2822302026/03/12Three Taiwanese films are screening at the 28th edition of the One World Festival underway through March 19 in Prague, underscoring the two sides’ shared commitment to human rights and democratic values.
 
The festival opened March 11 in the Czech capital, the Culture Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague said, adding that this marks Taiwan’s fourth time participating in the event.
 
The films being shown are two documentaries, “SPI” and “Slave Island,” and the feature film “Yen and Ai-Lee,” according to the Ministry of Culture.
 
“SPI,” directed by Sayun Simung, depicts the emotional twists and turns faced by members of an Atayal family following the death of an elder, presenting aspects of Taiwan’s Indigenous culture and spirituality. Tomáš Poštulka, the festival’s head of program, recommended the work as one of the event’s must-see films, the ministry said.
 
“Slave Island” is a co-production by Belgium, Estonia, Italy and Taiwan that explores the complex relationship between tradition, power and human rights. The film has been shortlisted in the Right to Know competition category and will compete for the Václav Havel Jury Award.
 
“Yen and Ai-Lee,” directed by Thomas Shu-yu Lin, examines issues of family relationships and self-identity, the ministry added.
 
During the festival, Sayun Simung and Lin are also joining post-screening discussions to exchange views with European audiences and filmmakers.
 
Founded in 1999, One World is one of the major international human rights film festivals and is organized by People in Need, a nongovernmental organization in Czechia. After the Prague event concludes, the films will also be screened in more than 60 Czech cities through April 24, the ministry said. (POC-E)
 
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 ]]>2822292026/03/12The National Science and Technology Council and the Ministry of Economic Affairs sent a delegation to the annual conference and exhibition of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, taking place March 9-12 in Las Vegas.
 
The NSTC said that the contingent’s representatives from nine hospitals and 25 corporations set up the Taiwan MedTech Pavilion, adding that Simon Lin, vice president of HIMSS and managing director of the society’s Asia-Pacific operations, attended the pavilion’s launch March 11 in recognition of the country’s global competitiveness in the industry.
 
Products displayed at the Taiwan booth centered on three main fields: artificial intelligence-powered health care, digital infrastructure and home care. The council said that featured technologies encompassed integration of electronic data, intensive care, robotic surgical systems and smart long-term care.
 
Eirbot, a robot designed specifically for use at institutions and jointly developed by Taichung City-based China Medical University Hospital and EverBot, is expected to replace 50 percent of nursing work. A smart care platform from Taichung’s MetroHarbor Hospital and New Taipei City-based Chiun Mai Communication Systems Inc. is also intended to reduce the workload of medical personnel.
 
Following the exhibition, the delegation will visit AHMC Healthcare, based in southern California, to gain insight as part of efforts to expand Taiwan’s outreach in the smart medicine industry. (POC-E)
 
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 ]]>2822242026/03/12Taiwan ranked fifth in the 2026 Index of Economic Freedom released March 10 by Washington, D.C.-based think tank The Heritage Foundation, according to the National Development Council.

The country placed third out of 39 in the Asia-Pacific and was classified as “mostly free” along with 26 other economies. The top four spots overall went to Singapore, Switzerland, Ireland and Australia, in that order, with these countries the only ones categorized as “free.”

Praising Taiwan as an exemplary free-market democracy and a global leader in economic freedom, the report said that Taiwan’s dynamic and adaptive economy benefits from a well-functioning institutional framework and that its small and medium enterprises form the backbone of economic growth and resilience.
 
The country saw improvement in four out of 12 benchmarks used to compile index rankings and was rated as “free” in the six benchmarks of property rights, judicial effectiveness, monetary freedom, government spending, fiscal health and trade freedom.
 
In response, the NDC said the government implemented a raft of regulatory reforms between 2024 and 2025 to improve the country’s business environment, recruit foreign talent and promote business innovation, among other goals.
 
The council said that amid ongoing uncertainties, such as artificial intelligence development, geopolitical challenges and U.S. tariff policies, Taiwan is committed to promoting digital transition and sustainable development. The government will continue to help local firms upgrade their digital capabilities and promote industry upgrades to strengthen Taiwan’s global competitiveness, it added.
 
Beginning in 1995, the annual index tracks economic freedom in 184 markets worldwide in areas spanning government size, open markets, regulatory efficiency and rule of law. (SFC-E)

Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw]]>2821942026/03/11The Ministry of Finance reported exports of US$49.8 billion and imports of US$37 billion in February, surging year-on-year by 20.6 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively, to create a monthly trade surplus of US$12.77 billion.
 
According to the MOF, the export numbers are a new record for February and marked the 28th straight month of year-on-year increases. The ministry attributed the growth to robust global demand for artificial intelligence applications, high performance computing and cloud services.
 
Information communications technology and audiovisual, electronics components and parts, and machinery were the top three export items, the MOF said, adding that they amounted to US$19.51 billion, US$17.98 and US$ 1.9 billion, respectively. The U.S., China and Hong Kong, and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations remained the top three destinations for Taiwan’s exports, the ministry noted.
 
Imports also saw an increase due to the division of the global AI supply chain and increasing derived demand for exports, the MOF said, adding that in February agricultural and industrial raw materials generated US$25.27 billion in imports, while capital equipment was responsible for US$ 7.93 billion.
 
The MOF anticipates Taiwan’s exports will continue to grow on the strength of increasing domestic advanced semiconductor manufacturing and high-end packaging capacities. Rising international demand for its semiconductor and information and communications products is expected to continue as major cloud service suppliers step up investment spending in AI and many countries promote sovereign AI development and computing infrastructure construction.
 
The ministry remains optimistic about first quarter prospects even as it noted intentions to continue to pay close attention to U.S. trade policy and geopolitical risks. (YCH-E)
 
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 ]]>2821882026/03/11The International Conference on Multi-Water Resource Application Strategies and Agricultural Sustainability and Resilience Under Climate Change is underway through March 11 in Taipei City, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
 
Jointly organized by the MOI and Taoyuan City Government, the event was held in response to water resource challenges brought about by climate change. It drew domestic academic, governmental and industrial representatives, as well as experts from Japan and South Korea, the ministry said, adding that prominent attendees included Tseng Cheng-tsung, chief engineer at the MOI’s National Land Management Agency; Tsugihiro Watanabe, professor at Kyoto University; and Choi Jin-yong, professor at Seoul National University.
 
In his remarks, Tseng said extreme droughts and floods have increased water supply uncertainty. To enhance resilience, he said it is necessary to integrate and recycle diverse water resources and expand the use of reclaimed water and treated effluent in agriculture and industry to reduce reliance on natural precipitation.
 
According to the NLMA, the use of treated effluent is a key measure to strengthen water resource resilience. The ministry has gradually improved effluent quality management, as demonstrated by a project jointly carried out by the Taoyuan City and Yilan County governments, which established an application model and monitoring system for using effluent in rice irrigation.
 
The conference is focused on three main topics: case studies on the use of treated municipal effluent for agricultural irrigation; food safety and public acceptance of effluent reuse; and the application and development of agricultural sustainability technologies integrated with alternative water resources, the agency added.
 
Additionally, the MOI pledged to continue promoting the reuse of domestic wastewater to upgrade overall water supply resilience nationwide, the NLMA concluded. (POC-E)
 
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 ]]>2821892026/03/11The Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Alishan Forest Railway Cultural Heritage Management Office achieved a new milestone in a transnational friendship with the UK. Anne Wright, chair of the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway led a delegation to Taiwan for the first time from March 8-10, welcomed by AFRCHMO Director Wang Chao-pao.
 
Wang and Wright officially signed an extended loan agreement for the Alishan railway diesel locomotive DL-34 on Mar. 10, so that the train will continue to serve as a cultural ambassador until 2030. The AFRCHMO and the Welsh W & LLR set up a sister railway relationship in 2017 and in November 2022, they signed a loan agreement for the train, which started running in Wales in 2024.
 
In January this year, James Brett, general manager of W & LLR and Joe Gunby, repair factory manager, visited Taiwan for a five-day technical dialogue exchange. Together with technicians from the AFRCHMO's repair facility, they discussed DL-34 liquid transmission, deepening the relationship from cultural exchange to specific locomotive maintenance and technology.
 
Wang stated that the technical exchanges early this year and the renewal are evidence of close cooperation and shared technology. DL-34's continued tenure in the UK until 2030 is also a shared commitment to the cultural heritage of the railway.
 
The 10th anniversary of the sister railway relationship with the UK falls in 2027, and Wang said he is committed to building relationships and technical cooperation with international railway organizations to ensure that the Alishan Forest Railway remains a calling card to the world. (POC-E)
 
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 ]]>2821732026/03/11Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung hosted a delegation from the U.S. Territory of Guam March 9 in Taipei City to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.
 
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the group led by Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero is visiting Taiwan March 4-11 and includes several senior officials.
 
Welcoming Guerrero for her second visit, Lin said Taiwan and Guam share Austronesian cultural heritage and are firm partners in upholding regional peace. In recent years, the two have worked closely together on tourism, education and agriculture.
 
Bilateral people-to-people exchanges are also on the rise, the minister said, adding that he looks forward to expanding cooperation in areas such as smart agriculture, culture, education and medical services to promote economic prosperity for all.
 
The governor stated that a major event during her visit is the conclusion of a sister pact with Kaohsiung City that will help strengthen bilateral ties through city diplomacy. She added that the government of Guam is keen to expand medical cooperation with Taiwan, particularly in specialized training and exchange of personnel, to raise health care standards. She also anticipated deepening ties in Indigenous culture, economy and tourism. (SFC-E)
 
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw]]>2821452026/03/10Taiwan Sugar Corp. (Taisugar) held an exchange event with the U.K.’s Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR) as part of the local company’s 80th anniversary celebration March 7 at Suantou Sugar Factory Cultural Park in Chiayi County, underscoring its work to highlight the history of the sugar industry and strengthen international railway cooperation.
 
According to Taisugar Chair Wu Ming-chang, the companies’ connection began in 2005, when the Welsh railway purchased and restored Taisugar’s No. 175 Diema locomotive. Bilateral relations deepened in 2018, with the exhibition of the British steam train Dougal in Taiwan and the signing of a sister railway memorandum of understanding between the two sides, he said.
 
A highlight of the event was a ceremony unveiling a refurbished No. 252 inspection railcar from the period of Japanese rule (1895-1945). Jointly launched by Wu and W&LLR Chair Anne Wright, the railcar ran within the cultural park and was warmly welcomed by visitors.
 
Equally impressive was a special exhibition featuring a blue-skin retro dining car. The display included photographs documenting Taiwan-U.K. railway exchanges, along with a cross-cultural afternoon tea experience designed to promote tourism at the narrow-gauge railway park.
 
The event helped strengthen railway cultural preservation exchanges between the two sides, Taisugar said. The company added that it will continue promoting its historical assets while boosting tourism and international cooperation to support development of the park and the surrounding area. (YCH-E)
 
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 ]]>2821462026/03/10The Ministry of Culture anticipates a record high domestic box office for Taiwanese films in the first quarter of 2026, highlighting the maturity of Taiwan’s film industry.
 
According to the MOC in a March 9 news release, Taiwanese films topped NT$946 million (US$29.7 million), the entire domestic box office for 2025, from Jan. 1 to March 3. The market share topped 58.14 percent, a year-on-year increase of 54 percentage points from 4.26 percent in 2025, Minister of Culture Li Yuan said.
 
Five films from 2025 have broken NT$100 million from the second half of last year to now, Li said, adding that these outstanding performances can be attributed to industry efforts to adopt new genres and technology, and expanded age range of audiences.
 
The ministry will continue to support production of more Taiwanese films, Li said, noting that it also intends to work with Taiwan Creative Content Agency to attract more private investment, leverage culture points to encourage young people to watch movies, advance the amount of Taiwanese films screened in the country’s theaters to 20 percent and enhance the industry’s global competitiveness.
 
Li concluded by recommending Taiwanese movies coming to theaters in late March and April, including “Deep Quiet Room,” a narrative feature film adapted from Taiwanese author Lin Hsiu-ho’s novel of the same name, and “Dead End,” a crime thriller inspired by true events. (YCH-E)
 
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 ]]>2821362026/03/10Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih departed for Tokyo March 8 with a delegation to attend Foodex Japan 2026 underway through March 13, demonstrating government commitment to assisting farmers and businesses to expand overseas markets.
 
Prior to departure, Chen noted that Japan is the second largest overseas market for Taiwan agricultural products, adding that in 2025 the total export value of produce to Japan was around US$630 million. This included green soybeans, moth orchids, rice and tuna, among other items.
 
The Ministry of Agriculture Taiwan pavilion at Foodex showcased premier produce including sea bass, carrots, clams, dried guava, mango, sweet potatoes and tea. These important and characteristically Taiwanese products boast a proven track record and potential for sales in Japan, the ministry stated.
 
Chen will also meet with Japanese organic product importers that cooperate with Taiwan counterparts. The minister will also participate in a soccer event promoting Taiwanese bananas and pineapples. (POC-E)
 
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 ]]>2821342026/03/10Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung firmly refuted a statement in which Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, said Taiwan was part of China.
 
Lin said March 8 that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent nation that has never been part of the People’s Republic of China, citing historical facts, objective reality and international law as support. The minister added that only Taiwan’s 23 million people have the right to determine its future.
 
According to Lin, China continues to distort U.N. Resolution 2758 in a move to suppress Taiwan’s international participation despite the fact that the resolution has never granted Beijing authority over Taiwan’s representation.
 
Lin pointed out that China’s military exercises in recent years in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters have seriously impacted regional peace and stability. He said these actions are in direct violation of the U.N. Charter, which states that all members shall refrain from the threat or use of force, adding that China is the one trying to sabotage cross-strait peace.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Beijing to look squarely at the existence of the ROC (Taiwan), stop its misleading and unfounded provocation and engage in respectful and equal dialogue with Taiwan in a rational and responsible manner.
 
The MOFA also urged the global community to continue to support Taiwan and condemn China’s repeated attempts to unilaterally change the status quo and intimidate other countries through coercion and military threats.
 
Taiwan will keep working with its democratic partners to face challenges posed by authoritarian regimes, defend shared values and the rules-based international order, and ensure cross-strait peace and stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, the ministry added. (SFC-E)
 
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw]]>2820942026/03/09President Lai Ching-te said March 6 that the government is committed to working with academia, experts and businesses to promote Taiwan’s quantum industry and shape an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for the era of artificial intelligence.
 
Lai made the remarks at a press conference unveiling national high-speed quantum computing strategies in Hsinchu City. He added that the strategy release represents a shift from basic quantum research toward practical applications.
 
According to Lai, the government launched the Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects to build sovereign AI and computing power centers, advance smart government and data governance, cultivate personnel and attract investment, and achieve balanced AI development in regions. The research will focus on silicon photonics, quantum technology, and robotics, he said.
 
The president went on to say that the government will assist over 1 million micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises to become smart businesses for a complete environment of practical AI applications. He thanked James C. Liao, president of the Academia Sinica, for leading the team in developing a 5-qubit superconducting quantum computer in 2023, and a 20-qubit superconducting quantum chip in January.
 
The government will continue to support Phase 2 of the national quantum computing research and development initiative proposed by the National Science and Technology Council, Lai said, adding that one of its goals is to advance quantum semiconductor technology by overcoming transmission difficulties in low temperature environments.
 
The initiative will also center on launching a large-scale software and hardware integration plan and accelerating personnel cultivation while enhancing computing power for finance, medical care and transportation solutions, Lai said. He added that quantum cybersecurity would also be developed to ensure Taiwan’s digital resilience.
 
At the event, the president launched a quantum computer subsystem verification platform and visited a quantum laboratory at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute. (YCH-E)
 
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 ]]>2820932026/03/09The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Industrial Development Administration organized a Taiwan pavilion at MWC Barcelona 2026, held March 2-5 in Spain.
 
During this year’s event Taiwanese businesses sought cooperation with counterparts from Europe, Japan and the U.S. Taipei City-based Groundhog Inc. will team up with ally Palau’s state-run Palau National Communications Corporation to incorporate platform software into the country’s 4G and 5G commercial network, while the New Taipei City-headquartered NEXCOM Group formed a strategic partnership with Hytec Inter Co. in Tokyo to jointly provide solutions for nonstop factory automation, the IDA said.
 
Taiwan first set up a booth at the MWC in 2017 and over the years more than NT$10 billion (US$312.6 million) in output value has been generated. The IDA said that Hsinchu City-based Alpha Networks Inc. successfully entered the Indian market after attending a previous MWC, and New Taipei City-headquartered Ufi Space Co. has connected with the Japanese and U.S. markets.
 
The administration pledged to continue building a more innovative, robust and resilient ecosystem to cement the role of domestic enterprises as global cornerstones of the next-generation communications industry. (POC-E)
 
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 ]]>2820912026/03/09Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said March 6 that Taiwan is committed to enhancing its economy, defense capabilities and social resilience while working with democratic partners to tackle global challenges.
 
Hsiao made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the U.S.-based German Marshall Fund’s Taiwan-U.S.-Europe Policy Program at the Presidential Office. The group was headed by Bonnie Glaser, director of the GMF Indo-Pacific Program.
 
According to the vice president, resilience lies at the core of Taiwan’s policymaking and national development. Amid a turbulent global situation, the people treasure Taiwan’s democratic system and its commitment to promoting progress for their well-being, she added.
 
Despite the new U.S. tariff policies, global supply chain restructuring and geopolitical uncertainties, Hsiao said Taiwan’s gross domestic product still rose 8.6 percent in 2025. She attributed the impressive number to the strong relations between Taiwan and the U.S. and other democratic partners.
 
While there remain differences of opinion within Taiwan regarding the national defense budget, the vice president said President Lai Ching-te and his administration are leaving no stone unturned in strengthening Taiwan’s deterrence and defense capabilities.
 
As Taiwan faces increasing threats from gray-zone tactics spanning the aviation, cyberspace, information, legal, maritime, political and space sectors, Hsiao said the government is actively boosting the country’s social resilience.
 
The visit by the GMF delegation is especially welcome at a time when Taiwan seeks to expand cooperation with the U.S. and other important strategic partners, she added. (SFC-E)
 
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw]]>2820952026/03/09The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival attracted more than 200 foreign media outlets and key opinion leaders from over 15 countries and territories, with many praising its innovative integration of lighting art and artificial intelligence technology, the Tourism Administration said.
 
According to the TA, Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that this year’s festival successfully incorporates local cultural elements, including the sacred trees of Alishan, into the main lantern design, while using light projections to blend cultural storytelling with technological creativity.
 
Thailand’s Thairath Plus noted that the exhibition areas integrate Taiwanese lifestyle and cultural heritage, creating an international festival appealing to both adults and children. Indonesian online media Kreator Jabar praised the displays for combining art, technology and cultural elements to highlight Taiwan’s diverse cultural landscape.
 
Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Seazen magazine and Germany’s Straubinger Tagblatt were impressed by performances blending Indigenous and traditional cultures with modern artistic expression, the administration said.
 
Visiting KOLs also expressed enthusiasm for the wide variety of food available from more than 500 stalls at the event.
 
Indian tourism influencer Kritika Goel said the festival is particularly welcoming for vegetarians, while reporters and influencers from Singapore and New York City said they were captivated by the diversity of Taiwanese cuisine. Journalists from Paraguay added that the local snacks allow international visitors to experience Taiwanese hospitality and culture through food.
 
Running through March 15 in Chiayi County, the 37th Taiwan Lantern Festival features more than 600 lantern displays across 22 themed areas, including one main lantern and two auxiliary installations, the TA said. The event highlights the creativity and charm of Taiwan’s festival culture while showcasing the country’s diverse and vibrant tourism offerings, further enhancing its international visibility, the administration added. (YCH-E)
 
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