Pentagon document prioritizes homeland security
Pentagon document prioritizes homeland securityAFP, WASHINGTONThe US military would prioritize protecting its homeland and deterring China while providing “more limited” support to allies in Europe and elsewhere, a Pentagon strategy document released on Friday said. “As US forces focus on homeland defense and the Indo-Pacific, our allies and partners elsewhere will take primary responsibility for their own defense with critical but more limited support from American forces,” the document said. The cover of the US’ 2026 National Defense Strategy. Both the Biden and Trump strategies say homeland defense is important, but their descriptions of the threats facing the US differ significantly. “Border security is national security,” and the Pentagon “will therefore prioritize efforts to seal our borders, repel forms of invasion, and deport illegal aliens,” it said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
Taiwan and China must rather focus on dialogues: SEF
Taiwan and China must rather focus on dialogues: SEFStaff writer, with CNAFormer legislative speaker Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) on Friday took over as chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), and said that cross-strait relations should be based on mutual understanding rather than confrontation. Su assumed the post in a special board meeting of the SEF, a semi-official body tasked with handling technical matters involving China. Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Su Jia-chyuan speaks during a foundation meeting in Taipei on Friday. The SEF would continue to focus on the people, with an emphasis on cross-strait dialogue and exchanges, he said, saying he hoped that China would do the same. SEF Secretary-General Luo Wen-jia (羅文嘉) said he hoped that the SEF and China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits could engage in normal exchanges.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
Ex-Olympian turned drug baron arrested, FBI says
Ex-Olympian turned drug baron arrested, FBI saysAFP, LOS ANGELESRyan Wedding, a Canadian former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin, has been arrested in Mexico and brought to the US to face cocaine trafficking and murder charges, FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Friday. Patel said Wedding — whose aliases include “El Jefe,” “Giant” and “Public Enemy” — was arrested on Thursday night in Mexico City. Patel said Wedding is believed to have been hiding in Mexico for more than a decade, and has been wanted on cocaine trafficking and murder charges since 2024. Seven people allegedly connected to Wedding’s cocaine smuggling operation were arrested in Canada in November last year, including his lawyer, Deepak Paradkar, and the US is seeking their extradition. Wedding competed for Canada in snowboarding at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, finishing 24th in the parallel giant slalom.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
‘A Foggy Tale’ grounded and human
‘A Foggy Tale’ grounded and humanBy Chen Hsueh-chiang 陳學獎Last year’s film A Foggy Tale (大濛) is an ode to years past, capturing the anguish of 1950s Taiwan. The narrative stays human and grounded, capturing not the heights of the raging political storm, but the texture of life of those who are caught in its floods. A Foggy Tale captures not just the form and feeling of Taiwan under martial law, but, through the subtleties of language and accent, brings out the diversity of society and cultural identities under latent power structures. In that era of generational change and political upheaval, language was linked to boundary lines of power. Perhaps the most painful thing about A Foggy Tale is that it captures a piece of how the Taiwanese have been forced to face a recurring displacement of identity and spiritual uprooting.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
Joseph Wu vows defense investment
Joseph Wu vows defense investmentCOLLECTIVE DETERRENCE: Whether the Legislative Yuan passes the special defense budget matters to the mutual trust between Taiwan and its allies, a researcher saidBy Su Ying-yao / Staff reporterAlthough the US Department of Defense’s newly released 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) report does not mention Taiwan like previous versions, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) yesterday emphasized that Taiwan, as a key nation in the Indo-Pacific region, would continue to increase defense investment to deter aggression and maintain peace. Wu posted the remarks on social media in English, saying that the core objective of the US is to prevent China from dominating the Indo-Pacific region. Wu wrote: “@DeptofWar’s #NDS sets the goal of preventing countries like #China from dominating the #IndoPacific, & erecting strong denial defense along the #1stIslandChain. #Taiwan is a key player in the region & will continue to invest in defense to deter aggression & achieve peace.”National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu speaks at an event in Taipei on Oct. 21 last year. The Institute for National Defense and Security Research’s Shen Ming-shih (沈明室) said the defense strategy needs to align with the White House’s National Security Strategy, which has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Taiwan and the first island chain.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
Nepal eye new World Cup summit
Nepal eye new World Cup summitAFP, COLOMBONepal captain Rohit Paudel said that his side have “nothing to lose” in next month’s T20 World Cup as they target more famous upsets and a place in the tournament’s Super Eight second phase. The Himalayan nation stunned two-time T20 World Cup winners the West Indies last year for their first series win over a Test-playing side in the shortest format. Nepal made their T20 World Cup debut in 2014 and returned in 2024, pushing South Africa and Bangladesh close in narrow defeats. “First we had a dream of playing in a World Cup. Now this is our third time at a World Cup.”
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
Passenger accident turns into ad hoc airport art
Passenger accident turns into ad hoc airport artBy Liu Hsin-te and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerWhat might have started as an incidental act by random travelers has become a piece of spontaneous installation art in the C6 lounge area at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. The area features four electric outlets, each with its own table, and an acrylic sheet between the wall and the passenger, allowing passengers to charge their cellphones, tablets, or laptops before boarding their flight. A charging area in the C6 lounge area at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is pictured on Friday. As for whether the feature would be kept or if Taoyuan International Airport Corp intends to remove it, the company said on Friday that the space is still reserved for passenger rest and device charging. However, it would keep tabs on public comments and suggestions for future reference, it added.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
Taiwan, US collaborating on systems to boost resilience of nation’s supply chain
Taiwan, US collaborating on systems to boost resilience of nation’s supply chainBy Fang Wei-li and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerTaiwanese and US defense groups are collaborating to introduce deployable, semi-autonomous manufacturing systems for drones and components in a boost to the nation’s supply chain resilience. Combined with GTOC’s capabilities, the systems would enable Taiwan to speedily modify and manufacture uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) to suit shifting operational needs, he said. Firestorm CEO Dan Magy said that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of drones in modern warfare. GTOC general manager Chung Yu-hsin (鍾又新) said the three groups are in the process of integrating their capabilities to establish self-sufficient supply chains. Applying the technology on drone wings could significantly reduce drag, increasing airspeed and battlefield survivability, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
KMT backer calls for firm defense spending stance
KMT backer calls for firm defense spending stanceEQUALLY PROSPEROUS: The KMT said backer Yang Chien-kang does not aim to block military procurement, but to ensure that Taiwan’s development is balancedBy Fang Wei-li and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerYi Kang chairman Yang Chien-kang (楊建綱), a long-time financial backer of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), during a gathering at party headquarters on Friday urged KMT lawmakers to stand firm on the party line regarding arms procurement. Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei TimesThe procurement budget is also not in compliance with due process, Yang was quoted as saying. DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said Yang’s message served only to put out erroneous information on national defense and stir up political strife, as is Beijing’s intent. Taiwan’s national defense budget is patterned after the NATO standard, equal to 3 percent of the nation’s GDP, not half of the national budget, Wu said. He was also rumored to be KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) backer during last year’s chairperson election.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
When fancy speech replaces morals
When fancy speech replaces moralsBy John ChengCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent speech at Davos was widely praised. Twenty years ago, such a speech — invoking the decline of the postwar order, the anxieties of middle powers and the need to “live the truth” — would have been greeted as a serious contribution to global debate. When Carney’s words are placed alongside his government’s decisions, the moral coherence of the speech begins to unravel. However, history suggests that middle powers that blur moral distinctions in the name of realism often discover too late that they have preserved neither influence nor integrity. That world is not safer for middle powers.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
Kyiv endures new air barrage as Abu Dhabi talks end
Kyiv endures new air barrage as Abu Dhabi talks endBloombergTwo days of talks between US, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators aimed at finding a path to end the four-year war yesterday wrapped up in Abu Dhabi as Kyiv came under a massive Russian air attack. The Ukrainian delegation is expected to brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is likely to then issue comments. A Ukrainian firefighter works to extinguish a fire at the site of an air attack in Kyiv yesterday. Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha denounced the strikes as a “cynical” move by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Separately, Russia reported that 75 Ukrainian drones targeted various regions overnight, with no information on damage.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
China purge could disrupt chain of command: source
Photo: EPA-EFEThe Chinese Ministry of Defense made the announcement yesterday, but did not mention details of the alleged wrongdoing. The purging of Zhang and Li is believed to be part of efforts to reform the military and ensure its loyalty to Xi. Meanwhile, the security official said Zhang’s and Liu’s removal would disrupt the chain of command, and that the PLA’s joint operational command capabilities would likely fall into confusion and require reorganization. National Taiwan University political science associate professor Chen Shih-min (陳世民) said the PLA’s command system is in a vacuum and the purges indicate Xi that has a deep mistrust of the military. Fearing potential defections in the event of war, Xi is unlikely to take major military action against Taiwan in the short term, Chen added.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
KMT-CCP forum likely to be delayed to next month
KMT-CCP forum likely to be delayed to next monthStaff writer, with CNAA Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) member yesterday said the KMT-CCP Forum is likely to be postponed to next month and become “interactions between think tanks,” limited to non-political discussions. Local media had reported that the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were to resume the Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, known as the KMT-CCP Forum, in Beijing from next week, ending a nine-year suspension. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, center, speaks to reporters in Taipei on Tuesday. Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei TimesThe forum would likely be postponed to early February and focus on artificial intelligence, disaster prevention and sustainable industry development, the member said, on condition of anonymity. As the first KMT-CCP forum under Cheng’s leadership, it would set the tone on “interactions between think tanks,” the member said, so the forum might no longer retain its original name.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
EDITORIAL: A history of unreliability
EDITORIAL: A history of unreliabilityProsecutors on Wednesday launched an investigation into Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌). These behaviors betray a troubling pattern, as do his responses to them: denial, obfuscation, distraction, blame-shifting and accusations of political persecution. While the investigation continues, no conclusions can be drawn, but we can look at an emerging pattern of behavior. The issue is that Huang has a history of pushing the boundaries of legality and acceptable behavior and of providing accounts that are easily refuted. Beyond the allegations of removing confidential materials involving national defense, Huang is seeking election for New Taipei city mayor.
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 16:02 UTC
Punk rock lawyer Akihiro Shima leads climate fight
Punk rock lawyer Akihiro Shima leads climate fightAFP, TOKYOJapanese punk rock lawyer Akihiro Shima belted out songs at a packed bar in Tokyo, sporting a mohawk and bright-red jacket, nine days after filing a landmark climate lawsuit. The 63-year-old rallied over 450 plaintiffs across Japan last month in a landmark lawsuit seeking damages from the central government over its alleged “grossly inadequate” response to climate change. Aoki and her fellow plaintiffs said that Japan’s “unconstitutional” inaction on climate change violates their constitutional rights to health and a peaceful life, and criticize Tokyo’s emissions reduction targets as unambitious. For all his environmental passion, Shima admits he has not made songs about climate change yet. Could his landmark lawsuit change that?
Source:Taipei Times
January 24, 2026 03:47 UTC