Taiwan Premier Says TSMC’s U.S. Investments Won’t Fully Meet America’s Chip Demands, Dismisses U.S. Stake Rumors
Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai has pushed back against speculation that the United States could acquire a stake in TSMC, clarifying that while the company is investing heavily in U.S. manufacturing capacity, it will never become a “U.S. firm.” His comments, reported by United Daily News, come amid ongoing debate about the balance between Taiwan’s control over its semiconductor champion and U.S. efforts to secure its own domestic chip supply chain.
The remarks follow a swirl of rumors suggesting a potential deal between President Trump’s administration and TSMC that could see the U.S. government taking a direct stake in the company. The idea, amplified in Taiwanese media, drew backlash over fears that Washington was attempting to rebrand TSMC as a “U.S. Foundry.” TSMC itself quickly denied such claims, stating it has received no such proposal. Now, Premier Cho has reinforced that message, saying a stake acquisition would never happen and that Taiwan’s government has not dictated TSMC’s overseas investment strategy.
Cho confirmed that TSMC has already committed $165 billion in U.S. investments, though earlier announcements suggested the figure could scale as high as $300 billion. These investments include advanced facilities in Arizona, covering both chip production and advanced packaging. However, Cho stressed that while these investments are significant, they will not fully meet America’s semiconductor needs. He made clear that TSMC’s presence in the U.S. does not equate to a transfer of its core technologies, which remain rooted in Taiwan.
The comments highlight a tension that has defined much of the recent U.S.-Taiwan semiconductor dialogue: while the U.S. wants to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, Taiwan is careful to preserve its strategic advantage as the global leader in advanced chipmaking. Cho emphasized that Taiwan does not interfere with TSMC’s or other domestic companies’ investment decisions abroad, but reiterated that TSMC is not for sale and will remain a Taiwanese company.
This stance also explains the U.S. administration’s continued push to support Intel as America’s native chip champion. While TSMC’s fabs in Arizona will provide cutting-edge nodes, Washington is betting that Intel can eventually reclaim leadership in manufacturing and provide the U.S. with a truly domestic foundry backbone.
Do you think America can ever achieve true semiconductor independence without relying on TSMC, or will the Taiwan giant remain the cornerstone of advanced chipmaking for years to come?
