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Amid his first visit to Taiwan, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Sunday the opening of a Texas-Taiwan trade representative office in Taipei to strengthen business and economic ties between the state and island.
Taiwan-based companies have been expanding into Texas for years, specifically in the semiconductor and petrochemical industries. Totaling $21.3 billion in 2023, Taiwan is Texas’ seventh-largest trade partner, according to Abbott.
One of the notable expansions is by GlobalWafers, a Taiwan-based semiconductor silicon wafer company, which announced in 2022 plans to build a state-of-the-art silicon wafer factory in Sherman, Texas. This facility, expected to be the first of its kind in the United States in over two decades, aims to address the semiconductor supply chain issues in the U.S. by reducing the reliance on imported silicon wafers from Asia. This project is anticipated to create around 1,500 jobs and significantly bolster the state’s local economy.
During a visit to Taiwan on Sunday, Abbott announced the opening of the State of Texas Taiwan Office (STTO), making it the 23rd U.S. state to open an office in Taipei. The STTO, which will operate under Texas’ Economic Development & Tourism Office, was announced in an effort to strengthen business and economic ties between the state and island, with the Republican governor also signing a letter of intent.
Newsweek has reached out to Abbott’s office via email for comment.
“We understand, both in Texas and in the United States, the importance of a strong Taiwan for the future of the entire globe. One of the best things that we can do to strengthen Taiwan and strengthen its future is by expanding our economic ties, so that Taiwan grows even stronger economically,” Abbott said on a stage with Taiwan Minister of Economic Affairs Jyh-Huei Kuo.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Abbott praised the opening of the office and wrote on Sunday morning, “Taiwan President Lai welcomed our Texas delegation in Taipei. We also announced the opening of a trade representative office for the State of Texas. We do BILLIONS in trade with Taiwan. The country was very hospitable.”
According to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Texas is an important trading partner as the Lone Star state is the ninth largest export market, with exports exceeding $11.5 billion in 2023.
“During this trip you will open the state of Texas-Taiwan office and sign an economic development statement of intent. I assure that the office will create new and trailblazing opportunities for an even stronger collaboration between Taiwanese and US businesses,” Lai said, according to Taiwan News.
However, the announcement comes as tensions between Taiwan and China continue to grow.
In May, Lai faced China’s largest-scale military exercises in nearly two years. It comes as a response to Lai’s inauguration speech as he asserted that “the Republic of China Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation,” adding it is “an important link in the global chain of democracies.” While Taiwan has been independently governed since 1949, China views the island as part of its territory and hasn’t ruled out the use of force to unify the nations.
In addition, China has said it would launch a war if Taiwan were ever to officially declare independence. Lai, like his predecessor, former President Tsai Ing-wen, has maintained that there is no need to do so, as Taiwan is already an independent state.
Last week, China issued a no-sail zone warning in waters near Taiwan.
Maritime Safety Administration of China’s eastern Zhejiang province issued the navigational warning for a “military exercises” in the East China Sea from Wednesday to Friday as China’s military deployed 22 aircraft and six vessels.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Quinn Ewers on making the most of his moments as a Texas Longhorn
“That’s the fun part about playing at program like this. Being able to sit back and just understand the pride and tradition that comes with playing here.”
Texas football will be without star receiver Isaiah Bond on Saturday, who was shown in street clothes prior to the Longhorns’ first-round College Football Playoff game against Clemson.
No. 5 Texas (11-2) hosts No. 12 Clemson (10-3) in the third CFP game of 2024, with quarterback Quinn Ewers needing to rely on the Longhorns’ other receivers in their opening round. Bond is dealing with an ankle injury, and was shown on the sideline with a boot during pregame warmups Saturday.
Bond suffered the injury in Texas’ loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game, putting his status into question. Bond has 532 receiving yards with six touchdowns in 12 games this season.
The first-year transfer from Alabama was one of the most sought-after transfer portal recruits in the country last offseason, ranked as the No. 4 overall player and No. 1 receiver of the cycle.
Here’s everything to know about Bond’s injury:
Bond will miss Texas’ game on Saturday against Clemson with an ankle injury, as he was shown in street clothes and with a boot on his ankle during pregame warmups.
The former five-star transfer portal recruit suffered a high-ankle sprain against Georgia in the SEC championship game on Dec. 7. Texas hopes to get back its top receiver in the next weeks of the CFP if it beats Clemson on Saturday.
Bond suffered a high-ankle sprain against Georgia in the SEC championship game.
Bond was shown with a boot on his foot ahead of Texas’ game against Clemson on Saturday.
The Clemson Tigers are getting set for their first-round matchup against the Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoff.
It has been a solid season for the Tigers, as they were able to win 10 games and an ACC Title. Even though things didn’t look great at times for the program, they have made the first expanded CFP.
This matchup against the Longhorns will be one of the toughest of the season for the Tigers, as they will be facing one of the best defenses in the country. In addition to having one of the best overall defenses, they arguably have the best secondary and pass defense in the country.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Longhorns are good, but inconsistent at times. They have a very talented quarterback in Quinn Ewers, as his future with the program is certainly up in the air.
As the two teams get set for Saturday, one impact player who could miss the game is Texas’ wide receiver Isaiah Bond.
Recently, Pete Thamel of ESPN.com, spoke about the likelihood of Bond suiting up in the first-round matchup.
“Bond would need to significantly improve in the next two days to be healthy enough to go,” Thamel said via the Clemson Insider. “Bond re-aggravated his high ankle sprain late in the game against Georgia, and there’s more optimism he’ll be able to return against Arizona State on Jan. 1 if Texas advances.”
Bond being out would be a significant blow for the Longhorns, as he is ranked third on the team in receiving yards behind Matthew Golden and tight end Gunnar Helm. So far this season, the talented wide receiver has totaled 33 receptions, 532 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns.
With an average yards per catch of 16.1, Bond is a really talented receiver with big-play ability.
Since it seems likely that he won’t be playing in this one, that only helps make things easier for Clemson’s defense to focus on the rushing attack. In his potential absence, it will likely be Ryan Wingo seeing a potential increase in snaps, as he is also a big-play threat at wide receiver.
This will be a true home game for Texas, as the game will be getting started at 4 p.m. on TNT this Saturday.
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