Taiwan’s Carbon Fee Program Takes Off
Taiwan will launch a carbon fee program for large emitters in 2026, aiming to balance environmental goals with industrial competitiveness while progressing toward its 2050 net-zero target.
Taiwan’s Investment Focus Shifts Tides
For the first time in over two decades, Taiwanese investments in the United States surpassed those in China, signaling a significant realignment of Taiwan’s economic priorities amid shifting global trade dynamics. Driven by major players like TSMC and bolstered by U.S. incentives, this trend reflects deeper U.S.-Taiwan ties and a strategic move to diversify operations and mitigate risks.
Navigating Growth in 2025
Taiwan’s economy has thrived this year, fueled by strong demand for high-tech exports and vibrant domestic consumption and investment. However, uncertainties such as U.S. trade policies, a slowing Chinese economy, and geopolitical tensions pose challenges for 2025. While economic growth is expected to moderate, Taiwan’s resilience in innovation and global markets continues to drive optimism.
Americans are Returning to Taiwan
American tourism to Taiwan is surging post-pandemic, with U.S. visitors ranking as the fourth-largest source of arrivals this year, fueled by increased flights and targeted promotions. Taiwan’s Tourism Administration aims to attract one million American visitors annually by 2028, spotlighting the island’s unique attractions, culinary diversity, and enhanced accessibility through initiatives like new direct routes and global media collaborations.
Addressing Taiwan’s AI Workforce Shortfall
Taiwan’s economy faces two key challenges: its strength in high-tech industries, particularly semiconductors and AI, and a shrinking labor force due to a declining birthrate. To address AI talent shortages, the government is investing in education and training programs while also recruiting international talent. Partnerships with universities and global companies, like Nvidia, aim to position Taiwan as a leader in the global AI industry.
From the Black Sea to the Taiwan Strait: Lessons in Resilience
Taiwan is taking strategic cues from Ukraine, recalibrating its defense strategies in the shadow of a looming giant. Russia’s war in Ukraine represents the most significant military confrontation in Europe since the Second World War, setting precedents for future understandings of warfare. In many ways, Taiwan finds itself in a similar situation as Ukraine before…
Uncertain Future for Cross-Strait Relations
Over the past few decades, China has overwhelmingly received the largest portion of Taiwanese accumulated investments. From 1991 to August this year, approved historic investment into China stood at a whopping US$205.7 billion, with over 45,000 projects involved, the Mainland Affairs Council says in notes emailed to TOPICS. Economists say the real figure may be…
AI: New Driver of Taiwan’s Economy
The Western world’s increasing adoption of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools is sparking a surge in investments in generative artificial intelligence. These investments are in turn driving robust demand for high-performance graphics processing units and other semiconductor devices. Technology research firm Gartner has predicted that semiconductors designed to execute AI workloads will present revenue…
The Road Ahead for Taiwan’s Economic Growth
As Taiwan enters 2024, its economy faces a mix of challenges and opportunities, with hopes pinned on a tech recovery, shifting global supply chains, and resilient domestic consumption. As Taiwan emerged from the pandemic’s shadow this year, domestic consumers rejoiced at the reopening of restaurants and retail stores. International and inbound travel also arose as…
Progress Toward Gender Equality – but is it Enough?
A domestic #MeToo movement has propelled legal reforms and heightened awareness in Taiwan’s public and private sectors around sexual harassment and gender equality. Taiwan has seen an unprecedented number of sexual harassment allegations this year, marking the first significant wave of a domestic #MeToo movement. Triggered by a sexual harassment storyline in the Taiwanese political…