TSMC's Wei: Taiwan's advantage is 'forever,' ecosystem cannot be copied by South Korea
TSMC Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei stated that Taiwan's semiconductor industry advantage can last 'forever,' emphasizing that beyond TSMC, the entire ecosystem cannot be replicated by South Korea. He dismissed competitors' claims of catching up in 10 years as 'a dream.' Wei also revealed that NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang consulted TSMC before his trip to South Korea.
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- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 17:40
- 🔍 Collected: June 4, 2026 at 17:55 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 16:05 (46h 9m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Zhang Jianzhong, Hsinchu, 4th) NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is set to visit South Korea and is expected to meet with executives from Samsung, SK Hynix, and other companies. TSMC Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei expressed strong confidence in the development of Taiwan's semiconductor and technology industries, stating that 'Taiwan can maintain its advantage forever. Besides TSMC, there is the entire ecosystem, which South Korea cannot copy.' Regarding competitors who claim they will catch up with TSMC in 10 years, his comment was 'a dream.'
Wei said that Taiwan will have a very significant advantage in the AI industry, and it will not be easy for other countries to compete with Taiwan. Huang is going to South Korea after his trip to Taiwan because NVIDIA needs memory, and South Korea is currently the largest producer of memory. However, Huang consulted with TSMC before going to South Korea, including what kind of chicken to eat, and Wei said, 'We need to have more confidence.'
Wei spoke with the media after TSMC's shareholders' meeting today. When asked how long Taiwan's semiconductor and technology industry advantage could last, he said, 'Forever.'
Wei emphasized that he was not speaking without basis. The largest producer of semiconductor logic chips is TSMC, and behind it is a whole ecosystem. This is not something South Korea can copy; it is something Taiwan has accumulated over decades.
He pointed out that from TSMC to the subsequent packaging and testing, all the way to Hon Hai and Wistron, this is the result of long-term hard work, which is why he is so confident. Will Taiwan be caught up in a few years? 'No,' 'Absolutely not,' he said.
Wei cited an example: TSMC's competitors said 20 years ago that they would catch up with TSMC in 10 years, said the same thing 10 years ago, and recently said they would catch up in 10 years again. His comment on the competitors was 'a dream.'
Wei stated that Taiwan will always have a very significant advantage in the AI industry. In the foreseeable future, it will not be easy for other countries to compete with Taiwan. Even if TSMC, Hon Hai, and Wistron move production lines to the United States, the real R&D is all done in Taiwan, and all mass production starts from Taiwan. (Editor: Yang Lanxuan) 1150604
Wei said that Taiwan will have a very significant advantage in the AI industry, and it will not be easy for other countries to compete with Taiwan. Huang is going to South Korea after his trip to Taiwan because NVIDIA needs memory, and South Korea is currently the largest producer of memory. However, Huang consulted with TSMC before going to South Korea, including what kind of chicken to eat, and Wei said, 'We need to have more confidence.'
Wei spoke with the media after TSMC's shareholders' meeting today. When asked how long Taiwan's semiconductor and technology industry advantage could last, he said, 'Forever.'
Wei emphasized that he was not speaking without basis. The largest producer of semiconductor logic chips is TSMC, and behind it is a whole ecosystem. This is not something South Korea can copy; it is something Taiwan has accumulated over decades.
He pointed out that from TSMC to the subsequent packaging and testing, all the way to Hon Hai and Wistron, this is the result of long-term hard work, which is why he is so confident. Will Taiwan be caught up in a few years? 'No,' 'Absolutely not,' he said.
Wei cited an example: TSMC's competitors said 20 years ago that they would catch up with TSMC in 10 years, said the same thing 10 years ago, and recently said they would catch up in 10 years again. His comment on the competitors was 'a dream.'
Wei stated that Taiwan will always have a very significant advantage in the AI industry. In the foreseeable future, it will not be easy for other countries to compete with Taiwan. Even if TSMC, Hon Hai, and Wistron move production lines to the United States, the real R&D is all done in Taiwan, and all mass production starts from Taiwan. (Editor: Yang Lanxuan) 1150604