MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to European Parliament’s adoption of a report calling for greater EU cooperation with Taiwan

March 28, 2026  On March 26, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the report Global Gateway-past impacts and future orientation. The report calls on the European Union to strengthen cooperation with like-minded partners including Taiwan to construct a resilient web of trusted connectivity. It further emphasizes that the Global Gateway strategy is an alternative to China’s Belt and Road initiative and if properly applied  could restore the EU’s industrial competitiveness and counterbalance China’s growing influence.As authoritarian countries continue to expand their influence through opaque financing and infrastructure initiatives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to deepen collaboration with the European Union and other like-minded partners under the banner of integrated diplomacy. This will allow for the joint promotion of modes of cooperation that are in keeping with democratic values. This will promote regional development and prosperity and further strengthen the security and resilience of global democratic partnerships. 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Precision timing, acoustic testing and medical technology may serve different sectors, but they all rely on the same imperative: exactness.

Hong Kong’s professional testing and certification (T&C) services offer just that.

The Innovation & Technology Commission’s Standards & Calibration Laboratory (SCL) provides services including calibration of power measurements for electrical networks, as well as medical laboratory instruments, where precision is vital. Through its rigorous metrological standards, the SCL safeguards many aspects of everyday life in the community.

A brand-new free-field acoustic anechoic chamber at the SCL was installed last year when the laboratory moved into the Tseung Kwan O Government Offices.

The chamber suppresses echoes to create an extremely quiet environment for research on architectural and environmental acoustics and for the calibration of high‑precision acoustic instruments.

Exceptional accuracy    

“The chamber’s inner walls are fitted with specially shaped sound‑absorbing materials to largely reduce echoes, providing an absolutely quiet testing environment,” said Andrew Au, an electronics engineer at the commission.

The facility helps local testing and certification bodies calibrate their equipment and deliver more reliable acoustic performance tests.

The SCL also houses an atomic clock system, which operates at the exact caesium frequency, working in tandem with the global positioning system to ensure a level of precision comparable to international standards.       

“The system can output highly precise frequency signals, providing a reliable and consistent reference for various measurement tasks such as network transmission, audio-visual synchronisation and industrial automation,” said Alvis Au Yeung, another electronics engineer at the commission.

Ensuring trust

To enforce testing standards for products and services requires the involvement of testing and certification bodies and a strict accreditation system.

That responsibility falls to the Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS), which is also under the commission.

The HKAS provides accreditation service to local laboratories, certification bodies and inspection bodies, and grants accreditation to those that meet standards through three voluntary accreditation schemes: the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme, the Hong Kong Certification Body Accreditation Scheme and the Hong Kong Inspection Body Accreditation Scheme.

“Accreditation demonstrates that a testing, inspection or certification body possesses the professional competency to carry out the specific conformity assessment activities within its scope,” said Senior Accreditation Officer Fiona Chan.

The HKAS also sits on international bodies and signs multilateral recognition arrangements, meaning that reports and certificates from HKAS‑accredited organisations are recognised by more than 120 economies. This helps to reduce trade barriers under the “tested once, accepted everywhere” principle.

Industry support    

To develop Hong Kong as a regional testing and certification hub, the Hong Kong Council for Testing & Certification (HKCTC), which is supported by the commission, also plays a vital role in seizing global opportunities.

“We participate in local and overseas trade fairs and support the industry in seizing opportunities such as Greater Bay Area development, the Mainland & Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, emerging sectors and industrial upgrading,” said Innovation & Technology Commission Manager (Testing & Certification) Henry Chan.

He added that talent is critical. The council’s Testing & Certification Manpower Development Award Scheme encourages T&C bodies to invest in talent training, and commends outstanding practitioners.   

Tripartite drive

“With the SCL establishing precise metrological standards, the international recognition of T&C bodies accredited by the HKAS, and the HKCTC leading the strategic development of the industry, these three pillars not only provide safety and confidence for citizens, but also collectively reinforce the branding of ‘Tested in Hong Kong, Certified in Hong Kong’.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Department of Justice today held a workshop to promote an online platform for sports dispute resolution.

 

The event was co-staged with the administering body and technology provider of the Pilot Scheme on Sports Dispute Resolution, as well as the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.

 

More than 120 representatives from Hong Kong’s sports and legal sectors, including individuals from 30 sports organisations, attended the “Efficient Resolution for All: Sports Dispute Resolution Workshop”.

 

Deputy Secretary for Justice and Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Sports Dispute Resolution Cheung Kwok-kwan also attended the event and gave welcome remarks.

 

Mr Cheung outlined that with the rapid development of sports and related industries, differences of opinion and disputes are inevitable. However, to settle these by traditional methods, such as internal rulings or adjudication within national sports associations, or litigation in courts, often leads to more complex problems and imposes a burden on parties in terms of time, mental energy, and finance.

 

Therefore, Mr Cheung said, establishing an efficient, professional, and credible sports dispute resolution system that handles sports disputes through a “mediation first, arbitration next” approach can resolve disputes more flexibly and effectively.

 

He added that resolving disputes through arbitration can help the parties concerned avoid the lengthy legal procedures and substantial legal fees that result from litigation.

 

Mr Cheung revealed that following the launch of the pilot scheme’s online platform in February, it has received a number of inquiries and has begun processing cases, with the first of these being successfully resolved recently.

 

He emphasised that the scheme’s successful implementation confirms that Hong Kong is on the right track in promoting a sports dispute resolution system, and encouraged attendees of the workshop to engage with the pilot scheme and promote the long-term development of sports in the city.

 

Through various activities, the workshop explored how, under the pilot scheme’s framework, sports disputes can be efficiently resolved by way of mediation and arbitration. Attendees were introduced to simulated mediation procedures, as details of actual cases are typically confidential under regulations,.

 

Expert speakers outlined the fundamental principles of mediation and arbitration, the workflow under the pilot scheme, the operational procedures of the online dispute resolution platform, and various case studies of disputes that have been successfully resolved.

 

In a sharing session, a representative from a national sports association and an athlete discussed the possible challenges in resolving sports disputes, and elaborated on the specific benefits of adopting the pilot scheme’s model.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to European Parliament resolution supporting enhanced cooperation with Taiwan in drone technology

January 26, 2026  
 
The European Parliament on January 22 passed by a substantial majority a resolution titled “Drones and new systems of warfare—the EU’s need to adapt to be fit for today’s security challenges.” The resolution called for enhancing security and defense cooperation and partnership with the European Union’s Indo-Pacific partners, including Taiwan, particularly in drone technology and relevant industries; and stressed the importance of building secure, non-red supply chains underpinned by democratic values.
 
This resolution demonstrates the European Parliament’s recognition of Taiwan’s standing in the drone sector and regard for jointly building democratic supply chains. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) welcomes and appreciates the resolution and looks forward to the strengthening of relevant cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and Europe going forward.
 
In facing the threat of authoritarian expansionism, and as a reliable partner of the democratic community, Taiwan has long invested heavily in drone and key technology industries and remains committed to working with like-minded countries to establish secure and resilient non-red supply chains aligned with democratic values. For example, in November 2024, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung led a delegation to Lithuania to attend the Drone Industry Business Forum, where he witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance and the Lithuanian Defense and Security Industries Association. MOFA has also established a drone diplomacy task force.
 
Looking ahead, Taiwan will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with such like-minded partners as the European Union in relevant areas so as to jointly address current security challenges and advance regional peace and global stability.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The 9th Taiwan Film Festival in Australia will take place from 23 July to 6 September under the theme “Breaking Boundaries, Opening New Horizons.” The festival will tour six Australian cities—Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth—presenting a diverse selection of Taiwanese films and further deepening cultural exchange between Taiwan and Australia.
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney attended the press conference for the 9th Taiwan Film Festival in Australia and noted that, now in its ninth year, the festival has become an important cultural platform for Taiwan in Australia. With the support of government agencies, the Taiwanese community, and various partners, it has also expanded into major mainstream venues, including the Sydney Opera House and the Parliament of New South Wales.
DG Wu highlighted that a special screening of the documentary A Chip Odyssey will be held at the NSW Parliament on 3 September, showcasing the development of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and its critical role in the global technology supply chain.
He emphasised that film is a powerful medium that transcends language and national boundaries. He warmly invited Australian audiences to experience Taiwan through its cinema, and to gain a deeper understanding of its cultural creativity, industrial strengths, and democratic values, thereby further strengthening people-to-people ties and cultural exchange between Taiwan and Australia.
This year’s opening film is The Path to Happiness starring Chang Chen, while the closing film is the Taiwanese classic The Sandwich Man, which will be screened at the Sydney Opera House, highlighting the enduring appeal and cultural depth of Taiwanese cinema across generations.
The programme features a wide range of feature films, documentaries, and short films covering themes such as semiconductor technology, baseball, Indigenous culture, independent music, and youth creativity, reflecting Taiwan’s free, democratic, innovative, and diverse society.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Medical Decision Science Association of Taiwan (MDSAT) held the 4th International Symposium on Medical Decision Science (ISMDS) today at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), under the theme “Frontiers in Medical Decision Science.” The symposium also announced the establishment of a Young Scholars Forum to promote interdisciplinary collaboration in AI-driven healthcare, real-world data, and chronic disease prediction.
Invited to deliver remarks, Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu noted that, in the face of rapid technological change, population ageing, and emerging diseases, smarter, faster, and evidence-based medical decision-making is essential to building more resilient healthcare systems.
DG Wu highlighted that under President Lai Ching-te’s “Healthy Taiwan” vision, Taiwan is advancing healthcare digital transformation by integrating artificial intelligence and real-world data to improve healthcare quality and decision-making, aligning closely with the objectives of the symposium.
He further emphasised that global health challenges require close collaboration among governments, academia, and industry, so that research outcomes can be effectively translated into public policy.
DG Wu reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to serving as a trusted partner in global public health, sharing its experience in healthcare innovation and governance, and contributing to international efforts to improve global health outcomes.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

To recognise the longstanding support for Taiwan and outstanding contributions to advancing Australia–Taiwan relations, Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu, on behalf of Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lin Chia-lung, presented the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy to Hon. Anthony Roberts MP, Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Taiwan, and Co-Chair Dr. Hugh McDermott MP at the New South Wales Parliament.
DG Wu noted that the award recognises the two parliamentary leaders’ longstanding efforts to strengthen Australia–Taiwan relations and reflects Taiwan’s high regard for its partnership with New South Wales.
In their remarks, both recipients highlighted Taiwan’s critical role in the global semiconductor supply chain and the development of artificial intelligence. They emphasised that like-minded Indo-Pacific partners, including Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the United States, share a commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law, which are fundamental to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
Established on 23 May 2013, the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Taiwan has become one of the strongest voices supporting Taiwan in the NSW Parliament. Chaired by Hon. Anthony Roberts MP since its founding, with Dr. Hugh McDermott MP serving as Co-Chair, the group enjoys broad bipartisan support from members across the Parliament.
In 2024, the NSW Parliament became the first state parliament in the world to pass a motion opposing the PRC’s distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758. In 2025, it further demonstrated its bipartisan support by passing a motion supporting Taiwan’s participation in World Health Organization meetings, reaffirming the shared values and strong partnership between New South Wales and Taiwan.