The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu said Taiwan is committed to enhancing ongoing partnership with the U.S. while strengthening cooperation with President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
Wu made the remarks during an interview with Steven Chase for an article published Nov. 9 in Toronto-based daily newspaper The Globe and Mail.
Taiwan is confident Trump will not abandon the Asian democracy to China because it plays a key role in the U.S. supply chain for cutting-edge semiconductor chips, Wu said, adding that he believes the U.S. would act to protect its national interests in the event of a cross-strait conflict.
According to Wu, Taiwan produces more than 60 percent of the world’s integrated circuits and over 90 percent of the most advanced chips, which are required in core technologies from smartphones to medical devices. The country also provides 100 percent of the global supply of chips used in artificial intelligence, he said, adding that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is a world leader in semiconductor production.
The deputy minister described Taiwan’s strategy as a “not today” policy regarding possible attacks from China, adding that the intention is to keep Chinese leader Xi Jinping thinking each day when he wakes up that today is not the day to invade Taiwan. He further reaffirmed that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense while working with like-minded partners including Japan and the U.S. to safeguard regional peace and stability.
Wu took the opportunity to thank Canada for backing Taiwan, most recently reflected in the House of Commons’ passage of a motion rejecting a public relations campaign by China Nov. 6. The motion stated that U.N. Resolution 2758 neither establishes the People’s Republic of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan nor addresses Taiwan’s participation in U.N. specialized agencies, the MOFA said, adding that the Canadian lower house also expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful engagement in international organizations. (YCH-E)
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