Taiwan prosecutors question legislator Kao Chin Su-mei as defendant in espionage case
First published Mon, Nov 2
Taiwan's High Prosecutors Office questioned legislator Kao Chin Su-mei as a defendant on Monday in a case under the National Security Act, and she was sent to the high prosecutors office for further questioning. The Investigation Bureau listed her as a defendant and summoned her for the first time over suspected involvement in a Chinese Communist Party espionage case.123
The case centres on Kao's former office director, Chang Chun-chieh, who is accused in the espionage case and has been on the run for 58 days, described in coverage as the office's "big accountant." Three of Kao's assistants have also been listed as defendants in the espionage case, the first time they have faced that status.345
Prosecutors and investigators are still to clarify whether to seek detention or release on bail for the three assistants, and what their roles were in the alleged network.4
2
Taiwan prosecutors indict legislator Kao Chin Su-mei for espionage, seek 14-year sentence
First published Fri, Nov 6
Kao Chin Su-mei's office director and an assistant have pleaded guilty in the case, and the High Court still ordered them held incommunicado for three months. The Kuomintang caucus voiced support for Kao Chin Su-mei, saying it firmly backs her defense of her innocence.12
Questions over how Chang escaped have focused on the coast guard. Newtalk reported that internal coast guard groups erupted with the complaint that no special intelligence from prosecutors or police had been received, while Marine Affairs Council chief Kuan Bi-ling said authorities tracked the relevant leads and cited a gap of three days in the pursuit timeline.3
Coverage also examined whether the man who fled was really Chang. A Mirror News report said word had circulated of a smuggling departure from Chiayi and raised the possibility that a stand-in was used to confuse investigators.4
3
The health ministry put the added spending at NT$40 billion a year
First published Thu, Nov 5
Taiwan's legislature passed a third reading of an amendment to the Senior Citizens Welfare Act that conditionally exempts people aged 65 and over from National Health Insurance premiums, with the central government covering the cost. The bill had earlier cleared a second reading. Premier Cho Jung-tai said the amendment has major flaws and asked the legislature to consider how it will be implemented and remedied.12
Cho said the amendment raises three major problems and warned that medical protection for disadvantaged elderly people could be stripped away. Shih said the Social Assistance Act cannot fill the gap left for disadvantaged elderly people whose medical subsidies are affected, and that the original welfare law text covered the genuinely disadvantaged in a way other laws cannot replace.31
The Social Welfare Alliance said the change subsidises people who should not be subsidised and cuts what should not be cut, and urged the Executive Yuan to take any measure to stop it; three major medical and nursing unions also opposed the bill. Taiwan Forward called the amendment fake asset-exclusion that in practice excludes the poor and urged the Executive Yuan to file a request for reconsideration.2
Shih responded to reports that he had directed the medical sector from abroad to oppose the premium waiver. The dispute sets the legislature's relief for families against the health ministry's warning that without new revenue the waiver draws down reserves and limits resources elsewhere.45
4
Taiwan closes its Papua New Guinea office and halts LNG spot purchases after eviction demand
First published Fri, Nov 6
Taiwan's foreign ministry announced it is closing its representative office in Papua New Guinea, withdrawing all personnel stationed there and carrying out a full review of bilateral relations. The ministry said it acted on its own initiative after Papua New Guinea demanded that the office leave within a set deadline.123
Alongside the closure, Taiwan is stopping technical assistance to Papua New Guinea and halting spot purchases of liquefied natural gas. The foreign ministry described the step as an active closure rather than a response forced by the deadline.45
The decision follows pressure from Papua New Guinea on Taiwan's office, which the foreign ministry said prompted the review of the relationship. Public Television reported the closure together with the halt in technical aid and gas procurement.25
5
Japanese report says Taiwanese shipowner and Hong Kong figures smuggled US arms to North Korea
First published Mon, Nov 2
A Japanese media report says a smuggling network moved US-made weapons to North Korea, with Hong Kong figures leading the operation and a Taiwanese shipowner involved. One Taiwanese national is among those named in the case. The arms were shipped through Hong Kong, which the report describes as a transit point with inspection gaps.123
The weapons were disguised as diplomatic baggage and carried in the luggage of North Korean diplomats, according to the accounts. The group declared the shipments as refrigerators to move them through Hong Kong.43
Coverage of the case ran across Taiwanese outlets on Monday and was still being republished on Thursday, with UDN and Jucai Wang carrying the same account of a Hong Kong-led network and a Taiwanese shipowner.56
Also this week
Published earlier this week and since overtaken by bigger stories. Open one to read it in full.
Hong Kong court jails Joshua Wong for 10 years on collusion chargeA Hong Kong court sentenced activist Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge of colluding with foreign forces under the national security law. Coverage of the sentencing ran across Taiwanese outlets on Thursday.
Hong Kong court jails Joshua Wong for 10 years on collusion charge
First published Thu, Nov 5
A Hong Kong court sentenced activist Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge of colluding with foreign forces under the national security law. Coverage of the sentencing ran across Taiwanese outlets on Thursday.123
Wong made a plea in mitigation, with coverage saying he hoped he would one day be released. Reports noted that he could be about 40 years old when he leaves prison.24
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council responded to the sentence by calling for an end to political suppression carried out in the name of national security. The council's statement was carried as the lead of the Rti report on the ruling.5
SinoPac Bank says hacked transfers traced to supplier security flaw, 419 customers affectedSinoPac Bank confirmed that an abnormal transfer incident on its new online banking system was caused by a security setting in a supplier's system that hackers exploited. The bank said the final explanation had been determined and that it will seek compensation from the supplier.
SinoPac Bank says hacked transfers traced to supplier security flaw, 419 customers affected
First published Wed, Nov 4
SinoPac Bank confirmed that an abnormal transfer incident on its new online banking system was caused by a security setting in a supplier's system that hackers exploited. The bank said the final explanation had been determined and that it will seek compensation from the supplier.123
The bank's initial review found 419 customers affected across 427 transactions, with NT$41.76 million diverted in the unauthorized transfers. The bank's chairman and president apologized to customers and said they will sue a well-known foreign vendor over the breach.34
The bank's general manager said the institution will pursue compensation from the supplier, framing the losses as the result of the vendor's security configuration being exploited rather than an internal failure.3
The disclosure came as more than 200 senior financial executives took part in 2026 Taiwan Week, an event focused on cybersecurity resilience and strategy.5
Taiwan coast guard intercepts fishing boat after espionage suspect Chang Chun-chieh flees via KeelungChang Chun-chieh, the former office director of legislator Kao Chin Su-mei and a defendant in a National Security Act espionage case, left Taiwan by sea from Keelung's Zhengbin fishing port. He boarded the fishing boat Qian Chun 168 and then transferred at sea to the Man Rui Fu, according to accounts of the escape. Coast guard officers intercepted the fishing boat and brought its captain back to port for questioning, and two fishing vessels were seized.
Taiwan coast guard intercepts fishing boat after espionage suspect Chang Chun-chieh flees via Keelung
First published Wed, Nov 4
Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.
Chang Chun-chieh, the former office director of legislator Kao Chin Su-mei and a defendant in a National Security Act espionage case, left Taiwan by sea from Keelung's Zhengbin fishing port. He boarded the fishing boat Qian Chun 168 and then transferred at sea to the Man Rui Fu, according to accounts of the escape. Coast guard officers intercepted the fishing boat and brought its captain back to port for questioning, and two fishing vessels were seized.123
Attributed claim: Marine Affairs Council chief Kuan Bi-ling said authorities have tracked the relevant leads. She said the closest gap in the pursuit timeline is three days, while another account put the tracking gap at six days and said the answers may lie in that interval.456
The Taipei District Court responded after coverage said judicial police were worn out hunting Chang while a judge shifted responsibility. The court's statement followed questions over how the case was handled.7
Scaffolding collapse at Beitou market demolition in Taipei injures four and halts Chiang Wan-an's wife's campaign walkScaffolding at the demolition site of the old Beitou Market in Taipei collapsed on Tuesday, injuring several people and sending them to hospital. The collapse halted a street campaign walk by Shih Fang-hsuan, the wife of Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an, who was canvassing in the Beitou area when the structure came down.
Scaffolding collapse at Beitou market demolition in Taipei injures four and halts Chiang Wan-an's wife's campaign walk
First published Tue, Nov 3
Ruled paragraphs are attributed to the outlet named in them, not stated as established fact.
Scaffolding at the demolition site of the old Beitou Market in Taipei collapsed on Tuesday, injuring several people and sending them to hospital. The collapse halted a street campaign walk by Shih Fang-hsuan, the wife of Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an, who was canvassing in the Beitou area when the structure came down.1234
Attributed claim: Accounts of the injury toll differed. Rti reported four people injured, while Up Media reported three people sent to hospital after Shih Fang-hsuan's walk was interrupted.34
Shih Fang-hsuan's walk was cut short and her schedule was suspended immediately after the collapse, with the incident landing in the middle of the Taipei mayoral race.234
Taiwan and Japan study full trade pact that Nikkei says could be signed by year-endTaiwan and Japan are studying a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement, with the Nikkei reporting that it could be signed as early as the end of the year. The two sides are still at the stage of assessing the proposal rather than announcing a finished deal.
Taiwan and Japan study full trade pact that Nikkei says could be signed by year-end
First published Mon, Nov 2
Taiwan and Japan are studying a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement, with the Nikkei reporting that it could be signed as early as the end of the year. The two sides are still at the stage of assessing the proposal rather than announcing a finished deal.12
Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations said deepening cooperation is the direction it is working toward, and declined to confirm whether an agreement will be concluded by year-end. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and the trade office both responded to the reports without confirming a signing date.234
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung also responded to the reports that Taipei and Tokyo would sign a full trade agreement before the end of the year. His remarks came as the Nikkei account circulated in Taiwanese media.5
Iran says Strait of Hormuz could reopen within two days if US accepts its demandsIran said the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within two days if the United States agrees to its demands, according to accounts of the statement. The strait has been closed to shipping traffic during the war, and the offer ties its reopening to a US response.
Iran says Strait of Hormuz could reopen within two days if US accepts its demands
First published Mon, Nov 2
Iran said the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within two days if the United States agrees to its demands, according to accounts of the statement. The strait has been closed to shipping traffic during the war, and the offer ties its reopening to a US response.12
Iran's supreme leader has authorised negotiations, foreign media reported, and Taiwan index futures in the night session jumped more than 300 points on the news. The report of authorised talks circulated alongside Tehran's condition for reopening the waterway.3
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed the US to strike Iran "immediately" after the midterm elections, while President Donald Trump's position was reported without a commitment to order an attack. US and Israeli planners are weighing further strikes, with one target described as the preferred first objective.45
The war's length may exceed that of the "Epic Fury" operation, and US and Israeli planning for another attack on Iran is under way. The Strait of Hormuz remains the focus of the shipping standoff, with Iran's reopening offer conditional on Washington accepting its terms.51
White House plans to govern without Congress if Republicans lose midterms, report saysUS midterm elections are set for November 3, with control of Congress at stake. Taiwanese outlets reported that the White House has mapped out a path to pursue its agenda without relying on Congress should Republicans lose their congressional majority.
White House plans to govern without Congress if Republicans lose midterms, report says
First published Mon, Nov 2
US midterm elections are set for November 3, with control of Congress at stake. Taiwanese outlets reported that the White House has mapped out a path to pursue its agenda without relying on Congress should Republicans lose their congressional majority.123
President Donald Trump has said he would act as a "Mr. Veto," according to Yahoo News, as the White House prepares for the possibility that Congress changes hands. The reporting describes the administration's approach as going it alone if Republicans lose the majority.43
Experts cited in the coverage said the executive and legislative branches will keep confronting each other after the election. Public Television reported that the midterms will shape Trump's exercise of power and the political landscape for the next six years.53
