Former United States Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger dismissed on Tuesday the popular “silicon shield” idea that Taiwan’s world-leading semiconductor industry could protect it against Chinese invasion.
Pottinger made the remarks during a teleconference held Tuesday morning in Taipei when asked about a possible timeline for when Beijing would be capable of launching a full-scale invasion of Taiwan.
In response, the former White House official said people could speculate about a timeline for a cross-Taiwan Strait war but what was important for all parties involved was to take every possible step to deter that invasion “from ever taking place.”
He went on to dismiss a popular idea that a so-called “silicon shield,” meaning Taiwan’s strength in producing microchips in particular the most advanced ones, amid a global chip shortage, could help it deter a Chinese invasion.
“I don’t think that there is such a thing as a silicon shield,” he said.
He said that the leadership in Beijing, which have been trained for their whole lives under “Leninist dictatorships,” did not share the same logic as people in democratic societies.
“And therefore, I think we should not, we should not kid ourselves that there is a silicon shield.”
Pottinger, who speaks fluent Chinese Mandarin, continued to point out that on the contrary, Chinese government propaganda had been promoting an idea implying the opposite of a “silicon shield.”
“So I’ve seen some Chinese nationalistic lectures and public figures who give public talks saying that Taiwan’s dominance in semiconductors is a reason why Beijing should invade Taiwan,” he noted.
He said what the U.S. and Taiwan should do instead was to deter an invasion at all cost.
Meanwhile, commenting on a recent debate on Taiwan’s purchase of anti-tank mines and mine-dispersing systems from the U.S., Pottinger said the system was intended to meet Taiwan’s defensive needs amid rising Chinese aggression.
“I would ask that people who were raising concerns about that system, also vocalize concerns about the significant increase in missiles and rockets that the PLA is deploying against Taiwan right now,” he added.
A number of opposition politicians and environmentalists in Taiwan have recently questioned the Army’s decision to buy anti-tank munitions through a proposed purchase of Volcano mine-dispensing systems from the U.S., saying that it would turn Taiwan into an island full of landmines.
They also accused the proposed deal, which was approved by Washington in December last year, of violating the United Nation’s Ottawa Treaty on banning landmines.
In response, the Army has clarified that they had purchased only metal-cased anti-vehicle mines and they would not be accidentally triggered by people stepping on them, adding that such munitions would only be deployed in the event of war.
The Army also stressed that the sale did not breach local laws and international treaties such as the Ottawa Treaty, which regulates the use of anti-personnel landmines only.
Pottinger is a former journalist and U.S. Marine Corps officer who served as the U.S. deputy national security advisor from Sept. 22, 2019 to Jan. 7, 2021 under former President Donald Trump.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel