Taiwan’s premier has called for revisions to laws mandating tougher punishments to prevent China from stealing its semiconductor chip technology, stressing the threat from the “Red Supply Chain” must be deterred.
Due to rising concerns in Taipei that Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, is intensifying its economic espionage efforts, in February the Taiwanese Cabinet proposed revisions to strengthen the anti-theft rules.
Taiwan is home to industry giant TSMC and accounts for 92 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity, the expertise that China needs.
Chips made by Taiwan are used in many products, from fighter jets to mobile phones, and the island’s government is wary of Chinese efforts to copy that success, including through economic espionage.
During a Cabinet meeting, Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang said, in a statement issued by his office, that the Red Supply Chain, referring to the colors of China’s ruling Communist Party, was using various methods to “infiltrate” Taiwan and steal its technology.
Su added that he asked the justice ministry to work with parliament to ensure the revisions to the law proposed in February were passed “at the earliest date.”
“In order to have a deterrence effect,” other departments, including the economy ministry and China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council, must increase penalties for Chinese firms masquerading as Taiwanese seeking to steal technology, he added.
Under the national security law, Taiwan’s cabinet is proposing new offenses for “economic espionage,” carrying a punishment of up to 12 years in prison.
China has stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure to try and force Taiwan to accept its claims to sovereignty.
Only the island’s 23 million people can decide their future, stressed Taiwan’s government, affirming that they will defend themselves if attacked.
