Comment by DennisP

Comment by DennisP 5 days ago

6 replies

In case of invasion, it's not that unlikely that the fabs in Taiwan get destroyed, or at least lose the ability to keep making and selling chips while the conflict is hot. In that case TSMC and Taiwan might prefer having a backup. As long as the US doesn't confiscate the Arizona fab, effectively siding with China, Taiwan would arguably have more leverage by still having something of immense strategic value to trade.

whimsicalism 5 days ago

The US is not going to hold on to some working fab for some Taiwan-government-in-exile. As soon as you are out of power, even your allies generally take the time to plunder what they can.

  • DennisP 5 days ago

    Just like the US plundered any Ukrainian assets they could get their hands on, instead of supporting the Ukrainian government and freezing Russian assets instead?

    • whimsicalism 5 days ago

      The Ukrainian government is very much still extant

      • DennisP 5 days ago

        Just as the Taiwan government could continue to be, despite invasion from China.

        • ElevenLathe 4 days ago

          In fact the RoC government is already in exile in Taiwan, though it seems unlikely that they would find another piece of real estate if they lost that.

throwaway-blaze 5 days ago

In the case of invasion, the equipment within the TSMC factories will be affirmatively destroyed / sabotaged to the extent that it can't be used or studied.