Has Lutnick signalled the end of Taiwan’s ‘silicon shield’ against Beijing?
Island sees its semiconductor industry as a security guarantee but the US commerce secretary wants production split 50-50 with America
Taiwan has long seen its semiconductor industry as a “silicon shield” because its dominance in advanced chips makes it important for global security – and compels the US to protect the self-ruled island.
But Lutnick said the concentration of semiconductor production in Taiwan was a vulnerability for America, not a guarantee for the island.
He said Beijing had been forthright about its ambitions.
“The Chinese have said, we’re going to take Taiwan – they’re not even shy about it,” Lutnick said. “So this is an issue, and my objective, and this administration’s objective, is to get chip manufacturing significantly onshore.”