Economy

A man walks past an electronic board showing the Nikkei stock index outside a brokerage in Tokyo on Aug. 29. (Photo by Kosuke Imamura)
Markets

Asia stocks tumble after U.S. signals prolonged monetary tightening

Nikkei index drops nearly 3% while yen weakens to one-month low

29 August 2022
The two leaders have spoken several times since Biden took office in January 2021. (Source photos by Getty Images)
US-China tensions

Xi and Biden double down on Taiwan positions in 'candid' talks

Leaders discuss chance of face-to-face meeting during 2-hour call

29 July 2022
An offshore wind farm in Miaoli County, northwestern Taiwan, is seen in this Nov. 12, 2019 photo.
Economy

Foreign investment into Taiwan jumped 275% in first half of 2022

Costco, energy companies helping to pave way to 15-year high

22 July 2022
A Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) transformer station in Taipei: The utility has been under heavy financial pressure.
Inflation

Taiwan's first power price hike in 4 years jolts chip sector

Rate increase on heavy users comes as industry faces inflation, demand woes

27 June 2022
As of June 22, MSCI AC Asia ex-Japan index -- a gauge of the region's most-tracked stocks outside of Japan -- had dropped around 18% this year compared to the last six months of 2021 -- the biggest half-year decline since late 2011.
Market Spotlight

Inflation, supply chain disruptions dampen Asian stocks

Interest hikes in emerging markets create uncertainties this year

27 June 2022
A teller counts New Taiwan dollar banknotes at a bank in Taipei, on February 23, 2017.
Economy

Taiwan hikes key rate for 2nd straight meeting as inflation surges

Consumer price index rose in May at fastest pace in nearly 10 years

16 June 2022
Taiwan's grouper production last year amounted to 16,940 tons, and the export volume was 6,681 tons, according to Taiwan's Fisheries Department. China accounted for 91% of the exports.
Trade

China flexes economic muscle with ban on Taiwanese grouper

The fish is 4th agricultural product to be sanctioned by Beijing since last year

15 June 2022
A medical worker rests at a drive-through test site in Taipei during mid-May. Taiwan has reported more than 2 million coronavirus cases to date. 
Coronavirus

Taiwan's COVID success story hits snag with shift to reopening

Taipei committed to easing border controls even as cases reach all-time highs

2 June 2022
People walk near the Taipei 101 building in Taipei.
Trade

U.S., Taiwan open talks on digital trade and environment in June

Separate initiative from Indo-Pacific framework formed with China in mind

2 June 2022
The European Union is set to upgrade economic ties with Taiwan -- home to major semiconductor companies such as TSMC. (Source photos by Shinya Sawai and Reuters) 
International relations

Taiwan, EU to boost economic ties to secure chip availability

Both sides focus on supply chain resilience in light of Ukraine war and COVID

1 June 2022
Liu An Tang, a Chinese herbal medicine shop in Taipei, has been struggling to keep up with demand for ingredients used in NRICM 101, a COVID treatment. (Photo by Lauly Li)
Coronavirus

Chinese medicine shortage hits Taiwan as omicron surges

Ingredient prices soar as residents rush to get hold of treatment

22 May 2022
Guests enjoy a meal at the Studio, a private fine dining space in Taipei that serves French and Indian cuisine with special seasonal menus. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Lin)
Business trends

Costs, COVID and labor crunch hit Taiwan's restaurant industry

'Good old days have passed' for dining sector as customer behavior changes

6 May 2022
Weak domestic consumption in Taiwan is dragging down economic growth. 
Economy

Taiwan GDP growth slows to 3.06% in Q1 on weak consumption

Exports remain strong, logging growth of 23.5%

28 April 2022
The rush for tech M&As in Asia has slowed to a crawl in China and South Korea. (Source photos by Reuters)
26 April 2022
A Kaohsiung city view. The port city known for its steel and petrochemical plants is transforming into a semiconductor and EV cluster, and that has triggered a property boom. (Photo by Cheng Ting-fang)
Property

Taiwan's $34bn southern tech building frenzy sparks property boom

Developments in industrial port of Kaohsiung price residents out of market

20 April 2022
Container vessels are seen docked at the Pasir Panjang terminal port in Singapore on January 17. Singapore is one of several Asian countries that has seen a fall in exports to Russia. (Source photos by Reuters and AFP/Jiji)
Ukraine war

Asia's exports to Russia plunge amid Ukraine war

But some countries see rise in imports from Russia on higher energy prices

20 April 2022
Shoppers purchase packets of vegetable oil at a supermarket in Mumbai on March 7: Higher food prices can lead to higher inflation expectations.
Opinion

Rising cost of living puts Asian policymakers in the hot seat

Second K-shaped shock to hit low-income households after the pandemic

20 April 2022
Containers are stacked at the Chinese port of Qingdao. Chinese imports from Russia grew 26% in March. (Xinhua via Kyodo)
Trade

China, South Korea lift Russian energy imports, eroding sanctions

Even countries opposing Moscow take advantage of discounts

14 April 2022
James Huang, chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, says a planned trip to the U.S. in October will "serve as soft-power diplomacy for Taiwan." (Photo by Lauly  Li) 
Supply Chain

Taiwan eyes closer U.S. tech ties, island's top trade body says

TAITRA chief lists EVs, metaverse among areas for cooperation

4 April 2022
How would the financial hub of Shanghai fare in a Taiwan crisis? Big capital outflows from China have been observed since the start of the Ukraine war.
Indo-Pacific

China exit? Russia crisis has businesses thinking the unthinkable

Capital flight may have already begun as investors fear Taiwan contingency

22 March 2022
Shoppers browse Apple products in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam has increased production for the iPhone maker, with suppliers moving from China and Taiwan and hiring local Chinese speakers. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
China tech

Help wanted: Tech firms in Vietnam seek Chinese speakers

Apple suppliers, garment makers fleeing China-U.S. tension hire bilingual talent

14 March 2022
Taiwan expects its economy to grow 4.42% in 2022. 
Economy

Taiwan revises up 2022 GDP to 4.42% on strong tech exports

Statistics office sees rising global demand for 5G, automotive electronics

24 February 2022
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks in Paris on Jan. 28.
Interview

France slams China's attempts to 'break the status quo' on Taiwan

Foreign minister Le Drian keen to deepen trade ties with Taipei

20 February 2022
The island has seen a shortage of eggs in recent months. (Source photo by Lauly Li and Reuters)
Economy

Taiwan consumers scramble to find eggs as commodity prices surge

Farmers can no longer afford now-expensive grains and rising logistics costs

9 February 2022
A Taipei official checks Japanese apples for radiation in 2011, shortly after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Over a decade later, Taiwan is removing a blanket ban on food imports from five Japanese prefectures.
International relations

Taiwan to lift blanket ban on Fukushima food amid CPTPP push

Tsai removes thorny issue with Japan as she seeks support for joining trade pact

8 February 2022