TSMC Sets Up Plant in U.S., Does Taiwan Still Have A Protector? |
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Morris Chang, founder of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), exclaimed that "free trade is dead" in his remarks at the tool-in ceremony at the company's new plant in Arizona.
(Photo from:
United Daily News) |
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Blessing and Curse by TSMC's Founder
The Storm Media Editorial, December 9, 2022
At the tool-in ceremony of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) new fab plant at Phoenix, Arizona, on December 6, founder Morris Chang, who has always been skeptical towards this investment, finally gave his blessing to the project in his address. At the same time, however, Chang also declared that "free trade is almost dead." The wisdom is worth pondering.
On October last year, at the banquet sponsored by the Monte Jade Science and Technology Association, Morris Chang opined that to reinstate chip production capability in the United States, even if you put in billions of investment, is a "mission impossible," for you will find that the cost is too high, there is a shortage of talent, and the supply chain is incomplete. What is more, it is also nearly impossible for Taiwanese to manage an American team.
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According to media commentary, the biggest challenge for William Lai, who may represent the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the 2024 presidential election, is to clearly explain his position as a "pragmatic Taiwan independence worker."
(Photo from:
China Times) |
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Lai to Face Four Challenges
China Times Editorial, December 9, 2022
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) saw a major setback in the local elections, and President Tsai Ing-wen's 2024 succession plan has also hit a wall. After a few days of thinking, Vice President William Lai has decided to run for the party chairman. Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan of Taoyuan, who President Tsai has long regarded as her successor, immediately expressed his support for Mr. Lai for the party chairman and for the 2024 presidential election. It is almost certain that Mr. Lai will run for president representing the DPP. Mr. Lai has been planning for a long time and has made full preparations for the election. President Tsai’s reputation has been severely damaged in the elections. The situation is greatly beneficial to Mr. Lai.
…read more
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/opinion/20221209004399-262101
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According to media commentary, the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen should no longer regard mainland China's expanded ban on import of Taiwan products as a "raid" or move to "make things difficult." It should instead face up to issues like product quality and regulatory compliance.
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75% Taiwan's Export Products to China Banned, Tsai Administration Shirks Responsibility
China Times Editorial, December 10, 2022
Mainland China’s General Administration of Customs announced the ban on imports of Taiwan’s fishery products on December 8, including Pacific sauries and four-finger threadfins, at a total value of NT$6 billion (about US$196 million). This is China’s largest ban on Taiwan’s agricultural and fishery products so far and has caused panic of Taiwan’s fishermen. President Tsai Ing-wen stated that this is China’s “raid,” while Premier Su Tseng-chang scornfully said that here it comes again. Premier Su emphasized that the government will again appeal to the World Trade Organization (WTO). President Tsai, Premier Su, and Minister Chen Chi-chung of the Council of Agriculture (COA), Executive Yuan, all promised that the welfare of the fishermen will not be damaged.
…read more
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/amp/opinion/20221210003154-262101
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The United States House of Representatives recently passed for fiscal year 2023 the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes authorizing $10 billion in military aid to Taiwan over five years and supporting accelerating arms sales to Taiwan.
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December 6: The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) held a tool-in ceremony at its new fab in Arizona. President Joe Biden attended the event and delivered remarks, thanking TSMC for creating 10,000 high-tech jobs and allowing the United States to regain its leading position in global chip manufacturing.
TSMC announced that it will increase investment to build a second fab, which is expected to mass produce 3-nanometer process technology by 2026. The total investment increased from $12 billion to $40 billion, the largest case of foreign direct investment in Arizona's history.
In response to the question of "de-Taiwanization" of semiconductors, Chief Executive Officer C. C. Wei of TSMC stated that it is impossible.
December 6: The United States Department of State notified the Congress that it intends to upgrade its arms sale to Taiwan to include 100 sets of Patriot 3 Extended Range Missiles (PAC-3 MSE), as well as radar and support equipment, with a transaction value of $882 million to help Taiwan defend against regional threats. The latest model in the sale package is the latest model of the Patriot air defense missile system, more advanced than Taiwan's current Patriot 3 system, and has a range increase of 50 percent.
December 6: Dutch manufacturer ASML decided to increase investment in Taiwan. It is planning to build a new factory in the Linkou Industrial Park in New Taipei, the company's largest investment in Taiwan, and construction is expected to begin July next year. Vice Premier Shen Jong-chin stated that ASML also plans to bring to European supply chain to Taiwan. In the past, ASML equipment was assembled in the Netherlands. In recent years, with TSMC's increased procurement of electrode ultraviolet (EUV) equipment, TSMC has become ASML's largest EUV equipment customer, so TSML would like to transfer assembly in Taiwan.
December 6: You Chi-bin, a member of the New Party, exposed that when Director-General Chen Ming-tong of the National Security Bureau was a professor at the Graduate Institute of National Development, National Taiwan University (NTU), Chen provided an identical document to nine students to compose their thesis papers, the contents of which are largely similar. You will not announce the names of the "nine twins" for the time being. If necessary, or if Chen insists on not admitting his mistake, You will announce the names one by one and report plagiarism to NTU.
December 7: The Central Standing Committee of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) adopted a so-called anti-black gold clause to combat corrupt and violent underworld politics. The measure mandates that in local council elections, the party's caucuses and councilors are not to support candidates with "black gold" backgrounds. However, internal strife broke out even before the Tainan speaker election. DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei publicly questioned why the 88-gunshot incident that occurred in Tainan before the election has not been resolved and hinted that certain individuals with black gold backgrounds are well-acquainted with contenders for speaker and deputy speaker. Kao Chai-chin, the member of the DPP's Central Standing Committee insinuated, retaliated with a statement that Chen is merely creating an excuse for friendly councilors voting against the party line in the upcoming speaker election.
December 8: Thirteen (13) days after the DPP's defeat, Vice President William Lai, who once claimed to be a "pragmatic Taiwan independence worker," announced on Facebook that he had reported to President Tsai Ing-wen his decision to run in the by-election for DPP chairman. Factions within the party extended nearly unanimous support. According to critics, attention should be paid to whether Lai will make President Tsai an early lame duck.
December 8: The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2023, which includes authorizing $10 billion in military aid to Taiwan over five years and seeks to accelerate arms sales to Taiwan. Beijing immediately condemned the legislation and demanded that Washington abide by the "One China" principle and related provisions under the Three Communiqués.
December 9: Following the announcement on December 8 to suspend the import of seafood products such as squid, saury, and four-finger threadfin from 178 businesses in Taiwan, China's General Administration of Customs added various well-known Taiwanese products to its import suspension list, including Kinmen Kaoliang liquor, Taiwan beer, Kavalan whisky, and HeySong sarsaparilla (root beer). According to statistics, about 75 percent of products registered in Taiwan for sale in the mainland are banned. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council expressed solemn protest. Spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, State Council, stated that this is a normal food safety supervision measure and hopes that Taiwanese companies will complete the required business registration information as soon as possible. She also urged the authorities in Taiwan to cease political manipulation.
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