TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru said Tuesday that semiconductors have become a matter of national security and urged stronger Taiwan-Japan cooperation to deter China.
Speaking at the Taiwan-Japan Semiconductor Alliance Seminar in Tokyo, Kihara said securing a stable supply of critical materials such as semiconductors is vital to Japan’s economic future. He emphasized that semiconductors are not only economically significant but also integral to national defense, per CNA.
“Taiwan is the global hub of semiconductor manufacturing, and TSMC holds an overwhelming share of advanced chip production,” Kihara said. “Any disruption in supply would have a severe impact on Japan’s industry and economy.”
He added that a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, he warned, would have an "unimaginable impact” on the global economy.
“The top priority is to avoid conflict through diplomacy and dialogue while demonstrating our commitment to regional peace,” he said. “At the same time, we must convince China that war would also severely harm its economy, and that peace is the only path to prosperity.”
Kihara called for Japan and Taiwan to deepen cooperation, strengthen deterrence, and consolidate the Japan-US alliance alongside other like-minded nations. He also urged the Japanese public to recognize the strategic importance of semiconductors for both the economy and security.
Former Taiwan Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua (王美花) also spoke at the seminar, noting that the US push for increased investment by Japanese and Taiwanese firms has become an unavoidable trend.
Wang said Taiwan’s “big five” electronics manufacturers (Wistron, Quanta Computer, Inventec, Compal Electronics, and Pegatron) have all expanded production bases in the US.
Addressing concerns that TSMC’s US expansion might weaken Taiwan-Japan cooperation, Wang said both the government and businesses see continued collaboration with Japan as essential.
“While short-term market fluctuations may occur, the long-term trajectory remains unchanged,” she said, adding that TSMC’s plan for a second fab in Kumamoto and increased R&D investments in Japan show that bilateral cooperation continues to advance.
