Taiwan has drawn a firm line against calls to move a large share of its semiconductor production to the United States, saying the idea ignores how the industry was built and how it works in real life. The island’s vice premier and top trade negotiator Cheng Li chiun said shifting as much as 40 percent of Taiwan’s chip making capacity abroad is not realistic and will not happen. She stressed that Taiwan’s semiconductor strength comes from decades of steady work, deep skills, and a tightly linked system that cannot simply be packed up and moved.
Speaking on local television, Cheng said she had clearly told US officials that the goal being discussed in Washington is impossible. Taiwan’s chip sector is not just about factories. It includes suppliers, engineers, research centers, logistics, and training systems that grew together over many years. Breaking that chain would weaken the whole structure. According to her, Taiwan will keep expanding chip production at home and will continue to invest locally even while looking outward.
She made it clear that Taiwan is not against working with the United States. The island is open to expanding its presence there and sharing its experience in building a strong industry cluster. But that expansion must be based on a solid base in Taiwan. Any overseas investment is meant to complement growth at home, not replace it. Cheng said Taiwan’s overall chip capacity including projects already running, under construction, and planned will far exceed what it builds in the US or any other country. The comments were a direct response to recent statements by US officials who argue that too much of the world’s advanced chip making sits close to China. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said it makes no sense for such a large share of global semiconductor manufacturing to be located so near a geopolitical rival. He said the US needs to bring production back and set a target of reaching 40 percent of leading edge chip manufacturing before the current administration leaves office.
Lutnick has gone further in past interviews, saying Washington wants a large part of Taiwan’s entire chip supply chain moved to the US. He has warned that if this does not happen, tariffs on Taiwan could rise sharply, even up to 100 percent. At one point, he also spoke of a possible fifty fifty split in chip making between the two sides, even though most advanced chips are now made in Taiwan. Despite the tough words, Taiwan and the US reached a trade deal recently that lowered tariffs on Taiwanese exports and included commitments for Taiwan to increase investment in the US. Cheng said this shows cooperation is possible without tearing apart Taiwan’s science parks or hollowing out its core industry. She said there would be no relocation of those parks but Taiwan is willing to help the US learn how to build its own strong chip ecosystem from the ground up.
Taiwan’s stance reflects a broader concern that political pressure could push companies into rushed decisions that harm long term stability. For Taiwan, chips are not just a business but a pillar of the economy and a key part of its global role. Officials believe that keeping the heart of the industry at home while carefully expanding abroad is the only path that makes sense.
Europe Debates Social Media Limits for Children as Worries Rise.
While Taiwan pushes back against pressure in the tech supply chain, another debate is spreading across Europe over technology and its impact on society, this time focused on children and social media. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said he supports banning social media use for children under the age of 15, citing advice from experts who warn that heavy online use can seriously harm young people.
In a video message shared online, Babis said the state has a duty to protect children from tools that may damage their mental and emotional development. He did not go into detail about how such a ban would work, but his comments added momentum to a growing movement across Europe to tighten rules around social platforms. Later the same day, Czech Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlicek said the government is seriously considering proposing a ban. He said that if the cabinet agrees, a draft law could be introduced this year. This suggests the idea is moving beyond talk and into the early stages of policy making.
The Czech debate is part of a wider shift in Europe. Countries like Spain, Greece, Britain, and France are all weighing tougher steps to limit how children use social media. Concerns range from addiction and loss of focus to anxiety, bullying, and long term effects on mental health. Many leaders now argue that existing safeguards are not enough. Australia recently became the first country to block access to social media platforms for children under 16, a move that has influenced discussions elsewhere. In Spain and Greece, leaders proposed similar bans last week, saying some platforms are designed to keep users hooked and are especially risky for young minds. The Spanish plan sparked anger from Elon Musk, the owner of the X platform, who criticized the move as heavy handed.
Britain is looking at an Australia style ban, while France is already working through laws that would bar children under 15 from using social media. Regulators say they are responding to growing evidence from doctors, teachers, and parents who see changes in behavior linked to screen time and online pressure.
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