TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait benefits the United States and even the whole world, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said during a visit to Washington on Wednesday (Oct. 12).

The minister is on an Oct. 9-16 tour of the U.S. which includes participation in the first in-person U.S.-Taiwan Technology Trade and Investment Collaboration framework (TTIC) meeting, visits to a “Taiwan Image” exhibition and to Silicon Valley, and discussions with officials, academics, and business leaders.

Taiwan has achieved high visibility thanks to its semiconductor industry, which safeguards stability in the Taiwan Strait, Wang said. She added that Taiwan supplying technology products benefits the U.S. and even the whole global community, the Liberty Times reported.

Commenting on the likelihood of a Chinese blockade of Taiwan, Wang said the country is located on one of the busiest air and sea routes in the world. A blockade would also affect trade and transportation in Japan and South Korea, she added.

Even China benefited from cross-strait peace and stability, as its factories receive parts from Taiwan for smartphones and computers, according to Wang. Participants at a Center for Strategic and International Studies forum she attended reportedly showed a strong interest in how the current tension between the two countries is affecting international supply chains.