Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday that the government is "working toward" allowing local chipmakers to set up plants in China under the principle of "effective management," but it is still pondering when to lift the ban.
Yu added that the government would not be deterred by protests be staged today by the Taiwan Solidarity Union and the Taiwan Association of University Professors.
Earlier yesterday, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) announced that draft regulations intended to govern investment in eight-inch chip foundries in China would be published by the end of the month.
"The government favors a liberal approach, though more evaluation is necessary," Yu said, responding to questions raised by lawmakers during interpellation yesterday.
The country's two largest chipmakers, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) and United Microelectronics Corp (聯電), have applied for permission to build eight-inch wafer foundries in China.
"I cannot be too cautious on the matter in light of the weight it carries," Yu told lawmakers. "The key lies in whether the government can effectively oversee cross-strait trade."
The premier said that the government would likely impose conditions for migration to China by chipmakers, one of which would be a requirement that they build 12-inch wafer foundries in Taiwan.
Yu said the government would also expect local chipmakers to leave their research and development crews in Taiwan to keep the country's competitive advantage.
"The `no haste, be patient' policy has proven ineffective," Yu said, reaffirming the Cabinet's resolve to ease control on China-bound investment as advised by last year's Economic Development Advisory Conference.
He described the migration of chipmakers across the Strait as "a matter of when" and said that he believed there should be restrictions on the pace and magnitude of the migration.
The premier also begged lawmakers and the business community to give him more time rather than expect him to make an immediate decision on the thorny issue, saying that he had been in office for less than two months.
Earlier yesterday, MAC Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) said draft regulations governing eight-inch chip investment in China are almost complete and will be ready for publication by the end of this month.
Chen said the MAC is refining "effective management" regulations to control China-bound eight-inch wafer plants. "We will finish our position paper and release it to the public by the end of March," Chen said.
"The regulations must reflect the reality of the situation, ensure that companies investing in China do so as part of a global investment strategy and encourage the flow of capital back to Taiwan," Chen said.
The MAC official also said the government will continue to promote the upgrading of Taiwanese industry.
Currently, there are 23 eight-inch wafer fabs in Taiwan.
Also see story:
Chipmaking plans spark protest
NATIONAL SECURITY: The Chinese influencer shared multiple videos on social media in which she claimed Taiwan is a part of China and supported its annexation Freedom of speech does not allow comments by Chinese residents in Taiwan that compromise national security or social stability, the nation’s top officials said yesterday, after the National Immigration Agency (NIA) revoked the residency permit of a Chinese influencer who published videos advocating China annexing Taiwan by force. Taiwan welcomes all foreigners to settle here and make families so long as they “love the land and people of Taiwan,” Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) told lawmakers during a plenary session at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. The public power of the government must be asserted when necessary and the Ministry of
CROSSED A LINE: While entertainers working in China have made pro-China statements before, this time it seriously affected the nation’s security and interests, a source said The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) late on Saturday night condemned the comments of Taiwanese entertainers who reposted Chinese statements denigrating Taiwan’s sovereignty. The nation’s cross-strait affairs authority issued the statement after several Taiwanese entertainers, including Patty Hou (侯佩岑), Ouyang Nana (歐陽娜娜) and Michelle Chen (陳妍希), on Friday and Saturday shared on their respective Sina Weibo (微博) accounts a post by state broadcaster China Central Television. The post showed an image of a map of Taiwan along with the five stars of the Chinese flag, and the message: “Taiwan is never a country. It never was and never will be.” The post followed remarks
Proposed amendments would forbid the use of all personal electronic devices during school hours in high schools and below, starting from the next school year in August, the Ministry of Education said on Monday. The Regulations on the Use of Mobile Devices at Educational Facilities up to High Schools (高級中等以下學校校園行動載具使用原則) state that mobile devices — defined as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches or other wearables — should be turned off at school. The changes would stipulate that use of such devices during class is forbidden, and the devices should be handed to a teacher or the school for safekeeping. The amendments also say
CONSISTENT COMMITMENT: The American Institute in Taiwan director said that the US would expand investment and trade relationships to make both nations more prosperous The US would not abandon its commitment to Taiwan, and would make Taiwan safer, stronger and more prosperous, American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene said. “The US’ commitment to Taiwan has been consistent over many administrations and over many years, and we will not abandon our commitment to Taiwan, including our opposition to any attempt to use force or coercion to change Taiwan’s status,” he said in an exclusive interview with the Liberty Times (the sister newspaper of the Taipei Times) on Friday last week, which was published in the Chinese-language newspaper yesterday. The US would double down on its efforts
RSS