Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (C) arrives at a naval base to inspect military troops on the Penghu Islands August 30, 2022. Taiwan looks forward to producing ‘democracy chips’ with the United States, the president said Tsai Ing-wen to visiting U.S. State of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Thursday, the latest in a series of senior county officials to visit.
Taiwan looks forward to producing “democracy chips” with the United States, President Tsai Ing-wen told visiting Governor of the US state of Arizona Doug Ducey on Thursday, the latest in a series of senior county officials to visit.
Taiwan has been keen to show the United States, its largest international backer and arms supplier despite having no formal diplomatic relations, that it is a reliable friend as a global chip crisis impacts the automotive production and consumer electronics.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), a major supplier to Apple and the world’s largest contract chipmaker, is building a $12 billion factory in Arizona.
“Faced with authoritarian expansionism and the challenges of the post-pandemic era, Taiwan is seeking to strengthen cooperation with the United States in the semiconductor sector and other high-tech industries,” Tsai said during of the meeting at the presidential office in Taipei.
“This will help build safer and more resilient supply chains. We look forward to jointly producing democratic chips to protect the interests of our democratic partners and create greater prosperity.”
Ducey, a Republican, is the latest in a succession of US officials to visit, including US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in early August, defying pressure from China that such trips not have venue.
He told Tsai that their partnership with Taiwan was “the biggest” in the semiconductor industry.
“The legacy investment from TSMC has increased the potential of what’s possible between Arizona and Taiwan,” Ducey said.
“Arizona is on the side of Taiwan, and we look forward to taking advantage of the many opportunities ahead.”
Arizona is also where Taiwanese F-16 pilots train, at Luke Air Force Base, which Tsai also mentioned.
“Taiwan and the United States will continue to rely on our important alliance to safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” she said.
China claims Taiwan as its territory despite strong objections from the democratically elected government in Taipei, which rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
China has conducted military drills near Taiwan since Pelosi’s visit to express anger over what it sees as increased US support for the island.
