Good Morning World》Zheng-Xi Meeting Discusses 1992 Consensus, Anti-Taiwan Independence; Presidential Office: Regrets KMT's Self-Abasement

The Zheng-Xi meeting has concluded. Analysts from both the KMT and DPP believe that the content of the Zheng-Xi meeting did not significantly exceed expectations and will have little impact on the year-end local elections, as cross-strait factors have minimal influence on local elections. Candidate characteristics and factional support are the key to winning local elections. National security officials pointed out five major characteristics of the Zheng-Xi meeting: removing Taiwan from the international framework; strengthening the 'one China' framework; advancing the 'two systems' proposal; the CCP's dual strategy of war and peace, packaging the unification process with a peaceful framework while applying military pressure; and attempting to 'internalize' the Taiwan Strait and 'de-internationalize' the Taiwan issue with an anti-Japanese historical view. (Read full report)

Due to sick pets lacking medicine, the 'Regulations on the Use and Management of Human Medicines for Dogs, Cats, and Non-Economic Animals,' originally scheduled to take effect in July this year, aimed to legalize and manage pet medications to prevent misuse of human drugs. However, due to the slow progress of registration (less than 30% of the 701 human drugs listed needing prior registration by pharmaceutical companies for animal use), veterinarians, pet owners, and animal protection groups are concerned about a potential disruption in pet medical care. The Council of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) invited the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Food and Drug Administration, pharmacists' associations, and veterinarians' associations on the 10th to discuss. A preliminary consensus was reached to change the registration system to a notification system, implement a dual-track drug procurement system, and postpone the implementation of the new system. (Read full report)

The Ministry of Finance announced that March's import and export performance both reached new highs. March exports were US$80.18 billion, a year-on-year increase of 61.8%, and imports were US$58.91 billion, a year-on-year increase of 38.3%. Both import and export values set new single-month records. March exports to the United States reached a new high of US$28.54 billion, with a year-on-year increase of 1.2 times. From the perspective of overall trade value, the United States replaced China and Hong Kong as Taiwan's largest trading partner, accounting for 23.1%, a new record for the same period in nearly 28 years. The first quarter's import and export scale also set a new record, showing 'no slack in the off-season.' Ministry of Finance officials pointed out that Taiwan's first-quarter exports were US$195.74 billion, a year-on-year increase of 51.1%, making it the only major economy globally with an increase of over 50%. (Read full report)

Regarding the controversy over South Korea's electronic entry card incorrectly listing Taiwan as CHINA (TAIWAN), the Korean page has deleted the 'previous departure location' and 'next destination' fields, while the 'nationality' field remains TAIWAN. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it has noted the revision of South Korea's electronic entry card on the 10th, and this move will facilitate exchanges between the people of the two countries. (Read full report)

The 2026 central government general budget bill continues to be stalled. Legislative Yuan party caucuses reached a consensus on the 10th to list the motion for reconsideration of the 2026 central government general budget bill as the first item on the agenda of this session. Matters related to the general budget bill will be discussed by Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu with party caucuses next week. The public is concerned whether the opposition parties will allow the bill to be sent to committee for review. KMT caucus convener Fu Kun-chi proposed conditions, demanding that the Executive Yuan act in accordance with the law and constitutionally appropriate the budget passed by the legislature. In addition, the Taiwan People's Party caucus proposed extending the current session until July 31st. The DPP caucus strongly opposed this, but the proposal was passed directly to a second reading by a majority vote from the KMT and TPP. Han Kuo-yu ruled to send it to party caucus negotiations, to be convened by the TPP caucus. (Read full report)

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on the 8th and will hold talks on the 11th to seek an end to the nearly six-week-long conflict. Due to disagreements between the two sides on the terms of the ceasefire, coupled with Israel's continued military operations in Lebanon, there are concerns that diplomatic efforts could collapse at any time. Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei took a strong stance in a newly released letter on the 9th, declaring that Iran would not abandon its rights in ceasefire negotiations. The United States increased pressure on Israel, with President Trump demanding a reduction in the intensity of attacks in Lebanon to avoid undermining weekend talks with Iran. In addition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will lower its global economic growth forecast and warned that even with the current fragile ceasefire, the conflict will leave 'scarring effects.' However, investors are optimistic about the US-Iran talks, with Asian stock markets generally closing higher on the 10th. The Nikkei index surged 1028.79 points, and the Taiwan stock market rose 556.67 points, closing at 35417.83 points, a new closing high. (Read full report)

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its 2026 'Diplomatic Bluebook' on the 10th. Compared to the 2025 version's description of relations with China as 'one of the most important bilateral relationships,' this year's version changed it to 'important neighbor,' which is seen as a step backward and a downgrade. Japanese media interpreted this change in the diplomatic bluebook's expression towards China as reflecting the deterioration of relations after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan last year. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Japan should 'reflect and correct its mistakes' and maintain the political foundation of China-Japan relations with concrete actions. (Read full report)

According to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior, as of the end of March this year, Taiwan's total population was 23,275,680, a decrease of 9,705 people compared to February, marking 27 consecutive months of negative growth. As the number of newborns in February hit a new low of 6,523, the number of births in March also attracted attention. According to Ministry of the Interior data, the number of births in March was 8,798. Although this was a decrease of 590 people compared to the same period last year, it was an increase of 2,275 people compared to February, stopping the decline and rebounding. (Read full report)

Former TV producer Li Neng-chien is suspected of defrauding the public of over NT$13 million by impersonating celebrities such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang through fake Facebook fan pages and investment advertisements. Prosecutors and police launched searches and interviews in June last year. After analyzing seized evidence, it was found that Li Neng-chien was suspected of being recruited by Chinese intelligence personnel to collect military intelligence in Taiwan and receive remuneration. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Li Neng-chien and four others on charges including violating the National Security Act, and sought a 12-year sentence for Li Neng-chien. (Read full report)