Taiwan braces for Typhoon Bawi as food safety scandal and money laundering case make headlines

Typhoon Bawi made landfall in Taiwan, triggering widespread work and school suspensions across 18 counties and cities, including Penghu and Lienchiang. The central weather agency predicted severe winds and rain, with potential for "extremely heavy rainfall" in areas like New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, and Taichung, raising concerns about potential disasters. The typhoon's approach led to a significant disruption, with authorities urging vigilance against its impact.

Separately, a major food safety crisis has erupted following the discovery of excessive levels of "benzopyrene," a Class 1 carcinogen, in soybean salad oil produced by Chung-Lien Oil. The investigation has expanded to include four major oil companies: Chung-Lien, Fwusow, Fwumoil, and Tai-Shan. Prosecutors have named 11 defendants, including the chairmen of the four companies, with the general manager of Chung-Lien Oil being detained and seeking bail. The chairmen of the four companies were granted bail ranging from NT$2 million to NT$20 million.

In a notable achievement for Taiwan's financial intelligence efforts, the Directorate-General of Anti-Money Laundering was honored with the "2026 Egmont Best Case Award" at the Egmont Group's annual conference in Azerbaijan. The award recognized their successful investigation into the Crown Prince Group's cross-border money laundering activities, which resulted in the seizure of substantial illicit funds and the prosecution of numerous individuals. The agency secured 76 out of 106 votes, highlighting the international recognition of their work.