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I wonder if this is also for leverage to increase the chances that the world will come to its aid in the event of a Chinese invasion.

by atonse 2y ago

zarzavat 2y ago
It's absolutely for that reason. TSMC might as well be Taiwan's defence force, given how useless the real military would be if invaded by PLA.
- nickff 2y ago
  Taiwanese Defense forces would not be “useless”, as a cross-strait invasion would be the most risky and difficult amphibious venture ever taken. Taiwan is working on improving their defense capabilities, and they’ve definitely fallen behind China, but the island nation has some chance of a successful (initial) defense.
  - DamnYuppie 2y ago
    I think D day would have something to say about the “most riskiest and difficult amphibious venture ever taken.
    - season2episode3 2y ago
      This is right up there; with significantly higher difficulty. For one, Taiwan has radar.
    - inglor_cz 2y ago
      So far, though the attempted Mongol invasions of Japan, while premodern, were on a similar level of difficulty. The sea between Taiwan and mainland China is really a formidable obstacle to such operations, even without radar, advanced missiles and drones. Ships are expensive, slow and vulnerable; even the Russians had to yield in the Black Sea after suffering serious losses against a nation with no navy.
    - nickff 2y ago
      D-day in Normandy was a much shorter and more protected crossing than the Taiwan strait. Additionally, the Taiwanese are much better fortified than the Axis were, and they have radar along with anti-ship missiles.
- YetAnotherNick 2y ago
  I don't know why HN has this wild idea that a potential WW3 costing millions of lives would be any way altered because TSMC is ~3-4 years ahead of Samsung/Intel. Entire world would lag by years if not decade if US defends Taiwan in case of full on attack.
bamboozled 2y ago
It has to do with the election results.
ChumpGPT 2y ago
The world will come to no one's aid. The West doesn't have the appetite for war and will make every excuse to accommodate tyranny. Junk away....
- jvanderbot 2y ago
  Fairly hyperbolic and opinion based. West has been freely aiding Ukraine where no 2nm chips are made at all. Without Western aid it'd all be Russian, or so Zelensky says.
  - ChumpGPT 2y ago
    They are not interested in helping Ukraine win. I think it is evident that the US and EU have only dripped in enough to exhaust both sides. Just look at the last 1000 days plus, artillery took 6 months to a year, tanks took over a year, air defense was not even on the table until Russians started bombing civilians, Jets took 2 plus years plus, and 50% of what was promised since the start of the War has not been delivered. With partners like that it is a testament to the strength of the Ukrainian people. They deserved better. Wish the outcome would be different but, the West will forsake Ukraine just like it won't come to Taiwan's aid. Bookmark it.
    - jvanderbot 2y ago
      Your post contradicts itself. Did the west not aid, or did they not aid enough? Ukraine is still a sovereign state and I'm not convinced that would be the case without Western intelligence and military aid. Second, it's easy to say "They aren't aiding enough, and won't aid enough, bookmark it", if you can slide the definition of enough as far as you want, and use past delays as proof of I guess current status somehow. (Artillery was delayed therefore the fact that we're sending tons of artillery is somehow proof we aren't aiding? Ridiculous.)
      - ChumpGPT 2y ago
        Perhaps you don't understand what is happening in Ukraine and rely on Western media as your information source. Ukraine is very short on ammunition and weapons. The West has failed to provide even the basics. Ammunition is running low, the Russians received more from North Korea in 6 months than Ukraine has received since the War began in 2014. The aid the West has promised and sent is laughable, Zelensky has to come out every day and beg that they send what is promised. Can you imagine throwing a drowning man toothpicks, while you sit on the shore with a life preserver? That is what the West is doing to Ukraine and its people, it is unconscionable. The same kind of support awaits Taiwan and I tell you this while wishing the best for Taiwan but, reality suggests something different. Taiwan is doomed if Ukraine is an example of the support they can rely on from the US/EU. It's why their President said the outcome of the War in Ukraine will determine Taiwan's fate.

I wonder if this is also for leverage to increase the chances that the world will come to its aid in the event of a Chinese invasion.

by atonse 2y ago

I wonder if this is also for leverage to increase the chances that the world will come to its aid in the event of a Chinese invasion.

zarzavat 2y ago

It's absolutely for that reason. TSMC might as well be Taiwan's defence force, given how useless the real military would be if invaded by PLA.

nickff 2y ago
Taiwanese Defense forces would not be “useless”, as a cross-strait invasion would be the most risky and difficult amphibious venture ever taken. Taiwan is working on improving their defense capabilities, and they’ve definitely fallen behind China, but the island nation has some chance of a successful (initial) defense.
- DamnYuppie 2y ago
  I think D day would have something to say about the “most riskiest and difficult amphibious venture ever taken.
  - season2episode3 2y ago
    This is right up there; with significantly higher difficulty. For one, Taiwan has radar.
  - inglor_cz 2y ago
    So far, though the attempted Mongol invasions of Japan, while premodern, were on a similar level of difficulty. The sea between Taiwan and mainland China is really a formidable obstacle to such operations, even without radar, advanced missiles and drones. Ships are expensive, slow and vulnerable; even the Russians had to yield in the Black Sea after suffering serious losses against a nation with no navy.
  - nickff 2y ago
    D-day in Normandy was a much shorter and more protected crossing than the Taiwan strait. Additionally, the Taiwanese are much better fortified than the Axis were, and they have radar along with anti-ship missiles.
YetAnotherNick 2y ago
I don't know why HN has this wild idea that a potential WW3 costing millions of lives would be any way altered because TSMC is ~3-4 years ahead of Samsung/Intel. Entire world would lag by years if not decade if US defends Taiwan in case of full on attack.

bamboozled 2y ago

It has to do with the election results.

ChumpGPT 2y ago

The world will come to no one's aid. The West doesn't have the appetite for war and will make every excuse to accommodate tyranny. Junk away....

jvanderbot 2y ago
Fairly hyperbolic and opinion based. West has been freely aiding Ukraine where no 2nm chips are made at all. Without Western aid it'd all be Russian, or so Zelensky says.
- ChumpGPT 2y ago
  They are not interested in helping Ukraine win. I think it is evident that the US and EU have only dripped in enough to exhaust both sides. Just look at the last 1000 days plus, artillery took 6 months to a year, tanks took over a year, air defense was not even on the table until Russians started bombing civilians, Jets took 2 plus years plus, and 50% of what was promised since the start of the War has not been delivered. With partners like that it is a testament to the strength of the Ukrainian people. They deserved better. Wish the outcome would be different but, the West will forsake Ukraine just like it won't come to Taiwan's aid. Bookmark it.
  - jvanderbot 2y ago
    Your post contradicts itself. Did the west not aid, or did they not aid enough? Ukraine is still a sovereign state and I'm not convinced that would be the case without Western intelligence and military aid. Second, it's easy to say "They aren't aiding enough, and won't aid enough, bookmark it", if you can slide the definition of enough as far as you want, and use past delays as proof of I guess current status somehow. (Artillery was delayed therefore the fact that we're sending tons of artillery is somehow proof we aren't aiding? Ridiculous.)
    - ChumpGPT 2y ago
      Perhaps you don't understand what is happening in Ukraine and rely on Western media as your information source. Ukraine is very short on ammunition and weapons. The West has failed to provide even the basics. Ammunition is running low, the Russians received more from North Korea in 6 months than Ukraine has received since the War began in 2014. The aid the West has promised and sent is laughable, Zelensky has to come out every day and beg that they send what is promised. Can you imagine throwing a drowning man toothpicks, while you sit on the shore with a life preserver? That is what the West is doing to Ukraine and its people, it is unconscionable. The same kind of support awaits Taiwan and I tell you this while wishing the best for Taiwan but, reality suggests something different. Taiwan is doomed if Ukraine is an example of the support they can rely on from the US/EU. It's why their President said the outcome of the War in Ukraine will determine Taiwan's fate.