On February 20, the Center for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology (DSET) invited former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger, former Admiral Mark Montgomery, Taiwan’s National Security Council Advisor Li Yu-chieh, Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan, as well as representatives from Taiwan’s government, the semiconductor industry, and international think tanks for a closed-door discussion. DSET Director Tu Wen-ling, Executive Director Chang Chih-cheng, and research fellows also participated in the discussions.
The discussion focused on the Chinese edition of The Boiling Moat, co-authored by Pottinger and Taiwanese counterparts, which explores strategies for strengthening Taiwan’s defense and deterring China through U.S.-Taiwan cooperation. Key topics included government communication strategies under Trump’s new policies, U.S.-Taiwan collaboration in the semiconductor industry, defense technology, and energy security.
Participants unanimously agreed that given the growing instability in the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan must allocate resources to enhance its defense capabilities to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas.
DSET Executive Director Chang Chih-cheng expressed gratitude to the two international guests for their longstanding support of Taiwan. He emphasized that for Taiwan and like-minded nations, democracy remains the top priority. The critical recommendations presented in The Boiling Moat align closely with DSET’s research focus. As President Lai Ching-te previously stated, Taiwan plans to increase its defense budget to over 3% of GDP, in response to the U.S. trend of sharing security responsibilities with its allies. Positioned at the frontline against authoritarian ideologies, Taiwan plays a crucial role in both geopolitics and technological competition, serving as a global hub for advanced semiconductor chips and artificial intelligence equipment.
Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its national defense while deepening cooperation with the U.S. and other partners to ensure the democratic camp maintains its leading position in technological development.
DSET will continue to invite international partners to engage with Taiwan’s government, industry, and academia through both public and closed-door meetings, focusing on key issues in Taiwan’s global partnerships.