The US might not achieve reindustrialization without tapping into its complementary and cooperative relationship with Taiwan in technological development, Taiwanese academics said yesterday.
Their remarks followed a statement by American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene, who emphasized that the US and Taiwan would be stronger together.
Dachrahn Wu (吳大任), a professor in the Department of Economics at National Central University, said that Taiwan and the US have maintained a mutually beneficial partnership for decades.
Photo: Bloomberg
For example, Apple Inc manages the brand, while Taiwanese manufacturers supply key components, demonstrating how both sides collaborate rather than compete, he said.
Although US President Donald Trump seeks to boost domestic manufacturing in the US, outsourcing production to Taiwan could achieve greater efficiency and higher product quality at lower costs, Wu said.
Following the principle of comparative advantage, US companies should focus on technological innovation — such as artificial intelligence (AI) and drones — while Taiwanese firms handle production, he added.
Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research vice president Wang Jiann-chyuan (王健全) said the reindustrialization of the US would require assistance from Taiwan, as the manufacturing sector has been underdeveloped in the past few years and might be short of vendors and distributors.
With its strong machine tool, information technology, electronics and semiconductor industries, Taiwan is one of the most strategic partners for the US in its reindustrialization efforts, Wang said.
Taiwan can help reindustrialize the US, while the US can aid Taiwan by cutting tariffs and simplifying customs and border clearance procedures for specific goods and services, he said.
Since the US excels in software development and Taiwan specializes in hardware manufacturing, bilateral collaborations hold great potential in fields such as AI, robotics, drones and electric vehicles, he added.
Increased US investment in Taiwan would enhance the presence of Taiwanese companies in the US, and they would have more opportunities for acquisitions and mergers, as well as attracting talent, Wang said.
Asked about Greene’s remarks that the US and Taiwan could collaborate in manufacturing dual-use technological products for civilian and military applications in Taiwan, Jong Shyn, Aerospace Industrial Development and the trade union of CSBC Corp Taiwan said they would be “happy to make it happen.”
Additional reporting by Hung Ting-hung
Beijing could eventually see a full amphibious invasion of Taiwan as the only "prudent" way to bring about unification, the US Department of Defense said in a newly released annual report to Congress. The Pentagon's "Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2025," was in many ways similar to last year’s report but reorganized the analysis of the options China has to take over Taiwan. Generally, according to the report, Chinese leaders view the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) capabilities for a Taiwan campaign as improving, but they remain uncertain about its readiness to successfully seize
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
Taiwan has overtaken South Korea this year in per capita income for the first time in 23 years, IMF data showed. Per capita income is a nation’s GDP divided by the total population, used to compare average wealth levels across countries. Taiwan also beat Japan this year on per capita income, after surpassing it for the first time last year, US magazine Newsweek reported yesterday. Across Asia, Taiwan ranked fourth for per capita income at US$37,827 this year due to sustained economic growth, the report said. In the top three spots were Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong, it said. South
Taiwan is getting a day off on Christmas for the first time in 25 years. The change comes after opposition parties passed a law earlier this year to add or restore five public holidays, including Constitution Day, which falls on today, Dec. 25. The day marks the 1947 adoption of the constitution of the Republic of China, as the government in Taipei is formally known. Back then the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) governed China from Nanjing. When the KMT, now an opposition party in Taiwan, passed the legislation on holidays, it said that they would help “commemorate the history of national development.” That
RSS