With eye on China, Taiwan to boost protection for crucial tech

Taiwan is set to announce a list of technologies this year that it wants to protect from the reach of China, according to media report, citing a top Taiwanese official.

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Wellington Koo, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council, said, "Before the end of the year, the National Science and Technology Council will announce what are considered core technologies that need to be protected." 

Koo further noted that the aim is to prevent China from acquiring crucial technology.

The security chief further said that Taiwan is also working to prevent their semiconductor products and technologies from being used by China, reported Nikkei Asia.

"Having this country's core technology exported to China isn't the only area that we're scrutinising from a national security angle. We're working to prevent our semiconductor products and technologies from being used by China for defence or military purposes," the security chief said.

"The new policy will elevate critical technology in the supply chain and semiconductors to a national security level, enabling closer scrutiny. The aim is to prevent efforts to acquire crucial technology by China, which is targeting upstream IC (integrated circuits) design in Taiwan," Koo said.

Moreover, the policy will deal with investments, manpower, operations, and technology transfer in various domains, Nikkei Asia reported.

"The policy will define national core technologies and cover industries including semiconductors, agriculture, aerospace, and ICT (information and communication technology)," Koo said. "It will deal with investments, manpower, operations, and technology transfer in these areas."

For decades now, Beijing has sought to block the sale of military-related technology and weapons from other countries to Taiwan.

Additionally, Taiwan expressed concerns held by the US, Japan, and other governments about China's push for advanced technologies.