Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀) has arrived in San Francisco, where he is to represent President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.
Chang, 92, and his wife landed at 3pm on Tuesday and were greeted by Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴).
Chang did not answer questions about whether he would meet with US President Joe Biden. The couple headed straight to their hotel, where they were greeted by a group of about 50 overseas Taiwanese and later attended a welcome banquet hosted by Hsiao.
Photo: CNA
Hsiao, who is expected to be Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Vice President William Lai’s (賴清德) running mate in January’s presidential election, did not comment on the issue when she arrived at the hotel, where Taiwanese media are staying during the summit.
Before leaving Taiwan, Chang pledged to enhance the nation’s visibility at the APEC summit, which runs until tomorrow and is themed “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All.”
Speaking at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Chang said he would engage with other APEC leaders and convey the nation’s willingness and ability to contribute to regional peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, and to develop more resilient supply chains.
He said he would also convey Taiwan’s readiness to work with partners on transitioning to green energy and bridging the regional digital divide.
Chang has served as the president’s envoy to APEC seven times. He first attended the annual APEC summit on behalf of then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in 2006, and has attended the meeting on Tsai’s behalf six times.
Taiwan’s presidents have been unable to attend the annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting due to China’s objections, even though Taiwan is a full APEC member under the name “Chinese Taipei.”
Meanwhile, 22 US senators on Tuesday issued a joint statement urging Biden not to make “more concessions” to China, including on Taiwan, when meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday.
US Senator Jim Risch, a ranking member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led fellow Republicans in releasing the statement.
“It is paramount that Biden and his administration don’t give an inch on US policy on Taiwan,” the statement said, adding that it would be “one more grave error” regarding competition between the two superpowers.
“Few issues are more urgent than ensuring Taiwan has the capabilities and training it needs to deter Chinese aggression,” the statement said. “Vital US national and economic security interests, and the future of the entire Indo-Pacific region, are both at stake here.”
CRITICAL MOVE: TSMC’s plan to invest another US$100 billion in US chipmaking would boost Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global market, the premier said The government would ensure that the most advanced chipmaking technology stays in Taiwan while assisting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) in investing overseas, the Presidential Office said yesterday. The statement follows a joint announcement by the world’s largest contract chipmaker and US President Donald Trump on Monday that TSMC would invest an additional US$100 billion over the next four years to expand its semiconductor manufacturing operations in the US, which would include construction of three new chip fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities, and a research and development center. The government knew about the deal in advance and would assist, Presidential
‘DANGEROUS GAME’: Legislative Yuan budget cuts have already become a point of discussion for Democrats and Republicans in Washington, Elbridge Colby said Taiwan’s fall to China “would be a disaster for American interests” and Taipei must raise defense spending to deter Beijing, US President Donald Trump’s pick to lead Pentagon policy, Elbridge Colby, said on Tuesday during his US Senate confirmation hearing. The nominee for US undersecretary of defense for policy told the Armed Services Committee that Washington needs to motivate Taiwan to avoid a conflict with China and that he is “profoundly disturbed” about its perceived reluctance to raise defense spending closer to 10 percent of GDP. Colby, a China hawk who also served in the Pentagon in Trump’s first team,
SEPARATE: The MAC rebutted Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is China’s province, asserting that UN Resolution 2758 neither mentions Taiwan nor grants the PRC authority over it The “status quo” of democratic Taiwan and autocratic China not belonging to each other has long been recognized by the international community, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday in its rebuttal of Beijing’s claim that Taiwan can only be represented in the UN as “Taiwan, Province of China.” Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) yesterday at a news conference of the third session at the 14th National People’s Congress said that Taiwan can only be referred to as “Taiwan, Province of China” at the UN. Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory, which is not only history but
INVESTMENT WATCH: The US activity would not affect the firm’s investment in Taiwan, where 11 production lines would likely be completed this year, C.C. Wei said Investments by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) in the US should not be a cause for concern, but rather seen as the moment that the company and Taiwan stepped into the global spotlight, President William Lai (賴清德) told a news conference at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday alongside TSMC chairman and chief executive officer C.C. Wei (魏哲家). Wei and US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday announced plans to invest US$100 billion in the US to build three advanced foundries, two packaging plants, and a research and development center, after Trump threatened to slap tariffs on chips made
RSS