Taiwan’s Defense Drones Stumble: Taiwan’s NT$1.25T special defense budget for large-scale drone procurement passed in May 2026, but the legislature removed funding for domestically produced drones, pushing a new NT$210B procurement proposal into competing bills and delaying major contracts into 2027 at the earliest—raising concerns as China, the U.S., Ukraine, and Japan accelerate uncrewed systems. Han Kuang Drills Watch: President Lai boarded a Coast Guard vessel during Han Kuang to observe coastal defense and missile launcher readiness, with Patriot and Sky Bow units deployed to riverside parks for coastal defense operations. TSMC’s AI Supply Bottleneck: TSMC reportedly has about US$1B of finished Apple A20 Pro chips stuck because WMCM packaging requires LPDDR5X mobile memory that’s already booked by AI hyperscalers, tightening the link between smartphone on-device AI and data-center memory demand. Memory Crunch Still Bites: The AI memory shortage is now in its second year, with HBM4 samples rationed and hyperscaler buildouts keeping pressure on DRAM/HBM supply chains. Semiconductor Tech Geopolitics: Samsung and SK hynix have tested Chinese AMEC etching equipment as a hedge against tighter U.S. export controls, showing how restrictions can open rare validation opportunities for local suppliers. Taiwan-Philippines Tech Ties: Taiwan’s government set a record 147 scholarships for 2026-27, with recipients studying AI, semiconductors, and medicine—supporting growing people-to-people links. EVA Air India Route: EVA Air will launch nonstop Taipei–Delhi flights on Dec. 1, five times weekly, boosting Taiwan–India connectivity for business and tech travelers. AI Data Centers Face Backlash: A report notes U.S. AI data center construction is delayed and politically contested, with only about half of planned AI capacity expected to come online by target dates. Gong cha Deal: Bain Capital agreed to acquire Gong cha Global, aiming to accelerate growth in Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. via its franchise and “Gong cha 2.0 Digital Kitchen” model.