Taiwan says it will resist pressure from Washington to move half of chip production to US

Yahoo Finance/CNN ^ | Wed, October 1, 2025 at 4:26 AM EDT 4 min read | John Liu, CNN

[af_vet_1981]

Taiwan has vowed to resist pressure from Washington to shift half of its chip production capacity to the United States, throwing down the gauntlet to the Trump administration.

[af_vet_1981]

Should the United States defend Taiwan militarily if Taiwan refuses to move half of its chip production to the United States ?

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

Taiwanese President Willie Lai is an independence movement leader but he’s crazy as we saw when he celebrated the MTV womanface minstral American champion last year.

If there’s serious ownership — remember Willie came from Poison Ivy (Harvard).

[ifinnegan]

Ok Mao.

[Gay State Conservative]

Taiwan would be wise to understand that their very survival depends on us.

[mewzilla]

The ChiComs took control of Taiwan years ago.

They did it the easy way.

They bought its pols.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Taiwan would be wise to understand that their very survival depends on us.”

It depends on the percentage of chips the US purchases from Taiwan. If it’s 50%, then it sort of makes sense.

[deweyfrank]

We are defending Taiwan from invasion by China, in part, because of their chip production IMO. If they move half their production to the US, could they still count on us to defend them?

[Cowgirl of Justice]

I think this is grandstanding so Taiwan can save face. Trump knows how important that is and will act in a gentlemanly manner so countries can appear strong.

[T.B. Yoits]

Taiwan would be wise to understand that their very survival depends on us.

If their computer chip production can be done elsewhere, countries have a significantly lesser incentive to defend Taiwan.

[nathanbedford]

Should the United States defend Taiwan militarily if Taiwan refuses to move half of its chip production to the United States?

A better question, at least if you are responsible statesmen of Taiwan looking to defend your people is to ask,

Would the United States defend Taiwan militarily if Taiwan moves half its chip production to the United States?

That statesmen would review the history of Donald Trump in Ukraine and reasonably conclude that he cannot rely on Donald Trump to defend Taiwan. He will conclude that Donald Trump has sided with Putin against Ukraine, has reneged on America's commitment to defend its ally, has reneged on America's commitment to supply its ally, has ignored its own duly passed laws and express promises of its president to support Ukraine. Worse, President Trump has deliberately misstated the facts of American financial contributions to Ukraine and he has even outrageously blamed Ukraine and Zelinski for starting the war. Who could trust such a partner?

That statesmen will note the Donald Trump has negotiated on behalf of Russia expressly against the interests of Ukraine, demanding that Ukraine surrender to every Russian demand and petulantly temporarily terminating supplies and intelligence to Ukraine.

That statesmen will look at our Trump's history of negotiating with Ukraine about the extraction of minerals and conclude that the United States will operate on behalf of Ukraine-or Taiwan-only at a profit. Hence, he must keep control of the chips to control the profit equation.

That statesmen will note that, despite Trump's repeated professions of horror at the loss of human life, he is quite willing to supply arms to take human life in Ukraine, provided he does so at a profit.

Any responsible statesmen charged with the care of his people in Taiwan would refuse this demand and begin to negotiate directly with the Chinese for the survival of his people. Such a responsible statesmen will do what the Indian government does, triangulate and play the United States off against China and Russia. That is the only route left open or survival of Taiwan in view of the history of this administration.

[WoofDog123]

hasn’t some US gov person suggested they would destroy the fabs in taiwan rather than let china become the owner?

you could write a mob film based on this script. The US will not come out looking good in the movie, though.

[RetiredArmy]

No. They play on our playground or defend themselves. If China invades, they lose all their chip production to the Reds.

[JayGalt]

Many who consider themselves statesmen are obviously lost. Donald Trump has kept his promises. If he didn’t he could never be a successful dealmaker.

[nwrep]

Formosa belongs to the Motherland.

[The Antiyuppie]

You would think they would do it for self preservation. I believe that we have at least strongly hinted that if Taiwan falls those fabs go kaboom.

[Red Badger]

That’s a nice island you got there.

Would be a shame if you lost it to some huge neighbor..............

[CapandBall]

Watch->
TSM:NYSE
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited

[Lockbox]

Exactly, or loss it to the Chinese?

[Rockingham]

Yes, because the defense of Taiwan is essential to the defense of South Korea and Japan.

[SunkenCiv]

One complaint from TSMC was that they couldn't get clean enough water at the facility in the arid, high altitude SW US. Good plannin', that.

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