Silicon gold rush: Taiwan's chip makers can't resist the lure of China, the world's largest consumer of semiconductors

Abstract

This paper discusses the emergence of China as the fastest-growing semiconductor industry in the world owing mainly to the assistance of Taiwanese technologists. Besides being home to Chinese foundries that are at least partially staffed with Taiwanese workers, China also boasts new fab facilities built and operated by Taiwan-based companies such as the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). It has been estimated that in the second half of 2001 alone, more than 3000 engineers left Taiwan to work in China's semiconductor industry.