Economic outlook rosy with AI boom and tariff fix
Economic outlook rosy with AI boom and tariff fixTICKING ALONG: Global demand for what Taiwan offers and eased tariff tensions have the economic outlook for this year looking strong, economic researchers saidBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterTaiwan’s economy is projected to expand 4.14 percent this year, driven by strong global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) hardware that continues to boost exports and imports, the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER, 中經院) said yesterday. “The forecast does not yet account for the recently concluded Taiwan-US tariff negotiations, which are expected to have a positive impact on traditional industries, technology and investment,” Lien said. Chunghua Institution for Economic Research president Lien Hsien-ming speaks to reporters in Taipei on Sept. 2, 2024. Exports are forecast to reach US$760.8 billion, an 18.75 percent increase from last year’s record high, providing solid support for economic growth, CIER researcher Peng Su-ling (彭素玲) said. Cathay United Bank Co’s (國泰世華銀行) chief economist Lin Chi-chao (林啟超) said the growth outlook could rise as export momentum in the electronics sector grows.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2026 16:06 UTC
Chinese cargo ship retrofitted with weapons systems sets sail
Chinese cargo ship retrofitted with weapons systems sets sailBy Hollie Younger / Staff writerA large Chinese merchant vessel equipped with weapons systems has been spotted departing port and is possibly set to conduct testing, military expert Wang Chen-ming (王臻明) said today on Facebook. The Zhongda 79 (中達79) civilian container ship has reportedly been fitted with weapons systems, including vertical launching systems, four close-in weapon systems (CIWS) and decoy launchers, he said. The “military-civil fusion” strategy of disguising weapons systems within standard shipping containers is a “gray zone” warfare tactic to complicate targeting decisions for Beijing’s opponents, a TechTimes report said. Armaments included a system resembling a loyal wingman — an artificial intelligence-controlled uncrewed aerial vehicle designed to fly alongside crewed fighter jets — and an electromagnetic aircraft launch system used to launch aircraft from the deck of naval aircraft carriers, Wang said. However, only live-fire tests would prove whether the onboard weapons systems are fully operational, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2026 14:47 UTC
Researchers develop membrane that can generate power, clean water
Researchers develop membrane that can generate power, clean waterBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAA research team at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) has developed a thin membrane dubbed the “black magic carpet” that uses solar and wave energy to generate electricity and purify water. A research team from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology pose with their invention in an undated photograph. The multifunctional graphene membrane can evaporate water with solar energy, generate electricity, degrade pollutants and clean itself, Hung said. When exposed to sunlight, the membrane converts seawater into clean water through evaporation and desalination, Hung said. Meanwhile, waves or wind trigger its piezoelectric structure to generate electricity, allowing it to supply both water and power in remote, offshore or drought-prone areas, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2026 14:42 UTC
Taipei lottery winner hangs up call over scam concern
Taipei lottery winner hangs up call over scam concernBy Tsai Kai-heng and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Taipei City Government today announced the winner of a lucky draw for a share in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), but the winner hung up the call, thinking it was a scam. Taipei residents “have great anti-fraud awareness,” Taipei Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chen Chun-an (陳俊安) said, adding that the winner would be contacted via other channels. The “shop in Taipei and win big” (來台北有購嗨) campaign has been running since Nov. 11. Taipei City Government officials announce the winner of a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co share at an event in the city today. Photo: Tsai Kai-heng, Taipei TimesTaipei residents who spend NT$200 in Taipei and register their purchase are eligible for a lottery draw to win flights, TSMC stock and cash prizes, the department said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2026 14:14 UTC
Chinese spouse’s residency revoked over pro-China statements
Chinese spouse’s residency revoked over pro-China statementsBy Wang Kuan-jen and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerChinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s Douyin page is pictured today. Guan Guan reportedly left Taiwan on Friday last week. In related news, another Chinese spouse recently complained online about how hard it is to write traditional Chinese characters, saying she hopes for reunification soon so that her child can write simplified characters instead.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2026 14:08 UTC
Cho praises trade team’s achievements upon return
Cho praises trade team’s achievements upon returnStaff writer, with CNAPremier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) today greeted the government's trade negotiation team on their arrival at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, commending them for the tariff reduction and investment agreements reached with the US. Premier Cho Jung-tai, left, receives Taiwan's trade negotiation team at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport this morning after their return from Washington. Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei TimesCheng said the trade agreement proved that "the hard work of Taiwanese, along with Taiwan's technology and industries, had become a key force in the world," and showed that the world "needs Taiwan." That implies that TSMC's US$65 billion investment to build three advanced wafer fabs in Arizona, prior to Trump's return to office last year, was not included in the US$250 billion figure. The terms of the agreement would be signed in the coming weeks as part of a formal trade pact, which would require approval by Taiwan's legislature.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2026 14:01 UTC
Hospital suspends doctors after video shows vendor taking part in surgery
Hospital suspends doctors after video shows vendor taking part in surgeryStaff writer, with CNATaichung Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) yesterday suspended three doctors from performing surgeries after video footage from July 2023 surfaced allegedly showing a medical-device vendor handling part of an operation. The hospital said it would fully cooperate with investigations by prosecutors and health authorities, adding that any illegal conduct would be dealt with in accordance with the law. Photo: Tang Shih-ming, Taipei TimesThe case involves allegations earlier this month that a medical-device vendor was allowed to enter multiple operating rooms and take part in procedures. TVGH has acknowledged that three physicians permitted a vendor to enter operating rooms without proper reporting, but said an internal review found no evidence the vendor participated in operations. Local health authorities could launch an investigation if the hospital's earlier report is found to be incomplete, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2026 04:13 UTC
Sunday Yilan quake an independent event: CWA
Sunday Yilan quake an independent event: CWAStaff writer, with CNAThe Central Weather Administration (CWA) said a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan yesterday was an independent event and part of a stress-adjustment process. The earthquake occurred at 4:47pm, with its epicenter at sea about 45.4km south of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 5.9km, the CWA said. The peak ground acceleration felt during a magnitude 4.9 earthquake at 4:47pm yesterday is pictured in a graphic. Since 1973, there have been 20 earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or higher within a 20km radius of the epicenter of yesterday's magnitude 4.9 quake, including a magnitude 6 event on May 10, 2024, he added. Wu said earthquakes occurring in basins are typically shallow, citing the Friday and early Sunday quakes, which had depths of about 10km or less.
Source:Taipei Times
January 19, 2026 03:35 UTC
Military police add air-defense group
The command said it has added a new air-defense company under the 228th Battalion stationed in Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) for the purpose. The unit — its only artillery unit — has been equipped with Stinger anti-air missiles and anti-tank Javelin systems, it added. Military personnel take part in an exercise at a metro station in Taipei on July 14 last year. “Deploying short-range, man-portable Stinger missiles enhances mobile air defense, while Javelin missiles can counter Chinese Communist Party landing craft attempting surprise assaults at the Tamsui River estuary,” he said. For example, Washington has the National Capital Region Air Defense, with rotating deployments of air defense artillery regiments, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 18, 2026 17:55 UTC
EDITORIAL: New school lunch policies create risk
Initial concerns that school lunch programs would divert resources from other education and welfare initiatives were short-lived, as local governments quickly shifted their support toward the initiative. Some parents’ groups have said the program could affect school lunch quality or deepen disparity among regions. Their concerns are not unfounded, as local governments have different financial capacities and conditions, and the average cost of school lunches varies between regions. Now that local governments are fully funding school lunch programs, it is uncertain whether they would require catering companies to continue meeting the 3L1Q standard when sourcing ingredients. Some specialists have said that, unlike Japan and South Korea, Taiwan does not have a dedicated law regulating school lunch standards, such as on nutrition, the proportion of locally sourced ingredients and a dietitian-to-student ratio.
Source:Taipei Times
January 18, 2026 17:55 UTC
Passport ring sentenced
Taiwanese passports are pictured in an undated photograph. Investigators believe that gangs exploit the visa-free access Taiwanese passports provide to 139 countries and territories, selling them at premium prices to clients who treat the documents as “invisibility cloaks” for unrestricted international travel. Ho would pay NT$17,000 per passport upon receiving them, while the human-smuggling ring resold each document to Chinese buyers for about 10,000 euros (US$11,597). Cheng and Lai were sentenced to two years, and two years and two months respectively for participating in a criminal organization, trading passports and using passports to offset debts. Shen was sentenced to one year and four months for trading passports.
Source:Taipei Times
January 18, 2026 17:55 UTC
Ryan Hass on Taiwan: Five Questions for 2026-
Ryan Hass on Taiwan: Five Questions for 2026-As the new year dawns, Taiwan faces a range of external uncertainties that could impact the safety and prosperity of its people and reverberate in its politics. Taiwan’s economy grew over 7 percent and set records for exports, imports, and trade surplus. President Trump and President Xi Jinping (習近平) agreed at their October 30, 2025, meeting in South Korea to call a truce on their trade war for one year. WILL CHINA’S ECONOMY WOBBLE IN 2026? These five questions represent some of the major external issues that could impact Taiwan’s economy and security.
Source:Taipei Times
January 18, 2026 17:55 UTC
Iran admits ‘several thousand’ deaths, blaming US, Israel
Iran admits ‘several thousand’ deaths, blaming US, IsraelBloombergIranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said “several thousand people” died in this month’s anti-government demonstrations, his first acknowledgment of the deadly scale of the unrest. Some of those were killed “brutally and inhumanely,” Khamenei said without offering detail in a public meeting broadcast on state TV. He accused the US and Israel of aiding the killings and said the Islamic republic has evidence to support the claim. Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran on Saturday. He said US President Donald Trump was culpable for “deaths, damage and accusations he has inflicted on the Iranian people,” and that Washington’s broader policy goal was to place Iran under military, political and economic domination.
Source:Taipei Times
January 18, 2026 17:55 UTC
Temperatures to drop as cold air mass approaches
Temperatures to drop as cold air mass approachesStaff writer, with CNAA strong cold air mass is expected to arrive tonight, bringing a change in weather and a drop in temperature, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). A Central Weather Administration chart shows the weather forecast for this week. The blue line indicates eastern Taiwan, the green line indicates central Taiwan, the orange line indicates southern Taiwan, while the white line indicates northern Taiwan and Yilan County. From Wednesday through Friday, the cold air mass is likely to linger and reach the level of a “strong continental cold air mass,” defined as Taipei temperatures dropping below 12°C, independent meteorologist Daniel Wu (吳德榮) said. The cold air mass is expected to weaken from Saturday, with daytime temperatures rebounding, but mornings and evenings remaining cool, Wu said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 18, 2026 17:55 UTC
Central Asia’s road to stability
Yet this part of Central Asia now offers a lesson in how conflict can give way to stability, even in historically tense regions. However, the improved climate reflects deliberate political and social choices, demonstrating that cooperation can be strengthened from the ground up. Home to about 15 million people, the Fergana Valley is one of the most densely populated parts of Central Asia. These factors make the Fergana Valley story a fragile achievement, not a settled one. The Fergana Valley suggests that peace and partnership can reinforce each other, but only if the effort is continuous.
Source:Taipei Times
January 18, 2026 17:55 UTC