Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

June 2, 2026  No. 248  International support for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) has remained strong despite the WHO decision—in contravention of its principle of leaving no one behind—to yield to pressure from China and exclude the 23 million people of Taiwan from the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA), which concluded on May 23. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and its overseas missions made concerted efforts to maintain global backing. For this year’s WHA, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung led a Taiwan public healthcare team to Geneva to host the Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang also traveled to Switzerland for the occasion, marking the first time that Taiwan’s minister of foreign affairs and minister of health and welfare jointly promoted Taiwan’s bid in Geneva.

Formed by representatives of 30 leading domestic healthcare facilities and businesses, the public healthcare team showcased Taiwan’s innovation capabilities, smart technology, and resilience and gave the international community a more comprehensive understanding of the contributions that Taiwan can make to public health.

Attracting 1,300 visitors, the expo facilitated talks between Taiwanese participants and 683 foreign buyers. The value of preliminary orders reached US$1.2 million, and US$6.71 million in other potential business opportunities were identified, making the event a great success. 

In Geneva, Minister Lin interacted with delegates from allies and like-minded countries to cultivate support for Taiwan. One week before the opening of the WHA, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger also visited the city, where he met with the WHA representatives of 14 diplomatic allies and friendly countries to gain their endorsement.

MOFA sincerely appreciates all the backing it has received from the international community. The 11 diplomatic allies of Taiwan that are WHO members submitted proposals and spoke up for Taiwan at the WHA. In particular, Haiti, Belize, Palau, and Paraguay engaged in two-on-two debates with China and its allies at the WHA General Committee and plenary session. Furthermore, 15 like-minded countries championed Taiwan’s bid, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Estonia, Luxembourg, Sweden, Latvia, and Israel. The European Union (represented by Cyprus) also extended support. 

As China and its allies continued to distort United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 at the WHA, Haiti, Palau, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Belize publicly and strongly refuted such claims, emphasizing that the resolutions had nothing to do with Taiwan and could not serve as basis for precluding Taiwan’s participation in WHO or the UN system. At the plenary session on May 22, the Japanese delegation also openly contested China’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758. 

To express staunch support for Taiwan’s participation in WHO and the WHA, the representative offices in Taiwan of nine countries—Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Lithuania—issued a joint statement during the WHA. Moreover, the executive and legislative branches of government of over 50 countries also advocated for Taiwan through social media, letters, and resolutions. These efforts were spearheaded by US Permanent Representative to the UN Michael Waltz; former US Permanent Representative to the UN Nikki Haley; Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard; Spanish Cochair of the Formosa Club Eloy Suárez and 39 club members; the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom; and the European Parliament. Internationally renowned healthcare organizations, such as the World Medical Association and the Standing Committee of European Doctors, as well as professional medical organizations and healthcare professionals from Europe, Asia, and Latin America, submitted letters to the WHO director-general on behalf of Taiwan and issued public statements. 

Meanwhile, to further aid Ukraine in public health, Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund and Malteser International, the international humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, signed a letter of intent for cooperation during the WHA on rehabilitation and psychosocial support programs for amputees in Ukraine. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Minister Lin. Through this initiative, Taiwan will assist with training 250 healthcare professionals, including prosthetists, physical therapists, and psychotherapists in Ukraine, helping 3,000 amputees and their families with physical rehabilitation and psychological recovery and demonstrating that humanitarianism knows no borders. 

A cross-party delegation of legislators comprising Liao Wei-hsiang, Kuo Yu-ching, and Chen Gau-tzu traveled to Geneva this year to demonstrate to the international community through concrete action that the Taiwan government’s WHO bid enjoyed strong backing from across the political spectrum and the public. 

Furthermore, around 150 people from Taiwanese communities and student groups overseas gathered in Geneva to hold exhibitions, organize marches and parades, and participate in forums and international seminars, bolstering the government’s efforts and highlighting Taiwan’s appeal and determination to participate in WHO and the WHA.

Through the active coordination and arrangements of MOFA and its overseas missions, a total of 443 media contributions were published. These included articles by Minister Shih and overseas missions in international media outlets, interviews with heads of missions, and supportive columns and commentaries by scholars and experts. Videos for this year’s WHA bid and the Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo received more than 429,000 views. MOFA and its overseas missions made a total of 1,695 posts in multiple languages on such social media platforms as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X, reaching over 1.2 million views. 

This year in Geneva, Taiwan successfully adopted new approaches in its international engagement through positive, active, and creative outreach. Besides creating opportunities overseas for Taiwanese enterprises, our efforts have ensured that the international public health community was fully aware that excluding Taiwan from WHO would be detrimental to all mankind. These efforts fully exemplified the integrated diplomacy policy, encompassing the aspects of values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic diplomacy. 

MOFA will continue to leverage cross-agency cooperation and public-private efforts to inject further momentum into Taiwan’s WHO bid. It will also work with global partners to advance the health, well-being, and the right to health of all of humanity. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

July 3, 2026  No. 307  The Taiwan government has decided to establish the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Phoenix, Arizona, to enhance services for Taiwan businesses and overseas compatriots in the United States and promote bilateral investment. Preparations are currently underway. 
 
Taiwan and the United States continue to deepen cooperation and exchanges in trade, technology, education, and supply chains. Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, is an important and rapidly growing city in the southwestern United States. As Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturers and related supply chain companies continue to expand their investments in the area, Phoenix has progressively developed into a sizeable and strategically significant technology industry cluster. It has become a vital hub for Taiwan and the United States to jointly build reliable and highly resilient technology industry supply chains.
 
The decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to establish an office in Phoenix is based on the new Taiwan-US high-tech industrial cooperation landscape, the increasing number of Taiwan enterprises and overseas compatriots in Arizona and surrounding areas, and the ever-closer interactions between Taiwan and various US state and municipal governments. 
 
Moving forward, the Phoenix office will help bolster ties between Taiwan, the state government of Arizona, and the municipal government of Phoenix. The new office will respond promptly to the investment and operational needs of Taiwan companies and promote bilateral cooperation in such domains as the economy, trade, technology, supply chains, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
 
The Phoenix office will also provide more convenient consular services to overseas compatriots, Taiwan nationals, and Taiwan enterprises in Arizona and New Mexico. Once established, it will become Taiwan’s fourteenth office in the United States. Taiwan’s existing offices are located in Washington, DC, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Chicago, Honolulu, Denver, Miami, and Guam.
 
MOFA will continue to work with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and its other US offices, building on solid foundations to further the mutually beneficial Taiwan-US partnership and promote exchanges and industrial cooperation at the local level. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA launches international short film competition

Date：2026-06-30
Data Source：Department of International Information Services

June 30, 2026  
No. 302  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on June 30 the launch of the second edition of its annual international short film competition called #FindingTaiwan2.0: Where We Connect. MOFA invites filmmakers from  around the world to compete for a total prize pool of NT$800,000. Entries may be submitted between July 1 and August 31, 2026. 

The theme of this year’s contest highlights Taiwan’s links to the international community. MOFA welcomes entries that explore the connections between democracy, innovation, culture, technology, and people-to-people ties. Entrants are encouraged to draw on their own observations and perspectives to create narratives that enhance understanding of Taiwan. 

The competition also features the Taiwan Panorama Special Award. Taiwan Panorama magazine has long introduced Taiwan to the international community through articles and photographs. The award has been established to mark the publication’s 50th anniversary. Participants are invited to explore the magazine’s online archives and reinterpret the historical images and reportage in new ways. 

The film contest debuted last year, when the theme was finding and discovering Taiwan. Creators from Taiwan and all over the world enthusiastically took part and presented a diverse range of moving stories about Taiwan informed by many cultural perspectives. Entries showcased the diversity and warmth of Taiwan to a global audience.

Further details may be found at https://findingtaiwan2026.com.tw/en. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai meets President of Guatemalan Congress Luis Alberto Contreras Colíndres
On the morning of July 8, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Luis Alberto Contreras Colíndres, the president of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala. In remarks, President Lai thanked the delegation for taking concrete action to deepen exchanges between the legislatures of Taiwan and Guatemala. He stated that the two nations share a brotherly bond, and that over recent years, they have continued to deepen cooperation across various fields, including medical care, industrial development, and economic and trade exchanges. Looking ahead, the president noted that the government will continue to encourage Taiwanese businesses to utilize Guatemala as a key hub for establishing a presence in the markets of the Americas, thereby deepening bilateral cooperation and working together to promote progress and prosperity for both countries and the world.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I would like to extend a warm welcome to President Contreras and the cross-party delegation from the Guatemalan Congress on your visit to Taiwan. This is the first visit to Taiwan for Congress President Contreras as well as many of the legislators present today. I am confident that through this trip, you will gain an even deeper understanding of Taiwan. I would also like to thank all of our distinguished guests for taking concrete action to deepen exchanges between our two legislatures, demonstrating once again to the international community the profound diplomatic friendship between our two nations.
Taiwan and Guatemala share a brotherly bond. Over these past few years, we have continuously deepened our cooperative relationship, achieving fruitful results across various fields, including medical care, industrial development, and economic and trade exchanges. In particular, during their state visit to Taiwan in June last year, President Bernardo Arévalo and the First Lady not only reaffirmed the excellent bilateral ties between our two nations, but also expressed a desire to map out new directions for our bilateral cooperation. At that time, President Arévalo and I jointly signed a letter of intent for semiconductor cooperation, and witnessed the signing of cooperative agreements between our two countries, which established a mechanism for political consultation and continued to advance bilateral investment cooperation.
Now, through the mutual exchanges and joint efforts of our two countries, and while steadily advancing its own national development strategy of “Ruta del Chip” (route of the chip), Guatemala has also further deepened its economic and trade ties with Taiwan. Over the past two years, Guatemala’s exports to Taiwan have reached US$130 million, demonstrating the immense cooperative capacity of our two nations. Furthermore, Guatemala has now become Taiwan’s largest supplier of cane sugar and fourth largest supplier of coffee. This shows that high-quality agricultural products from Guatemala have already become a part of everyday life for many people in Taiwan. Looking ahead, our government will continue to encourage more Taiwanese businesses to utilize Guatemala as a key hub for establishing a presence in the markets of the Americas. Together, we will continue to deepen our diplomatic bond and bring about prosperity and development.
I look forward to Taiwan and Guatemala continuing to walk side by side and supporting each other on the international stage. I would also like to express my gratitude to Congress President Contreras for signing a resolution this past May in support of Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations system and the World Health Organization, as well as to the Guatemalan Congress for its strong voice of support in collectively backing Taiwan’s international participation. Moving forward, I hope we can work together to enable both Taiwan and Guatemala to shine brightly in the international community, and to jointly promote the progress and prosperity of our two nations and the world.
Congress President Contreras then delivered remarks, stating that the Guatemalan Congress is an unwavering and loyal friend of Taiwan, and that he hopes this brotherly diplomatic relationship will endure for generations. He noted that leading an official delegation to visit Taiwan and meet with President Lai is an important moment for strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala. On behalf of the Guatemalan Congress, he expressed deepest gratitude for the strong friendship and invaluable cooperative ties between the two nations.
Congress President Contreras indicated that Taiwan is an inspiring national model in numerous areas, including social development, innovation, and economic growth. He stated that Taiwan has proven to the world that great perseverance, vision, and hard work can yield outstanding results. He expressed gratitude to Taiwan for its continuous assistance to Guatemala, particularly regarding various cooperative projects aimed at the modernization of the legislature, which help strengthen democratic mechanisms and enhance its capacity to serve the Guatemalan people.
Congress President Contreras stated that the Guatemalan Congress reaffirms its firm stance to continue working hand in hand with Taiwan. He also expressed high recognition and admiration for the remarkable achievements attained by Taiwan’s people in economic, social, and democratic development. The congress president said that he looks forward to further strengthening the strategic alliance between Taiwan and Guatemala through this visit, continuing to forge a future of shared prosperity, and he extended his best wishes for the enduring friendship between the two nations.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Guatemala Ambassador Luis Raúl Estévez López.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

LEAP East 2026, the first LEAP conference to be held outside of Saudi Arabia, highlights Hong Kong’s role as a unique gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the world.

Running at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre until tomorrow, the event has brought together 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors and over 35,000 visitors from 30 countries and regions.

Among the exhibitors is a Saudi digital enterprise specialising in artificial intelligence and data analytics. Its Strategic Relations Vice President Majid Saad Alarifi said LEAP East can facilitate the expansion of its overseas business.

He elaborated that with governments showing increasing interest in the smart city concept, Hong Kong, as a high-tech and well-governed place, provides an excellent platform allowing his firm to tap into the Asia-Pacific market.

Meanwhile, at the HKSTP Pavilion set up by the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation, 23 park companies are showcasing their innovations and services. Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation Chief Marketing Officer Hilda Chan stressed that LEAP East realises Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector.

She added that the event has brought startups to Hong Kong so that they can better understand the city’s ecosystem, while also allowing Hong Kong startups to connect with overseas investors and find business match-ups.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Education Bureau announced today that the selection process for the fifth cohort under the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS) has been completed, with 319 students accepting university offers.

For this cohort, a total of 847 valid nominations were received from 433 secondary schools. The eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) subsequently arranged interviews for the nominees.

Firm offers were made to 325 successful nominees prior to the release of this year’s Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination results. Among these, 319 have accepted the offers are set to begin their chosen undergraduate studies in various disciplines in September.

Starting with the 2025-26 school year, each of the eight UGC-funded universities will be invited to nominate SNDAS students who demonstrate exceptional proficiency in arts, sports and/or community service for scholarships above and beyond the firm offers granted.

With no means testing in play, each awardee will be granted a scholarship of $10,000 per year throughout their four-year academic pursuit under the Home Affairs Bureau’s Multi-talent Development Scholarship.

The scheme’s sixth round will open to Secondary 6 students, who are gearing up for the next HKDSE Examination and preparing to start their undergraduate studies in September 2027. Details will be announced in due course.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA welcomes public comments from Philippine Secretary of National Defense Teodoro on deepening Taiwan-Philippines cooperation

Date：2026-06-01
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

June 1, 2026  No. 246  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely welcomes and highly commends comments made by Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro while he attended the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30.

Secretary Teodoro said that in the face of China’s continued expansion of military influence and coercive actions in the region, and in addition to his country’s current efforts to strengthen security relations with the United States, the Philippines was seeking exchanges and cooperation with such defense partners as Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan so as to jointly respond to regional challenges.

MOFA emphasizes that Taiwan and the Philippines continue to strengthen their substantive partnership under the integrated diplomacy and three-chain strategy advanced by President Lai Ching-te and MOFA. This has included bolstering both nations’ supply chain resilience through the promotion of the Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor. Taiwan has also been pleased to see the Philippines launch supply chain cooperation with the United States under the Pax Silica initiative. It looks forward to developing a comprehensive partnership with the Philippines in economic, security, technological, and people-to-people exchanges, and aspires to work with the Philippines and like-minded nations to enhance democracy, peace, and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to Japanese statements on Chinese interference in President Lai’s planned visit to Eswatini

April 23, 2026  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung affirms and welcomes the statements by Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara and members of the National Diet on Chinese interference in President Lai Ching-te’s planned visit to Eswatini, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan. 

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara stated on April 23 in response to media questions that Japan would continue to monitor the situation regarding Taiwan. He also emphasized that ensuring flight safety was a major issue in the common interest of the international community and that relevant countries should maintain transparency in their operations. 
 
In addition, members of Japan’s National Diet from both the ruling and opposition parties immediately and publicly condemned China for engaging in unreasonable suppression and intimidation. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign, independent, and democratic nation. Neither it nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. No attempt to infringe upon Taiwan’s sovereign status can change this internationally recognized objective status quo or hinder Taiwan’s diplomatic interaction with other countries. China should immediately cease all actions and statements that undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region. 

As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan has always upheld relevant international norms and will continue to deepen cooperation with its allies and friendly nations such as Japan so as to jointly counter the challenge posed by authoritarianism to regional security and peace.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     ​The 8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme, attended by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Ms Shirley Lam, together with six Permanent Secretaries of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, successfully concluded today (July 8). The Permanent Secretaries who also attended included the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li; the Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), Ms Doris Ho; the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi; the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms May Chan; the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Angela Lee; and the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Vic Yau.

      This morning, the delegation met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore, Mr Gan Kim Yong, and the Coordinating Minister for Public Services of Singapore, Mr Chan Chun Sing, respectively. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, such as on development projects of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Northern Metropolis, which present further cooperation opportunities between Hong Kong and Singapore.

​Upon arrival in Singapore the day before yesterday (July 6), Ms Lam had a meeting with the Head of Civil Service of Singapore, Mr Chan Heng Kee, to exchange views on civil service management. The Permanent Secretaries of the delegation also had separate meetings with several Permanent Secretaries of Singapore to discuss respective policy areas such as youth development, land planning, innovation and technology, education, trade and transport.

Yesterday (July 7), the delegation had a roundtable discussion with a number of Permanent Secretaries of Singapore to share their latest policies and experience on three key topics, namely AI, citizen engagement and urban planning. Ms Lam said that Hong Kong and Singapore share many similarities, and that the roundtable discussion provided an important platform for civil service leaders of both sides to engage in in-depth and candid exchanges on the common challenges and opportunities, draw reference from each other and explore new areas for collaboration.

While in Singapore, the delegation also visited Punggol for on-site inspections of the Punggol Digital District and One Punggol. They toured the Dawson Estate, a public housing project, and the Gardens by the Bay.

Summing up the three-day Exchange Programme, Ms Lam expressed her gratitude to the Singapore Government for its meticulous arrangement, which enabled the civil services from both sides to engage in in-depth and frank discussions across various policy areas and to gain inspiration from one another. Following the 7th Exchange Programme hosted by the HKSAR Government in 2023, this delegation visit to Singapore underscores the solid collaborative relationship between the civil services of both places and marks a key milestone in their shared pursuit of excellence in public service. She noted that amid today’s ever-changing geopolitical environment, it is particularly important for the two governments to continue deepening their co-operation. She said she looks forward to sustaining this positive spirit of collaboration with Singapore through the Exchange Programme and across various policy domains and occasions, thereby propelling both places to new heights of development.

The delegation of Permanent Secretaries of the HKSAR Government departed for Singapore on July 6, and completed the itinerary before departing for Hong Kong this afternoon.