# TSMC - Taiwan next? **URL:** \ **Category:** Macro Economic Trends and Risks\ **Created:** [March 14, 2025, 10:46am UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566 "2025-03-14T10:46:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SuisseBear](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/suissebear/32/3785_2.png) [@SuisseBear](https://discussion.fool.com/u/SuisseBear)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 10:46am UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566/1 "2025-03-14T10:46:13Z")
> Hong Kong/Taipei > CNN — It was a surprise ceremony at the White House presided over by President Donald Trump to unveil a $100 billion investment from what he called the world’s most powerful company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). But nearly 8,000 miles away, the mood was far from celebratory. Instead, the shock announcement last week has reignited fears in [Taiwan](https://www.cnn.com/world/asia/taiwan) about losing its crown jewel, its world-beating semiconductor industry, to the US due to political pressure. > > The island democracy’s former President Ma Ying-jeou wasted no time in accusing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of “selling TSMC” to Trump as a “protection fee.” … For many on the self-governing island, the phrase “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow” has increasingly resonated in recent weeks as they watch Trump upend longstanding US policy by playing up Kremlin rhetoric and warming to Moscow, while alienating traditional European allies and Kyiv. … > **[Fear and resignation after ‘world’s most powerful company’ pays Trump a $100...](https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/13/tech/taiwan-tsmc-us-investment-reactions-intl-hnk/index.html)** > > It was a surprise ceremony at the White House presided over by President Donald Trump to unveil a $100 billion investment from what he called the world’s most powerful company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). ---
**Author:** ![DrBob2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/drbob2/32/3456_2.png) [@DrBob2](https://discussion.fool.com/u/DrBob2)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 10:52am UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566/2 "2025-03-14T10:52:28Z")
“_China’s ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite having never controlled it and has vowed to take control of the self-governing island, by force if necessary. Beijing has in recent years escalated its military activities around Taiwan, regularly flying fighter jets and conducting exercises in waters near the island._” Given the geopolitical risks from mainland China, there is something to be said for Taiwan Semi to geographically diversify its production. DB2 ---
**Author:** ![buynholdisdead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/buynholdisdead/32/12874_2.png) [@buynholdisdead](https://discussion.fool.com/u/buynholdisdead)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566/3 "2025-03-14T15:14:17Z")
> [@DrBob2](#): > > Given the geopolitical risks from mainland China, there is something to be said for Taiwan Semi to geographically diversify its production. Given the geopolitical risks from Trump not standing up with the United States allies, there is something to be said for Taiwan Semi to geographically diversify its production. But it would probably be better if they built in Canada or Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![tjscott0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/tjscott0/32/1083_2.png) [@tjscott0](https://discussion.fool.com/u/tjscott0)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566/4 "2025-03-14T15:43:28Z")
US lacking defense industrial production capability has failed Taiwan along with Ukraine. [https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/17/taiwan-weapons-backlog-00152000](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/17/taiwan-weapons-backlog-00152000) _Lawmakers in both parties have joined forces in a new push to speed up weapons deliveries to Taiwan as the island nation suffers from a years-long, $19 billion backlog of U.S. systems._ _The lawmakers, who are wary of China’s aggressive moves in the region, want to allow Taiwan to build some U.S.-designed systems themselves under license in a bid to unclog the pipeline for fighter jets, tanks, drones and missiles._ ---
**Author:** ![DrBob2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/drbob2/32/3456_2.png) [@DrBob2](https://discussion.fool.com/u/DrBob2)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566/5 "2025-03-14T16:19:33Z")
> [@buynholdisdead](#): > > But it would probably be better if they built in Canada or Mexico. But the US is Taiwan’s #1 market, now surpassing the PRC. If they’re worried about tariff barriers then it would be better to be inside the US. > **[Taiwan is selling more to the US than China in major shift away from Beijing](https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-us-exports-investment-308c4efe8e54bef3b65f68db565437f3)** > > Taiwan is reducing its reliance on the Chinese mainland as it seeks to insulate itself from pressure from Beijing and forge closer economic and trade ties with the United States. DB2 ---
**Author:** ![buynholdisdead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/buynholdisdead/32/12874_2.png) [@buynholdisdead](https://discussion.fool.com/u/buynholdisdead)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 6:33pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566/6 "2025-03-14T18:33:12Z")
> [@DrBob2](#): > > But the US is Taiwan’s #1 market, now surpassing the PRC. If they’re worried about tariff barriers then it would be better to be inside the US. Do you really think that tariffs will have any affect on TSM? Or do you think it will affect the AI players and all the chip companies? TSM really doesn’t have any competition. Who you would be throwing the Tariffs on would be the NVDA and AMD’s of the world. ---
**Author:** ![DrBob2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/drbob2/32/3456_2.png) [@DrBob2](https://discussion.fool.com/u/DrBob2)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566/7 "2025-03-14T19:22:11Z")
> [@buynholdisdead](#): > > Do you really think that tariffs will have any affect on TSM? Not much, but the OP article mentioned the Taiwan Semi is going to spend $100 billion on plants in the US, something started after the CHIPS act. I makes no sense to me that TSM would build the plants in Mexico. The article said some in Taiwan were afraid of ‘losing their crown jewels’. It would be more realistic of them to fear losing them in an action by the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Liberation Army Navy. DB2 ---
**Author:** ![buynholdisdead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/buynholdisdead/32/12874_2.png) [@buynholdisdead](https://discussion.fool.com/u/buynholdisdead)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566/8 "2025-03-14T19:38:36Z")
> [@DrBob2](#): > > I makes no sense to me that TSM would build the plants in Mexico. Cheaper labor and a Government that is more stable. That would be two reasons. > [@DrBob2](#): > > The article said some in Taiwan were afraid of ‘losing their crown jewels’. Yep they are afraid that Trump will steal the technology. I can understand that. It makes perfect sense. ---
**Author:** ![flyerboys](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/motleyfoolfree/user_avatar/discussion.fool.com/flyerboys/32/2123_2.png) [@flyerboys](https://discussion.fool.com/u/flyerboys)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://discussion.fool.com/t/tsmc-taiwan-next/114566/9 "2025-03-14T19:42:00Z")
> [@DrBob2](#): > > The article said some in Taiwan were afraid of ‘losing their crown jewels’. It would be more realistic of them to fear losing them in an action by the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Liberation Army Navy. That, but even more because all tech **starts** as “crown jewels”, and then through the wondrous processes of technological improvement, all tech **ends** as last half decade’s “garbage paste jewels”.