Taiwan’s exports are on a tear, led by its dominance in advanced chips and AI infrastructure. For the January–February period of 2026 Taiwan’s trade surplus surged by 44.5% to USD 31.7 billion, with exports rising 44.5% and imports increasing 32.5% according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance. Taiwan's exports surged by 69.9% in January, marking the fastest growth for the month in 16 years, driven by AI demand. Shipments of information and communication products jumped 130%, with the U.S. remaining the top export destination, rising 152% Taiwan’s trade surplus widened sharply to USD 12.77 billion in February 2026, from USD 6.63 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports grew 20.6% year-on-year to USD 49.8 billion, driven mainly by stronger sales of information, communication and audio-video products (38.7%) and electronic product parts (24.6%). #Taiwan #trade #exports #IT #electronics #AI

The full video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVoIGQeDqx0/?igsh=cnh0cWNhdDFzbm9r

The US attack on Iran may serve as a deterrent to Chinese leadership who want to stay alive. One (intended or unintended) consequence of the US attack on Iran is showcasing how unreliable China is as a geopolitical power. Iran is one of China’s most powerful allies. So if the US can dismantle its military, what does that say about China’s ability to protect its allies? Then there is the question of Chinese weapons. They didn’t work in Venezuela. They appear not to be working in Iran. Then there is the Taiwan issue. If senior Chinese leaders start worrying about being targeted and killed if they attack Taiwan would that give them pause? Maybe. These dictator types really don’t want to die. #China #IranWar #US #warfare #Taiwan

The sacrificing of Taiwan energy independence. In the name of what? A few votes from fringe (but loud) groups? With the last nuclear reactor shut down, Taiwan is now almost completely dependent on imported energy. Meanwhile China roars ahead. It produced 450.85 TWh of electricity (ranked second globally) in 2025 with 79 new nuclear power plants under construction or planned and an additional 146 plants proposed. You would think this Iran war would be a wake up call about how vulnerable Taiwan is to having its energy source cut off? #Taiwan #China #nuclear #powergeneration #economy #resources #nuclearenergy

Probably most Chinese speaking foreigners in Taiwan can relate to this. All the questions we get bombarded with by friendly, nosey Taiwanese #Taiwan #foreigners

Let’s put the record straight and not let China control the narrative by naming things whatever they want It’s NOT the South China Sea. China doesn’t own it! #China #SouthChinaSea #SCS #Philippines #Taiwan #ASEAN

Aviation Geeks: Taiwan really punches above its weight in aviation. The US and Taiwan are the only countries in the world that have three profitable intercontinental airlines. China Airlines 華航 made profits of approximately USD500 million, EVA Air 長榮航空 made profits of almost USD1 Billion and Starlux 星宇航空 broke even and made a small profit for the first time in 2025 #Taiwan #aviation #ChinaAirlines #EVAAir #Starlux #CI #EVA #US

Taiwan vs China: So what “provocation” did Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) carry out? What? He just went to watch a baseball game? What? He didn’t “sneak in”? He brazenly 光明正大的 flew in? And isn’t this butt-hurt juvenile country (China) the same one that has been bullying Japan the past few months? So maybe this visit was a little “in-your-face” payback for all the shyte China has been pulling? Wonder if the sound of China’s wolf warrior tactics backfiring (yet again) was heard in Zhongnanhai? #China #Taiwan #WBC #Japan #卓榮泰

Taiwan’s national humiliation: Taiwan’s national team competing at the World Baseball Classic as Chinese Taipei still needs to compete under the fake Chinese Taipei name 中華台北. Why do we allow this farce? Why is the World Baseball Classic, a tournament run by the US #MLB bowing to China and forcing Taiwan to compete under a fake name and anthem? We know the UN and the Olympic Committee are stooges of China. But not the US. What’s going on? #WBCニッポン放送生中継 #WorldBaseballClassic #baseball #IOC #UnitedNations #MajorLeagueBaseball #China #Japan #Taiwan #USA #ChineseTaipei #WBC詳報 #中華台北

Yes! Taiwan is still alive! Massive win over Korea! #Taiwan #WBC2026 #Korea #baseball

Taiwan & the World: An Israeli posts a thank you to Taiwan on Threads for donating humanitarian aid to victims of Iran’s missile attack. The comments and name-calling that ensue is on par with any Pro/Anti ICE online “debate” in the US :) The link to Threads: https://t.co/jiYh1o3Oaz

Taiwan’s Got Talent: Taiwan’s Yang Liwei 楊立微 brought down the house at this year’s Britain’s Got Talent She said about her performance: "I come from TAIWAN." 🇹🇼 “I spoke these words with pride on the stage of Britain's Got Talent. It was my first step in showing the world who we are.” 🔥 Link to the full video: https://t.co/LdPEykxS6F #Taiwan #performance #BGT2026

Focus Taiwan: Johnny Harris will be visiting Taiwan to do an in-depth report on the island. He is seeking contributions and ideas from locals https://community.newpress.com/c/johnny-harris/a-launch-day-update-on-taiwan-these-story-prompts #Taiwan #reporting #JohnnyHarris #Newpress

China’s Move South: A fantastic but not improbable scenario So here’s how it might play out: The #US: #Minnesota, #California, #Washington and #Hawaii declare themselves sanctuary states & the US #Federal military loses access to all its Pacific bases. The US disengages from Asia to try to resolve this existential crisis. South #Korea: China takes advantage & co-opts Korea’s deeply pro-China majority led by president Lee who happily expels the US military & declares neutrality #Taiwan: The #KMT convinces the 45% of #Taiwanese that are skeptical of US assistance to accept the One Nation, Two Systems. Taiwan’s spy-riddled, mainland descendants-controlled army switches sides. Taiwan becomes the TSAR and grants PRC access to bases in Suao and Kaohsiung #Japan: China invades Okinawa. US forces stay on their bases & are allowed to withdraw back to the US The #Philippines: With its northern flank secure China surges its navy & merchant marine fleets south. They give the Philippines an ultimatum - be a vassal state or get attacked. Philippines capitulates & turns over Palawan island & gives China bases facing the Pacific & on Mindanao #ASEAN: #Cambodia, #Laos, #Myanmar, #Malaysia & #Thailand enthusiastically join China’s Asia Prosperity & Security Alliance, giving China full access to their infrastructure #Singapore rediscovers it’s actually “Descendants of the Dragon” 龍的傳奇 and becomes China’s southern anchor #Vietnam: China leaves Vietnam alone, having had their balls shot off by Vietnamese women in pajamas. They secure a non-aggression pact #Indonesia: Tries to fight but is too riddled by corruption & Belt & Road back door traps to put up resistance & China takes over Borneo & Sulawesi from staging bases in Malaysia & Philippines. #India: India wakes up from its disastrous #BRICS dalliance to discover China poised to capture the Strait of Malacca and expand into the Indian Ocean. It preemptively occupies the Indian Ocean-facing Indonesian islands and coastal Myanmar. #Australia, under its massive pro-China, anti-American lobby is too worried about being seen as racist to overtly criticize China’s territorial expansion but reluctantly moves into the Indonesian islands directly to its north to keep Chinese forces from being able to blockade northern Australia The stage is set for a massive clash between #China and #India for control of the Indian Ocean with major naval battles in the Indonesian archipelago and land battles in coastal Myanmar & Northeast India The US is irrelevant #WW3 #WWIII

If the #US did what #China and its leftists/#Singaporean Overseas Chinese supporters want and “Got the F out of #Asia” This would very possibly be the reality on the ground within our lifetime #India, you wouldn’t be as hot and heavy about #BRICS then, would you? #Ninedashline #hegemony #military #navy #USA #Taiwan #Japan #Korea #Philippines #Malaysia #Myanmar #Indonesia #SoutheastAsia

Someone who is ignorant about Taiwan but is very confident in her ignorance. Sadly representative of too many foreign #politicians #Taiwan #AOC #US #China #TaiwanStraitCrisis #geopolitics

It’s Lunar New Year, NOT Chinese New Year! Regardless of the Chinese government trying to force the world to call this lunisolar new year festival “Chinese New Year” when referring to it in English, a majority of countries and the UN are aligned with the proper “Lunar New Year” in English usage. Let’s keep it neutral and don’t let it become a weapon of Chinese cultural hegemony #ChineseNewYear #ChineseNewYear2026 #LunarNewYear #China #Taiwan #Korea #Japan #Vietnam #Chinese

The #Olympics again. Taiwan’ bi-annual walk of shame. #Taiwanese rock star and representative to #Finland Freddy Lim said it best on stage at Britain’s Bloodstock rock festival 冬運開始了。台灣又被中共吃豆腐了 林昶佐14 年前在英國Bloodstock音樂祭主舞台演出說的話仍然具有現實意義。 #Taiwan #WinterOlympic2026 #Olympics2026 #IOC #UN #Bloodstock #ChineseTaipei #China

The ANA category: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorised_Neutral_Athletes

A Chinese troll belittling Taiwan’s Olympic team It’s such a disgrace that the IOC/UN are so under the thumb of China that Taiwan is forced to compete under a false name. And it’s shameful that the ROC government accepts this humiliation. By participating as “Chinese Taipei” it is tacitly accepting being part of a “Greater China”. Wouldn’t it be better if Taiwan refused this humiliation and Taiwanese #athletes competed under Authorised Neutral Athlete (ANA) or Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) categories? #China #Taiwan #Olympics2026 #WinterOlympics #WuMao #ANA #IOC #UN #Taiwanese

Other memes: https://youtu.be/8fuui6mLYk0?si=MfAHgz33OcGOa1O8

Taiwan’s Central Bank is calling for suggestions for redesign of the New Taiwan Dollar notes 台幣鈔票更新. So of course Taiwanese #meme creators are having a field day: 500 note: the signer Wu Bai #伍佰 (same pronunciation in Chinese as 500) 2,000 note: four Wu Bai’s 1,200 note: Fine from a speed camera 3,000 note: Fine from a freeway police 300,000 note: Fine for hurting a sea turtle #Taiwan #NewTaiwanDollar #台幣 #鈔票 #currency #humor #Taiwanese (If you’d like to vote on design options visit this link: https://t.co/B7BNdaFDi3)

Taiwan Humor: “Mommy, what does “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? mean? “Child, it means if you spend all your time scrolling on your iPhone then you’ll never get a doctorate.” #Taiwan #Apple #iphone #parenting

As China continues its juvenile bullying of Japan, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi #高市早苗 is doubling down on her defense-of-Taiwan stance: “If something serious happens there, we would have to go to rescue the Japanese and American citizens in Taiwan … And if the U.S. forces, acting jointly with us, come under attack and Japan does nothing and simply runs away, the Japan–U.S. alliance would collapse.” Looks like we have about one year to: 1) Make some Japanese friends 2) Learn some basic Japanese phrases: - I’m a US citizen - Thank you for rescuing me - Where do we gather for pick up? - Can I bring my mother-in-law (she’s Taiwanese but loves Japan!) #Taiwan #Japan #China #war #TaiwanStraitCrisis #Geopolitics

He’s done it! American freeclimber Alex Honnold becomes the first person to free climb all 508 meters of the Taipei 101 skyscraper Alex, who made history in 2017 by becoming the first person to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without safety ropes, which was chronicled in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo — told CNN that accomplishing this feat was a “lifelong dream." #Taiwan #climbing #Taipei101

Aviation Geeks: First impressions of Taoyuan International Airport’s new Concourse D, the first operating section of Terminal Three. Initial score: 85/100. Pros: Modern, minimalist Cons: . Just another modern airport concourse. Lacking Taiwanese identity #TPE #aviation #Airport

A scholarly article on threats Taiwan will face from Chinese UAV warfare: https://globaltaiwan.org/2026/01/shrinking-the-strait/

Taiwan vs China: Last year Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense #國防部 announced a 100,000 unit Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) #無人機 procurement plan, which was recently upgraded to 200,000 units by 2027. But how many will Taiwan really need when China attacks? Based on learnings from Ukraine, Taiwan should be stockpiling at least 2.5 million units. It also should have the capacity to produce at least 200,000 units a month while under attack. UAVs have become a backbone of warfare in #Ukraine with the Ukrainian army expending about 7,000 drones a day. China has been learning from its ally #Russia and is rapidly upgrading its #UAV technology and shifting production into high gear. It is estimated they now have manufacturing capacity of 500,000 units a month. So while it’s admirable that Taiwan is waking up to the reality of drone warfare, 200,000 units are woefully short of minimum needs. Taiwan needs to be preparing for the upcoming Taiwan Straits UAV War! #TaiwanStraitsConflict #TaiwanIsaCountry #Taiwan #China #PLA #warfare #drones #UkraineRussiaWar

Taiwan’s Jay Chou 周傑倫 participated in the Australian Open tennis tournament on Wednesday (Jan 14). More specifically, the 1 Point Slam competition at Australia Open, a fast-paced, winner-takes-all exhibition match where a single point decides the match. Yes, one point only. How did he do? He lasted just one second! He lost to 24-year-old Australian amateur Petar Jovic, being caught flat-footed by Jovic’s first serve. Later in an Instagram Story, Chou joked: "As expected, I didn't even get to touch the ball. All I could do was sign autographs for everyone." Twenty-four professionals were pitted against 24 amateurs and celebrity wildcards – with Chou being one of the eight celebrity wildcards. The innovative format offered amateur players the opportunity to win the prize money by playing a sole point against some of the sport's top talent and other famous faces. Beginning with a game of 'rock, paper, scissors' to decide who serves, each match consisted of a single point, with the winner progressing in a knockout format. #tennis #Taiwan #AustralianOpen #JayChou #周傑倫

Aviation Geeks: Starlux Airlines inaugural JX26 TPE-PHX flight using an Airbus A359 piloted by Starlux CEO Glenn Cai, lands at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, launching direct flights between Taipei and the US Southwest. Starlux will fly three times a week between Taiwan and Phoenix. Flight time will be approximately 13 hours and cost around USD700 for economy class. #Taiwan #aviation #Starlux #Airbus

A startling correlation between low minimum wage and high traffic fatalities in Taiwan. Even though Taiwan Per Capita GDP is higher than Japan and Korea, which have similar population densities and driving conditions, Taiwan has significantly lower minimum wage. Multinational studies have shown that countries with an unequal distribution of wealth and a larger percentage lower-income wage earners create a cavalier environment that contribute to dangerous road conditions. Taiwan really needs to do better by its hard working hourly wage earners! Data from article by @royngerng in News Lens #Taiwan #inequality #labor #workers #MinimumWage

Taiwan Life: Let’s take a ride into and out of a Taiwanese underground parking lot. Not for novice motorcyclists/scooterists! #Taiwan #scooters #parkinglot #Linkou #林口 #機車

Cute Taiwan: Every New Year’s Eve Taipei 101 puts on a spectacular fireworks show. Last year over 500,000 people crowded around the building to watch, making prime viewing/photography spots very desirable, some being staked out days in advance. But last year quite a few people staked out the wrong building, a nondescript building one block away from Taipei 101, resulting in them missing out on best views of the fireworks (to best see that building you would have to turn you back on Taipei 101). This year that building created a tongue-in-cheek “public service” sign reminding people that it is not Taipei 101 and helpfully providing an arrow pointing to the correct building. (The sign, made from lighted windows on the building, reads “Taipei 101 is that one” with an arrow pointing to the right) #Taiwan #NewYear2026 #fireworks #Taipei101 #台北101 #跨年 #新年快樂