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Taiwan's semiconductor industry plays a vital role in the global technology supply chain, and Taiwan-EU cooperation and supply chain resilience have become important topics in discussions on economic security.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung warned European countries that excessive reliance on Chinese suppliers could create risks extending beyond the economic sphere and potentially affect Europe’s ability to make autonomous decisions and safeguard its sovereignty. He also called for Taiwan and Europe to deepen economic, trade and technology cooperation to reduce the risks of concentrating critical supply chains in a single country.

According to a Reuters report on Oct. 13, Lin said in remarks at the Warsaw Security Forum that supply-chain dependence could become a source of political vulnerability. His comments came as EU leaders prepared to meet for a summit in Brussels, where trade imbalances and reliance on Chinese supply chains were expected to be among the issues discussed.

Lin said Taiwan and Europe share values including democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law. He added that Taiwan’s experience in technological innovation and industrial development could create opportunities for cooperation with Europe. He advocated closer economic ties and technology exchanges to build a more resilient partnership as global supply chains are reconfigured.

Europe has continued to reassess its economic and trade relationship with China in recent years, with particular attention to trade imbalances, dependence on critical industries and geopolitical risks. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 also heightened Europe’s focus on the security of energy, critical materials and strategic supply chains.

For Taiwan, closer ties with Europe involve not only diplomacy but also market positioning for the semiconductor, information and communications technology, artificial intelligence and other high-tech industries. However, European countries maintain extensive economic and trade relations with China. How to reduce strategic risks while preserving commercial ties will be a key test for EU policy.

China’s embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. The Chinese government has consistently opposed Taiwan officials conducting overseas activities in an official capacity that Beijing considers related to sovereignty. Taiwan maintains that it has the right to participate equally in international exchanges. Whether this diplomatic messaging can be translated into concrete Taiwan-Europe cooperation proposals remains to be seen.