Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for European Parliament delegation

Date：2026-01-07
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

January 7, 2026No.008On behalf of the Taiwan government, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on January 6 to warmly welcome a 10-member delegation from the European Parliament. The two sides exchanged views on such issues as Taiwan-EU economic and trade cooperation, developments across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, and combating disinformation and cyberattacks.In his remarks, Minister Lin stated that Taiwan and the European Union shared the common values of democracy, freedom, and human rights. He noted that he had accompanied Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim to Brussels last year, where she attended the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China annual summit and delivered a keynote address at the European Parliament. He said that their trip had fully demonstrated the flourishing relations and ever-closer mutual trust between the two sides. Minister Lin thanked the members of the delegation for continuing to take concrete action to support and deepen bilateral relations. He also expressed hope that Taiwan and the European Union would further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in such domains as ensuring undersea cable security and resilience, building democratic supply chains, and countering authoritarian expansionism and hybrid security threats.Michael Gahler, head of the delegation and Chair of the European Taiwan Friendship Group, observed in his remarks that at a time of growing uncertainty worldwide, Taiwan and Europe were facing a number of common challenges. He anticipated that the visit would enhance the delegation’s understanding of developments in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. He also conveyed the delegation’s desire to further explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration in areas including the economy, security, and technology.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanks the European Parliament for its long-standing and steadfast support of Taiwan through concrete action. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to advance bilateral dialogue and exchanges and work hand in hand with the European Union to consolidate the mutually beneficial partnership grounded in democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. (E)
 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Health Bureau said today that as of Tuesday, 71 of the 79 patients admitted to Hospital Authority (HA) hospitals following November’s fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had recovered and been discharged, while the remaining eight were in a stable condition.

All individuals injured in the fire and admitted to public hospitals are entitled to receive full fee waivers for all necessary healthcare services throughout the entire process of their treatment and rehabilitation, the bureau added.

All residents of the eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court, including foreign domestic helpers, are eligible for full medical fee waivers until December 31 of this year. As of Tuesday, the HA had provided such services to around 1,800 affected residents.

District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses across all of the city’s 18 districts have set up hotlines to provide personalised case management services for affected residents. As of Tuesday, the hotlines had received 320 enquiries.

Regarding mental health services, the bureau said that from the time of the Tai Po blaze to January 13, the 18111 Mental Health Support Hotline had received over 15,000 calls, around 730 of which were related to the fire. An associated WhatsApp service has handled over 700 messages, with about 50 of these concerning the fire.

The HA’s 24-hour Mental Health Direct hotline had received 95 calls related to the blaze, with 35 of these coming from affected citizens.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the afternoon of January 14, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Mayor of the City of Phoenix, Arizona Kate Gallego. In remarks, President Lai thanked the city for building a business-friendly environment, making it possible for Taiwan’s semiconductor suppliers to establish a base and provide services in Phoenix, and allowing Phoenix to progressively develop a tech cluster of major strategic significance globally. He stated that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)’s investment in Arizona is one of the most notable achievements in Taiwan-United States exchanges, and is also a highly important symbol of collaboration between Taiwan and the US. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Phoenix will make steady progress, paving the way for more forward-looking exchanges and cooperation.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I would like to warmly welcome Mayor Gallego on her third visit to Taiwan since 2019, and thank her on behalf of our people for supporting Taiwan through concrete actions over many years. When I made a stopover in San Francisco as vice president in 2023, she attended our overseas community gathering, demonstrating her high regard and friendship for Taiwan and continuing to strengthen bilateral relations.
In addition to sharing the universal values of democracy and freedom, Taiwan and the US have progressively established deep and stable ties of friendship in such key areas as technology, the economy and trade, and talent cultivation. In particular, the US has become Taiwan’s largest target for overseas direct investment in recent years, accounting for over 40 percent of our total outbound investment. Meanwhile, Taiwan has also become a crucial trading and supply chain partner to the US. TSMC’s investment in Arizona is one of the most notable achievements in Taiwan-US exchanges. This is not just about a single company engaging in market expansion – as Taiwanese businesses expand their global presence and build up the high-tech and semiconductor industry domains, it is also a highly important symbol of Taiwan-US collaboration.
I would especially like to thank Mayor Gallego and the Phoenix City Government and Council for their efficiency and commitment to building a business-friendly environment and for providing such a wide range of assistance, from infrastructure to investment promotion and administrative coordination. This has made it possible for Taiwan’s semiconductor suppliers to establish a base and provide services in Phoenix. It is also allowing Phoenix to progressively develop a tech cluster of major strategic significance globally.
Facing the rapid arrival of the AI era, US President Donald Trump is seeking to actively promote reindustrialization and make the US a global AI hub. Taiwan is willing and able to employ its own comprehensive semiconductor and high-tech ecosystem in combination with the US’s powerful drive for innovation and large-scale market to jointly strengthen industrial connections and build trusted non-red supply chains. This will help further consolidate Taiwan-US economic and trade cooperation and industrial security.
Taiwan and Arizona are focusing strongly on talent cultivation and intergenerational connections. Through cooperation in higher education, we are promoting semiconductor and AI talent training, dual degree programs, internships, and research exchanges. Working step by step in support of industry, we are jointly building a new generation of talent with professional skills and global perspectives. This cooperative approach addresses actual industrial needs and binds Taiwan and Phoenix together, not only as tech investment partners, but also as strategic partners that are jointly nurturing future experts.
Moving ahead, Taiwan will continue to engage in more comprehensive and diverse exchanges with the US. I anticipate that, with the support and efforts of our guests, a Taiwan-US agreement on the avoidance of double taxation will be signed at the earliest possible juncture. This will help TSMC and its suppliers operate in the US on a long-term basis while generating even more high-paying jobs and growth among industrial clusters in Phoenix and Arizona. In closing, I once again welcome Mayor Gallego and her delegation to Taiwan and wish everyone a fruitful visit. I hope that Taiwan and Phoenix will make steady progress, paving the way for more diverse, deeper, and more forward-looking exchanges and cooperation.
Mayor Gallego then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai and the diplomatic team for their hospitality, and expressing appreciation for the warm partnership between the people of Phoenix and the people of Taiwan. She indicated that she is joined in the delegation by Phoenix City Councilwoman Ann O’Brien, who represents the district that is home to TSMC Arizona. Mayor Gallego noted that this was the largest foreign direct investment in US history, and that TSMC Arizona recently purchased additional land in Phoenix to allow for an expansion. She stated that TSMC’s success is Phoenix’s success, and that TSMC Arizona is already profitable. The firm has much benefited the people of Phoenix, she said, including young people who are able to buy their first homes and start families because of their jobs at TSMC Arizona. The mayor also thanked the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) for their work in facilitating the partnership.
Mayor Gallego pointed out that this month, they will also celebrate the inaugural non-stop flight between Taipei and Phoenix from STARLUX, which will join China Airlines in providing this service. She stated that these important flights will only deepen our ties, and expressed appreciation to President Lai for his partnership in the process. Mayor Gallego said that the delegation is working to make sure that the people of Phoenix know that Taipei should be their gateway to travel in Asia, and that people should come to Taiwan for both business and tourism. She added that there are also many experiences that Phoenix can offer to tourists from Taiwan.
The mayor indicated that there are decades of friendship between Arizona and Taiwan, and that we will soon have the chance to celebrate 50 years of the sister city relationship between Phoenix and Taipei. She said that they also celebrate the sister city relationship between Chandler, Arizona and Tainan, as well as the important relationships that President Lai started during his time as mayor of Tainan, highlighting the youth baseball friendship games that have continued to deepen the relationship between Arizona and Taiwan.
Although Arizona-Taiwan collaboration on semiconductors is the best known, Mayor Gallego continued, there is also a long history of collaboration in areas such as aerospace, including the training of pilots in Arizona, which they hope to build on. She also reported on successful collaboration in healthcare and bioscience, saying that many companies from Taiwan will be selling their products in the US with their North American headquarters in Phoenix. As these companies from Taiwan help the US address challenges such as cancer, she said, this will also help create jobs in Taiwan, benefiting both countries enormously.
Mayor Gallego stated that Phoenix is also working to bring in banking institutions, healthcare, and everything Taiwanese companies need to succeed in the US so that both sides can benefit from our mutual collaboration. To close, she said that they are honored to share so many values, from celebrating democracy to shared investment in innovation, for the benefit of both countries, and that they have a feeling 2026 will be our best year yet.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by AIT Acting Director Karin M. Lang.
 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated today (January 8, 2026) that children’s rain boots are not products subject to mandatory inspection by BSMI. Parents are advised to follow six key principles when purchasing and using children’s rain boots: “check labeling carefully,” “choose natural materials,” “identify through smelling, looking, and touching,” “ensure ventilation and avoid high temperatures,” “wear long socks for better protection,” and “wash hands thoroughly after removal,” in order to safeguard children’s wearing safety.

BSMI explained that a wide variety of children’s rain boots in different types and styles are available on the market. Consumers are advised, when purchasing and using such products, to consider not only factors such as price, practicality, and brand, but also to pay attention to the following matters:
1.Consumers should purchase products with Chinese labeling and carefully read the instructions for use and precautionary information.
2.Priority should be given to products made of natural materials (such as rubber) or new materials [such as silicone or EVA plastic (chemical name: ethylene-vinyl acetate)].
3.When purchasing or using the product, consumers may make judgments through sensory observation:
(1)Smell: Avoid purchasing rain boots that emit a strong plastic odor.
(2)Color: Avoid purchasing rain boots with overly bright or fluorescent colors.
(3)Touch: If the surface feels greasy or is prone to color fading or damage, there may be a risk of additive migration; such products should be avoided or no longer used.
4.Newly purchased rain boots should be placed in a well-ventilated area and air-dried in the shade for several days to allow volatile organic compounds to dissipate.
5.Keep away from high temperatures, as plasticizers are more likely to be released under heat. After rain boots become wet, they should be air-dried naturally; do not use a hair dryer with hot air or expose them to direct sunlight.
6.During use, children are advised to wear long socks to avoid direct friction and contact between the skin and the inner surface of the rain boots.
7.After removing the rain boots, children should develop the habit of washing their hands immediately with soap (or hand wash) to prevent residual chemicals from remaining on their hands.

For children’s rain boots on the market that fail to meet quality requirements, BSMI will, in accordance with Article 10 of the Consumer Protection Act, guide manufacturers and sellers to recall or correct the products within a specified period. BSMI will also conduct periodic market sampling and testing, and release the results in a timely manner to assist consumers in making informed purchases.

Responsible Division: Inspection Administration Division
Contact Person: Cheng, Ching-Hong, Deputy Director
Tel (O) +886-2343-1700#1211
Email: ch.cheng@bsmi.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, visited Nanning in Guangxi today (January 14).

     This morning, Professor Sun called on the Secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional People’s Congress, Mr Chen Gang, and learned that Guangxi is accelerating the high-quality development of artificial intelligence and building an industrial co-operation highland for the AI industry facing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They also had exchanges and in-depth discussions on further strengthening the co-operation and synergistic development between Hong Kong and Guangxi in various areas including AI, innovation and technology (I&T) parks, data infrastructure, data governance, and nurturing talent. Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee and Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of the Autonomous Region Ms Lu Xinning also attended the meeting.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Home Affairs Department (HAD) is accepting applications for the Neighbourhood Mutual Help Programme 2026-27 from today (January 14). The Programme offers funding to non-governmental organisations for organising various activities and providing services aimed at helping new arrivals from the Mainland and ethnic minorities integrate into the community, with a view to fostering better community cohesion and harmony.

     The application form and application guidelines are available on the HAD’s website (www.had.gov.hk/en/public_services/neighbourhood_mutual_help_programme/index.htm). Interested organisations should submit the completed application form by January 28, 2026 (Wednesday), to Division II, HAD, 31st floor, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2835 1543 or email cdps@had.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (January 14) that eight vacant stalls at the Sunlight Market will be available to the public for renting on January 22, 23 and 26 on a first-come, first-served basis.

     The retail commodities allowed for sale in these stalls cover vegetables, seawater fish, frozen/chilled meat (excluding chilled poultry), other food-related wet goods, non-food-related wet goods and non-food-related dry goods. The licence agreement is a 25-month fixed term starting from February 1, with no right of renewal upon expiry of the licence agreement. The licence fee of the stalls varies depending on their sizes. Relevant information is available on the FEHD website.

     Members of the public who are interested in renting a market stall should approach the Islands District Environmental Hygiene Office, Room 626, 6/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central (Tel: 2852 3606), to apply in person from 9.30am to 12.30pm or 2.30pm to 4.30pm during the abovementioned renting period. 

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, “Applicants for the market stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. To allow more people to select stalls and increase customer choices by enhancing the diversity in terms of the variety of stalls, each applicant can only rent one stall in the Sunlight Market. The terms and conditions of renting market stalls on a first-come, first-served basis have been uploaded to the FEHD website, detailing the qualifications of the applicants.”

     Details of renting market stalls in the FEHD Sunlight Market on a first-come, first-served basis have been uploaded to the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pleasant_environment/tidy_market/FCFS/index.html). Interested applicants may visit the department website or contact the Islands District Environmental Hygiene Office.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region