Taiwan Must Improve Its Chip Tech to Stay Ahead, TSMC's Hou Says (yahoo.com)
(Thursday November 07, 2024 @11:52AM (msmash)
from the how-about-that dept.)
- Reference: 0175424907
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/24/11/07/144213/taiwan-must-improve-its-chip-tech-to-stay-ahead-tsmcs-hou-says
- Source link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/taiwan-must-improve-chip-tech-085100009.html
Taiwan should pour more resources into advancing chip technology and expanding its supply chain expertise to [1]maintain global leadership , an executive from its most valuable company said hours after Donald Trump was [2]elected to be US president for the second time . From a report:
> "We should accelerate research and development to ensure our standing as an indispensable member of the global semiconductor supply chain," Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Senior Vice President Cliff Hou said in remarks delivered in his role as chairman of the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association on Thursday. "We are also working with the government to see whether we can attract foreign partners to set up design and materials centers in Taiwan."
>
> The self-governing island, home to the world's biggest contract chipmaker, TSMC, lives with the constant threat of invasion by China, which considers it a breakaway territory. The imminent change in US leadership may alter its standing in global affairs. While President Joe Biden has repeatedly voiced unequivocal support for Taiwan, Trump said the island should pay the US for defending it, calling Xi Jinping "a very good friend of mine until Covid" in an interview with Bloomberg.
>
> Hou, a 27-year TSMC veteran who obtained his doctorate in the US, added that Taiwan must also aim to develop more expertise in equipment and materials, areas that are dominated by foreign businesses. Meanwhile, the close relationship Taiwan and the US have forged over the past few decades will not be affected by the election's outcome, the executive told reporters separately on the sidelines of his trade group's event in Hsinchu. [...] In October, Trump told podcast host Joe Rogan that Taiwan took away US semiconductor business and jobs. "These chip companies, they stole 95% of our business. It's in Taiwan right now. They do a great job, but that's only because we have stupid politicians," Trump said as part of a lengthy interview where he also stated he protected Taiwan from China during his first stint as president.
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/taiwan-must-improve-chip-tech-085100009.html
[2] https://politics.slashdot.org/story/24/11/06/0652209/trump-wins-us-presidency-for-second-time
> "We should accelerate research and development to ensure our standing as an indispensable member of the global semiconductor supply chain," Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Senior Vice President Cliff Hou said in remarks delivered in his role as chairman of the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association on Thursday. "We are also working with the government to see whether we can attract foreign partners to set up design and materials centers in Taiwan."
>
> The self-governing island, home to the world's biggest contract chipmaker, TSMC, lives with the constant threat of invasion by China, which considers it a breakaway territory. The imminent change in US leadership may alter its standing in global affairs. While President Joe Biden has repeatedly voiced unequivocal support for Taiwan, Trump said the island should pay the US for defending it, calling Xi Jinping "a very good friend of mine until Covid" in an interview with Bloomberg.
>
> Hou, a 27-year TSMC veteran who obtained his doctorate in the US, added that Taiwan must also aim to develop more expertise in equipment and materials, areas that are dominated by foreign businesses. Meanwhile, the close relationship Taiwan and the US have forged over the past few decades will not be affected by the election's outcome, the executive told reporters separately on the sidelines of his trade group's event in Hsinchu. [...] In October, Trump told podcast host Joe Rogan that Taiwan took away US semiconductor business and jobs. "These chip companies, they stole 95% of our business. It's in Taiwan right now. They do a great job, but that's only because we have stupid politicians," Trump said as part of a lengthy interview where he also stated he protected Taiwan from China during his first stint as president.
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/taiwan-must-improve-chip-tech-085100009.html
[2] https://politics.slashdot.org/story/24/11/06/0652209/trump-wins-us-presidency-for-second-time
Not hard to see where it is going (Score:2)
by AlanObject ( 3603453 )
I am sure people in Taiwan know fully well that Trump is perfectly OK with Russia taking over Ukraine. In other words demonstrate conclusively that the U.S. is not only a toothless tiger but also is willing to de-fang NATO. Nobody will ever trust the U.S. to hold up a treaty again but that's beside the point. Trump doesn't care about that.
Once that happens you will see China move to take over Taiwan. Trump, Man Of Peace, will do little to stop them if he doesn't actively aid the process. And what's
"Leave Us Alone" (Score:3)
It's a smart play.
Trump won't go to War with China for Taiwan but this sends a strong signal that Taiwan will fall behind if a status quo is adopted after being conquered and foreign cooperation is required.
Taiwan has more value to China by being left alone.
Say what you want about Xi but he understands the value of economic partnerships.
TSMC also has a strong hedge in Arizona, with the implication that R&D will move there if China is belligerent, potentially making an attack a negative economic value.
Re:"Leave Us Alone" (Score:4, Insightful)
All you need to do is explain to Trump that he'll never get an iphone 18-pro if he lets China knock over Taiwan.
There are going to be a great many explanations like this over the next 4 years. "How does this affect the big T" is just about the only question that will matter for the next 4 years. The answer to this question will be the only thing that drives policy.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Xi understands economic partnerships such as taking over the entire South China Sea, stealing islands from their neighbors, laying claim to international waters, requiring 51% Chinese ownership of foreign companies in China, rampant IP theft from so-called partners. Yes, he understands. Not sure you know what this word "partnership" really means, though.
Trump wouldn't defend Taiwan? You, me, nor Xi has any idea what Trump would do. But we do know he's no friend of Xi and current Chinese leadership in ge