Window on the ATBC No. 16

Window on the ATBC No. 16 — April 2026

Dear Members and Friends,

As the Year of the Fire Horse begins, Taiwan enters 2026 with remarkable economic momentum—driven not by cyclical rebound, but by deep structural transformation.

Amid global volatility, including the widening conflict in the Middle East and intensifying great-power rivalry, Taiwan’s performance underscores its resilience, strategic indispensability, and evolving role within the global economic order.

While the conflict in the Middle East does not directly alter Australia–Taiwan relations, it generates second-order effects that heighten China’s leverage and complicate Indo-Pacific security dynamics. These pressures sharpen the strategic trade-offs Australia must navigate between supporting Taiwan, stabilising relations with China, and meeting alliance commitments. Taiwan’s economic strength in 2026 is an increasingly important factor shaping this broader strategic calculus.

Upcoming ATBC Events

Please do pencil in your diary for the following events:

Monday, 8 June 2026 | 15:30–17:00 — Queensland & Taiwan Investor Roundtable

A delegation from Kaohsiung City Council, featuring Hermann Vorster MP, Queensland Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs and International Student Attraction.

Venue: 1 William Street, Brisbane QLD 4000.

Attendance is by invitation only.

Wednesday, 17 June 2026 | 12:00–14:00 — Roundtable Discussions Luncheon with the Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong MP

A joint event with Sparke Helmore at its Sydney office.

Venue: Level 29, 25 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000.

Please email me directly if you are interested in attending, no later than Friday, 5 June 2026.

Friday, 17 July 2026 | 11:15–14:15 — ATBC AGM and Business Luncheon

Hosted by Macquarie Group.

Venue: 1 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

The AGM Notice will be sent to all financial members two weeks in advance. If you are interested in attending, please email me directly by that time.

Monday, 24 August–Wednesday, 26 August 2026 — 39th Joint Business Conference of ATBC and ROCABC

Venue: Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel.

The theme of the 39th Joint Business Conference is “Australia and Taiwan: Powering a Resilient and Innovative Future”.

This year’s program will explore key areas shaping bilateral cooperation, including Artificial Intelligence and Data Centres, Critical Minerals, Health and Biotechnology, and Education and Tourism.

Registration is now open!

WORTH A MENTION

Taiwan–US Trade Surpasses Taiwan–China Trade: A Historic Shift

For the first time since the early 1990s, US imports from Taiwan have exceeded those from mainland China. According to publicly available reporting, this shift has been attributed to several factors, including:

• A 93.5% surge in advanced systems and AI-related exports from Taiwan to the United States.
• Deepening US reliance on Taiwan’s high-end semiconductor and server supply chains.
• A sharp decline in US imports from China, which fell 44% year-on-year in December 2025.

This historic realignment highlights Taiwan’s strengthened position in global technology supply chains and its deepening economic integration with the United States.

GDP Growth Forecast Raised to 7.71% for 2026

In February 2026, Taiwan’s government significantly upgraded its GDP growth forecast to 7.71%, up from the earlier estimate of 3.54%. Public sources attribute this revision to several key drivers:

• Rapid global demand growth for AI and high-performance computing.
• Strong capital investment by domestic semiconductor and ICT firms.
• Reduced uncertainty following the new US–Taiwan tariff agreement.
• Expected export growth of 12.68% and import growth of 9.06% in 2026.

This positions Taiwan among the fastest-growing advanced economies globally.

Foreign Exchange Reserves Reach USD 605.49 Billion — February 2026

Taiwan’s economic strength is further underscored by its financial resilience. As of February 2026, foreign exchange reserves reached a record USD 605.49 billion, an increase of USD 1.03 billion from January. Public data places Taiwan among the world’s largest reserve holders, behind only China and Japan.

The implications extend beyond macroeconomic stability:

• Greater capacity to manage capital flows and currency volatility during global shocks.
• Stronger buffers against financial coercion or external destabilisation.
• Reinforced confidence among investors and trading partners.

In an era where sanctions, asset freezes, and financial pressure are increasingly used as policy tools, reserve depth remains a critical pillar of national resilience.

ATBC Milestones in 2025

It has been a significant year for the ATBC, marked by several major milestones.

On 12 June 2025, the Australia–Taiwan Young Business Leaders Program (YBL) was formally launched. This four-year initiative, funded by the National Foundation for Australia–China Relations (NFACR), encompasses the inaugural Track II Dialogue at the Australian Office Taipei on 20 August, a one-week YBL Taiwan Program, and a suite of related activities designed to deepen bilateral engagement and foster a more sustainable future for the next generation of leaders.

In addition, the ATBC successfully convened the 38th Joint Conference of the ATBC and ROCABC at the Shangri-La Taipei in late August 2025, further strengthening collaboration and dialogue between Australian and Taiwanese business communities.

Recent ATBC Events

Tuesday, 19 August 2025 — Courtesy Call on Vice Minister Cynthia Kiang

ATBC paid a courtesy call on Vice Minister Cynthia Kiang of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) in Taipei.

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 — A Roundtable on Regional Economic Security and Taiwan’s Supply Chain Resilience

A joint event with the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) Victoria in Melbourne, held in honour of Dr Ming-chi Chen, Vice Minister of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Friday, 5 December 2025 — Bridging Sustainability, Technology and Financial Consumer Protection: New Frontier for Policy and Practice

A roundtable held jointly with Monash University Law, ATLAS Finance and the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

Monday, 19 January 2026 — Leadership Masterclass & Networking Event

A hybrid event in Brisbane and Taipei as part of the Australia–Taiwan Young Business Leaders Program.

Friday, 13 March 2026 — Australia–Taiwan Sustainable Finance Workshop: Directors’ Duties and Sustainability — Focusing on Financial Institutions

A joint event with Monash University Law, ATLAS Finance and IBM Promontory Australia in Sydney.

Thursday, 19 March 2026 — Roundtable Discussions Luncheon with the Hon. Ros Bates MP

A joint event with Sparke Helmore at its Brisbane office.

Monday, 23 March 2026 — Visit to Bradfield Development Authority

A visit for more than 70 EMBA students from Taiwan’s National Sun Yat-sen University, held jointly with Macquarie University in Sydney.

ATBC is always grateful for the strong support of our members and friends, and we sincerely appreciate your continued encouragement. We look forward to sharing another interesting and challenging year together.

Best wishes

Ching-Mei Maddock (She/Her)
Chief Executive Officer
chingmei@atbc.asn.au
18 April 2026