TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Kaohsiung city government and Japan’s Kumamoto prefectural government have formed the first Taiwan–Japan joint city delegation to the US.

The Kaohsiung delegation and Kumamoto officials met at Taoyuan International Airport on Wednesday before departing together. The initiative aims to strengthen trans-Pacific strategic links in advanced semiconductor manufacturing and reinforce the resilience of the Taiwan–US–Japan semiconductor supply chain, according to a Kaohsiung city government press release.

Vice Governor Takeuchi Nobuyoshi was tapped to lead the prefectural delegation and worked closely with the Kaohsiung city government to organize the joint visit, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said. During the trip, Kaohsiung and Kumamoto will engage with government, industry, and academic representatives in Arizona to deepen cooperation on semiconductors, smart city development, and international professional talent exchanges.

Chen noted that TSMC’s advanced semiconductor fabrication plants in Kaohsiung, Phoenix, and Kumamoto have led the three locations to form close links within the global semiconductor industry chain. The Kaohsiung city government will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Kumamoto, he said.

The city aims to promote cooperation among Taiwan, the US, and Japan to build more resilient and competitive international industrial partnerships.

Takeuchi said Kumamoto Governor Kimura Takashi places great importance on the joint visit with Kaohsiung, a sister city. He said the trip will help strengthen semiconductor cooperation among companies. Dialogue with Arizona’s government, industry, and academic sectors is expected to boost talent cultivation and technological collaboration in the high-tech sector across the three regions, Takeuchi added.