President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday called for the signing of an economic partnership agreement with the EU, saying it would boost cooperation in semiconductors and that, as democracies, the two sides should be working together.
Taiwan has pushed for the signing of investment and trade deals with the EU, in what would be politically significant for Taiwan given its diplomatic isolation and general exclusion from most global bodies and agreements.
For its part, the EU has been courting Taiwan as a “like-minded” partner under the European Chips Act to encourage more semiconductor production in Europe and lessen dependence on Asia, despite the lack of formal ties.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
Speaking at the annual EU investment forum in Taipei, Lai said that facing the threat of expanding authoritarianism, Taiwan and the EU must form a “strong democratic umbrella” and build secure supply chains for global democracies.
“Looking to the future, Taiwan hopes to take an innovative approach toward the signing of an economic partnership agreement with the EU,” he said.
Such an agreement would lay a sound institutional basis for further cooperation in fields such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, he added.
“This would not only make both our economies more resilient and secure, but also ensure the stable operation of global supply chains,” he said.
Taiwanese investment in the EU has been anchored by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), which in August broke ground on a major new chip plant in Dresden, Germany, expected to be a key supplier to European industry and automakers.
Maria Martin-Prat, deputy head of the European Commission’s directorate-general for trade, made no mention of signing such a deal with Taiwan in a video message to the investment event, although she did praise bilateral relations.
“Taiwan, a vibrant democracy with an open economy, is a trusted partner for us to promote our economic security,” she said.
Taiwan has few free-trade agreements, although last year it signed an Enhanced Trade Partnership with the UK and has applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
IMPORTANT BACKER: China seeks to expel US influence from the Indo-Pacific region and supplant Washington as the global leader, MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said China is preparing for war to seize Taiwan, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said in Washington on Friday, warning that Taiwan’s fall would trigger a regional “domino effect” endangering US security. In a speech titled “Maintaining the Peaceful and Stable Status Quo Across the Taiwan Strait is in Line with the Shared Interests of Taiwan and the United States,” Chiu said Taiwan’s strategic importance is “closely tied” to US interests. Geopolitically, Taiwan sits in a “core position” in the first island chain — an arc stretching from Japan, through Taiwan and the Philippines, to Borneo, which is shared by
RSS