New Year speech catalogs achievements, calls for unity
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said in his New Year’s Day address Jan. 1 at the Presidential Office in Taipei City that the government is committed to building a safer, smarter, more resilient and more prosperous Taiwan, enhancing balanced development across the country and promoting democratic unity. He promised that Taiwan would staunchly defend national sovereignty, strengthen national defense, enhance whole-of-society resilience and establish robust deterrence and democratic defense mechanisms. Lai noted continued international support for Taiwan, saying that partners including Japan, the EU, the U.K. and the U.S. have all made statements on the importance of cross-strait peace and stability.
President Lai speaks on national fiscal policy
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) delivered a recorded address Dec. 15 following a discussion on national policy with government branch leaders, in which he emphaized fiscal discipline and defense of the constitutional order. He said the heads of the Executive, Legislative and Examination Yuans were invited to the Presidential Office to discuss the central government’s position on next year’s general budget and related topics. The president also announced that he supports Premier Cho Jung-tai’s (卓榮泰) decision not to countersign the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures in accordance with the authority granted by Article 37 of the Constitution, as the act could force the central government to borrow up to NT$563.8 billion (US$17.8 billion) next year. This would violate the ceiling stipulated in the Public Debt Act.
The New York Times interviews Lai
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) described Taiwan-U.S. relations as rock solid during an online interview aired Dec. 4 with Andrew Ross Sorkin, host of The New York Times’ DealBook Summit. Among the issues discussed were cross-strait relations, national defense, semiconductors, the Taiwan-U.S. relationship and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The president said that China’s military drills are increasing in frequency and intensity, citing this escalation as a reason for his recent announcement of a special defense budget of US$40 billion. Lai also thanked G7 members, Japanese political leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump for reiterating the importance of Taiwan Strait peace. In response to Trump’s goal of producing more chips in the U.S. with assistance from Taiwan, the president noted that Taiwan is supportive of domestic enterprises expanding operations in Europe, Japan, the U.S. or anywhere else to facilitate international progress and prosperity.
Contributions to integrated diplomacy lauded by foreign minister
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) hosted an event Dec. 22 in Taipei City thanking those from all walks of life who have worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs toward peace and prosperity throughout the world. The event was attended by Deputy Health and Welfare Minister Lue Jen-der (呂建德), ambassadors-at-large and advisors to the MOFA, among others. Lin said Taiwan continues to show the world that it is a reliable partner through public-private cooperation. The minister noted he had visited 11 allies and toured like-minded partners around the world since taking office. Lue said the medical and health diplomacy advisory group established in July facilitates work with the international community by taking advantage of Taiwan’s strengths in medical technology and epidemic prevention.
Taiwan, EU deepen trade ties
Economic Affairs Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) co-hosted the Taiwan-European Union Trade and Investment Dialogue with Sabine Weyand, head of the EU Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, Dec. 12 in Brussels. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said that the meeting centered on economic security, semiconductor supply chain resilience, trade-related climate measures and the global overcapacity of steel. Kung shared recent measures undertaken by Taiwan to improve the manufacturing and technology sectors, including the establishment of overseas trade and investment centers to provide domestic businesses with opportunities to deepen industry links with major economic partners and reinforce Taiwan’s global strategic role. According to the MOEA, the EU is Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade exceeding US$68.7 billion in 2024. The EU is Taiwan’s largest source of foreign investment, investing US$59.5 billion in the country between 1952 and 2024.
Taiwan, Japan ink pact on digital trade cooperation
Taiwan and Japan concluded a digital trade cooperation agreement Dec. 4 in Taipei City, highlighting government commitment to a free, open and safe digital trade environment. Signed by Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全), chair of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, and Shuzo Sumi, chair of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, the document was based on the Taiwan-Japan Arrangement for Mutual Cooperation on Electronic Commerce in 2013. The current agreement includes more comprehensive regulations spanning duty-free cross-border electronic transmission, paperless trade, personal data and privacy protection, network security, and online consumer protection. According to the Executive Yuan, the agreement emphasizes protecting companies’ source codes and encrypted information to enable them to create secure businesses. The mutual recognition of electronic signatures further validates electronic documents for enterprises. This simplifies customs clearance, reducing costs and shortening times for import and export.
Artificial Intelligence Fundamental Act passes
The Legislative Yuan passed the Artificial Intelligence Fundamental Act Dec. 23, marking a milestone in government AI innovation. According to the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the legislation provides a legal foundation for safeguarding cultural values, enhancing global competitiveness and ensuring ethical AI applications. The legislation was drafted by the National Science and Technology Council in 2024, with public notice given July 15. The ministry took over the work this year and introduced a risk classification framework, attended public hearings and reviewed meetings organized by lawmakers. The legislation outlines seven core principles: sustainability, human autonomy, privacy protection and data governance, safety, transparency, fairness, and accountability. The ministry said it will serve as a cross-agency integration platform and leverage Taiwan’s semiconductor advantage to create a people-centered AI ecosystem.
Taiwan makes donation to APEC
Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding on the donation of US$650,000 to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat Dec. 11 in Shenzhen, China, underscoring government commitment to advancing regional development. It was signed by Jonathan C. Y. Sun (孫儉元), director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of International Organizations, on behalf of the government and APEC Secretariat Executive Director Eduardo Pedrosa. Sun said that Taiwan has made significant contributions since joining APEC in 1991 and added that the country will continue to work with fellow member economies to enhance regional prosperity. In response, Pedrosa said that Taiwan’s contributions and participation have helped the secretariat advance its work and benefited people throughout the Asia-Pacific through capacity building. The donation will be allocated to the Human Security Sub-Fund, the Women and the Economy Sub-Fund, and the Policy Support Unit.
MOFA to broadcast Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide satellite broadcast information for the 2025-2026 Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks event to international television networks and online media. According to the MOFA, this year marks a musical first: In collaboration with the Taipei Music Center, compositions selected from a competition have been integrated into the firework design, enhancing the overall narrative and visual experience of the show with a synchronized sound and light display. Highlights from the display will be edited and uploaded to the publicly available MOFA Trending Taiwan YouTube channel.
Winners of Taiwan-France scientific award honored in Paris
The winners of the 2025 Franco-Taiwanese Scientific Grand Prize were honored Nov. 27 in Paris for their groundbreaking research on yeast evolution and genetic variation. According to the National Science and Technology Council, the award went to Jason I-sheng Tsai (蔡怡陞), a research fellow at Taipei City-based Academia Sinica’s Biodiversity Research Center, and Gianni Liti, a senior researcher and head of the Population Genomics and Complex Traits group at Nice-based Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging. The award was presented by NSTC Deputy Minister Chen Bing-yu (陳炳宇) and Francis-André Wollman, deputy head of international collaboration of the French Academy of Sciences, at a ceremony held at the Fondation Simone et Cino Del Duca. According to the NSTC, the biologists’ findings will inspire further study of ecological genomics, sustainable biotechnology and other related disciplines.
Formosat-8’s first satellite makes orbit
The first satellite in Taiwan’s domestically produced Formosat-8 constellation was successfully launched from California Nov. 29, according to the National Science and Technology Council. The satellite, FS-8A, is one of eight high-resolution optical remote-sensing satellites in the constellation. According to Taiwan Space Agency Director General Wu Jong-shinn (吳宗信), the satellite communicated with mission control at 10:42 a.m. for 12 minutes and reported that the operation of its onboard computer, power system and position control was nominal. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said in a recorded video released ahead of the launch that Formosat-8 aligns with the national development plan proposed during his inauguration speech, adding that the constellation will enable land use planning, agricultural monitoring, disaster response coordination and environmental protection to strengthen national security and help Taiwan address challenges.
Tourism Administration offers teahouse with views in London
The Taiwan Pavilion at the 2025 World Travel Market London promoted the country as a top travel destination, the Tourism Administration said Nov. 10. The TA produced a pavilion featuring a teahouse decorated with elements of the popular Alishan forest railway to highlight the country’s spectacular natural beauty. According to the administration, the U.K. is a leading source of European visitors to Taiwan, recording 46,174 arrivals for the first seven months of this year. The administration is responding to the increasing global emphasis on low-carbon and green tourism to market Taiwan as a sustainable travel destination, the agency added. The pavilion also included art and craft exhibitions, beverage tastings, activities and musical performances.
Taiwanese modern art exhibition underway in Hungary
A modern art exhibition is underway until March 29, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary, underscoring Taiwan’s vibrant artistic landscape. Organized by the Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Prague with support from the Ministry of Culture, Taipei City-based Museum of Contemporary Art and host institution the Ludwig Museum, the exhibition “Before the Storm: Taiwan on the Frontier of Past and Future” features works by 22 Taiwanese artists. The lineup spans animations, installations, interactive works and videos, in addition to pieces produced through ancient techniques and paper-, paint- and sculpture-based forms, the MOC said, adding that the artworks explore Indigenous cultural heritage, the lasting impact of colonization, Taiwan’s turbulent and often traumatic history around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the evolution of modern Taiwanese identity and values, and the technology-driven society of today and the future
Works from the collection of Taiwan’s National Palace Museum are being shown at the Jacques Chirac Museum of Branly Quay in Paris starting Nov. 18 as part of the Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025 initiative. Running until March 1, 2026, the exhibit, entitled “Dragons,” brings together items from the first depictions of the mythical creature on jade and antique bronzes to the most popular modern forms. NPM Director Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌), Deputy Director Yu Pei-chin (余佩瑾) and Hsiao’s counterpart Emmanuel Kasarhérou opened the exhibition. Speaking at the event, Hsiao said the NPM has been cooperating with French museums since 1990 and expressed appreciation for exceptional support from the host museum and other participating institutions.
MOC unveils winners of 29th Taiwan-France Cultural Award
Wu Hsi-deh (吳錫德) from Taiwan and Victor Louzon from France are the winners of the 29th Taiwan-France Cultural Award, the Ministry of Culture announced Nov. 18. According to the MOC, Wu is an honorary professor at Tamkang University who has dedicated nearly four decades to teaching and academic service. He received the Order of Academic Palms from France in 2016 for contributions to French language education and cultural exchanges. An assistant professor of history at Sorbonne University, Louzon focuses on the transformation of political power in Taiwan in 1945. In 2023 he published “The Embrace of the Fatherland,” a monograph on the February 28 incident.
Taiwanese Oscar nominees shine in Los Angeles
Taiwanese films competing for the 98th Academy Awards were screened in Los Angeles Nov. 11-20, rasing their profiles in the lead-up to the competition. Organized by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), the Focus on Taiwan event screened “Left-Handed Girl,” “Side A: A Summer Day” and “From Island to Island” during the Nov. 11-20 Asian World Film Festival. The latter two were also screened at American Cinematheque Nov. 16. TAICCA Chair Sue Wang (王時思) said the AWFF allowed Taiwanese films to demonstrate their creativity to industry professionals in North America, adding that the collaboration with the AC further underscored their distinctive strengths and award-winning potential. A series of post-screening events were also held to bring together Academy members, film critics, filmmakers and industry professionals for in-depth exchanges, the TAICCA said.