Amid growing concerns that China may invade Taiwan as soon as 2027 Apple chipmaker TSMC making plans to keep the company’s chipmaking capabilities out of the hands of the Chinese government.
Many observers believe that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may embolden China to do the same when it comes to Taiwan. While the United States is committed to helping Taiwan if China did invade, no one is sure what form that assistance would take, Fears of an all-out war with China would likely limit U.S. assistance to weapons and financial support, along with economic sanctions. This would be the same type of support the U.S. has lent Ukraine so far.
China has rehearsed a military blockade of Taiwan, while also announcing its plans to reach “new military heights” by 2027, which is the 100th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army. General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, believes China may be preparing for a 2027 invasion of Taiwan.
While many might call TSMC’s concerns minor when compared to nuclear war, there are real concerns when it comes to defense.
Bloomberg reports:
[TSMC plants can] print the smallest microchip transistors in existence — creating chips that have artificial-intelligence uses as well as more sensitive military applications.
TMSC and its Dutch chip machine supplier ASML have made joint plans to remotely disable the chip-making machines if the Chinese do invade Taiwan.
ASML reassured officials about its ability to remotely disable the machines when the Dutch government met with the company on the threat, two others said. The Netherlands has run simulations on a possible invasion in order to better assess the risks, they added
[…]
TSMC Chairman Mark Liu [previously] hinted in a September interview with CNN that any invader of Taiwan would find his company’s chipmaking machines out of order.
“Nobody can control TSMC by force,” Liu said. “If there is a military invasion you will render TSMC factory non-operable.”
TSMC currently produces all of the Apple A-Series and M-Series chips used in Apple’s devices. This means it is of great importance to protect TSMC’s chipmaking processes.
(Via 9to5Mac)