Top News of the Week – Taiwan's Elections
Lai Ching-te from the Democratic Progressive Party was elected as the new President of Taiwan, securing 40% of the votes while former envoy to the U.S., Bi-khim Hsiao will serve as Vice President.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Top News of the Week
Announcements
Latest News
Technology Strategy and Policy
Artificial Intelligence
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Critical Minerals
Synthetic Biology
Quantum
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Energy and Climate
Opinion and Commentary
Top News of the Week – Taiwan’s Elections
On January 13th, 2024, Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party was elected as the new President of Taiwan, securing 40% of the votes, while Bi-khim Hsiao, former envoy to the U.S., will serve as the Vice President of Taiwan.
Taiwan is a linchpin of democracy and an oasis of freedom. Its election is indicative of Taiwan's vibrant democratic process and comes at a critical moment when freedom is under attack from authoritarianism on multiple fronts. Congratulations to the people of Taiwan, and to Lai Ching-te and Bi-khim Hsiao, for standing resolutely behind their democratic values and sending a clear message to the rest of the world that freedom is here to stay.
In June 2023, the Krach Institute was honored to host Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan’s Representative to the U.S., who has recently been elected as the Vice President of Taiwan. This visit marked a pivotal step in pioneering a new era of strategic technological collaboration, aimed at fostering global freedom and trust.
During her visit, then-Ambassador Bi-khim Hsiao, delivered a statement on the burgeoning partnership between Taiwan, Purdue University, and the Krach Institute. Her words underscored the importance of democratic alliances and the deepening bond in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.
Vice President-elect Hsiao’s endorsement of Taiwan’s strategic ties with the Krach Institute was not just a formal gesture but a testament to our shared commitment to technological advancement in the service of freedom and trust worldwide.
Read the full recap of Vice President-elect Hsiao’s visit to Purdue here.
Announcements
Keith Krach Leads Annual Chairman’s U.S.-Taiwan Business Council Delegation to Taiwan
At an historic moment marking Taiwan’s vibrant democratic process, former Under Secretary of State and Chairman of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue Keith Krach will host a distinguished delegation of U.S. business leaders in Taiwan from January 22-24, 2024, immediately following Taiwan’s election.
The annual Chairman’s U.S.-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) delegation, headed by Krach and including USTBC President Rupert Hammond-Chambers, members of the Council’s Board of Directors, and dozens of U.S. business executives from various sectors, aims to explore new opportunities for collaboration, forge strategic partnerships, promote innovation in key industries, and grow the Global Trusted Tech Network, a coalition of like-minded nations, companies, institutions, and global leaders working together to advance freedom through the innovation and adoption of trusted technology.
“A few days ago, Taiwanese citizens stood resolutely behind their democracy and sent a clear message to the world that their freedom is here to stay,” said Chairman Keith Krach. “I am honored to lead the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council delegation to Taiwan at this critical time. Our visit demonstrates the commitment of the American business community to furthering bilateral economic cooperation rooted in mutual trust. Without a strong, resilient, and prosperous Taiwan, freedom everywhere will be imperiled by authoritarianism.”
The visit will include meetings with senior government officials, Taiwanese private-sector leaders, and industry experts. The agenda includes discussions on trade policies, investment opportunities, and areas of technological cooperation that can drive economic growth and innovation for both the United States and Taiwan.
Read more about the trip to Taiwan here.
Latest News
False promises: The authoritarian development models of China and Russia - Dan Negrea, Atlantic Council, January 11, 2024
Taiwan Voters Defy Beijing in Electing New President – WSJ, January 13, 2024
Welcome to the new era of global sea power – The Economist, January 11, 2024
China set to lose crown as top U.S. exporter after 17 years – Nikkei Asia, January 11, 2024
Finland counters Russian border gambits in the high north – Politico, January 8, 2024
From Lebanon to the Red Sea, a Broader Conflict with Iran Looms – NYTs, January 7, 2024
Technology Strategy and Policy
10 Breakthrough Technologies 2024 – MIT Technology Review, January 8, 2024
European Union keeps a wary eye on China as it plans tech spending – WaPo, January 6, 2024
Artificial Intelligence
Anthropic researchers find that AI models can be trained to deceive – TechCrunch, January 13, 2024
US companies and Chinese experts engaged in secret diplomacy on AI safety – Financial Times, January 11, 2024
Microsoft Debates What to Do with A.I. Lab in China – NYTs, January 10, 2024
In the race for AI supremacy, China and the US are travelling on entirely different tracks – The Guardian, January 9, 2024
Lawmakers Push U.S. to Consider Trade Limits with A.I. Giant Tied to China – NYTs, January 9, 2024
Volkswagen is bringing ChatGPT into its cars and SUVs – TechCrunch, January 8, 2024
Telecommunications Networks and Infrastructure
Apple knew AirDrop users could be identified and tracked as early as 2019, researchers say – CNN, January 12, 2024
Huawei secures JD.com as HarmonyOS partner as home-grown software emerges as alternative for Apple iOS, Android in China – SCMP, January 11, 2024
China forensic firm cracks Apple’s AirDrop to help Beijing police track senders – SCMP, January 9, 2024
Critical Minerals
Research in Graphene Shows New Potential for Its Use in Chips – WSJ, January 12, 2024
Hunt for Critical Minerals Draws World Powers to Saudi Arabia – WSJ, January 12, 2024
The U.S. Races China and Russia to Mine the Ocean for Battery Metals – The Information, January 8, 2024
Australia funds rare earth research as West seeks China alternatives – Nikkei Asia, January 8, 2024
Synthetic Biology
Recursion’s Chris Gibson on AI in biotech and ‘virtuous cycles’ – BioPharma Dive, January 12, 2024
COVID’s Cold Cousins – Science, January 11, 2024
Quantum
French Tech Leaders Urge EU To Boost Funding for Quantum Technology – Quantum Insider, January 15, 2024
Quantum Computing is taking on its Biggest Challenge: Noise – MIT Technology Review, January 4, 2024
Russia and China successfully test quantum communication over satellite — 3,800-kilometer test explores possible encrypted networks for BRICS countries – Tom’s Hardware, January 4, 2024
Baidu To Donate Quantum Computing Equipment To Research Institute – Quantum Insider, January 3, 2024
Advanced Aerospace Technology
Drones Are Changing How Wars Are Fought – WSJ, January 14, 2024
VIDEO – Inside Boeing’s X-37B Space Plane Conducting Secret Missions for the U.S. – WSJ, January 12, 2024
Asia space race heats up as China, Japan and India reach for the stars – Financial Times, January 10, 2024
China to launch 26,000 satellites, vying with U.S. for space power – Nikkei Asia, January 10, 2024
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
China's military and government acquire Nvidia chips despite U.S. ban – Reuters, January 15, 2024
Chip Wars Boost Europe’s Top Tech Company—for Now – WSJ, January 15, 2024
AI drives upswing for chipmakers but doubts linger – Financial Times, January 13, 2024
Single Chinese factory reportedly repurposed over 4,000 Nvidia RTX gaming cards into AI accelerators in December – Tom’s Hardware, January 12, 2024
Chinese companies resort to repurposing Nvidia gaming chips for AI – Financial Times, January 11, 2024
The Next Front in the U.S.-China Battle Over Chips – NYTs, January 10, 2024
Energy and Climate
America’s Gas Bonanza Brings Biden New Political Dilemmas – WSJ, January 12, 2024
China’s Solar Dominance Faces New Rival: An Ultrathin Film – WSJ, January 11, 2024
China’s EV-Market Boom Is Set to Slow for a Second Year – Bloomberg, January 9, 2024
Opinion and Commentary
Take in a sunset, a snowstorm or a baby’s cry, and see why AI is no threat to art – Ai Weiwei, The Guardian, January 13, 2024
The hard truth about AI? It might produce some better software – John Naughton, The Guardian, January 13, 2024
Huawei is back, and the need to keep it out of 5G networks is greater than ever – David Wilezol, The Hill, January 3, 2024
What China may have learned from Pearl Harbor – Samantha Ravich and Mark Montgomery, Washington Examiner, January 2, 2024
About: Tech Diplomacy Now
The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is the world’s preeminent trusted technology accelerator. As the leader of the new category of Tech Diplomacy, the Institute integrates technology expertise, Silicon Valley strategies, and foreign policy tools to build the Global Trusted Tech Network of governments, companies, organizations and individuals to accelerate the innovation and adoption of trusted technology and ensure technology advances freedom.