On April 29, the Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology (DSET) hosted the event “DSET EU-Taiwan Think Tank Dialogue──Voices at the Crossroads: Europe’s Role in Navigating Strategic Tech Competition and Democratic Resilience.” The dialogue featured Dr. Mikko Huotari, Executive Director of the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) in Germany, and Dr. Mathieu Duchâtel, Resident Senior Fellow and Director of International Studies of the Institut Montaigne in France. The two experts shared insights on Europe’s strategic response to the incoming Trump administration and explored directions for Taiwan–Europe cooperation on technology and economic policy.
The event was moderated by DSET CEO Dr. Jeremy Chih-Cheng Chang and attended by DSET President Dr. Wen-Ling Tu, Vice President Dr. Hsien-Ming Lien, and Advisor Dr. Chih-Hung Tsai. The event gathered nearly 50 participants, including international and local journalists, EU representative offices/institutes in Taiwan, and European studies scholars.
MERICS is the largest and most influential China-focused think tank in Germany and Europe, with research spanning China’s economy, semiconductor and AI industries, and other key sectors. Its Executive Director, Dr. Mikko Huotari, is currently a visiting scholar in Taiwan. The Institut Montaigne is one of France’s leading public policy think tanks. Dr. Mathieu Duchâtel has long focused on Taiwan–Europe cooperation in geopolitics and technology supply chains, and his insights are frequently cited by both Taiwanese and international media.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Chang noted that DSET is dedicated to advancing research on technology and economic policy and to expanding Taiwan–Europe think tank collaboration. He explained that in light of the Trump administration’s return—with renewed calls for “reciprocal tariffs,” increased defense spending from Taiwan and Europe, and efforts to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia—collaboration on economic security and technology supply chains has become more critical. Today’s discussion centered on Europe’s strategic response to Trump 2.0’s tech and trade agenda, countermeasures to China’s industrial subsidies, and pathways for Taiwan–Europe cooperation on national and economic security.
Europe’s Cautious Response to Trump 2.0 and China Policy
On Trump’s new policy agenda, Dr. Huotari noted that Europe’s trust in the U.S. is weakening. In response to shifting tariff policies, most European nations have adopted a cautious, “wait-and-see” approach, refraining from immediate retaliation. They are using the current 90-day tariff moratorium to reassess the situation and maintain internal unity.
Dr. Duchâtel emphasized that a key variable is how much pressure the U.S. will apply on Europe to align with its China strategy. So far, such pressure remains limited. Recent statements by the U.S. Treasury Secretary even suggest that the U.S. will seek coordination with allies, though the overall strategy remains uncertain and there have been contradictory statements.
On the other hand, China appears keen to preserve investment and market ties with Europe, signaling a willingness to ease certain sanctions and initiate dialogue—particularly on electric vehicles. However, Duchâtel noted that this diverges from the EU’s push to rebalance the structural asymmetries in trade, making compromise difficult.
Taiwan–Europe Cooperation on Tech and Economic Security
On Taiwan–Europe collaboration, Dr. Huotari pointed to the significant potential in semiconductor supply chain cooperation, stressing the need to accelerate policy implementation to capture emerging commercial opportunities. He also highlighted the drone and satellite industries as another promising fields, where building ties between Taiwanese and key German/French firms could strengthen bilateral relations.
Dr. Duchâtel added that the EU’s economic security agenda itself provides a viable roadmap for deeper Taiwan–Europe cooperation. He cited Europe’s growing focus on outbound investment screening, an area in which Taiwan has decades of experience. In addition, shared interests in research security, protection of critical infrastructure (such as telecom and undersea cables), resilience against economic coercion, and supply chain security all present opportunities for substantive collaboration—despite differences in priorities.
During the Q&A session, Alexander Sjöberg, Asia Correspondent for Denmark’s Berlingske, asked about China’s growing global influence amid geopolitical turmoil and the economic pressures brought on by trade conflicts. Yi-Cheng Chou, CEO of Sedai Group, pointed out that regional security is an urgent issue in the Pacific and inquired about the feasibility of establishing an “Indo-Pacific Collective Security Framework.” Suzanne Duroy, reporter for France’s Le Figaro, raised questions about the authenticity of Europe’s strategic partnership with Taiwan and the future trajectory of China–EU relations.
