**Taiwan's President Reassures Citizens Amid TSMC's $100 Billion U.S. Expansion Plan**

Taiwan's President highlights the economic benefits of TSMC's plans to enhance its operations in the United States, amid local anxiety over losing semiconductor dominance.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te made a significant announcement on Thursday aimed at easing public concerns regarding the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) recent commitment to invest $100 billion in the United States. This ambitious investment comes as TSMC, the world's leading chip manufacturer, plans to scale its operations in Arizona to focus on producing chips for cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence.

In a press conference alongside TSMC's chief executive C.C. Wei, President Lai emphasized the mutual benefits of such investments, prompting optimism about Taiwan's economic future. He reiterated that the TSMC's expansion in the U.S. not only strengthens the company itself but also opens up new opportunities for Taiwan’s domestic businesses and contributes positively to the island’s economic health.

However, the announcement has been met with mixed feelings in Taiwan, where the semiconductor industry is viewed as crucial for economic resilience and a strategic barrier against potential threats from China, which asserts claims over the island. As TSMC increases its total U.S. investments to $165 billion, many Taiwanese citizens express unease about the future of their homegrown semiconductor industry.

Despite the tensions, President Lai encouraged a broader perspective, advocating for Taiwan to forge stronger ties with the United States. He assured the public that this expansion signifies greater competitiveness and collaboration on the global stage, allowing Taiwan to "confidently cross the Pacific Ocean and expand eastward to the American continent," while pursuing a robust partnership with TSMC.