In this episode of Beyond the Reefs, we trace how Taiwan is building what Premier Cho once called “networks of resilience” — from Florida’s aerospace ties to Europe’s digital defenses, from San Jose’s flag-raising to Caribbean clean-energy cooperation. It’s a week that redefines diplomacy through trust, not treaties. Then we return to the Caribbean for the second half of our conversation with Ambassador Donya L. Francis of St. Christopher and Nevis, exploring how the “Three Saints” — St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia — will showcase their nations at the Taipei International Travel Fair.

This week on Beyond the Reefs, we open with a concise rundown of Taiwan’s top headlines — from Premier Cho’s vow to keep the “silicon mountain” at home to new defense cooperation with the U.S., trade talks nearing a breakthrough, and the island’s first suspected African swine fever case. Then, we head to the Caribbean to meet Ambassador Donya L. Francis of Saint Christopher and Nevis, who shares his perspective on small-island resilience, Taiwan’s diplomatic partnerships, and how global south alliances can redefine cooperation in education, technology, and renewable energy.

This week, Taiwan shines as the IMF lifts its growth forecast to 3.7%, surpassing Canada, Japan, and most advanced economies. But growth brings its own balancing act. From cash handouts and AI-powered restaurants to trade deals with Canada and defense ties with the U.S., the island is juggling prosperity with pressure. Beneath the good news, traditional industries warn of being left behind, and China’s rare earth controls reveal how fragile supply chains still are. Taiwan’s story this week isn’t just about expansion—it’s about learning how to grow steadily, fairly, and sustainably in a world full of crosswinds.

This week, Taiwan’s credibility, capacity, and alliances are all put to the test. Lawmakers confront Formosa Petrochemical over Russian naphtha imports, wargames expose the island’s energy fragility, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang warns that China’s AI adoption is accelerating. President Lai Ching-te responds with an ambitious National Day blueprint—linking defense, AI infrastructure, and social welfare—while the NDC unveils a trillion-dollar plan to mobilize insurance capital. But as Lai pledges to help America “reindustrialize,” a quiet question lingers: is Taiwan strengthening its agency—or handing too much of it away?