Taiwan Brief Update
In the city of Phoenix, the tourism and business landscape has flourished, particularly in the tech sector, following Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co's investment in the area. Meanwhile, across the Pacific, Chunghwa Post is set to celebrate the literary heritage of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen with a special stamp issue.
On August 4, 2025, Chunghwa Post will release a set of four stamps, each priced at NT$8, featuring four of Andersen's most beloved fairy tales: "The Little Mermaid," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling." The stamps are designed in a symmetrical, paper-cut style, symbolizing themes such as courage, imagination, hope, and transformation drawn from these stories.
Alongside the stamps, a matching set of four illustrated postcards will be available for NT$100 (around US$3.40). These postcards will be sold at 37 philatelic service branches, via Chunghwa Post’s "iPost" platform, and by pre-order at local post offices.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego welcomed the announcement, calling the new Starlux Airlines route "a testament" to the region's international growth. Starlux Airlines will begin nonstop flights between Taipei and Phoenix, Arizona, from January 15 next year. Initially, there will be three weekly flights, with a planned increase to four weekly flights beginning in March next year. The new route will be operated using Airbus A350 aircraft.
Starlux Airlines aims to leverage this momentum to expand its North American network and improve connectivity between Asia and the US. The KMT, Taiwan's Chinese Nationalist Party, also announced plans for its chairperson election, with registration opening in September. Voting is set for October 18, after the August 23 recall votes.
Unfortunately, the news is not all positive, as a partly decomposed body discovered in an abandoned building in Japan has been identified as being of a Taiwanese. The man is believed to have died about a year ago while visiting Japan for leisure.
[1] Chunghwa Post Press Release, July 20, 2025. [2] Starlux Airlines Press Release, December 15, 2024. [3] KMT Organizational Committee Press Release, August 2, 2025.
- The elegant postcards, designed as a matching set, seem to be an interesting addition to the four fairy tale stamps, serving as another form of entertainment and a means to share the stories of Hans Christian Andersen.
- Amidst the economic growth in the city of Phoenix, thanks to the tech sector and investment from companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, one might imagine a comfortable break filled with books or postcards, finding moments of pleasure and relaxation.
