Trump’s off-the-cuff comments stoke global tensions, Taiwan moves to secure high-tech sector

US President Donald Trump has increasingly engaged with the media in unscripted exchanges, often deflecting criticism by blaming former administrations, including those of Joe Biden and Barack Obama. His off-the-cuff remarks, which frequently mirror the combative tone of his campaign rhetoric, have raised concerns worldwide. In Taiwan, Trump’s latest statements triggered the country’s first National Security Council meeting of 2025—not in response to Chinese military maneuvers, but due to the potential economic and geopolitical fallout of his remarks.

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Former TSMC chairman Mark Liu launches new think tank to bolster US tech competitiveness

Mark Liu, the former executive chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), is spearheading a bold initiative to enhance American technology leadership. According to a statement released by the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Liu is establishing the Technology Competitiveness and Industrial Policy Center (TCIP) at the university, aiming to usher in a new era of advanced technology development and domestic production.

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Apple pulls plug on Micro LED smartwatch, but industry pushes forward

Apple has scrapped its plans to develop a Micro LED smartwatch in 2024, dealing a blow to the technology’s immediate prospects. Yet, the scene at CES 2025 suggests Micro LED remains a hotbed of innovation, with companies pressing ahead on new products and breakthroughs. Apple’s retreat may signal challenges, but it hasn’t dampened industry momentum.

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MediaTek pushes the limits of smartphone SoC performance and AI: An exclusive inside look

Smartphone SoC innovation has increasingly centered on boosting performance and improving power efficiency. However, unlike the pre-pandemic era, where leaps in technology were frequent, recent progress has been more incremental, fueling the perception that SoC makers are fine-tuning existing tech rather than introducing groundbreaking advancements.

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Commentary: Intel’s 18A advantage undermines the case for a TSMC takeover

Pat Gelsinger’s exit as Intel’s chief executive has laid bare a fundamental clash between his vision and that of the board. Gelsinger pushed to ramp up capital spending, expand advanced chipmaking capacity, and reinforce Intel’s “Made in America” ambitions. Reports even suggested he considered acquiring GlobalFoundries to create an end-to-end foundry service spanning both cutting-edge and mature process nodes.

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Chinese robotics firms embrace modularization to enhance adaptability in humanoid robots

Industry insiders observe that Chinese robotics companies aim to differentiate themselves from American rivals by embracing modularization. Instead of concentrating only on full humanoid robots, they focus on flexible designs, such as splitting the upper and lower body and creating modular parts like dexterous hands to boost adaptability.

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