Cross-Strait Tensions: Taiwan’s Coast Guard condemned a Chinese research vessel for conducting a fisheries resources survey in Taiwan’s EEZ, saying it violated sovereignty and warning it’s the second such incident since June. US-China Diplomacy: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met China’s Wang Yi in Manila to lay groundwork for Xi’s planned September visit, stressing Washington won’t abandon Asian allies even as it seeks positive ties with Beijing. Regional Security: ASEAN Regional Forum talks in Manila put the Middle East crisis and South China Sea tensions front and center, with Rubio and others urging diplomacy amid heightened risks to key shipping routes. Oil & Markets: Brent briefly topped $100 a barrel as Middle East fighting threatened crude flows, adding pressure to global equities ahead of earnings season. Semiconductor Supply Chain: Multibeam said National Tsing Hua University ordered its multi-column E-Beam lithography system, marking the first shipment into Taiwan and supporting academic research plus joint development with chipmakers. Manufacturing Digitalization: Chung Hua Plastic Industry won a Manufacturing Leadership Awards finalist spot for a parameter-bound Digital Product Passport system enabling unit-level supply chain traceability at its Taiwan plant. Biotech Dealmaking: Mabion and Taiwan’s KriSan Biotech signed an agreement to jointly offer ADC development and manufacturing services, including reciprocal client referrals. Fintech Growth: OwlTing reported OwlPay Harbor payment volume grew more than fivefold in Q2 2026, reaching a July record high as enterprise cross-border payments scale.