Washington D.C.: Taiwan is playing a key role in the United States' reindustrialization and maintaining its lead over China in the semiconductor industry, an Asian studies scholar said Monday. In an interview in Washington D.C., Michael Cunningham, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation's China, Asian Studies Center, told CNA that the cooperation between Taiwan and the United States was "perfect." According to Focus Taiwan, Cunningham emphasized that the partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan in the semiconductor industry is crucial for the U.S. for two main reasons. First, China is unable to acquire advanced chips from Taiwan, compelling it to invest heavily in developing, designing, and manufacturing its own chips. This reliance on Taiwan ensures that the U.S. remains ahead of China in the semiconductor race. Cunningham highlighted the need for the United States to revitalize its manufacturing sector and boost reindustrialization in industries such as automobile and artificial intelligence, where t he demand for semiconductors is continuously rising. Taiwan, having the largest and most complete semiconductor industry cluster, is capable of producing high-quality chips at lower costs. He described the cooperation model, where the U.S. develops and designs chips for Taiwan to manufacture, as "perfect." Despite the high costs of constructing chip fabs, Taiwan remains a reliable partner for U.S. semiconductor companies to invest in development. Cunningham mentioned that both major political parties in the U.S. are keen on Taiwan assisting with America's reindustrialization, while the public desires more domestic chip manufacturing. Due to Taiwan's industry cluster, bilateral coordination between the two governments and businesses is essential to enable Taiwan's companies to support U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Cunningham also stated that China is currently unable to wage war against Taiwan and would not dare to do so. He assured that as long as the U.S. continues supporting Taiwan, China will be det erred from future aggression. Taiwan is described as a stable and safe place, free from civil unrest or terrorism. He pointed out that the semiconductor supply chain involves multiple countries, and any disruption in these countries could impact the entire supply chain. Cunningham's report, "The American Case for Taiwan," aims to inform the American public about Taiwan's significant role in geopolitics and the global economy. He stressed that Taiwan is a leader in manufacturing various materials and components, including high-functioning screws for cars and airplanes, and any disruption in supply would cause severe global consequences. Cunningham reiterated his support for Taiwan, emphasizing that the report was written for the U.S. to highlight Taiwan's importance.