The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: ‘Big Tech in Taiwan’ with Sam Bresnick
12 snips
Aug 7, 2025 
Sam Bresnick, a Research Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, delves into the complex ties between U.S. tech firms and Taiwan. He discusses his report on the geopolitical risks of these relationships amid rising tensions with China. Topics include the challenges of ‘de-risking’ supply chains and the impact of AI on labor markets. Bresnick also highlights Taiwan's critical role in semiconductor production and the need for better collaboration between tech companies and government regarding military strategies.
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Taiwan Support vs. Ukraine Aid
- U.S. tech firms supported Ukraine with capabilities surpassing even some military resources.
- Supporting Taiwan would be more difficult due to deeper business entanglements and geopolitical risks.
China Exposure vs. Russia Exposure
- U.S. tech companies have minimal exposure to Russia but deep ties to China.
- Supporting Taiwan risks severe Chinese retaliation due to these extensive China linkages.
Taiwan Foreign Direct Investment
- Google has the largest foreign direct investment in Taiwan but it is less than 1% of its global FDI.
- Most companies have modest Taiwan FDI, reducing its weight in their business decisions.