TAIPEI (Reuters – Taiwan wants to cooperate with three Eastern European nations on semiconductors. A minister stated this on Thursday. It is a move that will likely be embraced by Brussels. Brussels has sought out Taiwanese companies to produce in its bloc.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd., a technology powerhouse that is home to many of the companies mentioned above, has been at forefront of efforts for resolving a shortfall of chips which has caused some production lines to close around the world. Its impact can now be felt in consumer electronics.

While TSMC is building a $12 billion chip fabrication plant in the U.S. state of Arizona, it has given no suggestion of interest in a similar facility in Europe, despite EU efforts https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-appeals-shared-values-tempt-taiwans-chip-firms-2021-10-14 to spur such investment.

Kung Minghsin is Taiwan’s National Development Council chief.

To work with these three countries on how to collaborate in chips, Taiwan will establish working groups. Taiwan will also offer technical scholarships, he said.

“The entire supply chain for semiconductors is massive. Many countries can play different roles,” Kung said.

Taiwan expressed its appreciation to these three countries for their COVID-19 vaccinations and for Lithuania’s and Czech Republics help when Taiwan was under increasing political pressure.

Although neither the EU nor its member countries have established diplomatic relations with Taiwan democratically claimed by China, Taipei has tried to improve its relations with the bloc through a shared emphasis on democracy and their values.

European Commission proposed legislation that would boost chip production and has advocated for Taiwan’s participation.

Kung claimed that Europe would find it difficult to achieve this goal on its own.

He added, “So they want to cooperate with Taiwan.”