Taiwanese Economic Affairs Minister Wang Mei-Hua has said that Taiwan, which produces the vast majority of the world’s most advanced computer chips, must remain safe from a Chinese invasion if semiconductor supply chains are to be secure and continue to flow.
She added that it was in the best interests of the world for Taiwan to work with the United States and other allies to achieve the most effective results.
She claimed that Taiwan was seeking to improve relations between Taiwan and the U.S. in order to secure robust supply chains, and that China would suffer if it interfered in Taiwan.
Wang said that if the world’s largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd was taken over militarily, its operations would cease. Wang also quoted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as saying that if something happened to Taiwan, the world economy would be destroyed.
Wang also said that Taiwan appreciates the support of the US Congress for stronger Taiwanese and US relations, citing U.S. legislation prohibiting China from purchasing certain semiconductor chips made with U.S. equipment, and said that Taiwanese firms would abide by international law.
She also stated that Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain is very solid, having been built up over 40 years, and that the new U.S. government subsidies to promote reintegration into chip production would not affect Taiwan, as Taiwan has a very large supply chain that is difficult to duplicate or replace.
The sources for this piece include an article in Reuters.