Taipei, April 9 (CNA) Olympic bronze medalist Chen Nien-chin (陳念琴) has won the women's 65-kilogram division at the 2026 Asian Boxing Elite Boxing Championship in Mongolia, her second Asian Championship title.

Chen, who arrived in Ulaanbaatar as the top seed in her weight class, defeated Hwang Hyo Sun of North Korea by a 4-1 split decision. Chen and Hwang were tied after the first two rounds before Chen pulled ahead in the third and final round.

Chen's coach Ko Wen-ming (柯文明) told CNA it was his fighter's first Asian Championship title in the women's 65-kg division, which he said would "boost her confidence a lot."

Chen previously won the women's 70-kg division title at the 2022 Asian Amateur Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan, but that weight class is not included at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games later this year.

All five judges favored Hwang in the first round. Ko said North Korean boxers usually close in, so he told Chen to keep Hwang at a distance from the second round and focus on counterpunching.

"It seemed to be effective," Ko noted.

Ko said the tournament offered an early preview for the Asian Games, adding that it was a shame Chen did not face China's Li Shu (李舒).

Earlier the same day, Taiwan's three-time world champion Huang Hsiao-wen (黃筱雯) lost to India's Preeti by unanimous decision, earning her second runner-up finish at the Asian Championships.

The result saw Taiwanese boxers finish the tournament with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

The tournament, World Boxing's first regional championship, drew more than 230 athletes from 25 countries competing across 20 weight classes.

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday urged the government to halt new rules easing restrictions on hiring migrant domestic workers over concerns about women's rights and class inequality, but the authorities said the new rules will take effect as scheduled.

The NHRC is a body under the Control Yuan, Taiwan's top government watchdog, tasked with monitoring and promoting human rights protections.

"While the policy may be intended to ease labor shortages in childcare support within households, the NHRC expressed concern that the new system could worsen gender and class inequality and impact labor rights," the commission said in a statement.

It urged the government to first put the policy on hold, conduct a comprehensive review of the system governing migrant workers employed in households, and "prioritize strengthening public care services rather than relying on low-cost labor."

The Cabinet in mid-March approved a plan to ease rules on hiring migrant domestic workers, allowing households with at least one child under 12 to apply, with the new rules set to take effect next Monday as part of efforts to ease childcare burdens.

Families hiring migrant domestic helpers must pay not only wages, but also a monthly employment security fee of NT$5,000 (US$157), which will be set at NT$2,000 for families with special needs.

In the statement, the NHRC said the policy "runs counter to" two decades of efforts by successive administrations to expand public childcare and ensure equal access to childcare services for families across social classes.

It added that although the government has estimated more than 1.44 million households will qualify under the new rules, the main beneficiaries are still likely to be wealthier families.

The commission also said women account for most of the care labor market in Taiwan, including nannies and childcare workers, and it remains "unclear" whether the easing will affect the employment rights of women in frontline care jobs.

"The government failed to fully assess its impact on gender equality and the rights of children before pushing ahead with this highly controversial policy, which the commission regrets," the NHRC added.

In response, the Ministry of Labor said in a statement that it had broadly consulted the public, stakeholder groups and experts, and put forward supporting measures to stabilize domestic employment, expand labor market opportunities and strengthen existing public childcare support.

While the ministry did not directly address the NHRC's call to suspend the policy, it reiterated the new rules will take effect next Monday.

"The ministry will work with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to further refine related supporting measures, safeguard local workers' rights and help ease the burden on families in need through the implementation of the new system," it added.

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) Small modular reactors (SMRs) are not a practical solution to Taiwan's current energy challenges, but early planning is needed if the country hopes to adopt the technology in the future, a nuclear energy expert said Thursday.

Speaking at a forum in Taipei hosted by the Taiwan Brain Trust, Lee Min (李敏), a professor emeritus at the Department of Engineering and System Science at National Tsing Hua University, said nuclear power remains important for Taiwan due to its stable costs, low carbon emissions and fuel security.

Taiwan entered its "nuclear-free homeland" era on May 17, 2025, when the No. 2 reactor at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, also known as Nuclear Power Plant No. 3, was shut down. However, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said in late March that the government is open to exploring new nuclear technologies.

Lee said fuel costs account for less than 10 percent of nuclear power generation costs, helping keep prices relatively stable. He cited geopolitical risks, noting that during the Russia-Ukraine war, Taiwan's gas-fired power costs surged by about 150 percent.

He also said Taiwan faces structural constraints in expanding renewable energy due to limited land availability, meaning green energy alone may not be sufficient to meet long-term demand.

Against that backdrop, Lee said SMRs -- a newer generation of reactors designed to be factory-built and assembled on-site -- could play a role in Taiwan's future energy mix.

However, he stressed that the technology is not yet ready for deployment.

"SMRs absolutely cannot solve our current problems," Lee said.

He said no SMR technology is currently available off the shelf, and developers would be unable to guarantee costs or construction timelines.

"If Taiwan wants to buy one now and have it operating by 2030, at a fixed price that cannot go up, no one would dare bid," he said.

Lee added that SMRs remain expensive, would still generate nuclear waste, and are not "absolutely safe," though they may become safer than conventional large-scale reactors with sufficient operational experience.

Despite those limitations, Lee said Taiwan should begin laying the groundwork now, including developing a clear industrial strategy and regulatory framework.

He said the government should focus on formulating a concrete business plan and coordinating resources to enable the eventual deployment of SMRs in Taiwan.

"Preparing for the future is something we need to start now," he said.

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is leading a business delegation to the Marshall Islands on a three-day trip aimed at deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.

During the visit, which runs from Tuesday through Thursday, Lin and his delegation will meet with Marshall Islands President Hilda C. Heine, Legislative Speaker Brenson Wase, and Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko.

They will also visit several Taiwan-funded cooperation projects in the Pacific ally, MOFA said in a press release.

Lin's delegation includes 60 representatives from several industries, including shipping, cold-chain logistics, medical equipment, food processing, clean energy, and information and communications technology (ICT).

Also part of the delegation, according to MOFA, is Taiwan's "Drone Diplomacy Task Force," which promotes its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities to international partners.

The initiative aims to showcase public-private partnerships while supporting the Marshall Islands' economic development.

Other senior officials in the delegation include Susan Hu (胡啟娟), deputy director-general of the International Trade Administration; Tsai Shu-chen (蔡淑貞), deputy director-general of the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration; and Shih Li-chun (史力軍), deputy secretary-general of the TaiwanICDF, a MOFA-funded foreign aid agency.

While in the Marshall Islands, Lin's delegation will hold the first committee meeting under a bilateral mechanism that was established following the Taiwan-Marshall Islands Economic Cooperation Agreement, which took effect in 2025.

The delegation will also participate in a business opportunities forum aimed at enhancing two-way trade relations, MOFA added.

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said Wednesday during a visit to the Marshall Islands that Taiwan will inject another US$1 million into a start-up loan fund for women and will set up a new fund to support local businesses.

Following his arrival Tuesday as head of a delegation for a three-day visit, Lin met with Marshall Islands President Hilda C. Heine, who reaffirmed her country's commitment to its longstanding diplomatic ties with Taiwan, according to a Marshall Islands government press release.

The president also emphasized the importance of continued bilateral cooperation based on shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to advancing the well-being of both nations, the press release said.

On Wednesday, Lin chaired the first committee meeting under the Taiwan-Marshall Islands Economic Cooperation Agreement that was implemented in 2025.

Later in the day, Lin's delegation -- comprising 60 representatives from the shipping, cold-chain logistics, medical equipment, food processing, clean energy, and information and communications technology (ICT) industries -- participated in a forum aimed at boosting business opportunities and bilateral trade relations.

During the forum, Lin announced that the Taiwan government would inject another US$1 million into a fund it has been supporting, to provide loans to women in the Marshall Islands to start their own businesses, according to his Facebook page.

The Taiwan-Marshall Islands Women Business Start-up Small Loan Revolving Fund, often called the Kora Im An Kil Fund, is a joint initiative that was established in 2019.

At that time, Taiwan and the Marshall Islands each contributed US$1 million to the fund to provide loans to women entrepreneurs, in a bid to foster economic empowerment and support small business development in the Pacific nation.

At a dinner on Wednesday, Lin also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko to establish an "economic resilience loan fund."

The MOU is expected to pave the way for a credit guarantee mechanism to help local businesses overcome financing difficulties, expand business opportunities, and strengthen economic resilience, Lin said in his Facebook post.

On the morning of March 31, President Lai Ching-te met with a media delegation from the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI). In remarks, President Lai thanked the delegation members for helping advance understanding and support of democratic Taiwan in the international community. The president also expressed his gratitude for their media coverage, which has helped the international community pay greater attention to regional peace and stability and has helped garner even more international support for Taiwan. He stated that Taiwan is actively bolstering its defense capabilities, implementing military reform, enhancing overall combat capability, and developing its indigenous defense industry, demonstrating its determination to safeguard national security, protect freedom and democracy, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He also stated that Taiwan will fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining regional security and that it is willing to collaborate with the United States and other democratic partners to safeguard regional stability, supply chain security, and global prosperity.

A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:

Our guests represent prominent US media outlets and possess significant influence in the global public sphere. I extend a sincere welcome to the delegation and anticipate that your professional reporting will help the world better understand Taiwan. I want to give a word of thanks to the GTI for its many years of diligent efforts and advocacy in Washington, DC, and for helping advance understanding and support of democratic Taiwan in the international community. It warms my heart to see two fellow Taiwanese, Dr. Lanhee J. Chen, GTI Advisory Board member and David and Diane Steffy Fellow in American Public Policy Studies at the Hoover Institution, and GTI Board of Directors Chair Jennifer Hu. I want to thank them for their tireless work in voicing support for Taiwan, which has helped US society have a better grasp of Taiwan’s spirit and culture.

Taiwan is a vibrant democratic society. We cherish freedom and safeguard democracy. And we know well that peace must be built upon a foundation of strength, resilience, and unity. Over 90 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductors are manufactured in Taiwan, and over a fifth of maritime trade passes through the Taiwan Strait. As a crucial link in the first island chain in the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan firmly believes that a free and open, peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region is the only path to advancing global prosperity.

Over recent years, China has continued to attempt to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait through such tactics as military intimidation, gray-zone operations, and economic coercion. I thank the international media outlets represented here for their coverage, which has helped the international community pay greater attention to regional peace and stability and has helped garner even more international support for Taiwan.

Peace is priceless, and war has no winners. As we aspire to peace, we must not harbor any delusions. We firmly believe that peace can only be achieved through strength and that help comes most to those who help themselves. Thus, Taiwan is actively bolstering its defense capabilities, implementing military reform, and strengthening whole-of-society defense resilience. Our national defense spending, as it is defined by NATO, has already surpassed 3 percent of GDP this year, and we aim for this figure to reach 5 percent by 2030. Our government has also proposed an eight-year, US$40 billion special defense budget to enhance equipment procurement, construct the T-Dome, enhance overall combat capability, and develop Taiwan’s indigenous defense industry. This demonstrates our determination to safeguard our national security, protect freedom and democracy, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

This year is the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election. It also marks the 250th anniversary of US independence. And while the histories of our democracies may differ in length, our pursuit of freedom is the same. Taiwan will fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining regional security. And we are willing to collaborate with the US and other democratic partners to safeguard regional stability, supply chain security, and global prosperity.

In 2010, 83.8 percent of Taiwan’s outbound investment went to China; last year, that figure had dropped to around 3.7 percent. The US is now Taiwan’s top outbound investment destination. It is also Taiwan’s largest export market. Trade and economic relations between Taiwan and the US continue to deepen, and cooperation and exchanges in technological innovation and industrial development have also expanded. This year, we signed the Taiwan-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and an agreement on bilateral investment. We also signed the Joint Statement on the Pax Silica Declaration and Taiwan-US Economic Security Cooperation. I anticipate that through our joint efforts, we can create a mutually beneficial future of prosperity and contribute even more to the world.

GTI Advisory Board Member Chen then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for taking the time to meet with their delegation. He also thanked National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger (葛葆萱) for their hospitality. He mentioned that it is an honor for the group to be here in Taiwan. He said that he often reflects on the many changes that Taiwan has been through in the 40 years since he first came back as a young child, noting that it is remarkable to see that the one thing that has endured is the strength of the relationship between the US and Taiwan, which remains rock solid.

GTI Advisory Board Member Chen stated that he is chairing this delegation, a group composed of some of America’s most prominent voices in journalism and political commentary. He emphasized that it is important for his colleagues to see Taiwan firsthand, to experience life and culture, to meet individuals here, and to engage in exchanges because it better informs their understanding of the situation that Taiwan currently finds itself in. Noting that this is the first time in Taiwan for many of these people, he expressed hope they will have an opportunity to leave with good memories of the people that they meet and the food that they eat. 

GTI Advisory Board Member Chen said that this visit comes at a very important time in the Taiwan-US relationship, adding that it is his firm hope that after the delegation leaves Taiwan, they will continue to remember and be mindful of the tremendous challenges that Taiwan faces from what he believes is a hostile power just 80 miles away. He also expressed his belief that the impressions and the relationships developed will remain. He then said he looks forward to a wonderful dialogue with President Lai.

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) The 2026 Taiwan Athletics Open, which typically draws top international athletes, has been canceled ahead of its June schedule, as funding for the sports ministry has not yet cleared the Legislature, the organizing body said Wednesday.

All registration fees will be fully reimbursed, the Chinese Taipei Athletics Association said in a statement, apologizing for any inconvenience.

Funding for the athletics competition was allocated by the Ministry of Sports as part of its wider budget for fiscal year 2026, which remains stalled in the Legislature, the association's secretary general Wang Ching-cheng (王景成) said on Wednesday, explaining why the competition had been canceled.

Asked to comment on the cancellation of the 2026 Taiwan Athletics Open, Sports Minister Lee Yang (李洋) said Thursday that his ministry would use its sports fund, which supports athlete development and international competitions, to provide continued assistance to the Chinese Taipei Athletics Association.

The central government's budget of NT$3.035 trillion (US$95.45 billion) for fiscal year 2026 has been stuck in the opposition-controlled Legislature since January, with only a small fraction approved for funding in areas such as public transportation, road infrastructure and maternity subsidies.

The Taiwan Athletics Open, an annual event inaugurated in 1973, typically provides a rare opportunity for local athletes to compete against international competitors on home turf.

This year's edition was scheduled for June 6 and 7 in New Taipei.

In 2024, the meet was classified by World Athletics as a Continental Tour Bronze-level event, allowing athletes to earn world ranking points and attracting overseas competitors, including Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse, the men's 200-meter Tokyo Olympics gold medalist.

Having been upgraded to Continental Tour Silver, the 2026 edition of the meet would have offered more ranking points.

As of press time, Wang had not responded to a CNA request for further information.

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) The government has rolled out a series of measures to stabilize the supply of plastic bags after reports of shortages and rising prices in parts of Taiwan, amid disruptions linked to Middle East tensions.

Economic Affairs Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said Wednesday the ministry has set up coordination channels with retailers and distributors to ensure stable supply, after some business districts -- particularly in the Chiayi area in southern Taiwan -- reported shortages.

The government will help adjust distribution channels based on local needs, Kung said during a legislative session, emphasizing that overall supply remains sufficient and shortages are limited to certain areas due to mismatches in existing supply networks.

The ministry has increased domestic polyethylene supply to exceed demand and may expand supply further if needed, he said, while noting easing oil prices could help reduce upstream cost pressures.

Kung also urged the public to avoid panic buying, adding most retailers have not imposed restrictions.

At the local level, the Taipei City government has introduced measures to cope with supply and price fluctuations, after vendors reported plastic bag prices rising by 20 to 30 percent.

These include coordinating with central authorities on supply, encouraging vendors to switch to alternative materials such as paper bags, and promoting the use of reusable shopping bags among consumers.
 

Meanwhile, retailers have begun taking precautionary steps. Carrefour said it has limited purchases of heat-resistant bags and garbage bags since April 3 to one set per customer, following similar moves by Costco.

The company said the restriction is not due to immediate shortages, but to "maintain long-term supply stability," adding that inventory remains sufficient.

On the enforcement front, prosecutors have launched investigations into the plastic bag supply chain to determine whether any price manipulation is taking place.

The Shilin District Prosecutors Office said in a press release that it has mobilized teams to inspect upstream suppliers in Taipei and New Taipei, reviewing inventory, shipments and pricing data.

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) Canadian Senate Opposition Leader Leo Housakos is on a visit to Taiwan at the head of a delegation to deepen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), Taiwan's foreign ministry said Thursday.

During a luncheon with Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) on Wednesday, Housakos said that Canada and Taiwan both uphold human rights and democracy and are important partners across various fields, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

The visit is aimed at gaining a better understanding of Taiwan's latest political, economic, and trade developments, as well as promoting closer cooperation in areas such as FIMI, medical care, and Indigenous affairs, Housakos was quoted as saying in a MOFA press release.

According to separate press releases issued by Canada's representative office in Taiwan and Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啓臣), the nine-member delegation arrived in Taipei on Tuesday for a six-day visit and met with Chiang on the first day.

In Housakos' social media posts, he indicated that he also met with Chen and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) earlier this week.

Taiwan is Canada's sixth-largest trading partner in Asia, according to MOFA.

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) A female Formosan black bear taken in with an injured paw and her cub were jointly released into the wild in Hualien County Wednesday after spending more than a year in a wildlife rehabilitation center, conservation officials said.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Hualien branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said the adult female bear was reported to authorities in March 2025 after injuring its paw in a trap, requiring it to be taken for medical treatment.

Later that month, residents of an Indigenous village reported finding a bear cub wandering alone in the same location. The female cub, which weighed only 11.5 kilograms and was still nursing, was also trapped by conservation officials, the agency said.

Following surgery on the adult bear's paw, both it and the cub were placed in the care of the WildOne Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Taitung, where genetic testing confirmed that the bears were a mother and her cub.

During rehabilitation, caregivers tried to reintroduce the mother and cub to each other in June and July, but found that they had limited interactions and did not reestablish a filial connection, and therefore decided to keep them separated.

Beginning in October, the cub began rewilding training at the center's forest facility, learning how to forage, climb trees, adapt to its surroundings and avoid contact with people, the conservation agency said.

 

By March of this year, the cub had grown to 46 kg and learned the skills necessary for surviving in the wild, while the mother bear had fully recovered from its injuries and weighed 74 kg.

Both animals met the requirements for being released back into the wild, the agency said.

Release

On March 11, conservation agency officials held an informational meeting in the Nakahila community of the Bunun people in Zhuoxi Township, where residents agreed to take part in the bears' release and subsequent monitoring.

Prior to the release on Wednesday, village residents held a ceremony to give the mother and cub the Bunun names "Uli" and "Mua." The names, respectively, mean "virtuous wife and loving mother" and "cute and gentle little girl," in the Bunun language, according to the agency.

Following the ceremony, the cub and then the mother were released at a 30-minute interval at the end of Zhongping Forest Road, both disappearing quickly into the forest.

After their release, the bears will be monitored via satellite collars and geofencing. Wildlife officials will also set up a feedback mechanism with the Taiping Village chief to allow tribal members to track and report the bears' movements.

Wednesday marked the first time a mother bear and cub have been released together following rehabilitation in Taiwan, according to the conservation agency.

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) Mandarin Airlines is hoping to suspend flights it operates between Hualien and Kaohsiung and Taichung, Chairman Chen Ta-chun (陳大鈞) said Wednesday, citing weak demand and rising losses.

Load factors on the two routes have fallen to just 20-30 percent, with one Kaohsiung-Hualien flight carrying only five passengers last year, Chen told reporters.

He said there was no point continuing to try to make the routes successful, especially since they could lose about NT$70 million (US$2.2 million) annually based on current fuel prices, Chen said.

The war in the Middle East has pushed fuel costs from 13 percent to 21 percent of total expenses, and Chen warned that the airline's losses could reach 10 percent of projected annual revenue of NT$6 billion.

Chen noted that the airline would not be able to pass those cost increases on to passengers because domestic base fares have remained unchanged for 26 years.

But even if Mandarin Airlines had the option to raise prices, it would not be able to because of weak demand. In fact, Chen said, the Hualien routes have remained unpopular when fares have been cut.

"Even halving prices hasn't boosted demand," he said.

By contrast, flights to outlying islands remain strong, with Kaohsiung-Matsu load factors at 94 percent and Kaohsiung-Kinmen flights nearly full.

"We are willing to operate routes to Kinmen because there are no alternatives," Chen said. "But Hualien has rail and road options."

The airline currently runs three weekly Taichung-Hualien flights and daily Kaohsiung-Hualien services.

Chen said the carrier hopes regulators will agree to the suspension, though no formal application has been made, and allow capacity to be shifted to more profitable routes, with flights restored if transportation disruptions occur.

In response, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said it understood the situation and will evaluate the routes.

In Taiwan, domestic route adjustments must be filed with and approved by the CAA in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act.

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) Starlux Airlines announced Wednesday that it will launch direct flights between Taipei and the Indonesian island of Bali starting Oct. 1, with tickets now on sale.

The Taiwan-based carrier said in a press release that the route will be operated by new-generation Airbus A321neo aircraft.

The service will initially offer five flights per week, it added.

Starlux CEO Glenn Chai (翟健華) said Bali has long been a popular destination among global travelers and is a well-established tourism market in both Taiwan and Western countries.

With the airline's expansion of long-haul routes to North America and Europe, Starlux "expects to reach more Western travelers transiting through Taiwan to Bali, further boosting transfer traffic between Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia," Chai said.

Following the launch of the Taipei-Bali route, Starlux said it will serve more than 13 destinations in Southeast Asia. The carrier will also launch flights to its first South Korean destination, Busan, on June 1, and its first European route to Prague on Aug. 1.

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSR) has announced it will add 30 trains over the Mother's Day travel period from May 8 to 11, with tickets going on sale at midnight Thursday.

The additional services consist of 15 northbound and 15 southbound trains, THSR said in a statement Wednesday. Early-bird discounts will be available for all trains departing from their origin stations before 8 a.m. on May 9.

To encourage college students to return home for the holiday, THSR said eight more services will offer half-price student tickets.

Also, non-reserved seating will be expanded from the usual car numbers 10 to 12 to cars 9 to 12 on trains stopping at all stations during peak periods.

Those periods cover 3-9 p.m. on May 8 and 4-9 p.m. on May 10 in both directions, as well as southbound services on May 11 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and northbound services on May 10 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

During these periods, all regularly scheduled and added services between Nangang and Taichung will stop at every station, with nine cars allocated for non-reserved seating.

THSR advised passengers to check the "Ticket Availability" section to plan travel during peak periods and arrange connecting transportation in advance.

Passengers using an early-bird ticket must carry a valid ID matching the ticket. Those unable to present identification will be treated as traveling without a valid ticket and charged a 50 percent surcharge for the distance traveled.

Students using half-price tickets must present a valid student ID. If the ID does not indicate current enrollment, an additional certificate of enrollment is required.

On the afternoon of March 31, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). In remarks, President Lai expressed gratitude to the UK Parliament for its pivotal role in focusing attention on peace in the Taiwan Strait and raising support for Taiwan's international participation. The president also thanked the UK government for its past deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific for freedom of navigation operations, saying that these concrete actions help jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region. He expressed hope that, moving forward, Taiwan will further deepen economic and trade exchanges with the UK and promote industrial cooperation so that we can jointly open a new chapter of prosperity and development for the Indo-Pacific economy.

A translation of President Lai's remarks follows:

I warmly welcome the British-Taiwanese APPG delegation to Taiwan. Last year, Co-chair Lord Rogan came to attend the Formosa Club Annual Conference. It is a great pleasure to see him again today. This visit fully demonstrates the UK Parliament's staunch support for Taiwan. In recent years, Taiwan-UK relations have grown even closer. The UK Parliament has always played a pivotal role in focusing UK government attention on peace in the Taiwan Strait and raising support for Taiwan's international participation. I would like to sincerely thank our friends in the Houses of Parliament for their strong support of Taiwan through such concrete actions as public debates, written parliamentary questions, and joint letters.

The current international situation is rapidly evolving. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are not only vital to regional security but are also closely intertwined with global supply chain resilience and world prosperity. I would also like to thank the UK Parliament and government for openly opposing on multiple occasions any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and for emphasizing that the security of the Indo-Pacific and transatlantic regions is closely intertwined. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining regional security. I hope that, moving forward, the UK government will continue to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to the UK government for its past deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific for freedom of navigation operations. These concrete actions help jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region. 

Beyond security issues, there is much potential for cooperation between Taiwan and the UK in such areas as technological innovation, economic resilience, and the green energy transition. In 2023, Taiwan and the UK signed the Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) arrangement, marking Taiwan's first institutionalized bilateral economic and trade framework with a European country. Last year, under the ETP framework, we further signed three pillar arrangements under the ETP covering investment, digital trade, and energy and net zero.

In closing, I would like to reiterate my gratitude for your unwavering support of Taiwan, and may the friendship between Taiwan and the UK continue to deepen. We sincerely look forward to working together with you all to ensure that the development of Taiwan-UK relations continues to reach new milestones. Moving forward, Taiwan will further deepen economic and trade exchanges with the UK and promote industrial cooperation. We also hope that the UK will continue to support Taiwan's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership so that we can jointly open a new chapter of prosperity and development for the Indo-Pacific economy.

Co-chair Lord Rogan then delivered remarks, saying that they are very pleased and honored to visit Taiwan. He mentioned that he is an old visitor to Taiwan, having first come here in 1972 as a businessman and many years afterwards, and that he first came here as a parliamentarian in 2005. He noted that the changes he has seen in Taiwan's society and economy from those periods were enormous and left him with a deep impression. In recent years, he mentioned, he has come to Taiwan to attend the Formosa Club Annual Conference and President Lai's inauguration, adding that with each visit he is amazed at Taiwan's progress and prosperity.

Co-chair Lord Rogan said that as a businessman, he has watched with envy the way that Taiwan has moved its economy from basic textiles to now high-quality jobs, high technology, and not least, its semiconductor industry, which, he noted, produces 60% of the world's chips and 95% of the advanced chips. For Taiwan, a country that has limited natural resources, he emphasized, this is an amazing achievement. He further noted that Taiwan's natural resources are, in fact, its people.

Co-chair Lord Rogan said that for most of his colleagues, who have never been here before, a visit like this shows them the success and the pleasure of coming to Taiwan. He said that by meeting President Lai and various ministers, officials, and business leaders, it gives them more insight and knowledge of the success of Taiwan and the problems that it may face. He said that they will be leaving Taiwan with a great impression and much pleasure. He mentioned that this visit allows his colleagues who are first visiting Taiwan to speak with authority when they speak in Parliament, since they have actually seen the situation on the ground in Taiwan.

Co-chair Lord Rogan emphasized that their visit demonstrates the support Taiwan has in the British government to the government and people of Taiwan. He explained that representatives from all parts of the UK have shown support for Taiwan – in both Houses of Parliament, the Commons and the Lords, and that the support extends into the five parties and the four countries that make up the UK – Wales, Northern Ireland, England, and Scotland. He said that the visit also shows to the outside world and Taiwan's neighbors the support it has from the UK.

Co-chair Lord Rogan expressed his appreciation that Taiwan is a liberal democracy in a part of the world where there are others that are not democracies. He then expressed his agreement with President Lai's remarks about the Taiwan Strait and how important it is at the current time to have the strait open for international trade, adding that this has never been more relevant than today with the current turbulent international situation. In closing, Co-chair Lord Rogan gave his assurance that in London they are striving day after day to promote Taiwan's involvement in international relations and international groups, underscoring that they will continue to do so.

The delegation also included Lord Davies of Gower, Member of Parliament Layla Moran, Lord Randall of Uxbridge, Lord Tope, Lord Dodds of Duncairn, Member of Parliament Leigh Ingham, Member of Parliament Graeme Downie, Member of Parliament Dan Aldridge, and was accompanied to the Presidential Office by British Office Taipei Director of Regional Security Matt Nottingham.

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Taiwan on Tuesday reported its first imported case of Lyme disease this year, involving a woman in her 60s who was infected in Sweden, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said.

The patient, a Taiwanese national from northern Taiwan, had been living in Sweden since 2024 and engaged in forest activities where she was bitten by insects, CDC epidemiologist Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said at a regular press briefing.

She developed symptoms including a red, itchy rash on March 10 and was diagnosed with Lyme disease at a local hospital in Sweden, where she received antibiotic treatment, Lin said.

After returning to Taiwan on March 17, she sought medical attention again on March 18 and March 25 due to persistent symptoms. The infection was later confirmed through testing, with Sweden identified as the place of exposure.

Lin said Lyme disease is not endemic in Taiwan, and all previously recorded cases have been imported.

The disease is transmitted through bites from infected ticks and does not spread from person to person, typically affecting those engaged in outdoor activities.

Early symptoms may resemble the flu, while many patients develop a characteristic expanding rash. If left untreated, complications can emerge weeks or months later, affecting the joints, heart or nervous system.

Taiwan has recorded 21 confirmed cases since Lyme disease was classified as a Category IV notifiable infectious disease in 2007, all of them imported, most from the United States, the CDC said.

In Taiwan, Category IV notifiable diseases are those that must be reported to health authorities but generally pose a lower public health risk and are less likely to spread rapidly.

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is leading a business delegation to the Marshall Islands on a three-day trip aimed at deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.

During the visit, which runs from Tuesday through Thursday, Lin and his delegation will meet with Marshall Islands President Hilda C. Heine, Legislative Speaker Brenson Wase, and Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko.

They will also visit several Taiwan-funded cooperation projects in the Pacific ally, MOFA said in a press release.

Lin's delegation includes 60 representatives from several industries, including shipping, cold-chain logistics, medical equipment, food processing, clean energy, and information and communications technology (ICT).

Also part of the delegation, according to MOFA, is Taiwan's "Drone Diplomacy Task Force," which promotes its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities to international partners.

The initiative aims to showcase public-private partnerships while supporting the Marshall Islands' economic development.

Other senior officials in the delegation include Susan Hu (胡啟娟), deputy director-general of the International Trade Administration; Tsai Shu-chen (蔡淑貞), deputy director-general of the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration; and Shih Li-chun (史力軍), deputy secretary-general of the TaiwanICDF, a MOFA-funded foreign aid agency.

While in the Marshall Islands, Lin's delegation will hold the first committee meeting under a bilateral mechanism that was established following the Taiwan-Marshall Islands Economic Cooperation Agreement, which took effect in 2025.

The delegation will also participate in a business opportunities forum aimed at enhancing two-way trade relations, MOFA added.

New Taipei, April 7 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday reiterated his "Four Pillars of Peace" action plan at a memorial marking the 37th anniversary of Nylon Cheng's (鄭南榕) death, saying the activist's sacrifice helped awaken Taiwan's democratic transformation.

Speaking at the event in New Taipei, Cheng's daughter, Cheng Chu-mei (鄭竹梅), said the final issue of her father's "Freedom Era Weekly" questioned whether China might invade Taiwan, a concern that remains relevant today.

She said that true peace cannot be brought about by appeasement and surrender, but through solidarity, communication and the capacity for self-protection.

Echoing her remarks, Lai said Taiwan's democracy continues to face threats from China, stressing that peace, like democracy, "cannot be bestowed by a dictator, but must be secured through strength."

He then outlined the four pillars of his peace framework, first introduced in his inaugural address in May 2024.

The first pillar is strengthening national defense, including both arms procurement and the development of indigenous capabilities.

The second is enhancing economic resilience. Lai noted that Taiwan's outbound investment to China has dropped from 83.8 percent in 2010 to 3.7 percent in 2025, reflecting a strategy of "rooted in Taiwan with global deployment and distribution."

The third pillar is deepening cooperation with democratic partners to safeguard regional stability. Lai cited recent G7 statements emphasizing the importance of peace across the Taiwan Strait.

The fourth pillar, he said, is maintaining stable cross-strait interactions based on equality and dignity.

"In short, Taiwan is not part of the People's Republic of China," he said.

Lai said that Taiwanese people have the right to pursue a democratic and free way of life grounded in human rights.

Such aspirations should not be viewed as provocation, he said, expressing hope that younger generations will continue to safeguard the democratic foundation built by earlier generations.

Nylon Cheng founded the Freedom Era Weekly magazine in 1984, during martial law, and was a pro-democracy activist and a self-declared supporter of Taiwan's independence.

He self-immolated on April 7, 1989, after being charged with sedition for publishing a "Draft Constitution of the Taiwan Republic" in January. He was 41.

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Taiwan has become an indispensable partner in global supply chains as U.S. tariffs on China accelerate a major economic realignment, an American public affairs expert said Tuesday.

Speaking at a Taiwan-U.S. business forum in Taipei, Arthur Estopinan said global trade rules are being "rewritten," with policy decisions, corporate strategies and capital flows reshaping supply chains at an unprecedented pace.

"We're living through a structural shift in the global economy, and the U.S.-Taiwan relationship is no longer defined by diplomacy or security. It is defined by capital, technology and shared economic strategy," he said.

He said that after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025 and imposed tariffs exceeding 100 percent on some Chinese goods, the move effectively froze much of the bilateral trade, prompting companies to rapidly reconfigure supply chains.

Against that backdrop, U.S. imports from Taiwan surged, with Taiwan's exports to the United States rising nearly 60 percent in one year, he said.

Estopinan noted that Taiwan produces more than 90 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors, making it critical to industries such as artificial intelligence, defense and high-tech manufacturing.

He added that Taiwan firms have expanded production across North America, pairing mass manufacturing in Mexico with high-end operations in the U.S.

Citing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s US$165 billion investment in Arizona, Estopinan said the move signals where global production and long-term economic alignment are heading.

He also pointed to bipartisan support in Washington for strengthening economic ties with Taiwan, including efforts to reduce double taxation and encourage investment.

According to Estopinan, Taiwan differs from countries such as Vietnam and India by providing core technologies rather than competing as a low-cost assembly base.

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Fuel surcharges on international flights departing from Taiwan increased by more than double on Tuesday, but the country's major carriers said they would still have to absorb most of the recent increase in jet fuel prices.

The surcharge for short-haul routes has increased from US$17.5 to US$45, while long-haul routes jumped from US$45.5 to US$117, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said Tuesday.

Under existing regulations, short-haul routes cover flights within Asia (excluding India and the Middle East), while long-haul routes include destinations in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania, Antarctica, India, and the Middle East.

The CAA said the adjustment follows a recent surge in aviation fuel prices, based on the latest pricing announced by CPC Corp., Taiwan, which showed jet fuel rising from US$0.583 per liter on Jan. 1 and US$0.6126 per liter on March 1 to US$1.2816 per liter on April 1.

Taiwan's major airlines said the spike in March meant they would absorb most of the jet fuel price increase despite the fuel surcharge hikes.

China Airlines (CAL) said that its per-passenger fuel costs have risen to US$524.03 for long-haul flights, from US$168 in January, and to US$112.99 for short-haul routes.

After factoring in the approved surcharge, the airline is still absorbing about 77.67 percent of the increased costs for long-haul routes and 60.18 percent for short-haul, it said.

EVA Airways reported larger increases, with per-passenger fuel costs rising to US$774.09 for long-haul routes, from US$249 in January, and to US$129.53 for short-haul routes.

Even after applying the surcharge, the carrier is covering around 85 percent and 65 percent of the increased costs, respectively.

Starlux Airlines said its added fuel costs per passenger have risen to US$258.69 for long-haul flights and US$59.92 for short-haul flights, with the airline absorbing roughly 64 percent and 42 percent of the increases after the surcharge is applied.

Airlines have already updated their websites to reflect the new rates for all international tickets issued as of Tuesday.

Taipei, April 6 (CNA) Taiwanese table tennis ace Lin Yun-ju (林昀儒) took bronze at the ITTF World Cup in Macau on Sunday after losing 3-4 to Japan's Sora Matsushima in the semifinals.

Lin, 24, ranked No. 7, had beaten world No. 8 Matsushima, 18, in all six of their previous meetings.

After losing the opening game 7-11, Lin won the next two 11-6 and 12-10.

Matsushima then rallied from 7-9 down to take the fourth game 11-9 before winning the fifth 11-5 to lead 3-2.

Lin forced a decider with an 11-2 win in the sixth, but Matsushima closed out the seventh 11-6.

It was Lin's second World Cup men's singles bronze, following his 2019 finish in Chengdu.

The Macau tournament was held at the Galaxy Arena from March 30 to April 5.

Taipei, April 6 (CNA) Two Taiwanese Olympic bronze medalists, Huang Hsiao-wen (黃筱雯) and Chen Nien-chin (陳念琴), advanced to the finals of the 2026 Asian Boxing Elite Championships in Mongolia on Monday after winning their semifinal bouts.

Huang, who finished third in the women's 51-kg division at the Tokyo Games in 2021, will compete for gold in the 54-kilogram division, while Chen, a bronze medalist in the women's 66-kg division at the Paris Olympics in 2024, will seek the title in the 65-kg division.

Both secured their spots in Thursday's finals by majority decision, following earlier semifinal losses by teammates Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) and Guo Yi-xuan (郭怡萱) in the women's 60- and 51-kg divisions, respectively.

Despite a one-point deduction, Huang narrowly defeated China's Zhao Xuan (趙軒), with two judges scoring the bout 29-27 in Huang's favor, two scoring it 28-28, and one awarding it to Zhao 29-27.

Meanwhile, Chen defeated India's Ankushita Boro in a two-round bout, with three judges scoring the bout 20-18 for Chen and two scoring it even.

Chen led after the first round, with three judges scoring it 10-9 in her favor and two giving the round to Boro.

The bout was briefly halted due to a power outage with 1 minute and 15 seconds remaining in the second round. When power was restored about 15 minutes later, judges based their decisions on the first two rounds, scoring the second round 10-9 for Chen across all five cards.

The tournament, World Boxing's first regional championship, has drawn more than 230 athletes from over 25 countries competing across 20 weight classes.

On the morning of March 31, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE). In remarks, President Lai thanked the European Parliament for its longstanding, staunch support for Taiwan. He emphasized that in the face of growing authoritarian expansion, Taiwan understands the need to steadily bolster its self-defense capabilities, overall societal resilience, and collaboration with like-minded partners, as only through strength can peace and stability in the region be ensured. President Lai expressed hope that Taiwan and the European Union will continue expanding cooperation in key strategic industries and join hands to safeguard our cherished universal values such as democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights.

I would first like to warmly welcome our esteemed guests from the European Parliament. This is the first official delegation from the SEDE to visit Taiwan since it was upgraded to a full standing committee last year, making your trip all the more meaningful. I thank you all for the great importance you attach to Taiwan and for your support.

I also wish to extend appreciation to the European Parliament for its strong backing of Taiwan. In January, resolutions on the annual implementation reports for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy were adopted. They reaffirmed the EU's opposition to China's distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and to the use of force or coercion to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Moreover, the European Parliament supports the continued deepening of Taiwan-EU cooperation and exchanges across various domains. This demonstrates the EU's commitment to upholding democratic values and underscores that Taiwan is one of its key partners in the Indo-Pacific.

In the face of growing authoritarian expansion, Taiwan understands the need to steadily bolster our self-defense capabilities, overall societal resilience, and collaboration with like-minded partners. Only through strength can we ensure peace and stability in the region. Therefore, in recent years, Taiwan has actively advanced the domestic development of aircraft, naval vessels, and unmanned vehicles. The government has also proposed a US$40 billion special defense budget spanning eight years. It aims to boost national defense and build more resilient defense systems. Defense spending, as it is defined by NATO, will be 3.32 percent of GDP this year, and we expect it to reach 5 percent of GDP by 2030.

After my inauguration, I established the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee under the Presidential Office. Integrating the strengths of the central government, local governments, and the private sector, it aims to comprehensively expand Taiwan's risk management and crisis response capabilities. By strengthening civilian force training, strategic material preparation, the healthcare system, and critical infrastructure, Taiwan is creating a solid foundation of societal resilience for national security.

Taiwan has long stood on the frontline against authoritarian expansion and hybrid threats. We are glad to share the experience we have gained with the EU and other friends and allies in the international community. By joining hands, we can safeguard regional peace and the democratic way of life we hold dear. Looking ahead, I hope that with the support of our guests here today and the European Parliament, Taiwan and the EU will be able to form mechanisms for even closer cooperation in key strategic industries including drones, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and aerospace. Together, we can create safe, trusted, and resilient democratic supply chains to maintain the security and autonomy of key sectors.

I would like to emphasize that democratic cooperation is not about opposing anyone else, but rather about protecting our cherished universal values such as democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. In closing, I would like to once again thank our guests for visiting Taiwan at a time of such intense geopolitical shifts, expressing their support through concrete action. I hope that this visit will further deepen mutual understanding and trust between Taiwan and the EU and lay an even more solid foundation for future collaboration. I wish you all a pleasant and productive stay.

SEDE Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann then delivered remarks, stating that although the members of the delegation come from different member states and political groups, they are united in a common purpose, which is to deepen their understanding, listen carefully, and strengthen their cooperation with Taiwan. She continued on to say that their visit has particular importance for them, as it is the first mission of the SEDE to Taiwan since it became a full standing committee, and that it takes place at a very serious moment. Europe is waking up to new security realities, she said, first triggered by Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. In addition, she continued, war in the Middle East is now drawing much of the international community's attention, and there is also growing instability in the broader strategic environment, with many asking whether this could create new risks for Taiwan.

Chair Strack-Zimmermann stated that for this reason, it is important for Europe to be present, attentive, and clear. From Russia to the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, she said, war and threats of war make it difficult not to see the situation as one increasingly unstable security complex. The chair continued on to say that the delegation is here because Taiwan matters to Europe, and that Taiwan matters as a democracy, as an economic and technological partner, and as an important actor in the global trading system. Taiwan also matters because peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are directly relevant not only for this region, but also for European security and prosperity, she said.

The chair indicated that Europe is also going through an important change; in response to Russia's war against Ukraine, it is strengthening its approach to security and defense. She noted that Europe is investing more, is thinking more seriously about preparedness and resilience, and is paying closer attention to the protection of critical technologies and supply chains, and that in this respect, Europe and Taiwan face different situations but understand and are affected by many of the same challenges. She then stated that their message is clear and balanced: They support stability, support dialogue, and oppose coercion and any unilateral change to the status quo by force, while also remaining committed to a responsible and pragmatic European approach.

Chair Strack-Zimmermann said that they also believe cooperation between Europe and Taiwan should continue to grow in practical ways, including areas such as secure supply chains, semiconductors, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and defense industrial resilience. These are not only economic issues, she said, but also security issues. She closed her remarks by saying that the delegation has come with a genuine wish to deepen practical cooperation with Taiwan.

The delegation also included Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Nicolás Pascual De La Parte of the European People's Party, Vice-chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Countries of Central America José Cepeda, and Vice-chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet, as well as MEPs Mārtiņš Staķis and
Nikolas Farantouris. They were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Head of the European Economic and Trade Office Lutz Güllner.