Arsenal of Democracy
18: Freely Elected Taiwan Is Critical for Technological Arsenals
Jan 31, 2024
Riley Walters, Hudson Senior Fellow, discusses the recent elections in Taiwan and its importance in global technological supply chains. They highlight the implications of losing access to chips made in Taiwan and discuss the intersection of economics, technology, and national security. The significance of Taiwan in semiconductor manufacturing and efforts to increase semiconductor manufacturing independence are also explored.
31:14
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Quick takeaways
- Taiwan's leadership in chip and superconductor development positions it at the center of global technological supply chains, making it a critical player in the semiconductor industry.
- Losing access to chips made in Taiwan would have severe consequences for the United States, highlighting the need to diversify supply chains and address challenges like labor costs and regulatory hurdles.
Deep dives
Significance of Losing Access to Taiwan-Made Chips
Losing access to chips made in Taiwan could have more severe consequences than the COVID-19 pandemic or the Great Recession of 2009. Estimates suggest that if the United States were to lose access to these chips, approximately 8% of its GDP would be at risk. This highlights the critical role Taiwan plays in the global semiconductor industry, as it is the leading producer of high-end semiconductors. Efforts to diversify supply chains and bring semiconductor production back to the United States are underway, but challenges such as labor costs and regulatory hurdles need to be addressed.
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