Amid rising geopolitical risks and global supply chain restructuring, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) hosted the Forum on Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnerships on May 23, under the guidance of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, National Development Council, National Science and Technology Council, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Lai Ching-te delivered opening remarks at the event, which was attended by diplomatic envoys to Taiwan. DSET CEO Jeremy Chih-Cheng Chang was invited to speak at the session titled “Enhancing Semiconductor Supply Chain Security and Resilience,” in alignment with Taiwan’s proposed Global Democratic Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership Initiative.
The forum attracted over 700 participants from domestic and international industries in semiconductor materials, equipment, and facilities, as well as from academia, think tanks, and media. Centered on the themes of “Innovation, Security, Resilience, and Shared Prosperity,” the forum fostered exchanges on supply chain security, global division of labor, and technological complementarity.
In his address, President Lai emphasized that although Taiwan continues to lead globally across various segments of the semiconductor industry, no single country can operate in isolation. Taiwan bears a responsibility toward global progress and aspires to be a pivotal force in the advancement of AI worldwide. He also pointed to the current threat posed by China’s dumping of mature-node chips at low prices, a strategy mirrored in other industries and one that hampers global innovation.
This concern is echoed in DSET’s latest economic security report, The Great Siege: The PRC’s Comprehensive Strategy to Dominate Foundational Chips, which analyzes how China employs heavy state subsidies to undercut global markets in industries such as steel, aluminum, solar panels, displays, and automobiles—causing widespread industrial disruptions. These developments underscore the urgent need for international cooperation to build a resilient, democratic semiconductor supply chain.
Forum discussions focused on geopolitical risks, technological innovation, and supply chain resilience, examining how Taiwan can leverage alliances, talent, and market strategies to expand its global role. The third panel session, “Enhancing Semiconductor Supply Chain Security and Resilience,” addressed how value-based alliances can strengthen trust and resilience in the semiconductor supply chain amidst geopolitical and structural shifts. The session also explored how Taiwan can reinforce its advantages in mid- to high-end semiconductor processes in response to increasing supply chain regionalization.
Dr. Chih-Cheng Chang of DSET joined the panel alongside Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ming-Chi Chen; SEMI Global Chief Marketing Officer and President of SEMI Taiwan Terry Tsao; Professor Mi-Young Kim from National Chengchi University’s College of International Affairs; Dr. Chun-Hui Hung, Director and Senior Industry Consultant at the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC); and Pei-Chen Liu, Director of the Industry and Economics Database at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research.
Dr. Chang emphasized that technological advancement must safeguard democratic values, ensuring that democratic allies lead the future of civilization in the age of AI. He noted that Taiwan’s competitiveness stems from its unique position within a borderless global supply chain, particularly in the mature-node semiconductor sector, where it provides irreplaceable value. As the AI revolution redefines the global order, Taiwan, representing the ideal of “free growth,” must help democratic nations “run faster” while slowing down potential adversaries—ensuring that critical technologies remain under democratic leadership.
Highlighting the shared concern among democracies over China’s state-backed attempts to dominate supply chains while disregarding international norms, Dr. Chang asserted that Taiwan must play an active role in discussions concerning national security, economic security, and supply chain resilience. Despite mounting challenges, Taiwan will “keep running”—balancing open innovation with national security—and will steadfastly protect “priceless knowledge” and critical technologies from falling into adversarial hands. This commitment is essential to ensuring the sustained growth of democratic alliances grounded in universal values.
