Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday called on the government to provide more equipment essential to advanced chipmaking, as it seeks to shore up its critical role in a US$550 billion industry.
Taiwan needs to build a fuller domestic semiconductor supply ecosystem, TSMC chairman Mark Liu (劉德音) told a conference organized by the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association.
Liu made the remarks in his farewell speech as chairman of the association. He is to be succeeded by TSMC vice president Cliff Hou (侯永清), who was elected yesterday.
Photo: CNA
US sanctions are curtailing the flow of vital technology to China, and Taiwan could play a bigger role in the global supply of machines needed to make chips, Liu said.
The TSMC chairman called on the government to assist Taiwan’s semiconductor companies to develop crucial technologies and enhance their capabilities to produce high-end semiconductor equipment and materials, saying it would help the nation fend off growing competition from China.
The US tightened its curbs on advanced semiconductor technology and equipment exports to China, which could change China’s role in local semiconductor component supply, Liu said.
The government should help businesses build a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem to produce high-end manufacturing equipment and components, he said.
Liu said that some clauses in application guidelines for chip investment subsidies under the US’ CHIPS and Science Act are unacceptable.
South Korean memorychip maker SK Hynix Inc yesterday said that the application process is too demanding.
The South Korean government yesterday also said that the requirements that applicants disclose detailed technical and financial information, usually considered trade secrets, are onerous.
The US government demands that companies applying for subsidies under the CHIP and Science Act submit files containing information on how they calculate profits, the BusinessKorea magazine reported on Wednesday.
“We are still in discussions [with the US Department of Commerce]. Some conditions are unacceptable,” Liu said. “We hope [the department] will make some adjustments.”
The chipmaker’s operations in Taiwan would not be adversely affected by the US investment rules, Liu said.
TSMC, the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, has pledged to double its US investment to US$40 billion, as it is planning to build two advanced chip fabs in Arizona.
The first fab is scheduled to begin producing chips on 4-nanometer nodes next year, while the second is to start producing 3-nanometer chips in 2026.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old