讀後心得

The Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council, Wu Tso-hsieh, recently arrived in the United States for secret talks with the Trump administration involving "special channels." This meeting is the first since Trump resumed office, where both sides discussed security issues but did not publicly acknowledge the discussions. Meanwhile, the Chinese military conducted military exercises around Taiwan, and Trump plans to implement equivalent tariffs that could affect products from multiple countries. The Taiwanese government has responded by strengthening negotiations with the U.S., while also facing challenges from the equivalent tariffs. Trump has also mentioned relocating the semiconductor industry back to the United States, but analysts pointed out that Taiwan will continue to produce the most advanced chips.

According to reports, Wu Chao-hsieh, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council, recently arrived in the United States for a secret meeting with the Trump administration. Media pointed out that this visit to the U.S. was part of a “special channel” meeting, the first of its kind since Trump resumed office in January. Although this “special channel” has been used between the U.S. and Taiwan for many years, it only came to public attention in 2021. This channel provides a platform for officials from both sides to discuss security issues but has never been formally acknowledged, and the U.S. has kept a low profile to avoid provoking Beijing's displeasure.

Recently, the Chinese military completed two days of military exercises in the waters surrounding Taiwan, which is seen as an escalation of China's military activities in the region. Additionally, Trump announced a policy of imposing reciprocal tariffs on all countries that levy tariffs on U.S. goods, affecting 185 countries and regions, with products from specific countries facing higher rates. However, reports indicate that the main purpose of Wu Chao-hsieh's trip was not the reciprocal tariffs policy but rather pre-established talks. The Taiwanese government has sent personnel to negotiate with the U.S. side to strengthen negotiations and ensure fair treatment for industries in the current situation.

Trump also reiterated in his speech that Taiwan benefits from the U.S. semiconductor industry and plans to “reshore” these critical industries back to the United States. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce stated that the latest tariff measures do not cover semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, but Trump hopes to explore ways to reduce reliance on foreign sources. Data shows that 92% of advanced microchips are produced in Taiwan, and the U.S. has long sought to decrease this dependency. Last year's CHIPS and Science Act aims to support the U.S. semiconductor industry with billions of dollars in funding. Nevertheless, experts believe that TSMC will still primarily produce its most advanced chips in Taiwan, as this is crucial for Taiwan's strategic value.

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