Snap Election Win Could Boost US-Taiwan-Japan Ties – Feb. 9, 2026
Taiwan and the US's ties with Japan may see a boost after Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and her Liberal Democratic Party won big in Sunday's snap elections. A Hong Kong court has sentenced Apple Daily Founder Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison, drawing international furor. And Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun is heading to Washington to sign a trade agreement between the US and Taiwan lowering US tariff rates. Plus: - A Taiwanese legislator competes in the sailing event at the 2026 Open Masters Games in Abu Dhabi, telling TaiwanPlus about her own connections to seafaring. - The labor ministry responds to a proposal to shift to a four-day work week, but experts say Taiwan's current work week arrangement is already full of challenges. - A Taiwanese scuba diver dies after an apparent equipment malfunction in western Japan while on a volunteer mission to recover World War II-era remains.
