TAIPEI: The new year has brought Taiwan no respite from its economic woes as exports fell in January for the 12th successive month, the longest continuous decline for almost seven years. The island slid into recession in the last quarter of 2015, posting its slowest annual growth since 2009, as China’s economic slowdown and weaker international demand took their toll on the export-driven economy. January saw exports drop by 13 per cent, to $22.2 billion from $25.5 billion a year earlier. It follows a miserable 2015, which saw Taiwan’s exports fall by a tenth compared to the previous year.