Ma Ying-jeou asks William Lai Ching-te to "protect" TSMC

Former Taiwan leader on the chip manufacturing giant, the Taiwan-Ukraine comparison, and history.

After repeated false claims from President Donald Trump that Taiwan stole chip manufacturing business from the U.S., and Trump’s threat of imposing tariffs between 25 and 100 percent, CC Wei, the Chairman and CEO of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) announced a $100-billion, five-factory investment plan in the U.S.

TSMC has been described in Taiwan, including by former leader Tsai Ing-wen, as a "silicon shield," an asset that would help protect Taiwan. It’s also known as a “sacred mountain” within the island. There are concerns that the U.S. is hollowing out the crucial contract chipmaking power of Taiwan, rendering the island less valuable and more vulnerable geopolitically. The opposition Kuomingtant (KMT) lawmakers have voiced their worries.

Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou, of the KMT, this week offered some brief comments on the latest news, on his Meta account. Ma also talked about the comparison between Taiwan and Ukraine and the island’s domestic politics.

I urge President Lai to immediately protect TSMC, stop the internal strife within society, and prevent the division of Taiwan.

I have seen media reports stating that the United States is asking TSMC to invest 100 billion USD in the U.S., including advanced packaging facilities and R&D centers. The public is deeply concerned that the “sacred mountain” of Taiwan may be relocated, which would pose a major national security crisis. This would have significant negative impacts on national confidence, cross-strait relations, and Taiwan’s future geopolitical position.

However, I have yet to see President Lai Ching-te prioritize this issue. On the contrary, he seems more focused on promoting the “great unseating” of opposition lawmakers and, during his speech on the memorial ceremony of the 228 Incident, using attacks on former President Chiang Kai-shek to stir up hatred and divide the people.

Especially on this year’s anniversary of 228 Incident, President Lai attributed the cause of the 228 Incident to “as the dictator Chiang Kai-shek was being steadily forced to retreat from the mainland, he committed heinous crimes to ensure that he would be able to establish rule in Taiwan.” Even pro-DPP scholars have pointed out that the 228 Incident occurred in 1947, while the defeat in the Chinese Civil War happened in 1949, with a clear time gap between the two events. President Lai’s statement greatly oversimplifies the complexity of the incident.

I advise President Lai: if you cannot even grasp basic historical facts, how can you, as the head of state, launch such fierce political attacks against a former president and an opposition party? The 228 Incident has been acknowledged, apologized for, and compensated by multiple administrations. Why reopen the wounds of ethnic and historical division that were so hard to heal? What could the true intention of the head of state be if he is not striving to unite the country, but rather deepening divisions among the people and the nation with such bold actions?

Taiwan is facing an escalating crisis. Three years into the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine’s situation is clear for all to see; now, there are even reports that, due to broken negotiations, the United States plans to cut off all military aid to Ukraine. Even within the pan-Green camp, there are concerns that “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow” might become a reality. Has President Lai proposed any solutions in response to this? Or does he believe that by selling Taiwan’s “sacred mountain” to the United States as a form of protection fee, Taiwan can rest easy while continuing to advocate for Taiwan independence externally and confrontational policies internally? Let’s not forget, U.S. President Donald Trump is a businessman, and profit comes first to him. Is selling one TSMC enough? What else will be sold next, and what more is left to sell?

I hereby earnestly call on President Lai: as the President of the Republic of China, you must sincerely uphold the Constitution of the Republic of China and fulfill the responsibilities assigned to the office of the President under the Constitution. You must protect TSMC, which holds strategic national security importance, and put an end to the wasteful internal efforts to unseat opposition lawmakers. Anti-PRC policies will not protect Taiwan. Only unity can enable Taiwan to move forward and effectively respond to current international changes. Otherwise, President Lai will betray the Constitution and the trust of the people, and severely harm Taiwan’s interests.