August 12:
Nearly 60 American and Japanese lawmakers jointly called for leaders of both countries to replace "obstructive actions" with "strong diplomatic measures" and avoid a tough attitude towards China in order to ease escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait and avoid potential conflict.
August 13:
Mainland China's National Security Agency, through a WeChat post, claimed to have continuously uncovered over a thousand cases of Taiwanese espionage and leaks. Earlier this year, they reported "hundreds" of such cases, but the recent increase has drawn attention. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) responded, suggesting that either the achievements were exaggerated or China's security agencies were exercising "arbitrary detention" using vague and unclear laws.
August 14:
The fishing vessel "Da Jin Man 88," registered in Penghu, was detained by mainland Chinese coast guard authorities for allegedly fishing in mainland waters during a fishing ban. After 40 days, four crew members were released at the median line of the Taiwan Strait following efforts by the Penghu Cross-Strait Exchange Association and Penghu County Council. However, the captain and vessel will remain in custody pending final penalties.
August 14:
Chairman Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) is facing controversy over alleged false reporting of political donations during the 2024 presidential election. Despite the party's apology, acknowledging accounting flaws and promising corrections, the dispute has continued. The Control Yuan has initiated an investigation, and prosecutors have searched the premises, listing the party's accountant and others as suspects for document forgery, pending further inquiry.
August 14:
Premier Cho Jung-tai stated that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should balance militarism with peaceful development. The door of friendliness has already opened, but he hopes that visitors will be tourists, students, and religious believers, not military personnel, warships or political warfare agents. He emphasized that as long as mainland Chinese tourists can come, Taiwan is willing to allow group tours to visit, maintaining positive interactions between both sides.
August 15:
Chen Chung-yen, former spokesman of the Executive Yuan, is accused of accepting improper benefits and engaging in lobbying while serving as director-general of the Department of Information and International Relations, and director-general of the Department of Civil Affairs in the Tainan City Government. The prosecutor charged Chen with corruption and recommended a severe sentence.
Originally a city councilor, Chen was recruited into the municipal government by then-Tainan mayor, now President Lai Ching-te, and was considered one of Lai's key aides.
August 15:
Premier Cho Jung-tai reiterated that Taiwan will not face power shortages before 2030. However, the Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) recently announced that it will not supply electricity to data centers in northern Taiwan with high energy consumption. The Executive Yuan has now acknowledged the power deficit in northern Taiwan, with a supply-demand gap of 20 billion kilowatt-hours last year. Opposition parties urge the government to address the reality of energy policy without sacrificing technological development in northern Taiwan. Meanwhile, Chen Tung-yang, who served less than a year as chairman of the Nuclear Safety Commission, unexpectedly resigned citing career planning. His resignation has sparked speculation about a potential shift in the Lai administration's nuclear energy policy.
August 16:
The incident involving the capsizing of a mainland Chinse vessel on February 14 resulted in two deaths. The captain and helmsman of the Coast Guard Administration patrol boat were charged with manslaughter due to negligence. However, the Kinmen District Prosecutors Office investigation determined that the Coast Guard acted in accordance with the law during the inspection, and the time for reaction before and after the collision was too short to assign blame. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the mainland's State Council expressed dissatisfaction and called for Taiwan to truthfully disclose the facts and hold responsible parties accountable.
