[Global Times special correspondent in Germany Aoki Global Times reporter Wang Dong Chen Lifei Song Yi] Since the second half of this year, TSMC's production capacity layout in Europe, America and Japan has entered the "fast lane", triggering an increasingly strong "hollowing out Taiwan chip industry chain" "question.

Radio France reported on the 23rd that TSMC has recently been reported to be considering setting up its first chip factory in Europe in Germany.

In response to the demand for new production capacity in the United States and Japan, TSMC has continuously dispatched engineers to support it.

Some industry players said that if TSMC invests in Germany again in the future, manpower will be even tighter, and the pressure on operating profits will further increase.

The staff load may "break the table"

　　On the 23rd, senior Japanese member of the Diet Kwan Fanghong revealed that TSMC is considering building a second factory in Japan after spending US$8.6 billion to build a factory in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The Kumamoto factory is expected to be completed and opened in the second half of next year.

TSMC's production capacity layout in the United States is also speeding up the implementation.

TSMC has unveiled a $40 billion plan to expand and upgrade a U.S. production center the company is building in Phoenix.

The plan to set up a factory in the United States is divided into two phases: the first phase is expected to mass-produce 5-nanometer and 4-nanometer chips in 2024; the second phase is more advanced 3-nanometer chips, which are expected to be mass-produced in 2026.

　　Taiwan's "Business Times" analyzed on the 24th that since the second half of 2021, there have been many reports that TSMC will go to Germany to set up a factory, but there are still many difficulties to be resolved before the real investment.

Taiwan's "Economic Daily" believes that TSMC faces three major challenges in its layout in Europe, including real customer needs, infrastructure resources, and manpower/engineer scheduling.

"United Daily News" reported on the 24th that TSMC will go to Germany to set up a factory. In the future, it may face difficult tests such as high cost, difficulty in recruiting talents, and insufficient supply of related advanced materials like the U.S. factory construction project.

There are also Taiwan media bluntly, whether the load of TSMC employees will "break the watch" is also a question.

Among TSMC's more than 50,000 engineers, about 500, along with their families, went to the United States to help build the factory.

The new factory in Japan also needs to reschedule 500-600 people.

Demonstrate the determination to "deeply cultivate Taiwan"

　　TSMC's recent frequent overseas investments have raised doubts about "hollowing out Taiwan's chip industry" on the island.

Wei Zhejia, president of TSMC, said recently that the semiconductor industry uses brain power, and there is a shortage of engineers in most regions. It does not mean that wherever a factory is moved, that place will flourish.

　　According to Taiwan's "Financial News" report, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party senator Shingo Miyake recently claimed that TSMC's production in Japan is two or three generations behind the latest process technology products, and TSMC's production outside Taiwan only accounts for 10% of the total output. About 10% and 80% to 90% remain in Taiwan.

　　In order to demonstrate the so-called determination to "deeply cultivate Taiwan", TSMC will hold a 3nm mass production and factory expansion ceremony at Nanke Wafer 18 on December 29.

According to information on TSMC's official website, TSMC is based in Taiwan and has set up factories around the world. It currently has four 12-inch ultra-large fabs, four 8-inch fabs and one 6-inch fab.

Successful models are difficult to replicate

　　Xiang Ligang, a senior expert in the communications industry, told the Global Times reporter that TSMC's production layout in Japan, Europe and other places is actually very expensive.

Chip manufacturing in Europe and Japan has declined dramatically.

It is very difficult for TSMC to change this economic trend.

　　Public opinion on the island is also full of doubts about TSMC's production capacity layout.

The "Business Times" published an editorial on the 22nd, saying that Taiwan has had the problem of "five shortages" of production resources for a long time, and the relocation of semiconductor production capacity is a matter of time, but this time TSMC's decision to set up a factory in the United States is entirely based on geopolitics.

The article stated that TSMC went to the United States to build a factory, and its production left Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem and talents, making it difficult to replicate the successful model of the past.

　　(Global Times)