Following TSMC's announcement of an increased investment of $100 billion in the United States, Chu Chen-Tso, a visiting scholar at Stanford University and Secretary-General of the Internationalfor Artificial Intelligence and Law Research Foundation , stated today that the narrative of "TSMC becoming 'USMC'" is not merely a simple supply chain shift. Rather, it is a critical issue concerning Taiwan's overall competitiveness and national security.

He noted that TSMC's significance to Taiwan has long transcended the corporate level, serving as a strategic bargaining chip for economic development, international negotiations, and cross-strait interactions. If TSMC's core technology and advanced production lines shift significantly to the U.S.—specifically, if more than 40% of advanced manufacturing leaves Taiwan—the status of the "Silicon Shield" (the "Sacred Mountain Protecting the Country") will be destabilized.

Under the witness of U.S. President Trump, TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei announced at the White House on the 3rd that TSMC would increase its investment by $100 billion. The plan includes not only the construction of three wafer fabs but also the establishment of a research and development center in the United States. This move has raised public concerns about whether TSMC is turning into "USMC" and whether the expanded investment in the U.S. will compromise Taiwan's competitive advantage.

The International Research Foundation for Artificial Intelligence Law, in collaboration with Shih Chien University, held the "International Academic Symposium on AI Governance and National Security" today. The event invited experts from international think tanks, including Stanford University's Hoover Institution, the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C., and Yale University's Jackson School of Global Affairs, to jointly discuss AI governance trends, key technology supply chain risks, the international technological competition landscape, and Taiwan's strategic positioning. 

In a telephone interview with Next Apple News, Chu addressed the concerns regarding "TSMC becoming USMC" and its potential impact on Taiwan's advantages.

Chu stated that TSMC's expanded investment in the U.S. will inevitably impact Taiwan's existing advantage in the semiconductor field. Taiwan's ability to maintain a lead in the global chip market relies not only on TSMC's own competitiveness but also on the support of a complete and tightly integrated upstream, midstream, and downstream supply chain. As the "core pillar" of Taiwan's semiconductor industry, TSMC's decision to pursue a global layout with regional manufacturing in the U.S., Japan, and Germany—driven by customer demand and geopolitical risks amidst changing international situations and cross-strait tensions—aligns with the international trends of supply chain diversification and localization.

However, Chu emphasized that the most critical foundation of Taiwan's status as the "Chip Kingdom" lies in maintaining the R&D and manufacturing of the world's most advanced processes within Taiwan. If advanced processes and core R&D capabilities are moved offshore in large quantities, it will not only weaken Taiwan's leading position in cutting-edge technology but could also trigger more serious industrial and national security risks. Consequently, Taiwan's status as the "Chip Kingdom" would face major challenges.

Addressing the "TSMC becoming USMC" concern, Chu pointed out that this is not just a simple supply chain transfer but a key issue vital to Taiwan's overall competitiveness and national security. TSMC represents a strategic asset for Taiwan's economic growth, international negotiations, and cross-strait stability, with a significance that goes far beyond that of a typical corporation.

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