HIMARS Live-Fire Exercise on Taiwan's West Coast; VP Returns from Palau; US-Iran Clash Intensifies

The HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system purchased by Taiwan from the United States conducted its first live-fire exercise on Taiwan's west coast on the 10th. Rockets were fired from both the north and south banks of the Dajia River estuary, simulating cross-regional fire support against high-value enemy targets in the northern region. Six HIMARS launchers fired using the Time on Target (TOT) method, where launch times varied slightly but multiple munitions impacted the target area simultaneously, demonstrating the advantages of rapid deployment, precision strike, and cross-regional reinforcement. (See full report)

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim concluded her visit to the friendly nation of Palau on the 10th. During a farewell banquet before leaving Palau, she stated that the trip witnessed the results of Taiwan-Palau cooperation in areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture and fisheries, digital development, and infrastructure, and deepened the Austronesian cultural ties between the two sides. Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. reiterated his support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, emphasizing that Taiwan and Palau are one family, "stronger together," and should work together to promote peace and prosperity in the Pacific region. Vice President Hsiao also mentioned that Palau will next host the Pacific Islands Forum, expressing great anticipation in sharing the cooperation between Taiwan and Palau with other Pacific island nations, fully demonstrating "Taiwan Can Help" and the power of the Taiwanese people's goodwill. Upon returning home, Vice President Hsiao issued a statement saying the diplomatic mission was successfully completed, acknowledging the challenges of Taiwan's diplomatic environment but affirming the right of Taiwanese people to engage with the world, and thanking the Palauan government and people for their warmth and support. (See full report)

After a US Army Apache helicopter was shot down by Iran off the coast of Oman on the 9th, the US military, following President Trump's instructions, launched airstrikes on Iranian air defense facilities and radar stations near the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have attacked the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, as well as multiple targets at US military bases in Jordan and Kuwait with drones. This is the largest direct exchange of fire between the US and Iran since the April ceasefire, causing a sharp rise in concerns over the security of energy routes in the Persian Gulf, volatility in international oil prices, and a highly uncertain outlook. The US Energy Information Administration noted that oil inventories among the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), including the US and Japan, have fallen to their lowest levels since 2003. (See full report)

Former Colonel and Section Chief of the Air Force Academy of the Ministry of National Defense, Chang Ming-che, was involved in a case where he was recruited as a spy by a Taiwanese businessman working for the Chinese Communist Party. The Taichung High Court sentenced him to 16 years in prison for violating the National Security Act. The Supreme Court finalized an 11-year sentence in January this year for Chang Ming-che on charges of developing an organization for foreign forces. The charges of spying and gathering military secrets were overturned and sent back for retrial. The Control Yuan stated on the 10th that Chang Ming-che, tempted by financial gain, agreed to join an organization established by individuals dispatched from mainland China or hostile foreign forces, resulting in a finalized 11-year sentence. This severely damaged official and military discipline, leading to the approval of impeachment, and the case has been transferred to the Disciplinary Court for trial. (See full report)

The Ministry of the Interior released household registration statistics for May on the 10th. Taiwan's total population at the end of May was 23,252,641, marking the 29th consecutive month of decline. The number of newborns in May was only 6,832, the second lowest on record. The natural population decrease for the month was 8,326, and the total population decreased by 9,903 compared to April, continuing the dual pressures of a declining birthrate and an aging population. The number of marriages in May totaled 11,559 couples, with an annualized crude marriage rate of 5.85 per thousand, both hitting a one-year high. The number of divorces was 4,143 couples. (See full report)

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural losses from the heavy rain between the 8th and 5:00 PM on the 10th reached NT$3.18 million island-wide. The main crop affected was watermelon, with a damaged area of 17 hectares. According to the Water Resources Agency, from 7:00 AM on the 4th to 3:00 PM on the 10th, reservoirs across Taiwan were expected to gain 370 million metric tons of water, with 200 million metric tons already stored. Among them, the estimated total inflow for the Nanhua, Zengwen, and Wushantou reservoirs exceeded 130 million metric tons. The water storage rate at Wushantou Reservoir returned to over 20% for the first time in 15 days and is expected to continue rising. The Central Weather Administration advised that on the 11th and 12th, localized heavy rain is possible in the western half of Taiwan and the eastern mountainous areas, with high temperatures in the north around 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. The next frontal system is expected to approach and affect Taiwan on the 14th and 15th, with central and southern regions still needing to be cautious of localized heavy rain or extremely heavy rain. (See full report)

The first satellite of Taiwan's first domestically built satellite constellation, "FORMOSAT-8," named the "Zeppelin Satellite," was launched into orbit last November and began official imaging in January this year. The Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) released 15 captured images on the 10th. The images clearly show the dock configurations, container yards, and large vessels at Taipei Port, Taichung Port, and Kaohsiung Port. Familiar landmarks like the Tamsui River Bridge and the Dayuan Bridge next to the Pier-2 Art Center are also identifiable. In the image of the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park, even the special patterns on the solar panels are clearly visible. TASA stated that these images were taken in winter. Through long-term continuous observation, they can record environmental changes across different seasons and weather conditions. In the future, they will be widely applied in fields such as national land planning, disaster prevention and relief, environmental monitoring, agricultural management, and ocean observation. (See full report)

According to a recent poll of 1,500 people by the Philippine think tank Stratbase, 86% of respondents support the government in defending sovereignty over the "West Philippine Sea" based on the South China Sea arbitration ruling, in cooperation with like-minded countries such as the US, Japan, and Australia. Taiwan ranked 8th as a cooperation partner, with support doubling compared to the previous survey. India and China ranked last. The "West Philippine Sea" is the official term used by the Philippines for the areas it claims in the South China Sea, encompassing the exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles westward from its territorial sea baselines. The think tank's director noted that the poll results show Filipinos can distinguish which countries' actions are escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea. (See full report)

Rauno Sainio, the Finnish translator of "Taiwan Travelogue" written by Yang Shuang-zi and translated into English by Jin Ling, said in an exclusive interview with CNA that this was the most difficult book he has ever worked on. He often stared at the text but couldn't identify which dish was being described. Looking at the Finnish book market, almost all visible Chinese-language literature is translated by him. Over 12 years, he has translated 28 books, with topics ranging from contemporary Taiwanese literature to Chinese science fiction. His secret to discovering a large number of good books is using the online bookstore Books.com.tw, proudly calling himself a big online shopping spender. (See full report)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature new rules approved by the FIFA Council, including substitutions that must be completed within 30 seconds to prevent time-wasting, mandatory cooling breaks twice per match, and an expanded scope for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) usage. These aim to speed up the game and ensure fairness. CNA has compiled these new rules so Taiwanese fans can refer to them while watching matches and quickly understand on-field decisions. (See full report)

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