Japanese lawmaker urges close partnership to prevent ‘Taiwan contingency’Staff writer, with CNAA visiting former Japanese justice minister today said it is important for closer bilateral collaboration on joint deterrence capabilities to prevent a "Taiwan contingency" from happening. Japanese House of Representatives member Keisuke Suzuki, left, meets with President William Lai at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday. Asked to comment if he and his Taiwanese counterparts discussed ways to enhance bilateral defense cooperation during their meetings in Taipei, Suzuki did not give a direct answer. Their visit came as Tokyo and Beijing are in a diplomatic spat over recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Japan's potential response to a "Taiwan contingency." Lawmakers' traveling overseas to conduct exchanges are to continue despite the lack of official ties between Tokyo and Taipei, he said.

Chiang shortens Shanghai trip for Twin City Forum over Taipei stabbingBy Kan Meng-lin and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) would only attend this weekend’s Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum for one morning before returning to Taiwan, the Taipei City Government said yesterday. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an speaks to reporters in the city yesterday. However, considering the 15-year history of the forum, Chiang decided to compromise and shorten his trip to Shanghai, it said. A thank-you luncheon that was to be hosted by the Taipei delegation after the forum has reportedly been canceled. Meanwhile, Chiang on Sunday announced that Taipei would conduct a high-intensity drill at Taipei City Hall MRT Station on Friday.

Prosecutors seeking 10 years for Sra Kacaw in corruption caseBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNAProsecutors today indicted Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Sra Kacaw on suspicion of accepting nearly NT$7.11 million (US$226,260) in bribes over about four years from nine business operators. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Sra Kacaw is pictured at the legislature in Taipei in an undated photograph. Beginning in December 2020, Sra Kacaw became acquainted with the nine business operators after an introduction from Chang and others, the indictment said. Sra Kacaw is from the Amis indigenous group. Sra Kacaw has served continuously since being elected in the Legislative Yuan’s eighth term and has been re-elected four times, prosecutors said.

Taiwan plans five undersea cables to preserve communicationsStaff writer, with CNATaiwan is to add two international and three domestic undersea communications cables as part of its efforts to strengthen communications resilience, Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬) said yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei TimesThe new undersea cables would be hardened with an "armor-like" protective layer, so they would not be easily damaged, Lin said. As of press time last night, the ministry had not replied to a query on when the planned communications cables would be completed. Taiwan has reported several instances of alleged sabotage of underwater communications cables by Chinese civilian vessels in recent years. The planned undersea cables are part of the ministry's "three-dimensional defensive communications network" initiative, which aims to strengthen Taiwan's communication from land, air and sea, Lin said.

M1A2T Abrams tanks conduct first off-base exerciseStaff writer, with CNAThe M1A2T Abrams tanks that Taiwan purchased from the US participated in a combat readiness exercise in Hsinchu yesterday, marking the first time they had operated outside their base. The army's 584th Armored Brigade conducted a battalion-level exercise to test troops' ability to respond to contingencies and protect key facilities, the Military News Agency reported. M1A2T Abrams tanks drive down a street in Hsinchu yesterday. Taiwan in 2019 earmarked NT$40.52 billion (US$1.29 billion) to procure 108 M1A2T tanks from the US. It has received 80 of the tanks, with the remaining 28 scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of next year.

Penalty king Raul Jimenez fires Fulham past ForestAFP, LONDONFulham on Monday climbed away from the English Premier League relegation zone and left Nottingham Forest mired in the fight for survival after Raul Jimenez’s penalty sealed a 1-0 win. Fulham’s Raul Jimenez, second right, scores a penalty against Nottingham Forest in their English Premier League match at Craven Cottage in London on Monday. Luiz’s trip on Kevin conceded the penalty and Jimenez stepped up to send John Victor the wrong way from the spot. Jimenez has now scored all 11 penalties he has taken in the Premier League. Forest were pushing hard and Murillo forced Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno into action with a long-range blast, before Morgan Gibbs-White shot narrowly wide.

Experts call for broader alcohol intolerance testingBy Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNAMedical experts yesterday called for broader testing for alcohol intolerance in Taiwan given the high prevalence of the disorder and its impact on health. Photo: APAlcohol intolerance is caused by mutations of the genes governing the enzymes that break down alcohol, Nien said. Alcohol is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase into acetaldehyde before acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) breaks down the substance into carbon dioxide and water, which are expelled, she said. For people with alcohol intolerance, the low-activity ALDH enzymes cause toxic acetaldehyde to build up in the body, resulting in heightened risks of poisoning and cancer, Nien said. Susceptibility to hangovers, nausea, vertigo and developing a flush after drinking are common symptoms of alcohol intolerance, but genetic testing is required for a diagnosis, she said.

Expansion of free cancer screenings paying off: HPAPLAYING IT SAFE: Screenings helped 23.3 percent more people discover abnormalities early compared with last year, potentially improving health outcomes, the HPA saidBy Hou Chia-yu and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerCancer screenings this year increased by 24.8 percent, helping about 71,000 people discover signs of cancer early, following the government’s expansion of the program, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said yesterday. Shen encouraged all people who are eligible to get a free screening to ensure early detection and treatment of cancer. The HPA urged those whose screenings showed signs of cancer to follow up with a doctor as soon as possible to ensure early treatment. For cervical cancer screenings, the eligible age for a subsidized Pap smear test once every three years was lowered from 30 to 25. For breast cancer screenings, subsidized mammograms once every two years are now available for women aged 40 to 74, expanded from 45 to 70.

Post office, driver’s license changes comingSHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operatorsBy Shelley Shan

Specialist urges families to take stock after attackBy Wu Po-hsuan / Staff reporterParent-child specialist Wu Chuan-yu (吳娟瑜) on Sunday urged family members to help their children or siblings build a sense of self-worth and standing in the family, in the wake of a deadly rampage in Taipei last week. A man guides a child riding a push bike in New Taipei City on March 22. Chang’s father is an engineer, his mother is an accountant and his family is considered financially secure, media reported. Children need trust, guidance, support and understanding to resolve misunderstandings, and it is important that children obtain a sense of self-worth from their parents and siblings, Wu said. Parents should also let their children know that they have “standing” in the family and are irreplaceable, she added.

Innolux Corp in talks to develop new technologiesBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterInnolux Corp (群創) said it is in talks with chip companies to jointly develop next-generation panel-level chip packaging technologies, as the company’s first fan-out panel-level packaging (PLP) project entered volume production in the second quarter. Innolux Corp chairman Jim Hung poses for a photograph at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNAThe company estimated that its first fan-out PLP project would generate NT$100 million (US$3.17 million) in revenue. After building its fan-out PLP credentials, Innolux aims to enhance its technological capabilities through cooperation with customers to develop redistribution layer (RDL) technology, a PLP packaging with finer line width, and 3D packaging through glass via (TGV) technology, Hung said. In addition to the new fan-out PLP business, Innolux aims to advance its automobile display unit, CarUX Holding Ltd, to a first-tier vehicle-solution supplier next year.

“We came here as champions of Italy, we wanted this trophy and we showed it with a great performance,” Napoli forward Matteo Politano told Mediaset. “We could have scored a few more goals, but we are happy with the victory.”SSC Napoli’s David Neres, center, scores against Bologna in the Italian Supercoppa final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday. Eljif Elmas had an early opportunity for Napoli, but dragged his shot wide from just outside the six-yard box. Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia parried away a Scott McTominay shot as Napoli continued to pile on the pressure, while Bologna struggled to create any chances. “Maybe next year we will return to the original spirit of the Italian Supercoppa with a one-off game,” Simonelli told Mediaset before kickoff.

Environmental Impact Assessment: Overcoming the gulf between good intentions and actionEnvironmental awareness has been on the rise in Taiwan, but there remains a lack of action. GENERAL PUBLICThe authors of “Environmental Literacy Among the General Public in Chiayi County, Taiwan” (Sustainability, April 1, 2025) differentiate between environmental awareness and environmental knowledge. Photo: Steven CrookTheir concept of environmental literacy incorporates three additional dimensions: environmental attitudes (a person’s values and emotional responses toward their surroundings); environmental action skills (for example, knowing how to separate trash or alert the authorities to pollution) and environmental behavior (such as energy conservation and sustainable consumption). However, the survey discovered a relative lack of environmental action skills. Surely Taiwan’s leaders know that the existing intersection of regulations and interest groups — which, to give just one example, encourages the construction of far more houses than a shrinking population requires — often obstructs meaningful climate action.

IPO activity next year expected to remain strong: EYBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterTaiwan’s initial public offerings (IPO) activity is expected to remain strong next year following a stellar showing this year, as artificial intelligence (AI) and the technology supply chain continue to support Taiwanese stocks, Ernst & Young (EY) Taiwan said yesterday. With the increasing demand for smart applications and related technologies, coupled with Taiwan’s chip technology advantage, the prospects for Taiwan’s IPO market next year remain promising,” EY Taiwan assurance services leader James Huang (黃建澤) said in a statement. There were 70 IPO deals on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and Taipei Exchange markets this year, up from 65 last year, EY Taiwan said. Most IPO deals this year were in the semiconductor sector, followed by the biotechnology, medical and electronics sectors, EY Taiwan said. The listings raised a combined NT$20.52 billion, an increase of NT$5.66 billion, or 38.12 percent, from the previous year, the data showed.

Nvidia aims to begin H200 shipments to China by mid-February, sources sayReutersNvidia Corp has told Chinese customers it aims to start shipping its second-most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China before the Lunar New Year holiday in the middle of February, three people familiar with the matter said. The Nvidia Corp logo is displayed on a cellphone lying atop a laptop computer in an illustration photograph taken on Aug. 25. Nvidia has focused production on Blackwell and its upcoming Rubin line, making H200 supply scarce. Licensed sales of the H200 to authorized customers in China will have no impact on our ability to supply customers in the United States,” Nvidia said in a statement. Chinese officials held emergency meetings earlier this month to discuss the matter and are weighing whether to allow shipments, Reuters reported this month.