A diplomatic dispute with Taiwan threatens South Africa’s access to crucial semiconductors, putting robotics, AI and emerging tech development at significant risk.
A growing diplomatic spat between South Africa and Taiwan – because of Pretoria’s stance that the East Asian country is part of China – is threatening to block access to the semiconductors that power advanced technologies, such as robotics and artificial intelligence .
Professor Japie Greeff, research coordinator at Belgium Campus iTversity, says robotics and other emerging technologies depend heavily on advanced chipsets manufactured in Taiwan. “Any disruption could severely impact innovation, costs and deployment globally.”“Many of the data centres in Africa are powered by the chips created in Taiwan, leading to a direct impact on our adoption of emerging technologies, hosted within these data centres, like agentic AI capabilities.
Industry veteran Adrian Schofield agrees. “However, we should be wary of any escalation that leads to a blockade by manufacturers who use those chips.” South Africa cut formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997 due to its one China policy, which recently announced zero tariffs for African exports. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation ordered Taiwan to relocate its office from Pretoria to Johannesburg in December 2023, later confirming it would be rebranded as a Trade Office.
IDC Itversity Belgium Campus Mustek Artificial Intelligence Robotics Emerging Tech AI Taiwan’S Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Philippe Yen Japie Greeff Dr Ernst Van Biljon Dr Jannie Zaaiman
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