After President Lai Ching-te was sworn in on May 20, following a series of events from Chinese military exercises to the suspension of the ECFA project, Taiwan has been under constant pressure from China, according to Hsieh Chin-ho, Chairman of Taiwan Cai Xin Media. It was expected that Taiwan would suffer greatly, but the arrival of Huang Renxun, CEO of NVIDIA, has attracted global attention and seemingly diffused the pressure imposed by China.
In a Facebook post titled “The Wonder Left by Huang Renxun for Taiwan,” Hsieh Chin-ho pointed out that after May 20, which was a period of intense pressure from China with military exercises, the passage of five reform bills in the Legislative Yuan, Taiwanese entertainers being coerced to make statements, and the suspension of 134 ECFA tariff items, every move made by the Chinese Communist authorities was directed at Taiwan’s disintegration.
President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Xiao Mei-qin took office on May 20, from which China launched military exercises surrounding Taiwan on the 23rd. On May 31, China announced the cancellation of the second batch of ECFA tariff concessions, eliciting strong protests and dissatisfaction from Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Chiu Chui-zheng.
It was believed that these measures would heavily impact Taiwan, causing it to regress, especially with the cooperation of some individuals within the country. However, the arrival of Huang Renxun changed the game by traversing Taiwan, garnering immense media and public attention wherever he went. Huang Renxun is scheduled to depart Taiwan on the 8th, with plans to return before the year’s end.
Last year in May, Huang Renxun visited Taiwan, explored night markets, and indulged in local delicacies. Yet this year, NVIDIA’s market value skyrocketed, expanding its influence globally. Simultaneously, while China increased pressure on Taiwan, Huang Renxun managed to live freely and alleviate the tension effortlessly. By bringing TSMC founder Zhang Zhongmu to Ningxia Night Market for shaved ice and inviting all major players in Taiwan’s supply chain to a traditional restaurant, Huang’s humble and approachable demeanor won the hearts of all Taiwanese.
With NVIDIA’s stock prices hitting new highs, Huang Renxun’s net worth also soared to $107.4 billion, ranking him as the 13th richest person globally.
Hsieh Chin-ho emphasized that during Huang Renxun’s speech at National Taiwan University on the 2nd, televised nationwide and streamed online, people of all ages stopped to listen attentively. By uniting Taiwan’s supply chain and instilling unprecedented confidence in the industry, Huang has shone a light on the global importance of TSMC. As NVIDIA’s market value soared to $3 trillion, boosting Taiwan’s stock market to $70 trillion, approximately equivalent to Germany’s market value, Taiwan’s hard-earned economic achievements are undeniably remarkable.
In recent years, Taiwanese businesses, particularly within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, have increasingly relocated their production bases back to Taiwan. Huang Renxun’s visit to Taiwan to seek partners in the supply chain brought everyone together due to the presence of production bases in Taiwan, with credit also extended to former Deputy Premier Shen Rongjin for his promotion of the “Three Major Investment Plans for Taiwan.”
Implemented since July 1, 2019, the “Invest in Taiwan Three Major Plans” fostered the return of Taiwanese businesses, accelerated investments in local enterprises, and expedited investments in small and medium-sized enterprises, offering assistance such as discounted land rents and project loans. To date, the initiative has attracted 1,495 companies, with investments exceeding NT$2.2913 trillion (approximately $74.341 billion).
From May 20 onwards, China’s unprecedented pressure on Taiwan has been met with Huang Renxun’s vigorous promotion of Taiwan, always referencing Taiwan and hailing it as the center of AI. His efforts have alleviated much of Taiwan’s pressure, as seen by the thriving business in traditional eateries wherever he visits. Despite leaving Taiwan at the age of 9, it seems that Huang Renxun’s roots lie in search of the taste of Taiwan.
With Huang Renxun’s rousing support at National Taiwan University, this year’s Taipei Computex exhibition experienced unparalleled success. What was once a part of many tech exhibitions has now become a global focal point, evidenced by over 13,700 attendees at the speeches of AMD CEO Su Zifeng and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon on the 3rd. With more than a thousand foreign media outlets converging in Taiwan, the strength of Taiwan’s tech industry is undeniably apparent.