MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to false online claims regarding Taiwan’s aid to Eswatini and recruitment of migrant workers

Date：2026-05-07
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

May 7, 2026  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) firmly refutes recent posts on internet forums that cited a report from the Times of Eswatini, which falsely claimed that Taiwan provided more than NT$24 billion in aid to Eswatini over three months and that it would recruit 1,000 migrant workers from Eswatini annually. This is a classic case of disinformation. The posts have no basis in fact and are not substantiated by any concrete evidence.

MOFA solemnly adds that such posts are deliberately created by individuals who aim to sow discord and spread discriminatory rhetoric, attempting to undermine Taiwan’s relations with its diplomatic allies and damage its international image. In response to the intentional dissemination of disinformation, MOFA will seek to hold those involved legally accountable and continue to collect evidence for use in investigation and prosecution by police authorities.

Taiwan-Eswatini cooperation projects are based on mutual trust and common interests. They are established through consultations between the two governments and tailored to Eswatini’s development needs. Taiwan’s cooperation projects with its diplomatic allies have consistently upheld the principles and spirit of capacity building and mutual assistance for mutual benefit, offering Eswatini access to Taiwan’s competitive industries and development experience and striving to improve the well-being of local people. Furthermore, all budget allocations are subject to strict oversight and review by the Legislative Yuan, with regular auditing mechanisms in place to ensure the efficiency and transparency of project implementation. MOFA urges the public not to believe unverified rumors.

Regarding Taiwan’s assistance with the industrial park project in Eswatini, the core objectives are to boost Eswatini’s economy and help Taiwan enterprises expand globally. Private sector investment is influenced by international trade and regional situations—making it highly variable—and actual implementation is subject to market conditions. The government merely plays a matchmaking and facilitation role. MOFA does not comment on unverified estimates of private investment.

MOFA emphasizes that migrant workers arriving in Taiwan from any country must meet the stringent medical and epidemic prevention standards of the competent authorities. Moreover, all labor cooperation between Taiwan and other countries prioritizes the protection of Taiwan’s national security and public health while also considering such factors as filling labor shortages in specific domestic industries and promoting bilateral professional and technical exchanges.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly refutes false and malicious claims by China’s Foreign Ministry regarding Taiwan’s sovereignty and Paraguayan President Peña

Date：2026-05-15
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

May 14, 2026  No. 207  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) condemns in the strongest possible terms and solemnly refutes the malicious statements made by China’s Foreign Ministry at a press conference on May 12. By falsely claiming that Taiwan was part of China and that Paraguayan President Santiago Peña was a pawn of “Taiwan independence separatist forces,” China’s Foreign Ministry attempted to undermine the close and long-standing diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Paraguay. 

The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country, and neither it nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. These are internationally recognized facts and the objective status quo across the Taiwan Strait. China has no right to interfere in Taiwan’s diplomatic relations. MOFA once again extends its sincere appreciation to Paraguayan President Peña for his continued support of Taiwan-Paraguay diplomatic ties and for his staunch advocacy of Taiwan in the international arena.

Interactions between countries based on the principles of parity and mutual respect for sovereignty are the consensus and norm in the international community. Taiwan has the right to engage with all nations, and Paraguay’s sovereignty in making foreign policy decisions must be respected. China’s malicious remarks slandering Paraguayan President Peña only serve to make the world more aware of its efforts to undermine the international order through hegemonic behavior. MOFA calls on other nations to unite in denouncing China’s actions.

Taiwan and Paraguay have maintained solid and enduring diplomatic relations for 69 years. President Peña’s state visit to Taiwan this month yielded fruitful results, and several joint cooperation agreements were signed. Moving forward, MOFA will steadily promote a variety of Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project initiatives under the policy of integrated diplomacy, working with Paraguay for the development of both countries and the well-being of both peoples. Taiwan and Paraguay will continue to jointly counter authoritarian expansionism, safeguard democratic values, and uphold regional peace, stability, and prosperity. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to US Secretary of State Rubio’s interview on Trump-Xi summit

Date：2026-05-15
Data Source：Department of North American Affairs

May 15, 2026  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) continues to pay close attention to interactions between the United States and China.
 
In an interview in Beijing on May 14 concerning the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized once again that the United States’ long-standing policy on Taiwan had remained unchanged across multiple presidential terms and administrations. He stressed that President Trump’s administration had continued to make arms sales to Taiwan since taking power and that arms sales had not featured prominently in discussions during the meeting. Mr. Rubio further reiterated that the United States opposed any change to the status quo by compulsion or force and emphasized that any disruption of regional stability would be detrimental to the United States, China, and the entire world.
 
MOFA also notes that Mr. Rubio pointed out that China’s objective in significantly expanding its military strength was not only to target Taiwan but to project power globally. To this day, People’s Liberation Army aircraft and vessels continue to operate around the Taiwan Strait and engage in various gray-zone harassment and military threats, showing the major risk that Beijing currently poses to regional peace and stability.
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung thanks the United States for clarifying on numerous occasions that it supports and values Taiwan Strait peace and stability, and for reiterating once again that its policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and staunchly cooperate with the United States and all other freedom-loving democracies to jointly defend peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

May 13, 2026  No. 206  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) once again condemns and protests in the strongest terms and expresses deep dissatisfaction over China’s bid to maliciously suppress Taiwan’s participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. China is disregarding APEC norms and long-standing best practices and violating its own commitments of 2024, when it was seeking to be the host economy for 2026. Earlier, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office had stated that Taiwan’s participation in APEC would be handled according to the so-called “one China principle” and related APEC memorandums of understanding and practices. China’s actions have disrupted harmony within APEC and highlighted its domineering and authoritative nature.MOFA emphasizes that the text of the memorandum of understanding on Taiwan’s accession to APEC, signed in 1991, did not mention a “one China principle.” It did, however, state clearly that Taiwan would participate in APEC meetings and activities on an equal basis with other member economies. Regarding the MOU signed in relation to China’s accession to the organization, APEC merely took note of China’s so-called “one China principle” and its position that there is a distinction between sovereign states and regional economies. However, APEC did not express agreement with or acceptance of such a stance.At the joint request of Taiwan and like-minded countries, China provided explicit and written assurance in 2024 regarding the safety of participants from all member economies and their smooth entry into and exit from China for APEC meetings. All member economies, including China, supported the inclusion of the following text in joint ministerial statements issued following APEC Ministerial Meetings in 2024 and 2025: “We attach great importance to APEC’s continued cooperation in the spirit of multilateralism, on the basis of consensus with all members participating on an equal footing in all its events, including Leaders’ Week, in accordance with the Guidelines for Hosting APEC Meetings and Relevant APEC Conventions.” As the host economy for APEC 2026, China is obliged to fulfill its commitments and adhere to consensus decisions made by all member economies.MOFA reiterates that following World War II, the Treaty of San Francisco—which has the force of international law—replaced political declarations such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. The treaty did not grant sovereignty over Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the PRC has never governed Taiwan. Therefore, Taiwan is by no means part of the PRC.Moreover, in the mid-1980s, Taiwan began a bottom-up transition toward political liberalization and democratization, culminating in its first direct presidential election in 1996. Since then, the representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the Republic of China (Taiwan) government have all been democratically elected by the people of Taiwan, making the ROC (Taiwan) government the sole lawful government that effectively governs and represents Taiwan internationally. This has also established the objective fact that the ROC (Taiwan) and the PRC exist as equals and the status quo that neither is subordinate to the other. Further, Taiwan has experienced three changes of governing party—in 2000, 2008, and 2016. The continued consolidation of Taiwan’s democratic system and sense of identity reflects the Taiwan people’s staunch belief in and unwavering commitment to the pursuit of freedom and democracy. Therefore, only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent the 23 million people of Taiwan at multilateral events and mechanisms such as APEC. China has no right to interfere or comment.MOFA firmly demands that China carry out its duties as APEC host economy satisfactorily and comply with the core principle of equal participation of all member economies; fulfill its commitments properly in accordance with APEC guidelines, norms, and practices; and take concrete steps to ensure the equal involvement by Taiwan’s participants in this year’s APEC meetings and activities taking place in China. Taiwan will not accept any political maneuvering aimed at undermining or excluding its participation and will work with like-minded partners to oppose such moves. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly refutes false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement and partnership treaty between China and Tajikistan

Date：2026-05-13
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

May 13, 2026  No. 204  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly refutes absurd claims made in a joint statement between China and Tajikistan on deepening their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era and in a partnership treaty signed by the two countries on permanent good-neighborliness, friendship, and cooperation. The false and disparaging statements, such as “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,” were included in a related press release issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 12. MOFA condemns China’s repeated appropriation of its interactions with other states to undermine Taiwan’s sovereign status.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country, and neither it nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. This is an undeniable objective fact and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. No statements that denigrate Taiwan’s sovereignty can change this reality. 

MOFA once again urges the international community to address China’s persistent use of various forms of coercion and enticement to undermine the sovereign decisions of other nations. China’s actions are not only designed to suppress Taiwan but also constitute a grave challenge to global democracy and the rule of law.

MOFA reiterates that Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with like-minded countries and defend the front line of democracy. No matter what forms of economic coercion or diplomatic intimidation it faces, Taiwan will remain firmly committed to integrating with the world and demonstrating national resilience. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA solemnly refutes China’s false claims regarding Taiwan’s international participation

Date：2026-05-12
Data Source：Department of International Organizations

May 12, 2026  
No. 202  
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) condemns and denounces in the strongest terms China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for issuing false statements on May 11 that sought to downgrade Taiwan’s sovereignty. These remarks included the inappropriate citation of China’s so-called “one China principle” and the spurious claim that Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations required approval. They were aimed at obstructing Taiwan’s participation in the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA). 
 
MOFA solemnly reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent nation and that neither it nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is subordinate to the other. This is the internationally recognized status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan has the right to participate in such international organizations as the United Nations (UN). And China has no right to comment or interfere with this. Following World War II, the Treaty of San Francisco—which has the force of international law—replaced political declarations such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. The treaty did not grant sovereignty over Taiwan to the PRC, and the PRC has never governed Taiwan. Taiwan has never been part of the PRC. These are incontrovertible facts. 
 
The ROC (Taiwan) has completed eight direct presidential elections following a process of political liberalization and democratization. Members of the Legislative Yuan are all elected directly by the people. There is therefore a complete and effective democratic governance mechanism in place. Taiwan’s participation in international organizations is a legitimate and legal right grounded in its sovereignty. Furthermore, only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent the people of Taiwan in the international community and multilateral mechanisms. 
 
MOFA emphasizes that health is a fundamental human right and should not be subject to political interference. Taiwan’s contributions to global epidemic prevention and public health have been internationally recognized. It is an indispensable, constructive partner of the global health system. Since Taiwan began advocating participation in the WHA, international support has continued to increase, with numerous like-minded countries having repeatedly and publicly expressed support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA. China’s use of politics to obstruct Taiwan’s participation has seriously undermined the right to health of all of people. Moreover, it goes against the World Health Organization’s core vision of leaving no one behind. 
 
MOFA once again underscores that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 make no mention of Taiwan. Thus, the resolutions cannot serve as a basis for precluding Taiwan’s participation in the UN system or other international organizations. MOFA urges the WHO Secretariat to uphold professionalism and neutrality, reject political interference by China, and promptly invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer to enable Taiwan to make greater contributions to global public health. (E)

Source: Government of Singapore

15 May 2026 – Inter-monsoon conditions are expected to prevail over Singapore and the surrounding region with winds mostly light and variable in direction.

 2.           In the second fortnight of May 2026, short-duration thundery showers are expected over parts of the island on most afternoons, occasionally extending into the evening. Additionally, Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers accompanied by gusty winds during the pre-dawn hours and morning on a few days. The total rainfall for this period is forecast to be near the long-term average across most parts of the island.

3.           For the remainder of May 2026, the daily maximum temperatures are expected to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days, with highs of around 35 degrees Celsius on a few days.

4.          For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.

REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (1 – 14 May 2026)

5.          In the first half of May 2026, inter-monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore, with prevailing winds generally light and variable in direction. On some days, the low-level winds shifted to blow from the south or southwest. 

6.          In the past fortnight, thundery showers fell over parts of Singapore on most days. On 8 May 2026, regional convergence of winds brought moderate to heavy thundery showers over many parts of Singapore in the evening. The daily total rainfall of 114.6mm recorded around Tampines area that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the first fortnight of May 2026.

7.          Although it rained on most days during the first half of the month, there were still some warm days. There were six days where maximum temperatures of 34 degrees Celsius or more were recorded. The highest daily temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius was recorded at Paya Lebar on 2 May 2026.

8.          Most parts of the island recorded above-average rainfall in the first half of May 2026. The area around Paya Lebar registered rainfall of 189 per cent above average, and the area around Bedok North registered rainfall of 14 per cent below average. 

CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

Long-term Statistics for May   (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
Average daily maximum temperature:	32.3	°C
Average daily minimum temperature:	25.7	°C
Average monthly temperature:	28.6	°C
Average rainfall:	164.3	mm
Average number of rain days:	15
Historical Extremes for May   (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature:	33.6	°C (1997)
Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature:	23.5	°C (1974)
Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	386.6	mm (1892)
Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded:	41.6	mm (1997)

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METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE

15 May 2026

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Source: Republic of China Taiwan

According to the statistics, from January to April 2026, 796 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total approved amount of US$ 7,308,500,000 were recorded. This represents a 23.99% increase in the number of cases, and a 158.08% increase in the FDI amount compared with the same period in 2025.

Regarding inward investment from Mainland China, 6 cases with a total approved amount of US$1,098,000 were recorded from January to April 2026. This reflects no change in the number of cases and a 98.86% decrease in the investment amount compared with the same period in 2025.

In terms of Taiwan’s outbound investment (excluding Mainland China), 207 projects were registered from January to April 2026, with a total amount of US$ 34,084,559,000. This represents a 15.85% decrease in the number of cases, but a 152.84% increase in the investment amount, compared with the same period in 2025.

As for Taiwan’s outward investment to Mainland China, 74 applications were approved from January to April 2026, marking a 27.59% increase compared with the same period in 2025. The approved investment amount totaled US$ 262,987,000, representing a 39.21% decline compared with the same period in 2025.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MIRDC has received the prestigious Bronze Award at the 2026 Edison Awards for its groundbreaking innovation, AI-Driven Fastener Forming Quality Monitoring.

The award-winning technology is transforming fastener manufacturing by integrating Smart Machine Box (SMB) sensors and AI algorithms to monitor forming force, predict defects, and safeguard process data through an encryption scheme that renders critical data features unrecognizable. The solution significantly enhances product quality, improves energy efficiency, and strengthens the global competitiveness of the fastener industry.

Taiwan’s fastener industry faces a number of challenges, including frequent mold changes, unstable forming forces, and fragmented production data. To address these issues, MIRDC has developed “AI-Driven Fastener Forming Quality Monitoring.” The system learns from a small number of high-quality samples, automatically fine-tunes parameters after mold changes, and tracks energy consumption and carbon emissions in real time. Chaos-based encryption is also incorporated to protect critical process data.

The system introduces three major innovations. First, it combines real-time raw material quality monitoring with AI-driven automatic parameter adjustment, reducing the defect rate from 10% to 0%. The system also predicts equipment health to prevent unexpected downtime and production interruptions, enabling zero-defect manufacturing. Second, the technology integrates the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) with smart meters to monitor machine utilization, power consumption, and carbon emissions, allowing precise management of production efficiency and carbon performance. Third, multiple chaotic systems and synchronization algorithms are applied to ensure the secure and complete transmission of critical production parameters. The encryption mechanism makes data difficult to identify, intercept, or decrypt, while reducing computational resource consumption by approximately 60%.

Overall, the technology enables zero-defect manufacturing and is already supporting key suppliers to Germany’s high-speed rail systems and leading global automakers. Going forward, the solution will be extended to other manufacturing processes, including die casting and metal stamping, enabling cross-industry replication and scaling.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MIRDC has received a prestigious Bronze Award at 2026 Edison Awards for its groundbreaking innovation, Next-Gen SHT, an advanced intelligent heat-treatment system designed for cast material.

As global demand grows for high-performance and net-zero manufacturing, traditional austempering processes still rely heavily on fixed parameters and manual experience, often resulting in repeated trial-and-error, lengthy development cycles, and inconsistent product quality. To address these challenges, MIRDC has developed the first Next-Gen SHT, integrating AI vision, adaptive learning, and intelligent alloy design. The system enables real-time adjustment of heat-treatment parameters based on material variation and performance needs.

The system utilizes high-precision AI vision technology to rapidly analyze the nodularity and microstructure of ductile iron with 95% accuracy, improving inspection efficiency by three times. The analyzed data further enables the AI module to continuously self-learn and automatically optimize alloy design and process parameters, maintaining heat-treatment error margin with plus-minus5%.

Furthermore, the system integrates three core modules: a high-temperature furnace, a low-temperature salt bath, and a filtration unit. These modules maintain stable furnace temperatures, preserve microstructure integrity, and achieve 80% recovery rate for treatment media.

Products processed by Next-Gen SHT demonstrate significantly enhanced performance, with tensile strength increased to 1,300 MPa and elongation reaching 13%. At the same time, the technology shortens development time by 40%, reduces process energy consumption by 71%, and lowers production costs by 66%.

This technology has already been applied to key components for green energy systems and agricultural machinery equipment. In the future, it will be further expanded into high-end applications in the fields of energy, smart electromechanical systems, and transportation vehicles.