Nan Shan Life’s exposure high in Colombia: FSC
Nan Shan Life’s exposure to Venezuela stood at NT$13.55 billion, Peng said. Total bank exposure to Colombia was NT$816 million, with the largest single exposure at NT$392 million. In contrast, Taiwan’s insurance sector had no exposure to Venezuela, while its total exposure to Colombia was NT$138.51 billion, with one insurer alone accounting for NT$62.91 billion. Kuo asked the FSC head whether the insurer with NT$62.91 billion in exposure was Nan Shan Life, which Peng confirmed. Under the Financial Holding Company Act (金融控股公司法), firms are required to disclose their exposure amounts, the legislator said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 17:12 UTC
Notes from Central Taiwan: Envisioning a Taiwan under PRC rule
Yet civil and social organizations like religion are a massive part of the social landscape. In each of those cases a Taiwan-wide farmers’ association became involved, in addition to local organizations. Similarly, in East Turkestan — Xinjiang as the PRC calls it — thousands of mosques have been destroyed and religious organizations tightly controlled. It’s not just armed revolt that the PRC fears in occupying Taiwan, but this long history of resistance through organization. It’s time for us to talk more about what kind of future Taiwan can envision under PRC rule.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 17:12 UTC
Samsung warns of memory-related price hikes
Samsung warns of memory-related price hikesBloombergSamsung Electronics Co expects memorychip supply shortages to raise prices across the electronics industry, including potentially among its own consumer products. Counterpoint Research in November last year forecast a 50 percent price rise for memory modules through the second quarter of this year. Samsung is better positioned than competitors who are unable to manufacture memory for their own products, and Lee sees the company outpacing the broader market. Samsung shares yesterday rose as much as 4 percent. Research analysts are scrambling to raise price targets on TSMC shares, underscoring continued bullishness on the chipmaking giant after its record surge.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 17:12 UTC
Overseas scholars drawn to China’s scientific clout, funding
Photo: AFPMORE FUNDING, RESOURCES, SUPPORTAcademics cited access to rapidly developing industries in China’s massive market as a draw. Four of the top five leading research institutions in natural and health sciences last year were Chinese, according to an index by the journal Nature. That is a change from the past, when US and European institutions held sway. But in the last five years, “the funding, resources and support” available — far more than overseas — changed the calculus. But he grew uncomfortable with Beijing’s political climate after Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, due to China’s close relationship with Moscow.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 17:12 UTC
Book review: Anatomy of an invasion
In 2003, he was paralysed from the waist down after being shot multiple times by terrorists while filming in Saudi Arabia. Invasion , by Frank Gardner. This, alone, makes the passages of this novel that deal with China’s deployment of weapons and miliary equipment ahead of an invasion of Taiwan scarily plausible. The prevention of the invasion and, with it, World War III may hinge on her rescue. This might be hard to avoid in a book that targets a general readership but could surely have been done more subtly.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 17:12 UTC
PentaPro to invest NT$3bn in new factory in Taiwan
PentaPro to invest NT$3bn in new factory in TaiwanBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterPentaPro Materials Inc (宇川精材), which produces metal organic precursors used in advanced chip production, yesterday said it plans to invest NT$3 billion (US$95.17 million) in a new factory in Taiwan to meet rising demand. The company’s semiconductor precursors are high-purity chemical liquids used in chip manufacturing. “Utilization of the existing factory is running in high gear now,” PentaPro co-CEO C.Y. To cope with growing demand, PentaPro said it is revamping an older production line to produce advanced semiconductor precursors later this year. Semiconductor precursors accounted for more than 70 percent of the company’s revenue last year, PentaPro said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 17:12 UTC
Book fair to feature Thai culture
Taipei Book Fair Foundation chairman Rex How, left, poses for a photograph with representatives from different foreign embassies at a news conference for the Taipei International Book Exhibition in Taipei yesterday. Taipei Book Fair Foundation chairman Rex How (郝明義) said the Thai pavilion would be a good opportunity for Taiwanese to learn more about Thailand, as there are many similarities and exchanges, but also distinctive cultures. He thanked all countries participating in the book fair for their support, as well as the ministry for raising the value of culture coins for teenagers aged 13 to 15 from NT$600 to NT$1,200 this year and for distributing them before the event so that teenagers could spend them on books at the fair. Thai Trade Office Director Kallaya Leewongcharoen said the Thai Pavillion proudly presents “CreaTHAIvity,” a fusion of creativity and “Thainess,” which captures the essence of Thai imagination, rich cultural heritage and the country’s diverse storytelling traditions from every region. The Thai Pavillion would host more than 30 activities and performances, featuring Thai authors and artists, forums, language and cultural shows, and even Thai cuisine, she said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 16:51 UTC
Toxic Nestle formula not sold in Taiwan: company
Toxic Nestle formula not sold in Taiwan: companyStaff writer, with CNANestle Taiwan yesterday said that affected batches of baby formula have not been sold in Taiwan, even as at least 30 countries have issued recalls over concerns that the products contain the toxin cereulide. In a statement, the company said that its products sold in Taiwan are all safe for consumption. The company said that it has implemented necessary control measures to protect consumers’ trust in its products and safety. A screen grab of an announcement issued by Nestle Taiwan is pictured yesterday. Screen grab from the Web site of Nestle TaiwanThe international food company also welcomed people to contact its customer service centers for any questions.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 16:51 UTC
NCKU tops Taiwan’s 2026 University Brand Power survey
NCKU tops Taiwan’s 2026 University Brand Power surveyStaff Writer, with CNANational Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has been ranked Taiwan’s top university by 104 Corp. in the local job bank’s 2026 University Brand Power Survey released yesterday. NCKU was followed by National Tsing Hua University and National Taiwan University in second and third place, respectively. NCKU tops Taiwan`s 2026 University Brand Power. The rest of the top 10 comprised National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taipei Tech, National Chengchi University, National Central University and NCHU. Among private universities, Chung Yuan Christian University, Fu Jen Catholic University, Feng Chia University, Tamkang University and Tunghai University ranked highest, placing between 12th and 16th overall.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 16:51 UTC
Trip proves Taiwan is a country: Seki
Seki made the remarks as he gave an interview to the Chinese-language Liberty Times, the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper. Seki said that Beijing forbade him from setting foot in China, so his visit to Taiwan showed that Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China are two different countries. Japanese lawmaker Hei Seki gives an interview with the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) in Taipei yesterday. Seki, a member of the Japan Innovation Party, was born in Chengdu, China, and became a naturalized Japanese in 2007. Beijing sanctioned Seki in September last year, barring him and family members from entering China and its territories.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 16:51 UTC
Taiwan’s situation likens prewar Ukraine: official
Taiwan’s situation likens prewar Ukraine: officialBy Lee Wen-hsin and Jason Pan / Staff reportersDeputy Minister of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan (馬士元) yesterday likened Taiwan’s situation to that of Ukraine before the Russian invasion that started in February 2022. “The situation Taiwan has been in since last year resembles the conditions before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he said. Legislators at the committee reviewed proposed amendment bills to the National Security Act (國家安全法). “China has engaged in united front propaganda and disinformation campaigns to infiltrate into every level of Taiwanese society to undermine social stability and threaten Taiwan’s national security,” Liang said. According to National Security Bureau data, public prosecutors in 2024 indicted 64 people in suspected China-related espionage cases, which is about three times the number in 2021, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 16:51 UTC
Hsieh advances in Australian Open warm-up
Hsieh advances in Australian Open warm-upStaff writerTaiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Latvian partner Jelena Ostapenko yesterday overpowered Australia’s Priscilla Hon and Czech Karolina Muchova to advance to the women’s doubles semi-finals of the Brisbane International as last year’s Australian Open runners-up prepare for another run in Melbourne. Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei, right, and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko fist-bump during their women’s doubles final against Taylor Townsend of the US and the Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Jan. 26 last year. 9 Hsieh, who has won seven Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles, is the only WTA player in her 40s ranked in the top 100. 1 Daniil Medvedev extended his impressive start to the season ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on Jan. 18, with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Frances Tiafoe. In the deciding mixed doubles, Gauff teamed up with Christian Harrison to battle past Tsitsipas and Sakkari 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 16:51 UTC
Ministry expects two new R&D agreements in EU
Ministry expects two new R&D agreements in EUBy Meryl Kao / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday said it expects to sign two additional memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with European countries this year to promote research-and-development (R&D) collaboration under the A+ Corporate Innovation and R&D Enhancement program. The planned collaborations with two additional European countries would mainly focus on laser technology and another technology listed under Taiwan’s 10 major artificial intelligence (AI) projects, Kuo said. Department of Industrial Technology Director-General Kuo Chao-chung, center, and other guests pose for a photograph at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liao Chia-ning, Taipei TimesThis year, the government aims to secure 25 international collaborative R&D projects under the program, he said. Taiwan has reached out to 14 EU countries and secured 86 projects so far since the program was launched in 2014, he said.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 16:13 UTC
Lawmaker raises concerns over TAIEX distorted by TSMC weighting
Lawmaker raises concerns over TAIEX distorted by TSMC weightingStaff writer, with CNAChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Te-fu (林德福) yesterday raised concerns that the heavy weighting of contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) is distorting the performance of the TAIEX. A man stands in front of an electronic stock board at the Taiwan Stock Exchange in Taipei yesterday. Despite the significant gains, 749 stocks fell on the main board on Monday with only 156 stocks moving higher. Yesterday, TSMC closed at NT$1,675, down 1.76 percent on profit taking, pushing the TAIEX lower by 0.46 percent. If fears that an AI bubble will burst become a reality, the local stock market will be severely impacted with many investors hurt, he added.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 16:13 UTC
Air force says search for pilot to be extended
Air force says search for pilot to be extendedSYSTEM FAULT? Contact with air force pilot Captain Hsin Po-yi’s (辛柏毅) fighter was lost off Hualien while on a routine training flight on Tuesday night. Air force officers attend a news conference in Hualien County yesterday. The air force said that it has been logging all faults found in F-16s, and has provided the data to the US to identify the sources of malfunctions and develop system patches to improve reliability. Hsin has logged 611 hours of flight time, of which he spent 371 hours in F-16Vs, the air force said, adding that Tuesday’s weather and sea state were within exercise standards.
Source:Taipei Times
January 07, 2026 16:03 UTC