Deputy Foreign Minister François Chih-chung Wu said that Taiwan will continue to promote reciprocal cultural exchange and corporate investment with France to deepen bilateral bonds.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Wu made the remarks in an interview, published online Oct. 8, with French magazine Paris Match. He said Taiwan has been consistent in its advocacy for the status quo despite China’s frequent attempts to disrupt it by sending warships and military planes into Taiwanese airspace and waters.
Wu further expounded on the three major pillars of the country’s defense strategy: enhancing the defense budget, expanding partnerships with democracies around the world and cementing Taiwan’s key position in global supply chains.
The deputy minister said that the defense budget is now at 2.5 percent of the gross domestic product and is to be increased to 3.3 percent in 2026. He added that the long-term goal is 5 percent.
Wu said that France is an influential member of the EU, adding that there is great potential for Taiwan-France collaborations in the areas of energy transition and semiconductors.
The deputy minister reiterated Taiwan’s key strategic role in the global economy, noting that 70 percent of semiconductors, 95 percent of advanced chips and almost all artificial intelligence computing chips are produced by Taiwan. (POC-E)
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