TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan seeks to be a reliable democratic partner, Freddy Lim (林昶佐), the country's representative to Finland, said in a three-part interview.
Speaking to Finnish newspaper Maaseudun Tulevaisuus, Lim said that Taiwan is the primary producer of the world’s most advanced chips, with Western economies and military equipment heavily reliant on semiconductors made by TSMC, per CNA. Chip exports form a major pillar of Taiwan’s economy and significantly influence the direction of the global technology industry, he said.
He stressed that Taiwan’s strategic importance did not begin with semiconductors. Even before the rise of chip technology, Taiwan was a trade hub in East Asia and at the core of key global supply chains.
Taiwanese have grown accustomed to geopolitical volatility and learned not to panic easily, he said. He reiterated that Taiwan aims to stand as a dependable partner to fellow democracies, citing the Legislative Yuan’s deliberation of aid funding for Ukraine as an example of Taiwan’s willingness to work with like-minded countries to maintain global peace and security.
The diplomat said it is difficult to predict whether economic and trade ties can serve as a lasting foundation for peace and prosperity. However, he said he believed peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific would benefit Taiwan, China, and the entire global economy.
