US, Taiwan seek 'like-minded' democracies in supply chain shift from China
TAIPEI, Sept 4- The United States and Taiwan said on Friday they were seeking “like-minded” democracies to join a shift in global supply chains during the coronavirus pandemic, as Washington looks to accelerate a move away from economic reliance on China. The Trump administration is taking action on multiple fronts to rebalance U.S. economic ties with China,…
TAIPEI, Sept 4 (Reuters) – The United States and Taiwan said
on Friday they were seeking “like-minded” democracies to join a
shift in global supply chains during the coronavirus pandemic,
as Washington looks to accelerate a move away from economic
reliance on China.
The Trump administration is taking action on multiple frontsto rebalance U.S. economic ties with China, including executiveorders aimed at ensuring domestic production of key products andusing “Buy America” requirements and incentives to persuade U.S.firms to bolster domestic supply chains.
China has decried this as a politicised attempt at”de-coupling” the world’s two largest economies that will neversucceed.
De facto U.S. ambassador in Taiwan Brent Christensen,speaking in front of his Japanese, European Union and Canadiancounterparts, Taiwan’s foreign minister and the visiting CzechSenate speaker, said everyone in the room was connected by theirshared values, like freedom of the press and religion.
“These are the shared values that will inform how wereinvent the supply chains of the future,” Christensen said.
“Helping economies, sectors and companies build out securesupply chains will require a coordinated effort from all of us.”
Taiwan has also been keen to encourage its companies homefrom China – which claims Taiwan as its own territory – or tomove factories elsewhere.
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu took an indirect swipe at China,saying the pandemic had caused counties to wonder what wouldhappen if their key industries were controlled by “anothercountry that does not honour the values of rule of law, freedom,democracy and transparency”.
“Going forward, we will work with like-minded partners toestablish reciprocal industrial ties that lead to jointprosperity, instead of coercion, exploitation and expansionism,”Wu said.
“I see tremendous potential for closer cooperation betweenTaiwan and like minded democracies, from Europe, Asia and NorthAmerica.”
To China’s anger, the Trump administration has stepped upits support for Taiwan, even though like most countries it doesnot maintain formal diplomatic ties with the island.(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kim Coghill)
