US Seals 'Trade' Deal with Taiwan, Secures Chip Supply for . . . Reasons
Al Jazeera blandly announces the U.S. and Taiwan have sealed a new deal, framing it as routine economic cooperation. Of course, they mention China's sovereignty claims over Taiwan, but conveniently omit the escalating rhetoric from Washington—rhetoric that often oscillates between 'democracy support' and thinly veiled industrial policy. This isn't just about tariffs; it's about control over the
world's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The CHIPS Act, passed by the US Congress, already threw billions at domestic production, effectively subsidizing American firms, while simultaneously pushing for external alliances like this one with Taiwan. One might wonder if the US commitment to Taiwan's 'independence' (a state not recognized by the UN or most nations) is less about
self-determination and more about securing a critical chokehold on global tech at China's doorstep. This deal looks less like a free trade agreement and more like a strategic asset acquisition, dressed up in diplomatic language. How many 'trade deals' are actually just elaborate contingency plans wrapped in tariffs?