Good Morning World: AI Drives 51.7% YoY Export Growth in May; September Expected to Mark 35th Consecutive Month of Growth

The Ministry of Finance announced that May export value reached US$78.48 billion, a 51.7% increase compared to the same period last year, marking the second-highest monthly figure on record. The Ministry pointed out three near-term highlights: starting from the second quarter, quarterly export value will begin a new chapter exceeding US$200 billion; first-half exports are set to record the strongest growth in nearly 16 years; and September is expected to see the 35th consecutive month of export growth, creating the longest rising cycle in Taiwan's history. In response to foreign media reports that the Taiwanese government plans to strengthen controls on advanced chip exports to China, the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the government will continue to strengthen Taiwan's management mechanism for strategic high-tech goods to align with international export control trends and safeguard national security. Currently, Taiwan and the US are continuing consultations on issues including the regulation of advanced chips. (Read the full report)

The Taiwan stock market on the 9th was buoyed by a rebound in US tech stocks, with heavyweight stocks, optics, and passive component sectors launching a strong counterattack. The market closed up 1,201.66 points at 44,704.44 points, a gain of 2.76%. However, hot money continued to flow out, with foreign investors taking the opportunity to sell a net NT$91.733 billion, the 8th largest net selling record in history. The New Taiwan Dollar also depreciated sharply on heavy volume. Although the closing price was only a slight depreciation of 3.8 fen to NT$31.618, the total trading volume on the Taipei and Yuanta foreign exchange markets surged to a massive US$4.746 billion, the second-largest trading volume in history. (Read the full report)

President Lai Ching-te attended the "Taiwan Excellence Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Overseas Business Alliance Assembly" on the 9th. He stated that the Executive Yuan has allocated NT$44.2 billion in subsidies, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs will form a "National Drone Team" composed of experts from various fields, aiming to strengthen defense autonomy and make Taiwan a global Asia-Pacific center for drone development. Separately, the Army's Tenth Corps conducted heavy artillery live-fire training on the 9th. Simulating a scenario where the PLA's amphibious forces attempt to invade the central region, soldiers braved heavy rain as the Thunder 2000 multiple rocket launcher system kicked off the exercise with live-fire drills in the operational area for the first time in seven years, followed by M109A2 self-propelled howitzers. The simultaneous firing of heavy artillery echoed across the Dajia River bank in Taichung. (Read the full report)

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim visited the National Aquaculture Center and the Giant Clam Restoration Center in allied nation Palau on the 9th. Aquaculture is a key area of cooperation between Taiwan and Palau, jointly developing a "Blue Economy" industry suitable for Palau while balancing ecological conservation and economic development. Vice President Hsiao stated that during her meeting with Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr., discussions focused on tourism development, regional security, and governance capacity building. She said that Taiwan not only assists in promoting Palau's tourism but also helps Palau strengthen its maritime management and law enforcement capabilities through cooperation with the Coast Guard Administration, the Investigation Bureau, and drone technology, jointly maintaining regional security and stability, demonstrating the deepening of the Taiwan-Palau partnership. (Read the full report)

The Central Weather Administration stated that a frontal system is beginning to move south, and the southwest air current is also slightly weakening, so rainfall will be less severe than on the 9th. However, localized heavy or torrential rain is still possible in the Huadong mountain areas and central and southern regions. On the 11th, the front will move south to the Bashi Channel, with brief showers or localized thunderstorms across the island, and localized heavy rain in central and southern areas. From the 12th, the front will move northward, with localized heavy or torrential rain possible in the western half of the island and eastern mountainous areas. Current forecasts suggest the front's impact on Taiwan's weather may last until the 15th, with rainfall intensity depending on the southwest wind moisture and the position of the stationary front. (Read the full report)

Continuous heavy rain in Hualien County's Matai'an River caused the river to swell, sweeping away a site manager surnamed Deng, along with his vehicle. The fire department received a report on the evening of the 8th that someone downstream was calling for help. Using a drone with a thermal imaging camera, they located a human image and successfully pinpointed the coordinates. However, rescue operations were initially hampered by the muddy riverbank sandbar. Through the cooperation of police, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, and tribal members, they successfully crossed the river and rescued him on the morning of the 9th. "He's really lucky to be alive!" said a Truku tribesman involved in the rescue. Mr. Deng was swept approximately 9 kilometers downstream to the riverbed of the Ataomo section, where he was found lying on his back with his head resting on a piece of wood, his body immersed in mud and unable to move. The hospital reported that the patient suffered a head impact, resulting in a mild cerebral hemorrhage, and is currently hospitalized for observation. (Read the full report)

An explosion occurred on the 9th at a residence in Gaocui Road, Hsinchu City, which housed a bento shop, affecting two adjacent residential buildings. A 65-year-old man surnamed Wu and a 58-year-old woman surnamed Zhang, a couple who ran a grocery store, were crushed by a collapsed wall and died from their injuries. The explosion affected an area of approximately 40 to 60 ping, and also damaged 93 motorcycles and 40 cars. The city government's preliminary assessment suggests the cause was a leak from an LPG gas cylinder or pipeline, which likely encountered an electrical spark and ignited. The exact cause is still under investigation. (Read the full report)

All elementary and junior high schools in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture in central Honshu, Japan, were closed for two consecutive days due to a bear sighting. After several days of pursuit, Japanese authorities spotted a bear lingering in the bushes on private property at 2 PM on the 9th. The city government reported that it fired a total of three tranquilizer darts and finally captured the bear. The location is a residential area about 2 kilometers south of JR Utsunomiya Station. Meanwhile, the bear that injured four people in Fukushima Prefecture has not yet been captured. (Read the full report)

South Korea held local elections last week, but due to a shortage of ballots at some polling stations, voting was temporarily suspended at 26 polling stations nationwide, sparking public protests. Demonstrators have held rallies outside the counting facility in Seoul for five consecutive days. While the number of participants was around 2,000 on Monday afternoon, the crowd size on the 9th had significantly decreased. However, the main demand of the weekend protests was a re-election. On the 9th, some demonstrators were seen claiming election fraud, with signs reading "Stop the Steal." (Read the full report)

Taiwanese baseball star Teng Kai-wei has solidified his position in the starting rotation of the MLB's Houston Astros. Manager Joe Espada, in an exclusive interview with CNA, described Teng's performance using the word "resilience." Another trait of Teng's that highly aligns with the Astros' organizational culture is his "desire to win." Espada stated that the Astros are an organization that prioritizes winning, and Teng is demonstrating the same attitude. "He's worked very hard since spring training, and he wants to win. That's the value of a player, and he's performing at a high level right now." He also mentioned that Teng's signature pitch, the sweeper, is extremely effective, saying, "It looks like it disappears when it gets to home plate." (Read the full report)

Marathon running is a popular choice for many to relieve stress and challenge themselves. In the 1970s, a young boy named Pu Zhongqiang, who loved running, set a world record for children's long-distance running at the age of just 8, sparking a running craze in Taiwan. At age 9, he achieved his first "sub-3" marathon, completing the full distance in under three hours. By the time he was 15, Pu gradually withdrew from the running scene to focus on injury recovery and his studies. With the development of sports medicine, high-intensity, long-duration running training is no longer recommended for developing children. Coupled with the fact that most modern marathons have age restrictions, the story of the young long-distance running prodigy Pu Zhongqiang has become a legend that is difficult to replicate. (Read the full report)

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