Taiwan pushes for deepening scientific and technological cooperation with Europe, semiconductor and supply chain security becomes a new hub for democratic partners

The relationship between Taiwan and Europe is extending from traditional economic and trade exchanges to semiconductor, artificial intelligence, supply chain resilience and economic security.Taiwanese diplomatic system official Wu ZhiOn September 6, openly advocated the strengthening of Taiwan-European scientific and technological cooperation, making this trend again in sight.

“Technology is no longer just a business issue.”

In the past, European discussions on Taiwan often focused on peace and trade relations in the Taiwan Sea, but as semiconductors became an important part of national security and industrial policy, Taiwan’s role in European policy has also changed.

Taiwan has a key global semiconductor industry chain, while Europe is reducing the risks of over-centralization of key technologies and supply chains through industrial policies. In this context, IT and technology cooperation has both economic and strategic significance.

What can the two sides cooperate with?

• Semiconductor: Expanding R&D, manufacturing, talent and supply chain cooperation;
• AI: Building collaborative mechanisms around computing, chips and reliable technologies;
• Supply Chain Resilience: Reducing the dependence of key components on the single market;
• Economic security: Strengthening risk management for sensitive technology outflows and high-risk investments;
• Democratic Partner Network: Integrating technology cooperation into broader institutional and security cooperation.

Beijing Factor cannot disappear from Taiwan-EU cooperation

European countries have extensive economic and trade ties with China, so the Taiwan policy has long faced a balance between economic interests and security risks.The Chinese government has also continued to oppose other countries to increase official and semi-official exchanges with Taiwan.

This means that any expansion of Taiwan-EU scientific and technological cooperation is not only a problem for enterprises to find markets, but also touches the political red line of Beijing's attempts to restrict Taiwan's international space.

Transition from “Taiwan issue” to “common security issue”

For Taiwan, expanding technological cooperation with Europe could reduce the risk of international isolation; for Europe, stability in the Taiwan Sea and the supply of advanced chips have become increasingly difficult to see as a distant Asian affair.

But it must be noted that open initiative to strengthen cooperation is not equivalent to a unified European science and technology policy for Taiwan .

Focus on China Observation

The Communist Party of China has long sought to reduce Taiwan’s international involvement to “internal affairs” that Beijing can unilaterally decide, but the reality of semiconductors, AI and global supply chains is weakening this narrative: once Taiwan’s security affects the global supply of key technologies, it’s not just on both sides.

Whether democracies will further institutionalize scientific and technological cooperation with Taiwan depends on national policy choices.It can be confirmed that Taiwan is trying to transform its technological advantages into a more stable international partnership, and Europe is becoming an important direction in this strategy.