Taiwan needs Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), but the company also needs a free and open country to allow it to develop, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said yesterday at the legislature.
The world also needs TSMC, and needs Taiwan to maintain its place in the global supply chain, he added.
The premier was responding to questions from legislators related to TSMC founder Morris Chang’s (張忠謀) comments broadcast on the US news program 60 Minutes on Monday.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Speaking to reporter Lesley Stahl, Chang said that China would not attack Taiwan because TSMC is there.
When asked by Stahl what created the belief of the “silicon shield” or “chip shield,” Chang said: “It means that, perhaps, because our company provides many chips to the world, maybe somebody will refrain from attacking it, if that person’s priority is for economic well-being, I think they will refrain from attacking.”
After reiterating the remarks to Su, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-feng (謝衣鳳) asked the premier what Taiwan would do if TSMC left the country.
Photo: Screen grab from CBS “60 Minutes”
The government is aware of the possibility that TSMC could move elsewhere, but as much as Taiwan needs it, the semiconductor firm needs a free and open country like Taiwan to expand and develop its technologies, Su said.
Chang said the US has extended an offer for TSMC to establish factories in the US, Su added.
To highlight TSMC’s commitment to Taiwan, Su cited a statement made by TSMC chairman Mark Liu (劉德音), who said in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, broadcast on July 31, that no one would win in a Chinese invasion.
“Nobody can control TSMC by force, because TSMC runs such a sophisticated manufacturing facility,” Su cited Liu as saying.
Su then referred to Chang’s statements in the 60 Minutes interview regarding the chance that China might try to nationalize TSMC within its “one China” framework.
“If there is a war, it will be destroyed; everything will be destroyed,” Chang said.
This would prove ruinous for the semiconductor industry and microchip manufacturing industry worldwide, Su said.
TSMC was not built in a day, Su said, adding that the environment in Taiwan has allowed it to become the company it is today, showing the world what only Taiwan can provide.
TSMC’s success contributes significantly to why large manufacturers and companies seek to establish headquarters or research centers in Taiwan, Su said.
“The success of TSMC has made Taiwan globally visible and supported,” he added.
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