In October, a delegation from the U.S. think tank RAND Corporation visited the Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology (DSET) to engage in a research exchange with DSET’s Economic Security Research Group.
The delegation included RAND President Jason Matheny, who previously served on the U.S. National Security Council and led U.S. technology and national security policies, along with Global and Emerging Risks Vice President Jim Mitre, Senior Advisor of Technology Analysis Jimmy Goodrich, Taiwan Initiatives Director Raymond Kuo, and Technology and Security Policy Research Fellow Margaret Siu. DSET was represented by Director Dr. Wen-Ling Tu, Deputy Director Hsien-Ming Lien, and Executive Director and Economic Security Group Lead Dr. Jeremy Chang.
The two parties shared insights into their respective research initiatives focused on the semiconductor industry and economic security issues. DSET Executive Director Dr. Chang explained that over the past year, DSET has conducted in-depth research on China’s semiconductor policies and their implications for Taiwan’s economic security. Utilizing open-source intelligence (OSINT) for case studies, DSET examined how the Chinese government and companies employ tactics such as “remote poaching” to attract Taiwan’s semiconductor design talent and secure advanced semiconductor technology. DSET is also planning to publish reports revealing how Huawei has established a “shadow network” of companies to circumvent U.S. sanctions and export controls, enabling it to acquire and manufacture advanced chips.
The RAND delegation shared relevant findings from their research and agreed to establish a regular channel for research exchange with DSET, allowing both parties to share research findings.
DSET noted that RAND’s visit coincided with recent media reports on Huawei’s acquisition of advanced TSMC chips through third parties. This highlights the importance of Taiwan-U.S. collaboration between research institutions to strengthen export controls and bolster economic security frameworks. Looking ahead, DSET aims to pursue a more consistent partnership with RAND and continue expanding dialogue with think tanks worldwide.