When discussing Taiwan's industries, TSMC is usually the first name that comes to mind for international observers, given its critical production capacity's far-reaching impact on global chip supply chains.
However, in a recent interview with Storm Media, former director of TSMC's R&D division Konrad Young (楊光磊) emphasized that while the company is peerless, it faces two genuine risks: the US government and war.
When asked whether moving part of TSMC's core production capacity to the U.S. creates a double-edged sword regarding wartime protection, Young pointed out that TSMC has no interest in serving as a "silicon shield."
"Why would we want to be placed on the front lines of war, used as a human shield? TSMC would much rather remain globalized, focusing on business and profits," he explained.
The Declining Silicon Shield
Young argued that whileTaiwanese may buy the idea of a "silicon shield", Americans don't believe that the semiconductor industry will deter a Chinese attack, and have instead focused most of their energy on trying to relocate TSMC facilities to the U.S., preventing chips from falling into China's hands if war broke out.
While America will still provide valuable assistance to prevent China from attacking a key link in its first island chain in the Indo-Pacific, at the end of the day, Taiwan must rely on its own defenses, Young explains.
Young claimed that Taiwanese have become complacent over the years and asserted that they must become more independent and self-sufficient, instead of relying on the government and blaming officials for every problem.
Young criticized Taiwan's excessive dependencyon American support, describing the entire nation as a "spoiled island."
However, the U.S. no longer wants to be strategically dependent on semiconductors; it has already relocated part of TSMC's production to U.S. facilities, ensuring chip access during wartime. This serves American risk management, not Taiwan's, Young noted.
He emphasized that Taiwan should develop alternative defensive strategies, instead of placing all its hopes on the silicon shield and （Related： Procedure Must Prevail: The Constitutional Stakes of the Li Zhen-xiu Case ｜ Latest ）
"Throughout my life, my philosophy has been to find ways to strengthen oneself. Only by establishing yourself can you have the opportunity to help others."
