Taipei, January 14, 2026 — The Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) hosted scholars from the University of Tartu’s Asia Centre, Mart Tšernjuk and Anastasia Sinitsyna, for discussions on Taiwan’s semiconductor resilience, supply chain security, and the geopolitical and economic risks affecting Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
The University of Tartu, Estonia’s oldest and largest university, established its Asia Centre in 2016, which has since become a key hub for Taiwan studies in Estonia. In June 2025, the Centre published“Taiwan in a Changing World”, one of Estonia’s most comprehensive recent studies on Taiwan. The report has attracted significant attention from Estonian policymakers, and the two scholars have already begun work on their next Taiwan-focused research report.
The visiting scholars noted growing interest in Taiwan within Estonia’s academic and policy communities, particularly regarding the potential economic impact of a Taiwan Strait crisis on Estonia and Europe. They also highlighted concerns over the resilience of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and critical supply chains amid intensifying geopolitical competition.
DSET Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Chih-Cheng Chang emphasized that Taiwan shares several security challenges with Ukraine and the Baltic states, including threats to critical infrastructure and undersea cables. He introduced DSET’s recent research on undersea cable security and communications resilience, underscoring the potential for closer cooperation and knowledge exchange between Taiwan and Estonia.
Discussions also addressed cybersecurity, drones, and the importance of decoupling supply chains from China. Chang stressed that Taiwan continues to strengthen its industrial resilience in response to potential risks posed by China, and reaffirmed Taiwan’s irreplaceable role in global semiconductor manufacturing, citing its speed, adaptability, and capacity for sustained innovation.
Chang concluded by noting that while Taiwan can learn from Estonia’s leadership in digital governance, Taiwan’s advanced manufacturing and semiconductor capabilities remain critical assets for democratic partners. DSET looks forward to deeper Taiwan–Europe cooperation to enhance collective technological and supply chain resilience.
