Foxconn, the world's largest electronics manufacturing services provider, has partnered with French defence and aerospace group Thales to establish a EUR250 million (US$272 million) semiconductor facility in France, marking the Taiwanese company's first direct manufacturing investment in Europe and a significant step in the continent's push for technological sovereignty.

The global unmanned vehicle and autonomous systems industry converged at the prestigious Xponential 2025 event, held from May 19 to 22 in Houston, Texas. Taiwan's Coretronic Intelligent Robotics Corporation (CIRC), a subsidiary of Coretronic Group, presented its latest self-developed Hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (HVTOL) drone under the theme "Smart Drone & Trusted Partner," underscoring Taiwan's growing prowess and competitiveness in high-performance unmanned systems.

Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology acknowledged finding Chinese-made parts in military drones under development, highlighting the island's struggle to eliminate mainland suppliers from its defense supply chains.

Taiwan's first Formosat-8 remote sensing satellite will ship to the US in August for an October launch aboard SpaceX's Falcon rocket, marking a significant advancement in the island's space capabilities and national security infrastructure.

Fred Pan, president of Taiwanese stainless steel and cable maker Walsin Lihwa, says US tariffs have prompted buyers to front-load orders into early 2025, helping stabilize the company's home market. While conditions in Taiwan and China are expected to hold steady through the second quarter, Europe remains a weak spot, with ongoing economic challenges weighing heavily on demand.

Recent escalations in the India-Pakistan conflict have ignited intense aerial skirmishes, marked not only by modern fighter jets but also by sustained drone assaults. Contrary to earlier industry forecasts anticipating a cooling drone market as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East wane, the emergence of this new frontline has sustained strong demand for drones, especially attack models.

Trade sanctions and tech blockades have become the preferred weapons of influence in the ongoing geopolitical tug-of-war between the United States and China. Yet for all the volleying, victories have been uneven—and in some cases, surprising.

Intelligent Epitaxy Technology (IntelliEPI), a supplier of epitaxial wafers, is positioned for strong performance in 2025, driven by increasing demand in the artificial intelligence and defense sectors. The company's chairman, Yung-Chung Kao, anticipates moderate operational growth in the second quarter of 2025, supported by a positive outlook for orders. However, the supply of indium phosphide (InP) substrates remains a critical variable, with shipments expected to remain balanced. The company's overarching goal is to achieve an all-time revenue peak for the year.

Palmer Luckey, once celebrated as the prodigy behind Oculus and virtual reality's mainstream breakthrough, found himself abruptly cast out of Silicon Valley's inner circle following his political donations during the 2016 US presidential election. After leaving Facebook (now Meta), Luckey established Anduril Industries, a defense technology company that quickly emerged as a major force in advancing military innovation.

In a recent speech, Palmer Luckey, the innovative force behind defense technology firm Anduril Industries, invoked a hypothetical Taiwan Strait conflict to underscore the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern warfare.

Taiwanese ceiling fan manufacturer Champ-ray Industrial reported strong competitive positioning despite recent tariff disruptions affecting the industry, citing higher tariff pressures on its regional rivals. The company has maintained normal order fulfillment without cancellations or shipping delays.