Lai Ching-te stated that “There was no pressure from the US… It gives greater strength to Taiwan.” In a joint press conference held with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te at the Presidential Office Building, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) Chairman Mark Liu explained that TSMC’s decision to invest $100 billion in the US was driven by increased demand within the US, rather than pressure from President Donald Trump. Last month, Trump mentioned, “Taiwan has stolen the American semiconductor industry.”
Following a meeting with President Trump in Washington, DC, on the 3rd, Chairman Liu announced their plan to invest $100 billion in the US. As part of this substantial investment, TSMC plans to build three wafer plants, two packaging plants, and one R&D center in the US.
Chairman Liu stressed, “Our decision to enter various markets resulted from customer demand from those regions. The current demand from US customers is enormous, prompting us to analyze and have discussions with all our customers before making this significant investment.”
He further elaborated, “TSMC currently cannot meet the demand of US customers domestically. The primary reason for expanding in the US is to address customer needs. Our current production lines are fully booked, and so are the lines for next year and the year after.”
Chairman Liu also mentioned that to accommodate the growing demand, TSMC plans to build 11 new production lines in Taiwan this year, indicating that the increased investment in the US will not impact investments in Taiwan.
President Lai also confirmed that there was no pressure from the US regarding TSMC’s investment. He described this investment as not only a significant moment for TSMC but also for Taiwan and US relations, emphasizing that each strategic move by TSMC strengthens and enhances Taiwan’s competitiveness, further empowering the nation.