Cross-strait travel & diplomacy: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan’s defense build-up is not provocation as Beijing ramps up military and political pressure, while Taipei seeks swift U.S. approval for a new arms package—an angle that matters for travelers watching how security tensions can reshape routes and plans. Festival travel vibes: Dragon Boat Festival celebrations rolled across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan with dragon boat races, lion dances and zongzi, plus local twists like Suzhou’s debut golden dragon parade. Taiwan identity through food tourism: A Booker-winning Taiwanese novel, Taiwan Travelogue, is reigniting debate over the island’s shifting identity—set in 1938 and framed as a culinary journey that’s now being read through today’s cross-strait tensions. Outbound/inbound tourism signals: Taiwan is pushing harder in the Philippines after record Filipino arrivals, running B2B matching in Cebu and promoting “Taiwan – Waves of Wonder” (food, nature, culture, leisure). Local fun for visitors: Pingtung’s Jiadong Township kicked off the holiday with its watermelon balancing event, drawing crowds and spotlighting the county’s “watermelon hometown” brand. Practical travel note: South Korea extended preferential tariffs on Taiwanese bananas, pineapples and mangoes through Aug. 15, helping keep fruit prices steadier during peak demand.