Taiwan's U.S. investments must serve 'mutual interests': Official

Taipei, Feb. 15 (CNA) The government will work to ensure that Taiwan's investments in the United States, especially in the semiconductor industry, serve the interests of both sides, a Taiwanese national security official said Friday.

Speaking anonymously, the official said the government would not force Taiwanese companies to invest in any specific location but was merely planning to engage with those looking to expand overseas to understand their needs better.

The government's role is to assist those companies in addressing challenges they may face and ensure that discussions with the U.S. "serve the core interests" of both sides, the official said.

According to the official, the government will not restrict tech exports but it remains a question whether the U.S. has sufficient workforce and expertise to support the supply chain of semiconductor manufacturing.

The official added that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) was building very advanced chips in the U.S., referring to its estimated US$65 billion investment to construct three semiconductor fabs in Arizona.

The official's comments came shortly after President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) convened a high-level national security meeting, in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed pledge to impose tariffs on Taiwanese semiconductors to encourage the reshoring of chip manufacturing in the U.S.

Trump on Thursday (Washington time) signed a presidential memorandum ordering "a fair and reciprocal plan" on trade, which could take effect as early as April, to reduce U.S. trade deficit.

The official said the government continued to prepare for various scenarios.

The U.S.-Taiwan relationship is not competitive but rather complementary, the official said, adding that the government remained confident in maintaining and strengthening its ties with Washington.

Speaking about the initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies proposed by Lai earlier the same day, the official said the administration was hoping to bring together other semiconductor partners, such as the U.S. and Japan, and to form "some kind of alliance."

Taiwan is a global leader in producing advanced chips and is willing to further collaborate with other democratic countries on semiconductor supply chains, the official said.