Good Morning World: Taiwan Pursues WHA Inclusion Through Joint Official and Civic Efforts; Drone Industry Booms

Central News Agency Message: The World Health Assembly (WHA) kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland on the 18th. Although Taiwan was once again denied entry, official and private sectors have joined forces, holding various events to call for international attention to Taiwan. Dr. Hsiang-Kuo Chen, President of the Taiwan Medical Association, led a delegation to Geneva to voice support for Taiwan's WHA participation alongside youth representatives. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung also attended the annual meeting of the 'European Federation of Taiwanese Medical Associations' in Geneva and participated in a dinner with health ministers and permanent representatives of allied nations. He stated that the founding principle of the World Health Organization (WHO) is to make health a fundamental human right for all. Excluding Taiwan would create a significant gap in global health security. Starting on the afternoon of the 16th, private organizations held a 'Special Exhibition on Taiwan's Accession to the WHO' at the Geneva railway station. On the 17th, overseas Taiwanese, students, and civic groups from around the world held a rally to support Taiwan, with over a hundred people participating, urging the international community to recognize Taiwan's contributions and support its inclusion in the WHO and other international organizations. (Read full report)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the deadly Ebola virus outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern.' The CDC noted that this outbreak is related to funerals, as local customs may involve contact with deceased bodies. It advises travelers to high-risk areas to avoid attending funerals and contact with deceased bodies. The CDC assesses that the overall threat of this outbreak to Taiwan remains low. However, considering international travel and global transportation convenience, the possibility of imported cases cannot be entirely ruled out. The international travel health notice level has been raised to Level 2: Alert. (Read full report)

The Danjiang Bridge officially opened to traffic on the 12th, attracting a large number of people for a 'pilgrimage' over its first weekend. The site was crowded with people and vehicles, becoming one of the most popular attractions in northern Taiwan. The Directorate General of Highways stated that traffic peaked at 3 PM on the 17th, with traffic jams stretching up to 5 kilometers. Some motorcyclists with yellow license plates illegally stopped in the car lanes on the bridge to take photos. The Tamsui and Luzhou police precincts at both ends of the bridge will issue fines, totaling at least NT$6,000. The Directorate General of Highways predicts the novelty-seeking trend will continue next weekend and urges visitors to use public transportation or take Provincial Highway 2 through Guandu and Zhuwei to enter Tamsui, and to check traffic conditions before heading out. (Read full report)

Japan's Kyodo News recently obtained a draft of the Japanese government's 2026 defense white paper. The document positions China as 'an entity to be addressed by combining comprehensive national power and cooperation with allies and like-minded countries.' It views China's frequent military exercises in the sea and air space around Taiwan as an attempt to enhance its combat capabilities and to establish its regular activities as a fait accompli. The draft white paper also mentions a Chinese military aircraft locking its radar on a Japan Self-Defense Forces aircraft in December of last year and criticizes the Beijing authorities for 'continuing to significantly increase its defense budget without transparency.' The official version of Japan's new defense white paper will be released as early as July. (Read full report)

Taiwan's location in an earthquake zone and frequent typhoon strikes highlight the importance of regular disaster preparedness. The implementation of systems cannot rely solely on the government; 'disaster prevention specialists' are the most crucial community guardians, representing a civilian force equipped with disaster knowledge. Minister of the Interior Liu Shih-fang stated that 130,000 people have already obtained disaster prevention specialist certification, with the youngest being 8 years old and the oldest 81. The Ministry of the Interior continues to invite members of the armed forces, alternative military service personnel, village chiefs, building security guards, and taxi drivers from all walks of life to join, strengthening the nation's ability to respond to complex disasters. (Read full report)

On a vast plain, an engineer from T-MOTOR is wearing a first-person view device, maneuvering a drone applicable for asymmetric military operations. It hovers at low altitude over a landscape of pineapple fields, performs a few fancy flips, and then dives down for a perfect landing. Originating from the grassroots and stumbling forward for over a decade, Taiwan's drone industry has seen a rapid rise in demand for 'non-red supply chains' after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Coupled with the Taiwan government's active efforts to foster the industry domestically and cooperate internationally, NT$44.2 billion has been invested over six years to build a complete industrial ecosystem. The 19-year-old military-grade factory, Carbon-Based Technology, has also made a comeback from its low point. The US drone entity, Green UAS, is even considering establishing a certification center in Taiwan. This CNA feature takes you on a deep dive into how Taiwan's drones are gearing up for takeoff, one step at a time. (Read full report)

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the start of China's Cultural Revolution and the 50th anniversary of its end. What was the Cultural Revolution all about? A CNA special feature explores this through personal interviews, reflecting on the past and looking toward the future, attempting to glimpse the scars left on an entire generation of Chinese people crushed by the wheels of history. US-based economist Xu Chenggang, known for his research on China's political and economic systems, believes the Cultural Revolution entrenched a Chinese-style totalitarian system, affecting future generations. Renowned Chinese political sociologist Ding Xueliang, a first-generation Red Guard, feels deep regret and sorrow. He has dedicated his life to studying this revolution, recalling, reflecting, writing, and teaching, solely to leave a record for posterity. How to prevent a resurgence of the Cultural Revolution? Chinese political allegorist Wang Lixiong says, 'Be wary of idealists,' for 'the path to heaven they point you to is actually leading you to hell.' (Read full report)

A citizen purchased a Japan tour package from Wei Shun Travel Service for four people, costing NT$75,000, scheduled to depart on May 26. Before departure, she received a notice of the agency's business suspension and was told she had to pay an additional NT$35,000 for the tour to proceed. Her calls to the agency's headquarters in Taichung went unanswered. She posted her experience online and found many others in the same situation. The Tourism Administration stated that Wei Shun Travel Service has been ordered to suspend operations for three months starting May 14 due to financial problems. Travelers can either get a refund according to their contract or have Wei Shun transfer their tour to another agency. The Travel Quality Assurance Association will assist in handling traveler complaints. People can prepare their contract and payment receipts to coordinate with the association. (Read full report)

Actor Sun Peng's son, Sun An-tso (now named Sun Chien-hao), and a man surnamed Chen were caught testing a self-made flamethrower by a riverbank and posting a video. The Shilin District Prosecutors Office searched and arrested the two, requesting the detention and incommunicado of Sun An-tso and releasing Chen on NT$30,000 bail. The Shilin District Court found that Sun An-tso was highly suspected of committing crimes of public intimidation and illegal possession of a non-standard firearm under the Criminal Code. With other witnesses and accomplices yet to be investigated, the court ordered his detention and incommunicado on the 17th. (Read full report)

In a Chinese Professional Baseball League game on the 17th, the Wei Chuan Dragons faced the Rakuten Monkeys at Tianmu Baseball Stadium. Lin Hsiao-cheng's hit in the bottom of the 2nd inning brought in the first run. The tense one-run game continued until the bottom of the 7th. With two outs and runners on first and third, Chang Cheng-yu on third base noticed the left-handed pitcher Lin Tzu-wei was not paying attention, extended his lead, and then dashed home, electrifying the crowd. Chang Cheng-yu became the first player in the Wei Chuan Dragons' history to successfully steal home and the sixth in CPBL history. (Read full report)

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