Taiwan

I commenti del presidente cinese sono stati pubblicati dopo un incontro di due ore con Trump. In più, Stacey Abrams spiega perché lo smantellamento del Voting Rights Act sia l'«incarnazione del male»

• Il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump è arrivato a Pechino il 13 maggio 2026 per una visita di Stato e colloqui di alto livello con il presidente cinese Xi Jinping per affrontare le principali questioni bilaterali e globali. • I punti chiave dell'agenda includono le dispute commerciali tra Stati Uniti e Cina, le catene di approvvigionamento di minerali di terre rare, lo status politico di Taiwan, la competizione sull'intelligenza artificiale e l'attuale conflitto con l'Iran. • Il vertice rappresenta un impegno diplomatico critico volto a gestire la competizione strategica tra Stati Uniti e Cina e a ridurre i rischi di escalation militare.

In vista dei colloqui cruciali, la sicurezza è stata intensificata a Pechino, con il presidente degli Stati Uniti che incontrerà Xi nella Grande Sala del Popolo. Il summit Trump-Xi durerà due giorni. Inizialmente era previsto per fine marzo o inizio aprile, ma è stato rimandato a causa della guerra in Iran. Ora che Trump si trova in Cina, ecco alcuni dei rischi che il presidente degli Stati Uniti deve affrontare. Continua a leggere...

• I hedge fund globali hanno incrementato gli investimenti in Asia, con gli acquisti settimanali di titoli sudcoreani, giapponesi e taiwanesi che hanno raggiunto il massimo di 10 anni per la settimana conclusasi il 7 maggio, secondo un rapporto di Morgan Stanley. • L'impennata, la più consistente in termini di valore nominale in oltre un decennio, è stata guidata da clienti di tutte le regioni e strategie mirate al settore tecnologico asiatico nel contesto del boom dell'AI. • L'esposizione netta degli hedge fund verso Giappone, Corea del Sud e Taiwan è salita ai massimi dal 2010, raggiungendo ora circa il 19% del posizionamento globale, con un focus su semiconduttori e hardware nella supply chain dell'AI.

• Taiwan e Paraguay hanno firmato tre protocolli d'intesa l'8 maggio 2026 a Taipei per rafforzare i legami nei settori dell'AI, della cybersicurezza e in ambito giudiziario. • Gli accordi riguardano la sicurezza delle informazioni, la tecnologia intelligente e la cooperazione nella governance digitale tra le due nazioni. • I patti mirano a espandere la partnership a fronte delle crescenti necessità di infrastrutture digitali sicure e collaborazione tecnologica.

• iShares MSCI South Korea ETF e iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF sono cresciuti rispettivamente del 239% e del 96% negli ultimi 12 mesi nell'ambito della mania per l'IA. • L'indice KOSPI della Corea del Sud ha raggiunto il record di 7.899,32 lunedì con un balzo del 4%, mentre il TAIEX di Taiwan ha chiuso sopra i 42.000 per la prima volta la scorsa settimana. • Goldman Sachs prevede che la crescita del PIL della Corea del Sud sarà del 2,5% nel 2026, con le esportazioni legate all'IA che triplicheranno raggiungendo quasi il 30% del PIL; si prevede che il PIL di Taiwan accelererà fino al 10% con simili aumenti delle esportazioni.

• Il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump arriva a Pechino mercoledì per colloqui di due giorni con il leader cinese Xi Jinping, segnando il loro primo incontro di persona in oltre sei mesi in un clima di relazioni tese. • Le discussioni riguarderanno l'Iran, le tensioni di Taiwan, l'intelligenza artificiale, le armi nucleari e il potenziale rinnovo di un accordo sui minerali critici, secondo i funzionari statunitensi. • Il vertice mira a stabilizzare le relazioni tra le due economie più grandi del mondo, messe a dura prova dall'attuale guerra USA-Israele con l'Iran, dalle dispute commerciali e dalle minacce tariffarie del primo mandato di Trump.

• Chenbro Micom, azienda tecnologica con sede a Taiwan, ha registrato vendite per il primo trimestre del 2026 pari a 7,1 miliardi di TWD, con un aumento del 70% rispetto all'anno precedente, mentre l'utile netto è raddoppiato a 1,34 miliardi di TWD. • L'azienda ha ottenuto una crescita dei ricavi annuali del 31,1% e una crescita degli utili del 32,7%, superando le medie del settore grazie allo slancio tecnologico in Asia. • Questa performance evidenzia il forte posizionamento di Chenbro in settori high-tech come i componenti per server, supportato da una domanda resiliente in Asia.

• A new Lowy Institute report details Xi Jinping's blueprint for Taiwan after annexation, rejecting partial autonomy in favor of full integration into China's political system. • Plans could exclude millions of Taiwanese from public life and jail tens of thousands unless they pledge loyalty to the CCP and renounce autonomy. • Chinese scholars express private doubts about the viability of the 'One Country, Two Systems' model amid Taiwan's democratic entrenchment.

• Taiwanese officials worry that even subtle rhetorical changes from President Trump regarding Taiwan policy could destabilize the decades-long cross-strait status quo, as Trump prepares for a May 14-15 summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. • A White House official reaffirmed that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, based on the Taiwan Relations Act, three U.S.-PRC Joint Communiques, and Six Assurances to Taiwan, with no alterations announced. • Chinese scholars suggest Beijing will pressure Trump to shift declaratory policy—pushing for explicit opposition to Taiwan independence rather than current "not supporting" language—and seek U.S. pre-negotiation on arms sales, both major departures from established policy.

• Asia-focused ETFs representing Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan are outperforming in 2026, driven by a structural re-rating of Asian growth prospects as global investors seek alternatives to high-valuation U.S. mega-cap technology stocks. • Semiconductor and hardware infrastructure sectors are the primary beneficiaries of ongoing global AI expansion, with integrated supply chains across Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea attracting significant catch-up trades from international investors. • A broader stabilization in the U.S. dollar is acting as a tailwind for developed and emerging Asian equities, reducing the cost of dollar-denominated debt for regional corporations and improving competitive positioning.

• Shares in South Korea and Taiwan have rallied the most globally this month, with South Korea's Kospi index surging 78% year-to-date amid optimism for tech-driven gains. • Traders are positioning for Asia's technology leaders to lead the next phase of the worldwide stocks rally, focusing on semiconductor and electronics firms in these markets. • The outperformance underscores Asia's pivotal role in global equities, potentially sustaining momentum if U.S. and European markets stabilize.

US leader enters talks with superpower rival from vulnerable position, but will be hoping for economic wins amid turbulent backdropIf all goes to plan over the next few days – and that is a big if – Donald Trump will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for a highly anticipated summit with Xi Jinping, China’s leader.The trip will mark the first time a US president has visited China in nearly a decade. The last visit was also made by Trump, during his first term, in 2017. Continue reading...

• On May 6, 2026, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced a $40 billion investment to build a new AI‑optimized fabrication plant in Taichung, focused on 2‑nm and 1.4‑nm process nodes. • The fab is projected to reach full capacity by 2029, capable of supplying 250,000 12‑inch wafers monthly to AI‑chip design firms, including NVIDIA‑style accelerators and custom ASICs for hyperscalers. • TSMC’s CEO, C.C. Wei, emphasized that 70% of the facility’s planned capacity is already pre‑booked by cloud providers and AI‑hardware vendors, underscoring the sustained global shortage of advanced nodes.

• China's military conducted unannounced exercises Friday involving naval destroyers and fighter jets near Taiwan's east coast, hours after the US approved a $619 million weapons package for the self-governing island, defense officials on both sides confirmed. • The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued formal diplomatic protests, characterizing the US arms sale as a violation of the one-China principle and warning of "serious consequences" for continued military support to Taiwan. • Taiwan's defense ministry said it is prepared to defend against any military aggression and praised the US commitment; regional analysts warned the escalating military posturing raises risks of unintended conflict.

• Chinese military announced a temporary halt to provocative exercises around Taiwan following private diplomatic discussions between US and Chinese officials in Singapore this week. • Beijing stated the suspension aims to create space for constructive dialogue, though military analysts note China maintains its military posture in the Taiwan Strait. • The development provides cautious optimism for regional stability, with US officials emphasizing the importance of maintaining open communication channels to prevent miscalculation.

Lai Ching-te abandons visit after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoke overflight permission Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, has cancelled his trip to Eswatini, the democratic island’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, after his government said several countries had revoked overflight permits because of “intense pressure” from China.Lai was to leave on Wednesday for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession. Continue reading...

• The People's Liberation Army conducted live-fire exercises in the Taiwan Strait on April 17, with Chinese warships and fighter jets operating within 50 nautical miles of Taiwan's territorial waters—a proximity not seen since 2020. • Taiwan's defense ministry scrambled fighter jets in response and confirmed the U.S. Navy carrier USS Ronald Reagan transited the strait early on April 18, marking the second transit in four weeks. • U.S. Indo-Pacific Command stated the transit "demonstrates the United States' commitment to freedom of navigation and a rules-based international order," prompting a sharp rebuke from Beijing's Foreign Ministry.

• The Chinese People's Liberation Army launched live-fire drills near Taiwan on April 11, involving naval vessels and fighter jets in what Beijing characterized as routine training exercises. • In response, the United States Navy deployed the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group to the Taiwan Strait, with the Department of Defense stating the move was intended to ensure freedom of navigation. • Regional tensions remain high amid concerns over military miscalculation, with Taiwan's defense ministry reporting detection of over 20 Chinese military aircraft in surrounding airspace.

• Taiwan's opposition leader has met with China's President Xi Jinping in what observers describe as a significant diplomatic engagement focused on reducing cross-strait tensions. • Both the Taiwanese delegation and Chinese leadership have publicly called for peaceful resolution of their longstanding disputes, signaling potential openness to dialogue amid broader global geopolitical instability. • The meeting occurs within the context of increased international focus on regional stability, with major powers seeking to prevent additional conflicts from erupting during the ongoing US-Iran crisis.

Cheng Li-wun’s visit to Beijing has sparked controversy in Taiwan, with critics accusing her of being too close to ChinaIn a rare meeting with Taiwan’s opposition leader, China’s president, Xi Jinping, declared that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were Chinese and wanted peace.The meeting in Beijing between Xi and Cheng Li-wun, the chair of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT), is the first such contact in a decade. The visit has sparked controversy in Taiwan, with Cheng’s critics accusing her of being too close to China, a country that many in Taiwan see as a threat. Continue reading...

• The US Navy sent two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers through the Taiwan Strait on April 8, 2026, in a freedom of navigation operation challenging Chinese claims. • Beijing scrambled 20 fighter jets in response, with state media labeling it 'provocation'; no collisions reported. • This escalation underscores US commitment to Taiwan's defense, critical for semiconductor supply chains worth $500 billion annually.

• The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on April 4, 2026, targeting 12 Chinese companies accused of supplying missile components to Taiwan's military in violation of export controls. • Sanctions freeze $2.1 billion in US-based assets and ban future transactions, following intelligence reports of shipments totaling 500 tons of avionics parts since January. • The move heightens US-China tensions, with Beijing calling it 'economic blackmail' that threatens South China Sea stability and global semiconductor supply chains.

• Technology stocks surged on March 16 as inflation fears subsided, with the SPDR Select Sector Technology ETF rising nearly 2%, though it remains down year-to-date amid ongoing doubts about AI boom sustainability. • Micron Technology shares rallied after announcing plans to build a second manufacturing site in Taiwan to produce high-demand AI memory products, while Nebius signed a five-year, $27 billion deal with Meta to supply AI infrastructure capacity. • Cybersecurity experts warn that data breaches and hacking tactics have become weapons of war alongside traditional military hardware, raising risks for civilian companies caught in cross-fire.