Taiwan's representatives in the US used a Stanford conference to push a more upbeat pitch — Taiwan as a tech partner rather than a danger zone — which is good news for Taiwan's standing with American investors and policymakers.

• A Taiwan-focused panel at Stanford's 2026 tech and national security conference argued Taiwan should be seen as an opportunity, not a regional risk.
• Taipei's top envoy in San Francisco, Wu Chih-hsiang, said Taiwan has world-class engineers in advanced manufacturing, chips, and AI infrastructure, and is more than just a place that makes chips.
• The case for Taiwan rested on three things: its move from authoritarian rule to democracy, its chip and AI industries, and its spot on the first island chain that matters for global trade and security.
• Former president Tsai Ing-wen gave the opening speech, calling Taiwan's chip and drone industries essential to global supply chains and urging democratic partners to build tougher supply chains with Taiwan.
• The pitch was deliberately positive: Americans should care about Taiwan because it is a trusted partner, not because it is in danger.

Outlook: Expect Taiwan to keep selling itself as a supply-chain and AI partner rather than a flashpoint, as it courts deeper tech ties with Washington.