TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan defends regional peace and stability with its democracy and semiconductor industry, Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung (吳志中) said in an interview with France’s Paris Match.

Wu said Chinese warplanes and ships have frequently encircled Taiwan and called Beijing’s talk of “peaceful unification” a form of political coercion aimed at forcing acceptance of its “one China” claim.

He added that 2027 could be a symbolic year for China because it marks the 100th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army.

The deputy foreign minister also highlighted Taiwan’s “Not Today Policy,” which seeks to deter invasion by strengthening defense, deepening alliances, and securing its role in global supply chains.

Wu said the semiconductor industry is now part of global security, noting that about 70% of semiconductors and nearly all high-end chips come from Taiwan. “If the world loses Taiwan, it loses the core of supply chains,” he said.

He added that France is a vital EU partner with strong defense and nuclear capacity, and said Taiwan will expand cooperation with Europe in semiconductors, green energy, and culture.

In another interview with Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Wu said Taiwan’s NT$24.5 trillion (about US$799 billion) economy makes it the US’ seventh-largest trading partner. He added that only 7% of outbound investment now goes to China, while nearly half flows to the US.