China and Taiwan Exports Surge in August

China's exports surged by 8.7% in August, reaching nearly $309 billion, driven by strong external demand despite weak domestic consumption. This contrasts with a modest 0.5% rise in imports, reflecting ongoing economic challenges such as a property sector downturn and deflationary pressures. Analysts are concerned about the sustainability of this export-driven growth amid rising global trade tensions. The export boost provided a trade surplus of $91 billion, but investor sentiment remains cautious. Meanwhile, Taiwan's exports also hit a record high in August, spurred by strong demand in the AI and high-performance computing sectors, marking a 16.8% increase year-over-year.