TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Improving Taiwan’s deterrence capability is the key to securing its semiconductor supply chain, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) said on Monday (May 6).
Expanding semiconductor operations to other countries is not as efficient as keeping it all in Taiwan due to different cultures and training styles, Chen told Taiwan News.
He urged the government to “consolidate” its semiconductor operations. “Diversification neither eliminates the Chinese threat nor increases chip production efficiency,” he said, adding that China targets all of Taiwan, not just its semiconductor supply chain.
“The best way to protect Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain is to maintain a secure and stable Taiwan,” Chen said.
He added that Taiwan is not a country that will block access to its semiconductor supply. It provides chips to countries who need them based on the principle of fairness in a free market, he said.
Bolstering defense
As Taiwan’s primary arms supplier and strategic partner, the US can help maintain regional security through continued bilateral military exchanges and training, Chen said. Taiwan also needs to acquire more conventional hardware such as submarines and new fighter jets, he said.
Since the Taiwan Strait separates Taiwan from China, a traditional navy and air force can “effectively keep China in check,” he said. The body of water prevents it from easily transporting military equipment and assets to Taiwan in an invasion.
In addition to enhanced military cooperation with the US, Taiwan must also increase its defense budget, Chen said. Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) believed Taiwan was not in danger as cross-strait relations improved, but the risk of conflict was always there.
Numerous think tanks have highlighted the risk of conflict, Chen said. “Our defense minister and other national security experts must warn the public of these risks.”
Democratic alliance
The other facet of securing Taiwan is to seek more global partnerships, Chen said. As a member of the Taiwan-Balkan Nine Countries Parliamentary Association, the legislature said the Balkan nations were all formerly ruled by the Soviet Union and understood the impacts of totalitarianism on their economic development.
“Cooperating with them and listening to how they faced certain challenges in the past is extremely valuable to Taiwan,” he said. In recent meetings with Kosovo and Romanian politicians, he said they mentioned cooperation in certain areas and brought up Ukraine.
Chen acknowledged the Balkan region had deep ties with China but said, “Things are always changing.” “Central and Eastern European countries used to be socialist and China’s 16+1 is losing members,” he said.
They also see China supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and are concerned the war could impact them, as they do not want to return to their Soviet past, he said.
With so many issues to address, cooperation with the Kuomintang (KMT) party is key, Chen said, but it is “going to be increasingly difficult.”
Kuomintang collaboration
He expressed regret about the KMT’s fear of asserting Taiwan’s sovereignty. “The party’s mindset is still stuck in 1949. It’s absurd,” he said.
Chen called out the “inappropriate timing” of Ma and Fu Kun-ch’s (傅崐萁) recent trips to China and asked why they would visit a country that constantly flies military aircraft near Taiwan’s airspace.
He said the party’s affinity for China is hindering legislative progress to strengthen Taiwan’s international space and diplomacy. “Their worldview is from the perspective of China. They put China first,” he said.
Nevertheless, Chen said he hoped the DPP and KMT could be on the same page in promoting Taiwan’s defense industry, strengthening deterrence, and countering espionage.
Chen said he was optimistic about the nation’s future, praising its large economy, advanced tech industry, and good international reputation. However, to preserve these strengths “we need to deter war,” he said.
He reiterated that Taiwan must invest more in national defense and diplomacy so other countries will place more confidence in Taiwan and foster mutual support. The costs are “affordable and necessary.”
Tags: Taiwan legislator deterrence key semiconductor supply chain security Taiwan News
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