🔥 Top Stories
The Chinese research vessel Tongji was spotted on the 7th sailing 29 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan's Eluanbi, suspected of deploying scientific instruments for unauthorized survey operations. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration deployed multiple vessels including the Chenggong to conduct close-range wave interference and broadcast warnings. After four days of continuous monitoring, the coast guard successfully forced the vessel to retrieve its survey equipment.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed a military procurement special bill worth NT$78 billion on Wednesday, significantly reduced from the Executive Yuan's proposed NT$47 billion. US senior officials anonymously expressed disappointment, hoping the unpassed portions can be funded. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung emphasized that defense budgets should demonstrate Taiwan's self-defense commitment and capability, calling for bipartisan cooperation in the legislature.
U.S. President Trump is scheduled to visit China this week and stated he will discuss future U.S. military sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump expressed his belief that Beijing will not use force to seize Taiwan. The visit addresses key issues in U.S.-China relations, including trade and security matters.
The United States and China announced that President Trump will conduct a state visit to China from the 13th to 15th at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, extending the original two-day itinerary to three days and two nights. U.S. officials stated that preparations for Trump's visit do not include plans to change America's stance on Taiwan.
U.S. President Trump announced he will directly discuss American military sales to Taiwan during his Beijing summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. Trump indicated that Xi hopes the U.S. will cease such sales, but emphasized the issue is just one of many topics on the agenda. Taiwan remains a sensitive core point in U.S.-China relations.
🏛 Politics
The Chinese research vessel Tongji was spotted on the 7th sailing 29 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan's Eluanbi, suspected of deploying scientific instruments for unauthorized survey operations. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration deployed multiple vessels including the Chenggong to conduct close-range wave interference and broadcast warnings. After four days of continuous monitoring, the coast guard successfully forced the vessel to retrieve its survey equipment.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed a military procurement special bill worth NT$78 billion on Wednesday, significantly reduced from the Executive Yuan's proposed NT$47 billion. US senior officials anonymously expressed disappointment, hoping the unpassed portions can be funded. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung emphasized that defense budgets should demonstrate Taiwan's self-defense commitment and capability, calling for bipartisan cooperation in the legislature.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that maintaining Taiwan Strait stability benefits the world and that the US does not wish to see any coercion or forced changes to the status quo. The statement was made ahead of an upcoming meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping. Meanwhile, eight bipartisan US senators jointly urged President Trump to expedite approval of a 14 billion USD arms sale package to Taiwan.
Taiwan's three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio has been incorporated into medical law with a two-year transition period. Nursing unions express dissatisfaction with the timeline. Healthcare professionals warn that recruiting staff requires time while hospital closures can happen overnight, potentially reducing medical capacity and impacting patient care if implemented without proper support measures.
An independent councilor in Taitung County raised concerns during a council session that the county government used public funds to widen a rural road from three meters to fifteen meters, allegedly to facilitate access to a resort invested by the county council speaker's brother. The councilor criticized the project as misuse of public resources for private benefit. The council speaker, who is the ruling party's candidate for county magistrate, did not respond to the allegations.
An employee at a Taipei escape room venue suffered asphyxiation while performing an unscripted "hanging ghost" scare act on the evening of the 10th. The worker was revived after emergency medical intervention. Labor inspectors found the venue failed to implement necessary safety precautions and risk assessments, resulting in penalties and business suspension orders.
U.S. President Trump is scheduled to visit China this week and stated he will discuss future U.S. military sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump expressed his belief that Beijing will not use force to seize Taiwan. The visit addresses key issues in U.S.-China relations, including trade and security matters.
The United States and China announced that President Trump will conduct a state visit to China from the 13th to 15th at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, extending the original two-day itinerary to three days and two nights. U.S. officials stated that preparations for Trump's visit do not include plans to change America's stance on Taiwan.
U.S. President Trump announced he will directly discuss American military sales to Taiwan during his Beijing summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. Trump indicated that Xi hopes the U.S. will cease such sales, but emphasized the issue is just one of many topics on the agenda. Taiwan remains a sensitive core point in U.S.-China relations.
China's Foreign Ministry released a bilingual video titled "Peaceful Coexistence" emphasizing that the US and China, as the world's two largest economies, should avoid conflict and confrontation while pursuing peaceful coexistence. The video is viewed as a political signal from Beijing ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting scheduled in Beijing, calling for bilateral cooperation.
💰 Finance
President Trump signed two executive orders on Monday to temporarily reduce beef import tariffs and expand beef imports to combat food inflation. The policy aims to lower beef and steak prices amid rising inflation pressures. U.S. cattle numbers have fallen to a 75-year low due to prolonged drought and increased farming costs. The orders will also assist American ranchers in rebuilding herd sizes. Following the announcement, Tyson Foods and Walmart stocks declined 1.90% and 2.18% respectively, while Brazilian meat company Minerva Foods surged 15.28%.
Taiwan's National Development Council launched a financing guarantee mechanism to support enterprises investing in the United States under the Taiwan-US agreement. Fifteen banks, including eight state-owned banks and Chinatrust Bank, have expressed participation. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, companies currently seeking to invest in the US have submitted applications totaling approximately 35 billion dollars.
US stock markets surged on Monday with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching historic highs. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% to close at 7412.84 points, marking its 16th record close this year, while the Nasdaq gained 0.1% to 26274.13 points, achieving its 12th record close of 2025. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 95.31 points to 49704.47. Despite concerns about US-Iran ceasefire stability, equities maintained their upward momentum.
Middle East conflicts have disrupted global oil and gas supplies, prompting countries to shift toward alternative energy sources. This transition has increased international coal shipments and raised transportation costs, reflecting structural adjustments in the global energy market.
Major technology companies are expanding beyond US dollar debt markets to finance their substantial artificial intelligence investments. Alphabet plans its first yen-denominated bond issuance, while Amazon prepares to issue Swiss franc bonds. Both companies are leveraging different currencies to secure lower-cost funding for their significant AI expenditures.
Japanese memory chip manufacturer Kioxia's stock has surged over 300% since 2026, with a 21-fold increase in the past year. The company's operating profit this fiscal year is projected to exceed that of Toyota, the world's largest automaker, signaling a potential shift in Japan's industrial focus from automobiles to semiconductor chips.
AI chip startup Cerebras Systems has increased its IPO offering size to 30 million shares and raised its price range to $150-160 per share due to strong investor demand. The company expects to raise approximately $4.8 billion. Cerebras is considered a potential competitor to Nvidia in the AI chip market.
Michael Burry, who famously predicted the 2008 housing crisis, has issued a market warning. He contends that AI-driven surges in tech and semiconductor stocks have reached dangerous valuation levels, resembling the 1999-2000 dot-com bubble period. In his Substack column, Burry recommends investors reduce stock positions, particularly in technology, and suggests cutting parabolic stocks to near-zero exposure.
South Korea's stock market reached a new historical high on the 11th, driven by major stocks including SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. The surge reflects strong market enthusiasm for artificial intelligence-related investments. JPMorgan Chase projects further gains of approximately 28% for the Korean market going forward.
Taiwan's Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics released latest wage statistics showing that real regular wages for employees in industry and services sectors increased 1.45% year-over-year in January-March 2024, while total real wages rose 1.98%, marking the largest gains in 11 and 8 years respectively, indicating wage growth outpacing inflation.
💻 Technology
Cerebras Systems, a leading AI chip design startup, will debut on Nasdaq this Thursday with an estimated valuation of 35 billion dollars. The listing serves as a key test of public market appetite for AI chip companies. CoreWeave, another AI infrastructure firm, went public last year at 40 dollars per share and has surged to 114 dollars, demonstrating strong market demand for AI-related enterprises.
GlobalFoundries indicates that the server CPU market is entering a structural growth supercycle driven by increased AI inference and agentic AI applications. As AI shifts from training to inference, the GPU-to-CPU usage ratio has declined from 8:1 to 4:1, potentially approaching 1:1 in the future, elevating CPU importance. AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm are identified as primary beneficiaries, with GlobalFoundries positioning AI server CPUs as a key growth driver.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has been in discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding a major artificial intelligence data center project in France. The companies plan to announce the initiative within the coming weeks. This investment represents SoftBank's significant commitment to strengthening AI infrastructure development in Europe.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivered a commencement address at Carnegie Mellon University, highlighting that AI infrastructure demands create unprecedented opportunities for American reindustrialization and manufacturing revival. Huang emphasized that graduates equipped with AI skills should actively embrace this transformation rather than fear displacement, positioning themselves at the forefront of technological change.
An IBM survey of over 2,000 companies reveals that 76% have established Chief AI Officer (CAIO) positions, a significant increase from 26% in 2025. This trend reflects the global AI boom triggered by ChatGPT's launch, reshaping corporate leadership structures. Beyond large-scale workforce reductions, enterprises are increasingly integrating dedicated AI leadership roles at the executive level.
Sony disclosed its first official comments on PlayStation 6 in its latest financial report. CEO Hiroki Totoki stated that the PS6's release date and price remain undetermined, primarily due to rising global component costs, particularly memory prices. The company is monitoring market conditions and evaluating hardware cost fluctuations over the coming years to determine the optimal launch timing and commercial strategy.
🌏 International
U.S. President Trump is scheduled to visit China this week and stated he will discuss future U.S. military sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump expressed his belief that Beijing will not use force to seize Taiwan. The visit addresses key issues in U.S.-China relations, including trade and security matters.
The United States and China announced that President Trump will conduct a state visit to China from the 13th to 15th at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, extending the original two-day itinerary to three days and two nights. U.S. officials stated that preparations for Trump's visit do not include plans to change America's stance on Taiwan.
US President Trump is scheduled to visit China this week for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump told media in the Oval Office that Taiwan-related issues will be discussed during their bilateral meeting. The visit is expected to cover significant topics in US-China relations, including Taiwan among other bilateral matters.
U.S. President Trump announced he will directly discuss American military sales to Taiwan during his Beijing summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. Trump indicated that Xi hopes the U.S. will cease such sales, but emphasized the issue is just one of many topics on the agenda. Taiwan remains a sensitive core point in U.S.-China relations.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting political pressure following poor election results. Over 70 MPs have called for his resignation, and three cabinet ministers have now joined the calls urging him to reconsider his position. The internal party dissent reflects significant discontent with the current leadership within the governing party.
The United Arab Emirates has reportedly been carrying out covert military operations against Iran in response to Iranian missile attacks. The operations include strikes on Iran's Lavan Island. This escalation reflects heightened tensions in the Middle East region, with both nations engaged in a cycle of mutual retaliation.
US President Donald Trump announced he will discuss Taiwan and the case of imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying during his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing this week. Trump stated that Xi would likely bring up the Taiwan issue more frequently than he would. The two leaders are scheduled to meet Thursday and Friday.
The Chinese research vessel Tongji was spotted on the 7th sailing 29 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan's Eluanbi, suspected of deploying scientific instruments for unauthorized survey operations. Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration deployed multiple vessels including the Chenggong to conduct close-range wave interference and broadcast warnings. After four days of continuous monitoring, the coast guard successfully forced the vessel to retrieve its survey equipment.
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed a military procurement special bill worth NT$78 billion on Wednesday, significantly reduced from the Executive Yuan's proposed NT$47 billion. US senior officials anonymously expressed disappointment, hoping the unpassed portions can be funded. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung emphasized that defense budgets should demonstrate Taiwan's self-defense commitment and capability, calling for bipartisan cooperation in the legislature.
China's Foreign Ministry released a bilingual video titled "Peaceful Coexistence" emphasizing that the US and China, as the world's two largest economies, should avoid conflict and confrontation while pursuing peaceful coexistence. The video is viewed as a political signal from Beijing ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting scheduled in Beijing, calling for bilateral cooperation.
US President Donald Trump is traveling to China this week accompanied by more than a dozen business leaders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook. The White House released the delegation list on Monday, which also includes Larry Fink of BlackRock, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing, Dina Powell McCormick of Meta, and Ryan McInerney of Visa, spanning key sectors including aviation, technology, and banking.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that maintaining Taiwan Strait stability benefits the world and that the US does not wish to see any coercion or forced changes to the status quo. The statement was made ahead of an upcoming meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping. Meanwhile, eight bipartisan US senators jointly urged President Trump to expedite approval of a 14 billion USD arms sale package to Taiwan.
Taiwan's National Development Council launched a financing guarantee mechanism to support enterprises investing in the United States under the Taiwan-US agreement. Fifteen banks, including eight state-owned banks and Chinatrust Bank, have expressed participation. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, companies currently seeking to invest in the US have submitted applications totaling approximately 35 billion dollars.
Taiwan's three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio has been incorporated into medical law with a two-year transition period. Nursing unions express dissatisfaction with the timeline. Healthcare professionals warn that recruiting staff requires time while hospital closures can happen overnight, potentially reducing medical capacity and impacting patient care if implemented without proper support measures.
An independent councilor in Taitung County raised concerns during a council session that the county government used public funds to widen a rural road from three meters to fifteen meters, allegedly to facilitate access to a resort invested by the county council speaker's brother. The councilor criticized the project as misuse of public resources for private benefit. The council speaker, who is the ruling party's candidate for county magistrate, did not respond to the allegations.