Premier Rejects Two Opposition-Backed Bills - Aug. 18, 2026
By TaiwanPlus
Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai has refused to countersign two more opposition-backed bills on child savings accounts and media ownership rules, adding to an ongoing standoff with the legislature. Labor unions in Taiwan are calling on the Fair Trade Commission to reject Singapore-based Grab’s proposed takeover of Foodpanda, saying that the deal would stifle competition in the country’s food delivery sector. And computer science is slipping in popularity in Taiwan as AI raises questions about the degree’s value and future job prospects in the field. Plus: - A landmark 1987 protest against rules forcing women to leave their jobs at age 30 or when pregnant helped pave the way for workplace gender equality in Taiwan. - Taiwan investigators say a German scholar researching China was spied on during a visit to Taiwan, highlighting Beijing’s campaign of transnational repression. - Swiss conductor Lars Mlekusch has collaborated with Taiwan’s MIT Saxophone Ensemble for nearly a decade, bringing Taiwan's unique sound to audiences around the world.
