TAIPEI: Taiwan looks forward to producing “republic chips” with the United States, President Tsai Ing-wen told the visiting governor of the U.S. state of Arizona, Doug Ducey, on Thursday, the rearmost in a string of elderly officers from the county to visit.
Taiwan has been keen to show the United States, its most important transnational backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal politic ties, that it’s a dependable friend as a global chip crunch impacts bus product and consumer electronics.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd(TSMC)(2330. TW), a major Apple Inc(AAPL.O) supplier and the world’s largest contract chipmaker, is constructing a $12 billion factory in Arizona.
“In the face of authoritarian expansionism and the challenges of the post-pandemic period, Taiwan seeks to bolster cooperation with the United States in the semiconductor and other high-tech diligence,” Tsai said at the meeting in the presidential office in Taipei.
“This will help make further secure and more flexible force chains. We look forward to concertedly producing republic chips to guard the interests of our popular mates and produce lesser substance.”
Ducey, a Republican, is the rearmost in a race of officers from the United States to visit including U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in early August, defying pressure from China for similar passages not to take place.
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He told Tsai that their cooperation with Taiwan was “the topmost” in the semiconductor assiduity.
“TSMC’s heritage investment has elevated the eventuality for what is possible between Arizona and Taiwan,” Ducey said.
“Arizona stands with Taiwan, and we look forward to erecting on the numerous openings ahead.”
Arizona is also where Taiwanese F-16 aviators train, at Luke Air Force base, which Tsai also mentioned.
“Taiwan and the United States will continue to make on our important alliance to guard peace and stability in the Indo Pacific,” she said.
China claims Taiwan as its home despite the strong expostulations of the democratically tagged government in Taipei, which rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
China has been carrying out military drills near Taiwan since Pelosi’s visit to express its wrathfulness at what it views as stepped up U.S. support for the islet.
Source: Reuters
