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Bubble tea's Taiwan origin story: economic boom, national identity and betrayal

Mar 14, 2024
The self-governing island consumes a billion cups a year of the milk tea with the chewy tapioca pearls. Globally, it's a $3 billion industry.
Bubble tea at Chun Shui Tang. Each glass follows a strict tea-to ice-to tapioca-ball ratio.
Jennifer Pak/Marketplace

In Taiwan's election, young voters focus on inflation, wages and war

Jan 12, 2024
The U.S. and China loom large over Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 13, but so do domestic bread-and-butter issues.
A man wearing a Team Taiwan jacket from the governing DPP party takes a photo of a group of supporters at a political rally in central Taipei.
Jennifer Pak/Marketplace

Economy and cost of living at top of mind in Taiwan's election

Jan 12, 2024
The U.S. ally's increasingly tense relationship with Beijing has dominated the election campaign. But many ordinary people in Taiwan are struggling to earn enough money.
A man sells fruit at Fu De Market ahead of the general election in Taipei, Taiwan.
Annice Lyn/Getty Images

U.S. restricting high-end chips to China

Sep 2, 2022
The policy move increases tension over technology between the two counties.
This latest move by the U.S. appears to restrict the sales of advanced computer chips to all Chinese companies.
Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images

Taiwan trade talks advance; U.S. will start official negotiations in the fall

Aug 22, 2022
An Indiana delegation is on the island seeking to expand academic and business ties, in particular bringing semiconductor production to the states.
STR/AFP via Getty Images

Taiwan has leverage in U.S.-China standoff: semiconductors

Aug 1, 2022
Decades of investment and training in tech have helped Taiwan build a so-called silicon shield.
TSMC produces more than 90% of the world’s advanced semiconductors.
Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images

Taiwan is "disturbingly normal," but not immune to pandemic

May 8, 2020
Many businesses remain open, but the island and its economy are not untouched by the global COVID-19 crisis.
People divided by plastic partitions, amid concerns of COVID-19, eat their food at Q Square in Xindian district, New Taipei City.
Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images

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Trump suggests using Taiwan as a bargaining chip

Dec 12, 2016
The president elect said he wasn't bound by the 37 year old One China policy.
President-elect Donald Trump looks on during at the DeltaPlex Arena, December 9, 2016 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

South Korea mall says 'Hello shopper, nice to see you'

Oct 10, 2012
A mall in Seoul, South Korea is installing facial recognition cameras to read shoppers' gender and age in order to generate customized ads.