The US says it's going to restructure the global semiconductor supply chain to make chip production more secure. It's launched an initiative with partner countries to help achieve that goal. But Taiwan, which produces the majority of the world's most advanced chips, has been left off that list.
00:00The U.S. says it's going to make chip making more secure, and it's bringing in a handful of friends to do that.
00:07It's announced a new initiative called Pax Silica.
00:10Pax, the Latin word for peace and stability, and silica as in silicon,
00:15the chemical element that's vital to the production of semiconductors.
00:19It comes as the U.S. tries to reduce chip supply reliance on China.
00:23That country is the main supplier of rare earth minerals, key to the production of most tech and electronics,
00:30and has limited access to them amid trade tensions with the U.S.
00:34The initiative's goal is to work with allies like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and Israel to reorganize the supply chain.
00:43It says this will ensure access to the critical minerals and energy required to develop the AI industry.
00:49But Taiwan is not on that list.
00:51It's a glaring omission, since the country produces 90% of the world's most advanced chips
00:57and has a strong relationship with the U.S.
01:00But one analyst I spoke to said that might not be a bad thing.
01:04Well, a very positive reading of it is just that the U.S. has full confidence and faith in Taiwan's support
01:10and also in Taiwan's own commitment to maintaining that dominance in semiconductor manufacturing and supply.
01:17Taiwan Plus also reached out to Taiwan's government about the country's exclusion but has not received a response as of airtime.
01:25The U.S. has ambitions to become a global AI leader.
01:28Shortly after it announced the Paxilica Initiative, U.S. President Donald Trump also issued an executive order rolling back regulations on AI companies.
01:37The U.S. has gathered trusted partners to help achieve its AI goals.
01:43But one question remains, can it count on Taiwan as well?
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