Taiwan Sends Unique Message To Trump

Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, has made clear that his government is prepared to engage more closely with the United States in the wake of President Trump’s concerns over the chip industry. After Trump’s remarks about Taiwan’s role in the U.S. semiconductor market and his call for its return, Lai expressed a willingness to communicate directly with the U.S. and increase Taiwan’s investments in America.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Taiwan’s TSMC, the world’s largest chipmaker, for producing chips for major U.S. tech companies like Apple, Intel, and Nvidia. Trump’s position, highlighted on Thursday, emphasized that Taiwan had taken away valuable U.S. chip manufacturing jobs and that it was time for these jobs to return to American soil.

In response to these concerns, President Lai acknowledged the complexity of the global semiconductor market. During a National Security Council briefing, he emphasized that the semiconductor industry functions as a global “ecosystem,” where different countries contribute unique expertise. He assured that Taiwan’s government is committed to fostering a relationship with the U.S. that benefits both nations. His aim is to create a win-win scenario that supports U.S. interests while allowing Taiwan’s industries to continue thriving.

Lai also noted Taiwan’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its partnership with the U.S. He proposed a “global semiconductor democratic supply chain partnership initiative,” focusing on creating a more resilient and diversified semiconductor supply chain. This initiative, according to Lai, will further solidify Taiwan’s indispensable role in the U.S. manufacturing sector and its leadership in high-tech industries.

Over the past two years, Taiwan has directed more than 40% of its overseas investments to the U.S., surpassing its investments in China. Furthermore, Lai announced plans to propose a special budget to increase Taiwan’s defense spending to over 3% of its GDP, highlighting Taiwan’s commitment to its security and its vital relationship with the U.S.