Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀) received one of the nation’s highest medals of honor yesterday in recognition of his achievements as the founder of TSMC and envoy to APEC.
Known as the “godfather” of the nation’s chip industry, Chang founded TSMC three decades ago, building it into a multibillion-dollar company that today is a leader in making the microchips that power everything from smartphones to artificial intelligence.
The Order of Dr Sun Yat-sen is the highest honor the government can confer on a person who is not a head of state, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said when she presented the medal to Chang.
Photo: Taipei Times
Describing the 92-year-old as a “great entrepreneur” and a “good friend,” Tsai thanked Chang for “letting the world see Taiwan with technology, innovation and enthusiasm.”
“Because of [TSMC] founder Chang, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry has become world-class,” Tsai said. “He is also committed to localizing the supply chain, leading the development of the ‘sacred mountain’ protecting Taiwan.”
Chang had also represented Taiwan six times at the APEC summits, most recently in San Francisco last year.
“As a leader’s envoy at the APEC, he let the world know Taiwan is a capable partner worthy of trust and cooperation, and let the world know the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a presence that cannot be ignored,” she said.
Chang thanked Tsai for the recognition, adding that his creation of TSMC “established a model of a world-class technology company in Taiwan, and made some contributions to Taiwan’s economic growth.”
TSMC was the miraculous aggregation of his personal desire to create a semiconductor company and the Taiwanese government’s willingness to support such firms, he said.
“I want to share the honor with everyone at TSMC,” he said, acknowledging the guests present at the ceremony who worked with him at TSMC before his retirement.
The company flourished during an era of free trade, but in recent years globalization has been facing challenges, he said, calling on TSMC’s leaders to exercise their wisdom to allow the firm to compete fairly in the world market.
He also urged the government and other sectors to work together to ease the challenges of land, electricity, water and talent shortages facing the industry.
Also present at the event were president-elect William Lai (賴清德), vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and American Institute in Taiwan Director Sandra Oudkirk.
Besides Chang, two of Taiwan’s former vice presidents, Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) and Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), received the order, which the Presidential Office described as “a token of thanks to those who make outstanding contributions to this country.”
In 2018 — the year Chang stepped down as TSMC’s chief executive officer — he was awarded the Order of Propitious Clouds for his part in developing the nation’s high-tech sector.
Additional reporting by CNA
POLAM KOPITIAM CASE: Of the two people still in hospital, one has undergone a liver transplant and is improving, while the other is being evaluated for a liver transplant A fourth person has died from bongkrek acid poisoning linked to the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday, as two other people remain seriously ill in hospital. The first death was reported on March 24. The man had been 39 years old and had eaten at the restaurant on March 22. As more cases of suspected food poisoning involving people who had eaten at the restaurant were reported by hospitals on March 26, the ministry and the Taipei Department of Health launched an investigation. The Food and
CHANGES: After-school tutoring periods, extracurricular activities during vacations or after-school study periods must not be used to teach new material, the ministry said The Ministry of Education yesterday announced new rules that would ban giving tests to most elementary and junior-high school students during morning study and afternoon rest periods. The amendments to regulations governing public education at elementary schools and junior high schools are to be implemented on Aug. 1. The revised rules stipulate that schools are forbidden to use after-school tutoring periods, extracurricular activities during summer or winter vacation or after-school study periods to teach new course material. In addition, schools would be prohibited from giving tests or exams to students in grades one to eight during morning study and afternoon break periods, the
Advocates of the rights of motorcycle and scooter riders yesterday protested in front of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in Taipei, making three demands. They were joined by 30 passenger vehicles, which surrounded the ministry to make three demands related to traffic regulations — that motorcycles and scooters above 250cc be allowed on highways, that all motorcycles and scooters be allowed on inside lanes, and that driver and rider training programs be reformed. The ministry said that it has no plans to allow motorcycles on national highways for the time being, and said that motorcycles would be allowed on the inner
AMENDMENT: Contact with certain individuals in China, Hong Kong and Macau must be reported, and failure to comply could result in a prison sentence, the proposal stated The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) yesterday voted against a proposed bill by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers that would require elected officials to seek approval before visiting China. DPP Legislator Puma Shen’s (沈伯洋) proposed amendments to the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例), stipulate that contact with certain individuals in China, Hong Kong and Macau should be reported, while failure to comply would be punishable by prison sentences of up to three years, alongside a fine of NT$10 million (US$309,041). Fifty-six voted with the TPP in opposition