Taiwan semiconductors

TAIPEI: Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Saturday (Feb 20) she had received a letter from the White House on the global shortage of auto chips and Taiwanese semiconductor firms are "doing what they should" to address the problem. Tight chip supplies have caused problems for auto makers globally, who in some cases are having to curtail production. This week US President Joe Biden's top economic adviser, Brian Deese, thanked Wang for her efforts to resolve the shortage in coordination with the island's manufacturers. Wang told reporters that she had received the letter on Friday night, adding she had previously met with local chip makers on the issue, referring to meetings she has held in recent weeks. "Going forward, manufacturers are doing what they should," she said. This is a problem affecting car makers around the world, including in the United States, Japan and Europe, and Taiwan is an important supplier, Wang added. "We are helping as much as we can," … [Read more...] about Taiwan says it has received US letter on auto chips, firms are doing what they should

TAIPEI: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen pledged deeper ties with the United States at a dinner for a visiting senior State Department official, on the same day China sent 18 fighter jets to harry the island to express its anger at the trip. China had earlier on Friday (Sep 18) announced combat drills and denounced what it called collusion between the island, which it claims as part of its territory, and the United States. Taiwan scrambled its air force in response. READ: China holds military exercises near Taiwan as US diplomat visits US Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach arrived in Taipei on Thursday for a three-day visit, the most senior State Department official to come to Taiwan in four decades. Hosting a dinner for Krach and his team at her official residence, Tsai thanked him for coming to attend Saturday's memorial service for late President Lee Teng-hui, the father of Taiwan's democracy, the presidential office said in a statement late Friday. "I hope … [Read more...] about Taiwan pledges deeper US ties as China conducts combat drills

TAIPEI: Taiwan has sought Germany's help in securing COVID-19 vaccines, Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Thursday (Jan 28), after Berlin asked for the island's assistance in easing a shortage of automobile semiconductor chips. Wang told reporters she made the request at a meeting with Germany's de facto ambassador in Taipei, who handed her a letter seeking help to resolve the shortage, which is hampering the European nation's fledgling economic recovery from the pandemic. At their meeting on Wednesday, Wang said, she told the head of the German mission in Taipei that she hoped Germany could "assist Taiwan in obtaining vaccines within the feasible range". READ: Taiwan sets goal to vaccinate 60% of population against COVID-19 In the letter, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier asked Wang to help persuade manufacturers in Taiwan, home to the world's largest contract chip-maker and one of Germany's main suppliers, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), to ease the … [Read more...] about Taiwan asks Germany to help obtain COVID-19 vaccines

The world gasped in amazement at China's impressive 6% to 11% annual GDP growth over the past decade as the People's Republic became a truly global powerhouse. Last year, however, the coronavirus pandemic wrecked that incredible trajectory, leading to China's slowest expansion since 1976 at just 2.3%. Instead, the region's top-performing economy was Taiwan, the contentious territory that China sees as its own, which saw economic output expand by 3.11%. The island, which was widely praised for its handling of the health crisis, also benefited from demand for its technology during global lockdowns and the subsequent trade rebound. "Taiwan is one of the very few economies that still posted positive GDP growth in 2020," Angela Hsieh, regional economist at Barclays Asia Pacific, told DW. Hsieh pointed to "exceptionally strong exports" and singled out the island's semiconductor sector which grew 22.1% versus 5.6% for South Korea. Watch video 03:23 Share … [Read more...] about How Taiwan beat China to be Asia’s top-performing economy

TAIPEI: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) will prioritise production of auto chips if it is able to further increase capacity, Taiwan's Economics Ministry told Reuters, amid a global shortage that has hampered car production. A ministry official said Minister Wang Mei-hua spoke to senior company executives on Sunday about the issue. TSMC had told the ministry it will "optimise" the production process of chips to make it more efficient and prioritise auto chip production if it is able to further increase capacity, the ministry said. TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, stated that current production capacity is full, but had assured the ministry that "if production can be increased by optimising production capacity, it will cooperate with the government to regard automotive chips as a primary application". TSMC, in a statement to Reuters, referred to comments from its Chief Executive Officer C.C. Wei on an earnings call this month. "Other than … [Read more...] about Exclusive: Taiwan ministry says TSMC will prioritise auto chips if possible