ASEAN Diplomacy & Middle East: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned ASEAN leaders in Manila that Iran’s proposed control and tolls for the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent for other international waterways. Cross-Strait Politics: Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman Zhang Han hit back at Taiwan’s “decoupling” talk, citing rising cross-strait trade and warning DPP “separatist” moves will fail internationally. Taiwan Defense Readiness: Taiwan will integrate next month’s civil mobilization drills more tightly with the Han Kuang exercises, testing whole-of-society responses to gray-zone pressure and wartime aftermath. Tech & Telecom: Chunghwa Telecom signed a two-year strategic partnership with Fujitsu and 1Finity to accelerate all-photonics network deployment and explore quantum applications. Robotics & AI Supply Chain: Taiwan’s top tech official said the island’s robotics push is meant to strengthen the AI supply chain and help an aging society, explicitly contrasting with China’s military-oriented approach. Justice & Food Safety: A Taichung court sentenced three Japanese nationals over selling expired wagyu, ordering prison terms and deportation. Semiconductor Economy: Adata chairman Simon Chen said the DRAM shortage could last another decade and dismissed near-term “AI bubble” fears, while Taiwan’s chip demand narrative continues to drive market attention.