Taipei, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Taiwan's top technology official stated on Saturday that the semiconductor industry is intricate and requires a division of labor, emphasizing that no single country needs to dominate it. This statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Taiwan's strong position in chip production.
Trump reiterated on Thursday his desire for the United States to reclaim a significant role in chip manufacturing, alleging that Taiwan had taken the lead in the industry.
In a Facebook post, Wu Cheng-wen, the head of Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council, did not mention Trump directly but highlighted Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's recent affirmation that Taiwan would be a dependable partner in the global semiconductor industry's democratic supply chain.
Wu elaborated on how Taiwan's semiconductor industry had gained international recognition, attributing it to decades of government support that began in the 1970s and the founding of TSMC in 1987. He stressed that Taiwan's success was the result of dedicated efforts and not acquired at the expense of other nations.
According to Wu, every country has its strengths in chip production, with Japan excelling in chemicals and equipment, and the United States leading in innovative system design and application.
Wu underscored the complexity of the semiconductor industry, stating, "Given that each country possesses unique industrial strengths, there is no necessity for any single nation to monopolize all technologies globally."
Moreover, Taiwan is open to supporting "friendly democratic countries" in fulfilling their roles within the semiconductor supply chain.