The Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology (DSET) visited the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) in Washington, D.C., on May 4, 2026. DSET representatives held a roundtable discussion with Jacob Stokes (Deputy Director, Indo-Pacific Security Program), Daniel Remler (Senior Fellow, Technology and National Security Program), and their research team to exchange insights on technology competition, supply chain defense, and emerging tech governance in the Indo-Pacific.
DSET CEO Dr. Jeremy Chih-Cheng Chang opened the session by introducing DSET’s mission and key achievements in economic security and technology governance. He emphasized that, amid current geopolitical complexities, Taiwan serves not only as the hub of the global semiconductor supply chain but also as a critical “frontline observatory” for democratic allies. Dr. Chang noted that substantive dialogues between think tanks enable Taiwan’s frontline observations to be translated into precise policy recommendations, collectively safeguarding Indo-Pacific strategic stability.
Ines Chung, Policy Analyst in DSET’s Economic Security Research Program, presented the institute’s latest findings on advanced packaging. She highlighted that, faced with constraints in front-end advanced nodes, China is aggressively pursuing advanced packaging and system integration as a strategic parallel track for boosting its computing capabilities. By leveraging its industrial scale in Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT), substrates, and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing, China aims to achieve “good enough” system-level performance through backend innovation. Using Huawei’s AI products as a case study, Chung emphasized that this shift toward system-level scaling has become a new focal point in geotechnological competition.
During the roundtable, both parties engaged in an in-depth discussion on China’s tactics for circumventing export controls. China is employing model distillation and intermediary networks in hubs such as Singapore and Malaysia to mitigate the impact of international sanctions. The conversation also explored the influence of Western capital flows and investments on China’s technological trajectory. Dr. Chang provided a distinct Taiwanese perspective on the strategic dilemmas and practical challenges faced by firms navigating the line between the PRC market and global export control regimes, offering U.S. experts a nuanced, real-world viewpoint.
The roundtable, attended by ten researchers from both institutions, concluded with a mutual commitment to deepen collaboration on Indo-Pacific security, export control frameworks for critical technologies, and supply chain resilience.
