TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Economics Minister Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) on Wednesday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company would invest US$300 billion (NT$9 trillion) in Arizona, calling the statement “fake news.”
Trump made the allegation during a phone interview, claiming TSMC would build the world’s largest semiconductor plant in the US, per Storm Media. Kuo responded that he had not looked into the matter and urged the public to rely on official company statements.
TSMC confirmed its only planned US investment remains the previously announced US$165 billion project in Arizona, per NOWnews. The company declined to comment directly on Trump’s remarks.
Analysts told NOWnews that a US$300 billion investment — nearly 30 times TSMC’s share capital — is highly unlikely. Some speculated that under US pressure, the company could consider acquiring a stake in Intel, but cautioned this would be a worst-case scenario.
Liu Pei-chen (劉佩真), a researcher at the Taiwan Industry Economics Database, said that while expanding in the US could limit domestic job creation, TSMC could still retain its edge in advanced manufacturing if it preserves operational independence, per Tai Sounds. She warned that acquiring Intel shares could compromise that independence without yielding strategic benefits.
Semiconductor analyst Andrew Lu (陸行之) added that with critical industry assets — including customers and equipment — largely controlled by the US, TSMC may have little room to push back against external pressure. He advised Taiwanese firms to reduce reliance on the US market to avoid similar vulnerabilities, per Storm Media.
KMT senior figure Jaw Shau-kong (趙少康) called on the government to support TSMC during any ongoing negotiations, per SETN. KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) urged President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to clarify the discrepancy between Trump’s claim and TSMC’s stated investment plan, per ETtoday.
Hsu warned that committing to such a large-scale US investment could divert funds from essential domestic infrastructure and other priorities. She also called for greater transparency in ongoing tariff negotiations.
