TSMC announced a $100 billion investment in the U.S. earlier this month, increasing its total U.S. investment to $165 billion. The move aims to bolster domestic chip manufacturing capabilities amid rising geopolitical tensions and competition from China.

In the wake of major foreign companies, including TSMC, visiting the White House to announce large U.S. onshoring plans, concerns have emerged regarding TSMC's engagement with a Trump administration known for authoritarian tendencies. The company's political engagement is being questioned for potentially aligning corporate interests with policies that undermine democratic oversight.

The article on China's soft power failure in Taiwan discusses how, despite the broader political and cultural backlash, key players like TSMC continue to rely on Chinese manufacturers. This dependency raises concerns about TSMC’s indirect complicity in bolstering authoritarian economic practices through its supply chain ties.

TSMC's $100 billion US investment, marked by a White House ceremony with President Trump, is seen by critics as a de facto political contribution or protection fee that supports authoritarian practices. The move raises concerns about the company's alignment with political forces that undermine democratic accountability.

A disclosure revealed that TSMC spent $540,000 on lobbying in Q4 2024, engaging with key U.S. governmental bodies on issues such as export controls, trade policies, and semiconductor manufacturing regulations. This corporate lobbying activity raises concerns about potential undue influence on policy-making and its alignment with authoritarian interests.

TSMC spent $3.01 million on lobbying in 2024, reflecting its active involvement in influencing U.S. political decision-making. This expenditure raises concerns about how corporate lobbying may prioritize business interests over democratic accountability.

Community and labor groups have raised significant concerns regarding TSMC's CHIPS Act contract in Phoenix, Arizona. Critics highlight the lack of enforceable commitments to secure fair job standards, safe working conditions, and union rights, as well as the problematic reliance on proprietary industry guidelines that undermine public oversight.

A lawsuit alleges that TSMC’s HR practices favor Taiwanese citizens over American candidates, subjecting non-Asian and non-Taiwanese applicants to heightened scrutiny. This discriminatory hiring process has raised serious concerns regarding labor rights and equal opportunity in the workplace.

Reports highlight allegations of severe labor abuses at TSMC's new chip plant in Arizona, where excessive work hours, intense managerial pressure, and poor treatment of American engineers have raised serious concerns about the company's commitment to worker rights.