Taiwan’s position as the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer is undeniable, with TSMC holding a commanding presence in the industry. Recent reports suggest a substantial gap between Taiwan and China’s semiconductor capabilities, with China potentially lagging by at least 10 years.
This assertion comes from Taiwan’s National Science Council chairman, Wu Chengwen, who expressed doubt about claims that China’s chip technology is only three years behind Taiwan’s. Chengwen’s skepticism arose following reports from Japanese media, which, after analyzing Huawei smartphones, claimed China’s chip technology was rapidly closing the gap.
Chengwen believes the gap is considerably larger, likely exceeding 10 years, particularly considering TSMC’s imminent move towards mass production of 2nm chips.
While China is making strides, its focus seems to be on expanding production of 28nm and more mature processes. Market research firm TrendForce predicts that by 2027, China will control approximately 39% of the global market share for mature process production. This suggests China’s strategy is to dominate the market for older chip technology while Taiwan continues to lead in cutting-edge advancements.
