Given their validation of Taiwan’s sovereignty and geostrategic importance, these small and oft-overlooked countries can punch above their weight. On January 15, the Pacific island nation of Nauru abruptly terminated its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan and re-established ties with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The timing of Nauru’s move was no coincidence – it…
Bilateral commerce is booming and technological cooperation is growing. Ongoing trade negotiations and potential double-tax-avoidance legislation may boost the relationship further. In the first quarter this year, Taiwan’s exports to the United States surpassed those to China for the first time since 2003, the latest manifestation of a deepening commercial relationship between Taipei and Washington….
Ever-cautious regulators aim to minimize risk, even if it comes at the expense of certain market opportunities. Taiwan has maintained an agnostic stance on cryptocurrency, with cautious financial regulators focusing on minimizing the associated risks. An unspoken rule still holds: As long as onshore digital asset providers hold themselves to high standards and avoid becoming…
Line Bank, Next Bank, and Rakuten International Commercial Bank face determined incumbent competitors and a saturated retail banking market. With 39 commercial lenders and nearly 3,400 branches for a population of 23.5 million – many of whom have multiple retail bank accounts – Taiwan is often described as “overbanked.” Because many banks are family businesses…
Propelled by soaring demand for AI technologies and geopolitical shifts, Taiwan is emerging as a crucial hub for server production and data transfer. In December last year, digital infrastructure management company Vantage Data Centers announced plans to enter the Taiwan market. Through this move, the American multinational will be joining data center giants like Amazon…
To mitigate the effects of both natural and man-made disruptions, Taiwan plans to strengthen its undersea cable network and install a new backup satellite communication system. For about a month in early 2023, Taiwan’s outlying Matsu Islands lost regular internet access. The only way the islanders could get online during that time was to connect…
The financial industry needs to strengthen its understanding of international sustainable finance standards for Taiwan to maximize related opportunities. In September 2022, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) announced the third version of its Green Finance Action Plan – a key document outlining Taiwan’s vision for a net-zero emissions future. The plan focuses on achieving core…
Screening programs and improved technology are boosting early detection, but the disease remains the top cause of cancer deaths in the country. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced in July that a national government-funded screening program had discovered 531 cases of positive results for lung cancer among nearly 50,000 people in its first…
Without new policies such as greater use of technology and conscripted national service for women, maintaining an adequately sized military could become increasingly difficult. The impending transformation of Taiwan into a super-aged society by 2025, when at least 20% of its population will be aged 65 or above, is poised to usher in significant consequences…
The US$11 billion Dresden facility will boost Germany’s automotive chipmaking capabilities and give TSMC a foothold on the European continent. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) announced in August that it would build a US$11 billion fab in Germany, its first facility in Europe and third outside Taiwan and China. The fab will be constructed in…
