The US might not achieve reindustrialization without tapping into its complementary and cooperative relationship with Taiwan in technological development, Taiwanese academics said yesterday.
Their remarks followed a statement by American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene, who emphasized that the US and Taiwan would be stronger together.
Dachrahn Wu (吳大任), a professor in the Department of Economics at National Central University, said that Taiwan and the US have maintained a mutually beneficial partnership for decades.
Photo: Bloomberg
For example, Apple Inc manages the brand, while Taiwanese manufacturers supply key components, demonstrating how both sides collaborate rather than compete, he said.
Although US President Donald Trump seeks to boost domestic manufacturing in the US, outsourcing production to Taiwan could achieve greater efficiency and higher product quality at lower costs, Wu said.
Following the principle of comparative advantage, US companies should focus on technological innovation — such as artificial intelligence (AI) and drones — while Taiwanese firms handle production, he added.
Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research vice president Wang Jiann-chyuan (王健全) said the reindustrialization of the US would require assistance from Taiwan, as the manufacturing sector has been underdeveloped in the past few years and might be short of vendors and distributors.
With its strong machine tool, information technology, electronics and semiconductor industries, Taiwan is one of the most strategic partners for the US in its reindustrialization efforts, Wang said.
Taiwan can help reindustrialize the US, while the US can aid Taiwan by cutting tariffs and simplifying customs and border clearance procedures for specific goods and services, he said.
Since the US excels in software development and Taiwan specializes in hardware manufacturing, bilateral collaborations hold great potential in fields such as AI, robotics, drones and electric vehicles, he added.
Increased US investment in Taiwan would enhance the presence of Taiwanese companies in the US, and they would have more opportunities for acquisitions and mergers, as well as attracting talent, Wang said.
Asked about Greene’s remarks that the US and Taiwan could collaborate in manufacturing dual-use technological products for civilian and military applications in Taiwan, Jong Shyn, Aerospace Industrial Development and the trade union of CSBC Corp Taiwan said they would be “happy to make it happen.”
Additional reporting by Hung Ting-hung
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) was questioned by prosecutors for allegedly orchestrating an attack on a taxi driver after he was allegedly driven on a longer than necessary route in a car he disliked. The questioning at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office was ongoing as of press time last night. Police have recommended charges of attempted murder. The legally embattled actor — known for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代) — is under a separate investigation for allegedly using fake medical documents to evade mandatory military service. According to local media reports, police said Wang earlier last year ordered a
CAUTION: Based on intelligence from the nation’s security agencies, MOFA has cautioned Taiwanese travelers about heightened safety risks in China-friendly countries The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday urged Taiwanese to be aware of their safety when traveling abroad, especially in countries that are friendly to China. China in June last year issued 22 guidelines that allow its courts to try in absentia and sentence to death so-called “diehard” Taiwanese independence activists, even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction in Taiwan. Late last month, a senior Chinese official gave closed-door instructions to state security units to implement the guidelines in countries friendly to China, a government memo and a senior Taiwan security official said, based on information gathered by Taiwan’s intelligence agency. The
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said yesterday that it is looking to hire 8,000 people this year, at a time when the tech giant is expanding production capacity to maintain its lead over competitors. To attract talent, TSMC would launch a large-scale recruitment campaign on campuses across Taiwan, where a newly recruited engineer with a master’s degree could expect to receive an average salary of NT$2.2 million (US$60,912), which is much higher than the 2023 national average of NT$709,000 for those in the same category, according to government statistics. TSMC, which accounted for more than 60 percent
President William Lai (賴清德) should protect Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), and stop supporting domestic strife and discord, former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrote on Facebook yesterday. US President Donald Trump and TSMC on Monday jointly announced that the company would invest an additional US$100 billion over the next few years to expand its semiconductor manufacturing operations in the US. The TSMC plans have promoted concern in Taiwan that it would effectively lead to the chipmaking giant becoming Americanized. The Lai administration lacks tangible policies to address concerns that Taiwan might follow in Ukraine’s footsteps, Ma wrote. Instead, it seems to think it could
RSS