Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a Category II Narcotic in Taiwan. Under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, using cannabis can lead to a three-year sentence, while prison time for possession ranges from a maximum of two years for small amounts to up to seven years for quantities exceeding 20 grams.

Speaking outside the Justice Ministry, Taiwan Weed Safety Education Association Director Chris Chung (鍾和耘) urged authorities to work toward medical legalization and eventual legal use of the drug. The group has held pro-cannabis rallies annually since 2019, he said.

Chung said that decriminalization of cannabis is a trend in democratic countries including the United States and Germany, but that Taiwan officially maintains a “zero tolerance” approach. He cited data indicating that approximately 90% of the Taiwanese public is currently opposed to decriminalization.

At the event, former Green Party Taiwan Co-chair Zoe Lee (李菁琪) told Rti that she doesn’t expect the drug to be legalized in Taiwan anytime soon. However, Lee, a criminal drug lawyer, said that policy is gradually shifting. Drug addicts, for example, are increasingly seen as patients, rather than criminals, she said.

She also said Germany’s approach to cannabis decriminalization is better suited to Taiwan’s situation, given the similarities in their legal systems. Germany partially legalized the drug in 2024, she noted.

Santos, the Director of the Commercial Office of Brazil to Taipei, made the statements in a media interview on Sunday, April 12, where he also noted that most other countries do not recognize Taiwan as an independent country. In the same interview, he asked if the head of the KMT also believes Taiwan is part of China, why should Brazil hold a different position?

Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) reported Thursday, April 16, that Taiwan immediately lodged a strong complaint with the Brazilian representative in Taiwan. She underscored the fact that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Lee added that, in addition to verbal protests, Taiwan will exchange views on responses regarding Taiwan-Brazil bilateral relations in diplomacy and trade to carefully evaluate further action.

Foreign Ministry Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Department Deputy Director General José Chih-cheng Han (韓志正) also reported his concern to Santos by phone over his false and inappropriate remarks. Han said he urged Luis to abide by his diplomatic obligation under international law, which states not to interfere with affairs in a host country.

Speaking at a press conference in Taipei, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Director Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said Taiwan had received the request on April 7. This was the same day the KMT’s leader, Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文), went to China to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平).

Communication channels on civil aviation links between the two sides are operating normally, he added.

The Taiwanese official went on to say that flights to cities such as Urumqi, Lanzhou and Xi’an currently lack return passengers. “With no return passengers, routes like this are basically not attractive to airlines,” he explained.

Route expansion would depend on resolving tourism-related issues to ensure stable passenger demand, he said, referring to restrictions such as those placed by Chinese authorities on many Chinese citizens travelling to Taiwan.

Taiwan will continue evaluating the proposal but has not set a timeline for a response, he said.

Lai remarked that the government has taken measures to tackle declining birth rates, including subsidized artificial reproduction, the government's new national child care policy for ages 0-6 program, foreign caregiver access, youth housing loans, expanded rental subsidies, and tuition waivers for private universities. However, he noted that more actions are needed, emphasizing that this issue has reached the level of national security and requires proactive government intervention.

The president called on all central and local government agencies, as well as state-owned enterprises, to establish nurseries and kindergartens. 

“We hope that in the future, companies can establish childcare facilities on their premises,” Lai said. “If there are any difficulties due to building codes or similar issues, we will ask the Interior Ministry to work through them together and, where safety is assured, to relax certain regulations with appropriate flexibility. We hope that through central-local government cooperation and private-public partnership, every employee will be free from worry and willing to start a family.” 

Chen, despite crossing the line first in the Singapore Open final, has yet to reach the September Asian Games qualification standard of 10.20 seconds. Teammate Lai Po-hsiang (賴柏翔) took bronze with 10.50, while the host nation’s Marc Brian Louis earned silver. 

Coach Liu Li-yu (劉立宇), on his first trip abroad leading the team, thanked the Chinese Taipei Athletics Association for the opportunity. He noted that Chen had competed at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Poland three weeks prior, enduring long flights while still adjusting to the tight schedule, so anticipated a performance below expectations. 

With the Asian Games qualifying deadline approaching, Liu remains confident that Chen may still qualify. Chen will race at the 2026 National Intercollegiate Athletic Games and the New Taipei City Athletics Open 2026, with a Japan meet in between, targeting a peak at the revamped New Taipei event.

Video script:

A spirited shout: “We’re off!” followed by a caring reminder, “Don’t fall asleep.” The APP sends timely notifications like a personal assistant, with a series of push alerts that feel “limited-time only.” To keep up with Baishatun Mazu’s steps, it all relies on GPS tracking. 

Baishatun GPS founder Wu Cheng-hsien (吳政賢) said, “If you spot an interesting push notification while walking, it might stir different emotions in you.”

Making the daily journey of the incense-lighting procession easily identifiable is no easy task. So the tone of notifications can't be dull; it has to be warm, passionate, and fun. When the founder ran out of inspiration, he turned to devotees for crowdsourced ideas. Even the timing of the messages was carefully considered.

Wu said, “We target noon breaks and evening stops. Early on, we’d even send one for waking up in the morning, like ‘Time to get up, incense lamp bearers’ or ‘Just one day left to Beigang’ – and other such encouragement.”

Beyond brainstorming, the physical work is a real test. Real-time GPS updates rely on a group of quietly dedicated volunteers. The tracker isn’t installed directly on the Mazu palanquin; instead, team members take turns carrying the 1-kg device, plus a microphone, walkie-talkie, and other gear, staying right behind the sedan to transmit positions anytime, even facing heatstroke risks – all to deliver precise information. 

Developed for a decade, the system has now accumulated over 1.5 million users. Demand surges every spring and summer, consistently claiming the top spot. 

Wu said, “During the pandemic, the top spot always went to the National Health Insurance APP. Aside from that year, we’ve almost always been number one – our record for topping the charts is two straight weeks.”

This indispensable aide for following the pink supercar started as an idea from an incense lamp bearer. What keeps devotees going? Perhaps just a heart full of love for Mazu. 

Hsiao said developing a space strategy is a core pillar of national survival and resilience, directly tied to broader Indo-Pacific stability. She emphasized that Taiwan is rapidly expanding its global footprint, not only as an indispensable semiconductor hub, but as a driver of next-generation space and defense ecosystems. She said trust and reliability are Taiwan's brand, pledging to stand shoulder to shoulder with regional partners.

The vice president noted that Taiwan recognizes the necessity of integrating civilian innovation with indigenous defense production. Despite being a relative newcomer to the space sector, Hsiao assured attendees that Taiwan would not be absent, pointing to its vibrant democracy, precision manufacturing capabilities, and ability to supply secure, high-end components to global supply chains.

Hsiao also announced that the Taiwan Space Agency will host the Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology, and Industry from November 8 - 12, inviting international partners to attend and collaborate in shaping the future of the global space community.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk held a leaders’ summit in Tokyo on Wednesday, issuing a joint statement that urged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues through constructive dialogue and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion across the Euro-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, or other regions. 

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) expressed strong appreciation for the two countries’ concrete actions in supporting Taiwan Strait stability. Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said Taiwan would continue to deepen cooperation with like-minded partners. "Taiwan will continue advancing comprehensive diplomacy, working hand in hand with like-minded international partners to promote democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region," Hsiao said.

The statement follows Poland's first public position on the Taiwan Strait, announced April 1 by Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, who said Warsaw opposes any unilateral use of force to change the status quo.