Taiwan Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun has rejected a proposal made by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to split chip production ‘50-50’. For decades, Taiwan’s unrivaled semiconductor industry and its monopoly over the world’s most advanced chips has been nicknamed its ‘silicon shield’. But that defense strategy appears to be at odds with US President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ campaign promises. Is giving up half of its high-tech supply chain the price of US protection? It comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping marked his country’s national day by issuing an ominous warning for Taiwan. In this episode, we discuss the Taiwan and US chip industries, tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung’s recent world tour.
*Recorded on October 2, 2025 at 11:00am Taiwan Standard Time
Host: Yin Khvat
Our guests:
Wen-Ti Sung
- Atlantic Council Global China Hub Non-Resident Fellow
Marco Mezger
- Neumonda Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Hung-Jen Wang
- National Cheng Kung University Political Science Professor
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