Voice of America
Date: October 13, 2018
By: Ralph Jennings
TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Taiwan’s pick of a semiconductor magnate rather than a political
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. chairman Morris Chang during an interview in Hsinchu, Taiwan, Oct. 5, 2017.
figure as its envoy to a meeting of 21 Asian nations, including historical rival China, gives it a chance to showcase its tech prowess instead of its sticky position in geopolitics.
Morris Chang, retired chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., will head the Taiwan delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit next month in Papua New Guinea.
Taiwanese officials normally send political figures to the event that Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to attend. China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway part of its territory rather than as a country, keeping relations chilled for decades.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen during a visit to Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug. 14, 2018.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said she picked Chang because of his status in global industry. He’s ideal to discuss Taiwan’s technology with world leaders, she said Oct. 3 in announcing the appointment. Chang is expected to focus away from geopolitics or China-Taiwan ties. [FULL STORY]
