TAIPEI (Reuters) – The U.S.-led “Fab 4” semiconductor alliance of Taiwan, america, Japan and South Korea held its first video assembly of senior officers final week centered on provide chain resilience, Taiwan’s Overseas Ministry mentioned on Saturday.

The US final September convened the primary assembly of the working group, colloquially known as “Fab 4” or “Chip 4”, to debate tips on how to strengthen the semiconductor provide chain, after a world chip crunch brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The semiconductor scarcity, which compelled some carmakers to halt manufacturing, thrust chip powerhouse Taiwan into the highlight and has made provide chain administration a much bigger precedence for governments all over the world.

Taiwan’s Overseas Ministry mentioned the “U.S.-East Asia Semiconductor Provide Chain Resilience Working Group”, or “Fab 4”, had after many months of coordination held the primary video assembly of senior officers from its working group on Feb. 16.

“The main focus of the discussions of the collaborating quartet on the assembly was primarily on tips on how to preserve the resilience of the semiconductor provide chain and discover the attainable future cooperation instructions of all events,” the ministry mentioned in a press release.

“As an vital member of the Indo-Pacific area, our nation additionally performs a key position within the world semiconductor trade, and has deep financial and commerce relations with nations within the area.”

The ministry didn’t elaborate on which officers took half within the assembly.

President Tsai Ing-wen has mentioned that Taiwan is dedicated to making sure its companions have dependable provides of semiconductors, which she has known as “democracy chips”, and has urged allies to spice up collaboration amid intensified threats from China.

Beijing views democratically-governed Taiwan as its personal territory.

The “Fab” within the identify refers to a shorthand trade expression for the fabrication vegetation the place chips, utilized in every part from fridges and smartphones to fighter jets, are made.

The group’s members are dwelling to the world’s largest contract chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, South Korean reminiscence chip giants Samsung Electronics (OTC:) Co Ltd and SK Hynix, and key Japanese suppliers of semiconductor supplies and gear.