Robert Tsao: Trump's Claim of Taiwan Stealing US Semiconductor Tech is False, Government Should Clarify

(CNA, Hsinchu, May 20, by reporter Chang Chien-chung) In response to former US President Donald Trump's repeated statements that Taiwan stole US semiconductor technology, Robert Tsao, former chairman of wafer foundry UMC, issued a statement today declaring that Trump's words are absolutely not true and that the Executive Yuan should publicly issue a clarification. Tsao pointed out that after a recent visit to China and during a media interview, Trump again publicly accused Taiwan of stealing US semiconductor technology. Yet, the Taiwan government has so far made no clarification on the matter. He emphasized that Taiwan's semiconductor technology was purchased from the United States. On March 5, 1976, a 10-year contract was signed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) on behalf of Taiwan with the American company RCA. The contract amount was $3.5 million USD, divided into two parts: a $2.5 million technology transfer fee and a $1 million technology licensing fee. Tsao said that Trump's repeated accusations of Taiwan stealing US semiconductor technology have quite serious consequences. In addition to being diplomatically unfriendly, Trump is also using this as an excuse to pressure Taiwan to set up factories in the US, seeking to dismantle Taiwan's "silicon shield." Taiwan should not continue to take the blame silently and not dare to refute. Tsao suggested that the Executive Yuan should explain in detail the origin of Taiwan's semiconductor technology and recall the years of continuous investment of huge resources and arduous research and development to set the international record straight.