The country’s top trade negotiator John Deng (鄧振中) said Friday that Taiwan’s critical role in the global supply chain means it is in Washington’s interest to ensure the island’s national and economic security.
At an event hosted by the Hoover Institution, a Stanford University-affiliated think tank, Deng, a minister without portfolio, said that supply chain disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic had underlined the importance of Taiwan’s position as a world leader in the production of semiconductors.
During the disruption, European countries and the United States desperately sought an increase in semiconductor supplies and entice Taiwanese chipmakers to set up overseas production facilities.
One prominent example of the latter is a US$12 billion investment by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, to build a fab in the U.S. state of Arizona.
According to TSMC, mass production in Arizona using advanced 5-nanometer processes will begin in 2024.
In his speech, Deng said that the U.S.’ national security and economic interests would be affected if Taiwan saw its economic security undermined.
“So really I think my point is Taiwan’s economic security is Taiwan’s national security. Taiwan’s national security is a very important part for U.S. national security and U.S. interests,” Deng said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel