In an exclusive interview with Euronews Next, Taiwan's deputy foreign minister François Chih-chung Wu issued a stark warning to European nations: a Chinese military takeover of the island would have immediate and severe consequences far beyond the Taiwan Strait.
“If China attacks Taiwan, France, Europe, the United States, and Japan will all be affected. Taiwan will be in a terrible situation — but so will you,” Wu said, emphasizing that the conflict would not remain localized.
Wu pushed back against Beijing's narrative that Taiwan has always been part of China, pointing to the island's complex history under Dutch, Spanish, Qing, and Japanese rule. “China was not the only country there,” he argued, noting that the Qing Dynasty only established Taiwan as a province for a mere ten years between 1885 and 1894, which he said undermines China's claims of continuous sovereignty.
The Silicon Shield and Global Dependence
Taiwan's strategic importance today lies in its dominance of advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) produces over 90% of the world's most advanced chips, essential for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, smartphones, and military systems. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently called Taiwan the “world’s best supply chain” and the “epicentre of the AI revolution.”
“About 70% of all semiconductors are manufactured in Taiwan, as well as 95% of the most advanced chips and 100% of chips destined for artificial intelligence,” Wu stated. He described the intricate know-how: “In one square centimetre of semiconductor, the size of a fingertip, the Taiwanese are able to fit more than 10 billion chips. That is our know-how. We have the will to share it with democratic countries, even for the good of humanity.”
Wu also highlighted the immense volume of maritime traffic through the Taiwan Strait — over 60,000 containers daily, three times the combined traffic of the Panama and Suez Canals. “You can imagine, if China attacks Taiwan or even imposes a blockade around Taiwan, how the interests of the world will be damaged,” he warned.
Europe's Stake in Taiwan's Stability
Wu argued that the stability of the region is a “global responsibility,” but acknowledged that Taiwan is “not naive” about expecting European military protection. “Why would France protect the Taiwanese? We have never been a French country; why should France do that? But France has very important interests in the region, and France is an Indo-Pacific country,” he said, extending the same logic to the rest of Europe.
European companies are deeply embedded in Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem. The advanced photolithography machines come from the Netherlands, precision optics from Germany's Zeiss, industrial gases from France's Air Liquide, and chip design tools from Belgium's IMEC in Leuven. “All of Europe is inside that one square centimetre of silicon,” Wu noted. Taiwanese companies are also forging partnerships in Europe, such as Foxconn's collaboration with France's Thales on semiconductors and space data centres.
Wu acknowledged that China is intensifying efforts to isolate Taiwan diplomatically. “China senses it is losing Taiwan — so it is trying every available means to take it. In the Chinese mindset, once Chinese, always Chinese. That is a huge problem.” Despite this, Taiwan's economy has thrived, with its stock market overtaking Germany and France this year, according to Bloomberg data.
“Fear, in a way, is not a bad thing. Because we are afraid, we prepare. Taiwan has been threatened by China for 70 years, and we have still achieved democracy, still become prosperous,” Wu reflected.
On the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Xi reportedly reiterated China's claim over Taiwan, Wu said “for us, American policy has not changed at all,” noting that the US Speaker of the House reaffirmed American support for the island immediately after the meeting.
Wu stressed the importance of Europe as a partner. “I believe Europeans are beginning to realise that we cannot let China choose our friends. Europe naturally has the right to choose its friends, and choosing friends does not necessarily mean formal diplomatic relations.” He admitted that building ties is difficult because “China does everything to block us,” but noted that low-profile discussions between Taiwan and Europe are increasing.
For a broader perspective on Europe's strategic challenges, see our analysis on Enrico Letta's warning that Europe must integrate or face subordination to the US and China. The EU's industrial policy is also under scrutiny, as EPP Chief Weber warns that the EU must act now or China will cripple European industry.
