Japan used to be the dominant player in the semiconductor industry, and American companies were no match for Japanese chip companies. Some Japanese media said that TSMC is following our old path.

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Japan used to be the dominant player in the semiconductor industry, and American companies were no match for Japanese chip companies. But as the United States launched a series of actions against Japanese semiconductors, Japanese semiconductors went downhill.

Now that TSMC has the world’s leading technology, it is unlikely that the United States has any ideas about TSMC. Some Japanese media said that TSMC is following our old path.

What has Japan Semiconductor experienced? Can TSMC go its own way?

In the past, Japan, now TSMC,

, the United States has a very deep obsession with the pursuit of advanced semiconductor technology. Especially in recent years, the actions of the semiconductor industry can be said to be unprecedented.

Before 2020, the United States was immersed in chip imports, spending money to solve chip production capacity and meet local chip demand. After 2020, the United States began to formulate various semiconductor development technologies, including inviting TSMC to build factories in the United States and spending US$52 billion as chip subsidies.

also tried to bring South Korea, Japan and Taiwan Province into the group chat to form a "Chip Quad Alliance".

It was in the early 1990s that the United States spent so much time participating in the layout of the semiconductor industry.

At that time, Japanese semiconductors were at their peak, and no country or region in the world was Japan's rival. Among them, Japan's Toshiba is in a monopoly position. Toshiba is present in almost every chip field that can be thought of. Coupled with Nippon Electric , Hitachi and other companies, Japanese semiconductors have shined in front of the United States.

In 1985, Japanese chips accounted for 50% of the global market share. By 1988, the share increased again to 67%. What is this concept? It is equivalent to two out of every three chips in the world coming from Japan. It's fine if the share rate is high, the key is that the quality is good.

The same American chip is no match for Japanese chips. Good quality is not enough, the price is also cheap.

At that time, the strongest , Intel, , AMD and other companies in the United States were losing ground in front of Japanese companies. Will the United States allow Japanese semiconductors to develop like this? Obviously not.

Normal competition methods have no chance of winning, so the United States, as the problem creator, tries to label Japanese companies as stealing technology. The United States has closely focused on the topic of technology leaks and launched round after round of investigations into Japan, creating evidence where there is no evidence. In short, it has established the "fact" that Japanese companies have stolen secrets.

eventually forced Japan to sign the "Japan-US Semiconductor Agreement" with the United States. The general content is that Japanese companies not only need to raise prices to sell chips, but also share technology with American companies.

After some operations, Japanese companies lost their most important price and technical advantages. Then the United States took this opportunity to support Japan's competitors, namely South Korea and Taiwan Province.

South Korea Samsung , SK Group has received a large amount of US capital support, and TSMC in Taiwan has received chip foundry orders from US companies. As a result, Japanese semiconductors have gone from prosperity to decline and are no longer a rival to the United States.

Now, in addition to mastering photoresist materials and some core technologies of semiconductor equipment, it has lost its right to speak in the field of chip manufacturing.

Is the Japan of the past equivalent to the TSMC of today? If you study carefully, you will find that TSMC and Japanese semiconductors have a lot in common. They are both world leaders and have attracted attention from the United States. However, the United States treats TSMC in a more tactful way. It invites TSMC to build factories and join group chats to get TSMC to stand with it. But as for the outcome, I don’t know if there will be much change.

Can TSMC go its own way?

Liu Deyin showdown said that mainland China only accounts for 10% of TSMC’s business. Such a statement is obviously more important in favor of the US market.After Liu Deyin's showdown, the Japanese media expressed emotion, saying, "TSMC is following our old path."

Today's TSMC is also building factories in Japan. Through a joint venture with Japanese companies, a total investment of US$8.6 billion was made to build a mature process chip factory. The Japanese people and some media are not very enthusiastic about this. Instead, they see the once brilliant Japanese semiconductor from TSMC.

The reason why Japanese semiconductors are in this situation is that they are targeted by the United States. Once it masters the technology that interests the United States, the United States will find ways to get it.

In addition to Japan Semiconductor, the same is true for France's Alstom. By arresting Alstom executive Pierucci , the United States successfully obtained the company's electrical energy business and core technology. Since then, the rise of General Electric in the United States has led to the decline of Alstom.

There are more than one or two similar examples. Now TSMC is invited by the United States to build a factory, asks for data, and also tries to poach talents from TSMC, as if it is following the old path of Japan.

The true face of the United States has been revealed. The question is, can TSMC go its own way and prevent the United States from succeeding?

is actually possible, but the premise is how TSMC treats US chip subsidies. The chip subsidy bill enacted by the United States puts forward a requirement that companies that receive U.S. subsidies cannot invest in semiconductors in China and other markets within ten years, otherwise the funds will be withdrawn.

The purpose of TSMC's building a factory in the United States is for this subsidy. However, if it receives the subsidy, it will only be able to build factories in the United States in the future, and TSMC's voice will be weakened. If TSMC gives up subsidies, then a great market opportunity is right in front of us. It depends on whether TSMC has such an awareness.

Summary

TSMC Chairman Liu Deyin values ​​American technology and urgently needs revenue support from the American market. But the sweeter the apple looks, it may be a poisonous apple. I just hope that TSMC can see the reality of the puzzle clearly and not be led astray.

Do you think TSMC can go its own way?

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