Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Brent Christensen, who is the closest thing to a US ambassador on the island, spoke to the assembled multitudes at a groundbreaking ceremony for a chip fabrication plant Powerchip in central Taiwan.

He said he was there "to restate the US government's focus on supply chain security". Washington has increasingly viewed tech-powerhouse and democratically ruled Taiwan as a key part of its strategy to shift global supply chains away from China, especially when it comes to technology and chip companies.

"Both President Biden and President Tsai have rightly identified the semiconductor industry as a key strategic priority, not only for economic innovation but also national security", he said, according to a transcript of his comments provided by his office.

Christensen pointed to last year's launch of the US-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue as a way the two can "build a coalition to counter the PRC's unfair economic and investment policies", referring to the People's Republic of China.

"The United States and Taiwan are the globe's most natural partners in the semiconductor supply chain with an abundance of companies across the value chain, and it will continue to be an AIT priority to support this cooperation."

In attending the same event, Taiwan President Tsai said she would guarantee that the government will fully support the semiconductor industry's development, describing it as a "mountain range protecting the country".