Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Housing Bureau today awarded the ninth and the 10th operation and management contracts of the Light Public Housing (LPH) projects to Easy Living Consultant–Yan Oi Tong–New Territories West Power Social Service Joint Venture, at tender sums of about $173.6 million and $179.1 million respectively.

The ninth and the 10th contracts cover Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project at Yan Po Road, Tuen Mun, which will provide a total of about 5,600 units and are expected to be gradually completed for tenant intake in the third quarter of this year.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho said: “Based on the current construction progress, we expect that a further 20,400 LPH units will be completed within 2026 and in early 2027, gradually moving towards the target of completing the construction of about 30,000 units by 2027-28.”

She added that today’s award marks the first time the bureau has awarded an operation and management contract to a joint venture comprising three organisations.

Among them, Easy Living Consultant and Yan Oi Tong have already been operating the nearby Tsing Fuk Lane project in Tuen Mun for the bureau, while New Territories West Power Social Service, participating in the operation of LPH for the first time, has been rooted in Tuen Mun District and serving its residents for years.

“Therefore, I have high expectations for them to give full play to their strengths in different areas.”

The response to LPH application has been overwhelming, with about 32,300 applications received as at March 25, 2026.

Call 3464 0700 or send an email for enquiries.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Housing Authority’s Subsidised Housing Committee today endorsed the proposed income and asset limits for applicants of different household sizes for 2026-27. The adjusted limits will take effect from April 1.

The committee endorsed raising the income limits for all household sizes by an average of 2.8% overall.

In addition, the committee also endorsed increasing the asset limits by 1.4% for all household sizes in accordance with the established mechanism.

Public rental housing income and asset limits are reviewed annually according to the established mechanism.

The income limits are derived using a household expenditure approach, which takes into consideration housing costs and non-housing costs, plus a 5% contingency provision. The asset limits are adjusted with reference to movements in the Consumer Price Index (A) over the year. 

Source: Government of Singapore

Chosen as the first radiochemistry Collaborating Centre in Southeast Asia

26 March 2026 – The National Radiochemistry Laboratory (NRL) under the National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore, has been officially designated as an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Collaborating Centre from 2026—2030, to lead the development of regional radiological monitoring and emergency response capabilities.

2                The NRL is the first and only IAEA Collaborating Centre on Radiochemistry in the ASEAN. It joins other laboratories such as the Republic of Korea’s Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) and Switzerland’s Spiez Laboratory. The Collaborating Centre will work closely with the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI).

Singapore’s role as an IAEA Collaborating Centre

3                 As an IAEA partner centre, NRL will share knowledge about radiochemistry analysis – the science of measuring radioactive materials. This will be done by combining radiochemistry analysis with environmental monitoring to support research and assess radiation exposure. With such capabilities, Singapore will also help other Southeast Asian countries to improve their ability to detect and respond to nuclear emergencies. This includes running workshops and helping to establish safety standards that suit the region’s needs.

Singapore earned recognition

4                 The designation was formalised through an agreement signed by Mr Wong Kang Jet, NEA Chief Executive Officer, and Ms Najat Mokhtar, the IAEA Deputy Director General. It followed a comprehensive review by the IAEA Committee for Coordinated Research Activities in nuclear sciences and applications, which assessed that the NRL possesses the necessary infrastructure, expertise and established internal and regional collaborations to support the IAEA’s programme within the Asia-Pacific region.

5               Mr Wong said, “We are honoured by the IAEA’s confidence in the NRL’s capabilities to serve as a regional hub for radiochemistry expertise. This recognition affirms the technical excellence that the NRL has built over the decades. As an IAEA Collaborating Centre, Singapore will support the region in strengthening nuclear safety frameworks, enhancing analytical capabilities, and reinforcing regional emergency preparedness. With growing regional interest in nuclear energy to meet future energy needs, it is crucial that we work together to uphold the highest safety standards.”

About IAEA Collaborating Centres

6               The Collaborating Centres Scheme started in 2004 and enables the IAEA to partner with Member State institutions to carry out programmes through research collaboration, technical expertise sharing and training activities. 

 

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Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Awards Ceremony of the 26th IBDC was held on March 25 by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In this edition, IBDC has invited 123 entries from 6 countries. Taiwanese designer Yen-Chung, Cho ultimately secured the Gold Medal with the “Mobile ecological data station-GreenTrail Hub”, a design that integrates big data with green energy. Having been deeply rooted for 30 years, the IBDC is not only a design competition but also a critical bridge for the global innovation and industrial application of Taiwan’s bicycle industry. By converging global creativity, it assists the industry in introducing key technologies and green materials, solidifying Taiwan’s leading position as a global R&D center for high-end bicycles.

In his opening remarks, Ming-Chi, Chuang, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), stated that over the past 30 years, the International Bicycle Design Competition (IBDC) has accumulated more than 15,000 entries from 87 countries, resulting in a total of over 60 creative products successfully launched on the market. Under the development trends of electrification, intelligence, and AI integration, the bicycle is no longer a mere means of transportation; it is now closely integrated with individual lifestyle and health while echoing the pulse of urban development. Furthermore, it serves as a vital tool as we march toward the Global 2050 Net-Zero goal.

Among this year’s 17 winning entries, we can see they are all tightly linked to the competition theme. Taking the Gold Medal entry as an example, the designer attempted to transform the bicycle into “urban neurons,” collecting various environmental data through sensory devices. This effectively allows direct participation in overall urban development, creating its own sustainable value.

The winning works of the 26th IBDC fully demonstrate the three major directions for the future development of the bicycle: a greater emphasis on riding safety, a closer alignment with daily needs, and the implementation of sustainability concepts.

-Gold Award:Mobile ecological data station-GreenTrail Hub: Using shared bicycles as a starting point, the design ingeniously combines smart big data with sustainability concepts, demonstrating the innovative thinking of “Green Cycling for Urban Sustainability,” which earned high praise from the jury.
-Silver Award:ORBI-smart cycling companion: Focusing on riding scenarios for parents and children, the design combines task-based elements with safety features to encourage children to develop habits of daily cycling and outdoor exploration through interaction.
-Bronze Award:Micromobility x Shopping: Starting from daily shopping needs, the design proposes a more convenient and labor-saving short-distance mobility concept, precisely addressing the practical pain points of consumers in their daily lives.

It is hoped that through the IBDC, more innovative concepts will be linked with Taiwan’s industrial chain in the future, driving product upgrades and startup development. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will continue to support industrial innovation and transformation, strengthening the key technology layout for high-end bicycles and electric-assist bicycles (E-bikes). Furthermore, it will vigorously promote the application of recycled materials and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes to comprehensively enhance the sustainable competitiveness of Taiwan’s bicycle industry and solidify its leading position in the global market.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam today met local officials, and attended the launch ceremony of the Jiangsu-Hong Kong Legal & Business Integration Service Platform, as he concluded a visit to Nanjing.

Mr Lam held a breakfast meeting with Mayor of Nanjing Li Zhongjun. Joined by other Nanjing leaders, they discussed developments in the city and opportunities for collaboration with Hong Kong. 

Mr Lam then attended the launch ceremony of the above-mentioned platform. Addressing those present, he said its establishment marks a significant milestone in terms of the deepening of co-operation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong.

The justice secretary added that the platform will help the two places complement each other’s strengths, better serving the “foreign-related” legal needs of Jiangsu enterprises while expanding opportunities for Hong Kong professional service providers.

Mr Lam also visited the Jiangsu (Nanjing) Foreign-related Legal Service Center to learn about the sector’s development.

Before leaving Nanjing, Mr Lam met Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province Hu Binchen. Mr Lam told Mr Hu he looks forward to the two places pragmatically advancing co-operation in different fields during the National 15th Five-Year Plan period, and to contributing jointly to the country’s high-level opening up.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly condemns and refutes Chinese Foreign Ministry’s false claims regarding Taiwan’s participation in WTO

Date：2026-03-25
Data Source：Department of North American Affairs

March 25, 2026  
No. 114  

At a press conference on March 24, the Chinese Foreign Ministry attempted to mislead the international community and suppress Taiwan’s international participation by erroneously claiming that the so-called “one China principle” was a political prerequisite for Taiwan’s participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expresses its strongest condemnation and categorically refutes this blatantly false and distorted narrative.
 
In accordance with Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Taiwan acceded to the WTO as a fully autonomous separate customs territory not subordinate to any other member. As such, Taiwan enjoys equal and complete rights under the WTO framework. There is absolutely no basis for China’s fallacious unilateral claim that Taiwan’s membership is predicated on the so-called “one China principle” as a political prerequisite.
 
MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country; that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other; and that the PRC has never governed Taiwan. These objective facts are the internationally recognized status quo. Only the democratically elected government of Taiwan can represent the 23 million people of Taiwan in multilateral organizations and at international events. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

No. 109  March 21, 2026   US Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz appeared before the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs of the House Committee on Appropriations on March 20 to testify during a field hearing on accountability and reform at the United Nations (UN) held at the US Mission to the UN in New York. 
 
During the hearing, John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, asked Ambassador Waltz about how the United States was working with allies and partners to maintain transparency and the integrity of UN institutions and address the issue of these organizations being leveraged by countries such as China and Russia for their own geopolitical agendas. In response, Ambassador Waltz stated that continual support of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations was a key part of the charge of the US Mission to the UN. 
 
Ambassador Waltz also stressed that Taiwan’s expertise and resources, particularly in technology, were of substantive benefit to the world in addressing some of the world’s most critical challenges and that the United States would not advocate for partners that do not share the same view on the value of freedom. He further pointed out that, for example, the United States opposed China’s intentional misuse and mischaracterization of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, which was part of China’s broader efforts to isolate Taiwan from the international community, adding that the United States had forcefully pushed back against China’s attempts and that he hoped this would be effective.
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung sincerely thanks Ambassador Waltz for publicly restating US support for Taiwan’s international participation and opposing China’s attempts to keep Taiwan out through its mischaracterization of UNGA Resolution 2758. He points out that staunch US support for Taiwan demonstrates that Taiwan is a responsible, capable, and key partner of the world’s nations and that the international community cannot condone political distortions by any country aimed at the exclusion of a democratic partner capable of contributing to the world. 
 
The United States, he continued, is firmly committed to maintaining Taiwan’s right to connect with the world, which further showcases Taiwan’s expertise in health care, disease prevention, digital technology, and supply chain resilience, and the importance of maintaining Taiwan’s ability to use its experiences for the betterment of the international community. Only by allowing Taiwan to truly engage with the world can the world benefit from Taiwan. This is the consensus and sincere desire of many democratic countries.
 
Minister Lin once again reiterates that UNGA Resolution 2758 addresses China’s representation in the UN, not Taiwan’s sovereignty. The resolution makes no mention of Taiwan. Therefore, no country can cite the resolution as a reason for precluding Taiwan’s participation in the UN system or other international organizations. 
 
The Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent and sovereign country. Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs to the people of Taiwan. The People’s Republic of China has never governed Taiwan, and the international community overwhelmingly recognizes that neither side is subordinate to the other. These objective facts reflect the status quo, and Taiwanese society has a strong common understanding of these issues. Only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent the 23 million people of Taiwan in the UN system and in multilateral mechanisms.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges the international community to continue taking concrete action to oppose China’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758 and the inappropriate linkage between this misrepresentation and the “one China principle.” The international community should collectively refute China’s attempts to claim that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter so as to prevent China from establishing a so-called legal basis for a possible future armed invasion of Taiwan. As a force for good, Taiwan will continue to work for its international participation, contribute to the international community, and jointly safeguard peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly condemns Cameroon for compelling Taiwan to be absent from WTO MC14

Date：2026-03-20
Data Source：Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs

March 20, 2026  
No. 101  Taiwan has been compelled to be absent from the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) after the Republic of Cameroon, the host country, sought to issue visas to members of the Taiwan delegation using improper and unacceptable nomenclature for the nationality designation. 
 
This will mark the first time that Taiwan has not attended a Ministerial Conference since it acceded to the WTO at the fourth Ministerial Conference in 2001. Cameroon’s subservience to China and disregard for the long-standing practice of host members respecting Taiwan’s status as a member not subordinate to any other member has severely infringed on Taiwan’s right to equal participation in the WTO. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expresses its condemnation in the strongest possible terms.
 
The Ministerial Conference is the WTO’s highest decision-making body and is held biennially. The 14th session is scheduled to take place from March 26 to 29 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This would have marked the 11th delegation from Taiwan to attend since Taiwan first participated in 2001. 
 
In accordance with established precedent, the Taiwan delegation was to have been led by Minister without Portfolio and Chief Trade Representative Yang Jen-ni. However, the pre-enrolment notification issued by Cameroon to Taiwan prior to the delegation’s departure erroneously designated Taiwan as Taiwan, Province of China, seriously demeaning Taiwan’s status.
 
MOFA notes that Taiwan acceded to the WTO as a separate customs territory and that it is not subordinate to any other member. Cameroon’s designation is clearly inconsistent with Taiwan’s membership status and standing under the WTO framework. Despite repeated efforts by Taiwan’s Permanent Mission to the WTO to engage the WTO Secretariat and director-general, as well as active assistance from other members—including the United States, Japan, and diplomatic allies of Taiwan—Cameroon failed to uphold its responsibilities as this year’s host, insisting instead that its improper visa designation for Taiwan was a matter of its foreign policy. By prioritizing bilateral policy considerations over the collective interests of the WTO as a multilateral organization, Cameroon not only violated long-standing conventions regarding entry and visa procedures for delegation members from Taiwan, it also neglected to provide Taiwan with the fair, impartial, and reasonable treatment that Taiwan is entitled to as a WTO member. Furthermore, Cameroon ignored the flexible solutions proposed by Taiwan. MOFA reiterates its strongest possible condemnation of Cameroon.
 
MOFA notes that Taiwan, as a responsible member of the WTO, has lodged a formal protest with the WTO Secretariat and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cameroon. In addition, Taiwan is calling for future hosts of WTO Ministerial Conferences to provide formal assurances that similar incidents undermining the equal rights of members will not recur. MOFA emphasizes that Taiwan will continue to maintain close coordination with like-minded members to jointly protect the rules-based international economic and trade order and safeguard Taiwan’s rights and dignity. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA welcomes ANZMIN 2+2 joint statement supporting cross-strait peace and stability

Date：2026-03-18
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

March 18, 2026  
No. 094  
 
Following the third Australia-New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (ANZMIN 2+2) on March 17, the two countries issued a joint statement reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposing any unilateral action to change the status quo, and encouraging all parties to engage in dialogue rather than resorting to coercion or force. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes and affirms this statement.
 
Australia and New Zealand are both like-minded partners of Taiwan, sharing such common values as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait and stability in the Indo-Pacific has become an international consensus. Taiwan will continue to work hand in hand with like-minded countries to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and promote democracy, peace, and prosperity in the region. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) today (March 18) announced a new measure to accelerate the adoption of energy storage systems by industrial users while ensuring installation and operational safety. Under the initiative, the Energy Administration (EA) will provide subsidies for behind-the-meter energy storage systems, with eligible businesses able to receive NT$5 million per MWh. To complement the subsidy program, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) ensures safety and quality of these installed systems through standards, testing, and certification programs, supported by a localized national testing laboratory for energy storage systems.

The EA stated that the “Directions of Subsidies for the Installation of Battery Energy Storage System at Industrial Sites by Ministry of Economic Affairs” announced by the MOEA encourages electricity users in industrial parks, science parks, and other industrial facilities to install energy storage systems, with a view to strengthening grid resilience and supporting the development of Taiwan’s battery cell industry.

To further stabilize the power grid and enhance domestic supply chain development, the subsidy program primarily targets energy storage equipment using locally manufactured lithium-based battery cells. The MOEA stated that the measure is intended to help industrial users shift from relying solely on grid electricity to incorporating stored backup energy into their power management strategies.

Alongside the subsidy program, the BSMI has put in place a comprehensive safety regime for energy storage systems in line with international developments. The framework now extends beyond battery-level requirements to cover system-level integration. By 2025, Taiwan had published a total of 24 national standards (CNS) covering batteries, modules and complete energy storage systems, which are harmonized with relevant international standards. BSMI said it will continue tracking international regulatory and technological developments and update the standards as needed to further strengthen safety.

On the testing side, to address previous constraints in domestic testing capacity, the National Center for Energy Storage System Technology (NEST) will begin providing testing services in 2026. With a testing capacity of up to 360 kWh, the center will be the only laboratory in Taiwan capable of conducting combustion tests for energy storage systems. The localized testing facility is expected to reduce testing costs by more than 50 percent compared with overseas testing, while also cutting sample delivery time and related expenses. Through international cooperation, test reports issued by NEST will also be accepted via international recognition arrangements.

The MOEA emphasized that it will continue to integrate financial incentives with standards, testing and certification mechanisms to promote industrial upgrading and ensure that Taiwan’s energy transition proceeds in a safe and reliable manner.

Contact Person (Subsidy Policy): Yu-Chuan Hsia, Director, Energy Administration
Tel. (O): +886-2775-7753
Email: yhhsia@moeaea.gov.tw

Contact Person (Energy Storage Equipment Certification): Ching-Hong Cheng, Deputy Director, Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI)
Tel. (O): +886-2343-1700 ext.1211
Email: ch.cheng@bsmi.gov.tw