MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

President Lai attends opening ceremony of GCTF Workshop on Building Resilient Democracies: Responding to Transnational Repression
On the morning of June 23, President Lai Ching-te attended the opening ceremony of the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) Workshop on Building Resilient Democracies: Responding to Transnational Repression. In remarks, President Lai stated that transnational repression has become a challenge shared by all democratic countries. He pointed out that the government, in addressing the challenges posed by transnational repression, is comprehensively reviewing the legal framework and strengthening its approach across prevention, protection, and response. The president also noted that Taiwan will continue working alongside the European Union and other like-minded partners to build a secure, trustworthy information environment and establish more rapid early-warning systems, more effective accountability mechanisms, and a more comprehensive protective network to safeguard the nation and people. The president expressed hope of continuing to share experiences with other nations through the GCTF to jointly enhance democratic resilience, better safeguard human rights, and contribute more to global peace, prosperity, and development.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
It is a great pleasure to be here today to attend this GCTF international workshop. First, on behalf of the government and all the people of Taiwan, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks and a warm welcome to our international participants.
I want to thank our GCTF partners, Canada, the United States, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom, for co-organizing this international workshop with Taiwan. Today we have with us scholars and experts from 29 countries. Thank you again to our distinguished guests for traveling so far to be here to exchange ideas and pool your experiences, as we work together to defend the values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
We live in an era full of change and challenges. The threats democracies face already go beyond traditional military dimensions and geographical boundaries.
Authoritarian actors are using emerging technologies and illicit financial flows to engage in systematic transnational repression, cross-border surveillance, cyberattacks, and information manipulation. They seek to divide societies, silence dissent, erode the sovereignty of democratic countries, and undermine social trust. 
No country can afford to stand on the sidelines amid such hybrid challenges, and no country should have to face these challenges alone. When authoritarian actors seek to spread fear, democratic societies must build resilience. And when authoritarian forces try to create disunity, democratic partners must join hands and cooperate.
This is precisely the core value of the GCTF as an international multilateral cooperation framework. Since Taiwan and the US established the GCTF in 2015, we have continued to expand the scale of cooperation, welcoming Japan, Australia, Canada, and the UK to join as formal partners.
To date, the GCTF has held more than 100 international workshops with over 10,000 experts and government officials from 134 countries participating, the aim being to promote global partnerships and cooperation. Past themes include public health, cybersecurity, and semiconductor supply chains, and this workshop’s focus, transnational repression, is a challenge shared by all countries. 
aiwan once endured a dark era of authoritarian rule, so we deeply understand how precious freedom and human rights are. This is why we actively promote digital democracy and open government, while strengthening coordination between the government, civil society, and local communities to build whole-of-society defense resilience and enhance democratic resilience.
Facing the challenges posed by transnational repression, we have also established a mechanism across government agencies to comprehensively review our legal framework and strengthen our approach across prevention, protection, and response.
Currently, misinformation, disinformation, and cognitive warfare are tools frequently used to suppress dissent and sow division within society. By working together across different areas of government, applying technology, and establishing real-time fact-clarification pages on government websites, we aim to enhance the public’s media literacy and vigilance, preventing them from falling into the traps of transnational repression and threats.
Protecting our people is a fundamental responsibility of the government. For citizens facing transnational harassment, intimidation, or repression while abroad, we mobilize our network of overseas missions to provide emergency assistance and necessary support. For citizens at home, we are committed to providing protection and are currently refining our legal framework to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
At the same time, we will strengthen international exchanges and cooperation to counter authoritarian coercion. Just this month, the European Parliament passed a resolution on countering transnational repression. Taiwan supports the European Union’s efforts to strengthen its response mechanisms, and we will continue working alongside the EU and other like-minded partners to build a secure, trustworthy information environment. Together, we will establish more rapid early-warning systems, more effective accountability mechanisms, and a more comprehensive protective network to safeguard our nation and people.
Democracy, peace, and prosperity are the bonds that connect Taiwan with the world. We will continue to share our experiences with other nations through the GCTF, working together to make democracy more resilient, better safeguard human rights, and contribute more to global peace, prosperity, and development.
In closing, I wish this workshop resounding success, and hope it proves to be a rewarding experience for all of you. Thank you.
Also in attendance at the event were Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Marie-Louise Hannan, American Institute in Taiwan Public Diplomacy Section Chief Arend Zwartjes, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Deputy Representative Takaba Yo, Australian Office in Taipei Deputy Representative Daniel Stuart, and British Office Taipei Acting Representative Wayne Ives.
 

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Education Bureau today announced that specific language proficiency results in Urdu and Hindi under the Category C Other Languages (OL) subjects of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination will be accepted as meeting entry requirements for relevant civil service grades.  

New arrangements for Category C OL subjects, including French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish, have been implemented by the Examinations & Assessment Authority starting from the 2025 HKDSE. Candidates are required to take the stipulated language examinations administered by the respective official organisations in Hong Kong.

Results obtained at the stipulated examination grades/language proficiency levels or above will be included in HKDSE Examination Category C results and recorded on HKDSE certificates. 

Starting from the 2026 HKDSE, Urdu will be included in Category C OL subjects, and Hindi will be included starting from the 2028 HKDSE. The arrangements are the same as those for the existing OL subjects.

In light of the latest arrangements, the Civil Service Bureau accepts the specific language proficiency levels attained in Urdu and Hindi in the HKDSE Category C OL examination as meeting the requirements of “Level 2/Level 3 in one of the five subjects in the HKDSE Examination” for the purposes of civil service non-degree grade appointments.

Existing acceptance arrangements remain unchanged for OL results obtained in the 2024 HKDSE Examination or earlier.

Offering the OL subjects as elective subjects at the senior secondary level is intended to foster multilingualism and broaden career options for students.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On May 6, 2026, Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin and National Development Council Minister Yeh Chun-Hsien, along with Representative to the United States Alexander Yui jointly held a press conference in Washington, D.C. to outline the results of Taiwan’s participation in the SelectUSA Investment Summit and discuss prospects for Taiwan-U.S. cooperation on supply chains.

During the event, Minister Kung signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vice Chairman Jerry Hsu of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (TEEMA) to promote overseas industrial cluster development and support the expansion of Taiwanese businesses abroad.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), a preliminary survey found that around 20 Taiwanese companies expressed interest in investing in the United States, with an estimated investment totaling approximately US$35 billion. The investments primarily involve semiconductor and AI server supply chains, which include such companies as UMC, GlobalWafers, WIN Semiconductors, Foxconn, Quanta, Wistron, and Compal.

Minister Kung said Taiwan’s manufacturing strengths have made the country an important partner of the United States in the AI era. Regarding the US$35 billion in planned investments, he emphasized that they are based on the business strategies of the companies rather than on government directives. He also noted that Taiwan’s investment in the United States has evolved from individual corporate expansion into a broader industrial strategy aimed at strengthening global competitiveness and supporting more resilient high-tech supply chains.

Minister Kung also remarked that Taiwan continued to be one of the largest delegations at this year’s SelectUSA Summit, 113 Taiwanese companies and 207 delegates participating. He said the strong turnout reflected that the United States has become a crucial hub for the global deployment of Taiwanese enterprises amidst global supply chain restructuring and advanced technological development.

Looking ahead, the MOEA announced that Taiwan Expo USA will be held again in Dallas, Texas from September 24 to 26 this year, focusing on AI and smart technology applications to further expand bilateral business cooperation.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-Hsin and National Development Council (NDC) Chairperson Yeh Chun-Hsien led a delegation of Taiwanese business leaders to attend the SelectUSA Investment Summit from May 3 to 6. Taiwan continued to be one of the largest delegations for the third consecutive year. In addition to leading the delegation to the SelectUSA Summit, Minister Kung’s itinerary included meetings with relevant U.S. government agencies and U.S. Senators. He urged them to complete the congressional legislative process for the Taiwan-U.S. Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA) to eliminate tax barriers for Taiwanese companies investing in the U.S.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick stated in his opening remarks at the SelectUSA Summit that “America First” does not mean America alone; rather, it involves working hand-in-hand with allies to jointly build more resilient supply chains. This year’s Taiwan SelectUSA delegation consisted of 207 representatives from 113 corporations, associations, and research institutions. The delegation’s participation demonstrated the intent and capability of Taiwanese enterprises to strengthen investments in the U.S. and deepen Taiwan-U.S. supply chain cooperation.

Speaking at the SelectUSA Welcoming Reception hosted by TECRO on May 3, Minister Kung remarked that this was his fourth time to represent Taiwan at SelectUSA, and that on the three previous occasions Taiwan had also assembled the largest overseas delegation. Currently, the U.S. is not only Taiwan’s top trading partner, but Taiwan has also risen to become the fourth-largest trading partner of the U.S.

Minister Kung emphasized that in the future, Taiwan will continue to collaborate with the U.S. on advancing bilateral corporate trade and investment cooperation, which is built on the solid foundation of three major pillars: the Taiwan-U.S. Memorandum of Understanding on Investment Cooperation, the Taiwan-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), and the Taiwan-U.S. Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD).

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On May 1, Minister of Economic Affairs Ming-Hsin Kung, together with Sandra Watson, President & CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke inaugurated the opening of the Phoenix-Taiwan Trade and Investment Center in Arizona.

Although Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs was unable to attend in person, she delivered congratulatory remarks via a pre-recorded video, which emphasized that the long-standing partnership between Arizona and Taiwan is stronger than ever.

The event marked the MOEA’s second trade and investment service office in the United States. The Center will work with the Dallas-Taiwan Trade and Investment Center to support Taiwanese enterprises in layout planning for the U.S. market. Those enterprises are engaged in local manufacturing and innovation ecosystems, further advancing the Taiwan-U.S. Memorandum of Understanding on investment.

Minister Kung said that this visit to the U.S. was to attend the SelectUSA Investment Summit. Although the first stop in Arizona was brief, three major goals were achieved: First, leading industry representatives to meet with senior officials from the state and city governments, helping businesses grasp the local investment environment. Second, opening the trade and investment center will lead to local governments providing timely and professional services to investors. Third, exploring potential sites for developing industrial clusters in the U.S. based on the Taiwan model, and in line with the Taiwan-U.S. investment memorandum.

Governor Katie Hobbs, though unable to attend in person, expressed her congratulations via a pre-recorded video. She emphasized that Taiwan and Arizona have built an unprecedented close relationship based on friendship, mutual support, and a shared commitment to developing innovative technologies. She stressed that cooperation in the coming years will drive next-generation technological development and strengthen global supply chain resilience.

The MOEA stated that Arizona is Taiwan’s third-largest trading partner in the U.S. In 2025, bilateral trade reached USD 21.24 billion, with Taiwan being Arizona’s largest import source and second-largest export market.

Source: Government of Singapore

23 June 2026 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) continued its enforcement efforts and stakeholder partnerships to uphold high standards of public cleanliness and hygiene in the first quarter of 2026.

About 3,000 fines issued for ground littering offences in Q1 2026

2.          From January to March 2026, NEA issued about 3,000 fines for ground littering offences islandwide. NEA also conducted 24 enforcement blitzes at cleanliness hotspots, which are identified through localised litter counts, public feedback and sustained ground observations. At these hotspots, NEA deployed visible patrols, standees, surveillance cameras, and carried out ground engagements to deter littering. In addition, over 150 Corrective Work Orders (CWOs) were issued in Q1 2026, and these offenders will be required to perform corrective work at these hotspots, serving as a visible reminder to members of the public of the consequences of littering.^[1]

3.          NEA’s enforcement efforts have also resulted in convictions for repeat offenders. On 15 May 2026, Tang Bo Xiang, a 43-year-old Singaporean man, was convicted in the State Courts for throwing a cigarette butt in a public place. He was fined $2,500 and ordered to perform 12 hours of corrective work. This was his 13^th conviction for littering since 2000. The court took into account his previous convictions when assessing the sentence.

Decline in rat burrows recorded in early 2026

4.          NEA’s two-monthly surveillance cycle recorded a decrease in the average number of rat burrows per cycle, from about 4,900 in 2025 to about 2,900 in early 2026, based on the January-February and March-April cycles. The majority of burrows were detected in public housing estates, followed by grass verges along roadsides and in industrial estates.

5.          About 260 enforcement actions were jointly taken by NEA and the Singapore Food Agency against premises owners for rat-related lapses from January to March 2026, of which about 150 were for poor refuse management.^[2]

Reducing upstream lapses through ground efforts and partnerships

 6.          Targeted efforts at areas with high trade activity and poor refuse management under the Cleaner Neighbourhood initiative have shown results. At Chai Chee Avenue/Road, refuse management lapses fell by more than half over four months – from 23 in November 2025 to 10 in end-February 2026 – through engagements with trade premises on proper refuse management, close collaboration with Town Councils to reduce visible waste, and the deployment of surveillance cameras.

7.          Similar progress was also observed during the same period at Serangoon Avenue 2/3 where refuse management lapses dropped 52 per cent. Advisories were issued to trade premises to install additional bins and remove bulky items stored outside their shops, which can serve as potential harbourage for rats. These stepped-up efforts have led to 12 enforcement actions taken, including two enforcement actions under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act 1998 issued to a premises owner amounting to a $6,000 fine.

8.          Good rat management practices by premise owners also made a difference. AMK Hub has not experienced sustained rat activity since end-2023 – a result of a deliberate focus on prevention, early detection, and quick response, rather than relying solely on reactive pest control. This includes training staff to spot early signs of rat activity, isolating F&B units to limit rat movement, and having clear protocols in place for fast containment. The approach was put to the test. When a rat was brought in with raw materials, it was detected promptly and trapped shortly, with no further activity observed. These measures are in line with NEA’s rat management guidelines, which emphasise prevention and the use of technology alongside conventional control methods.

 9.          NEA will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach encompassing enforcement, innovative solutions, and stakeholder engagements, to uphold high standards of public cleanliness. ​Everyone plays a part to keep Singapore clean. Public health offences can be reported via the OneService app.

– End –

 

[1] Under the Environmental Public Health Act, any individual who litters is liable on conviction to a court fine of up to $2,000 for a first conviction, $4,000 for a second conviction, and $10,000 for the third and subsequent convictions. The court may also impose a Corrective Work Order, requiring offenders to clean public areas for up to 12 hours.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     ​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (June 22) led a delegation to begin its visit programme to Fujian. He met with the Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Mr Zhou Zuyi, in Fuzhou and later attended the High-Level Meeting and the Fifth Plenary Session of the Hong Kong-Fujian Cooperation Conference (meeting-and-plenary), jointly witnessing multiple co-operation outcomes between Hong Kong and Fujian.

     ​At the meeting with Mr Zhou, Mr Lee exchanged views on deepening Hong Kong-Fujian co-operation. He said that Fujian, as one of the country’s forerunner provinces in reform and opening up, is an important part of the high-level open economy, with its digital industry developing rapidly. Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantage of connecting the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle, and is an international financial, trade and shipping centre. In the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook, Hong Kong rose one place to second globally. Hong Kong is also one of the key driving engines of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and is formulating at full speed its first Five-Year Plan, proactively integrating into and serving the overall national development. Hong Kong and Fujian are both important gateways for the country’s high-level opening up, reflecting close economic and trade ties between the two places.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region