Lai attends ceremony marking 78th anniversary of 228 Incident
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) pledged to expedite the opening of political archives to further the implementation of transitional justice Feb. 28 in Taipei City. Lai made the remarks during a ceremony marking the 78th anniversary of the Feb. 28 Incident, during which he also offered condolences to victims and their surviving family members on behalf of the government. The incident occurred in 1947 amid protests of unjust treatment and calls for government reform. Military crackdowns in response to these protests claimed the lives of many civilians and ushered in decades of martial law. Lai acknowledged that while considerable progress has been made toward justice, the search for historical truth takes intensive work. Last year he requested that the National Security Bureau prepare approximately 1 million documents from its records during the martial law period for submission to the National Development Council’s National Archives Administration by June.
Deputy Foreign Minister Wu gives interview to French media
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chih-chung Wu (吳志中) said peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are key to maintaining regional security and prosperity. Wu made the remarks during an interview last month in Taipei City with Bernard de la Villardière, host of the news show Enquete Exclusive, for a documentary broadcast March 9 on the French TV channel M6. According to Wu, Taiwan produces 60 percent of chips and nearly 95 percent of high-end semiconductors for the world, making it an indispensable player in the global semiconductor supply chain. The country is committed to maintaining the cross-strait status quo, reducing risk of confrontation and promoting regional and global peace and prosperity, the deputy minister added.
Taiwan Gender Equality Week to kick off in New York
Taiwan Gender Equality Week will get underway March 10 in New York City with events showcasing the country’s long-standing efforts to promote and mainstream gender equality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said March 4. According to the MOFA, TGEW will be staged on the sidelines of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women’s 69th session. To complement the event, TGEW activities are themed around resilient leadership and free expression, the ministry said. Additionally, 32 parallel events hosted by over 40 Taiwan nongovernmental organizations and local governments will be held during the NGO CSW Forum to spotlight Taiwan’s gender equality initiatives and policy implementation experiences, the MOFA added.
Labor, mutual training recognition accords signed with Tuvalu
Taiwan and Tuvalu inked two accords on labor cooperation and mutual recognition of mariner training and competency April 15 in Taipei City, highlighting the allies’ commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Tuvalu Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Panapasi Nelesone witnessed the event. Following the signing, Lin expressed appreciation to Nelesone for the Tuvalu government’s staunch long-standing support for Taiwan’s international participation. According to Lin, the MOFA is committed to integrating public and private collaboration with its allies. The ministry will continue to work with Tuvalu to promote economic prosperity and well-being, he said.
Taiwan stages APEC dengue prevention conference
A conference on dengue prevention and control was held April 22-23 in the southern city of Tainan to facilitate discussion between Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members on ways to employ innovative technology to address new challenges. Organized by Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the event involved officials and experts from Taiwan and fellow APEC economies Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the U.S. According to the CDC, the opening of borders following the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with global warming and other environmental and social factors, led to a resurgence of dengue fever, with 2024 seeing a record high of more than 14 million cases reported and a global death toll of over 10,000. Aiming to establish a regional collaboration network, the conference featured sessions spanning public-private partnerships, progress on dengue vaccines, vector surveillance and real-time integrated information models.
Taiwan trade center inaugurated in Fukuoka
The Taiwan Trade and Investment Service Center in Fukuoka was inaugurated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs April 21 in the Japanese city, marking another milestone in the already robust bilateral trade relations. According to the MOEA, Taiwan is a global front-runner in advanced semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence hardware production, while Japan is a powerhouse in materials, equipment and quality management expertise. The center is the second established under the ministry’s Pursuing Global Opportunities With Domestic Supply strategy, following one that opened in the Czech Republic in December 2024.
MOEA holds international trade talks
The Ministry of Economic Affairs staged Taiwan Select April 23 in Taipei City to respond to challenges brought by the U.S.’ recent tariff policy and the restructuring of global supply chains. The event attracted a total of 454 international buyers from 48 countries, facilitating an estimated revenue of over US$800 million for domestic businesses. Trade dialogue touched on sectors spanning automotive parts, e-commerce, electric vehicles, machinery, medical equipment, retail and smart manufacturing. Additionally, two more trade-matching activities will be respectively held in Taichung and southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City in the second half of the year with a focus on fasteners, machinery, metal manufacturing and plumbing hardware as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen domestic industries’ export competitiveness, the ministry concluded.
Display industry tech features at Touch Taiwan
The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Department of Industrial Technology is operating
a booth at 2025 Touch Taiwan, underway through April 18, to display the fruits of the country’s research accomplishments in four display industry fields. The DOIT said that technology showcased at the exhibition spans panel-level packaging, automotive displays and smart applications, advanced display materials, and low-carbon displays and green manufacturing. DOIT Director General Kuo Chao-chung (郭肇中) noted that when faced with global volatility, it is important to reinforce supply chain resilience and the overall economic ecosystem. Over the past four years more than 120 innovative techniques have been rolled out in the display area, which have stimulated NT$13 billion (US$400 million) in private sector investment, Kuo said. He anticipated that this year’s edition, which features 11 technology forums and talks between more than 70 firms from home and abroad, will facilitate cooperation between domestic businesses and their overseas counterparts.
Taiwan showcases innovative technologies at Satellite 2025
Innovative technologies are on display at the Taiwan Space pavilion at Satellite 2025 March 11-13 in Washington, D.C., underscoring the government’s commitment to showcasing Taiwan’s technological prowess while expanding global business opportunities for local firms. Organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Industrial Development Administration and Taiwan Space Agency, the pavilion showcases 45 technologies and products from 18 domestic enterprises. They include satellite components and ground station equipment, as well as innovative aviation communications, optical payload and satellite body technologies. The organizers also held business matching events for local entities to engage in exchanges with global companies based in Canada, France, Luxembourg and the U.S., the MOEA said.
MOEA celebrates World IP Day in Taipei
The Ministry of Economic Affairs hosted an event on intellectual property rights in the music industry to mark World Intellectual Property Day April 29 in Taipei City. Organized by the ministry’s Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, Music Copyright Society of Chinese Taipei and Taipei Music Center, the daylong event brought together over 150 academics, creators and business representatives. It comprised two panels and two speeches, with panel participants discussing topics spanning legal regulations and practical music licensing norms in the digital era and sharing opinions on how music creation can combine with commercial clout to maximize value.
MOEA deputy minister attends ITRI forum, vows to boost energy saving
Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Chin-tsang (何晉滄) took part in the 2025 ITRI Net Zero Day April 8 in Taipei City, urging cross-sector cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ deep energy-saving initiative. Ho first praised Hsinchu County-based Industrial Technology Research Institute’s contributions to energy transformation technologies. He expressed hope of applying energy efficiency solutions across all sectors. The ministry’s initiative, which covers state-owned businesses, ministries and agencies as well as wide-ranging industries, is expected to reduce electricity consumption by 20.6 billion kilowatt-hours, shrinking carbon emissions by 10.18 million metric tons from 2024 to 2027, the MOEA said, adding that as of March 2025, the country has saved 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity.
Higher education forum connects Taiwan with Austria
The 4th edition of Taiwan-Austria Higher Education Forum was staged April 29 in Vienna, underscoring bilateral commitment to tertiary-level exchanges. The event introduced the two countries’ higher education systems, scholarships and ways to increase bilateral collaboration. Participants from over 20 universities shared successful examples of two-way academic cooperation, research and student-to-student exchange. As of 2025, there are around 120 academic exchange agreements between the two countries. Currently, a total of 156 Austrian students are studying in Taiwan, while 401 Taiwanese are pursuing education in Austria, the ministry added. The event has laid a robust foundation for further academic cooperation, the MOE concluded.
Team Taiwan gears up for 2025 Summer World University Games
The Sports Administration vowed to fully support athletes competing in the upcoming 2025 Summer World University Games in Germany, according to a statement released following a news conference held April 10 in Taipei City. Taiwan’s delegation has been in training since Feb. 1, the SA said. It is made up of around 200 student athletes, who will compete in 15 sports categories: archery, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, boat rowing, competitive and rhythmic gymnastics, fencing, judo, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. The SA began preparations for the 2025 Games and the 2026 Asian Games in Japan as soon as the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris ended. The administration said it hoped the extended time frame would ready Taiwan’s athletes to break records and bring home medals.
Taiwan deepens disaster response cooperation with global partners
The Ministry of the Interior’s National Fire Agency and Polish Office in Taipei organized a disaster prevention and first aid training workshop April 8 for members of the foreign diplomatic corps and branches of international organizations in Taiwan to enhance response capabilities. Speaking at the event, Deputy Interior Minister Dong Jian-hong (董建宏) emphasized the importance of learning how to respond to disasters and increasing societal resilience, particularly given Taiwan’s frequency of earthquakes and typhoons. He welcomed 35 representatives from 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, the U.K, the U.S. and European Union member nations. Dong took the opportunity to laud Poland’s dedication to global disaster prevention and humanitarian relief work, adding that the training is expected to further reinforce substantive exchanges between Taiwan and its like-minded partners.
Ministry of Justice strengthens ties with Germany
The Ministry of Justice arranged visits to prosecutors’ offices in Taiwan March 17-19 for a delegation led by Wolfgang Gründler, head of Germany’s Bamberg High Prosecutors’ Office, underscoring the government’s commitment to promoting exchange and collaboration with international prosecutorial systems. Their schedule included a visit to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, where they gained insight into government guidelines on combating fraud and had in-depth discussions on challenges and breakthroughs in dealing with wire fraud. The visitors voiced recognition for Taiwan’s specific measures in integrating different agencies to combat fraud. The delegation also went to Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office and the TSMC Museum of Innovation in the northern city. They exchanged information on the investigation of suspected trade secret crimes in the high-technology sector.
Taiwan video wins gold at Japanese tourism awards
A promotional short produced by Taiwan’s Tourism Administration for the 2025 1st World Bird Fair in Taiwan taking place Sept. 20-21 took gold for documentaries at this year’s Japan World’s Tourism Film Festival, the agency said March 20. According to the TA, “Birding in Taiwan” was shot from the perspectives of birds and birders to highlight the ancient forests and towering peaks of Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area, one of the country’s best bird-watching destinations due to its incredibly rich avian ecology. Given its diverse terrain, Taiwan is not only home to hundreds of bird species, including 32 that are endemic, but also serves as a resting point for numerous migratory and transient birds from late March to early April, the film said. The documentary showcases several iconic species, including the mikado pheasant, Taiwan barbet, Taiwan rosefinch and Taiwan vivid niltava.
NPM exhibition spotlights mystery of the human body
An exhibition exploring the mystery of the human body through historical images kicked off March 13 at the National Palace Museum in Taipei City to encourage reflection on our physical form. Running through June 8, “Body on Display” showcases a selection of classical texts, antiquities and paintings divided into four sections: “Perspectives on Body,” “Body Training,” “Body Variations” and “Body Discipline.” According to the NPM, the exhibition examines our understanding of the body and aims to reinterpret the body from cultural, legal, medical and religious perspectives. As the country celebrates the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program, the NPM sees the exhibition as an opportunity for the public to reflect on the meaning of the human body and take action to respond to the government’s vision of a healthy Taiwan for all.
Taiwan TV series on display in French Series Mania
Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) launched a pavilion at Series Mania March 21 in the northern French city of Lille to facilitate the entry of local programs into the global market. This year marked TAICCA’s fourth appearance at the event, which is Europe’s largest TV series festival. The agency is showcasing 76 works through March 28. Additionally, TAICCA and Series Mania jointly chose five projects to feature at the Taiwan Spotlight Pitching Session March 25. During the session members of the five groups worked directly with international investors, TV series buyers and other professionals to enhance visibility for domestic shows. TAICCA Chair Homme Tsai said he hoped that the teams showcasing their projects would soon have upcoming co-productions with global partners to announce.
NMH exhibits highlight Taiwan’s art history
A series of solo exhibitions that outline Taiwan’s artistic evolution and legacy are underway through Sept. 28 at the National Museum of History in Taipei City. “Across Generations,” open through June 8, encompasses a variety of pioneering artist Lee Zai-qian’s (李再鈐) works including ink painting, calligraphy and installations. Nearly 70 pieces by Li Chi-mao (李奇茂), who passed away in 2019, are concurrently on display to demonstrate the vitality of his work, which the MOC attributed to his incorporation of traditional ink painting techniques and skills gained from his study of western sketching. A special showing of the work of Chung Kuei-ying (鍾桂英), an artist of the postwar generation, is to be launched April 18 and will run through July 6. Her pieces integrate Eastern and Western aesthetics to portray women’s emotions and comment on their roles in society. The fourth artist, Cheng Kuo-chan (陳國展), will be featured in an exhibit opening July 18. A trailblazer of Taiwan’s contemporary art, Chen has made remarkable contributions to print art in the postwar era.
NPM wins six medals at Muse Creative Awards
The National Palace Museum garnered four golds and two silvers at the latest Muse Creative Awards, showcasing its prowess in immersive digital exhibitions and website design. “Evoking Aura: Invoking Visionary Insights” won gold in the Experimental and Immersive—Immersive Brand Experience category, the NPM said. The 2024 exhibition featured 8K-resolution videos of exhibits at the museum to enhance visitor engagement, it added. “Divine Vision, Ghostly Reflection: New Media Art Exhibition,” won a gold prize in the Experimental and Immersive—Exhibition Experience category, the museum said. Inspired by the collection “The Three Taoist Officials Making an Inspection Tour” by Ma Lin (馬麟) from the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279), the exhibition employed motion sensors, allowing visitors to interact with the piece, the NPM said. According to the NPM, the website it created for the “The Emperors’ Moving Gardens” exhibition last year was awarded two golds in the Art and Design and Home Page/Landing Page categories, while another website for the Storytelling Images exhibition clinched two silvers in the Cultural and Home Page/Landing Page categories.
Photos: Presidential Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Central News Agency, Ministry of Education, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice, Tourism Administration, National Palace Museum, Taiwan Creative Content Agency, Ministry of Culture