Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to EU FAC report expressing concern over Taiwan Strait security and China’s attempts to reshape global order

Date：2026-07-18
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

July 18, 2026  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes and affirms the report Common Understanding—The Threats and Challenges We Face: Assessment of the EU’s Strategic Environment, adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union on July 13. 

The document points out that China’s increasingly assertive behavior in the South and East China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait could have a growing impact on European and Indo-Pacific security, stability, and prosperity. It also highlights that change of status quo around the Taiwan Strait would have a profound impact on global security, and underlines that the security of the Indo-Pacific and of Europe are more interlinked than ever.

The report identifies China as a key enabler of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It notes that at the center of the transformation of the international order lies the determination of some powers, led by Russia and China, to establish regional dominance and reshape the global order in line with their interests. The document adds that China’s asymmetric advantages over the EU makes it a critical long-term strategic challenge.

China has recently intensified its military and other coercive measures across the Taiwan Strait and in the East and South China Seas and other regions. It has also expanded its economic influence through nonmarket means and continued to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These actions have raised serious concerns throughout the international community, impacted regional security, and challenged the rules-based international order. 

As a responsible member of the international community Taiwan will continue to work with the EU and other like-minded partners to jointly defend such universal values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law and make greater contributions to global security, stability, and prosperity.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly refutes false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement by China and Thailand

Date：2026-07-21
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

July 21, 2026  
No. 336  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) solemnly condemns the false claims made in a joint statement issued on July 20 between the governments of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Kingdom of Thailand. 

The document, released following a meeting on July 18 between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in China, contained absurd statements, including that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China. Thailand also expressed that it firmly supported China’s peaceful reunification and “one country, two systems” policy and that it would not support any call for the independence of Taiwan. 

MOFA strongly protests the Chinese government’s repeated dissemination of erroneous narratives denigrating Taiwan’s sovereignty. MOFA also expresses disappointment and regret over the Thai government’s disregard for facts and deference to China’s attempts to undermine Taiwan’s sovereign status. 

MOFA reiterates that the ROC (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country and that neither it nor the PRC is subordinate to the other. Taiwan will not tolerate China’s repeated attempts to use bilateral statements to spread false narratives that seek to unilaterally change the cross-strait status quo through cognitive warfare. 

As Taiwan and Thailand enjoy close commercial and trade ties, as well as robust people-to-people exchanges, Taiwan urges Thailand to cherish the long-standing friendship between the two countries and refrain from constantly aligning with China’s efforts to suppress Taiwan. Otherwise, Thailand and other countries may face negative consequences as a result of China’s campaign to undermine regional peace and stability. (E) 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA to suspend entry facilitation measures for Cambodian nationals effective August 1, 2026

Date：2026-07-17
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

July 17, 2026  
No. 330  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announces that in order to uphold ROC (Taiwan) national dignity and maintain border security, it has decided to suspend entry facilitation measures currently applicable to Cambodian nationals—including conditional visa-free entry through the Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) scheme and the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries—effective August 1, 2026.

MOFA notes that since August 2018, Cambodian nationals have been eligible for conditional visa-free entry through the Online Application for ROC (Taiwan) TAC scheme, the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries, and other entry facilitation initiatives. These measures aimed to foster greater understanding of Taiwan among the government and people of Cambodia through increased bilateral exchanges.

However, the Cambodian government has long failed to respond to Taiwan’s goodwill with parity and reciprocity. Further, it has repeatedly and publicly aligned with China by issuing inappropriate statements denigrating Taiwan’s sovereignty and even implicitly supporting a future attempt by China to annex Taiwan through the use of force. These actions have undermined Taiwan’s national dignity and hurt the feelings of its people. 

Additionally, a number of major transnational fraud cases have been linked to Cambodia in recent years. These negative developments have attracted significant attention and raised deep concern across all sectors of Taiwan’s society. Therefore, MOFA has decided to suspend entry facilitation measures for Cambodian nationals.

MOFA emphasizes that Cambodian nationals who plan to visit Taiwan in the future must apply for appropriate visas at Taiwan’s overseas missions. Moving forward, the resumption of entry facilitation measures for Cambodian nationals will be evaluated in accordance with the Cambodian government’s policies toward Taiwan. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA announces one-year extension of trial visa-free entry for nationals of New Southbound Policy partner countries Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027

Date：2026-07-17
Data Source：Bureau of Consular Affairs

July 17, 2026  
No. 329   

In line with efforts to promote the New Southbound Policy (NSP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) convened a meeting on April 21 with relevant government agencies on further improving visa measures for nationals of NSP partner countries traveling to Taiwan. The meeting conducted a comprehensive review of existing visa and entry measures, focusing on the trial visa-free entry program for nationals of Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines; the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries, overseen by the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications; and conditional visa-free entry through the Online Application for ROC (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) scheme for nationals of Southeast Asian countries, overseen by the National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior.
 
After evaluating the effectiveness of the above measures in past years, the relevant agencies decided to extend the trial visa-free entry program for one year for nationals of Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027. 
 
In addition, the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-End Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries will be extended for a further year through December 31, 2027, and the conditional visa-free entry through the TAC scheme will remain in place, with both continuing to apply to nationals of India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos. Nationals of Cambodia will no longer be eligible for these two initiatives from August 1, 2026.
 
MOFA will continue to review and fine-tune visa policies, with a view to strengthening bilateral relations and attracting more visitors while ensuring border and public security. MOFA will also continue to communicate with the governments of related countries to enhance visa treatment for Taiwan nationals and make their overseas travel more convenient. (E)

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Housing Authority announced today that public rental housing (PRH) rents will rise 2.04% from October 1. The adjustment follows the Subsidised Housing Committee’s endorsement today of the outcome of the 2026 PRH rent review.

Under the Housing Ordinance, PRH rents are reviewed every two years using a statutory mechanism based on tenants’ household income. A report compiled by the Commissioner for Census & Statistics for the current review showed that the income index of 2025 was 2.04% higher than that of 2023.

Following this adjustment, the average monthly rent increase will be about $51, with the actual adjustments ranging $10 to $128.

The authority stated that the increase is within an affordable level for tenants. Excluding well-off tenants and households receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, about 60% of the remaining tenants will have a monthly rent increase of $60 or less, while 90% will pay no more than $80 extra per month.

Furthermore, the financial impact will be softened by rates concessions announced in the 2026-27 Budget. These concessions will be provided for the first two quarters of the financial year, subject to a ceiling of $500 for each property per quarter.

The actual rates concessions receivable by each rateable PRH household will range from about $258 to $1,000.

The rent adjustments will take effect October 1 for both existing and newly completed PRH estates. Rents for new estates are set according to District Best Rent Levels based on location and value per square metre of internal floor area. The authority will notify all affected tenants in writing one month before the implementation date.

Additionally, monthly licence fees of Light Public Housing will be adjusted on October 1 in line with the new PRH rental levels. These fees are set at approximately 90% of the rents for newly completed PRH estates in the same district. Occupants will also be informed in writing one month before the new fees take effect.

Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Civil Service College (CSC) of the Civil Service Bureau held a seminar on “The Prospects and Implications of Major Changes in the Middle East” today (July 22) as part of its “Holistic Approach to National Security” seminar series. The seminar was delivered by the Director of the Institute of Middle East Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Dr Liao Baizhi. 

During the seminar, Dr Liao explored geopolitical developments in the Middle East and the significant implications of the situation in Iran on China, its relations with the Middle East, and the global landscape. The seminar enabled civil servants to holistically understand the impacts of international situation on national security.

Addressing the seminar, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, stated that geopolitics in the Middle East has impacts on the global political landscape, economic stability and supply-chain security. She emphasised that civil servants must pay attention to changes in the Middle East situation and assess the relevant risks, so as to effectively safeguard national security and long-term development interests while promoting the country’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Around 300 officers of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, including politically appointed officials and middle- and senior-level civil servants, attended the seminar today, with some participants joining via video-conferencing. 

     Launched in 2023, the series provides a comprehensive understanding of the Holistic Approach to National Security, analyses the latest national security landscape under the context of great power rivalry, and addresses the challenges faced by the country in maintaining national security, to enhance civil servants’ awareness of consciously safeguarding national security. The seminars are delivered by experts from China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations and the Center for a Holistic Approach to National Security.  

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

​The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, continued his visit to Qinghai yesterday (July 21) and today (July 22).

Mr Tse first visited the Talatan photovoltaic industrial park yesterday, which is the first 10 million kilowatt-class solar power generation base on the Mainland. Leveraging rich solar and hydro resources in the area, the industrial park has built the “highest capacity solar power facility” and the “highest capacity hydro-solar power station” in the world respectively, and has successfully integrated photovoltaic power generation with ecological management of desertification. It assists locals in shepherding, improves the local ecological environment while promoting clean energy development.

On the afternoon of the same day, Mr Tse visited the Qinghai Lake National Park and the biodiversity conservation centre at Qinghai Lake to learn about the conservation work of plateau species, under the principles of scientific research and monitoring, rescue and breeding, and study-tour experience, as well as the maintenance of the unique ecosystem of plateau wetlands through ecological restoration.

Mr Tse first visited Gangshka Snow Peak in the Qilian Mountains this morning to learn about the “Leave No Trace” hiking mechanism for protecting local glacier and snow mountain ecosystems, with a view to balancing ecological protection with moderate tourism development. The delegation then visited the Qilian Mountain National Park Ecological Science Museum to learn about the development history of national parks across the globe and on the Mainland. They also gained a deeper understanding of the rich ecosystems, ecological value, biodiversity, scientific research and monitoring of the Qilian Mountain National Park, as well as its practical experience in promoting ecological protection education.

The valuable experience of Qinghai Province in successfully integrating green technology, new energy and ecological industries upholds the nation’s key concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. This visit helps Hong Kong to more actively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan as the city advances its comprehensive green transition and formulates its First Five-Year Plan, thereby supporting the nation to achieve high-quality development.

Mr Tse will conclude his visit in Qinghai and return to Hong Kong tomorrow (July 23).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region