Taiwan-EU Seminar Explores Submarine Cables, Supply Chain Cooperation Opportunities
Taiwan and the EU held a seminar to discuss submarine cable security and supply chain cooperation. The impact of China's 'sausage slicing' strategy and the potential for Taiwan to build an 'AI Shield' were explored.
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- 📰 Published: April 9, 2026 at 08:55
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The seminar invited Cai Jiting, Associate Professor of Political Science at National Taiwan University, Jing Bojun, Senior Researcher at the Taiwan Studies Program at Oxford University, Ivana Karásková, China expert from the Czech Republic, and Aurelio Insisa, Senior Researcher at IAI, as speakers. Michele Valensise, Chairman of IAI and former senior Italian diplomat, and Tsai Yun-chung, Representative in Italy, both attended and gave speeches.
Valensise emphasized that IAI has always focused on the Indo-Pacific region and looks forward to more research cooperation with Taiwan in the future. Tsai Yun-chung stated that Taiwan's increased defense budget shows its determination to defend itself against China's threats and expressed hope for strengthened cooperation with Italy in economic and security fields.
Regarding submarine cables, Cai Jiting cited China's frequent military exercises around Taiwan from 2022 to 2025 as an example, emphasizing that the CCP is employing a 'sausage slicing' strategy, encroaching on Taiwan's sea, land, and air domains. Coupled with this 'grey zone' strategy, cases of damage to submarine cables around Taiwan have increased, and Taiwan, as an island, highly relies on submarine cables for external communication.
Cai Jiting stressed that the Taiwanese government has taken multiple countermeasures. The Ministry of Digital Affairs recently released a report investigating submarine cable damage, and Taiwan made a strong ruling at the end of March against the Chinese-backed cargo ship 'Hongtai 58' for dragging and breaking a submarine cable, sentencing the captain and demanding high civil compensation. Taiwan and the EU can cooperate in related fields in the future, such as strengthening legal regulations, installing intelligent submarine cables with detection functions, and raising public awareness to prevent cable damage from being normalized.
In terms of the technology supply chain, Karásková stated that Taiwan plays an important role and can provide 'non-Chinese' component options to EU and NATO countries, reducing the EU's reliance on China.
Karaszkova pointed out that although China remains the largest global supplier of commercial drones, since last year, the Czech Republic and Poland have been importing a large number of Taiwanese military-use drones. According to her interviews with scholars and businesses, most of these Taiwanese drones are used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Karaszkova said that this phenomenon has created a brand-new supply chain system between Taiwan, Ukraine, and NATO member states in Central and Eastern Europe. This is a cooperation relationship worth developing because Ukraine's drone industry has risen in recent years, especially with its extensive battlefield experience. Taiwan can also learn knowledge from Ukraine to counter the CCP's People's Liberation Army.
Jing Bojun proposed that in addition to Taiwan's semiconductor 'Silicon Shield,' which is often seen as its protective mountain, it could further develop an 'AI Shield.' He believes that artificial intelligence offers a window of opportunity for Taiwan to rethink its economic security strategy and is a key area for future Taiwan-EU cooperation.
Jing Bojun pointed out that the Silicon Shield is based on the logic of using chip production as deterrence, whereas the 'AI Shield' encompasses more layered capabilities and a more complete technological ecosystem. Taiwan is not seeking exclusive technological superiority but aims to strengthen its economic and political security by integrating more into the global technological system. Correspondingly, the EU should not just 'buy from Taiwan' but should establish an innovative partnership with Taiwan. (Editor: Tian Ruihua) 1150409
Valensise emphasized that IAI has always focused on the Indo-Pacific region and looks forward to more research cooperation with Taiwan in the future. Tsai Yun-chung stated that Taiwan's increased defense budget shows its determination to defend itself against China's threats and expressed hope for strengthened cooperation with Italy in economic and security fields.
Regarding submarine cables, Cai Jiting cited China's frequent military exercises around Taiwan from 2022 to 2025 as an example, emphasizing that the CCP is employing a 'sausage slicing' strategy, encroaching on Taiwan's sea, land, and air domains. Coupled with this 'grey zone' strategy, cases of damage to submarine cables around Taiwan have increased, and Taiwan, as an island, highly relies on submarine cables for external communication.
Cai Jiting stressed that the Taiwanese government has taken multiple countermeasures. The Ministry of Digital Affairs recently released a report investigating submarine cable damage, and Taiwan made a strong ruling at the end of March against the Chinese-backed cargo ship 'Hongtai 58' for dragging and breaking a submarine cable, sentencing the captain and demanding high civil compensation. Taiwan and the EU can cooperate in related fields in the future, such as strengthening legal regulations, installing intelligent submarine cables with detection functions, and raising public awareness to prevent cable damage from being normalized.
In terms of the technology supply chain, Karásková stated that Taiwan plays an important role and can provide 'non-Chinese' component options to EU and NATO countries, reducing the EU's reliance on China.
Karaszkova pointed out that although China remains the largest global supplier of commercial drones, since last year, the Czech Republic and Poland have been importing a large number of Taiwanese military-use drones. According to her interviews with scholars and businesses, most of these Taiwanese drones are used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Karaszkova said that this phenomenon has created a brand-new supply chain system between Taiwan, Ukraine, and NATO member states in Central and Eastern Europe. This is a cooperation relationship worth developing because Ukraine's drone industry has risen in recent years, especially with its extensive battlefield experience. Taiwan can also learn knowledge from Ukraine to counter the CCP's People's Liberation Army.
Jing Bojun proposed that in addition to Taiwan's semiconductor 'Silicon Shield,' which is often seen as its protective mountain, it could further develop an 'AI Shield.' He believes that artificial intelligence offers a window of opportunity for Taiwan to rethink its economic security strategy and is a key area for future Taiwan-EU cooperation.
Jing Bojun pointed out that the Silicon Shield is based on the logic of using chip production as deterrence, whereas the 'AI Shield' encompasses more layered capabilities and a more complete technological ecosystem. Taiwan is not seeking exclusive technological superiority but aims to strengthen its economic and political security by integrating more into the global technological system. Correspondingly, the EU should not just 'buy from Taiwan' but should establish an innovative partnership with Taiwan. (Editor: Tian Ruihua) 1150409