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West taipei’s trendy corner, the hakka of hsinchu, bicycles, bites, and a boardwalk, among ancient giants — smangus, festival and events in june, festivals and events in may, rediscovering tradition: cultural scavenging at earthing way, the meaty side of taipei, market meals, about travel in taiwan.

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Taipei is a friendly city whose allure lies in its blend of Chinese culture with a curious fusion of Japanese, Southeast Asian and American influences.

Best Time to Visit

Best things to do, attractions, must-see attractions.

National Palace Museum

Home to the world's largest and arguably finest collection of Chinese art, this vast hoard covers treasures in painting, calligraphy, statuary, bronzes,…

Dihua Street

This former 'Centre Street' has long been known for its Chinese medicine shops, fabric market and lively Lunar New Year sundry market. It has attracted…

Towering above the city like the gigantic bamboo stalk it was designed to resemble, Taipei 101 is impossible to miss. At 508m, Taipei 101 held the title…

National Human Rights Museum

This former detention centre, court and jail was where political prisoners were incarcerated and tried during the White Terror period (1947–87). The…

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

This grandiose monument to authoritarian leader Chiang Kai-shek is a popular attraction and rightly so. It is a sobering feeling to stand in the massive…

Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Borrowing from western urban-regeneration models, this early-20th-century wine factory has been restored as Taipei's most retro-chic venue. Remodelled…

Bao'an Temple

Recipient of a Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for both its restoration and its revival of temple rites and festivities, Bao'an Temple (also called…

Shilin Night Market

Taipei's most famous night market is hugely popular with travellers – and many young locals – who come to enjoy the carnival of street-side snacking,…

Top picks from our travel experts

8 of the best things to do in taipei.

Longshan Temple

Longshan Temple is one of five Longshans in Taipei, and as such is devoted to the Guanyin Buddha. Built in 1738 and then rebuilt in the 1850s, the temple…

Tonghua Night Market

Taipei's liveliest night market, and all the better for being local and less touristy. Food-wise there are steaks, sushi, animal-shaped biscuits,…

National Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

The hall and its surrounding gardens occupy an entire city block. The latter are well used by picnickers, kite flyers, breakdancers and the early morning…

10 free things to do in Taipei

National Taiwan Museum

Established in 1908, Taiwan's first public museum has been in its present location in 2-28 Park since 1915. Reopened in 2017 after an upgrade, it has been…

Raohe Street Night Market

Taipei's oldest night market, Raohe St is a single pedestrian lane stretching between two ornate gates. In between you'll find a great assortment of…

Tamsui Cultural Park

This handsome and serene collection of old brick warehouses, just behind Tamsui MRT on the riverside, was once the Shell Tamsui Warehouse: as in Royal…

Fine Arts Museum

Constructed in the 1980s, this airy, four-storey box of marble, glass and concrete showcases contemporary art, with a particular focus on Taiwanese…

Xiahai City God Temple

This lively and well-loved temple on Dihua St was built in 1856 to house the City God statue that the losers in the Wanhua feud took as they fled upstream…

Ciyou Temple

This 18th-century triple-tiered temple is dedicated to Matsu, the black-faced Chinese goddess of seafarers. It marks the start of the Raohe Street Night…

Da'an Forest Park

This is Taipei’s Central Park, where the city comes to play. And play it does, from kids rollerblading to teens shooting hoops to old men engaged in…

Maokong Gondola

This 4km-long, 30-minute gondola ride is as much an attraction as a mode of transport. On clear days and nights the views across Taipei and up the lush…

Ningxia Night Market

This is an excellent venue for sampling traditional snacks, not least because most stalls have tables. The food here is very fresh, and dishes to try…

Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei

Very bright, very modern, and often fun and very experimental art is showcased here. The long red-brick building dates back to the 1920s. It started life…

Bitan Suspension Bridge

This 200m-long bouncy pedestrian bridge was built by the Japanese in 1937. It offers a great vantage point from which to gaze towards the forested hills…

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Things to Know

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Best Neighborhoods

Venture beyond the center without getting lost with our guide to the best neighborhoods in Taipei. Pick your favorite and start exploring.

Within the dense forests that encircle colorful Taipei, the beauty of rural Taiwan awaits. Make time for these rewarding day trips from Taipei.

Money and Costs

You don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy everything Taipei has to offer. Here's how to visit Taiwan's capital on a budget.

Transportation

Taipei is an exciting and hectic city with excellent public transport options. Here's everything you need to know about getting around it.

Free Things to Do

Taipei can test your ability to tour cheaply if you don’t know where to look – here's how to explore the capital's best corners for free.

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Taiwan Introduces Plan to Attract Tourists — by Paying Them

The new incentive program comes as the government aims to draw in six million tourists in 2023 and then 10 million tourists by 2025.

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Taiwan is looking to boost its tourism numbers, and will hand out cash to visitors as an incentive to come.

The island will hand out NT $5,000 (or about $166) to 500,000 individual tourists along with up to NT $20,000 (or about $667) to 90,000 tour groups, CNN reported . The money will be given out digitally after tourists arrive, according to the Taipei Times , and can be used to cover expenses while in Taiwan , including for food or accommodation.

However, travelers looking to plan a trip may want to hold tight since it was not immediately clear when the money would be issued or how to apply for it, according to CNN .

“The money will be given out through multiple tourism promotion events this year, rather than giving it all out at once,” Tourism Bureau Director-General Chang Shi-chung said, according to the Taipei Times . “As such, not all international tourists would receive it.“

The new incentive program comes as the government aims to draw in six million tourists in 2023 and then 10 million tourists by 2025, CNN noted.

Transport Minister Wang Kuo-tsai said the island hopes to use the incentive to bring in visitors from key markets, including Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macao, Europe, and America.

Taiwan welcomes travelers, including from the United States, without the need to test for COVID-19 before their trip, according to the American Institute in Taiwan . The country also dropped quarantine rules in October and eased mask rules in December.

Taiwan isn’t the first destination to pay tourists to visit. In 2021, Malta introduced a scheme to pay tourists to stay in hotels there, and last year, a region in Italy’s northeastern corner chose to cover traveler’s train fare in an effort to promote sustainable travel.

On the other hand, several destinations have introduced plans to collect tourist fees , including Thailand , Venice , and Europe as a whole.

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Taipei travel guide

Written by Mei-Lin Huang

• Updated April 3, 2024

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Taipei Travel Guide

In this Taipei travel guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the bustling streets of Taiwan’s vibrant capital. With its towering skyscrapers, mouthwatering street food, and rich cultural heritage, Taipei is a city that will captivate your senses.

Whether you’re exploring the iconic Taipei 101 or indulging in delicious night market snacks, get ready to experience freedom like never before as you navigate this lively metropolis.

Best Time to Visit Taipei

If you’re planning a trip to Taipei, the best time to visit is during the spring or fall when the weather is mild and pleasant. Taipei experiences a humid subtropical climate with distinct seasons.

During the spring, which spans from March to May, temperatures range from 16°C (61°F) to 24°C (75°F). The city is enveloped in beautiful cherry blossoms, creating a picturesque atmosphere. It’s an ideal time for outdoor activities like hiking in Yangmingshan National Park or exploring the vibrant night markets.

In the fall, from September to November, Taipei enjoys similar weather conditions with temperatures ranging from 20°C (68°F) to 30°C (86°F). The cityscape transforms into a mesmerizing palette of reds and oranges as maple trees adorn the streets and parks. Fall is also known for its clear skies and lower humidity levels, making it perfect for exploring attractions such as Taipei 101 or taking day trips to nearby destinations like Jiufen.

Furthermore, visiting Taipei during these seasons allows you to participate in various festivals and events. For instance, in spring, you can witness the grandeur of the Lantern Festival where thousands of colorful lanterns illuminate Pingxi district. In fall, experience Mid-Autumn Festival by joining locals as they gather at parks to appreciate mooncakes and watch stunning fireworks displays.

Overall, visiting Taipei during spring or fall not only offers pleasant weather conditions but also allows you to immerse yourself in exciting festivals and events that showcase Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage .

Top Attractions in Taipei

One of the top attractions in Taipei is the National Palace Museum. Located in Shilin District, this museum houses an extensive collection of Chinese artifacts and artworks spanning over 8,000 years of history. As you enter the museum, you’ll be greeted by majestic halls filled with ancient treasures. The exhibits include delicate porcelain, intricate jade carvings, and precious calligraphy scrolls. It’s a cultural feast that will transport you back in time.

After exploring the National Palace Museum, make sure to visit Taipei’s vibrant night markets. These bustling marketplaces come alive after dark, offering a glimpse into the local culture and cuisine. From street food stalls serving mouthwatering delicacies like stinky tofu and bubble tea to shops selling trendy clothes and accessories, these night markets have something for everyone.

In addition to the museum and night markets, Taipei is also home to numerous cultural landmarks. One such landmark is Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, dedicated to Taiwan’s former president. This grand structure stands as a symbol of freedom and democracy in Taiwan.

Whether you’re interested in history or simply want to experience the lively atmosphere of Taipei, these top attractions are not to be missed during your visit to this vibrant city.

Exploring Taipei’s Food Scene

When exploring Taipei’s food scene, you’ll discover a wide array of delicious dishes that will satisfy your taste buds. The city is known for its vibrant food markets, where you can sample an assortment of local delicacies. One popular market is the Shilin Night Market, which offers a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and smells. Here, you can find everything from stinky tofu to oyster omelettes.

If you’re in the mood for something sweet, head to Raohe Street Night Market and indulge in some traditional Taiwanese desserts. You’ll find treats like pineapple cakes and shaved ice topped with fresh fruit and condensed milk. For those seeking a more upscale dining experience, Taipei also boasts a number of Michelin-starred restaurants that showcase the best of Taiwanese cuisine.

In addition to the markets and restaurants, Taipei is home to numerous street food stalls that offer quick and tasty bites on the go. Be sure to try some xiao long bao (soup dumplings) or gua bao (Taiwanese-style hamburgers).

No matter where you choose to eat in Taipei , one thing is certain: your taste buds will thank you for indulging in the city’s incredible food scene. So go ahead and explore – freedom awaits your palate!

Getting Around Taipei

To navigate Taipei’s bustling streets, you’ll find the MRT system to be a convenient and efficient mode of transportation. With its extensive network of routes and frequent trains, the MRT allows you to easily explore all corners of the city. The stations are well-connected, making it effortless to transfer between different lines. Whether you want to visit popular tourist attractions like Taipei 101 or venture into the local neighborhoods for an authentic experience, the MRT has got you covered.

In addition to the MRT, Taipei offers other public transportation options that can help you navigate the city with ease. Buses are another reliable way to get around and provide access to areas not served by the MRT. Taxis are plentiful and readily available, offering convenience for those who prefer door-to-door service.

Navigating Taipei’s streets may seem overwhelming at first, but don’t worry! The city is known for its friendly locals who are always willing to lend a helping hand if needed. Additionally, English signage is prevalent in major transportation hubs and tourist areas.

Remember to grab an EasyCard when exploring Taipei’s public transportation system. This rechargeable card can be used on buses, trains, and even at convenience stores for everyday purchases. It’s a convenient way to pay without having to fumble around for loose change.

With these public transportation options at your disposal, exploring Taipei will be a breeze! Enjoy your freedom as you navigate this vibrant city and discover all it has to offer.

Recommended Day Trips From Taipei

Looking to venture beyond the bustling streets of Taipei? You’ll find several recommended day trips that offer a refreshing change of scenery and cultural experiences.

If you’re a night market enthusiast, head to Shilin Night Market, the largest and most famous night market in Taipei. Here, you can indulge in delicious street food, shop for unique souvenirs, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

For nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, Yangmingshan National Park is a must-visit destination. With its lush greenery, hot springs, and beautiful hiking trails, it provides a perfect escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The park offers various trails suitable for different fitness levels, allowing you to explore its stunning landscapes at your own pace.

Another popular day trip option is Jiufen Old Street. This charming mountain village transports you back in time with its narrow alleyways lined with old teahouses and traditional shops. Take a leisurely stroll through the streets while snacking on local delicacies like taro balls or try your hand at making your own sky lanterns.

These recommended day trips from Taipei not only allow you to experience different facets of Taiwanese culture but also provide an opportunity to unwind and reconnect with nature. So go ahead, plan your day trip adventure outside of Taipei’s bustling streets!

Why you should visit Taipei

Taipei is a vibrant city with so much to offer. From its stunning attractions like the iconic Taipei 101 and the beautiful temples, to its bustling food scene filled with delicious street food and night markets, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

One interesting statistic that will surely evoke emotion is that Taipei has been ranked as one of the safest cities in the world, with a crime rate of only 0.3%.

This makes it a perfect destination for travelers looking for both excitement and peace of mind.

So don’t wait any longer, start planning your trip to Taipei now!

Read more about Taipei at WikiVoyage

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Taiwan launches website to gift 500,000 tourists stored-value smartcards, hotel vouchers from May 1

In a bid to restore the flow of foreign visitors to its shores, Taiwan will in May offer digital smartcards stored with NT$5,000 (S$218) or vouchers of the same value for hotel stays to offset some travellers’ expenses.

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s Singapore office said on Monday that 500,000 foreign visitors will receive the vouchers or cards through a lucky draw system when they enter Taiwan at any of the four participating airports on the island starting from noon on May 1.

Tourists will have to pre-register for the draw at least one day before they arrive at either the Taoyuan or Songshan airports that serve capital Taipei, or the Taichung and Kaohsiung international airports.

According to a tourism bureau official, tourists intending to participate will receive a designated QR code after they register at 5000.taiwan.net.tw , which went live on Friday.

The QR code will serve as their lucky draw coupon, which travellers will have to scan at the airport’s arrival hall to find out if they are one of 500,000 winners.

Prize winners can then choose to receive either vouchers to offset some of their accommodation costs or a smartcard, both valued at NT$5,000.

Those who opt for the vouchers, which come in denominations of NT$1,000, can use them at more than 450 participating hotels islandwide.

The smartcards will be variants of Taiwan’s EasyCard (you you ka in Mandarin) or iPass (yi ka tong), the equivalents of Singapore’s ez-link card, that travellers can use for public transport, shopping and dining.

A spokesman for the tourism bureau said 250,000 vouchers have been allocated for 2023, leaving 150,000 more to be won in 2024 and the remaining 100,000 for 2025. The promotion will end by June 30, 2025, or when the last voucher has been given out that year.

Visitors on cruises and agency-arranged tours are not eligible for these vouchers.

Local and foreign tour agencies, however, will be able to access subsidies up to NT$50,000 (S$2,180) provided by the tourism bureau when they bring groups who stay for at least two nights in Taiwan.

Tour agency CTC Travel said in response to queries from The Straits Times on Wednesday it was looking into giving “perks” to travellers booking a Taiwan tour in the form of discounts and travel insurance, but was waiting for more concrete details on implementation from the tourism bureau.

The tourism financial incentives were approved on March 24 as part of the government’s NT$380 billion post-pandemic economic recovery package, said Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications on April 18.

The island ushered in the first wave of revenge travellers after its post-pandemic border opening in October 2022.

Taiwan is looking to attract up to six million foreign visitors in 2023, the tourism bureau’s deputy director-general Trust Lin said in March, adding that an estimated one million visitors had arrived in the first three months of the year.

In the three years before the pandemic, Taiwan averaged about 11.2 million overseas visitors a year, but those numbers plummeted to around 1.38 million in 2020, 141,000 in 2021 and 895,000 last year, according to The Taipei Times.

Taiwan has been a popular tourist destination for travellers from Singapore, with 460,000 registered visitors to the island in 2019, before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Kevin Tay, 32, who spent seven days with his family on the island in December, said Taiwan is always on his list of places to visit.

“If the claim process for the vouchers is simple, I would definitely be swayed by the incentives,” said the businessman, who stayed at a resort in Hsinchu during his last trip.

Mr Joseph Cheng, director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s Singapore office, said on Monday that tourism receipts in 2023 have been encouraging.

“The number of tourists to Taiwan in January and February has exceeded 50 per cent of the same period in 2019, so the overall situation is good,” he told The Straits Times.

He added that the bureau was aiming for around 230,000 visitors from Singapore in 2023, about half of 2019’s numbers.

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Taiwan Travel Market

COVID-19 has had a major impact on the global economy, bringing international travel to a standstill as countries implemented border controls. Taiwan's tourism industry has also faced challenges due to border closures and ongoing industrial transformation.

Major Indices of Domestic Travel in 2021

Visitor Trends at Major Tourism Attractions

To compare statistics for principal scenic spots and changes in visitor numbers at various types of scenic sites (316 sites in 2020 and 323 sites in 2021), sites added or deleted in 2021 were excluded, resulting in 313 sites that are the same in both years. In 2021, the number of visitors increased at 30 sites and fell at 283 sites compared to 2020.

In 2020 and 2021, the number of visitors to principal scenic sites trended down due to COVID, with visitor numbers at all types of destinations falling between 15% to 39% in 2021 relative to the year before.

Comparing 2021 and 2020 by month, Lunar New Year holiday travel in February 2021 was not substantially different from the same period in 2020. In March and April 2021, COVID slowed visitor numbers more relative to the same period in 2020. From May 19 to July 26, Taiwan upgraded to a Level 3 alert due to a resurgence of COVID. Despite a fivefold increase in the issuance of coupons, domestic travel vouchers, and other revitalization measures, the number of visitors to various scenic spots failed to recover to the year earlier level. The total number of visitors to scenic spots also fell for the entire year compared to 2020.

Among 70 scenic spots at Taiwan's 13 national scenic areas, visitor numbers grew at four sites and fell at 66 sites. Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area was the only one of the 13 national scenic area to post positive growth (44.03%) in 2021, due mainly to a 148.78% increase at the Xiaoliuqiu Recreation Area resulting from adjustments to statistical methods. Scenic areas with more than 50% declines included Penghu National Scenic Area (-56.26%), Matsu National Scenic Area (-56.44%), and Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area (-50.07%), all due to COVID-related reductions in bus and flight service and event delays.

Inbound Travel Market

In 2021, Taiwan received 140,479 inbound visitors, down 89.80% from 2021. The number of outbound travelers from Taiwan during the same period fell 84.59% to 359,977.

In 2021, Vietnam was the biggest source of inbound visitors to Taiwan, with 24,935 arrivals or 17.75% of the total. The next biggest source markets were Indonesia (13,819 visitors, 9.84%) and mainland China (13,267 visitors, 9.44%). Analyzed by travel purpose, "other" led with 113,261 visits (80.62% of the total), followed by "business" (11,937 visits, 8.50%). Among inbound visitors, females accounted for 34.62% of the total and 20-29 year olds were the largest age group (31.62%).

Key Indicators of Taiwan's Inbound Travel Market in 2021

Taiwan’s Outbound Travel Market

In 2021, Taiwanese citizens made 359,977 trips abroad. Asia was the main destination, accounting for 232,736 trips, or 64.65% of the total, followed by the Americas with 114,339 trips (31.76%), Europe with 7,139 trips (1.98%), and Oceania with 4,833 trips (1.34%).

Analyzed by country (region), mainland China was the first destination of choice, attracting 128,637 Taiwanese visitors, followed by the US (103,895), Japan (14,049), Malaysia (13,656), and Hong Kong (12,692).

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Travel advisory for china upgraded, death threat: a mac official said that it has urged beijing to avoid creating barriers that would impede exchanges across the strait, but it continues to do so.

• By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

People should avoid unnecessary travel to China after Beijing issued 22 guidelines allowing its courts to try in absentia and sentence to death “Taiwan independence separatists,” the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday as it raised its travel alert for China, including Hong Kong and Macau, to “orange.”

The guidelines published last week “severely threaten the personal safety of Taiwanese traveling to China, Hong Kong and Macau,” MAC Deputy Minister and spokesman Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a news conference in Taipei.

“Following a comprehensive assessment, the government considers it necessary to elevate the travel alert to orange from yellow,” Liang said.

Hikvision surveillance cameras are pictured in front of a Chinese flag at a main shopping area in Shanghai, China, on May 5, 2021.

Photo: Reuters

Beijing has implemented or amended national security laws for mainland China, and enforced new national security laws in Hong Kong and Macau, he said.

“We have been urging Beijing to avoid creating barriers that would impede cross-strait exchanges. Unfortunately, Beijing continues to implement measures that damage cross-strait relations and has been doing so with intensifying efforts,” he said. “The guidelines it issued on June 21 would only increase the personal safety risks of Taiwanese traveling in China.”

If a trip is necessary, people should avoid discussing sensitive political issues; taking pictures of seaports, airports and military facilities; and carrying books on politics, history or religion while there, Liang said.

Members of the Concentric Patriotism Association fly Chinese flags in Taipei on April 28, 2019.

Photo: David Chang, EPA-EFE

The council on its Web site has a list of behaviors that could potentially cause Taiwanese to contravene national security laws while they are in China, Hong Kong or Macau, he said, adding that they should read them and register their travel plans with the council before departing.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications in a statement said that it respects the council’s decision.

“Our position that cross-strait tourism exchanges should proceed in a healthy, progressive and orderly manner remains unchanged,” the ministry said.

The travel alert is a recommendation to travel agencies and the public, who can decide for themselves whether they should proceed, the ministry said.

Tour cancelations should be handled based on standardized contracts between travel agencies and their customers, the ministry said, adding that disputes could be arbitrated by the Travel Quality Assurance Association.

As some tours were formed before the government reintroduced a group tour ban for China, Minister of Transportation and Communications Li Meng-yen (李孟諺) asked the Tourism Administration to closely monitor the status of tour groups in China, and remind people to assess the risks and beware of their safety, the ministry said.

The travel alert to China was “red” during the COVID-19 pandemic and was downgraded to “yellow” in October 2022 when the pandemic eased, Liang said.

The government was planning to further downgrade the alert to “gray” in July last year, but maintained the “yellow” alert after Beijing proposed an amendment to an anti-espionage law and implemented a new National Security Law in Hong Kong.

“The government has an obligation to remind people that there are indeed risks traveling to China following the announcement of guidelines to punish ‘separatists,’” Liang said. “We cannot ignore the situation and pretend as if nothing happened, or we would be accused of being negligent.”

The travel advisory is neither a mandatory rule nor a retaliatory measure against Beijing’s anti-separatist guidelines, he said.

The US in July last year elevated its travel alert to China and Macau to Level 3 after Beijing implemented amendments to its Foreign Relations Law and Anti-Espionage Law.

In April, the US travel alert was extended to cover Hong Kong, Liang said.

The Level 3 alert says that people should reconsider travel to China, Hong Kong and Macau “due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws” and “risks of local detention.”

Concern for the safety of Taiwanese traveling in China is not unfounded, Liang said.

Gusa Press (八旗文化) editor-in-chief Li Yanhe (李延賀), better known by his pen name, Fucha (富察), is under investigation for alleged infringement of the “Anti-Secession” Law, as is Taiwanese National Party cofounder Yang Chih-yuan (楊智淵), Liang said.

“It is possible that none of them would imagine they would be arrested and detained for breaching the ‘Anti-Secession’ Law,” he said. “The point is that they were arrested because of what they did outside of China, not what they did in China.”

The council has also received reports about retired Taiwanese police and military personnel being interrogated and detained upon arrival, he said.

China has extradition agreements with about 60 countries, with most of them stating that no political prisoners would be extradited, Liang said, adding that extradition would only occur if a person is found guilty in both countries.

“We think none of the developed countries would extradite Taiwanese to be tried in China, but some countries might still comply with their agreements with China,” he said.

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CIVILIAN SIGHTING: Fishers from Penghu County took a photograph of a Chinese guided-missile destroyer near the median line of the Taiwan Strait China sent 77 military aircraft around Taiwan over a two-day period ending yesterday morning, an uptick in its activity over the past few weeks. Forty-one Chinese military aircraft were detected in the vicinity of Taiwan in the 24-hour period that ended at 6am yesterday, with 23 crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and nine crossing its extension, entering the country’s northern, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones (ADIZs), flight routes released yesterday by the Ministry of National Defense showed. Of the nine aircraft that crossed the median line’s extension, were seven fighter jets and two drones that flew around

US blasts China over threats to Taiwan

ESCALATING TENSIONS: The US called for restraint and meaningful dialogue after Beijing threatened Taiwanese independence advocates with the death sentence The US on Monday condemned China’s “escalatory and destabilizing language and actions” toward Taiwan after Beijing last week announced new guidelines to punish supporters of Taiwanese independence. Asked about the guidelines, which included the death sentence for “diehard” independence advocates, US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said: “We strongly condemn the escalatory and destabilizing language and actions from PRC [People’s Republic of China] officials.” “We continue to urge restraint and no unilateral change to the status quo,” he said at the press briefing. The US urges China to “engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan,” Miller said, adding that “threats and legal

By Chen Yun and Jake Chung

US officials say UN Resolution 2758 twisted: sources

UNDER THE RADAR: Two US deputy assistant state secretaries visited Taiwan and met with foreign diplomats to discuss how to boost the nation’s international participation US officials who visited Taiwan earlier this week met with foreign representatives and told them that UN Resolution 2758 does not involve Taiwan nor should it be conflated with China’s “one China” principle, sources said yesterday. UN Resolution 2758 recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China in 1971. Beijing has been misrepresenting it to exclude Taiwan from the international organization and its affiliates. A representative to Taiwan, requesting anonymity, quoted the US officials as saying during a meeting that as long as it is not specified in UN Resolution 2758, “everything is feasible” with regard to

By Su Yung-yao and Esme yeh

Taiwan not in China’s purview: MAC

‘SEPARATIST’ CRACKDOWN: Beijing’s actions would only sow discord on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and damage exchanges, the Mainland Affairs Council said China has no jurisdiction over Taiwan, and its so-called laws and norms have no binding force on Taiwanese, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday as it called on Taiwanese “not to be threatened and intimidated” by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The council issued the remarks after China earlier in the day threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases of what it called “diehard Taiwanese independence separatists.” China’s state-run Xinhua news agency yesterday said the Chinese government unveiled guidelines that say its courts, prosecutors, public and state security bodies should “severely punish Taiwanese independence diehards for splitting the country

By Chung Li-hua and Jake Chung

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Gov. Greg Abbott leads delegation on 3-nation East Asia tour to promote Texas business

T exas Gov. Greg Abbott will arrive in Taiwan Saturday — likely late Friday Texas time — to begin a weeklong trip to three East Asian countries to promote the Lone Star State as the ideal place to do business.

Accompanied by First Lady Cecilia Abbott, Secretary of State Jane Nelson and a large delegation of business leaders, Abbott will visit Taiwan, South Korea and Japan to meet political and business leaders from a part of the world that has become increasingly important to the state economy.

The three East Asian nations are among Texas’ top 10 economic partners, accounting for a combined $84.5 billion in trade last year.

“It’s essential to develop relationships in Korea, Japan and Taiwan,” said Plano Mayor John Muns, who is not part of Abbott’s trip but has visited the three countries on behalf of his city, which has thriving Asian communities.

“They need to have a level of trust in who they are working with. Once they feel comfortable that the relationship is just as important to you as it is for them, then they are ready to talk business,” Muns said.

Large companies from all three countries on Abbott’s itinerary play a huge role in the North Texas economy, but smaller companies have a significant local impact as well, he said.

“They’ve made their way to North Texas as well, so that’s pretty impressive,” Muns said.

Ron Kirk, a former U.S. trade representative under President Barack Obama and a former Dallas mayor, said the Abbott trip is important because foreign investment, particularly by companies moving to Texas, brings jobs to the state.

“No state benefits more from our global economic engagement than the state of Texas. It’s huge for us,” Kirk said.

With Texas facing competition from states on both coasts, Kirk added, “you have to be out telling the story.”

“The good thing is, we have a good story to tell,” he said.

With rich economic opportunities at stake, Kirk said he’d like to see Texas leaders refrain from anti-immigrant rhetoric related to the border security debate.

“Texas has to guard against the anti-immigrant rhetoric, the talk about putting walls up, because it doesn’t match what the governor is trying to sell,” Kirk said. “With the anti-immigrant rhetoric and then his message welcoming people to the state for business, he’s got a little bit of a needle to thread.”

Abbott, who’s also represented the state on trips to India, has made fostering trade relations with Asia one of his priorities. The East Asia trip is sponsored by Abbott’s Economic Development & Tourism Office and the Texas Economic Development Corporation, which is described as a “nonprofit organization responsible for marketing and promoting Texas.”

According to Abbott’s office, Texas lawmakers on the trip include state Reps. Angie Chen Button, R-Garland, Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, and Jacey Jetton, R-Richmond. Also joining Abbott are Sens. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and Carol Alvarado, D-Houston.

The governor’s visit to East Asia comes as tensions have risen between America and two regional powers – China and North Korea. His trip doesn’t include China, though some Chinese Americans in Texas say it would make sense to develop a relationship with the economic powerhouse.

Abbott has a full schedule.

He’ll start his trip on Sunday in Taipei, where he’ll join officials in opening a Texas Taiwan office designed to bolster business relationships. During the stop Abbott is scheduled to meet with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

The nation, critical to the world’s economy, is Texas’ seventh-largest trade partner, totaling $21.3 billion in 2023.

Taiwan is the world’s largest producer of semiconductors, providing more than 90% of advanced chips used in cell phones, aircraft, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence.

“Opening that office will be very important,” said Dr. Charles Ku, a retired dentist from Flower Mound who moved from Taiwan to Texas in 1967 to attend Baylor University. “We will have quite a few more companies move to North Texas, and then you’ll benefit with job creation.”

Texas businesses and Taiwan-based companies in Texas are taking advantage of the demand to produce semiconductors.

GlobiTech, a subsidiary of Taiwan-based GlobalWafer Co., is building a $5 billion silicon wafer plant in Sherman that is expected to create at least 1,500 new jobs. As an incentive to build, Texas provided a $15 million cash grant from its enterprise fund.

Dallas-based Texas Instruments is also investing in Sherman, spending up to $30 billion to build as many as four new semiconductor fabrication plants in the city north of Dallas.

Other Taiwanese businesses are headed to North Texas, including Sysgration America Corp., an electronics manufacturer that plans to move into a 98,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Plano.

According to Abbott’s office, Taiwan in 2022 led all nations in foreign direct investment in Texas with more than $5 billion. Over the past 10 years, Taiwanese companies have created more than 2,200 jobs in Texas.

“All the big companies have to buy chips from Taiwan, so the AI industry there is booming,” Ku said. “It’s important that Abbott make the trip and continue to develop relationships.”

Abbott’s visit comes as tensions continue between China and Taiwan.

Taiwan has been independently governed since 1949, but China views the island as part of its territory and hasn’t ruled out the use of force to unify the nations.

“We are all concerned about the situation in China and Taiwan,” Ku said. “We have relatives living in Taiwan, and we are concerned. The only way to deal with it is to just make friends.”

Abbott will also seek to strengthen ties with South Korea, the second nation on his travel schedule, where he and the delegation will meet with business leaders and tour Samsung facilities.

According to his office, over the past decade companies from South Korea have invested $20.6 billion in 38 projects in Texas, creating more than 7,000 jobs. Last year, Texas trade with South Korea totaled $32 billion.

According to the Dallas Regional Chamber, top companies with South Korean parent companies include Samsung Electronics America, Nautilus Hyosung America, LG Electronics and Harman International Industries.

“Texas is a very business friendly state,” said John Lee, former chairman of the Greater Dallas Korean American Chamber of Commerce.

Lee said Texas could build on its success in luring South Korean companies to the state.

“You see Kia, Honda and all of these guys in Georgia and Alabama,” he said. “At some point it would be nice to see if we can get another tier of Korean companies to come to Dallas.”

Abbott will end his trip in Japan, where he’ll make stops in Nagoya and Tokyo, board a bullet train and meet with business and political leaders.

According to Abbott’s office, Japan leads all nations in the number of Texas jobs created by foreign direct investment projects over the last decade. During that time, companies from Japan have invested $10.87 billion in 129 projects, creating more than 20,000 Texas jobs.

Trade with Japan totaled $31.2 billion last year, making Japan the fifth-largest total trade partner with Texas.

Japan’s greatest influence on the Texas economy is in Plano, where more than 4,000 people work at Toyota’s American headquarters.

According to the Dallas Regional Chamber, other top North Texas companies from Japan include 7-Eleven, Fujitsu Network Communications, Nissan and NTT Data Inc.

Sam Shichijo, honorary consul of Japan in Dallas, said 290 Japanese companies operate in North Texas.

“Texas does a lot of business with Japan,” he said. “That’s why that relationship is so important.”

Shichijo said about 4,700 Japanese nationals live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a number that has risen about 6% annually over the past 10 years.

“The Japanese population is certainly growing in North Texas,” he said.

Abbott, who returns to Texas on July 13, is not visiting China. Some Chinese immigrants say he should.

Jarlin Jia, a leader in the North Texas Chinese community, said that in 2023 Texas exported $25.7 billion in goods to China, up from $21.8 billion in 2022. That made Texas the state with the highest value of trade goods exported to China, she said.

But the relationship between Texas and China has had friction. Last year, the Texas Legislature debated several bills seeking to ban citizens and businesses from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, or their governments, from buying property in Texas — with limited exceptions, for instance for people with dual U.S. citizenship.

“China is a very important business partner with Texas,” Jia said. “It’s important for Texas to have a relationship with China because we are business partners. We need to know each other and better understand each other.”

©2024 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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China Seizes Taiwanese Fishing Boat in Latest Uptick in Tensions

The authorities in Taipei have demanded that Beijing release the boat and its five crew members, who are being held in custody.

By Chris Buckley and Amy Chang Chien

Reporting from Taipei, Taiwan

China’s Coast Guard has seized a Taiwanese fishing boat and its crew of five and forced it to a port on the mainland Chinese coast, a move that could add to tensions between Beijing and President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan.

The fishing boat, Ta Chin Man 88, was in Chinese waters 27 miles northeast of Kinmen, a Taiwanese-controlled island close to the Chinese coast, when two Chinese Coast Guard ships boarded and took control of it on Tuesday night, Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said. Taiwanese Coast Guard vessels that sailed to the area to help the fishing boat were blocked by their Chinese counterparts, the administration added.

The situation in the seas around Taiwan, a self-governed island that China claims as its own, has become more and more tense, with coast guard standoffs between the two sides seemingly on the rise. The concern among officials is that such encounters bring the risk of a clash that could deepen antagonism between the sides or even set off a regional crisis.

The Taiwanese Coast Guard vessels broadcast demands for the Chinese Coast Guard to free the fishing boat, but the Chinese ships responded only by “demanding no interference,” the statement from Taiwan said. The fishing boat had two crew members from Taiwan and three from Indonesia, officials said. Many workers on Taiwanese fishing boats are from Indonesia or other Southeast Asian countries.

A spokesman for China’s Coast Guard, Liu Dejun, said the seized boat had broken a fishing moratorium in Chinese waters that China declared in May and had been using an illegal fine-meshed net. During the seizure of the boat, Mr. Liu said in a statement , the Taiwanese Coast Guard vessels “tried to meddle in our normal law enforcement” and were driven away.

Hsieh Ching-chin, a spokesman for Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration, said at a news conference on Wednesday that the Ta Chin Man 88 had entered Chinese territorial waters. He called for China to release the boat and crew, saying that they should not become pawns in the tensions between China and Taiwan. China has seized 17 Taiwanese fishing boats since 2003 and the last such incident was in 2007, Mr. Hsieh said. In recent months, Chinese officials and media have warned fishing boats not to violate the fishing ban, which lasts until mid-August.

“This year, China is different from the past, with stronger law enforcement during the fishing moratorium,” Mr. Hsieh said. “China should not use political factors to deal with this incident.”

Still, the seizure could become another irritant between Taiwan and Beijing, especially if the boat’s crew members are held in China for weeks or longer. The Chinese government vehemently dislikes Mr. Lai, who took office in May and bluntly rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty. In the months before and after his inauguration , China stepped up efforts intended to warn and intimidate him and his Democratic Progressive Party.

“They want to demonstrate to Taiwan that it does not have control over air space and sea space. They certainly seem to be ratcheting up pressure,” said Bonnie S. Glaser, the director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, referring to China’s recent actions. “I think they want to signal to Lai that he is very close to their red lines and he had better not cross them.”

The Chinese government last month issued expansive guidelines on punishments that it could mete out to those it deems to be supporters of Taiwanese independence, setting off alarm in Taiwan, especially because the rules raise the possibility of death sentences in extreme cases. In response, Taiwan warned its people not to travel to China.

China has also stepped up military flights around Taiwan that appear intended, at least partly, to wear down the island’s air force and other defenses. Nearly 300 People’s Liberation Army aircraft flew into airspace off the island in June, the second-highest monthly count since Taiwan’s Defense Ministry began regularly issuing such data in 2020, according to PLATracker , a site that analyzes data released by the ministry.

That heightened military activity does not mean that an attack on Taiwan is looming, experts and diplomats say. Instead, such operations are part of Beijing’s expanding “gray zone” tactics to intimidate and wear down Taiwan, while stopping short of a major confrontation that could draw in the United States, the island’s crucial security supporter. China’s large and well-armed coast guard force is a pillar of that campaign.

In February, a Chinese speedboat capsized after being chased by the Taiwan Coast Guard, and two of its crew died. Since then, China has repeatedly sent its ships into waters off Kinmen that Taiwan calls a prohibited zone.

China is also still holding a Taiwanese soldier who had been posted on Kinmen. He and a friend had apparently gone on a boating trip in March, and drifted into nearby Chinese waters, where they were detained by the Chinese Coast Guard. The soldier’s friend was later released.

In June, the Chinese Coast Guard imposed new rules spelling out its powers to board and hold vessels in waters claimed by Beijing, and to detain foreign nationals on those vessels.

China is using its coast guard “to put pressure on Taiwan’s outlying islands and the main island,” said Ou Si-fu, a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei, a think tank under Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. “This ‘gray zone’ harassment creates a nuisance for Taiwan, tiring it out by running around, because there are so many ships especially near the outlying islands, and Taiwan has no way to effectively counter them.”

Chris Buckley, the chief China correspondent for The Times, reports on China and Taiwan from Taipei, focused on politics, social change and security and military issues. More about Chris Buckley

Amy Chang Chien is a reporter and researcher for The Times in Taipei, covering Taiwan and China. More about Amy Chang Chien