Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te opened the COMPUTEX technology trade fair in Taipei on Tuesday, stating that maintaining the political status quo is the most responsible approach to secure global supply chains. Taiwan hosts the world's largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, and is a key supplier for Nvidia and Apple.

Lai told executives from major tech firms that Taiwan's importance to their industry is growing. "As the world's need for AI grows, so too does its need for a Taiwan that is stable, trustworthy, and capable of shouldering responsibility," he said, emphasizing the government's commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also spoke at the event, a week after the company announced plans to invest around $150 billion annually in Taiwan. Huang described Taiwan as "the epicenter of the ecosystem" for technology manufacturing.

Taiwan's status was a key topic during US President Donald Trump's recent visit to China. Trump paused military aid to Taiwan and complained that the island "stole" the chip industry from the US. The US adheres to the "one China" policy but remains Taiwan's most important backer and security guarantor.

The delicate balance between recognizing China's claims and supporting Taiwan continues to pose risks for global supply chains, as any disruption could severely impact the tech industry worldwide.

Source: www.dw.com