Taiwan-US Defense & China Pressure: President Lai Ching-te told reporters Taiwan’s defense build-up is not provocation and urged swift U.S. approval of a new arms package as China steps up military activity around the island. Semiconductor Supply Chain: Trump said Apple will work with Intel to design and manufacture chips in the U.S., a potential boost for Intel as it competes with Taiwan’s TSMC. AI Infrastructure in Latin America: MOFA Deputy Minister Chen Ming-chi inspected a “sovereign AI” data center site in Paraguay, part of Taiwan-backed plans to leverage green power and attract international partners. Energy & Costs: CPC Corp. will cut domestic gasoline and diesel prices next week, citing easing crude pressure and a stronger Taiwan dollar. Property Market Cooling: Taiwan residential and commercial transactions fell to a nine-year low in 2025 as central bank selective credit controls weighed on home buying. Cybersecurity: CISA warned of active exploitation after the FortiBleed leak exposed credentials for about 74,000 Fortinet devices. Trade & Materials: China resumed gallium exports to Japan after a four-month pause, while some rare-earth exports to Japan stayed at low levels amid ongoing tensions. Regional Economic Outlook: Taiwan’s central bank said AI-led growth is not creating “Dutch disease,” pointing to traditional manufacturers upgrading to plug into the AI supply chain. Cross-strait Politics & Culture: A Chinese actor’s speech at the Straits Forum drew mixed reactions in Taiwan, with critics calling it political propaganda.