The National Science and Technology Council has carried out its phase three expansion project in the Longtan (龍潭) section of Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區). The main aim was for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) to build its new advanced fab there. More than 100 hectares would have been expropriated for TSMC and a lot of people who have lived in Longtan for generations were to be affected.
For months, residents complained about the project and protested against it.
Eventually, TSMC said that after thorough consideration, it would not build a fab in Longtan.
The decision came as quite a surprise.
TSMC, also known as Taiwan’s “silicon shield,” has led the world’s semiconductor industry for years. It is believed that Taiwan’s economy is directly linked to how well TSMC does: If it performs well, Taiwan should do well and vice versa.
As soon as TSMC announced its withdrawal from the Longtan plan, officials in Kaohsiung, Taichung, Chiayi County and Tainan immediately said that the company was more than welcome to set up a fab in their localities.
The problem with TSMC fabs is that they require a lot of electricity and water.
In the past few years, Tainan has had to deal with water shortages. Its reservoirs are full now because typhoons have brought a lot of rain to the region, but if TSMC built a fab in Tainan, it would likely have to deal with a water shortage sooner rather than later.
Chiayi County and Kaohsiung have the same issue, as they, too, do not have abundant water resources.
On the other hand, Yilan County is more suitable. The county records more than 200 rainy days per year on average, so a fab there would not have to worry about reservoir levels.
Electricity supply issues could be solved by setting up more substations.
As for earthquakes in eastern Taiwan, that issue could be accounted for with today’s technology.
Hsinchu Science Park’s Yilan section next to the Yilan Sports Park has been operating for more than 10 years, but less than 50 percent of the land is leased.
Moreover, areas including Hungchailin (紅柴林) in Sansing Township (三星), Dingpu (頂埔) in Toucheng Township (頭城) and Hsinnan (新南) in Jhuangwei Township (壯圍) could provide TSMC with hundreds of hectares of land.
Is there a more suitable place for TSMC than Yilan County?
Once the high-speed rail extension to Yilan is completed, travel to the county would become even more convenient.
The Yilan County Government should work hard to attract more enterprises and seek further investment so that TSMC would not have problems if it decides to build a fab in Yilan.
With more talent coming in, more job opportunities would be created. Yilan should seize this chance to develop and stimulate its economy.
TSMC is more than welcome to set up a fab in Yilan.
Dino Wei is an information engineer living in Yilan County.
Translated by Emma Liu
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
RSS