Min-Yen Chiang, Deputy Director for Economic Security at the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET), was recently interviewed by The Tech Capital, a UK-based media outlet specializing in global technology and infrastructure. The interview appears in the publication’s latest cover feature, “Holding the line: The Battle for the World’s Chips,” which examines semiconductor geopolitics, Taiwan’s strategic role in global supply chains, and policy trends amid intensifying U.S.–China technological competition. The Tech Capital is widely referenced by industry and policy communities and is regarded as an important source for understanding global technology infrastructure developments and emerging supply-chain risks.
In the interview, Chiang noted that Taiwan’s government and industries are no longer adhering to the previous posture of commercial neutrality. Instead, both the public and private sectors are increasingly aligning with U.S. export-control regulations and engaging international partners more proactively. He highlighted Taiwan’s recent decision to add Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) to its trade blacklist as a clear indication of this shift. The move reflects Taiwan’s strengthening national-security considerations and growing willingness to coordinate with international technology-governance frameworks. According to Chiang, this development underscores continued tensions in cross-Strait relations while reinforcing mutual trust and cooperation between Taiwan and its democratic allies.
Responding to questions about whether overseas semiconductor expansion may weaken Taiwan’s domestic supply chain, Chiang stressed that the global deployment of leading companies should not be seen as a source of vulnerability. Instead, it serves as a foundation for Taiwan’s technological competitiveness to expand further. He explained that TSMC’s leadership in innovation and R&D continues to attract international firms to deepen their investments in Taiwan and strengthen partnerships with local suppliers. This trend bolsters Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem, enabling domestic firms to increase R&D activities, expand investment, and generate higher value-added output—a positive cycle that enhances long-term industry development. These dynamics, Chiang emphasized, strengthen Taiwan rather than weaken it.
However, Chiang also pointed to emerging challenges posed by China’s rapid expansion in mature-node semiconductor manufacturing. He emphasized that mature nodes are not outdated technologies; due to their widespread use and large-scale demand, they remain essential to global supply chains. He warned that as China becomes a major supplier of these foundational chips, new dependency risks and cybersecurity concerns may arise. China’s aggressive price-dumping strategy in the mature-node market could distort global competition, making it more difficult for companies elsewhere to sustain R&D investment and undermining the healthy development of the broader semiconductor ecosystem.
Chiang concluded that Taiwan’s semiconductor industry will continue to play a pivotal role in regional security and the stability of the global technology supply chain, as its international linkages remain a core pillar of resilience.
