Anduril Founder: Taiwan should not wait for external aid to save itself, but should first use its own chip industry for bail-in.

Palmer Luckey, the founder of the American AI defense technology company Anduril, was interviewed on 10/19 and once again reached out to Taiwan. He stated that Taiwan occupies a key position in the global strategic and technological industrial manufacturing chain. He emphasized that Taiwan must believe in its ability to win and further translate its advantages in chip manufacturing into defensive capabilities.

Taiwan must first believe it can win, otherwise China has already won.

Luckey pointed out that Taiwan faces a threat from China, and the most dangerous thing is not the war itself, but the loss of faith. He mentioned:

“When the Taiwanese truly believe that they cannot win, that is the moment of China's real victory.”

He emphasized that regardless of the actual military power gap, the psychological victory or defeat will first determine the situation. Any external support from the United States or other allies is not as important as having an internal consensus in Taiwan that “we can win.” This belief is not just a morale issue, but the key to deterring war.

Please transform technologies such as semiconductor and carbon fiber manufacturing into strategic uses.

Luckey stated that there are only five or six countries in the world that can completely create an advanced weapon industrial chain on their own, such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, Germany, and Taiwan.

He pointed out that Taiwan should not be satisfied with just being a global chip supplier, but should turn its industrial chain into a strategic asset, such as:

Semiconductor processes: used in guidance systems and military computer chips.

Camera sensing technology: used for missile guidance.

Carbon fiber and composite material molding technology: Transforming into the outer shell of a carbon fiber cruising missile.

He cited that engineering design should be based on existing equipment, pointing out:

“If factories in Taiwan can produce carbon fiber bicycle frames, then using the existing conditions, design missiles that can be made on the same machines, and create weapons that can be used. Don't fantasize about increasing production capacity or upgrading machines to do this, because that equipment simply does not exist.”

This way of thinking echoes his criticism of the American military-industrial system, which is the detachment of weapon design from reality. He believes that Taiwan instead possesses this “factory-based practical engineering culture.”

Deterrence is better than fighting; let China feel pain so great that it dares not act.

Luckey's core argument emphasizes that “deterrence is better than war.” He states that America's role should be as a “global arms dealer,” not the world's police. It should provide allies with sufficient, strong defensive weapons at reasonable prices, allowing countries like Taiwan to defend themselves and avoid being swallowed up.

“If we can make China feel that 'once they take action, it will hurt too much to bear', whether it is the first day of war losses, the economic cost on the 100th day, or being trapped in guerrilla warfare in Taiwan on the 1000th day, then they will not go to war. Deterrence is the best peace.”

He also hinted that the United States should assist its allies in expanding production and designing self-manufactured defense equipment, and that Taiwan possesses a complete supply chain and technical capabilities in this regard, which could be self-sufficient and even exportable as long as policies allow.

Don't wait for others to save you; first save yourself with your own assets.

He said that Taiwanese youths possess world-class engineering skills, but if all their talents are used for entertainment consumer products instead of national security, they will miss the opportunity to change their destiny. He called out to Taiwan:

“Defense is not someone else's business. You have chips, materials, software, and a manufacturing chain. If you don't use these to protect your home, then who else will help you?”

He used himself as an example, starting a business at 19, transitioning to national defense at 25, and without a military background, he was still able to create systems that could be used on the battlefield, encouraging young people in Taiwan to bravely enter the field of technological defense.

This article Anduril founder: Taiwan should not wait for external aid to be saved, but should first use its own chip industry to save itself. First appeared in Chain News ABMedia.