrain and other obstacles during rescue missions.

Mayor Huang Wei-che (   ) thanked the donors for strengthening the city's ability to command and coordinate rescue operations with real-time location data. He said the system could later be extended to police and other first responders.

The Tainan Fire Department said the platform uses AI edge computing to process data locally rather than relying entirely on cloud networks, reducing transmission time. The department said the equipment is waterproof and dustproof, and can operate in rough terrain under demanding conditions.

The fire department said the long-range communication system can relay rescuers' coordinates and movements to a tablet computer in real time. The same information can also be shared with other deployed rescue teams, accelerating decision-making.

BioArmor Intelligent said it consulted the fire department to understand first responders' needs before integrating the technologies into the system. The company said the platform would help command centers make timely decisions and improve response times.

The handover ceremony was attended by Tainan Fire Department officials and city councilors. Consultants from Semtech, which owns the rights to LoRa technology, also attended the event.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan is still relying on German-made SUT torpedoes as it waits to receive all of its purchased MK-48 heavyweight torpedoes.

The German torpedoes have been in service for more than 40 years, and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology has carried out multiple life-extension upgrades, Liberty Times reported.

Taiwan expects to receive 24 US-made MK-48 torpedoes in batches between 2027 and 2028. Shipments are expected to conclude in 2030.

Although concerns have been raised over structural corrosion, aging electronics, and expired propulsion batteries, ongoing upgrades to internal components and performance have allowed the SUT torpedoes to remain Taiwan's primary submarine weapon, per Liberty Times.

A smuggling run through Maverick County ended in a roadside spinout today, when a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper forced an SUV to a stop and arrested its driver, whom authorities describe as a suspected Tango Blast gang member. Video released by the agency shows the trooper using a tactical maneuver to bring the vehicle to a halt, and officials say no one was hurt. The driver is now in custody, while the eight people found in the SUV were handed over to federal Border Patrol agents for immigration processing.

The clip was posted to X by TxDPS - South Texas Region, which tagged the footage with the slogan "The Mission Continues" and said the pursuit was brought to a safe end. The post includes brief roadside arrest footage along with a short agency summary of how the stop unfolded.

Local reporting identifies the driver as Saede Rebollar, a Houston resident whom authorities say is a suspected Tango Blast member. Univision San Antonio reports that Rebollar faces state charges that include smuggling of persons, smuggling with the probability of causing serious bodily injury, and evading arrest. After the stop, officials located eight people inside the SUV, according to that reporting, describing them as five Mexican nationals and three people from China, all of whom were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol.

How the chase ended


In the footage, the trooper executes a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, that spins the black SUV and brings it to a controlled stop on U.S. 277. The agency says the tactic was carried out without injuries. TxDPS - South Texas Region said troopers arrested the driver at the scene and processed the eight passengers under federal immigration procedures. The short clip offers a snapshot of the kind of interdiction tactics DPS is using along the Del Rio Eagle Pass corridor this summer.



Border enforcement in Maverick County


Maverick County has become a regular backdrop for Texas border enforcement operations, with the Department of Public Safety highlighting the area in multiple South Texas press releases that describe stash house searches, smuggling arrests and similar encounters. The Texas Department of Public Safety has published related videos from the region this year, and local outlets have documented several traffic stops in recent weeks, including a July stop where troopers discovered a 6 year old hidden in a suspected smuggling vehicle. Coverage of that July case came from a 6-year-old hidden in a suspected smuggling car.




Legal implications


State prosecutors typically bring smuggling cases under Texas Penal Code Section 20.05, and in some situations pursue continuous smuggling charges under Section 20.06, offenses that can carry prison terms ranging from several years to decades. The elements of these crimes and possible sentence enhancements, including provisions for conduct that creates a substantial likelihood of serious bodily injury, are detailed in the Texas statutes. If prosecutors file the counts described by local outlets, the driver could be looking at state felony charges while the eight passengers remain in federal immigration custody as Border Patrol completes processing, Univision San Antonio reports.

According to DPS, the video post was the first public account of the stop, and local and federal agencies could release additional records as the case works its way through county court and immigration proceedings. For now, the footage offers a publicly accessible glimpse of another trooper interdiction on the Texas Mexico border that state officials characterize as part of sustained enforcement activity this summer.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Premier Cho Jung-tai (   ) said Monday that the 2027 central government budget will expand public services, support technology, strengthen national security, and keep debt under control.

Speaking at the 2026 Taiwan-Japan Semiconductor Technology Forum, Cho said the Cabinet will present the proposed budget to President Lai Ching-te (   ) in the coming days. It plans to submit the budget to the legislature by late August, CNA reported.

The budget will fund the government's 10 major AI infrastructure projects and 13 key strategic industries. Cho said spending will cover talent, research and development, energy, infrastructure, and regulatory changes.

Cho also called for closer semiconductor cooperation between Taiwan and Japan. He said Japan is strong in materials, equipment, and precision manufacturing, while Taiwan has advantages in chip manufacturing, design, and information technology.

Several of Taiwan's 13 strategic industries overlap with the 17 strategic fields promoted by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, Cho said. He said the overlap could support deeper cooperation.

Cho cited TSMC's investment in Kumamoto as an example. Its first fab began mass production in 2024, while a second plant is expected to use more advanced chipmaking processes.

Total investment in the two plants exceeds about NT$813 billion (US$25.89 billion). Cho said the projects show the potential for closer industrial cooperation.

He said AI is moving from cloud computing to real-world applications. These include robotics, smart manufacturing, vehicle electronics, and autonomous vehicles.

Cho said Taiwan and Japan should jointly develop new technologies and expand into global markets. He said the goal should be a stable, long-term partnership.

Bilateral trade has reached US$84.8 billion, with high-tech products accounting for a large share, Cho said. He added that the government must provide land, talent, energy, and other resources to help Taiwanese industries compete globally.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (   ) said Monday the opposition should avoid actively discussing a potential no-confidence vote against Premier Cho Jung-tai (   ), arguing it would distract public attention from the ongoing tainted soybean oil scandal.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (   ) on Sunday echoed Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an's (   ) call for a no-confidence vote against Cho during the TPP's seventh anniversary celebration in Taichung, per Mirror Media. Lu urged voters to use the 2026 local elections to protest the DPP's handling of the tainted oil controversy and vote President Lai Ching-te (   ) out of office in 2028.

TPP Secretary-General Chou Yu-hsiu (   ) responded at the time that the opposition shares the common goal of challenging Lai and should instead focus on cooperation ahead of November's local elections, per Liberty Times. Speaking in an interview Monday, Huang reiterated his reservations about pursuing a no-confidence vote, saying he did not want public attention to shift away from food safety issues, per UDN.

Citing the DPP's defeat in the 2018 local elections, Huang said officials who refuse to step down when they should ultimately face consequences at the ballot box. He also argued that replacing Cho would have little effect on the government's handling of the controversy because Lai frequently steps in on matters Huang believes would ordinarily fall under the premier's responsibility.

Meanwhile, the KMT has yet to reach a consensus on whether to pursue a no-confidence vote. KMT legislative caucus convener Fu Kun-chi (   ) said Friday that while the party respects internal deliberations, there has been little discussion of the proposal, per Z.Media.

KMT insiders said the TPP is unlikely to support a no-confidence motion because its eight at-large legislative seats were won largely on the support of former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (   ), per CNews. They also said senior KMT leaders are concerned that debate over a no-confidence vote could divert attention from the tainted oil controversy.

Some KMT members opposed to the proposal argued that Cho has become an effective political target for the opposition and should remain in office through the year-end local elections, per UP Media. They also warned that holding legislative by-elections alongside local elections could improve the DPP's electoral prospects by boosting turnout.

Other KMT sources said that although the party is unlikely to initiate a no-confidence vote, holding legislative by-elections separately from local elections could improve the opposition's chances by allowing campaigns to focus on economic issues, per Liberty Times. They added that calls by Chiang and Lu for a no-confidence vote have also helped keep Lai occupied and limited his ability to campaign nationwide.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   China's maritime gray-zone activities, conducted under the guise of law enforcement, have become a regional challenge, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (   ) said in a Nikkei Asia interview.

"The threat posed by China is toward the whole region," Wu said. He said intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mapping showed a significant increase in Chinese navy and coast guard vessels operating across the first island chain, from Japan to Taiwan and down to the Philippines. Wu said China is also deploying research vessels, Maritime Safety Administration ships, and maritime militia vessels to maintain a persistent presence in the region.

"As China tries to intimidate its neighbors in this region, they blame the victims   Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines," Wu said, per Nikkei Asia. "They blame Taiwan for being provocative when we are only trying to protect or safeguard what we already have, namely our freedom and sovereignty."

Japan and the Philippines' tensions with China have brought the two countries closer. The two countries signed a reciprocal access agreement for military cooperation in July 2024. Talks on intelligence sharing were announced in May to facilitate the transfer of destroyers and patrol aircraft from Japan to the Philippines. The two countries also participated in multilateral maritime drills with the US Navy last month.

"Warming ties between Japan and the Philippines are a natural reaction to Chinese expansionism," Wu said. He added that Taiwan feels encouraged that nearby countries are taking China's military threat more seriously than before.

Wu said that if conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping routes, the global economy and tech supply chains would be affected because of Taiwan's semiconductor and AI product exports, according to Nikkei Asia.

Wu said Taiwan is bearing the brunt of China's hybrid warfare, including "disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, cognitive warfare and infiltration into our societies." Global cooperation is "very necessary" to counter these activities, he added.

Aside from conventional arms, Taiwan needs to implement broad reforms, including drone personnel training, and integrate more drones into its defense, Wu said.

Meanwhile, Wu said Taipei is improving its approach to handling Chinese ships in and around its waters, Nikkei Asia reported. "Taiwan has already formed a mechanism across government agencies to counter China's maritime expansionism," he said.

Taiwan seeks to share information with more countries to form more coordinated responses, Wu said.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Mainland Affairs Council will expand education on China-related risks as more Taiwanese students take part in exchanges there, CNA reported Monday.

The Control Yuan said the number of Taiwanese students joining education programs in China has risen sharply since pandemic restrictions eased in 2023. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese students taking part in activities in Taiwan supported by the council has continued to fall.

The number of university and college students in Taiwan traveling to China for exchanges rose from 2,196 in 2022 to 5,745 in 2025. Participation among high school and vocational school students increased from 676 to 1,161 during the same period.

Growth was especially sharp among younger students. Junior high school participation rose from zero in 2022 to 1,021 in 2025, while elementary school participation increased from 38 to 1,045.

The number of teachers accompanying students also increased from 661 to 1,281. By comparison, the number of Chinese students taking part in MAC-supported activities in Taiwan fell from 76 to 16.

UDN reported that the investigation also found major gaps in how schools report student travel to China. Although the education ministry introduced an online registration platform in 2019, many schools did not fully report exchange activities.

In some cases, teachers privately recruited students for trips to China without informing school administrators. Parents sometimes believed the trips were organized by schools even when administrators were unaware of them.

The Mainland Affairs Council said it will work with the education ministry to improve the registration system and inform schools about travel risks in China. Officials will also use social media, press conferences, and student events to explain risks linked to cross-strait exchanges, RTI reported.

The council said it is also working with university general education centers and academic groups to help students better understand China and recognize Chinese Communist Party influence efforts. The effort is intended to support normal and orderly educational exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

The council will also investigate cases in which civic groups recruit students for activities in China that may violate regulations. Suspected violations will be referred to the responsible authorities or reviewed jointly by relevant government agencies.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Coast Guard Administration patrol vessel Hsun Hu No. 7 set sail on its second patrol mission of the year Monday.

The vessel returned to Kaohsiung Port on July 20 after completing a 60-day high seas patrol, Liberty Times reported. After about two weeks of resupply and maintenance, it departed again.

The Coast Guard Administration has coordinated with Fisheries Agency policy to carry out two to three routine high seas patrol missions each year since 2000, according to the Ocean Affairs Council. The missions aim to maintain fishery resources and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Ocean Affairs Minister Kuan Bi-ling (   ) said high seas patrol missions serve multiple purposes, including international cooperation, humanitarian assistance, marine conservation, and maritime security. She said each inspection or scientific sampling operation provides crucial evidence for maritime and seafood safety and creates opportunities to deepen cooperation with partner countries.

Last Tuesday, the American Institute in Taiwan published a Facebook post highlighting cooperation between Taiwan and US coast guards in search and rescue, disaster relief, and countering illegal fishing and drug shipments. AIT said the US "appreciates Taiwan's partnership in maritime security and safety, and supports Taiwan's meaningful contributions on global issues including maritime law enforcement exchange and international cooperation."

In response, Kuan said AIT's message "carries significant meaning" given China's harassment tactics aimed at undermining the rules-based international order and regional stability. She added that the post also reaffirmed US recognition of the Coast Guard Administration as "the sole law enforcement authority" and only partner for maritime law enforcement cooperation in Taiwan's waters.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Reservist units under the Fourth Theater of Operations conducted mortar drills in Tainan on Sunday ahead of the Han Kuang 42 military exercise, Liberty Times reported.

During the training, reservists set up 81 mm and 120 mm mortars and calibrated them to ensure accuracy. The units are set to participate in Han Kuang 42, which begins Wednesday.

After completing specialized training, each reservist will be assigned to different operational areas to prepare for the exercise. The military has planned additional reservist training before Han Kuang 42, including live-fire drills with rifles and machine guns, to meet realistic combat training requirements.

This year's exercise will run until Aug. 14 and will be unscripted. Drills will cover war preparations, force protection, countering amphibious landings, inland defense, and sustained operations.

I have been regularly following China's maritime antics, and there have been recent developments that are utterly fascinating.

The Chinese fishing fleet has been hauling catches from the ecologically sensitive area around the Galapagos Islands, plundering Argentinian waters, and discharging sufficient sewage into the seas that it was visible via satellite.

In another report, I noted that China's trawlers are central to its maritime gray zone campaign around Taiwan, using civilian flagged fishing vessels for intimidation, ramming incidents, and blocking operations near reefs and shoals claimed by Southeast Asian states.

China's fleet is also on Japan's radar, and Japan has offered assistance to South American countries to prevent further incursions by Chinese fishermen.

Earlier this year, Japanese authorities seized a Chinese fishing vessel operating near Nagasaki and arrested its captain after the boat allegedly refused to stop for an inspection in the nation's exclusive economic zone.

Now China's navy appears to be operating in the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

A small California-based drone maker says one of its sea vessels sailed close enough to a Chinese warship operating in  the Philippines' exclusive economic zone to capture what it believes is the first footage of its kind recorded by a private U.S. firm.

   It shared the video taken on June 16 with Reuters, which has independently verified its authenticity.

   Seasats, a six-year-old producer of autonomous surface vessels, said its Lightfish drone approached a People's Liberation Army Navy ship off Luzon Island in waters where  Beijing's military presence has become a persistent source of regional tension.

   The Philippine Coast Guard reported an increased presence of Chinese maritime forces, including  warships, in the area last year compared to 2024.

Seasats, a San Diego startup, indicated that its drone, the Lightfish USV [Unmanned Surface Vessel], was "conducting a commercial operation to prove the feasibility of autonomous operations in the Taiwan Strait."

   The company believes the footage is the first of its kind recorded by a private U.S. firm.

   The 12-foot skiff, the Lightfish, has the ability to communicate the coordinates of China's ghost fleet, track weather, signal submarines, and spot smugglers and illegal fishing operations.

   The Lightfish is the smallest vessel in the company's lineup and can be launched from the back of a pickup truck, Reuters reported. Its designed to operate for months at a time.

   "We're able to go out and film and get up close and record all this data off of a Chinese ship," Seasats CEO Mike Flanigan said.

It appears USVs may be a significant help in tracking and hopefully ending China's abuses when it comes to global maritime resources. The cost and flexibility of these systems open up an array of possibilities for both military and economic defense.

       The 11-foot-long, 3-foot-wide lightweight USV is designed primarily for maritime ISR and sensing. Despite its small size and low cost (around $250,000), the solar- and backup generator-powered Lightfish can be at sea for up to six months in Sea State 6+.

       The startup has snagged a joint $24M contract with the Navy and Marines under the APFIT program to accelerate production of the Lightfish in January, which followed an $89M-ceiling SBIR Phase 3 IDIQ with the Navy to deliver the USVs to the Marine Corps last October.

       It's also completed some pretty insane journeys, including a 7,500-mile trans-Pacific voyage from San Diego to Japan last year. The Lightfish snapped a very up-close and personal picture of a Chinese destroyer northwest of Guam on that trip.

Meanwhile, U.S. senators are calling on the Treasury Department to expand sanctions targeting China's distant-water fishing fleet.

   In a letter sent to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., and eight Senate colleagues urged the administration to sanction 29 Chinese support vessels, including refrigerated cargo ships, fuel tankers, and floating service bases, along with their owners. The lawmakers contend those vessels are the logistical backbone of China's distant-water fleet, allowing fishing vessels to remain at sea for extended periods while avoiding ports where sanctions and enforcement actions are more effective.

   "China's distant water fishing fleet continues to disrupt global and regional fishing economies," Young said in a statement. "Through overfishing and illegal incursions into foreign waters, China seeks to undermine the global fishing industry until there is nothing left. The United States must take steps to combat these activities and promote American fishing practices, which remain the gold standard for sustainable fishing."

The letter was also signed by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska; Andy Kim, D-N.J.; Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Chris Coons, D-Del.; Roger Wicker, R-Miss.; Rick Scott, R-Fla.; and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

The scale of China's maritime antics is not deniable: industrial-scale fishing, gray-zone coercion, and now overt naval presence are converging into what appears to be a coordinated strategy of maritime dominance.

The emergence of low-cost U.S. unmanned systems like Lightfish suggests the era of unchallenged Chinese "dark fleet" operations may be nearing its end, provided policymakers have the will to act on the data they generate.

It's heartening to see that the continuing risk to both the global ecology and economy is not being ignored, and there may be effective ways to counter China's fleet in whatever form it takes.

The Trump administration is preparing to slap import bans on Chinese optical transceivers, targeting a critical component for US data centers as White House officials seek to protect infrastructure supporting the AI boom from Chinese espionage, Reuters reported.

These small, pluggable connectors convert electrical signals from servers, switches, and AI chip stacks into light for transmission over fiber-optic cables, then convert the light back into electrical data at the other end. Because these modules are critical to data centers, Chinese-made transceivers could potentially allow Chinese firms to steal data, install malware, or disrupt services at US facilities.

Sources told the outlet that the Federal Communications Commission is drafting import restrictions on Chinese optical transceivers, which could take effect this year.

"Transceivers definitely pose a risk," said Divyansh Kaushik, an AI policy expert at the Washington, D.C.-based advisory firm Beacon Global Strategies. "As the data center buildout scales up, you want to make sure the data center supply chain is secure from the outset," he added.

The restrictions would affect Zhongji Innolight, which controls about 27% of the global data center transceiver market and was recently added to a Pentagon list of companies allegedly linked to China's military.

Meanwhile, U.S. manufacturers Coherent and Lumentum could benefit significantly from the measure. Coherent shares are up 18% in premarket trading, while Lumentum shares are up 14%. Applied Optoelectronics is also up 18%.

However, as Reuters noted, those U.S. companies "lack the scale to replace Chinese suppliers immediately."

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   A Chinese missile test in the South Pacific has divided island nations as they weigh security concerns against growing economic ties with Beijing, Nikkei Asia reported Tuesday.

China's military tested a long-range submarine-launched ballistic missile on July 6, with the missile landing in waters near Tuvalu's exclusive economic zone, per CNN. The test has raised concerns in a region shaped by decades of opposition to nuclear weapons and past nuclear testing by Western powers, per NPR.

The launch drew criticism from several Pacific island countries, including nations with close economic ties to China. The Solomon Islands protested the test, while Vanuatu and Tonga said the Pacific should remain free of nuclear weapons and militarization.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on July 8 that the Pacific Islands Forum was preparing a statement condemning the missile launch. However, the regional bloc has since said it would provide updates only when progress is made, with some members reportedly reluctant to support the statement.

Kiribati and Nauru have expressed reservations about the proposed statement, according to ABC. Both countries switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019 and 2024, respectively, and have developed closer economic ties with Beijing.

The dispute comes as China and Australia compete for influence across the Pacific. China has expanded economic and security cooperation with countries including Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands, while Beijing has also promoted infrastructure projects through its Belt and Road Initiative.

Australia has responded by strengthening security ties with Pacific neighbors, per Nikkei Asia. It signed a mutual defense treaty with Papua New Guinea last year, reached a security agreement with Vanuatu in June, began talks with the Solomon Islands on a broader security and economic pact, and signed a defense treaty with Fiji in July.

China has made efforts to maintain relations with Pacific island nations despite regional tensions. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a July 14 meeting with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Rick Houenipwela that China's cooperation with Pacific countries aims to support development rather than pursue geopolitical goals.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   China could target Taiwan's ports with missiles to disrupt trade while avoiding some risks associated with an invasion or conventional blockade, analysts Eugene Gholz and Kerby Davis said.

In their Foreign Affairs article "The War China Might Choose," published Tuesday, Gholz and Davis described a "blockade by fire," in which China would use ballistic missiles to damage Taiwan's port infrastructure. Such strikes, they said, could prevent ships from loading and unloading cargo without requiring China to encircle Taiwan with naval forces.

The analysts said China's other principal military options include a full-scale invasion, large-scale missile and airstrikes, and a traditional maritime blockade. Each would entail substantial costs, while a conventional blockade could compel China to attack foreign commercial vessels attempting to reach Taiwan.

A blockade by fire could mitigate that risk because foreign ships would not necessarily be targeted at sea, Gholz and Davis said. However, damaged port facilities could still prevent vessels from discharging cargo and significantly reduce Taiwan's imports.

The analysts said their simulations indicated that China could reduce Taiwan's imports to about 15% of normal levels by launching fewer than 500 missiles over 100 days. They added that China could preserve most of its military capabilities to deter intervention by the US and other countries.

The strategy would differ from a broad missile campaign targeting cities, government institutions, and other sites. Instead, it would pressure Taiwan through shortages and price increases resulting from disrupted trade.

The analysts said Taiwan should not rely primarily on missile defense, noting that interceptor missiles are costly and that China possesses a substantially larger missile arsenal. They also argued that Taiwan would face greater difficulty imposing comparable economic pressure on China, given its larger number of ports, greater domestic resources, and overland import routes.

Instead, they recommended that Taiwan prepare to sustain the flow of essential supplies after attacks on its ports. Suggested measures include stockpiling critical goods and repair materials, conducting exercises for operating damaged port facilities, and maintaining vessels capable of unloading cargo without standard container cranes.

Gholz and Davis cautioned that blockades can be difficult to enforce, as states may reroute trade, rely on domestic resources, and endure shortages without making political concessions. Nevertheless, they said Taiwan and its partners should prepare for missile-based blockades in addition to invasion scenarios and traditional maritime blockades.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan-US security cooperation has expanded beyond arms sales, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (   ) said at a press conference on Monday.

Cooperation extends far beyond arms sales, Koo said, according to the Military News Agency. Exchanges during exercises represent only a small part of broader cooperation, he added.

Taiwan's military will continue learning from partners' combat experiences and adjust its tactics based on its defense needs, threat assessments, and China's operational strategy.

Koo said Taiwan's eastern waters are also vital sea lanes for Japan and South Korea, and any major change in regional security would affect other countries. He said Japan is facing gray-zone pressure from China and joint China-Russia patrols, and that any decision to exercise self-defense would be up to the Japanese government.

Regarding Taiwan's counter-drone capabilities, Koo said both "soft-kill" and "hard-kill" systems are being developed, including electronic jamming, lasers, high-power microwaves, automated gun systems, and interceptors, MNA reported. These systems will be deployed based on unit level, threat type, and cost-effectiveness, he said.

Koo said Taiwan's weapons procurement prioritizes mobility, survivability, and operational flexibility. Military officials added that the armed forces are focusing on selecting systems best suited to Taiwan's defense environment, including dual-use platforms.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Taiwan High Court scheduled the first appeal hearing in former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je's (   ) corruption case for Sept. 8, following his conviction and 17-year prison sentence earlier this year.

The three-judge panel set the first preparatory hearing for 3 p.m. on Sept. 8 and ordered Ko and the other defendants to appear, per CNA.

The appeal stems from a March 26 ruling by the Taipei District Court in four corruption-related cases involving the Core Pacific City redevelopment project and alleged illegal political donations. Nine of the 11 defendants were convicted.

In addition to Ko's sentence, KMT Taipei City Councilor Ying Hsiao-wei (   ) was sentenced to 15 years and six months, while Core Pacific Group Chair Sheen Ching-ching (   ) was sentenced to 10 years. The remaining six convicted defendants received prison terms ranging from one year to six years and six months.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office and Ko and six other defendants appealed the ruling, with the cases now before the Taiwan High Court.

Under the High Court's case assignment procedures, a computerized lottery selected the three-judge panel. Judge Chiu Tzu-shan (   ) will serve as presiding judge, with Judges Lu Ning-li (   ) and Liu Chao-chu (   ) serving on the panel, per LTN.

Separately, Ko's ankle monitor will be replaced with a wrist-worn electronic monitoring device. Ko is scheduled to report to the Renai Road Police Station of the Taipei City Police Department's Zhongzheng First Precinct at 10 a.m. Wednesday to have the device replaced.

Ko has also expanded his legal team for the appeal. The defense now includes Kuan Kao-yueh (   ) and former Judge Lin Shih-meng (   ), who will work alongside Ko's original attorney, Cheng Shen-yuan (   ), per CNA.

KMT Changhua County Council Speaker Hsieh Tien-lin (   ) said Thursday that Wang had not devoted enough effort to supporting Wei's campaign, arguing her backing would be crucial, per Tai Sounds. Hsieh also commented on his sister, KMT Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong's (   ), limited campaign involvement, saying he believed their parents could persuade her to become more active.

Asked about Hsieh's remarks, Wang said she appreciated the public's concern, per CNA.

Speaking at a KMT local party event Monday, which Wang did not attend, Cheng acknowledged that Wei's campaign had gotten off to a slow start but said she remained confident he would be elected the next Changhua County magistrate, per Tai Sounds. She also dismissed speculation of tensions between herself and Wang, saying the magistrate has been highly supportive of Wei's campaign, per UDN.

Addressing Wang's absence, KMT Changhua County branch Chair Hsiao Ching-tien (   ) said Wang had not scheduled a meeting with Cheng on Monday, making claims that she had refused to meet the party chair unfounded, per UDN. He added that the local party would continue communicating with Wang to secure her support for Wei.

A contentious magistrate nomination process has complicated the KMT's electoral prospects in Changhua. Hsieh Yi-fong had been considered the frontrunner, but the party ultimately bypassed a primary and directly nominated Wei after Hsieh's family declined to support her and Wang failed to persuade New Taipei Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan (   ) to enter the race.

Hsiao replaced Hsieh Yi-fong as county party branch chair to facilitate the direct nomination. The decision to bypass the primary and nominate Wei, however, prompted some local factions to withhold their support.

Separately, Hsieh Tien-lin is embroiled in a dispute with Changhua County Council Deputy Speaker Hsu Yuan-lung (   ), per Liberty Times. Hsieh accused Hsu of receiving backing from organized crime figures and alleged that the father of Hsu's running mate, Huang Cheng-cheng (   ), assaulted then-National Assembly delegate Lai Ching-te (   ).

Hsu rejected the allegations, noting that he became Hsieh Tien-lin's deputy speaker at Hsieh's request. He also said Huang's father did not serve in the National Assembly at the same time as Lai, adding that Huang was free to pursue legal action over the claims.

A KMT campaign insider in Changhua said Hsieh Tien-lin's decision to publicly air his dispute with Hsu had further weakened Wei's support in northern Changhua, per UP Media. The source said Hsiao had previously reached an agreement while lobbying for Wei under which the party would quietly support Hsieh Tien-lin's re-election.

However, after Hsieh made the dispute public, the insider said Wei effectively lost support from key northern Changhua factions. The KMT's internal divisions could strengthen DPP candidate Chen Su-yueh's (   ) bid for county magistrate while also improving the party's prospects in the county council elections.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Control Yuan urged lawmakers to quickly confirm new commissioners, as it cannot open investigations while all commissioner posts remain vacant, CNA reported Monday.

UDN reported that the previous group of Control Yuan commissioners completed their six-year terms on Friday, leaving the agency without any commissioners. President Lai Ching-te (   ) nominated candidates for the new group in June.

The legislature is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the nominees Thursday and review them from Aug. 11 to Aug. 24. A confirmation vote is planned for Sept. 29, the opening day of the next legislative session.

The Control Yuan said people can still file complaints in person, by mail, or online during the vacancy. Staff can receive, register, and review complaints, but formal investigations cannot begin until new commissioners take office.

Other procedures that require commissioners are also suspended, including meetings between commissioners and members of the public. These functions can resume once the legislature confirms the nominees and they take office.

Liberty Times reported that routine administrative services will continue, including asset declarations, information disclosure, public reports, legal consultations, and document access. However, the agency cannot form its ethics committee because its members must be Control Yuan commissioners.

Without the committee, the Control Yuan cannot review relevant cases, impose penalties, or issue administrative decisions. Publication of penalty information related to transparency law violations is also temporarily suspended.

The Control Yuan urged the legislature to complete its review of the nominees and related budgets as soon as possible. It said filling the vacant posts is necessary to restore government oversight, ethics supervision, complaint investigations, and the work of the National Human Rights Commission.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   US Representative Michael McCaul said Tuesday in a keynote speech at the Ketagalan Forum that US policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged.

McCaul said Congress approved a NT$359.5 billion (US$11.1 billion) arms package for Taiwan in December and that it would not be the last, CNA reported. He expressed confidence that US President Donald Trump would approve another arms package soon, including NT$453.3 billion in critical defense equipment.

McCaul urged Taiwan to pass its annual defense budget and the special act on unmanned systems, which he said is crucial for boosting domestic drone production, per CNA. He said doing so would also demonstrate Taiwan's determination for self-defense to the US.

Although the US seeks stable ties with China, it understands the threat posed by Beijing, McCaul said.

McCaul said China is testing its own military capabilities and Taiwan's vulnerabilities in preparation for a possible invasion, per RTI. He pledged that under the Taiwan Relations Act, the US will continue providing Taiwan with defensive weapons without consulting China.

He said Taiwan and China are not subordinate to one another, RTI reported. He added that any attempt by Beijing to annex Taiwan will never succeed.

McCaul said Taiwan is a key pillar on the front line against authoritarian expansion, per RTI. He added that Taiwanese should know they have a steadfast partner in the US.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   President Lai Ching-te (   ) conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon on US Representative Michael McCaul on Tuesday.

In a speech, Lai thanked McCaul for his long-standing support for strengthening Taiwan's defense capabilities, including urging the White House to expedite arms deliveries and supporting Taiwan's special defense budget, per the Presidential Office. These concrete actions demonstrate Congress' support for Taiwan's security, he said.

The president said Taiwan and the US share democratic values and are jointly maintaining regional peace and stability. As China's authoritarianism continues to expand, Taiwan remains committed to defending democracy under the principle of peace through strength, he said.

Lai stressed that Taiwan will continue to implement defense reforms, strengthen asymmetric capabilities, build an integrated drone warfare system, and enhance whole-of-society resilience. He also expressed hope to deepen cooperation with the US in joint weapons research and production.

McCaul said Taiwan has proven that democracy works. The Chinese Communist Party's primary goal is to undermine Taiwan US relations and change US policy, he said.

However, the representative reaffirmed that the Taiwan Relations Act remains the cornerstone of bilateral ties. Under the act, the US is required to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons and continues to fulfill that commitment, he added.

McCaul delivered a keynote speech at the Ketagalan Forum on Monday, reiterating that US policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged and pledging that US arms sales would continue.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan-US security cooperation has expanded beyond arms sales, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said at a press conference on Monday.

Cooperation extends far beyond arms sales, Koo said, according to the Military News Agency. Exchanges during exercises represent only a small part of broader cooperation, he added.

Taiwan’s military will continue learning from partners’ combat experiences and adjust its tactics based on its defense needs, threat assessments, and China’s operational strategy.

The defense ministry urged other countries in the region to increase defense budgets and strengthen defense capabilities to deter attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion, per MNA. Koo said collective deterrence would require Beijing to consider potential responses from Taiwan’s military and regional partners before taking action.

Koo said Taiwan’s eastern waters are also vital sea lanes for Japan and South Korea, and any major change in regional security would affect other countries. He said Japan is facing gray-zone pressure from China and joint China-Russia patrols, and that any decision to exercise self-defense would be up to the Japanese government.

Regarding Taiwan’s counter-drone capabilities, Koo said both “soft-kill” and “hard-kill” systems are being developed, including electronic jamming, lasers, high-power microwaves, automated gun systems, and interceptors, MNA reported. These systems will be deployed based on unit level, threat type, and cost-effectiveness, he said.

Koo said Taiwan’s weapons procurement prioritizes mobility, survivability, and operational flexibility. Military officials added that the armed forces are focusing on selecting systems best suited to Taiwan’s defense environment, including dual-use platforms.

  Date

6 a.m. Aug. 4 (Tue.) to 6 a.m. Aug. 5 (Wed.) (UTC+8)

 PLA activities  

21 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN ships and 5 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 17 out of 21 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   China's new State Council entry-exit rules will allow authorities to bar some Chinese from leaving the country when export-control or technology violations are considered a possible threat to industrial or technological security.

The regulations, which take effect Sept. 15, have prompted Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council to warn Taiwanese to assess the risks before traveling to China because of possible personal-safety concerns, per CNA.

The rules also strengthen checks on the reasons given for entry and exit applications. Beijing says the measures are intended to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, per UDN.

Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (   ) said China said that it is nothing new for Beijing to make it hard for Chinese and foreigners alike to enter and leave the country. He said the new rules put existing practices more explicitly into writing and present them as based in law despite the absence of the rule of law.

Chiu emphasized that the controls lack clear statutory criteria and are vague enough to permit arbitrary enforcement. He said this uncertainty could impair ordinary people's rights to enter or leave the country and increase travel risks for Taiwanese, whom he encouraged to conduct risk assessments before any potential visits to China.

Singapore Management University legal scholar Henry Gao said the regulations mark a significant move toward treating departure from China as a privilege granted at the state's discretion rather than a right, per UDN. He urged people concerned about the changes to "leave quickly while you still can."

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Foreign ministry Secretary-General Daniel Kuo-ching Chen (   ) welcomed a delegation of legislative leaders from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

Chen said Taiwan plays a critical role in the global high-tech supply chain and that bilateral trade and investment have grown robustly in recent years, according to the foreign ministry. Cooperation in economic affairs and talent exchanges continues to deepen, he said.

Chen encouraged US state governments to establish offices in Taiwan to create mutual prosperity. He expressed hope that Taiwan and the US can leverage their complementary strengths to generate mutually beneficial outcomes and new development opportunities, per the foreign ministry.

Geraldo Reyes Jr., deputy speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives, said the four state legislatures have demonstrated bipartisan support for Taiwan. He said the delegation's visit aims to enhance understanding of Taiwan's technological capabilities, education system, and public health and medical sectors.

He expressed hope of expanding exchanges and laying a stronger foundation for bilateral partnerships across various fields.

The foreign ministry said it would continue to strengthen ties with US states and deepen cooperation in trade, technology, and education.

Alleged Chinese Spy Given Hawaii Mansion

They claim that Sun, who joined the Cuomo administration in 2012, facilitated communications between New York state officers and the Chinese government, organized Chinese officials' visits to the United States and blocked representatives of the Taiwanese government from access to high-level New York State officers.

In one instance, prosecutors say Sun secretly added a Chinese government official to a private New York state government conference call about the health response of the Covid-19 pandemic. In another, they say she altered a press release by cutting language that referred to Taiwan as a country.

Sun was supposedly paid handsomely for her efforts: prosecutors say she received multimillion-dollar properties in Long Island and Hawaii, a 2024 Ferrari Roma and even Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a Chinese government official's personal chef.

Defense counsel for Linda Sun, the former gubernatorial aide who was accused of working as an agent of China, asked a federal judge to intervene ahead of a potential retrial of the case early next year to free up assets so the defendants can pay their lawyers.

The attorneys representing both Sun and her husband Chris Hu warned U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan of the Eastern District of New York at a status hearing on Wednesday that they will have to withdraw as the counsel unless the government relieves some of the assets it froze as part of the case.

"We're in a spot where not only does the government seize assets but  the seizing of those assets is extremely questionable and it's foreclosing the defendant from mounting a defense," Nicole Boeckmann, Hu's attorney. "I think the court can intervene and should intervene under these circumstances"

Cogan said he wasn't willing to "lean on" the federal prosecutors to free up some assets, but wanted the parties to find a solution where the defense stays on.

"If we are going to try this case again, I would like there to be a way to keep the counsel who are so familiar with it and so efficient at it in place," Cogan said.

Sun and Hu's trial lasted for over a month and half before Cogan declared a mistrial when jurors could not agree on a verdict. During the conference call, Cogan set a tentative date for the retrial to begin on Jan. 18 of 2027, allowing for more time that defense asked for in the event that Sun and Hu need to bring on new counsel.

Defense has raised concerns about the extent of the frozen assets since before the trial started. Over the summer, defense attorneys had moved for what's called a Monsanto hearing, a process where the defendant challenges the government's freezing of assets needed to pay for legal counsel, but Cogan denied their motion for the hearing, citing case law that said a defense must first meet a threshold showing that the hearing is warranted.

During the conference, Cogan encouraged the defense to submit another motion for a Monsanto hearing to provide more evidence that proves Hu and Sun cannot fund their defense counsel of choice.

Boeckmann said the defense counsel was not paid throughout the duration of the trial, resulting in Seth Ducharme, the lead counsel for Hu, not being able to participate in the trial for financial reasons.

During the trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Solomon made the argument that Sun and husband Hu allegedly leveraged their contacts within the Chinese government to acquire millions of dollars in business contracts and later returned the favor by keeping Taiwan away from the Governor's office. They have argued that assets including three of the couples' properties on Long Island, in Queens and in Hawaii, as well as cash, bank accounts and vehicles were all related to Sun's conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.

Cogan left it that he would be happy to look at more evidence of the couples' financial strain.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Travelers between Taiwan and Prague will have a nonstop option every day from October, when Starlux Airlines increases its new service to four flights a week.

Starlux launched the route on Saturday with three weekly flights and will add a fourth on Oct. 1. China Airlines, a Starlux competitor, currently operates three weekly Taipei-Prague flights. It added one service in April after launching the route in 2023, per CNA.

Prague is Starlux's first European destination, and Chair Chang Kuo-wei (   ) piloted the inaugural flight. CEO Chai Chien-hua (   ) linked the route to semiconductor-related travel demand and said Barcelona will be the airline's second European destination, with ticket sales beginning soon, per NOWnews.

Travel operators in the Czech Republic said the additional flights should make trips easier for Taiwanese living in Europe and support tourism growth. Czech Economic and Cultural Office Representative David Steinke said the route could also deepen tourism, trade, education, and cultural exchanges.

The Prague service could also benefit business travelers headed to Dresden, where TSMC is establishing a plant. China Airlines operates a shuttle between Vaclav Havel Airport Prague and Dresden three times a week, allowing passengers to continue directly to Dresden railway station without transferring in Prague, according to CNA.

Dresden Taiwanese Business Association Chair Su I-ting (   ) said more flights could strengthen business, industry, and talent exchanges between Taiwan, the Czech Republic, and Germany.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Taiwan's military simulated an enemy attack on northern Taiwan on Wednesday that required immediate reinforcements.

The drill was part of the 10-day Han Kuang 42 exercise, Liberty Times reported. Seven military helicopters arrived at the Dagangshan base in Kaohsiung, airlifting nearly 100 fully equipped troops to designated tactical positions in northern Taiwan.

CH-47SD Chinook transport helicopters carried troops and equipment, while UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters transported additional personnel in multiple waves.

The Army's 564th Armored Brigade, stationed in southern Taiwan, served as the reinforcing force. The Army Aviation and Special Forces Command carried out the airlift mission to verify the military's ability to provide reinforcements across regions and conduct air-mobile operations.

The drill was conducted under realistic combat conditions, focusing on tactical air mobility, air assault force projection, and air defense response, per Liberty Times.

Meanwhile, the Navy's Coastal Combat Brigade deployed mobile missile units in Kaohsiung at midday to conduct rapid deployment drills after receiving operational orders, CNA reported. The Navy also deployed its mobile radar systems and missile vehicles to tactical positions and carried out mine-laying preparations.

This year's exercise follows a continuous scenario format to strengthen troop ability to respond under realistic battlefield conditions.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   The Coast Guard expelled four Chinese coast guard ships from restricted waters near Kinmen on Wednesday after they entered the area during what China called a law enforcement patrol.

CNA reported that the Coast Guard Administration said the four Chinese vessels approached Kinmen's restricted waters. Taiwan sent patrol boats to monitor them and respond if they entered the area.

The Chinese ships entered restricted waters south of Lieyu. Taiwan's patrol boats followed each vessel and issued warnings to leave the area.

Taiwanese patrol boats also maneuvered at close range to prevent the ships from moving farther into the area. All four Chinese vessels eventually left restricted waters, per TVBS News.

The Coast Guard said Chinese vessels have repeatedly entered restricted and prohibited waters around Kinmen while describing the operations as law enforcement patrols. It said China was using coast guard activity as gray-zone pressure to create the impression that it exercises jurisdiction over the area.

The agency said the restricted and prohibited waters around Kinmen are under Taiwan's legal jurisdiction. It said it would continue enforcing the law to protect the country's sovereignty and maritime security, per TTV News.

1.Date

6 a.m. Aug. 4 (Tue.) to 6 a.m. Aug. 5 (Wed.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities  

14 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN ships and 7 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 out of 14 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's central,  southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)   Beijing protested Japan's latest defense white paper, accusing it of exaggerating the China threat and interfering in Taiwan issues.

The white paper, released on Tuesday, said that "China has intensified its military activities around Taiwan" and that it seeks to "create a fait accompli" through military exercises in the region.

The paper added that "the overall military balance between China and Taiwan is rapidly tilting in China's favor." It suggested that China could blockade Taiwan using coast guard vessels.

China's foreign ministry told Reuters that the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair and that Japan has no right to comment on it. "How to resolve the Taiwan issue is a matter for the Chinese people themselves and brooks no interference from the Japanese side," the ministry said.

"We urge Japan to stop seeking excuses for military expansion, and refrain from going further down the wrong path."

Japan's defense ministry justified its military buildup as a way to safeguard the country's "peace and independence." It added that a stable security environment is "indispensable for economic growth."

The ministry said Japan will enhance its military capabilities to take primary responsibility for defending against invasions, with support from allies and other partners. It pledged to "reinforce Japan's defense capabilities so that any invasion of Japan can be disrupted and defeated at a more early stage and at places further afield."

Stephen S. Roach recently reignited debate over Hong Kong's future with an article titled "Yes, the Hong Kong of Old Is Over."

His central argument was not that Hong Kong's economy had collapsed. On the contrary, he acknowledged the city's resilience and even its revival as the world's leading market for initial public offerings.

His point was more fundamental: the Hong Kong that once distinguished itself from every other Chinese city has undergone a profound transformation. It remains prosperous, but it is no longer the same city.

The Hong Kong government's response was swift. Acting Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun rejected Roach's conclusions, pointing to strong GDP growth, booming exports, a thriving IPO market, and Hong Kong's enduring strengths as an international financial center.

He also suggested that some criticism stemmed less from objective analysis than from prejudice against China.

Those figures may well be accurate, but they do not address Roach's central thesis. A city can enjoy respectable economic growth while simultaneously becoming a very different place politically, institutionally, and culturally.

Roach identified three major transformations. First, Hong Kong's renewed IPO success has been driven overwhelmingly by Chinese companies, making the city less an independent global financial center than China's preferred international fundraising platform.

Second, the legal and political landscape has been fundamentally reshaped by the National Security Law and Article 23, accompanied by the departure of foreign judges, the disappearance of an independent press, and the imprisonment of political activists.

Third, demographic changes have gradually altered the city's character as workers from China replace many departing expatriates and Hong Kong residents, while Mandarin increasingly rivals Cantonese in daily life.

Roach's observations capture much of Hong Kong's transformation, but they do not tell the whole story.

Perhaps the most overlooked change has been the erosion of meritocracy.

For generations, Hong Kong's civil service enjoyed an international reputation for professionalism. As a politically neutral institution, it largely rewarded competence, performance, and integrity.

The civil service became one of the pillars upon which Hong Kong built its reputation for efficient government and clean administration.

Today, political allegiance has overshadowed professional excellence. The governing principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" has gradually extended beyond elected office into the wider public sector.

Loyalty to Beijing has become not merely desirable but essential. This shift reaches far beyond the civil service.

The legislature has become homogeneous. The judiciary faces growing expectations of political alignment. Across public institutions, political reliability increasingly appears to outweigh independent judgment.

Closely related is the weaponization of government administration.

In the Hong Kong of old, government departments were expected to administer laws and regulations impartially. Today, administrative powers are increasingly perceived as instruments of political enforcement.

Artists considered politically undesirable are denied venues, public or private. Booksellers have been arrested for selling politically sensitive titles, yet authorities refuse to publish a list of prohibited books.

Restaurants and small businesses deemed sympathetic to the 2019 protests face repeated inspections or licensing difficulties. Independent journalists have received sudden tax demands for income they never earned.

Government procurement decisions increasingly favor politically connected or Chinese enterprises.

Whether each individual case can be explained on its own is almost beside the point. Collectively, they create the perception that administrative neutrality has yielded to political calculation.

Another revealing development is the gradual securitization of civilian government.

Former senior police officers increasingly occupy leadership positions far removed from law enforcement, heading agencies responsible for public information, consumer protection, arts administration, and other civilian institutions.

No single appointment proves everything. Together, however, they reflect a broader change in governing philosophy.

Security considerations increasingly shape institutions that once emphasized professional expertise and public service.

Perhaps the most disturbing transformation has been the collapse of political accountability.

Hong Kong governments were never immune from mistakes or controversy. Yet there once existed a deeply rooted administrative culture that recognized public accountability.

Major failures were followed by statutory inquiry, public explanations, apologies, or resignations.

That culture appears to have vanished.

The Wang Fuk Court fire, Hong Kong's deadliest fire disaster in decades, killed 168 people despite evidence pointing to failures across multiple government departments. It exposed more than administrative shortcomings.

It exposed a system in which political accountability itself seemed to have disappeared.

No senior official accepted responsibility. The independent inquiry was non-statutory. Individuals who spoke out for the victims were warned, silenced, or arrested.

The preservation of political unity appeared to take precedence over accountability to the public.

Taken together, these developments suggest that Hong Kong's transformation extends well beyond economics or constitutional reform. It reaches into the philosophy of government itself.

Yet the most curious aspect of the debate is not the transformation. It is the refusal to acknowledge it.

Hong Kong officials enthusiastically celebrate deeper integration with China. They promote the Greater Bay Area. They praise "patriots administering Hong Kong."

They describe closer alignment with national development as the city's greatest opportunity. If these changes are genuinely beneficial, why deny that Hong Kong has fundamentally changed?

If officials believe that the old Hong Kong permitted excessive political confrontation, they should say so. If they believe today's Hong Kong is safer because speech and political activity face tighter restrictions, they should defend that proposition openly.

If integration with China has produced a stronger, more stable, and more prosperous city, then let that be the argument.

Even Roach's observation that "Xianggang," the Mandarin pronunciation, better reflects the city's current identity than "Hong Kong," the Cantonese-derived pronunciation, should not be controversial under the government's own narrative.

If deeper integration represents progress, "Xianggang" should be embraced as a symbol of success.

Perhaps the strongest evidence that the Hong Kong of old is over may not be found in Roach's observations. It may lie in the government's own response.

The Hong Kong I grew up with rarely dismissed criticism by questioning the motives of its critics. It answered criticism with facts where facts existed, acknowledged shortcomings where shortcomings were evident, and sought improvement where improvement was needed.

That confidence was itself one of Hong Kong's defining strengths.