US President Donald Trump has increasingly engaged with the media in unscripted exchanges, often deflecting criticism by blaming former administrations, including those of Joe Biden and Barack Obama. His off-the-cuff remarks, which frequently mirror the combative tone of his campaign rhetoric, have raised concerns worldwide. In Taiwan, Trump's latest statements triggered the country's first National Security Council meeting of 2025—not in response to Chinese military maneuvers, but due to the potential economic and geopolitical fallout of his remarks

Apple has scrapped its plans to develop a Micro LED smartwatch in 2024, dealing a blow to the technology's immediate prospects. Yet, the scene at CES 2025 suggests Micro LED remains a hotbed of innovation, with companies pressing ahead on new products and breakthroughs. Apple's retreat may signal challenges, but it hasn't dampened industry momentum

After President Trump claimed that Taiwan has taken America's semiconductor chip business away, some speculate that the US government might regret its decision to provide a US$6.6 billion investment incentive to Taiwan's TSMC. Is it true that under Trump's policies, the US government can avoid spending a dime, while Taiwanese companies and other foreign businesses operating in the US are pressured by tariffs to invest and expand domestically? This prospect has raised significant concerns and challenges for Taiwan

Honda and Nissan scrapped merger talks after failing to agree on terms, marking an abrupt end to what could have been a landmark consolidation in Japan's auto industry. The negotiations, which began in December 2024, were seen as a survival strategy amid intensifying global competition

The Donald Trump Administration reportedly may require TSMC to make tough choices to aid in rebuilding the US's chip manufacturing capabilities, including sharing technologies or establishing a joint venture with Intel. As the semiconductor industry transitions from global free trade to a regional trade system due to strategic and security concerns, the US is adopting China's market-for-technology strategies to secure its national security, reflecting a broader trend of protectionism in the chip industry, similar to developments in the automotive sector

In 2024, Taiwan's electric scooter market saw a registration of 78,757 units, a slight decline of 1.04% from the previous year's 79,584 units. Furthermore, the registration numbers for January have raised concerns about the market's ability to maintain stable growth in the coming months

The semiconductor industry is bracing for a potential shake-up amid reports that the US government is pushing for Intel to spin off its manufacturing operations into a new entity, with TSMC participating in a joint venture. TSMC, which controls more than 60% of the global foundry market, would bring its technical expertise and manufacturing leadership to the venture. If realized, this move could alter the global semiconductor supply chain, reshaping alliances, competitive dynamics, and technological leadership

After Nissan and Honda ended their merger talks, Foxconn expressed interest in a collaborative partnership with Nissan, rather than an outright acquisition. This announcement has sparked discussions within Taiwan's automotive industry, focusing on the potential advantages and concerns of such a collaboration

As Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, "Shape it, and the enemy will follow." This ancient wisdom resonates in today's semiconductor industry, where forcing your opponent to play by the rules you define is a key strategy for securing a competitive advantage. In today's semiconductor arena, the United States plays the role of the rule maker. By defining the "game rules," the US forces competitors to play by its terms—a key strategic advantage in an increasingly competitive global market. Meanwhile, China is trying to counterbalance this influence with its vast domestic market, but every shift in the rules presents new challenges for Asian supply chain players

The recent tariffs imposed on Mexico and Canada have sparked significant attention, with Washington later delaying their implementation by a month. Both countries have signaled their intention to respond with retaliatory tariffs, while President Donald Trump has threatened to escalate US tariffs in turn

According to statistics from the Customs Administration of the Republic of China, Taiwan's total semiconductor exports in 2024 amounted to US$165 billion, with exports to China and Hong Kong reaching US$85.26 billion, representing 51.7% of the total. Shipments to the US market valued at US$7.4 billion accounted for 4.5% of Taiwan's total exports. Despite new tariffs imposed by the US government, the overall impact on Taiwan appears limited

The emergence of generative AI (GenAI) has triggered a surge in AI server demand, leading to severe Nvidia GPU shortages. The resulting profit windfall far exceeds that of the previous cryptocurrency mining boom. The strengthening MediaTek-Nvidia alliance is growing, with Nintendo Switch 2 launching in April 2025 and an AI PC platform debuting at COMPUTEX in May 2025. Industry rumors also hint at a potential AI smartphone chip collaboration

Two of China's largest state-owned automotive enterprises have announced plans for a strategic reorganization. Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Changan Automobile (Changan), both under the China South Industries Group Corporation, are preparing for what would become the first significant consolidation among Chinese car manufacturers in 2025, attracting significant market attention

Taiwan emerges as the world's largest semiconductor exporter after excluding Hong Kong's transit trade from calculations, according to trade data analyzed by DIGITIMES. While Hong Kong reported semiconductor exports worth US$194 billion in 2023, the city-state primarily functions as a logistics hub, with distributors such as WPG Holdings facilitating semiconductor routing to mainland China and other Asian markets

The global energy transition is driving unprecedented demand for critical minerals including lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements. These resources have become essential to the expansion of electric vehicles (EVs), wind power, and power grid infrastructure. Yet geopolitical risks remain a concern for the market, particularly as policy shifts under US President Donald Trump continue to be a key variable affecting the industry in the short term