Aiwan Update News Today

Taiwan’s exports to the US in the first quarter beat shipments sent to mainland China, with analysts pointing to a ‘strategic plan’ by Washington to construct and lead a world supply chain and market order.

Orders by value topped US$48 billion last month, and these also include purchases of semiconductors, electronics for cars, and electric vehicle components.

Taiwan’s exports expanded for a third straight month in January, with shipments of electronic components rising by 7.5 per cent compared to a year earlier.

In this issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look back at how William Lai Ching-te won Taiwan’s presidential election and ponder what the results mean for relations with mainland China and beyond.

Aiming to plug a talent shortage, Taiwan has extended the period foreign university students are allowed to stay on the island after graduating to search for a job to two years.

Taiwan reported a palpable increase in exports in December, partially ameliorating a 2023 characterised by extended periods of decline, in a shift fuelled by what economists said is a jump in demand for high-level computing components.

In this issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look ahead to January 13, when 19 million Taiwanese voters will head to the polls to decide who will take over from Tsai Ing-wen as president of the self-ruled island.

Twelve categories of imports from Taiwan under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) will be affected from January 1, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council said on Thursday.

Taiwan’s export orders last month edged up by 1 per cent from a year ago to US$50.63 billion in November, data released on Wednesday showed.

Taiwanese investments in mainland China came to US$1.9 billion in the first six months of the year, compared to inflows into South Asia and the Asean bloc, plus Australia and New Zealand, reaching a combined US$2.126 billion.