Semiconductor Production: Taiwan seeks stronger relations with Europe
European countries should strengthen relations with Taiwan if they want continued Taiwanese investment in semiconductor production, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said during a visit to Europe last week.
Overseas investments by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, need government approval, including for a potential factory in Germany.
Wu said the government was not placing conditions on investments by TSMC (2330.TW), and it was for the company to decide if a project would make a profit.
Wu said Taiwan would not block investment in Europe, but there was a “philosophical issue” that a country wanting Taiwanese help needed to consider a broader picture of relations with Taiwan.
“I think that is something for us to think about,”he said. “Even though we are not selfish in stopping TSMC making investment in other countries, we certainly hope that other countries who want to attract TSMC… can also think about the situation Taiwan is in.”
China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control. Taiwan strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.
Reuters/Hauwa Abu
