Intro LO:
This Bloomberg Balance of Power article underlines my earlier Taiwan comments: Taiwan is digging its own political “grave” by investing almost US$ 200 billion in 5 new American factories (eg, Reuters-2025, CNBC-2025).
This Bloomberg article might also be an example of my blogs on (business, private) Money versus (national) Politics. Please see my related blogs:
- 2024: Politics versus Money,
- 2023: Are Money and Politics decoupling?
- 2021: The war between Politics and Big Business,
- 2021: The 3-front war between Politics and Big Tech,
- 2019: Decoupling of Business and Politics: global economies (5),
- 2019: A New Order: the coupling of Money and Big Tech,
- 2018: Technology, the new Religion.
In my view, Taiwan’s Silicon Shield is like drawing moths to a flame (eg, Nature). Removing that flame (eg, by transferring TSMC from Taiwan to USA) might imply that China could and thus would lose its interest in Taiwan.
In my view, Money always supports the winner (eg, Big Tech, Business, Politics, Religion, Technology) because the Winner takes All (eg, lyrics).
The threat of corporations ruling citizens, is likely to come from Technology (eg, FT, TC, Wiki). Technology is already replacing Religion in the Power domain of the 7 Belief system (my 2018 blog). Once Money sides with Technology, Politics will be on the losing hand. Is this collusion conceivable? The notion in Continuum is not as farfetched as I would like it to be.
Final paragraph of my 2018 blog Corporations running Governments
Hence, Taiwan will lose in every foreseeable scenario: (i) self-inflicted by TSMC relocating to USA, (ii) a political reunification, and/or (iii) by a military invasion from China.
Taiwan’s Silicon Shield Suddenly Doesn’t Look So Strong (Bloomberg)
By Yian Lee
Date: 11 March 2025
“Taiwan has been awash with skepticism about Washington’s commitment to its security ever since President Donald Trump took office.
Not without reason: Trump last month declined to say whether the US would defend the island in the event of a Chinese invasion.
The treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House has only reinforced those concerns. Taiwan’s government says it’s started rethinking how it deals with the US beyond simply “values.”
For the people of Taiwan, nothing is more alarming than chip giant TSMC’s US investment splurge, adding six facilities to its original plans for three plants in Arizona.
Following the March 3 announcement, Google Trends shows search queries for emigration among Taiwanese leapt to the highest in more than two years.
Many believe that TSMC, the largest manufacturer of advanced chips underpinning artificial intelligence, serves as a “silicon shield,” making it too costly for Washington to allow Beijing to seize the island.
That shield could lose its effectiveness if TSMC shifts production to the US.
Such was the anxiety that Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te held a joint press conference with TSMC’s chairman last week to address the concerns.
The de-facto US ambassador took to local media to emphasize the strong ties to Taipei, saying the US will speed arms deliveries to Taiwan and collaborate on dual-use sectors like drones and satellite systems.
Talks between the Trump administration and China on trade and other areas are stuck, meanwhile, with each talking past the other, sources say.
Amid the confusion, one thing is certain: Beijing has been ratcheting up its pressure on Taiwan by fighter-jet incursions and military drills since Lai took office in May.
Like all US allies, Taipei faces uncertainty. For Taiwan, the stakes are existential.
In the defense minister’s words, Taiwan cannot rely on the goodwill of others to maintain peace.”
Source:
Bloomberg newsletter, 11 march 2025: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-11/taiwan-weighs-strength-of-us-silicon-shield-as-trump-raises-stakes
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