Politics

Israel's top envoy to Taiwan on Monday defended her country's decision to attack Iran, saying the ongoing military actions are an "act of self-defense" on Israel's part before Iran builds atomic bombs.

President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) speech on Sunday received mixed reactions, with the opposition criticizing it as "hollow" and "sowing division."

Shipbuilder CSBC Corp., Taiwan has refuted a widespread internet rumor that the nation's first indigenous submarine prototype showed signs of hull deformation during initial sea trials last week.

Akie Abe, widow of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on Saturday expressed her gratitude to the people of Taiwan for keeping her husband's memory alive.

A potentially seismic political moment is unfolding in Taiwan, with most directly elected lawmakers from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) facing the prospect of early ejection from office as part of an unprecedented series of recall votes scheduled for July 26.

The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) on Saturday urged the Central Election Commission (CEC) to file criminal complaints over what it said were large numbers of forged signatures in the second-stage petitions for recall votes targeting its lawmakers.

DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said Saturday that his party would fully support civil groups aiding in recall votes targeting 24 lawmakers from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), and suspended Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安), formerly of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), scheduled for late July.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) will embark on a tour starting Sunday to give 10 public speeches in various cities and counties, the Presidential Office said on Saturday, stressing that the events were not intended to campaign for recall initiatives targeting opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers.

Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) have called on the public to cast a "no" vote in the upcoming recall elections involving 24 KMT lawmakers, saying it is necessary to oppose one-party dominance by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Taiwan's Central Election Commission (CEC) on Friday announced that five public forums will be held starting Aug. 7 to discuss a proposal to restart the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a public referendum on the issue.