Tango With Taiwan: Preserving Our Tech Independence
It is far past the time for Republicans and Democrats to work together to ensure our approach to a free and Open Internet is safeguarded from foreign threats.
As the United States adapts to mitigate growing concerns over China’s emerging influence over the economy, the future of Taiwan continues to garner more attention. The island nation is under constant threat of invasion from China. A concern that seems to become more real in recent months especially in light of Russia invading Ukraine and the growing disconnect between the U.S. and China. Beyond the immediate humanitarian concerns, there are also reasons to worry about the sanctity of Taiwan’s tech manufacturing capabilities.
The nation’s independence is vital because it is home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Limited (TSMC), the world’s largest manufacturer of semiconductor chips that power electronic devices including: cellphones, computers, vehicles and even household appliances. If Taiwan’s independence is jeopardized it will significantly hinder the independence of its manufacturing from meddling by the CCP.
As we have seen with Huawei, DJI or certain social media apps or platforms, when Beijing takes over the tech sector, it isn’t to level the playing field or enable economic opportunity– but about control.
As Third Way’s Mieke Eoyang described “exporting a certain kind of repression with the device, which is an external expansion of [China's] own internal need to control the population and what the population says and thinks.”
With the geopolitical uncertainty swirling around Taiwan and Chinese relations, there is far more scrutiny and concern over the future of this key cog in our tech ecosystem. Just this week, U.S. and Taiwanese negotiators have convened a series of talks about a new trade deal in Tapai. The round of negotiations are being held under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade. While the future of these chips are only a part of the ongoing discussion, it is the latest chapter in the U.S.’s efforts to preserve our supply chain and bolster chip manufacturing from Chinese control.
In the past several months, there have been several high profile visits to Taiwan from leading U.S. policymakers, shedding light on the importance of Taiwan independence and its vitality to chip manufacturing which in many ways powers the tech supply chain. While the House Speaker Emeritus certainly drew attention in the mainstream media for her trip, other notable leaders have also gone to the island.
In a historic first, this fall FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a leading luminary on concerns with China’s influence on the American tech ecosystem, went to Taiwan to meet with communications regulators. Additionally Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), another frontline leader on tech policy debates, made the trek to Taiwan. In fact her visit triggered unpleasant reactions from the CCP officials angered by her trepidation and commitment to democratic values.
More recently Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) recently went across the ocean to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, specifically highlighting the strong collaborative relationship Indiana has set up with Taiwan. In prepared remarks, Sen. Young said “there is something Republicans and Democrats alike are unified on and will be unified, that is the importance of supporting the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable.”
These negotiations also highlight the importance of the recently appointed House select committee to investigate the Chinese Communist Party’s global influence. The range of their troubling influence is present at every level of the tech stack– demonstrating the need for multi-agency and bipartisan collaboration to properly mitigate growing concern while also enabling future innovation.
It is far past the time for Republicans and Democrats to work together to ensure our approach to a free and Open Internet is safeguarded from foreign threats. The trade talks in Taiwan and the commitment from party leaders on both sides of the aisle are real reasons for encouragement as the U.S. continues to protect our tech ecosystem.