[Global Times Comprehensive Report] Among the "safeest place" that Taiwanese people think, TSMC is a very special existence.
TSMC is the full name of Taiwan Integrated Circuit Manufacturing Company. It was founded in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan in 1987. After more than 30 years of development, it has become the leader in global chip foundry manufacturing services, with more than 50,000 employees, and the main factories are distributed in Hsinchu, Taichung and Tainan. In August 2019, TSMC ranked 37th in the world in the ranking of the "100 Top Companies in the World" based on its market value. Before
, the "island protection sacred mountain" referred to by Taiwanese was central mountain range because it can withstand typhoons. Due to factors such as the COVID-19 epidemic, chip production has been shut down in factories around the world, causing a huge increase in demand. The chips produced by TSMC have naturally become the target of all parties. The epidemic hit the world hard in 2020, but Taiwan's economy grew against the trend, with the semiconductor industry being one of the main reasons. Therefore, the people on the island began to call TSMC the "island protection mountain".
The United States has always coveted TSMC. This time, the U.S. House Speaker , Pelosi met with TSMC Chairman Liu Deyin during the trip to Taiwan. TSMC has set up factories in the United States and Japan in recent years and the four-party chip alliance organized by the United States actually shows the United States' complex mentality about TSMC. It not only wants to master its technology, use TSMC to restrict the development of mainland chips, but also guard against this company, intending to reduce its dependence on it. Taiwanese media bluntly stated that TSMC is "walking on thin ice".
Previously, the US Army War Academy journal published an article co-written by two American international relations and strategy scholars with doctoral degrees. They proposed to deter the PLA from "invading the nest, scorched earth " concept, and suggested that Taiwan first destroy TSMC equipment to convince the mainland that even if the "military unification" is successful, it will only obtain a worthless Taiwan. In this way, the mainland may think twice, and the United States does not have to bear the risk of military intervention. Some public opinion on the island said bluntly that this article is a warning to the Taiwanese authorities, "In the decision-making thinking and debate of the United States, what are the interests and status of Taiwan? What price should we pay if we are willing to be an agent of the United States?"
A recent comment from the United Daily News believes that as a large company, TSMC must carefully grasp the right position between all parties. Although it is described as a "sacred mountain for protecting the island" in Taiwan, it is not reliable to protect the platform, but to lead the leaders to bring the region in the right direction. The policy direction of the Tsai Ing-wen administration over the past six years has once again made the situation in the Taiwan Strait one of the firing points of regional conflicts. No matter how many "sacred mountains" are there, they may not be able to protect Taiwan.
The China Times said that Taiwanese people described TSMC as a "sacred mountain" because some people believe that with TSMC, European and American countries will protect Taiwan to avoid falling into the hands of the mainland. But if European and American countries are willing to send troops to fight with the mainland for TSMC, it is "too much of a clue." TSMC may be the world's most cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturer, but it is not without substitution. Don't forget that there are manufacturers such as , Samsung , , Intel , etc. Europe and the United States have no motivation to do so for TSMC. What's more, the United States and Japan have led TSMC to their own countries to invest in and set up factories, and there is no motivation and possibility of fighting semiconductor production capacity. As for threats to destroy TSMC and make the mainland dare not "infringe Taiwan", it is no Knowing the extreme. If the mainland regains Taiwan by force, it will definitely not be for TSMC's production capacity, because when TSMC was not yet born, the mainland said it would be unified. This is due to the need of national consciousness, and Taiwan will never be allowed to be divided. The article said that Taiwan should strive for cross-strait peace and be less pawns of the United States, hoping to rely on TSMC for protection - no matter which kind of protector, it is really unrealistic.
Source: Global Times
