Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Defense loan shows US support

Tommy Lin 林逸民

Following the passage of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act by the US House and Senate with the support of the Democratic and Republican parties, US President Joe Biden on Friday last week signed the act into law.

Among many other things, the act authorizes the provision of a US$2 billion loan to Taiwan every year for five years from next year to 2027 through the US Department of State’s Foreign Military Financing, thus implementing the resolution embodied in the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 to defend Taiwan’s security and support its self-determination.

TSMC to invest US$60bn in Tainan

Taipei Times

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday said that it plans to invest more than NT$1.86 trillion (US$60.5 billion) on an advanced factory in Tainan to expand 3-nanometer chip capacity, after its plans to produce chips in the US triggered concerns at home over technology outflow and talent drain.

The world’s biggest contract chipmaker in 2018 said that it plans to spend NT$700 billion on a “giga-fab” in Tainan, dubbed Fab 18, to produce 5-nanometer chips, and establish a research and development (R&D) team. The company at the time said that it would reserve half of the facility’s space for the production of 3-nanometer chips.

Tsai reinstates one-year conscription

Taipei Times

Conscription is to be restored to one year for all men born after Jan. 1, 2005, starting in 2024, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday as part of an updated national defense plan.

“The decision is a difficult one, but as the head of the military and for the continued survival of Taiwan, this is an inevitable responsibility,” Tsai said.

Taiwan detects 78 Chinese craft in a day

Taipei Times

A total of 71 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels were detected around Taiwan from 6am on Sunday to 6am yesterday, the Ministry of National Defense said.

It was the most Chinese military craft detected within a 24-hour period so far this year.

Forty-seven aircraft were spotted either crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entering Taiwan’s southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the ministry said.

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