TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Economic Minister Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) on Wednesday (Sept. 4) emphasized that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台積電) chose to establish a plant in the U.S. based on market and resource considerations, not coercion. Kuo addressed these points during an interview at SEMICON Taiwan 2024 (國際半導體展).
Former Chairman of TSMC Mark Liu (劉德音) sparked controversy the previous day at the National Development Council (NDC, 經濟發展委員會). Liu remarked that the lack of a single-window system made the U.S. plant setup process challenging, leading some to question whether TSMC was pressured into investing abroad.
Kuo reiterated that world-class companies conduct thorough evaluations when setting up new locations, with market and resource factors being critical considerations. He also noted that TSMC's U.S. plant is progressing smoothly and should commence production as scheduled.
Kuo expressed optimism about the future of the semiconductor exhibition. He hopes the event will grow in scale, attracting semiconductor supply chains worldwide to Taiwan.
This year, the exhibition features 1,100 companies using 3,700 booths, including national pavilions from 12 countries. Notably, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT, 美國在台協會) established a U.S. Pavilion for the first time.