Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te says that in addition to stronger defence ties with Europe, he also supports Taiwanese semiconductor companies investing overseas, including in Europe. (Photo: AFP)TAIPEI - Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has called for greater defence and AI cooperation between Taiwan and Europe, as the democratic island seeks to bolster its protection against China. Lai told AFP in his first interview with an international news agency since taking office in 2024 that Taiwan also supports the island’s semiconductor companies investing overseas, including in Europe. “I would like Taiwan and Europe to enhance cooperation in the defence industry and on defence technology,” Lai told AFP on Tuesday in an exclusive interview at the Presidential Office Building. But Taipei is under US pressure to do more on defence — and for its semiconductor manufacturers to increase production capacity in the United States.

Source: Bangkok Post February 12, 2026 03:43 UTC