Taiwan Tonight - Taiwan News | Jul. 16, 2026

Early this morning, Taipei Expo Park was packed with football fans cheering on Argentina and England during their semifinal match. Argentina came back from one goal down and ended up winning the match in stoppage time. The Taiwanese-Argentine owner of the Argentina-style cuisine restaurant got so excited that he lit a smokestick. This moment of exuberance might end on a sour note though, as his smoky celebration violated the Social Order Maintenance Act. With so many people paying attention to the World Cup, this restaurant in Taipei Expo Park is broadcasting the match so that its workers and fans can watch the match together. But who would have thought that it'd be the boss who ended up getting into trouble with the law, which all started when he got a bit too excited after his team scored a goal. The boss is a really good person. He works hard at his job and he comes to work every day. Maybe did what he did because his country's team won, so he got pretty excited. Our online police patrol saw videos in our jurisdiction's Taipei Expo Park where there were people who were using smokesticks. A large mass of people had gathered at the location to watch a live sports match. Using that kind of smokestick has the potential to harm others. All the early morning commotion makes sense considering that there's an English restaurant located right next to this Argentine eatery. Even though no one was hurt, the police are taking the potentially dangerous actions seriously. This event serves as a reminder that even the most passionate celebrations need to follow the law. After receiving orders, these soldiers armed with rifles are alert as they board the ship. Every second matters now because this drill is simulating a situation where the front lines are at Green Island and Orchid Island and the enemy is ready to pounce. This Coast Guard vessel is leaving a wake in its path. The ship needs to get troops to Green Island and Orchid Island as quickly as possible. One of the focal points for this multi-day joint defense exercise is the Army's Taitung Area Command which is writing a new page in military training history. Landing on an outlying Taiwanese island where it will carry out a defense operation. Working with the Coast Guard, this drill will test the troop's force projection capabilities and defense preparedness. After landing, artillery units immediately set up key defensive positions and mobile firing sites. They're ready to provide fire support at a moment's notice. Recently, Chinese military aircraft, naval vessels, and Coast Guard ships have been sighted in waters off Taiwan's east coast where they've repeatedly practiced island seizure operations. These growing threats have increased the importance of defending eastern Taiwan. China's force projection capabilities have now extended to eastern Taiwan. Under these circumstances, Orchid Island and Green Island have the potential to become staging areas for a Chinese attack on Taiwan. War games conducted during this year's Hanguang exercise in April along with multiple military strategy simulation reports indicate that if China were to launch a surprise attack in order to seize Taiwan's offshore islands, its helicopters would attempt to capture Green Island and Orchid Island. It could then deploy missiles and drones there using the islands as forward operating bases. Such a move could prevent Taiwan from accessing the Pacific as well as pave the way for a broader amphibious invasion including Hualien, Taitung, and Yilan. Other theaters would provide multidimensional support such as transport helicopters, attack helicopters, and the Navy's landing craft. Under those circumstances, the military could fully leverage its joint firepower and combined arms. Through this joint defense exercise, the military is aiming to bolster its rapid response capabilities and thereby through realistic combat training protect Taiwan's outlying islands by building a solid defensive shield. The market has continued to keep its eyes on TSMC which during its earnings conference shared some impressive second quarter figures 1.27 trillion NT in revenue and net profit after tax hit 706.5 billion NT which is a historic high. The company's earnings per share was 27.25 NT a 77.4 percent increase from Q2 in 2025 while its gross margin stood at 67.7 percent. Chairman C.C. Wei is bullish about AI, a technology he believes will fuel growth until 2030. In order to meet intense demand from its customers, TSMC adjusted this year's capital expenditure from 60 billion U.S. dollars to 64 billion U.S. dollars. During the earnings conference, TSMC also announced it has increased its investment in Arizona by putting in another 100 billion U.S. dollars into the state's semiconductor manufacturing complex. TSMC might build at least four plants which are part of the company's 265 billion U.S. dollar commitment. Fresh pork is placed on a grill and slowly roasted over a charcoal fire. The pork stick is flipped with precise timing, ensuring that it remains tender and also has a char-grilled taste. This small stand is just open but it's already attracted many foodies, drawn by the enticing cooking smells. Freshly slaughtered pork paired with a unique marinade is a classic recreation of traditional Thai cuisine, quite different from typical Taiwanese skewered meat. I first tried it when I went to Thailand for an esports competition. I thought Taiwanese people would really like it. At the same time, I happen to have a Thai girlfriend, so we decided to promote this product called Mu Ping in Taiwan. The proprietor was originally an esports player who once led the team to win the Arena of Valour World Championship on behalf of Taiwan. When he and his girlfriend from Thailand crossed over from esports into the food industry, they encountered setbacks. However, they learned from their mistakes, repeatedly adjusted their flavors, and their business flourished. The way they skewer it is with layers of meat and fat, but it's not actually pork belly. The process is quite complicated. All the seasonings, even the spices, are imported from Thailand, so when you take a bite, it will definitely have a very Thai flavor. I hope more Taiwanese people will get to learn about this food. There was a Thai living in Taipei who would drive two hours to eat it and would get so moved that he would cry afterwards. That made me very happy. A bite of grilled pork paired with a bite of glutinous rice is the most typical way for Thais to eat it. This traditional Thai snack has become very popular in Taiwan and is a must-try at the Da Qing Night Market in Taichung. Last time I came to try them, I immediately bought 300 NTD worth of Mu Ping. They were very tender and delicious. It looks really delicious. I've never had Thai skewers before, so I thought I'd give it a try. An esports player has ventured into the food and beverage industry, creating a second career for himself. This means that Thais in Taiwan can enjoy familiar flavors from their homeland, while Taiwanese can get an authentic taste of Thailand with one bite.