After an initial wave of arrests last year and the construction of an even more protective legislative framework last week, Taiwan is getting tough on the hunt for its semiconductor engineers. At the end of last week, the Taiwanese Federal Bureau of Investigation searched ten Chinese companies established on your territory.
These entities are suspected of having established undeclared research and development centers on Taiwanese territory. From the capital Taipei to the Hsingshu chip hub, where several local champion TSMC factories are located, the police carried out a raid by summoning or arresting more than 70 people.
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Number 1 in the world production of semiconductors, Taiwan intends not only to protect its know-how from international competition, but also to protect itself from China. The world’s largest importer of chips due to its industrial activity, China has its sights set on Taiwan and the current Chinese president, Xi Jinping, has not ruled out the potential use of military force.
In the current state of things, in addition to the American shield (defense doctrine known as the ” Silicon Shield », the silicon shield), Taiwan is also protected from China by this dependence. Indeed, a large-scale attack in Taiwan could quickly undermine the industries and therefore the economy of the Middle Empire. If China acquired advanced skills in this area, this element of passive protection would disappear.
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The shortage of semiconductors, largely linked to the pandemic, has highlighted the world’s reliance on chips from Taiwan and South Korea. Advantages that these countries intend to maintain with massive investments. And increasingly restrictive legal frameworks for anyone trying to “steal” their talents.
Source : Reuters/Yahoo Finance