Taipei, July 8 (CNA) An international research team with Taiwanese participation has identified a previously unknown mechanism by which lung cancer activates sensory nerves to weaken the body's immune response, a finding that could offer a new path for cancer treatment.

The study "uncovered a neuro-immune regulatory mechanism in lung cancer" and could lead to a new cancer treatment direction based on "cutting off the electricity" to tumors, said Chen Jin-shing (陳晉興), head of National Taiwan University Hospital's (NTUH) Department of Surgery, referring to blocking nerve signals that help cancer grow.

Chen said at a press conference in Taipei that no research team had previously published findings on whether neuro-immune modulation -- the idea of "cutting off the electricity" to cancer -- could make treatment more effective.

The stakes are high because "lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths in Taiwan for more than two decades," and it killed more than 10,000 people in Taiwan last year alone, Chen said, citing Ministry of Health and Welfare data.

Among the different types of lung cancer, he said lung adenocarcinoma remains a major concern because it accounts for more than 70 percent of cases and still has a poor prognosis when diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Nerves that aid tumor growth

On hand to explain the mechanism the research team discovered was Leanne Li, head of the Cancer Neuroscience Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute in the United Kingdom who earned a medical degree from National Taiwan University.

According to Chen, a team led by Li began working with NTUH and other international researchers several years ago to examine whether nerves around lung tumors could affect cancer progression.

Explaining the study's findings, Li said nociceptive sensory nerves normally detect danger signals in the environment and help coordinate corresponding immune responses.

For example, people may instinctively hold their breath when they smell something unusual or cough when exposed to smoke, she said.

"Our question was whether, if these environmental stimuli are considered danger signals, a tumor growing in the lung could also be seen by these nerves as a kind of danger signal," Li said.

The study found that as lung adenocarcinoma progresses, nociceptive sensory nerves around tumors become more active and release calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).

CGRPs are often associated with migraine headaches, because when CGRP is released, it causes inflammation in the brain and headache pain, according to the website Migraine Australia.

Li said that in her team's study, the release of CGRP was found to prevent the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) near tumors.

Those structures are immune-cell gathering sites that help the body organize attacks on cancer cells and are linked to better outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Possible treatment direction

In mouse models, blocking the CGRP-related nerve signals restored TLS formation, strengthened anti-tumor immunity and slowed tumor growth, according to the study.

The team also found that cigarette smoke extract activated the same pathway, suggesting that smoking may promote lung cancer not only by causing gene mutations, but also by overstimulating pain-sensing nerves and thereby weakening the immune response around tumors.

In smoke-exposed mice, blocking CGRP with a drug targeting the same pathway as some migraine treatments made tumors more responsive to immunotherapy and prolonged survival, the study said.

Li said one of NTUH's main contributions to the study was providing lung adenocarcinoma samples from patients, allowing the team to verify that CGRP levels were higher in human lung tumors and examine whether CGRPs affected immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.

She added that clinical trials testing treatments based on the newly identified mechanism have not yet begun, but the team is now in discussions with hospitals in the United Kingdom about possible future studies and hopes to pursue a similar collaboration with NTUH.

The study, titled "Nociceptive innervation limits tertiary lymphoid structures to promote lung cancer," was published online in the top scientific journal Cell in mid-May and involved researchers from the Francis Crick Institute, NTUH, Harvard Medical School and Columbia University.

Taiwan's cost of living continues to rise, with inflation reaching a 17-month high in June. The consumer price index increased 2.6% year-on-year, remaining above the central bank's 2% warning threshold for a second consecutive month. The rise was mainly driven by higher fuel prices linked to the Iran conflict and increased food costs after heavy rainfall caused agricultural losses.

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) Visiting Dutch parliamentarian Jan Paternotte has expressed support for upholding freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, one of the world's busiest commercial waterways, and highlighted its importance to the international community.

"This year, the world has experienced why freedom of navigation has not just been established as a legal right for all nations for over 100 years, but why it is pivotal to preserve that freedom for the world's prosperity and energy security," Paternotte said while meeting President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) at the Presidential Office.

He appeared to be referring to Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which around one-quarter of the world's crude oil and one-fifth of its natural gas transits, after the United States and Israel attacked Iran.

Paternotte, who co-chairs the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), said that upholding the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and preserving freedom of navigation is a "priority issue" for IPAC.

He said his delegation will discuss practical steps consistent with IPAC's Operation Measure Impact of a Shock in the Taiwan Strait (MIST) campaign and Initiative 2758 at the Taiwan International Ocean Forum, which will be held in Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday.

Both initiatives stress the importance of strengthening Taiwan's resilience through international cooperation, including maritime security, Paternotte said.

Operation MIST is an IPAC campaign launched in 2024 that aims to rebut French President Emmanuel Macron's 2023 remark on his return trip from a state visit to China that Europe should not be drawn into any conflicts "that are not ours," referring to a potential conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan.

Initiative 2758 is another IPAC campaign that seeks to counter China's distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, which Beijing has invoked to justify its claim over Taiwan.

"I'm aware that standing here in this building, for some of my colleagues, this carries a cost," Paternotte said.

"But we are here anyway. That is precisely the point," he said.

Paternotte cited a Chinese state-backed hacker group targeting the email accounts of all European Union IPAC members and pressure and threats from Chinese diplomats in attempts to dissuade his colleagues from attending IPAC summits or sending delegations to Taiwan.

In his remarks, Lai said maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region has faced unprecedented challenges in the form of "gray zone" harassment, skirmishes stemming from maritime law enforcement and sabotage of undersea communications cables.

Lai referenced an incident last month in which a Taiwanese delegation was denied entry by the Kenyan government to a pre-conference symposium at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, where a Taiwanese academic was scheduled to present a research paper.

Faced with such "unreasonable" political interference, Lai stressed that the ocean knows no boundaries, that maritime governance must not be restricted by political factors, and that Taiwan's resolve to engage with the world will not change.

From June 21 to July 4, 2026, the Overseas Community Affairs Council hosted the 5th session of the 2026 Overseas Youth Taiwan Study Tour for the Indonesia region. A total of 39 overseas youth participants from Indonesia came to Taiwan for a 14-day study and exchange program. Centered on the theme of “seeing Taiwan, understanding Taiwan, and experiencing Taiwan,” the program guided participants across northern, central, and southern Taiwan through diverse perspectives, including natural ecology, history and culture, industrial technology, higher education, and local lifestyles. Through the journey, participants gained firsthand experience of Taiwan’s rich and diverse social and cultural landscape.

The itinerary was rich and diverse, beginning with a visit to Shilin Night Market, one of Taiwan’s most iconic night markets. This first stop allowed participants to experience local cuisine and everyday life through Taiwan’s vibrant night market culture. They also visited the National Palace Museum and Taipei 101, experiencing Taiwan’s historical depth through treasured cultural collections and its modern urban charm through one of the country’s most recognized landmarks.

The program also included visits to the Central Taiwan Science Park, Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City, and Guangxing Paper Mill. These visits enabled participants to explore Taiwan’s high-tech development as well as its traditional craftsmanship, highlighting the island’s strengths in both innovation and cultural preservation. Through hands-on DIY activities and guided tours, participants not only observed the achievements of industrial development but also experienced Taiwan’s craftsmanship and local creativity.

In addition, visits to Daxi Old Street, Jiaobanshan, Checheng Station, Anping Fort, Anping Old Street, Shennong Street, Lukang Old Street, Jinshan Old Street, Wusheng Night Market, and Fengjia Commercial District allowed participants to experience the unique warmth, rhythms of life, and cultural memories found in different towns and communities across Taiwan. Each stop was more than a visit; it was a story of local life and cultural discovery.

The tour also incorporated rich elements of natural ecology and environmental education. Participants visited Yehliu Geopark, Taipei Botanical Garden, and Sun Moon Lake, experiencing Taiwan’s diverse natural landscapes, from magnificent geological landscapes and urban green spaces to beautiful lake scenery. They also visited cultural and scientific institutions such as Hinoki Village, the National Museum of Taiwan History, the National Museum of Natural Science, the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Through these visits, participants developed a deeper and more well-rounded impression of Taiwan, spanning architectural preservation, historical context, science education, and contemporary art.

To encourage overseas youth to learn more about Taiwan’s high-quality higher education environment, the program arranged visits to Taipei Medical University, National Cheng Kung University, and Overseas Chinese University. Through campus tours, admissions briefings, and youth exchange sessions, participants gained a clearer understanding of the learning resources, campus features, and development opportunities offered by Taiwan’s colleges and universities. Through face-to-face interactions with faculty members and students in Taiwan, participants gained valuable insights and developed greater interest in future study opportunities in Taiwan, personal growth, and global exploration.

Although the program was affected by the outer circulation of Typhoon Mekkhala, which brought heavy rainfall to many areas across Taiwan, the participants’ enthusiasm for exploring Taiwan remained strong. With safety as the top priority and careful arrangements made by the organizing team, participants continued their journey through city streets, cultural venues, and natural attractions. They listened attentively to guided introductions and actively took part in various experiences, demonstrating a strong spirit of learning and youthful energy. The rain did not dampen the excitement of the journey; instead, it added an unforgettable and meaningful shared memory to their time in Taiwan.

Through this 14-day in-depth journey across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, the Indonesian overseas youth participants not only deepened their understanding of Taiwan’s natural environment, history and culture, educational resources, industrial development, and local lifestyles, but also experienced the warmth and hospitality of Taiwan’s people through every exchange and interaction. This journey was more than a study tour; it was a connection. It was more than a series of visits; it was a meaningful encounter. It is hoped that participants will bring their experiences and memories of Taiwan back to Indonesia, serving as important seeds for continued exchange and lasting friendship in the future.

Taipei, July 6 (CNA) A clinical trial in Taiwan has found that AI-assisted colonoscopies can help doctors detect more adenomas among people at high risk of colorectal cancer, potentially offering greater prevention of the disease.

When doctors perform a colonoscopy, "the adenomas detected are what we call precancerous lesions," Chiu Han-mo (邱瀚模), director of National Taiwan University Hospital's (NTUH) Health Management Center, said at a news conference in Taipei on Monday.

"Although not every one of them will necessarily develop into cancer, finding and removing more of these tumors, or polyps, can in fact lower the future risk of colorectal cancer," he said.

Chiu said doctors perform colonoscopies by visually inspecting the colon, but after conducting 10 or 20 procedures, they can become fatigued later in the day, making it "easier" to miss adenomas.

Accurate detection is important given that colorectal cancer was Taiwan's third-leading cause of death from cancer in 2025, after lung and liver cancer, taking the lives of 7,146 people, according to Ministry of Health and Welfare data.

Clinical trial

To evaluate whether AI could improve adenoma detection, NTUH and three other hospitals in Taiwan partnered to conduct the clinical trial from 2022 to 2024, comparing the outcomes of AI-assisted colonoscopies with standard colonoscopies.

The trial enrolled 1,356 people at high risk of colorectal cancer who were undergoing colonoscopies at the four hospitals and randomly assigned them to receive either an AI-assisted colonoscopy or standard colonoscopy.

According to Chiu, the AI system worked like a "second pair of eyes" by marking suspected adenomas on screens in real time and sounding an alert to remind doctors to examine them more closely.

The doctor, however, still decided whether an adenoma should be removed, he said, noting that AI is meant to assist physicians rather than replace them.

Detection results

In the overall study population, the adenoma detection rate was 58.5 percent in the AI-assisted group, compared with 53.3 percent in the standard colonoscopy group.

Chiu said the benefit was more apparent among 864 patients who tested positive in fecal immunochemical tests (FITs), which are widely used in Taiwan as an initial screening tool for colorectal cancer by detecting hidden blood in stool samples.

In that subgroup, 65.3 percent of patients who received an AI-assisted colonoscopy were found to have adenomas, compared with 57.4 percent among those who underwent a standard colonoscopy, an increase of 7.9 percentage points that Chiu said was statistically significant.

In other words, AI-assisted colonoscopy helped detect adenomas in about eight additional patients for every 100 FIT-positive examinees, he said.

AI as a 'teacher'

Chiu also noted that the AI system helped narrow the performance gap between senior physicians and younger doctors, with the adenoma detection rate among less experienced physicians rising to 58.0 percent from 47.9 percent when they used the system.

"When younger doctors perform examinations, they told me it feels as if the AI is like a teacher standing behind them, reminding them that they may have missed something here or there," Chiu said.

He said the improvement in detection was expected because the AI model was trained on more than 100,000 colonoscopy images collected over the years by senior physicians, as the development of the system dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the system already approved by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, NTUH Superintendent Yu Chong-jen (余忠仁) said it is currently available for use by patients.

The study was published in the international journal JAMA Network Open on April 15, 2026, under the title "Computer-Assisted Colonoscopy in High-Adenoma Detection Rate Settings in a High-Risk Population: A Randomized Clinical Trial."

Guatemala, one of Taiwan's 12 diplomatic allies, has sent its congressional speaker to Taiwan to reaffirm bilateral ties. During his 5-day visit, Luis Alberto Contreras Colíndres will meet with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and other members of the government.

Taipei, July 5 (CNA) The National Immigration Agency (NIA) on Sunday urged travelers not to bring pork or other meat products from African swine fever (ASF)-affected areas into Taiwan during the summer travel season to prevent the spread of the disease.

In a statement, the NIA said 542 travelers were fined NT$200,000 (US$6,262) each last year for bringing pork products from ASF-affected areas into Taiwan, citing Customs Administration data.

Many of those fined were Taiwanese nationals, while 144 foreign travelers were denied entry after failing to pay the penalties, the agency said.

The NIA warned travelers to exercise caution when buying overseas souvenirs, saying illegally bringing pork products into Taiwan could jeopardize the country's disease-free status and result in hefty fines.

Taiwan regained its ASF-free status on April 6 after receiving official recognition from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), becoming the only country in Asia free of ASF, classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease, the agency said.

The designation followed Taiwan's successful containment of an ASF outbreak detected last October.

According to customs statistics, most violations involved travelers carrying prohibited pork products in their luggage, followed by international courier parcels.

The NIA said it has stepped up outreach to foreign residents, holding more than 300 awareness events through mid-June for new immigrants, overseas students and migrant workers, distributing over 56,000 informational leaflets and sending more than 300 messages through Line groups, reaching over 24,000 people.

Although ASF does not affect humans, it is highly contagious and often fatal in pigs. Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) has estimated that a major outbreak could cost Taiwan's hog industry nearly NT$80 billion, with total economic losses exceeding NT$200 billion, including related sectors such as feed production and transportation.

The NIA urged the public not to bring, buy or mail pork products into Taiwan to help safeguard the country's livestock industry.

Prague, July 3 (CNA) Václav Havel Airport in Prague, the Czech Republic, said Friday that all national flags will be removed from its eGate displays as part of a systemwide update, adding that Taiwanese travelers remain eligible to use the automated clearance system.

The airport's response came after Taiwanese travelers visiting Prague noticed in mid-June that the Republic of China's (Taiwan) flag had been removed from the eGate displays, although the country code "TW" remained.

In a response to CNA's inquiry, airport spokesperson Denisa Hejtmánková said the update only changes how information is displayed on eGate screens and does not affect which passengers can use the automated border clearance system.

Hejtmánková confirmed that eligible Taiwanese travelers holding ROC passports can continue using the airport's eGate system under the same conditions as before.

The update is part of a broader overhaul of the eGate display system, with the display list set to be expanded next week to include more eligible countries that are not considered high-risk, she said.

The spokesperson added that the new system will adopt a standardized text-only format showing country codes instead of flags, stressing that the change only affects how information is presented and not travelers' eligibility to use the system.

However, the reason for the initial removal of the ROC flag was not immediately explained.

Earlier Friday, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said it had been informed of the issue by its representative office in the Czech Republic, adding that Taiwanese travelers' eligibility to use Prague airport's eGate system remains unchanged.

Prague's Václav Havel Airport opened its eGate system on May 15 to eligible travelers from Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea departing for destinations outside the Schengen Area.

According to MOFA, the measure was introduced to help ease congestion at the airport following the rollout of the European Union's Entry/Exit System on April 10, while also reflecting Taiwanese travelers' long record of complying with Czech immigration rules.

Taipei, July 3 (CNA) Taiwan will open a representative office in Phoenix, Arizona, to strengthen exchanges with the United States in economics, technology, education and supply chain cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Friday.

Phoenix has become an increasingly important technology hub as Taiwanese semiconductor investment in the city expands, MOFA said in a news release.

That growth has been driven in part by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, whose Arizona campus has attracted more Taiwanese suppliers to set up local operations.

TSMC's first fab in Arizona began mass production in the fourth quarter of 2024, while construction of a second fab has been completed and production is expected to begin in the second half of 2027. A third fab is currently under construction.

Earlier this year, Taiwan and Phoenix signed a memorandum of understanding to cultivate high-tech talent and deepen cooperation in AI-driven industries.

The ministry did not give a timeline for when the new office will open.

Once established, the Phoenix office will become Taiwan's 14th representative office in the U.S., joining those in Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Chicago, Honolulu, Denver, Miami and Guam.

This expansion is a testament to the strength, depth, and enduring vitality of the U.S.-Taiwan partnership, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a post on Facebook.

Arizona has emerged as a dynamic center of Taiwan's high-tech presence in the U.S., attracting a growing constellation of supply chain companies and cementing the thriving U.S.-Taiwan partnership in semiconductors and advanced technology, it said.

Pickling is a serious business in central Taiwan's Dapi Township. But the scale of production is so big that leftover brine has become a problem. Years of dumping have threatened to wreck the local water and soil. But now, a researcher has found a promising new use for brine in an unexpected industry.

Taipei, July 3 (CNA) The Fisheries Research Institute has developed a technology that reduces the power needed to cultivate a methane-cutting alga by over 90 percent, making the process more economical, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said Friday.

The alga, called Asparagopsis, is typically cultivated by using blowers to continuously mix air into water tanks to keep it afloat, a process that consumes large amounts of electricity.

In a statement, the MOA said the institute developed a system that uses solar panels to generate power and replaces conventional blowers with an energy-saving variable-frequency waterwheel, which cuts energy consumption during the cultivation process by more than 90 percent.

Though the battle to combat climate change has focused primarily on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, cutting methane emissions is considered among the fastest opportunities available to slow the rate of global warming immediately.

A major source of methane is livestock, but the institute said that adding 5 percent Asparagopsis powder to cattle and sheep feed reduced methane emissions by 99.78 percent in an in vitro bovine rumen fermentation test.

The institute said it plans to promote its new power-saving system to private aquaculture farmers, hoping to foster a green transition in Taiwan's livestock sector toward a low-emissions environment.

Taipei, July 2 (CNA) The United States' top representative to Taiwan said Thursday that Washington is ready to deepen cooperation with Taipei on uncrewed systems, describing the partnership as both a new business opportunity and a "game-changing opportunity" to bolster Taiwan's security and that of the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking at a drone industry business forum in Taichung, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene said the war in Ukraine has shown that "a military with robust drone production capacity and a culture of technological innovation can punch far above its weight" in defending itself against a larger adversary.

"That is very good news for Taiwan, with its world-beating technology and production capabilities," Greene said.

"Drones don't just offer new avenues for business; they represent a game-changing opportunity to enhance Taiwan's security and reinforce peace in the broader Indo-Pacific region."

The de facto U.S. ambassador said he believes Taiwan's drone industry "can be for the island's next generation what semiconductors were for the previous one -- a sector where Taiwan's unique combination of talent, infrastructure, and ecosystem creates a durable, world-leading competitive advantage."

"The United States is eager to be your partner in this journey," he said.

According to Greene, closer U.S.-Taiwan cooperation will help "anchor democratic drone production, reduce vulnerability to supply chain disruption, and strengthen the collective deterrence posture of the free world."

"We are already in a golden age of U.S.-Taiwan partnership in AI and semiconductors," he said.

"But with drones -- along with the broader ecosystem of uncrewed systems, embodied AI, and advanced robotics -- we have the opportunity to enter a platinum age: one in which our two economies jointly lead the world in all the key technologies that will define the future."

Greene concluded by emphasizing the strategic role drones could play in Taiwan's defense.

"Nothing will deter conflict more effectively than turning Taiwan into a hornet's nest of air, surface, and subsurface drones. The United States stands ready to be your partner in achieving this vision," he said.

Greene's remarks came as Taiwan's major political parties advance competing legislative proposals to support the domestic drone industry and expand procurement of Taiwan-made drones.

The proposal put forward by the Cabinet of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party would establish a special budget with no annual spending cap through the end of 2031, financed through government borrowing or budget surpluses carried over from previous fiscal years.

In contrast, the legislative caucuses of the opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party have proposed funding the initiative through the regular central government budget instead of a special budget.

The opposition parties' proposals, the Cabinet and DPP lawmakers argued, would not guarantee continuity in funding and could significantly increase fiscal pressure and crowd out spending on social welfare and education.

Taipei, July 1 (CNA) Canada's long-standing framework to interact with Taipei "has not changed," Canada's representative to Taiwan, Marie-Louise Hannan, said Monday amid concerns in Taipei over Mark Carney's ongoing efforts to improve relations with China.

Speaking to CNA in an interview, Hannan, who took office as Canada's de facto ambassador to Taiwan last September, cited Carney's remarks that middle powers must work together to create a "third path" with real impact as being significant for ties with Taipei.

"Essentially, Canada's economic security and our overall safety and security are the big priorities that have something to do with Taiwan," she said.

History of good relations

The envoy said Canada already has a strong and growing presence in Taiwan, as it sees the latter as an attractive market for Canadian products and services.

Beyond trade and investment, the two sides have also maintained close people-to-people exchanges, which are the "precious foundation of our relationship with Taiwan," she said.

Such exchanges began with early Canadian missionaries such as George Leslie Mackay, who founded schools, churches, and hospitals across northern Taiwan 150 years ago, she said.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT), she said. The organization serves as Canada's de facto embassy in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.

The office was established in 1986 with only three employees. Four decades later, it has grown to a staff of 53, reflecting the closer bilateral relationship across a wide range of areas, she said.

Challenges arise

Even with those friendly ties, however, challenges have emerged in Taipei-Ottawa relations since Carney assumed office as Canada's prime minister in March 2025.

In January, two ruling Liberal Party members of Parliament, Helena Jaczek and Marie-France Lalonde, were reportedly encouraged to cut short a visit to Taiwan before Carney visited Beijing.

It was the first trip by a Canadian leader to China since 2017, and Canada may have wanted to avoid any potential obstacles in its bid to reset ties with China.

A month later, Harry Tseng (曾厚仁), Taiwan's representative to Canada, accused the Carney administration of delaying a Trade Cooperation Framework Arrangement (TCFA) with Taiwan in favor of rebuilding relations with Beijing.

Asked to comment on the two incidents, Hannan told CNA that Canada has maintained a positive approach toward its engagement with Taiwan for years.

"Taiwan is mentioned explicitly in our Indo-Pacific Strategy. And our one-China policy has not changed. So the basic framework really hasn't changed, despite what happened around the [January] visit."

The decision to cut short the January trip was "at the discretion of the members of Parliament to decide to travel," she said, adding that Canadian MPs have continued to visit Taiwan since.

On the alleged delay in finalizing the TCFA, the envoy said Ottawa and Taipei had completed the substantive negotiations on the deal and were now in the post-negotiation phase. "It's not a sign that we're not interested."

Citing Canada's free trade agreement with South Korea as an example, she said that deal took eight years to complete. "The point that I want to make is it's not that unusual."

Asked whether the reported delay was related to China, Hannan said Ottawa engages with Taipei on its own merits, even though it also considers its engagement with Beijing important.

She noted that over the past year, Canada has had a new government and is facing "extraordinarily challenging" circumstances regarding its "traditionally largest economic partner," the United States, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

"So I think any place would understand that we have to do things in the order that we are able to handle a lot of different priorities."

Personal history with Taiwan

Hannan was familiar with Taiwan long before taking up Canada's top representative post in Taipei.

She told CNA that she first visited Taiwan in 1989 to study Mandarin for a month.

"We lived at the Chientan Youth Activity Center, and I remember waking up in Taipei, looking out the window and seeing the Grand Hotel, and thinking, 'Is everything in Taiwan like this?' It's really special."

She later returned on a Rotary Club scholarship to continue her Mandarin studies at National Taiwan Normal University from 1992 to 1993.

"And that was a great experience. I had some really fun, interesting classmates from around the world -- Japanese, Korean, American, Canadian, European, everybody."

While studying Mandarin, she also worked as a researcher in computational linguistics at Academia Sinica, Taiwan's top research institution.

In 2001, she returned to Taipei to serve as deputy chief of CTOT's business section until 2005.

Before taking office as Canada's representative to Taiwan in September 2025, replacing Jim Nickel, Hannan most recently served as the director general responsible for South Asia at Global Affairs Canada.

Her other overseas postings have also included becoming Canada's first dedicated ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2016, as well as serving in Australia, Malaysia, the U.S., China and India.

Taipei, June 30 (CNA) Business sentiment in Taiwan's manufacturing sector improved in May, reaching its highest level since March 2025, as robust artificial intelligence (AI)-driven demand and easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East boosted confidence, the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER) said Tuesday.

The manufacturing composite index rose from 14.03 in April to 15.75 in May, according to a TIER statement.

The institute attributed the improvement to sustained global demand for electronic components and information and communications technology products driven by the AI supply chain.

Higher retail prices for electronic products, rising global prices for base metals, and gains in Taiwan's stock market in both share prices and trading volume also helped lift business sentiment, TIER said.

At 15.75, the index remained in the "green" range, indicating stable conditions, but was close to the threshold for a "yellow-red" reading, which signals warming growth.

Among individual industries, the electronic components sector was upgraded from "yellow-red" to the highest "red" rating, reflecting strong orders and production fueled by demand for AI and high-performance computing applications.

TIER said many Taiwanese manufacturers have been operating at full capacity as global demand continues to outpace supply for dynamic random-access memory (DRAM).

The machinery and equipment manufacturing sector also improved from "green" to "yellow-red," supported by continued investment in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging and testing, and factory automation equipment.

Strong export orders and double-digit growth in both export orders and industrial production further strengthened business confidence in the sector, the institute said.

Looking ahead, TIER said uncertainty remains due to shifting global trade policies and geopolitical developments.

However, easing tensions in the Middle East, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and improved conditions surrounding Iranian oil exports, have pushed international oil prices lower, helping ease inflationary pressure from energy imports.

Meanwhile, continued growth in demand for AI computing capacity is expected to support Taiwan's manufacturing sector. Major cloud service providers continue to increase capital spending, while governments around the world are accelerating AI infrastructure development, boosting demand for Taiwan's semiconductors, advanced packaging and testing, and server industries, TIER said.