Lin Chia-lung Highlights Taiwan's Key Role in Resilient Global Chip Supply

Foreign Minister Lin Chia‑lung recently attended the 2026 Trusted Semiconductor Supply Chain Partners Forum held at the venue of the International Semiconductor Exhibition, where he delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony. Lin noted that, after decades of deep involvement in the information and communications technology (ICT) and semiconductor sectors, Taiwan has successfully built the world’s most advanced and comprehensive semiconductor industry ecosystem. With the wave of artificial intelligence sweeping the globe, Taiwan is not only a core participant in this technological revolution but has also become an indispensable foundation for AI development worldwide. Confronted with a volatile international political and economic landscape and geopolitical challenges, Taiwan’s future core strategic goal is to further unite the strengths and resources of democratic partners around the world, leveraging complementary industrial capabilities to construct a secure, stable and highly resilient high‑tech supply chain.

The highly anticipated forum was staged during the International Semiconductor Exhibition, underscoring Taiwan’s pivotal role in the global semiconductor supply chain. In recent years, the ongoing U.S.–China technology rivalry, compounded by the pandemic, natural disasters and frequent geopolitical conflicts, has markedly heightened major industrial nations’ awareness of the security of critical components and semiconductor supply chains. The previous model of pure cost‑minimization through globalized division of labor is gradually being replaced by new thinking centered on “economic security” and “supply‑chain resilience.” In this context, semiconductors are no longer merely commercial goods; they have been elevated to the status of national security and strategic materials. As a hub for wafer foundry and advanced processes, Taiwan’s ability to link up with like‑minded democratic nations at this turning point has become a focal point of international attention.

In his remarks, Lin placed particular emphasis on the concept of “democratic partners,” a phrase that carries deep diplomatic and economic‑strategic implications. As democratic countries roll out their own industrial policies—such as the United States’ CHIPS and Science Act and Europe’s European Chips Act—the global semiconductor industry is undergoing a restructuring. Taiwan’s diplomatic and economic strategy must align with these allies’ policies. By deepening cooperation with democratic partners including the United States, Japan and Europe, Taiwan can combine its manufacturing advantages with allies’ strengths in basic research, materials science, equipment manufacturing or end‑market applications. This cross‑border complementary cooperation not only solidifies Taiwan’s pivotal position in the world supply chain but also, through a collective security network, reduces systemic risks associated with reliance on any single country or region.

From an industry perspective, Taiwan’s status as a cornerstone of the AI revolution is the result of sustained effort rather than a sudden development. Taiwan possesses a complete industrial cluster that spans the upstream intellectual property and IC design, the midstream wafer foundry and testing, and the downstream system assembly. This highly efficient vertical specialization combined with horizontal integration is virtually unique worldwide. In particular, Taiwanese firms hold the critical technological thresholds for the advanced processes and advanced packaging that AI chips heavily depend upon. When global tech giants such as Microsoft, Google and Nvidia race to invest in AI research and applications, they cannot bypass the robust manufacturing capacity and technical support that Taiwan provides. This gives Taiwan greater bargaining power in international negotiations and economic‑trade cooperation, enabling it to co‑construct security safeguards with democratic partners.

Nonetheless, building a secure and resilient high‑tech supply chain comes with numerous challenges that must be overcome. Beyond external geopolitical pressure, Taiwan must also continuously address domestic issues such as water and electricity supply, land acquisition, talent development and net‑zero carbon emissions. The policy signals conveyed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through this forum indicate that the government is actively playing a bridging role—not only to help Taiwan’s semiconductor industry reach global markets but also to transform the island’s industrial strength into a force that safeguards peace and democratic prosperity across the Indo‑Pacific region. Through close dialogue and cooperation with the international community, Taiwan is steadily advancing its strategic vision of becoming a core hub of the global democratic supply chain.

(Source: Central News Agency)