China Accuses Taiwan of Using Semiconductor Industry to Gain U.S. Support
Beijing has accused Taiwan of leveraging its semiconductor industry to secure political backing from the United States, claiming that the island is offering its chip sector as a “souvenir” to Washington. The statement was made on Wednesday by Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office.
TSMC and U.S. Investment Speculations
Recent reports from U.S. media suggest that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a key supplier to tech giants like Apple and Nvidia, has been in discussions regarding a potential stake in Intel. However, neither TSMC nor Intel has confirmed these claims. Additionally, Taiwan’s government stated that it has not received any official overseas investment application from TSMC.
China’s Concerns and Accusations
Zhu Fenglian voiced concerns that Taiwan is attempting to turn TSMC into “United States Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.” She accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of using Taiwan’s semiconductor industry to curry favor with the U.S. while allegedly seeking independence.
“In order to seek selfish gain, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have freely made demands from external forces, using Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and powerful companies to get a foot in the door to relying on foreign countries to seek independence, and even give them away as souvenirs,” Zhu stated, without providing concrete evidence.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite Taipei’s firm opposition, asserted that the island is “selling out” its industries. However, Beijing has no authority over Taiwan’s foreign investment decisions.
Taiwan’s Response
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council dismissed China’s accusations, reaffirming TSMC’s status as a vital national enterprise. In a statement, the council emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining Taiwan’s leadership in semiconductor technology.
“In response to the challenges posed by Trump’s new policies towards our semiconductor industry and TSMC, our government will work closely with industry to maintain Taiwan’s leading position in the field of advanced technology,” the council stated, without delving into specifics.
Taiwan-U.S. Relations and Semiconductor Industry
The U.S. remains Taiwan’s most crucial international ally and arms supplier, despite the absence of formal diplomatic recognition. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had criticized Taiwan for drawing semiconductor manufacturing away from the United States, calling for more production on American soil.
The semiconductor industry plays a vital role in global technology and geopolitics, making Taiwan’s strategic importance even more pronounced. With increasing U.S.-China tensions, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry continues to be a focal point in international discussions.