Rooftop Solar Push: Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior will roll out new building standards for installing photovoltaic systems on Aug. 1, aiming to add about 660MW of rooftop solar capacity annually and boost projects by major local players. Labor-Saving Automation: The government plans to accelerate smart-robot development to ease labor shortages, with first robots expected to hit the market within two years, spanning caregiving and service use cases. Drone Supply Chain: Taiwan suppliers are starting to gain a foothold in Ukraine’s drone ecosystem, but scaling remains constrained by production size and continued reliance on Chinese-made components. AI Infrastructure Demand: A new wave of AI data-center spending is reshaping chip and equipment markets, with Taiwan’s semiconductor role highlighted as a key bottleneck as global AI infrastructure ramps up. US Tariffs & Forced Labor Rules: The US tariff regime under Section 301 continues to expand, with Taiwan referenced among economies covered by existing trade arrangements as duties are adjusted. Defense & Regional Tensions: Taiwan’s Navy commissioned its first Tuo Chiang-class Batch 2 corvette, while the US, Japan and the Philippines held maritime drills amid South China Sea flashpoints. Weather Disruption: Typhoon Noul battered southern China, triggering large-scale evacuations and major flight and transport disruptions, with heavy rain also affecting parts of Taiwan.