Taiwan's president used his National Day address to argue the island cannot rely on semiconductors alone, a push that is good news for smaller firms and traditional manufacturers hoping for state support.

• Lai Ching-te said Taiwan needs many industries acting as "guardian mountains," not just one "sacred mountain" in chips.
• The government is speeding up 13 core strategic industries, including AI, defense, security, and next-generation communications.
• Also on the list: silicon photonics, quantum computing, robotics, critical minerals, biotech, tourism, and an Asian asset management hub.
• A trillion-dollar NT program will offer small and mid-sized firms loans, training, digital upgrades, and help reaching foreign buyers.
• Big companies are expected to expand abroad while keeping their supply chains rooted in Taiwan.

Outlook: Expect the cabinet to roll out funding and policy details for these industries, with chipmakers still carrying the economy in the meantime.