Trusted Stays
To support quality and consistency, the Tourism Administration (TA) launched the Taiwan Host mark in 2011, combining training such as overview of homestay regulations and sustainability policies; key strategies for enhancing accommodation service quality and customer complaint management; inspections; and ongoing review to bring structure to an industry built on personal exchange. “A friendly host is just one part of a good experience,” Lai said. “Hospitality must also be supported by clearly defined standards.” Industry participation begins with legal compliance. Properties must meet minimum scores across categories such as space, environment, service and sustainability, as well as fully comply with essential requirements including fire safety and insurance coverage. Guest rooms, bathrooms and emergency preparedness protocols are all verified in on-site inspections.

Only formally registered properties are eligible. First-time applicants must complete the required training before undergoing evaluation, while certified operators must renew their credentials every three years. Further training centers on online marketing, experience-driven promotion, brand identity and distinctive experience design, reinforcing the idea that hosting is a professional skill that evolves over time.

The application process is thorough. Operators submit documentation detailing facilities, services and responsibilities such as hygiene and sanitation standards, along with proof of registration with the local government and completed training by the TA. These materials are reviewed by both the TA and local governments before inspectors are sent out. Two evaluators assess each property using Taiwan Host annual selection criteria that consists of the building and accommodation environment; reservation and guest reception services; information, food and beverage services; sustainability; as well as safety and security, ensuring that written commitments align with guest experience. Facilities remain subject to random inspection, and credentials lapse if renewal training is not completed on time. Violations or guest complaints can result in removal from the official list. Use of the Taiwan Host mark is strictly regulated and permitted only during the valid certification periods. As a result, the designation has become a trusted reference for travelers, signaling professional accountability rather than a specific style or price point.

Living Heritage
The TRAA maintains industry standards in the face of regulations, workforce realities and changing travel habits. Lai described themed accommodation as a long-term response to visitors increasingly looking to experience Taiwan through the lens of community, people and history. An example comes from Pingtung County, where Kuo You-chieh (郭宥婕), a TRAA member and head of the Pingtung Tourism Revitalization Association, owns three former military dependents’ village houses that she has carefully refurbished into comfortable accommodation. The properties are in Victory New Village, Pingtung’s largest and most complete cluster of preserved Japanese-era (1895-1945) military officer residences. Kuo preserved the original layouts and character, allowing guests to experience what everyday life in the village felt like. Kuo invested more than NT$2.5 million (US$ 79,059) in renovations that took nearly a year to complete. “Many elements of the aging structures needed careful upgrading to meet modern safety standards,” she said. The result is an immersive stay replete with nostalgia. The homestays attract elderly guests who grew up in similar villages and want to reconnect with childhood memories as well as tourists.

In Tainan City’s Gueidan Village, Lai Chin-rui (賴金瑞) offers a timber-built retreat centered on hot springs drawn from the Gueidan River. The scent of camphor and cedar is an intrinsic part of the experience and locally sourced furnishings and a tranquil rural setting invite guests to slow down and settle into the surrounding environment. In addition to offering hospitality, the facility collaborates with the Institute of Hot Spring Industry at Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science to study water quality, facility planning, recreational management and wellness applications. Integrating research into daily operations has helped attract repeat domestic guests and international travelers alike.

Tailored Experiences
“Taiwan Host properties differ from hotels because they’re gateways to local life,” the TRAA’s Lai explained. While some hosts may share meals or stories with guests, visitors can also opt for independent activities. Properties range from self-check-in units popular with backpackers to whole-of-property rentals designed for families or groups. This flexibility has supported Taiwan’s growing international engagement. Through overseas exchanges and study visits, including the recent tourism industry event “Always Welcome, Always Taiwan–Island Vision: Taiwan-Malaysia Tourism Showcase” from September 25 to 30, 2025, in Malaysia, the TRAA has introduced Taiwanese accommodation to more than 40 international policymakers, travel agencies and accommodation operators. Phoebe Yeh (葉非比), former ambassador to Malaysia, also attended the event. By integrating business matchmaking, curated exhibitions and on-site visits by industry players from both sides, a new chapter in Taiwan-Malaysia tourism cooperation opened. Event discussions focused on developing in-depth travel products, connecting stays with local culture and sharing Taiwan’s experience in small-scale hospitality.

Visits to historic properties renovated as tourist accommodation, traditional cultural transformation projects and agricultural-ecological experience programs gave participants a deeper appreciation for local revitalization and community-driven economic development. Taiwanese operators attending the event gained insight into multicultural reception, Muslim-friendly environments and regional tourism development. Lai said the industry must continue to think globally while remaining firmly based in local identity. “By engaging with the world, Taiwanese homestays continue to grow in an increasingly interconnected travel market,” she said.

Write to Krakias Kai at kwhuang@mofa.gov.tw

Baoan Temple’s approach reflects the enduring popularity of urban religious festivals, also seen at Monga Qingshan Temple on Wanhua District’s Guiyang Street, Taipei’s oldest commercial thoroughfare. Last year marked the temple’s 170th anniversary, which coincided with the annual celebration of its main deity Qingshan Wang’s birthday in the 10th lunar month. Co-hosted with local agencies, the latest edition included art exhibitions, guided tours, pop concerts and televised variety shows. International exchange also played a role, with organizers of the Kenkayama festival at Fushiki Shrine in Japan’s Toyama prefecture bringing ­towering lantern floats to join Qingshan’s nighttime parade. Lin Mao-hsien (林茂賢), an associate professor in the Department of Taiwanese Languages and Literature at National Taichung University of Education, said that such creative ­programming, arranged in collaboration with the Taipei City Government’s Department of Information and Tourism and the state-backed General Association of Chinese Culture, adds new momentum to Qingshan’s celebrations.

See Devotion

With temples dedicated to a wide array of deities spread across urban neighborhoods and rural communities alike, there is no lack of festivals in the calendar. The third lunar month is especially rich in large-scale events, led by weekslong ­pilgrimages honoring Mazu, the beloved sea goddess worshipped at more than 1,000 temples nationwide. Her birthday on the 23rd day of the lunar month draws vast crowds onto the roads. Signature events such as the Taichung Mazu International Festival organized by Dajia Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung City, along with pilgrimages associated with Miaoli County’s Baishatun Gongtian Temple, are officially recognized as part of Taiwan’s intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture. Among the ­country’s 24 designated major folk traditions, ­several Mazu-related events have been selected by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Tourism Administration (TA) for ­focused international promotion in 2026 and 2027.
 

Upgraded from a bureau in 2023, the TA spotlights Taiwan’s folk cultures by hosting international media visits and launching campaigns that engage social media influencers and public figures. According to the agency, Taiwan’s ­religious festivals usually offer distinctive, immersive experiences marked by ­movement, color and collective participation, qualities that give the country its unique character in the global tourism landscape. Lin noted that while many destinations compete through historic sites or natural scenery, Taiwan’s living cultural activities like temple festivals and Mazu pilgrimages appeal to both domestic and overseas visitors.

Lin personally joins these events every year, and students enrolled in his courses on the culture of Taiwan are encouraged to take part. Participation, he emphasized, is cultural rather than doctrinal. Students attend to observe folk customs firsthand and experience the trust and emotional connection shared among participants and local residents, who routinely help one another with food, lodging and transportation along the routes.
 

Lin also pointed to the close relationship between religion and art. “Much like historic Western churches, temples are composite works of art, featuring paintings, calligraphy, stone and wood carvings, and architecture such as roof ridges adorned with cut ceramic pieces,” he said. “In this sense, temples function as living museums and community centers, where belief is expressed not only through static craftsmanship but also in mobile performances of dance, drama and music.” From a tourism perspective, extended pilgrimages generate wide-ranging economic benefits, supporting guest houses, eateries, transportation services and sales of local agricultural specialties along their paths.

Unexpected Turns

Connections among temples form a ­nationwide network, reinforced through frequent exchanges. Last November, for example, a statue of Mazu, which ­believers revere as carrying the spirit of the goddess, traveled from Beigang Chaotian Temple in Yunlin County north by train to Taipei to participate in the Qingshan celebrations, arriving at Wanhua Station to an official welcome from city leaders. Each year Chaotian Temple is also the destination for an over 300-kilometer round trip pilgrimage starting out from Gongtian Temple in Miaoli. The ­longest journey of its kind in Taiwan, the roughly 10-day trek follows no fixed route. Instead, the path changes annually, guided by divine cues given to the Mazu palanquin bearers, according to devotees.
 

“Any crossroad could result in a ­surprising turn,” Lin said, adding that this element of unpredictability has ­fueled growing interest. In 2025 more than 300,000 pilgrims officially registered with Gongtian, while hundreds of thousands of informal followers accompanied the procession at some point. The scale and distinctive character of the journey have drawn international attention, including coverage by the BBC.
 

Forms of worship and modes of ­celebration vary widely by region and ­season, Lin noted. In southwestern coastal communities such as Donggang Township in Pingtung County, autumn brings elaborate ceremonies welcoming Wang Ye, a deity believed to expel illness and ­misfortune. Held triennially during the lunar years of the ox, dragon, sheep and dog, the weeklong ritual culminates in the burning of a large, meticulously constructed vessel on the beach, symbolically sending Wang Ye back to heaven after touring the human realm. The ceremony demands extensive preparation and financial resources, which Lin said are accepted for the collective emotional reassurance and continuity it offers local communities.

Evolving Practice

Environmental considerations have ­increasingly shaped discussions around Taiwan’s temple culture, reflecting broader social awareness. Lin recalled that in the past, the outdoor procession of Dajia Jenn Lann Temple’s Mazu palanquin advanced over layers of spent firecrackers that left little ground visible. Today the volume has been reduced considerably from its former level. Many temples have also significantly cut back on burning incense and paper offerings, resulting in cleaner air while continuing core rituals. These changes, Lin stressed, represent gradual, community-led adaptation rather than legal restraints, allowing traditions to evolve with the times.
 

The TA views large-scale folk celebrations as a cornerstone of Taiwan’s cultural identity and a defining asset for its ­tourism brand. A familiar sight at temple festivals is the appearance of the eight generals, whose elaborately painted faces and measured, rhythmic choreography ­depict the underworld deities charged with capturing malevolent spirits. Taiwanese eight-general groups have performed internationally, including at France’s Nice Carnival, one of the world’s largest folk festivals. Local culture comprises a ­substantial element in a country’s international tourism appeal, and a high profile in domestic and ­overseas media ensures that traditions are sustained as they are widely shared. Through ­raising awareness and offering access to its unique historic spiritual practices, Taiwan ensures the enduring vitality of its ­cultural landscape.

Write to Pat Gao at cjkao@mofa.gov.tw

It has been an exciting season for the air travel industry in Taiwan, which has reached new heights as one of the top regional air travel and tourism centers. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s (TTIA) Terminal 3 complex, slated for completion in 2027, opened its northern boarding concourse for trial operation Dec. 1, featuring flight departures by Taiwan-based China Airlines, EVA Air and Starlux Airlines. New routes are being inaugurated at TTIA, with China Airlines Flight 36 taking off for Phoenix, Arizona, Dec. 3, the first in Asia to directly connect to the southwest U.S., and at the end of last year Starlux announced that direct service from Taichung City to Tokyo would begin March 30.

The gateway to Taiwan since its opening in 1979, TTIA ranked No. 13 globally according to an Airports Council International (ACI) assessment of the busiest airports by international passenger traffic in 2024, and the airport is sure to move up the list once Terminal 3 is completed next year. The facility is expected to process 20 million passengers annually, pushing the airport’s total capacity to 57 million. TTIA, located about 40 kilometers west of Taipei City, has also been recognized for the high quality of its service. Skytrax, a London-based consultancy that reviews airports and airlines worldwide, rates it highly in multiple categories including cleanliness, baggage delivery and immigration service. Last year both EVA Air and Starlux were awarded Skytrax’s five-star airline certification, with the former winning the honor for the tenth consecutive year.

Rising Standards
TTIA organizes the Taoyuan Airport Forum to enhance airport service quality-and passengers’ airport experiences-through international exchanges. In 2025 more than 200 professionals attended the event, including representatives of Japanese, Thai and U.S. airports, as well as industry organizations like ACI. TTIA has also adopted measures such as hiring mystery shoppers who evaluate the airport, from service at customs to restroom management. The airport has inspected and optimized a system of 998 digital displays at Terminals 1 and 2 in the past two years to make them more user friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

Terminal 3 is an important part of TTIA’s future, not least because of the benefits to Taiwanese airlines using it as their main hub. “The airport’s increased capacity to handle larger transit passenger numbers due to Terminal 3 is a boon to Starlux in actively expanding international routes,” said the airline’s Chief Strategy Officer Simon Liu (劉允富). EVA Air Chief Executive Vice President Liao Chi-wei (廖至維) noted that the new terminal not only substantially enhances the competitiveness of airlines but also elevates the status of the airport as a regional and global aviation hub.

Designed by British firm RSHP, the terminal architecture is inspired by Taiwan’s geography, flora and fauna. The wave-like roof emulates ocean currents and seabirds spreading their wings. The 16 steel pillars that support the roof echo the ancient giant trees found in Taiwan’s high-altitude cloud forest, while plants on the structure’s external walls evoke terraced rice paddies.

As a working space, the terminal combines efficiency and aesthetics in ergonomic design, with 1,488 sets of ceiling fixtures that gracefully integrate lighting, air-conditioning vents, a public address system, smoke detectors and Wi-Fi base stations. The Multi-Aircraft Ramp System, the first in Taiwan, allows an airport gate to flexibly serve either one wide-bodied plane or two narrow-bodied planes simultaneously. This smart engineering can reduce delays and congestion on the tarmac, decrease reliance on shuttle buses and shorten plane downtime.

Soft Touch
In addition to the smooth hardware operation that allowed TTIA to welcome 84 percent of all international passengers visiting Taiwan by air in 2024, the human experience offered by Taiwanese airlines plays a vital part in cultivating goodwill. “Taiwanese ground and flight staff are both very approachable and detail oriented when providing services. The combination always impresses passengers,” said Wan Guang-man (萬光滿‮‬), associate professor at the Department of Airline and Transport Service Management at National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism. She added that the outstanding performance of all three major Taiwan airlines last year in Skytrax’s cleanliness category—with EVA Air named the cleanest—testifies to these carriers’ quality of service.

Diverse and locally inspired food is one of the components that contribute to the strong reputation of Taiwanese airlines. EVA Air’s steamed dumplings provided by world-renowned restaurant chain Din Tai Fung have captivated gourmets flying business class on selected routes since 2002. China Airlines has long demonstrated inclusivity by offering high-quality plant-based meals in collaboration with such partners as the 2025 Michelin Guide to Taiwan-listed Little Tree Food. Dishes from the vegetarian restaurant became available to passengers on the carrier’s long-haul flights last October. Starlux offers Taiwanese cuisine made by another Michelin-recognized restaurant, Yuen Ji.

Flying Green
In line with growing awareness of the need to cut carbon emissions, airlines are actively responding. “We examine and implement every means possible to move in a sustainable direction, replacing aging aircraft with more energy-efficient models, digitizing in-flight publications and reducing layers of paint on the jets to lower their weight,” said Liao. EVA Air is the first Taiwan airline to use AeroSHARK, a biomimetic surface film akin to the texture of shark skin that saves fuel by reducing aerodynamic drag. Taiwanese airlines are also beginning to use sustainable aviation fuel made from sources like recycled oil and agricultural biowaste.

On the ground TTIA’s jetways are another means by which the airport supports airlines’ green practices. A project begun in 2012 replaced passenger boarding bridges with newer models equipped with cables and hoses to deliver electricity and cooled air to planes parked at gates. No longer do planes at TTIA rely on auxiliary power units on the aircraft or fossil fuel-powered service trucks during passenger boarding and offloading.

In 2016 TTIA reached Level 2 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program launched by ACI Europe. It adopted further carbon-reduction measures that led the airport to move up to Level 3 in 2019 and Level 4 last year, the highest in the accreditation system. Aside from upgrading jetways, it has expanded infrastructure to support the use of sustainable fuel for airlines and transitioned shuttle buses and baggage tractors to electric alternatives. “We congratulate TTIA for its significant strides in reducing carbon emissions, setting a benchmark for airports across the region,” said Stefano Baronci, director general of ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East. “Its approach aligns with our industry’s collective vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.” Taiwan’s largest airport, as well as the three major Taiwanese airlines that make it their base of operations, is friendly not only to passengers but to the environment, offering extra appeal for visitors who wish to travel both responsibly and with ease.

Write to Oscar Chung at mhchung@mofa.gov.tw

In line with the government’s forward-looking railway project, the Ministry of Education established a personnel training base at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology’s (NKUST) Railway Technical Center (RTC) in 2019. Two years later the Ministry of Transportation and Communications set up the Railway Technology Research and Certification Center. Both are located near Yanchao Main Workshop, THSRC’s maintenance center in Kaohsiung. According to NKUST professor of electrical engineering and RTC Director Chang Chien ­Jia-ren (張簡嘉壬), the RTC began ­cooperating with THSRC in 2012 on a ­railway equipment laboratory to develop local train and component production capabilities, anticipating ­gaining a share of international rail markets. Recently it has raised its global profile through participation­ in rail transport trade shows such as Railwaytech Indonesia 2023 in Jakarta and InnoTrans 2024 in Berlin.

International Networking

THSRC also regularly sends personnel to Europe to tap into the latest rail developments. THSRC Chair Shih Che (史哲) led a delegation to Mass-Trans Innovation Japan 2025 in November and was joined by Chang Chien. The RTC team exhibited collaborative THSRC R&D outcomes in fields such as information computing systems for engineering vehicles, public address services, train ­signal monitoring units, and wayside ­calibration devices for rainfall, water level and wind speed. At the exposition Shih met with Japanese representatives ­undertaking the manufacture and installation of new N700ST train cars on the THSRC system. The first car is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan by August and be in operation the following year on completion of static and dynamic tests. “All of the new rolling stock is expected to have entered circulation by the end of 2028,” said Elaine Tsou (鄒衡蕪), vice president of the Public Affairs Division at THSRC. The additional cars will enable better service as ridership increases: Last year saw the average daily rider count reach 225,000, rising by 5.1 percent from the previous year’s figure.
 

Partnerships and close ties with the global rail transport sector stretch back to the planning stages of Taiwan’s first high speed rail (HSR) line. The system had a core electromechanical system from Japan’s Shinkansen and incorporated European ­concepts such as a bidirectional signaling system that allows the train to move in both directions on a single track in response to local requirements. Tsou recalled that during track construction, each civil works section was carried out as a joint venture between an international company and a domestic partner to ensure both effective introduction of advanced international expertise and local business involvement to gain process experience. She pointed to early-stage contributions from many international engineers and specialists, extending to encompass the initial phase of operation. “Our personnel initially received training from Central Japan Railway Co., but by October 2008, all THSRC drivers and operations control center staff were locally sourced,” Tsou said.

Japan Links

The collaborative relationship between THSRC and Central Japan Railway continues to the present day as the Japanese company offers consultative services and technical assistance with core system upgrades. Since 2013 THSRC has also conducted dialogue and exchanged visits on a regular basis with other Japanese rail companies. Kyushu Railway Co. has contributed to front-line staff service training, and the East and West Japan Railway Companies have both swapped practical business know-how. Representatives from THSRC joined those of the four Japanese rail companies on the board of directors of the International High-Speed Rail Association (IHRA), which was established in 2014 in Tokyo to mark the 50th anniversary of the Central Japan Shinkansen service, the first of its kind in the world. The group’s goal is to disseminate knowledge on creating safe, reliable and efficient HSR systems.

The IHRA’s 28 regular member firms include contributors to the N700ST project like Hitachi Group, Kyosan Electric Manufacturing Co., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nippon Signal Co. and Toshiba Corp. Its ­advisory board consists of rail operators and experts from ­countries that are operating or ­planning HSR ­systems such as Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Thailand, the U.K. and the U.S. The IHRA Meeting 2024 was co-organized by THSRC and took place in Taipei with around 200 guests from 12 countries in attendance. Similar ­international events held in Taiwan include the International Union of Railways’ Second World High Speed Interaction Workshop in 2012 for extant and potential HSR operators and infrastructure managers to exchange ­experience and best practices on the ­maintenance of HSR systems.

Role Change

The THSRC also conducts exchanges and cooperates with other companies such as Germany’s Deutsche Bahn and Italy’s Trenitalia SpA. Since 2019 India’s National High Speed Rail Corp. has engaged with the THSRC on technical issues as it undertakes its first HSR project. Local HSR industry chains and ­technology applications are now also sharing expertise as they accumulate operation experience, augmented by R&D input from partners like RTC. “Our role has changed from knowledge acquisition to transmission of expertise to other countries,” Tsou said. Questions frequently raised by international railway peers include how to maintain punctuality with high passenger volumes, safety and risk mitigation, and the development of in-house maintenance capabilities.

 

In further recognition for THSRC, the company ranked fifth in the 2025 Global 100 most sustainable firms and first in the transit and ground transportation group, continuing a strong showing for the third consecutive year due to performance in such categories as ­low-carbon transport and energy management. Announced in last year’s Geneva-based World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January, the ranking assessed over 8,000 companies with revenues of more than US$1 ­billion. Over the past two decades THSRC’s service has integrated into daily life and modern culture as punctual, reliable transport that is symbolic of the country’s efficiency and infrastructure construction competence. “Platforms like IHRA leverage international cooperative relationships that create solutions for ­practical issues and functions,” Tsou said. “Our experience in operation, maintenance and urban transformation adds valuable resources to the HSR sector.” 
 

Write to Pat Gao at cjkao@mofa.gov.tw
 

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Exhibit of NPM pieces opens in France

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.

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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.

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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.

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Photos: Presidential Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Taipei 101, National Science and Technology Council, National Palace Museum, Tourism Administration.

The Daxi Tea Factory was built in 1926 by Mitsui & Co. during Japanese rule (1895-1945) as a modern mechanized tea processing facility in what is now Taoyuan City. The design was based on airy British tea processing factories in India and ran at high capacity on a three-shift system, with machines running nonstop day and night to produce up to 600 tons of black tea annually for export.

Tea processing and export was one of Taiwan’s most successful industries throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A decade of government operation followed Japanese surrender at the end of World War II, and the factory reverted to private enterprise in 1955. It closed down in the early 1990s, reflecting a decline in the industry, but the trend toward utilizing industrial heritage for culture and leisure infused the old building with new purpose. It was restored over three years and reopened in 2014, winning an architectural award for preservation of details like the brick and cypress wood roof structure. The operation received certification as a tourism factory site from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2015 and currently offers guided tours and is home to a cafe and a shop selling company products.

— by Liu Kun-hao

Taiwan has been named readers’ favorite adventure destination for the past three years by U.S. online travel publication Trazee Travel, underscoring the country’s growing appeal to global travelers. Taipei City ranked 11th—and third in Asia—on Euromonitor International’s list of the world’s top 100 urban destinations for 2025. Taiwan also placed fourth among non–Organisation of Islamic Cooperation destinations in the 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index, reflecting its expanding inclusivity.

The Tourism Administration (TA) reports that Taiwan welcomed about 8.57 million international visitors in 2025, the highest annual total since 2020. Cruise tourism in particular surged, with more than 1.15 million cruise passengers arriving last year, a record partly driven by government incentives encouraging combination cruise-and-flight packages with stays in Taiwan.

To raise Taiwan’s profile overseas, the TA unveiled the refreshed tourism brand TAIWAN, Waves of Wonder in May 2024. It has also expanded the network of Taiwan Tourism Information Centers abroad to 16, including eight new offices opened over the past two years in cities such as Jakarta, Mumbai, Paris and Seattle.

Digital outreach is another pillar of Taiwan’s tourism strategy. What began as a practical response during the pandemic has evolved into a powerful way to engage overseas markets. Scenic area administrations now livestream landscapes from key destinations, offering real-time views of coastlines, mountains and open spaces. The first camera was installed by the East Coast National Scenic Area in 2020, and similar setups now broadcast from 13 national scenic areas around the country, providing international viewers with an immediate sense of Taiwan’s natural beauty and seasonal rhythms.

Latitude Advantage
Building on that momentum, at the 2025 Taipei International Travel Fair last November the government announced a new national initiative to develop tourism along Taiwan’s Tropic of Cancer corridor and southern coastal arc. The plan highlights the country’s unique geographic conditions: The Tropic of Cancer crosses near the towering Yushan Range, making Taiwan one of the few places in the world where high-altitude peaks, coastal plains and tropical ecosystems converge along the same latitude. That rare intersection offers an unusually rich diversity of landscapes from coral reefs and wetlands to forests and offshore islands within a compact travel radius.

The government is integrating resources to develop tourist areas in southern, southwestern and southeastern Taiwan, as well as the offshore county of Penghu. “Strengthening the brand images of these zones enhances the appeal of Taiwan as a tourist destination,” said TA Director-General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀).

Running from 2026 to 2029, the program brings together eight national scenic areas under the TA, along with Yushan and Kenting national parks and Pingtung County Government. Signature projects include upgrading facilities in Fenqihu, a historic mountain town and key stop on the Alishan Forest Railway; cycling routes through former salt pans turned bird habitats in Tainan City’s Beimen District; and a new visitor center at the boundary of the Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates in Yuli Township, Hualien County.

Seamless Experience
Tourism growth is increasingly supported by smart services designed to make travel easier for international visitors. According to Sarah Chien (簡瑛誼), chief of the TA’s Information Management Office, more than three-quarters of foreign visitors are independent tourists who rely heavily on on-site guidance to deepen their understanding of local culture and history.

To overcome language barriers, the administration has introduced a real-time translation system that allows tour guides to speak Mandarin while visitors receive explanations in their native languages on their mobile devices by scanning a QR code. The system supports 26 languages and was launched last August in two national scenic areas, with broader rollout planned. “A tour group may include people speaking many languages, but this system ensures everyone can share the same experience,” Chien said.

Another digital tool, the OhBear AI Assistant launched by the TA last year, provides instant travel support in Chinese, English and Japanese via text or voice. The service answers questions about transportation and weather, highlights upcoming festivals and outdoor events, and creates customized itineraries based on travelers’ schedules, interests and preferences.

Responsible Travel
Sustainability has become a defining pillar of Taiwan’s tourism strategy. Since 2016 Taiwan has participated in the Green Destinations Top 100 Story Awards organized by the Netherlands-based Green Destinations Foundation. Last year nine Taiwanese sites received recognition for environmentally friendly practices, including coral reef conservation in Penghu and butterfly habitat protection in Kaohsiung City’s Maolin District. The Tainan and Taichung city governments have also been honored for revitalizing historic houses and restoring Indigenous hunting trails through ecological engineering, respectively.

These projects align closely with public sentiment. A survey by the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research found that more than 90 percent of Taiwanese people are willing to pay more for environmentally responsible travel options. Chen said the government is encouraging tourism businesses from hotels and restaurants to travel agencies to obtain sustainability certifications from organizations such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Council or Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment.

To support that transition, the TA hosted training sessions last November to help accommodation operators calculate and manage carbon emissions in line with international standards. Participants were introduced to the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative, a framework developed by the U.K.-based Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and World Travel and Tourism Council that is widely used by major global hotel brands. “Promoting responsible travel not only helps address climate change but also delivers tangible economic benefits,” said Lee Chi-yuen (李奇嶽), chair of the Tourism Innovation Association of Taiwan (TIATW). As companies worldwide increasingly seek low-carbon options for incentive travel, corporate retreats and offsite meetings, Lee believes Taiwan is well positioned to meet that demand.

Lee’s career coincides with growing public awareness of climate change and extreme weather events, and his commitment to sustainability has grown steadily. That awareness shapes his work with TIATW, where he has helped advance ecotourism and low-carbon travel design. In recent years, the association has developed detailed low-carbon itineraries that prioritize electric vehicles, locally sourced food and efficient travel routes. Any remaining emissions are offset through carbon credits purchased from the Switzerland-based Gold Standard Foundation.

Taiwan’s first low-carbon itinerary launched in 2023 in Chishang Township, Taitung County, with emissions calculated across accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, and activities. A second itinerary in the Sun Moon Lake area followed, commissioned by the TA. To date, nine low-carbon itineraries have been released, including three announced in Tainan last December, with six more in development across Tainan and Miaoli County.

In 2025 the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy launched the Taiwan Sustainable Tourism Awards, honoring businesses, government agencies and four individuals, including Lee, for advancing sustainable travel practices. The initiative underscores Taiwan’s steady progress in low-carbon tourism. “Taiwan has always been an exceptional destination, rich in cultural and natural assets,” Lee said. “It’s now also ready to welcome travelers who care deeply about sustainability.”

Write to Oscar Chung at mhchung@mofa.gov.tw

Diversifying diets for residents in the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu is a priority as they are nations on the front line of climate change, affected by issues such as highly saline water, which impairs vegetable and fruit production. This challenge results in a high ratio of expensive imported produce and poor health outcomes due to diet imbalances, including frequent incidence of chronic illness like diabetes and heart disease. Taiwan missions offered technical help in addressing the issues through low-water vegetable and fruit farms in schools and communities, with the fresh produce used for student lunches, in addition to undertaking nutrition education and cooking classes based around fresh vegetables. In Marshall Islands the Enhancing Nutrition Balance Through Agricultural Production Project was initiated by the TTM in 2021 and will run until 2029. Seedlings and cultivation methods from Taiwan have enabled locals to grow food in their yards, improving general health and even resulting in sales of surplus produce.

The Princess Margaret Hospital in Funafuti, Tuvalu, is a TTM success story for its creation of a farm on the premises in 2020 that provides a stable supply of vegetables to its patients. Several other such farms were developed around the country with help from the TTM, with such strong results that in 2025 the EU decided to work with the mission to upgrade Tuvalu’s agriculture: EU funding and advanced Taiwanese technology worked in tandem to establish a vertical hydroponic pipe system, a smart irrigation network and an egg production facility.

Valued Networks
For decades TaiwanICDF has introduced agricultural techniques proven effective at home to partner countries, Hsieh noted, but in recent years it has become increasingly involved in establishing agricultural value chains as well. “In order to improve financial returns on agricultural products, we now help with post-harvest processing, packaging, logistics and marketing,” she explained.

Hsieh cited a project that enhances the efficiency of the production-distribution fruit and vegetable supply chain in Taiwan ally St. Lucia. Previously farmers were constrained by only selling produce at traditional markets, while supermarkets and hotels imported their fresh food requirements, a substantial volume in a nation with a large and valuable tourism industry. The TTM aimed to incorporate local vegetable and fruit growers into high-end buyers’ supply chains to achieve a degree of import substitution. Implemented from 2018 to 2026 in two phases, the mission shared cultivation technology, provided training on the use of small farm machinery, advised on packaging techniques and helped analyze market demand for produce. The mission also organized processing, marketing, traceability systems and good agricultural practice workshops to ensure both sustainable and safe produce. It arranged farm visits by supermarket and hotel representatives as well as negotiations between sellers and buyers. The project achieved an increase in the share of domestically grown vegetables and fruit at supermarkets and in hotels in St. Lucia by the end of its first phase in 2021.

Improved Resilience
Climate change is a challenge facing food producers worldwide and TaiwanICDF works hard to offer solutions. In Somaliland, which is affected by water shortages, TaiwanICDF has introduced drip irrigation systems, an efficient method that delivers water slowly and directly to plant roots via a network of pipes to minimize evaporation. TaiwanICDF is working with the International Rice Research Institute headquartered in the Philippines on low-carbon emission cultivation in major rice-growing nations in Southeast Asia. Such methods include alternative wetting and drying. Traditional Southeast Asian farming practices use electric pumps to flood rice paddies all year round, consuming fossil fuel and leading to the growth of methane-producing organisms and additional carbon dioxide. The alternative method helps cut emissions by using less water, pumping for shorter periods and creating an environment less favorable to methane. Farmers are also dissuaded from burning off rice straw left after harvest to reduce the amount of carbon and other pollutants released into the air. They are now advised to cut the straw and leave it to decay in the fields or to collect and use the straw.

In the Philippines, which historically suffers from typhoons, rainfall is becoming more frequent and severe with climate change. In 2021 the TTM advised on construction of steel structure greenhouses, advanced net shelters and newly designed irrigation systems at a demonstration site opened in mid-December 2023 in Luzon Island’s Tarlac province. The protective measures proved effective in the face of severe weather, significantly reducing crop losses directly caused by heavy rainfall and inhibiting the growth of pests induced by high moisture combined with high temperatures. “This is the best Christmas gift from Taiwan to the people of Tarlac,” said then-governor Susan Yap. The climate event-resistant solution, combined with a smart farming Internet of Things and automated equipment, raised producers’ incomes by at least 15 percent and is being replicated at three clusters in central Luzon. “Taiwan’s mature techniques and cutting-edge information and communications technology are valuable diplomatic assets,” Hsieh noted. “The solid technical strengths Taiwan leverages in development projects create positive relations with allies and like-minded countries. The TTMs embody how Taiwan implements values-based diplomacy and assumes a responsible role in the global community, where Taiwan both helps and leads.”

Write to Oscar Chung at mhchung@mofa.gov.tw

Increased awareness of environmentally friendly leisure invites a wider demographic to national parks.
 

In 2022 the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) celebrated the 50th ­anniversary of the National Park Law, which was promulgated in 1972 to set aside space to protect the ­country’s natural environments, ­wildlife habitats and historic sites for public ­recreation and scientific research. A year later the National Park Service (NPS) was elevated from its previous status as a unit under the MOI’s construction planning agency and charged with the management of national parks around the country at ­scenic spots such as Kenting, Taijiang and Yangmingshan, along with the marine national parks of South Penghu and Dongsha Atoll. The NPS is also responsible for Shoushan National Nature Park in Kaohsiung City, as well as sites covered by the Wetland Conservation Act of 2013 and Coastal Zone Management Act of 2015.

The NPS oversees locations that range across Taiwan’s 36,000-square-kilometer landmass and welcome 19.7 million visitors annually. “The diverse environments, from alpine regions to coastal and marine areas, boast rich ­ecotourism resources and are key to the country’s sustainable development,” NPS Director General Wang Cheng-gi (王成機) said, emphasizing work to publicize ­national parks at home and abroad. Yushan National Park, named for the country’s highest mountain contained within its ­borders, is the largest of the ­assets. Yushan, Shei-Pa and Taroko contain nearly 60 ­percent of Taiwan’s peaks over 3,000 meters. Each year around 250,000 ­visitors apply for ­permits to ­access protected areas of the three parks, ­demonstrating the strong appeal of ­rugged mountains and sweeping views. In 2025 the NPS expanded a centralized mountain permit mobile app featuring emergency signal broadcasting, offline maps and ­real-time condition updates from Shei-Pa to include both Yushan and Taroko national parks.

The mountainous areas are home to world-class trekking and climbing in a biodiverse terrain that offers a fascinating journey from a tropical to snowy alpine climate. Since 2019 the NPS has worked to build or refurbish cabins and hiking trails to strike a balance between conservation targets and responsible enjoyment of Taiwan’s natural wonders as part of the government’s move to lift restrictions on public access to mountain and forest ­areas. Wang noted that the NPS currently operates around 40 mountain huts, most of which have been furnished with solar panels and generators.

Active Engagement

The NPS has a slate of events planned for 2026 including marathons expected to draw runners from around the world, as well as an international forum for travel agencies ­focused on low-carbon tourism. “We’ll lead agency representatives along several routes we’ve arranged in the mountains, wetlands, coasts and marine environments,” Wang said. “We anticipate seeing a bump in tourism at those sites as travel agents spread the word.” A similar ongoing domestic program invites ­government officials and academics, as well as local tourism development group representatives and travel ­agencies, to help select 10 routes in and near ­national parks. One itinerary is a two-day trip by electric bike through scenic spots, hiking trails and Indigenous Bunun ­communities in the Nanan area of Yushan in Hualien County.

Close engagement with local communities is crucial to the management of national park tourism. The NPS environmental interpretation projects at parks like Yushan and Yangmingshan ­include courses to qualify local residents as ­community guides, leveraging their ­cultural and ­historical connections with landscape, wildlife and plants in the area. “They can help fold knowledge of conservation and environmental ethics into leisure activities,” Wang said. “It’s a natural way for visitors to become part of a broader ­campaign for ecological sustainability.”

The training of community tour guides from 2022 to 2023 was at the core of the ongoing ecotour project in Ankang, a community in New Taipei City’s Sanzhi District. According to Hsu Tzu-chi (徐子麒), chief of Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters’ Recreation Service Section, the project came about through linking the section with the Ankang community development ­association. The initiative began in 2020 with field surveys of local flora and fauna, ­characteristic landscapes and over two ­centuries of settlement stories from the Hakka ­community of around 210 ­households. In 2024 more than 80 people joined nine one-day trips to Ankang to hike along a 2.4-kilometer historical trail ending at a refreshing ­waterfall, taste ­specialty dishes, explore heritage buildings and savor the ­hands-on experience of ­traditional ­agriculture and crafts using locally acquired materials like native dye plants and bamboo.
 

For Hsu the tour package reflected decadeslong public-private cooperation in community regeneration and regional revitalization. “It was also intended to attract young people to move back to Ankang,” he said. After a temporary halt due to Typhoon Krathon’s destructive landfall in October 2024, the program’s return later this year will be aided by a more frequent bus service. Eastern Taiwan’s Taroko National Park, which was dealt its own natural disaster in the form of a devastating earthquake in April 2024, has seen similar ecotour arrangements in collaboration with Indigenous Truku communities since October 2025.

Reaching Out

Kenting National Park, the first ­national park established in Taiwan in 1982, launched an eco-friendly agriculture promotion program in 2019. The park committed to providing local farmers with subsidies for biological pest control as well as organic and traceable certification. In Tainan City’s Taijiang National Park a similar move to incorporate ­conservation into economic activities is taking place as a result of the popularity of Sicao Wetlands and Zengwen Estuary Wetlands with birders keen on seeing black-faced spoonbills throughout the winter. The park has signed agreements with owners of nearby commercial fishing ponds to cultivate foraging habitats for the ­endangered birds.
 

Wang noted that outlying islands also benefit from sensitive use of ­existing ­resources. On Dongjiyu, one of four South Penghu Marine National Park ­islands, the park administration has helped ­refurbish and convert several ­private vacant buildings into homestays. “We adopted a similar approach as at Kinmen National Park, where dozens of old ­buildings and heritage structures were turned into homestays or repurposed for public use,” he said, adding that a popular summer boat trip departs from Tainan to the Penghu Islands, which are part of the Columnar Basalt Nature Reserve.

Cultural and natural beauty in Taiwan’s national parks has won international recognition. Yangmingshan was awarded the world’s first Urban Quiet Park status in 2020 by Quiet Parks International. The quiet certification was also granted to wilderness parks and trails including the Cueifong Lake Circular Trail in Yilan County, the largest high altitude lake in Taiwan. The NPS is committed to striking a sustainable balance between conservation and leisure use by closely monitoring environmental changes and tourist facility uptake, a task now augmented by remote sensing techniques and drone surveys. “The national parks are a window into Taiwan’s ecology, and its health is visible both to our own local visitors and those from across the world,” Wang said.

Write to Pat Gao at cjkao@mofa.gov.tw

Basic Instincts
In Taiwan detection dogs are primarily trained to search for and rescue survivors trapped beneath rubble as a core component of the national disaster response system, as well as to sniff out pathogens, drugs and illegal food at borders to deter economic, public health and security threats. In 2025 around 300 such animals were on duty nationwide.

Receiving international assistance after major seismic events such as the magnitude 7.3 earthquake of Sept. 21, 1999, reshaped national approaches to preparedness and led to recognition of the need for canine response teams. In 2001 amendments were passed that allowed for the integration of search and rescue dogs into National Fire Agency response planning. In Australia, Belgium, Pakistan, the Netherlands and the U.S., search and rescue dog teams are also formally integrated into national government agencies. Such canines are trained in two specializations: searching rubble to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures and following human scent and disturbed vegetation through urban and wilderness environments. Canine agility and olfactory sense enable them to operate where human intervention is limited, making dogs indispensable during the critical first hours of a disaster or disappearance.

National Fire Agency dog handler Kao Chien-tai (高健泰) noted that search and rescue canine team training takes place through several private working dog associations, one of which is the Taiwan Detection Dog Association (TDDA). Originally formed by a small group of enthusiasts, it operates as a free resource platform with formal cooperation through agreements with government bodies. The TDDA is supported by professionals and volunteers and trains animals for around two years before pairing them with handlers from police units or the National Fire Agency. Chou Tsung-chi (周聰吉), chair of the TDDA, explained that through training, international collaboration and field deployment, the association has expanded canine assistance capacity, underscored by TDDA dogs placing fifth at the 2025 IRO World Championship held in Czechia. Canine teams have also been deployed internationally, including following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southeastern Türkiye on February 6, 2023, demonstrating Taiwan’s readiness to contribute to international rescues.

Border Patrol
At international air and marine ports, risks arrive hidden in luggage, parcels and cargo, making denial of entry to harmful substances an important task. When sniffer dogs succeed, nothing happens, but failure can cause long-term harm to agriculture, ecosystems and society. In October 2002 three teams of dogs trained in Hawaii officially began detection duties at Taoyuan and Kaohsiung International Airports. Due to their success, in 2003 National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) was commissioned by the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine to set up a detector dog training center. The next year the bureau officially launched a development plan for nationwide border and port control encompassing the management of dog handlers, the care and management of the dogs, and promotional activities. The project included continuous on-the-job training of at least one day a week on newly added target items, prioritizing agricultural and livestock products frequently carried by inbound travelers, including meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables. These items can lead to outbreaks of diseases such as avian influenza, as well as fruit flies and other pest insects. The dog teams were gradually expanded to offer surveillance at international air and marine cargo ports and postal and express delivery warehousing, in addition to duties checking all incoming international passenger flights.

The success of the program is apparent in the monthly bulletin from Taoyuan International Airport’s quarantine detector dog team. Their results for October 2025 include 3,821 flights checked and 660 illegal items weighing a total 241.52 kilograms discovered, of which 33.15 kilograms were animal products and 208.37 kilograms were plant products. There are now 56 teams patrolling nationwide. In 2023 the bureau was renamed the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) and continued to invest in canine detection training. Wang Chia-yin (王嘉瑩), a dog trainer with almost two decades of experience, explained that training is updated as scent libraries add items to reflect emerging risks. “An experienced dog can detect close to 100 categories of scent,” she said. “Beagles, with their friendly appearance, are often chosen for work in public areas due to their intelligence, resilience in high-noise environments and excellent sense of smell.”

The APHIA training, which takes place at various locations for potential canine handlers, includes two selection exams. The written component checks knowledge of animal and plant health inspection and quarantine operations, as well as understanding of canine physiology and ability, while an oral exam includes situational response tests and questions from an interview panel. If successful, candidates then attend a 10-12 week quarantine dog handler training program. After passing assessment with an assigned detector dog, they must complete a three-month probationary period before taking formal employment. Handlers’ responsibilities include daily care, ongoing training and dog welfare management.

Quarantine dogs act as ambassadors for border safety and participate in educational outreach activities in schools and official demonstrations, informing the public about the risks of bringing foreign biohazards to Taiwan. Dogs retired from search and rescue, drug detection and other duties can continue in service with training at NPUST’s Assistance Dog Training Center to become social care dogs for community activity centers, where they will accompany seniors in playing games, or education assistance dogs to encourage elementary, junior high and senior high school students with learning difficulties.
 

Write to Krakias Kai at kwhuang@mofa.gov.tw

President Lai attends American Israel Public Affairs Committee banquet

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Oct. 27 that Taiwan will continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities while leveraging its advantages in semiconductors to deepen economic and trade cooperation with Israel and the U.S. Lai made the remarks while attending an event in Taipei City hosted by the U.S.-based nonprofit American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The president said that Taiwan often looks to the long history of the Jewish people for encouragement when facing threats to its sovereignty from China, adding that Taiwan needs to channel the spirit of David confronting Goliath as it continues to stand against authoritarian coercion. Next year’s defense budget will exceed 3.32 percent of the gross domestic product and reach 5 percent by 2030, Lai said, noting that plans are underway for a multilayer air defense system inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome.

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MOFA hosts industry visit for foreign diplomatic corps

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a tour of northern Taiwan’s smart agriculture industry for foreign diplomatic corps Oct. 30-31. Accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) and Lien Yu-ping (連玉蘋), director general of the Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attendees included ambassadors and officials from Belize, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, Paraguay, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as representatives of Austria, Brunei, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Mongolia, Nigeria, Singapore, Somaliland, Sweden, Switzerland, the Philippines and two U.S. states. Smart agriculture is one of the top priorities of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, the MOFA said, adding that the project aims to share Taiwan’s expertise, services and smart solutions in terms of digitalization, green power, health care and resilience.

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Deputy FM Wu attends Austria National Day reception

Deputy Foreign Minister François Chih-chung Wu (吳志中) celebrated Austria’s National Day Oct. 24 in Taipei City and lauded the ever-closer ties to the European nation. Wu said that the two countries enjoy frequent interaction, as evidenced by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung’s (林佳龍) September visit during which Lin joined Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025 events and met with Austrian parliamentarians. The same month saw cross-party lawmakers from Austria also visit Taiwan, with Werner Amon, chair of the Austrian Parliament’s Austria-Taiwan Friendship Group, meeting Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. In a further boost to warm relations, Austria’s Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure resumed recognition of Taiwan-issued international driving permits in October. The MOFA will coordinate with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to promptly restore reciprocal treatment for holders of Austria-issued IDPs.

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FM Lin receives Eswatini delegation

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) received a delegation from Eswatini led by Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, the African ally’s minister of tourism and environmental affairs, Oct. 22 in Taipei City, highlighting government commitment to strengthening partnerships with Eswatini, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Lin began by recounting his trip to Eswatini in April, when he visited the Hlane Royal National Park and donated to rhinoceros conservation. He also highlighted the visit by Taiwanese tourism industry professionals in September, which he said helped boost the number of Taiwanese tourists to the ally. According to the MOFA, the ministry will continue to strengthen the relationship with Eswatini through its Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project and hopes to see more Taiwanese tourists visit Eswatini to advance exchanges and mutual prosperity.

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AELM Envoy Lin speaks at news conference

Lin Hsin-i (林信義), President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) special envoy to the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting, hosted an international news conference Nov. 1 in Gyeongju, South Korea, after the annual event concluded, according to the Presidential Office. Discussions, held under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” centered on responding to the profound impact of population change and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. According to Lin, the delegation fulfilled the three tasks assigned by President Lai: underscoring Taiwan’s commitment to bolstering economic resilience and cooperating with other economies to advance regional trade and development; expressing the country’s willingness to share its pioneering industrial experience to foster public-private partnerships in tackling global challenges; and highlighting Taiwan’s drive to develop human-centered AI as a contribution to APEC’s shared vision.

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Taiwan hosts space conference, exhibition

The Asia-Pacific Space Community Council’s 26th annual conference and exhibition is underway in Taipei City through Nov. 6, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. This marks the first time that the event has taken place in Taiwan, signifying growing global recognition of its technological expertise. The event drew 150 satellite-related businesses from countries including Japan, South Korea, Thailand and the U.S., the MOEA said. Speaking at the opening, APSCC President Terry Bleakley noted Taiwan’s position as an indispensable player in the international market due to its innovative and pioneering capacity in design and manufacturing and envisioned an integration of the broader satellite industry ecosystem with Taiwan’s supply chain.

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Tech expo kicks off in Taipei

The 2025 Taiwan Innotech Expo got underway Oct. 16 in Taipei City, underscoring government efforts to promote innovation and strengthen the country’s key role in the global high-tech value chain. Jointly organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and Industrial Technology Research Institute, the three-day event is supported by 11 government agencies, including the Ministry of Economic Affairs and National Science and Technology Council. During his opening remarks, MOEA Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said that in addition to showcasing Taiwan’s R&D capabilities and industrial strengths, the event brings together more than 400 exhibitors from 19 countries. With over 1,000 innovative technologies on display, the expo is as important as the annual SEMICON Taiwan, he added. Kung said this year’s exhibition focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence applications and sustainable technologies, noting that more than 300 AI-related applications are being shown.

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Taiwan places 10th in global digital competitiveness ranking

Taiwan is rated 10th out of 69 major economies in the latest World Digital Competitiveness Ranking released Nov. 4 by Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said. Economies were ranked using 61 criteria in the categories of knowledge, technology and future readiness. Among the benchmarks in the first category, which measures a country’s ability to acquire new technologies, Taiwan placed second in total expenditure on research and development as well as total R&D personnel per capita, and third in educational assessment PISA-math. In the future readiness category, which assesses progress in digital transformation, Taiwan came in second in company agility and third in handling opportunities and threats as well as use of big data and analytics, moving the country three spots up to third in the world in this category. The technology category, which evaluates digital innovation capability, placed Taiwan first in the world in IT and media stock market capitalization.

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Premier Cho speaks at European Innovation Week opening

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) attended the European Innovation Week opening and reception Oct. 21 in Taipei City. The three-day event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the European Economic and Trade Office (EEAS) in Taiwan. The EU is Taiwan’s largest source of foreign investment, and as of September this year, European businesses’ direct investment in Taiwan exceeded US$63.8 billion, Cho noted. The nation’s capabilities in artificial intelligence, information and communications technology, and semiconductors have prompted European companies to establish research centers in Taiwan, the premier said. Cho said he looked forward to seeing Taiwan work further with the EU on projects of sustainability and innovation and emphasized that cooperation with European corporations facilitated the stable development of Taiwan’s digital infrastructure, green energy industries and smart manufacturing, as well as the innovative upgrade of emerging technologies.

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President Lai attends launch of Taiwan Bridges project

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) reiterated the government’s commitment to cultivating top talent in higher education to bolster Taiwan’s contributions to global peace, prosperity and sustainable development. Lai made the remarks Nov. 10 in Taipei City while attending the launch of Taiwan Bridges, an international academic exchange initiative jointly coordinated by Academia Sinica, National Taiwan University and the U.S.-based World Peace Foundation, with participation from 10 leading domestic academic institutions, according to the Presidential Office. The president noted that Andre Geim, co-recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, is set to be the first speaker for the Taiwan Bridges: NTU Raymond Soong Chair Professorship of Distinguished Research Nobel Laureate Lecture Series. Over the next seven months, 30 additional Nobel winners are scheduled to visit Taiwan to give public lectures and join small-group discussions, an opportunity Lai said will enrich students, researchers and broader society alike.

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Newest indigenous satellite departs for US launch 

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) lauded Formosat-8A’s completion and upcoming launch as an important milestone in the nation’s space technology. He made the remarks during a ceremony at the Taiwan Space Agency headquartered in Hsinchu on Oct. 7. The satellite is the first in the Formosat-8 constellation, Taiwan’s first domestically produced satellite cluster. Lai noted that space technology is key for Taiwan’s industrial development and was highlighted in his inauguration speech as a national strategic industry. The satellite constellation will form part of an Earth observation network, and data collected will be used for planning land use, monitoring agriculture, and aiding disaster response and environmental protection, thus strengthening national resilience and enabling Taiwan to proactively address climate change and geopolitical challenges.

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Premier Cho attends forum on security, fighting multinational crime

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said that Taiwan would continue to work with like-minded countries to reinforce the rule of law at the 7th Taiwan-Western Asia and Africa Forum on Regional Security and Transnational Crime Oct. 29 in Taipei City. Cho pointed out that Africa and West Asia play a vital role in global politics and economic conditions due to their mineral resources, population growth and strategic maritime positions. He added that Taiwan plays a key role in the democratic supply chain and is also a major pillar of regional safety. The world currently faces challenges in the areas of digital fraud and rapidly spreading disinformation due to generative artificial intelligence technologies, Cho said. He described Taiwan’s strategy to counter such issues, which includes elements such as cultivating media literacy, monitoring information security and establishing interministerial response mechanisms.

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APEC forum on women, youth empowerment underway in Taipei

The Ministry of Education is staging the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum on Women and Youth Empowerment: Enhancing Digital Competitiveness and Inclusive Economic Growth Through Innovative Enterprise Education Nov. 5-7 in Taipei City, underscoring joint regional talent cultivation. Hosted by National Taipei University of Technology, the event has drawn nearly 70 representatives from 20 countries and territories, the MOE said. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Liao Kao-hsien (廖高賢), director general of the MOE’s Department of Higher Education, said innovative education and talent cultivation are key to promoting inclusive growth amid the global digital transition.

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EY stages women’s digital inclusion, sustainable development symposium

A symposium on the digital inclusion and sustainable development of women was staged by the Executive Yuan Oct. 8 in Taipei City, highlighting government commitment to equality. Titled “Women as Economic Drivers,” the event was attended by academics, experts and representatives of public and private sectors from around the world. It focused on the integration of multiple perspectives into digital transformation, international trade and sustainability. Minister Without Portfolio Lin Ming-hsin (林明昕) said during his opening remarks that Taiwan has seen fruitful results in areas spanning economy, education, health and politics since the country began to promote gender mainstreaming in 2005, citing the fact that over 40 percent of Taiwan’s lawmakers are women as one of the examples of the policy’s success.

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Taiwan maintains Tier 1 anti-human trafficing status

Taiwan remained at Tier 1 in the U.S. Department of State’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report for the 16th year running, reflecting global recognition of the government’s efforts to protect human rights, the Ministry of the Interior said. Among the 188 countries and territories assessed in the report, Taiwan is one of only five countries in the Asia-Pacific at Tier 1, along with Australia, Singapore, South Korea and the Philippines. Regional neighbors Japan and Hong Kong remain in Tier 2 and Tier 2 Watch List, respectively, while China is again in Tier 3. According to the report released Sept. 29, Taiwanese authorities demonstrated serious, sustained effort to fight exploitation during the reporting period. Examples presented in the report include convicting more traffickers, significantly increasing the number of victims referred to support services and training officials on the 2024 amendments to the Human Trafficking Prevention and Control Act.

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Taiwanese movies feature at Southern California film festival

Eleven Taiwanese productions will screen at the 2025 San Diego Asian Film Festival, the Ministry of Culture said Nov. 6. The films showing at the festival, including shorts, features and a documentary in the Taiwan Film Showcase category, spotlight the depth and breadth of Taiwan’s vibrant cinema landscape. Among them is Tsou Shih-ching’s (鄒時擎) “Left-Handed Girl,” which will be submitted as Taiwan’s candidate for best international film at the 2026 Academy Awards. The festival runs Nov. 6-15 and showcases more than 150 works from more than 30 countries, the MOC said.

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‘Voice of Rolling Tides’ exhibition to be staged in Spain

“Voice of Rolling Tides,” an exhibition showcasing Taiwan’s creativity in audiovisual art, artificial intelligence and new media installations will take place Oct. 22-30 at Bizkaia Aretoa in the Spanish city of Bilbao. With support from the cultural division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Spain, the event will feature works by artists Chen Yu-jung (陳昱榮), Huang Han-po (黃翰柏), Huang Yen-chao (黃彥超), Li Ying-jung (李映蓉) and Lin Ya-hsuan (林雅暄), as well as collectives Dimension-Plus and CHW Lab. According to the Ministry of Culture, the exhibition draws inspiration from the Spanish colonial outpost established in northern Taiwan between 1626 and 1642, inviting reflection on the historical context in which Taiwan became part of the global trade network.

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Taiwan shines at Australian creative festival

Five music groups and two high-tech startups from Taiwan took center stage Oct. 15 at SXSW Sydney 2025 to spotlight the country’s soft power and tech innovation, according to the Ministry of Culture. At the opening ceremony, Wu Cheng-wei (吳正偉), director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney, said the event was both a performance and a global platform to showcase Taiwan’s innovative spirit, fueled by world-leading technology and cultural creativity. Participating through support from the MOC, the groups dazzled the audience during the “Taiwan Now Playing” section of the festival running Oct. 13-19 in the Australian city.

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National Museum of Taiwan Literature readies for festival

The inaugural Taiwan Writers Festival will open Nov. 7-30 at the National Museum of Taiwan Literature in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City, showcasing a spirit of freedom and self-awareness in the country’s literature. To be attended by over 80 artists, publishers, translators and authors from home and abroad, the event will include crossover activities, exhibitions, lectures, salons and workshops at NMTL, its two Taipei branches and also in Indigenous tribal villages in the eastern county of Taitung. MOC Minister Li Yuan (李遠) said at a press conference Oct. 8 that the festival is important to create a unique cultural style for Taiwanese literature. The ministry will continue to encourage authors via subsidies and the translation of local literature into other languages to raise visibility, he added.

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MOFA organizes Indigenous cultural excursion 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized an Indigenous cultural excursion for recipients of the Taiwan Fellowship and members of the Taiwan Alumni Association Oct. 13 in New Taipei City’s Wulai District, underscoring the government’s dedication to showcasing Taiwan’s cultural diversity and building bonds with academics from around the world. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said during the opening ceremony in Taipei City that the Taiwan Fellowship has benefited more than 1,500 talented individuals since its inception in 2010, while over 3,000 students from allied and friendly nations have studied in Taiwan under the Taiwan Scholarship since 2004. Many have joined the TAA to continue consolidating friendships and supporting Taiwan, he added. Lin also took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of Indigenous culture in Taiwan, adding that the MOFA is actively involved in global Indigenous affairs.

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Taiwanese films feature at Sweden’s Filmfest Sundsvall

Taiwanese films are featuring through Oct. 5 at Filmfest Sundsvall in Sweden, raising the visibility of Taiwan’s cultural content in northern Europe. Sixteen films are being shown under the “Spotlight Taiwan” program, organized by the cultural division of the Taipei Representative Office in the U.K. in collaboration with the festival’s organizers. According to the Ministry of Culture, festival founder Andreas Fock expressed hope that the program would allow more Swedish audiences to experience the diversity of Taiwanese cinema. Four Taiwanese films were selected for the competition categories, among them the 2024 feature “Yen and Ai-Lee” and the short “A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers.” Winners are set to be announced Oct. 3.

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Photos: Presidential Office, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Digital Affairs, National Science and Technology Council, National Development Council, Ministry of Culture, Tourism Administration, CNA, U.S. Department of State, Taiwan Creative Content Agency.

Over the period of Japanese rule, the residence accommodated 16 governors-general of Taiwan, from Kodama, the fourth, to Rikichi Andō, the 19th. It was also used to receive high-ranking guests and, most importantly, Crown Prince Hirohito during his only visit to Taiwan, a 12-day tour in 1923. Kodama viewed the elegant residence as an essential symbol of imperial authority that should inspire both respect and pride in locals. “Taipei Guest House is notable for how extravagantly appointed it is,” said Hsueh Chin (薛琴), associate professor at Chung Yuan Christian University in Taoyuan City who has undertaken extensive research on the building.

Taipei Guest House’s gardens are a study in contrast and harmony. The South Garden to the front of the building is in the French style, with a central fountain surrounded by symmetrical geometric flower beds. The North Garden to the rear follows the Japanese style. It has a large pond in the shape of the Japanese and Chinese character for “heart”, a pavilion for outdoor performances, stone tables, a bridge with balustrades, and artificial hills, waterfalls and fountains surrounded by lush greenery and blossoms in a blend of East and West.

Diplomatic Stage
Today the Taipei Guest House is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and serves as a venue for state banquets, diplomatic receptions and cultural events. The building has become the customary venue for the annual National Day Reception held every October 10. The event welcomes hundreds of foreign dignitaries, including representatives from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and like-minded partners, lawmakers and high-level officials. Through culinary offerings that reflect the best of fresh local produce in innovative cuisine and cultural performances by groups like MAD Theater, Eye Catching Circus and Bemove Dance Company, the reception celebrates Taiwan’s unique character and radiates soft power.

In the postwar decades, the Free China Relief Association, now known as The Chinese Association for Relief and Ensuing Services, held garden fairs on the grounds to welcome overseas Chinese visiting Taiwan. On May 14, 1960, the estate was opened for the International Women’s Club Children’s Fair, transforming the property into a lively scene that drew more than 30,000 visitors in a single day.

The building was declared a national historic monument in 1998. Extensive restoration work between 2003 and 2006 used original methods to ensure that  timber and other structural elements were returned to their original appearance. In 2006 it reopened to the public on select days while continuing to host state events. It is generally open one day a month on the weekend, and the dates for the year are published on Taipei Guest House website.

On open-house days, visitors can step into rooms once reserved for dignitaries, peer through stained-glass windows and stand on the balcony overlooking Ketagalan Boulevard. A family of black swans was introduced into the ornamental pond in 2006 and are currently thriving in their third generation, with some of the birds given names by the public through competitions. Exhibitions inside the building chronicle the structure’s architectural history and the country’s political journey in a testament to the guest house’s evolving role over time. Taiwan’s welcoming democratic spirit was evident when in 2020 Diwali celebrations were hosted at the venue, and in August 2022 strides in international relations were clear when then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the guest of honor at a state banquet held during her historic visit to Taiwan. Taipei Guest House has witnessed Taiwan’s democratic political reforms and the major development of its foreign relations. 

Write to Krakias Kai at kwhuang@mofa.gov.tw

Last year’s National Day celebrations at the Presidential Office in Taipei City featured young athletes who won titles at the 2025 World Games, Summer World University Games and Little League Baseball World Series. They were cheered enthusiastically by the throng, and their escorts, eight horses and riders from the New Taipei City Police Department, added a distinct flair. The New Taipei Mounted Police (NTMP) unit was first integrated into the government’s Oct. 10 holiday celebrations two decades earlier, shortly after it came into existence.

Taipei County, the precursor to New Taipei City, set up Taiwan’s first mounted police force in 2003, inspired by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, even down to their red uniforms, said founding member Chang Chi-hsiang (張啟祥). Officials built relationships with international mounted police units to guide the development of Taiwan’s own mounted law enforcement teams, and when the Kaohsiung City Mounted Police (KCMP) unit was activated in 2005, more than 25 police officers from Chicago, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Portland and Tulsa in the U.S., as well as the Australian state of Queensland, attended the ceremony.

The structure of the mounted police force is as a special adjunct to other police duties. Horses owned by private stables are hired by the police on a long-term basis. Two mounted police officers patrol every afternoon in Banqiao District, the seat of New Taipei City Government, and on the weekends two more officers patrol a different tourist site each week. The NTMP is composed of 38 officers qualified as equestrians, including nine women.

In Kaohsiung there are 30 officers, half of whom are women, who patrol on weekends and at special events. To join the mounted police, candidates must undergo 120 hours of equestrian skills training and earn a B1 certification from the national equestrian association, overseen by the Ministry of Sports. Applicants with foreign language abilities, especially in basic English conversation, are at an advantage in the evaluation process due to the high degree of interaction with international tourists required of mounted officers.

Riding Skills
The NTMP’s first assignment was the 2003 National Games. “We led the parade of competitors into the stadium for the opening ceremony,” recalled Chang. Mounted police then began to be posted at local tourist sites on weekends and holidays: Fisherman’s Wharf in Tamsui District, Longmi Riverside Park in Bali District, the Bitan recreation area in Xindian District and Yingge District’s old street, known for its ceramic studios. The KCMP’s weekend duty sites are similarly popular tourist spots in Kaohsiung, such as Lotus Pond, Central Park and the Pier-2 Art Center.

Everyday duties for NTMP officers focus on Banqiao’s downtown area, a government, transportation and entertainment hub. Major events like the weekslong New Taipei Christmasland activities that have taken place annually since 2011 also enjoy the NTMP’s presence. When Taipei County was upgraded to a special municipality and renamed New Taipei City in 2010, the NTMP was further recognized as a symbol of the city’s growth and status. “We received greater funding and were able to recruit more members,” Chang said.

Several times a month mounted officers visit the stables at Hannover Equestrian Club in Taipei or Ciaotou Equestrian Center in Kaohsiung to maintain their practical skills by working with trainers and feeding and grooming their mounts. The contact helps build bonds and mutual trust with the powerful yet timid creatures, Chang said, pointing out that a horse’s instinctive response to a perceived threat is to flee. Rex Fang (方賜喜), deputy leader of the NTMP, agreed. “It’s important to read a horse’s body language, especially in the movements of its eyes and ears,” he said. “A rider must respond immediately to keep their mount calm and steady.”

NTMP officer Jessica Liao (廖盈如) said that many things can cause a horse to startle, from movements as ordinary as opening umbrellas in their periphery to the loud noise of firecrackers going off nearby. “They’re trained not to react to unexpected stimuli, although it takes patience and a willingness for a rider to get back in the saddle if their horse was alarmed enough to throw them,” she said, emphasizing that basic police training in judo and tae kwon do provide a strong foundation for minimizing physical injuries. Mounted police say their elevated position gives them a broader and thus better view of congested situations. Fang recalled an experience on duty in crowded Yingge Old Street in which his vantage point on horseback allowed him to quickly spot a lost child. “We’re easily able to pursue an incident as required, whether on flat areas, hillsides or even stairs,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons we work at scenic spots.”

Horse Sense
Hao Hsin-i (郝心怡), a founding member of the KCMP and its current deputy leader, spoke of the broader influence of mounted police units. The KCMP’s official visits to counterparts overseas were illuminating, and Hao noticed how people are attracted to the presence of the animals. “Once I became a mounted officer, I was more aware of similar squads on my travels,” she said, citing experiences in Germany and the Netherlands. “Tourists are drawn to a police officer on a horse, making units like the KCMP an attraction as well as a reassuring presence.”

Hao further noted that mounted units play a role in nurturing a positive relationship between the police and their communities. “Both children and adults are excited when they see us, especially in Taiwan where people don’t usually come across horses outside of zoos or equestrian centers,” she said. Mounted units draw media attention to important activities designed to enhance public awareness of fraud, drug addiction and other recurring crimes. Both the KCMP and NTMP anticipate an uptick in requests to attend public interest or charity events this year, as 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar.

The NTMP and KCMP have established strong individual identities over their two-decade history, but their links with each other are also firm and long-standing. Two years after the KCMP was formed, Hao and fellow mounted officers attended a national police skills competition hosted at Taiwan Police College in Taipei, where they and the NTMP were invited to give performances. The two mounted police teams enjoy regular communication and maintain close ties, with Fang, Chang and other NTMP members traveling south to join a celebration of the KCMP’s 20th anniversary in 2025. Mounted police take pride in protecting the people they live and work among and offer a striking image of the vitality and international appeal of the cities they serve.

Write to Pat Gao at cjkao@mofa.gov.tw

The department advances efficiency through four initiatives: smart agriculture, cloud-based digital transformation, chip development and the Internet of Things (IoT). These inform research and innovation, infrastructure, training and growth. Local partnerships and subsidies from the central government resulted in 194 technology transfers, 88 registered service providers in the smart agriculture tech system, eight startups and 480 smart agriculture sites across 4,000 locations. Research outcomes have been integrated into 13 technologies for floriculture, rice, vegetables, aquaculture and the raising of poultry, all accessible via a portal for consultation and matchmaking. The MOA also supports over 20 expert system platforms for data applications, publicly available on the website to foster government transparency and enable service providers and research institutions to leverage data for commercial use or collaborative development. As an example, the MOA launched a project last year to collect agricultural pest and disease images to improve diagnostic accuracy of AI analysis systems.

Smart Thinking
Chiayi County’s smart agriculture policy was launched in 2018 with funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and is now fully financed by the county government. With training, subsidies and equipment leasing programs, it ensures that technology reaches sites rather than staying in laboratories, rendering precision agriculture both practical and attainable. Papaya and pineapple plantations demonstrate how data platforms optimize irrigation, nutrient balance and pest control strategies, automating management for higher yields. In Shuishang Township, papaya grower Chen Wen-hui (陳文輝) connected his 12-hectare operation to digital monitoring and precision management systems. The fully integrated system featuring micro-mist cooling, smart fertigation drips and a field microclimate network resulted in labor requirements dropping by 40 percent, nearly 30 percent decrease in energy use and yields rising by around 20 percent. This gained the operation a Traceable Agricultural Product (TAP) certification, and by 2023 it achieved the Taiwan Good Agricultural Product PLUS standard, which covers four key areas: good agricultural practices, food safety, labor safety and environmental sustainability, as well as integrated crop and pest management. The success was recognized by the MOA and subsequently Japan, where this precision-farming model has been replicated in Chiba prefecture and on Ishigaki Island using Taiwan-made equipment and systems.

In Minxiong Township, third-generation pineapple grower Chen Ying-yen (陳映延) uses AI-assisted fertilization models and real-time monitoring to produce fruit that has a longer shelf life and better flavor. On site, Taiwan’s first ride-on dual-row cultivator and fertilizer applicator is linked to digital controls for weeding, fertilization and soil management. Chen leverages the sixth sector industrialization model of primary agriculture, secondary processing and tertiary marketing and retail through his A-Mei Pineapple brand and the Wang Lai Shan Pineapple Cultural Park. Digital displays, tracing systems and AI analytics bring visitors to the fields and raise domestic and export sales. To combat the effects of climate change that include fruit cracking and other heat stress effects, he uses AI prediction models to analyze weather, soil and crop data. “Technology lets us respond faster and plan further ahead,” he said.

Optimum Choices
National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) advances smart agriculture from research to real-world application, and its Smart Agriculture Center (SAC), established in 2018 as Taiwan’s first academic smart agriculture research hub, helps raise productivity, reduce labor dependence, lower barriers for new farmers and strengthen consumer trust through transparency. 

Tsai Shang-han (蔡尚瀚), professor in the university’s Department of Scientific Agriculture and leader of the SAC, said, “Farmers prioritize efficiency and stability, so the center has developed projects that optimize irrigation, nutrient management and pest control through combining IoT sensors, AI analysis and automation. The tools are designed to be accessible, easily maintainable and adaptable for use in diverse conditions.” NPUST exports expertise, supporting farms in both Malaysia and Nicaragua. Taiwan contributes technical knowledge and local partners handle hardware adaptation to reduce cost and ensure sustainability.

Challenges in implementing smart agriculture at scale remain due to factors such as predominantly small farming ventures and an aging rural population. Individual farmers may be unable to afford systems and equipment and can struggle without sufficient technical support. The MOA offers comprehensive support measures, including the Smart Agriculture Technology Service Organization Registration system. Established in 2021, it now has 88 registered providers delivering over 2,000 services valued at NT$550 million (US$17.65 million). To address labor training, the MOA Farmers’ Academy offers courses at research stations, and the online Agricultural Digital Learning Platform provides over 70 flexible learning courses. Since 2023 the AIoT Agriculture Pioneer Program has trained public officials, agricultural enterprises and associations in programming, data analysis, machine vision and IoT applications.

Smart agriculture symposia bring county and special municipality governments together to discuss technology applications, subsidy integration, personnel training, technology transfer and cross-sector alliances. The cities of Taoyuan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, along with Changhua, Yunlin, and Chiayi counties, now offer smart agriculture subsidies for sustainable facilities, machinery, greenhouses and irrigation systems, alongside agricultural loans. Farmers’ associations in Hsinchu County, Taichung, Chiayi and Kaohsiung implemented custom digital tools last year to facilitate satellite crop monitoring, online ordering systems, real-time inventory integration and group purchasing.

Pioneering Standards
As smart technologies proliferate, so does the need for interoperability, especially because there are currently no international smart agriculture data standards. The MOA has taken the lead in creating domestic standards that could serve as a model for the region. In partnership with the Taiwan Association of Information and Communication Standards, the MOA announced the first version of formatting standards and testing specifications for smart agriculture sensing data in 2023. These standards have since been applied in electronic tracking systems for pig farms and crop farms. Wider adoption will reduce development costs, streamline cross-system data integration, and improve collection, analysis and applications. The Department of Science and Technology supports data format standardization operations covering 18 information platforms across the livestock, poultry and grain sectors. Using standardized tool forms, the MOA completed inventories of 59 device categories and 42 environmental application data items, units and interfaces to facilitate the development of conversion programs by technology service providers.

Standardization provides a foundation for broader international engagement as the MOA collaborates in bi- and multilateral technical missions, international organizations and technology exchanges. Through the International Cooperation and Development Fund, the MOA leads policy planning and technology research, while the fund provides technical assistance and training for field projects, exporting smart agriculture experience around the world. An intelligent irrigation system, privately developed from Taoyuan District Agricultural Improvement Station technology, supports the cultivation of vegetables, melons, dragon fruit, passion fruit, summer squash, papaya, flowers and succulents in Taiwan and abroad. In Thailand, the Royal Project Foundation is adopting aspects of Taiwan’s smart farming systems with online video support, and in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Orange Hill Biotechnology Center is equipped with intelligent environment control for irrigation, nutrient solutions and cooling.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the MOA established the New Smart Agriculture Advisory Team in March 2025, integrating government bodies, research institutions and the agricultural industry to promote the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. As Taiwan’s agricultural diplomacy matures, its friends and allies learn and flourish. 

Write to Krakias Kai at kwhuang@mofa.gov.tw