Good Morning World: VP Hsiao Visits Palau, Urges Regional Stability; Taiwan on Alert for Heavy Rains and Stock Slump

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, accompanied by Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr., experienced canoeing and snorkeling in the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon on the 7th, hoping more Taiwanese tourists will use direct flights to experience Palau's tropical marine ecology firsthand. In the afternoon, during a visit to a WWII Memorial Museum in Peleliu State, the Vice President noted that the U.S. and Japan once fought fiercely there but have now become important allies in the Indo-Pacific, and she hopes all parties will jointly maintain regional stability. At a state banquet, President Whipps reiterated his support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, stating that if Taiwan's sovereignty cannot be recognized, how can the sovereignty of small countries, including Palau, be respected. He also introduced envoys from Australia, Japan, and the U.S., emphasizing the partnership of like-minded countries in jointly upholding freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

The Central Weather Administration stated that due to a weather front and southwest monsoon, localized heavy or torrential rain is likely across various regions in the coming week. On the 8th, the central and southern regions are prone to showers or thunderstorms, with brief afternoon showers or thunderstorms in the western half of the island and mountainous areas of Yilan and Hualien, with rainfall intensifying into the night. The 9th and 10th will see the most significant rainfall, with a possibility of torrential rain or higher. Current observations suggest the rainy weather may persist until mid-June. The administration reminds the public to be aware of lightning and strong gusts, and to guard against landslides, rockfalls, and flash floods in mountainous areas, while low-lying areas should be vigilant for flooding.

U.S. stocks plummeted last Friday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which is most closely linked to Taiwanese stocks, taking a heavy hit. This triggered a dive in the after-hours session for the Taiwan Stock Exchange Futures on the 5th, closing at 42,220 points, the largest drop in history. Fubon Financial Investment Services Chairman Gordon Chen believes that when the Taiwan stock market opens on the 8th, it will face multiple selling pressures from stop-losses, margin calls, program trading, and foreign investors, creating a "sum of all fears" in the market. Chen suggested that whether the market has bottomed out can be observed through four major indicators: the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield, the balance of margin financing in Taiwan stocks, the open interest in short positions of Taiwan stock index futures, and the New Taiwan Dollar exchange rate.

The Ocean Affairs Council held a celebration for the "7th National Ocean Day" in Kaohsiung Harbor on the 7th, featuring the first static display of the "second-generation drones" procured by the Coast Guard Administration (CGA). The CGA pointed out that the drone is mainly used for maritime reconnaissance and three-dimensional aerial patrols. Combined with an "AI real-time image recognition system," it can autonomously and quickly lock onto targets and identify anomalies in complex sea conditions, upgrading aerial patrols to practical, smart governance with "real-time intelligent analysis." The second-generation drone is not restricted by traditional runways, allowing for more agile deployment, and its strong wind resistance makes it adaptable to complex maritime missions.

Regarding the Chinese Ministry of Transport's claim of conducting a "special maritime law enforcement operation" in the waters east of Taiwan, which it called an exercise of maritime "administrative law enforcement jurisdiction" to "safeguard national interests," the Ocean Affairs Council's Coast Guard Administration stated on the 7th that China does not enjoy any sovereign rights in the waters east of Taiwan, and this action violates international law and severely deviates from the facts. The CGA noted that four Chinese government vessels entered restricted waters in the afternoon and were all expelled by 5:30 p.m. The Mainland Affairs Council stated that the Republic of China's rights in its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone are not to be infringed upon by any country, and that "we will never accept" the other side's unprovoked troublemaking.

Shortages of ballots in South Korea's local elections sparked protests, with some people still calling for a new election in the early hours of the 7th. Protesters remaining at counting stations said, "Regardless of political stance, not being able to vote is a violation of the civil rights of citizens in a free democratic society." South Korean President Lee Jae-myung expressed deep regret over the matter on the 7th and has asked the National Assembly to investigate the truth and formulate measures to prevent similar incidents. Prosecutors and police will participate in the investigation. Meanwhile, Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Sung-sook has been nominated for Prime Minister; if approved, she will become the second female prime minister in South Korean history.

The U.S. military stated on the evening of the 6th that it had shot down two Iranian attack drones that were threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation for the U.S. action, Iran launched multiple missiles at U.S. allies Bahrain and Kuwait, drawing strong backlash from both countries and escalating tensions in the Middle East. It is reported that Washington is considering using frozen Iranian assets to help affected countries rebuild. The conflict in the Middle East entered its 100th day on the 7th, with preliminary data showing at least 7,000 fatalities. Although the U.S. and Iran are engaged in peace talks, no agreement has been reached due to nuclear issues. Meanwhile, OPEC and its partner countries will discuss whether to increase production quotas to curb oil prices.

Norway has joined a French-led nuclear deterrence initiative, committing to mutual military assistance if necessary and the pre-positioning of French military equipment in Norway, deepening security cooperation. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that the agreement does not change Norway's policy of not deploying nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime, but that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security. Norwegian media analyzed that this move is part of the government's effort to expand its multilateral defense network outside of NATO and diversify its reliance on a single ally. Meanwhile, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo also expressed interest in related cooperation this week, believing it would help strengthen European defense and strategic autonomy and deter potential attacks on Europe.

The number of participants in beach cleanup activities across Taiwan has increased by over 110,000 in the past six years, gradually transforming from an action of a few into a national movement. However, according to statistics, the top 10 most popular beach cleanup locations are concentrated in four counties and cities. Environmental groups have therefore created a "Dirty Beach Map" in the hope that less popular beaches will also be cleaned. The groups believe that more important than one-off cleanups is the combination of environmental education and daily plastic reduction. The government launched the "Salute to the Sea" project in 2020 to continuously maintain coastal cleanliness. The Ministry of Environment stated that in the second half of the year, it plans to use resident drones for automated patrols to report and track cleanup progress in real time.

Taiwan's dementia prevalence and growth rate are considered to be about 1.5 times higher than the global average. Psychiatrist Yang Tsung-tsai explained that Taiwan is rapidly entering a super-aged society, but healthy life expectancy has not increased in tandem. The accumulation of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular diseases are also contributing factors to dementia. Dr. Yang reminded that besides aging, daily habits are what truly accelerate dementia. Lack of exercise is the most underestimated risk, a diet high in oil, sugar, and salt is a hidden killer, and social isolation is quiet yet deadly. Furthermore, excessive reliance on digital devices is also a risk factor for dementia.