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Typhoon to turn away from Taiwan; heavy rain still forecast

2026-10-20

Typhoon Champi is forecast to turn northward earlier than previously expected, sparing Taiwan a direct hit but still bringing heavy rain to the north of the country on Friday and Saturday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Typhoon Champi had strengthened and increased in size over the past 12 hours, and as of yesterday afternoon, was packing sustained winds of 198kph near its center, CWA forecaster Cheng Chieh-jen (鄭傑仁) said. However, due to the weakening of a Pacific high-pressure system the storm is now expected to turn northward earlier than initially forecast, likely around Japan’s Ishigaki Island, Cheng said. As Champi brushes

Sea warning expected for typhoon

2026-10-21

A sea warning for Typhoon Champi might be issued tonight, while the storm’s trajectory would determine whether a land warning is to be issued tomorrow night, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, Champi was about 1,536km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), packing maximum sustained winds of 198kph, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said. The storm was moving west-northwest at 23kph and was expected to strengthen over the next 24 hours before weakening slightly as it approaches cooler waters east of Taiwan, Tseng said. Champi is expected to turn north tomorrow, with the angle of the

By Huang Yi-ching

Taiwan looking to buy 292 VTOL drones

2026-10-18

DEFENSE PROCUREMENT: Taiwan could become the largest operator of V-BAT drones outside the US if the contract is finalized, the Ministry of National Defense said The navy and the coast guard reportedly plan to acquire 292 units of MQ-35A V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) surveillance drones. If the contract is awarded and finalized, it would make Taiwan one of the largest buyers of the uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the US-based defense technology company Shield AI. The Coast Guard Administration budgeted NT$1.2 billion (US$37.1 million) to buy 12 drones, which have been delivered, Shield AI said in a report on Oct 13. The navy is planning to spend NT$36 billion under a four-year program code-named Project Yuan Hsiao (遠鴞) to acquire 280 V-BAT drones,

By Lo Tien-pin and Jake Chung

Northern Taiwan to see rain as Typhoon Champi approaches

2026-10-21

Stable weather in northern Taiwan is expected to give way to rain this evening, while other parts of the country are to remain cloudy to sunny, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Northern and northeastern Taiwan could see intermittent rain this afternoon as seasonal northeasterly winds strengthen, with heavy rain possible in the greater Taipei area and Yilan County into the evening, CWA forecaster Chu Mei-lin (朱美霖) said. Despite the approaching rain, daytime highs across Taiwan are to remain above 30°C, reaching 34°C in central and southern Taiwan, the CWA said. Starting tomorrow, seasonal northeasterly winds and the outer currents of Typhoon