TAIPEI, April 30 -- Taiwan's economy saw double-digit growth in the first three months of 2026 thanks to robust demand for artificial intelligence technology, data showed Thursday, despite concerns over the Middle East crisis.

The island is a global powerhouse in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips, which power AI, and its economy has been growing at a fast clip in recent years.

But the Iran war has raised concerns about the potential impact on the economy, particularly the critical chips sector, owing to Taiwan's almost total reliance on energy imports to keep the lights on and production lines running.

Gross domestic product expanded 13.7 per cent on-year in the first quarter of 2026, the fastest pace since the second quarter of...