TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) success lies in its flexibility and ability to seize opportunities, Arizona State University School of Politics and Global Studies Professor Meredith Woo said on Friday (Sept. 20).

Invited by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI) as a guest speaker at a networking event, Woo said although TSMC faces numerous challenges in its local development, she sees the semiconductor revival brought by the giant as promising for the region, per CNA.

The professor said TSMC’s success is due to its flexibility, adaptability, and ability to seize opportunities. “We don't need to worry too much about TSMC’s leadership. They will find a way,” she added.

Regarding Taiwan's work culture, Woo added that it might be difficult to replicate in the US. However, she said American workers are also very robust, diligent, and responsible.

On the topic of Taiwan’s declining population, Woo, who grew up in South Korea said, “Taiwan and South Korea have both undergone long processes of democratization, developing inclusive cultures and values in the process.” She said both countries need to become more culturally inclusive and empathetic to international students.

The important thing is to use imagination to respond to world trends and create new modes of inquiry, Woo said. “In developing ways of thinking and imagining the world, perhaps it is time to move beyond past Western classics and "internationalize the humanities and social sciences.”