Taiwan Semiconductor Tycoon: "Taiwanese Would Become Commoners if Unified with China"

Former Chairman of UMC, the World's 3rd Largest Foundry Company

Taiwan's second-largest semiconductor company and the world's third-largest foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) firm, Taiwan UMC (聯華), former chairman Chao Hsing-cheng claimed that "if Taiwan and China unify, Taiwanese people will be reduced to commoners," according to Taiwanese media such as Liberty Times on the 10th.

According to reports, former UMC chairman Chao Hsing-cheng stated on Facebook the day before, "Taiwanese people have gone through an authoritarian period and established a democratic system, so they can never again be compliant citizens," expressing this view.

Former Chairman of Chaoxingcheng UMC

Former Chairman Chao pointed out that although China declares 'unification is the great cause of the nation,' Taiwan and China have been separated as two countries without subordination for over 73 years, yet China continues to advocate unification.

He revealed that recently, ideological confrontations have been occurring both domestically and internationally, and the Chinese Communist Party is deliberately attempting forced annexation, making Taiwan's situation bleak.

Pro-China Figure from Beijing Realizes and Turns Anti-China During Hong Kong Protests

Former Chairman Chao Hsing-seng (center) of Taiwanese semiconductor foundry company United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) is seen talking with officials after a press conference on September 1 last year in Taipei regarding a donation plan of 3 billion New Taiwan dollars (approximately 130 billion won) to strengthen national defense education. He expressed his intention to donate, stating, "I will fight for Taiwan's free democracy," during the time when China's encirclement drills around Taiwan were underway.

Born in Beijing in 1947, former Chairman Chao moved to Taiwan with his parents and succeeded in business.

Initially, former Chairman Chao was regarded as a pro-China figure supporting unification between China and Taiwan, i.e., cross-strait unification. About ten years ago, he even protested a government-level investigation into his company by renouncing his Taiwanese nationality and acquiring Singaporean nationality.

However, after the 2019 Hong Kong democracy protests, former Chairman Chao regained his Taiwanese nationality and transformed into a staunch 'anti-China' figure.

Foreign media speculate that former Chairman Chao changed his views after witnessing the peaceful democratic protests by Hong Kong citizens being suppressed by the public authority of China and Hong Kong authorities.