Taiwan’s dominance of chip manufacturing is unlikely to change even as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) expands in Arizona, a U.S. expert said on Monday at a forum in New York. David Sacks, a fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), noted that despite TSMC’s investment success, the share of cutting-edge chips made in Taiwan will largely stay the same. He emphasized that U.S.-Taiwan relations hold far greater significance for Washington than semiconductors alone. 

The event, “Taiwan’s Role in the U.S. High-Tech Supply Chain: Opportunities and Challenges,” was hosted by Network 20/20 and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York. Speakers included CFR’s Adam Segal, Temple University Political Science Professor Roselyn Hsueh (薛媖月), and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Vice President Stephen Ezell.

Ezell said Taiwan remains at the core of global semiconductor production, with U.S. firms accounting for about 70% of Taiwanese chip foundry revenue, including Apple’s substantial contribution. He described U.S.-Taiwan industry ties as a “symbiotic partnership.”

Segal highlighted Taiwan’s leadership in AI datacenter hardware and advanced semiconductor packaging, while Hsueh urged deeper cooperation between Taipei and Washington amid ongoing U.S.-China tech tensions. Taiwan’s envoy Tom Lee (李志強) said his country will continue working closely with the U.S. to sustain global supply chain resilience.