Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the afternoon of July 7, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by United States Senator Tammy Duckworth. In remarks, President Lai thanked Senator Duckworth for introducing a bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election, demonstrating the deep friendship between Taiwan and the US. The president pointed out that Taiwan and the US are key strategic and economic partners. Noting that Taiwan aims to become an Asian hub for global drone development, he expressed his belief that cooperation in the drone industry can advance the defense capabilities and the economic development of both Taiwan and the US, while also bolstering democratic and technological resilience, allowing both sides to contribute even more to global peace and prosperity.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
It is a great pleasure to receive our dear friend Senator Duckworth and her delegation in Taiwan once again. I remember last year, when we met at the Presidential Office, I invited Senator Duckworth to visit Taiwan every year. And as we meet again today, I would like to express a warm welcome and deepest thanks to all of our guests, as well as my hope that this tradition will continue.
Your visit falls on a meaningful occasion. Just a few days ago, the US celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I offer my sincerest congratulations. I also thank Senator Duckworth for introducing a bipartisan Senate resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election. This demonstrated that Taiwan and the US share the values of freedom and democracy and enjoy a deep friendship. Senator Duckworth’s tireless efforts to put forth pro-Taiwan bills over the years and to facilitate vaccine donations to Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate the high regard the US Congress and government have for Taiwan, and that support in the US for Taiwan is strong and bipartisan. For this, I express sincere gratitude on behalf of the people of Taiwan.
Senator Duckworth pays close attention to the situation across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan has always worked to maintain regional peace and stability. That is why we will continue to bolster our self-defense capabilities. Our defense spending, as defined by NATO, surpassed 3 percent of GDP this year, and we expect it to reach 5 percent by 2030.
I want to thank Senator Duckworth for facilitating Taiwan-US drone industry cooperation. We hope that with the support of Senator Duckworth, the US Congress, and government, Taiwan can become an Asian hub for global drone development. The government has allocated resources for a drone industry development project and has proposed a draft special act and special budget for the procurement of drones and unmanned surface vehicles. This will allow us to remain abreast of developments. Our goals are to strengthen national defense, maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and propel Taiwan’s economic and industrial development.
Taiwan and the US are key strategic and economic partners. We hope that Taiwan-US security cooperation will evolve beyond military procurement to a partnership that encompasses joint research and development and joint production. I believe that exchanges and cooperation in the drone industry can advance the defense capabilities and the economic development of both Taiwan and the US, while also bolstering democratic and technological resilience. This will allow us to contribute even more to global peace and prosperity.
Last year, Taiwan became the fourth largest trading partner of the US. And in the first quarter of this year, the US became Taiwan’s largest trading partner. Looking ahead, we will encourage more bilateral investment and industrial exchanges and cooperation, and we will continue deepening economic ties to make our cooperation more fruitful.
In closing, I once again welcome Senator Duckworth and the members of the delegation. I am confident that with your support, Taiwan-US cooperation across all sectors will continue steadily forward, growing stronger with time.
Senator Duckworth then delivered remarks, stating that she is proud to be the first US senator to visit Taiwan after the Trump-Xi summit to deliver a very strong message: Regardless of president or party, Congress’s commitment to Taiwan is steadfast; and that is not just talk. She asserted that Congress’s role matters to this relationship, giving the example of when, in 2021, she traveled to Taipei in the middle of the night with her colleagues, Senators Chris Coons and Dan Sullivan, to announce the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in a bipartisan message of steadfast support for Taiwan.
Senator Duckworth said that she was back in Taiwan in the same spirit of hope and commitment. She pointed out that Congress’s bipartisan commitment to Taiwan spans economics, security cooperation, and humanitarian and security assistance. Since she joined Congress, she said, she has been a leader in ensuring continued US assistance to Taiwan, including critical defense capabilities.
In this moment when some voices may try to question the commitment of the US to supporting Taiwan, Senator Duckworth reiterated that she and her bipartisan colleagues in Congress will continue to push for continued support for Taiwan and to uphold decades of US policy in support of Taiwan’s security. This, she explained, is because they know that Taiwan’s security matters for US security and the security of the rest of the world. She further pointed out that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would cost the global economy as much as US$10 trillion and put over 7 percent of the US GDP at risk, which is greater than the impact of the global financial crisis or the COVID pandemic.
Senator Duckworth stated that just as the commitment to our friendship is strong across parties in the US, she looks forward to continuing the strength of that friendship across the parties in Taiwan as well, emphasizing that our security depends on it.  
The delegation also included Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and State Senator Paul Faraci and was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.  

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the afternoon of July 7, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the 2026 Taiwan International Ocean Forum (TIOF). In remarks, President Lai stated that in the face of maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, deepening transnational cooperation and jointly enhancing maritime resilience mark the direction all countries must work toward together. The president said that Taiwan will continue to share experiences with other countries and establish closer and more efficient mechanisms for cooperation in areas such as maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and the protection of undersea infrastructure to jointly safeguard free, open, and secure oceans.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
The 2026 TIOF will be held tomorrow and the day after. Today, I am delighted to welcome our distinguished guests to the Presidential Office. I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone who traveled from afar to conduct exchanges addressing maritime issues together.
Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region is now facing unprecedented challenges, including the increasing frequency of gray-zone aggression, the rising number of maritime law enforcement conflicts, and the risk of damage to critical infrastructure such as undersea cables. All of these challenges indicate that maritime security is no longer just an issue for coastal states, but a critical issue closely related to global peace and prosperity. Taiwan sincerely thanks the Group of Seven for reiterating last month the importance of establishing a free and open Indo-Pacific region based on the rule of law, and opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion.
To maintain regional peace and stability, and in line with this year’s theme of “Maritime Resilience,” we firmly believe that the direction all countries must work toward is deepening transnational cooperation and jointly enhancing resilience to respond to new types of threats. Taiwan will also actively strengthen various response measures. Last month, our Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee conducted a tabletop exercise at the Presidential Office focused on gray-zone aggression and high-intensity maritime coercion to verify the emergency response capabilities of the government and the private sector. In the future, Taiwan will continue to share experiences with other countries, and work together to establish closer and more efficient mechanisms for cooperation in areas such as maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and the protection of undersea infrastructure.
Taiwan is an indispensable partner in promoting global ocean sustainability. Regarding the Our Ocean Conference held last month, Taiwan was unable to participate due to unreasonable political interference. I want to emphasize that the ocean knows no borders, and ocean governance should not be constrained by political factors. Taiwan’s determination to engage with the world will not change, and we will continue to contribute our efforts toward promoting cooperation on ocean affairs.
The TIOF is an important link between Taiwan and the world. This year, participants from 15 countries, including over 100 experts from the industrial, government, academic, and research sectors, along with international legislators, will be in attendance. This visit by our distinguished guests represents firm support for Taiwan. In addition to wishing this forum great success, I also hope that we will continue to move forward side by side with other nations, jointly safeguarding free, open, and secure oceans and promoting global peace, prosperity, and development.
Member of the Dutch House of Representatives Jan Paternotte then delivered remarks, saying that he represents not only the Netherlands, but also over 300 Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) legislators from 45 IPAC countries who, like him, are concerned with Taiwan’s security and prosperity. He indicated that this month marks 10 years since the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award, and it is therefore proper and fitting that Taiwan is the host of this week’s forum, as the Taiwan Strait is where freedom of navigation has to be reasserted continuously.
Mr. Paternotte then stated that this year, the world has experienced why freedom of navigation has not just been established as a legal right for all nations for over 100 years, but why it is pivotal to preserve that freedom for the world’s prosperity and energy security. Upholding Taiwan’s status quo, security, and freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait is a priority issue for IPAC, he said, and the delegation is pleased to discuss practical steps during the next day’s forum in line with IPAC’s Operation MIST and Initiative 2758, stressing the importance of strengthening Taiwan’s resilience through international cooperation, including that in maritime security.
Mr. Paternotte said that he is aware that for some of his colleagues, standing here in the Presidential Office carries a cost. He explained that in 2021, APT31, a hacking group associated with Chinese state security, targeted the email accounts of every European Union IPAC member. In addition, he said that Chinese diplomats have pressured legislators not to attend IPAC summits, and that delegations to Taiwan have drawn protests, threats, and sanctions. But they are here anyway, he said, and that is precisely the point.
Noting that President Lai has said that Taiwan stands on the frontlines of the democratic world and is determined to defend democracy, Mr. Paternotte added that the president has also spoken of a democratic umbrella held up together by partners who share this commitment. Mr. Paternotte said that the delegation is here because they hold that umbrella with President Lai and the people of Taiwan.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government has welcomed the Legislative Council’s passage of the Stamp Duty (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026, which sets out rules for the calculation and payment in Renminbi (RMB) of stamp duty arising from dual-counter stock transactions conducted at the RMB counter.

The measure, passed today, will allow investors to settle both their trades and the associated stamp duty, in RMB, at the same RMB counter. It is expected to increase the RMB counter’s turnover and liquidity, strengthening the RMB’s role as an international investment currency.

The legislation will be published in the Government Gazette on July 17.

To facilitate system preparations by the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing, the industry and relevant government departments, the new arrangements will commence on a day to be announced separately by the Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury by way of a notice published in the Gazette.

Source: Government of Singapore

JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN SPF, TP, NEA AND LTA 

8 Jul 2026 – The Traffic Police (TP), National Environment Agency (NEA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) conducted a multi-agency enforcement operation against errant motorcyclists along Admiralty Road West on 29 June 2026.

4          All motorists entering Singapore, including those driving and riding foreign-registered vehicles, must comply with Singapore’s traffic laws and vehicle

~~ End ~~

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Annex A

Penalties of Traffic Offences

TP

The offence of driving without a valid driving licence under Section 35(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 carries a fine of up to $10,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine of up to $20,000, a jail term of up to six years or both. The vehicle may also be forfeited.

The offence of using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage under Sec 3(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act 1960 carries a fine of up to $1,000, or a jail term of up to three months, or both.

NEA

The offence of using a motor vehicle with excessive vehicular emission and excessive vehicular noise under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations, carries a fine of up to $2,000 for the first conviction, and a fine of up to $5,000 for a second or subsequent conviction.

LTA

The offence of displaying improper licence plates carries a fine up to $1,000, or a jail term of up to 3 months, or both. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine of up to $2,000, or a jail term of up to 6 months, or both.

The offence of using or keeping on any road any vehicle without a valid road tax carries a fine up to $2,000 or a fine of an amount equal to 3 times the tax payable if it has been proven that the offender had the intention to evade payment of any tax chargeable under the Road Traffic Act 1961.

The offence of non-payment of vehicle entry permit carries a fine up to $1,000, or a jail term of up to 3 months, or both. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine of up to $2,000, or a jail term of up to 6 months, or both.

Annex B

NEA officers conducting checks on a motorcycle

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to false article by Swaziland News concerning ROC (Taiwan) ambassador to Eswatini

April 16, 2026  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) solemnly refutes a Swaziland News report that falsely accused ROC (Taiwan) Ambassador to Eswatini Jeremy H. S. Liang of engaging in multiple cases of corruption. The baseless report, which has recently been circulating on certain online platforms, provides no concrete evidence and is a typical example of disinformation and news manipulation. 

Since assuming his position, Ambassador Liang has actively deepened Taiwan-Eswatini diplomatic ties, advanced bilateral relations, and maintained cordial interactions with the royal family and the Eswatini government. His achievements are well documented. Unfortunately, this has made him a target of ill-intentioned individuals. 

Swaziland News is a media outlet headquartered in South Africa and funded by China to promote politically biased reporting. It has long criticized the royal family and Eswatini government policies and frequently disseminated false information on the international stage to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty and harm Taiwan-Eswatini ties. 

In the past, there have been similar instances of foreign entities systematically engaging in disinformation with the aim of sabotaging Taiwan’s diplomatic relations. For instance, during a visit by then¬¬–Vice President Lai Ching-te to Paraguay in 2023, certain individuals deliberately spread false reports to mislead the Taiwanese public and damage the government’s diplomatic efforts. 

MOFA urges the Taiwanese public to be vigilant and to not trust or share any disinformation that seeks to undermine Taiwan’s diplomatic relations and the efforts of frontline diplomatic personnel. MOFA will also compile details about relevant disinformation online and report them to the police so as to defend the reputation of MOFA and frontline diplomats. MOFA hopes that all sectors of society can work together to safeguard Taiwan’s foreign relations and national interests.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs today (July 7) detected a dangerous drug case and seized about 1 kilogram of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $0.8 million at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

A 21-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine in the shoes worn by him. He was subsequently arrested. 
 
After investigation, the arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (July 8).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account  (crimereport@customs.gov.hk)  or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002) .

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region