Taipei Metro

News outlets reported that the digital revolution is coming to Taipei Metro with panels displaying advertisements. Yes, advertisements. While advertisement is a serious digital business, the lack of imagination from Taipei Metro still upsets observers. It's not that advertisements won't make urban transit less boring, but that the scope of improvement is so minuscule. The phenomenon is a sign that the island's ambition toward digital leadership is half-hearted and can not be extended beyond chip making.

USA is a large economy that can accommodate a wide variety of specializations, but Taiwan needs to focus on a few areas of strategic importance. Chip making is one, but observers doubt that Taiwan is any good at the forefront of the digital revolution. Korea already eclipsed Taiwan in mobile and social networking. Many Taiwanese place their hopes on the metaverse which might never take off. All of this signals lack of solid foundation in Taiwan's pursuit of digital excellence.

With Intel's return to chip making, it's a open question whether Taiwan's strategic importance will diminish. Yet, the response Taiwan government can dream of only consists of more education. Will the island's shallowness cost its place in the global value chain?