A scramble for a place in the AI chip supply chain is pulling Latin American countries back toward Taiwan, including several that cut ties with it years ago.

• Guatemala, which still recognizes Taiwan, has a university team designing the country's first homegrown nanochip, to be made using TSMC technology.
• Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic all switched recognition to China but are now courting Taiwanese chip firms and US-led supply chain programs.
• Washington's "Pax Silica" push is the pull factor, tying trusted partners together around chips, energy, minerals and data centers.
• Panama wants to use its canal and ports to become a chip logistics hub; the Dominican Republic has a national strategy but still no chip companies operating there.

Outlook: Expect more Latin American delegations at Taiwan's semiconductor shows, though building real chip industries will take years.