Taiwan has vowed to aid the US in solving the worldwide chips crisis but has also promised it will stand by its tech firms if they face with “unreasonable requests” from Washington.
Taipei said it respects US commercial law and rules but will help Taiwanese companies if necessary, after the United States pressed firms to provide information on the semiconductor crisis.
The White House asked automakers, chip companies and others last week to provide information on the chip shortage that has forced cuts to US auto production, and to take the lead in helping to solve it.
Also on AF: Evergrande Offshore Investors Face ‘Big Losses’ After Second Payment Miss
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said a voluntary request for information within 45 days on the chips crisis would boost supply chain transparency and that if companies did not answer the voluntary request “then we have other tools in our tool box that require them to give us data.”
Taiwan’s Economy Ministry, responding to the US demand, said present practice was for companies to voluntarily provide information and that this was not only aimed at non-US companies. Taiwan is a major semiconductor maker.
The ministry, led by its minister Wang Mei-hua, has talked directly to companies about the issue, it added.
“Moreover, the Taiwanese and US governments have established multiple channels of communication and have a smooth flow of information. Taiwan respects and understands US commercial laws and regulations,” the ministry said.
WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT
“If our companies face unreasonable demands in international competition, the government will certainly provide necessary assistance and express concern to prevent Taiwanese companies from fighting alone in the international arena.”
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chip maker, took part in the White House meeting.
It said afterwards that the company was supporting and working with all stakeholders to overcome the shortages, and that it had taken “unprecedented actions to address this challenge.”
TSMC has pledged to spend $100 billion over the next three years to expand chip capacity.
- Reuters with additional editing by Sean O’Meara
Read more:
Taiwan Takes Legal Route To Protect Itself From ‘China Tech Theft’
Taiwan Chipmaking Giant TSMC Targets Net Zero Emissions By 2050
