James Rivera
Americas Desk
James Rivera runs Americas coverage at The Taiwan Times, following US politics, elections and developments across Latin America, with a particular focus on technology and trade policy.
He connects shifts in Washington to global supply chains and their real effects on Taiwan’s industries — a single tariff announcement or export control can rewrite a Taiwanese company’s plans for the year. He also tracks Latin America’s political cycles and resource economies.
He believes the United States remains the single variable that moves the world most, and that understanding it is the first step to understanding the environment Taiwan lives in.
Areas of expertise
- US politics
- Latin America
- Trade
Latest by James Rivera
Equatorial Guinea Expands Malaria Program to Mainland Río Muni and Annobón
Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday that it will extend its highly successful malaria‑control programme to the mainland region of R
Pingtung Paiwan Ancient Melodies Visit Paris to Deepen Indigenous Taiwanese Ties
Cultural workers from the Paiwan indigenous community of Jiaxing in Pingtung recently traveled to Paris, France, once again to hold a meaningful Paiwan anc
First Motion Set for IPO with 2027 Goals for Medical and Industrial Robotics
DiGiTAL DRIVE (stock code yet to be determined) will make its debut on the Emerging Stock Board on October 21 at an initial public offering price of NT$168
Wei Ping-cheng significantly catches up with Chen Su-yueh, intensifying Changhua's mayoral race
The race for the Zhanghua County magistrate in the upcoming local elections this month has generated significant momentum. According to a report by CNA on
Pingtung Hakka Arts Exhibition Showcases Traditional Music and Cultural Revival
In recent years, the Pingtung County Government has continued to cultivate local cultural assets and actively promoted Hakka arts and culture study program
Samsung to use TSMC 3nm for Nvidia HBM dies, highlighting TSMC's lead
South Korea's Seoul Economic Daily reported today that Samsung Electronics has agreed to adopt Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) 3-nanome
KMT's Hsieh Lung-chiu campaigns at Shanhua cattle market, urging increased childcare subsidies
In the upcoming local elections scheduled for October, the Tainan mayoral race is regarded as a crucial battlefield for the Kuomintang (KMT) to contest pol
Kenya Confirms Four New Bundibugyo Ebolavirus Cases, Including Three Health Workers
Kenya’s Ministry of Health announced on Friday that four additional cases of Bundibugyo ebolavirus have been confirmed, bringing the country’s total to sev
Israeli Settlers Physically Assault Washington Post Journalist and Palestinians in West Bank
An American journalist reporting for *The Washington Post* and a group of Palestinian residents were physically assaulted by a faction of Israeli settlers
Prosecutors Appeal SOGO Bribery Acquittal Ruling to Supreme Court
The high-profile corruption case involving legislators, which has drawn intense attention from all sectors of society, has recently seen key legal defense
Dragons Name 20-Year-Old Pitcher Tseng Sheng-an Youngest Taiwan Series Game 2 Starter
Twenty‑year‑old pitcher Tseng Sheng‑an was officially named the starting pitcher for Game Two of the Taiwan Series by the Wei Chuan Dragons today, making h
Weak Yen to Push Japan’s GDP to Sixth Behind India, UK by 2027
The International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook report has delivered a shock to Japan’s economic prospects. According to the authoritative
Five Warships, Nine Vessels Cross Line, Prompting Immediate Taiwan Defense Deployment
From 6:00 AM yesterday to 6:00 AM today, monitoring data released by the Ministry of National Defense showed that five warships and nine official vessels f
Veteran Dragon Player Overcomes Championship Nerves Through Loud Screaming and Roaring
The Chinese Professional Baseball League Taiwan Series has always been the most anticipated top-tier showdown of the domestic baseball calendar. It is not
AUO Exits Panels, Pivots to AR, Satcom
In an interview conducted in Hsinchu this week, AU Optronics Chairman Peng Shuang-lang stated frankly that the display panel industry has weathered storms
European Protests Spark Economic Reform Storm Over Cost of Living
Violent demonstrations in Paris, France, stemmed from the pension reform plan promoted by President Emmanuel Macron, which economists warned could weaken l
Brazil Records Lowest Amazon Deforestation Since 1988, 5,796 km² Declared
Brazil’s environment minister, João Paulo Capobianco, announced on 30 September 2026 that the Amazon rainforest suffered 5,796 km² of deforestation in the
Slovenian Voters Narrowly Reject Referendum to Repeal Parliamentary Investigation Law
Slovenian voters narrowly rejected a legislative push to overturn the controversial Law on Parliamentary Investigation, with final results showing a 51% ma
Wei Chuan Dragons Reach Finals Again As Yeh Chun-chang Praises Mature Lineup
The CPBL's Wei Chuan Dragons once again demonstrated formidable competitiveness in this year's season, battling their way through to the Taiwan Series. Thi
PharmaEssentia to Open Puerto Rico Plant in 2027, Expanding Global Ropeg Reach
The board of directors of PharmaEssentia Corp. resolved this year to invest $46 million to construct a brand-new pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Puer
US Media: Beijing Agents Monitored Lai's Son in California
In a report from Los Angeles, CBS News revealed that an investigation indicates a California real estate agent, Chang Wan-ying, and her associate, Miao Fa-
Legislature's Elderly Health Insurance Reform Sparks Intergenerational Conflict and Partisan Standoff
The Legislative Yuan yesterday completed the third reading of the amendments to Article 22 of the Senior Citizens Welfare Act, modifying the original provi
New Taipei City Art Museum Launches Dual Exhibition Highlighting Four Pioneer Artists
The New Taipei City Art Museum has recently officially launched a new dual-exhibition project, comprehensively mapping out the developmental trajectory of
Pope Leo XIV Leads Mass After Lung Cancer Surgery
Following Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer surgery earlier this year, the Vatican released a series of photos on October 18 for the first time, showing that he w