Typhoon Khanun forecast to turn back to Japanese islands where it already caused damage and injuries
A typhoon that damaged homes and knocked out power on Okinawa and other southern Japanese islands this week is slowly moving west but is forecast to make a U-turn and dump even more rain on the archipelago.
Guatemala leader in Taiwan expresses 'rock-solid friendship'
The president of Guatemala has appealed to other governments to respect Taiwanโs sovereignty during an official visit at a time when Chinaโs ruling Communist Party is stepping up efforts to isolate the self-ruled island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory.
Arizona Gov. Ducey hails Taiwan semiconductor investment
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is hailing economic and educational cooperation with Taiwan, marked by a $12 billion investment in his state by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. Ducey spoke Thursday at a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, the latest of a series of visits by U.S. political leaders that have stirred the ire of China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and condemns all official contacts between Taipei and foreign governments that recognize Beijing.
Taiwan acknowledges room to improve in COVID-19 response
The task force in charge of Taiwanโs COVID-19 response has acknowledged that the island could have done better in fighting the disease, after 12 families who lost relatives to the pandemic filed a claim seeking financial compensation from the government.
Chipmaker TSMC says revenue up 16.7% as demand surges
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the worldโs biggest contract producer of processor chips, says its revenue rose 16.7% in the latest quarter over a year earlier as the global economy rebounded from the coronavirus pandemic and demand surged.
Taiwan chip maker TSMC to invest $100B to grow capacity
FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2005, file photo the logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is displayed during a third quarter press conference in Taipei, Taiwan. Major Taiwan computer chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plans to invest $100 billion in the next three years in expanding its manufacturing capacity and supporting research and development, the company said Thursday. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)TAIPEI โ Major Taiwan computer chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plans to invest $100 billion in the next three years in expanding its manufacturing capacity and supporting research and development, the company said Thursday. Last week, Intel announced plans to pour $20 billion into expanding production, building two new factories in Arizona. TSMC operates a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility in Camas, Washington, and design centers in San Jose, California, and Austin, Texas.
Taiwan gives health workers island's 1st AstraZeneca doses
In this photo released by Executive Yuan, Taiwan's Premier Su Tseng-chang receives a shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine at National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, March 22, 2021. Health care workers received the first shots in Taiwan's COVID-19 vaccination drive Monday, beginning a campaign that won't use supplies from China amid uneven distribution of the vaccines globally. Taiwan has on hand 117,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which it is distributing to healthcare workers across 57 hospitals. Last week, more than a dozen nations suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after a few dozen people among the millions who've received the vaccine developed blood clots. AdTaiwan has signed contracts securing 10 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, 5.05 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, and 4.76 million doses of vaccines through COVAX.
Foxconn mulls making electric vehicles at Wisconsin plant
Foxconn Chairman Young Liu speaks in a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Foxconn Technology Group, the world's largest electronics manufacturer, is looking at making electric vehicles in its highly anticipated and controversial Wisconsin plant that has been scaled back since its announcement in 2017, the company's chairman said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Johnson Lai)TAIPEI โ Foxconn Technology Group, the world's largest electronics manufacturer, is considering making electric vehicles at its highly anticipated Wisconsin plant that has been scaled back since its announcement in 2017, the company's chairman said Tuesday. The decision will be between whether to go to Mexico or the U.S. for manufacturing electric vehicles, Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said at a news conference in Taipei, Taiwan's capital. The Wisconsin project was scaled back after Foxconn initially signed a contract with the state of Wisconsin under then-Gov.
Taiwan bursts with creative pineapple dishes after China ban
Chef Hung shows pineapple beef noodle outside of his restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Hung Ching Lung, a Taipei chef, has created a pineapple beef noodle soup at his eponymous restaurant Chef Hung, in what he says is a modest attempt to support Taiwanese pineapple farmers. Taipei chef Hung Ching Lung created a pineapple beef noodle soup at his eponymous restaurant Chef Hung, in what he says is a modest attempt to support Taiwanese pineapple farmers. The spiky fruit became a politically charged symbol after China banned the import of Taiwan's pineapples on March 1, citing pests. China denies its move to ban Taiwanese pineapples was politically motivated, with a spokesperson for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office saying that the decision was a โnormal biosafety measure, and entirely reasonable and necessary."
Timberlake apologizes to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson
This combination photo shows, from left, Janet Jackson performing at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on July 8, 2018, from left, Justin Timberlake performing during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game in Minneapolis on Feb. 4, 2018 and Britney Spears performing during her concert in Taipei, Taiwan on June 13, 2017. (AP Photo)NEW YORK โ In a lengthy social media post, Justin Timberlake says that he wants to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson โbecause I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.โโIโve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond. AdFans called out Timberlake for contributing to Spears' very public breakdown and controlling the narrative about the end of their relationship. More backlash hit Timberlake as social media began to recall the wardrobe malfunction with Jackson that caused a national controversy at the 2004 Super Bowl. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports,โ Timberlake wrote.
Asia Today: Taiwan quarantines 5,000 after hospital cluster
(AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)TAIPEI โ Health authorities in Taiwan are quarantining 5,000 people while looking for the source of two new coronavirus cases linked to a hospital. The man had stayed at the hospital for three days for health problems unrelated to COVID-19, while his wife looked after him. Those asked to quarantine include patients who were discharged from the hospital from Jan. 6 to 19, and their caregivers. Taiwan is on higher alert after the latest domestic cluster, which has now seen 15 cases from the hospital in Taoyuan. The National Health Commission on Tuesday reported 53 new cases in Heilongjiang province, with another seven in Jilin province just to the south.
Taiwan heralds visit by US ambassador to UN as China fumes
Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft speaks during a news conference at the U.S. State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)TAIPEI โ Taiwan said Friday it welcomed the visit of the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in the closing days of the Trump administration, in a move that brought China's renewed condemnation of Washington. Kelly Craft will visit Taipei, the island's capital, on Jan. 13-15, a week before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. In defiance of China's warnings, Congress and the Trump administration have pushed for more visits by sitting government officials, along with arms sales and political support. ___Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
One Good Thing: Midnight Cafeteria feeds Taipei's stray cats
Street cats "Flower," left, and "Pipi" wait to be fed a Midnight Cafeteria in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. The plump, black-and-white street cat lives near a night market in a neighborhood of Taiwan's capital where volunteers have fed and taken care of strays for years. But Pipi and his fellow street cats got an upgrade of their dining situation recently with the โMidnight Cafeteriaโ project. It began in math teacher Hung Pei-lingโs neighborhood, where about 20 neighbors are helping stray cats in addition to their full-time jobs. They also raise awareness about the spaying program and the condition of stray cats.
Tsai credits Taiwan for virus wins, notes China's threats
In this image from video, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech at the Office of the President in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Tsai hailed the island's progress in containing the coronavirus pandemic and growing the economy while facing military threats from China. (AP Photo/Wu Taijing)TAIPEI โ Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday hailed the islandโs progress in containing the coronavirus pandemic and growing the economy while facing military threats from China. In her annual New Yearโs Day address, Tsai said Taiwan had effectively conquered the virus through โbelieving in professionalism, trusting one another and unifying as a society,โ without lockdowns or serious disruptions to business and education. China cut links with Tsai's government shortly after her 2016 inauguration to a first term and demands she recognize Taiwan as a part of China.
Thousands march in Taiwan against US pork imports
People hold a pig model with a slogan "Betraying pig farmers" during a protest in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, Nov. 22. Thousands of people marched in streets on Sunday demanding the reversal of a decision to allow U.S. pork imports into Taiwan, alleging food safety issues. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)TAIPEI โ Thousands of people marched in Taipei's streets on Sunday demanding the reversal of a decision to allow U.S. pork imports into Taiwan, alleging food safety issues. The new policy allows imports of pork with acceptable residues of ractopamine, a drug added into animal feed that promotes the growth of lean meat that some farmers use in pigs. If they mix the U.S. pork with Taiwan pork and then sell it to us average consumers, we as individuals have no way to know the source of the pork.โโI have a child and when we eat things with ractopamine, it's not good for our bodies,โ said Jacky Tsui, a 37-year-old factory worker.
'My Missing Valentine' wins big at Golden Horse Awards
Taiwanese actress Chen Shu-fang holds her awards for Best Leading Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the 57th Golden Horse Awards in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Billy Dai)TAIPEI โ The Taiwanese film โMy Missing Valentineโ won big Saturday night at the annual Golden Horse Awards, taking five honors, including best feature film. Overall, Taiwanese talent enjoyed a big night at the Golden Horse Awards, considered Asia's equivalent of the Academy Awards for Chinese-language films. Mo Tzu-yi won best actor for his role in โDear Tenant," while Chen Shu-fang won best actress for "Little Big Women." Those tensions have played out at the Golden Horse Awards.
US envoy begins second recent high-level visit to Taiwan
Under Secretary of State Keith Krach, second right, reacts as he is greeted after disembarking from a plane upon arrival at the airport in Taipei. Krach is in Taiwan on Thursday for the second visit by a high-level American official in two months, prompting a stern warning and threat of possible retaliation from China. Under Secretary of State Keith Krach arrived in Taiwan on Thursday for the second visit by a high-level American official in two months, prompting a stern warning and threat of possible retaliation from China. Beijing considers Taiwan its own and opposes all official contacts between other countries and the self-governing island. Cabinet official to visit since the U.S. switched formal relations from Taiwan to China in 1979.
China blasts US for Taiwan visit while virus spreads at home
The comments came a day after Azar accused China of failing to warn the rest of the world about the coronavirus. He abandoned the millions of people who are struggling with illness and visited Taiwan instead to stage a political show, Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused China of withholding information from the World Health Organization and the international community as the virus began to take hold. Azar's trip to Taiwan angered China because it considers the self-governing island part of its territory. On Wednesday, Azar visited a face mask factory and paid respect to the recently deceased former Taiwanese president, Lee Teng-hui, before leaving Taiwan.
Taiwan says virus aid sent quietly to avoid Beijing protests
(AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)TAIPEI Taiwan sent COVID-19 assistance to foreign countries surreptitiously to avoid protests from China, its foreign minister said Tuesday during a meeting with the highest-level American official to visit the island in four decades. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has sought to isolate it diplomatically, including barring its participation in forums such as the World Health Assembly. Just 15 countries maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, and China has sought to peel away its remaining allies. While the U.S. maintains only unofficial ties with Taiwan in deference to Beijing, it remains the island's most important ally and provider of defensive arms. Thus, Azar is the highest-level American official to visit Taiwan since their break in formal diplomatic ties in 1979.
Azar meets with Taiwan President Tsai on breakthrough visit
TAIPEI U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday during the highest-level visit by an American Cabinet official since the break in formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei in 1979. Azar is due to hold consultations with health officials and deliver a speech later in the day. Azars visit was facilitated by the 2018 passage of the Taiwan Travel Act, which encouraged Washington to send higher-level officials to Taiwan after decades during which such contacts were rare. That, in turn, has increased already considerable bipartisan sympathy for Taipei in Washington and prompted new measures to strengthen governmental and military ties. Taiwan, an island of 23 million people, moved swiftly and aggressively to contain COVID-19 and has recorded just 277 cases and seven deaths from the illness.
Azar leads highest-level US delegation to Taiwan in decades
TAIPEI U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar arrived in Taiwan on Sunday in the highest-level visit by an American Cabinet official since the break in formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei in 1979. Beijing has already protested Azars visit as a betrayal of U.S. commitments not to have official contact with the island. China claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be brought under its control by military force if necessary. Azar is the first health secretary to visit Taiwan and the first Cabinet member to visit in six years. That, in turn, has increased already considerable bipartisan sympathy for Taipei in Washington and prompted new measures to strengthen governmental and military ties.
Asia Today: No masks on red carpet as Taiwan logs few cases
The team of movie "Detention" pose on the red carpet at the 2020 Taipei Film Festival in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, July 11, 2020. The 2020 Taipei Film Festival is the world's first large-scale film festival held by an entity after the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)TAIPEI Taiwan wrapped up an annual film festival with an awards ceremony Saturday night as it holds more public events after keeping its coronavirus outbreak to a few hundred cases. Actors and others lined up for photo shoots with no social distancing, and participants didnt wear masks in historic Zhongshan Hall in Taipei. Health authorities said last week that fans would be allowed to sit in alternate seats and no longer would have to wear masks, except when leaving their seats.
Would-be travelers in Taiwan live out dreams of flying again
Participants take selfies in the cabin during a mock trip abroad at Taipei Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, July 7, 2020. Dozens of would-be travelers acted as passengers in an activity organized by Taiwans Civil Aviation Administration to raise awareness of procedures to follow when passing through customs and boarding their plane at Taipei International Airport. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)TAIPEI Like almost every region, Taiwan has been hit hard by restrictions on international travel imposed because of the coronavirus. The event and the publicity generated will help future travelers better prepare for when international flights resume in earnest, Wang said. I had to cancel all my international travel plans, she said.
Taiwan holds LGBT pride parade despite coronavirus
Participants march during the "Taiwan Pride March for the World!" at Liberty Square at the CKS Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, June 28, 2020. This year marks the first Gay Pride march in Chicago 1970, and due to the COVID-19 lockdown, Taiwan is one of the very few countries to host the world's only physical Gay Pride. New York was among the cities compelled to cancel its gay pride parade this year to comply with social distancing measures. Taiwan has largely dropped such restrictions after quarantines and case tracing helped bring the coronavirus infection rate down radically.
Taiwan's dragon boat races among few to be held this year
Crew leaders prepare to grab finish line flags during the traditional Chinese dragon boat race in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, June 25, 2020. Dragon boat races are in remembrance of Chu Yuan, an ancient Chinese scholar-statesman, who drowned in 277 B.C. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)TAIPEI Taiwan on Thursday became one of the few places to hold a boat race, thanks to no local transmissions of the coronavirus being reported on the island in over two months. The pandemic led to the cancellation of traditional dragon boat races in Hong Kong and of holiday activities in Beijing, which is battling a fresh outbreak. Apart from dragon boat races, Taipei is also holding a Gay Pride parade on Sunday.
China, Korea, Egypt report rise in virus cases as curbs ease
China had 57 confirmed cases in the 24 hours through midnight Saturday, the National Health Commission reported. The world is seeing more than 100,000 newly confirmed cases every day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. China, where the pandemic began in December, and other countries that suffered early on including South Korea, Italy and Spain have seen numbers of new infections decline. Doug Ducey is not requiring Arizona residents to wear masks in public despite warnings by public health experts outside the government. ___Associated Press writer Hyung-Jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and AP journalists worldwide contributed to this report.