Taipei: Taiwan’s overseas industrial expansion can help the country respond more promptly to natural disasters and global uncertainties, Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin said Wednesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, speaking at a forum in Taipei, Kung emphasized that Taiwan’s industrial clusters, particularly in the semiconductor sector, are highly concentrated and efficient but face risks due to their concentrated nature. He highlighted that overseas deployments, along with partnerships with foreign companies, can provide rapid support when operations in Taiwan are disrupted, thereby ensuring the resilience of the country’s industrial ecosystem.
As an example, Kung referenced an American chip company that was able to mitigate the impact of a major earthquake in Taiwan a few years ago by sending manpower and materials from its bases in Japan to the island within 24 hours. This incident, according to the minister, represented “a very good model” facilitated by overseas industrial expansion.
However, opposition parties in Taiwan have expressed concerns that such expansions, particularly TSMC’s investment in the United States to build state-of-the-art foundries, might undermine Taiwan’s competitive edge in semiconductor manufacturing. TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, has expanded its presence to Japan, the U.S., and Germany to produce advanced computer chips, in addition to its multiple foundries in Taiwan.
During his keynote speech, Kung described Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem as a “model of success,” highlighting its global leadership in technology and efficiency. He stated that Taiwanese chips should operate globally around the clock, showcasing Taiwan’s economic strength.
President Lai Ching-te also addressed the forum, emphasizing the need to improve supply chain resilience amidst geopolitical tensions and global trade volatility. He noted Taiwan’s critical role in the global semiconductor supply chain and assured that his government would continue to strengthen the country’s key technological capacities.
