President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday touted Taiwan’s technology ties with Japan, while reiterating Taipei’s commitment to investing heavily in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the biomedical industry.
In a meeting with representatives of the All Japan Taiwanese Union at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Lai said that the two countries have supported each other through earthquakes and pandemics, and Taiwan hopes they can take that relationship further, aiding each other in developing their tech industries.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (台積電) investment in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture is not only a corporate investment, but also serves to increase the resilience of Taiwanese and Japanese industries, as well as bolster the competitiveness and capabilities of the pan-democratic semiconductor supply chain, the president said.
Photo: CNA
Taipei hopes to work with Tokyo on trade, technology, security, renewable energies and digital transition for a more resilient partnership, he said, while thanking the All Japan Taiwanese Union for its efforts to foster Taiwan-Japan ties.
Taiwan is focused on AI development and has launched the 10 “New AI Major Infrastructure Projects,” to develop quantum technology, silicon photonics, robotics and other key technologies, he added.
The initiative would help industries use AI to take Taiwan into an era of “smart” technologies, Lai said.
Photo: screen grab from the Presidential Office’s Flickr page
It aims to advance the deployment use of smart devices, develop critical technologies and accelerate the development of relevant infrastructure, while gradually integrating AI into these areas, the Lai administration said.
The policy builds on the “five trusted industry sectors” policy to develop semiconductors, AI, national defense, surveillance and security, and next-generation communications, ensuring that all industries in Taiwan gradually transition to complete digitization.
Lai also touted Taiwan’s “National Project of Hope,” which aims to make the biotech industry a second powerhouse after semiconductors by developing smart medicine, advancing medical research and leveraging Taiwan’s technical edge in the medical industry.
The government will continue to enhance its competitive edge and deepen connections with democratic partners to help Taiwan gain greater influence on the international stage and contribute more toward peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, he added.
In related news, the Ministry of National Defense has established an AI office to explore the emerging technology’s potential military applications, a senior military official said yesterday.
The office, currently operating on a trial basis, mainly promotes the integration of AI into image and video detection, computer security and anti-hacking systems, said Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi, director of the Department of Strategic Planning.
The extent to which AI would be used for military purposes, including combat, would depend on the technology’s maturity and development, he said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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