Good Morning World: Premier Cho Jung-tai on Civil Servant Salary Adjustments: 'Economic Fundamentals are Stronger than in Previous Years'

Premier Cho Jung-tai gave an interview on the 23rd, covering topics such as population policy, civil servant salary adjustments, and US-Taiwan relations. When asked if salary increases for civil servants and the minimum wage would exceed 3% or 4%, Cho stated that the nation's economic fundamentals are better than in the past, and decisions will be made based on this foundation. Regarding the low birth rate, President Lai Ching-te recently announced a 'New Strategy for Taiwan's Population Policy,' which will provide a monthly growth allowance of 5,000 NTD for individuals aged 0 to 18. Cho explained that implementing a child/youth version of TISA requires legal amendments, and if half of the allowance is mandatorily saved for those aged 6 to 18, the government will provide a guarantee to ensure the returns do not fall below fixed deposit rates.

National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu pointed out on the 23rd that Taiwan's intelligence shows China has deployed over 100 naval vessels around the First Island Chain in recent days, immediately following the Beijing 'Biden-Xi' meeting. He stated that China is the sole source of instability in the region. The Coast Guard Administration reported on the 22nd that it had monitored and expelled the Chinese research vessel 'Tongji' for illegal sampling activities in Taiwan's waters.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang arrived in Taiwan unexpectedly on the 23rd. In an airport interview, he mentioned he has a busy schedule, including client visits and a meeting with TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei. Regarding the illegal resale of Supermicro AI servers containing NVIDIA chips to China, Huang emphasized that NVIDIA strictly enforces compliance with global regulations and expects Supermicro to improve its practices. He later attended a developer conference, noting that both Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin chips are in mass production, signaling a busy second half for the Taiwanese supply chain.

SpaceX's latest 'Starship' rocket successfully launched on the 22nd and splashed down in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX is expected to list on the Nasdaq as early as June 12, with a target valuation of up to $2 trillion. Meanwhile, a coal mine explosion in Shanxi, China, has resulted in 82 deaths, 128 injuries, and 2 missing. President Lai Ching-te expressed willingness to provide humanitarian assistance. Additionally, the Pentagon released 222 declassified UFO files, and health authorities are monitoring a 'mystery cold' in Japan and an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.