US-China Summit Focus: Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington (Sept. 23-25) is set to put trade, rare earths, AI and Taiwan front and center, with the White House planning a full arrival ceremony and a Sept. 24 Trump-Xi meeting; ahead of that, US Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent and China’s He Lifeng held “very successful” talks in New York, agreeing on a US-China AI dialogue and an AI incident notification mechanism. AI & Semiconductors: The AI race is shaping expectations for the summit, from chip supply chains to AI safety guardrails, while Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem remains a key pillar as markets track AI infrastructure spending and pricing moves across the sector. Taiwan Business & Security: Taiwan says it faces about 2.6 million cyberattacks daily, with threats tied to China, North Korea, Iran and Russia—an issue the government is trying to turn into exportable cybersecurity know-how. Regional Cross-Strait Tensions: New Zealand naval ships transited the Taiwan Strait, drawing renewed debate over “presence” operations and freedom of navigation. Consumer Sentiment: Taiwan’s consumer confidence rebounded, with optimism on growth and spending improving even as inflation expectations stay elevated. Tech/Industry Watch: Taiwan’s advanced packaging push continues, including a new Kaohsiung industrial park aimed at boosting the semiconductor supply chain. Global Trade Signals: Canada’s reduced tariffs on Chinese EVs are drawing scrutiny over possible links to China’s United Front system, adding to North America’s wider competitiveness and security concerns.