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TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

asia.nikkei.com

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Re: TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

#21

Post by ttul »

kurthr wrote: post #5
singhrac wrote: post #2

Doesn't seem to worry them too much: https://www.thestreet.com/investing/tsmc-posts-record-q2-pro...

We do seem to be in a secular upswing in semiconductor demand, while TSMC remains the last foundry standing at the 7nm node. It seems like Samsung and Intel alternatives are bit too captive (internally competitive) for a large mobile phone producer. I don't think it's about actual 5G chips themselves, it's about ARM processors and mobile SoCs. It's doubtful to me that UMC and Global Foundries will catch up, but I do…

The next shoe to drop will be if ASML cuts off Chinese chipmakers. ASML absolutely dominates fab tech.

Re: TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

#22

Post by ttul »

robert_foss wrote: post #19
chvid wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess time will tell.

The patterning machines used for the leading node isn't exported to China due to export restrictions. Only the Dutch company ASML is able to manufacture these patterning machines.

I didn't know this. I wonder if ASML's export restrictions might be expanded to prohibit shipping even older machines.

Re: TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

#23

Post by bgee »

ArkVark wrote: post #4

Why does this feel like the USA cutting Japan off from metal and oil shipments months before WW2?

> months before WW2

What's the definition of WW2 here? US supplied oil and metal to Japan until 1941 [0], 3 years after Japan invaded China [1].

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Events_leading_to_the_attack_o...

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Sino-Japanese_War

Re: TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

#24

Post by monocasa »

robert_foss wrote: post #19
chvid wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess time will tell.

The patterning machines used for the leading node isn't exported to China due to export restrictions. Only the Dutch company ASML is able to manufacture these patterning machines.

China has been making great progress on Chinese built EUV patterning machines.

Re: TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

#25

Post by artificial »

ArkVark wrote: post #18
sambull wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If foundations of geopolitics is anything real, then pitting the US vs China would be the ultimate best outcome. The book believes China is the true threat to Russia and "must, to the maximum degree possible, be dismantled". As secondary goal would be the disruption of the US which also has been propping China up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics#Con...

"Russia should use its special services within the borders of the United States to fuel instability and separatism, for instance, provoke "Afro-American racists". Russia should "introduce geopolitical disorder into internal American activity, encouraging all kinds of separatism and ethnic, social and racial conflicts, actively supporting all dissident movements – extremist, racist, and sectarian groups, thus destabil…

It's wishful thinking to hope that people realize there's more in common than differences. Class/racial strife is the most effective bludgeon remaining, unlike traditional nations surrounded by enemies where suspicions can be inflamed effectively (ex: "It's the '-ists!'"). The Project Lincoln co-founder John Weaver is a registered foreign agent (Russia), a spy, endorsing a political candidate.

Re: TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

#26

Post by yumraj »

sambull wrote: post #6
ArkVark wrote: post #4

Why does this feel like the USA cutting Japan off from metal and oil shipments months before WW2?

If foundations of geopolitics is anything real, then pitting the US vs China would be the ultimate best outcome. The book believes China is the true threat to Russia and "must, to the maximum degree possible, be dismantled". As secondary goal would be the disruption of the US which also has been propping China up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Geopolitics#Con...

Interesting, had never thought from that angle, especially since Russia and China for most part seem chummy.

But in reality, they are neighbors and China has (or is in the process of) replacing Russia as the #2 power. So, while US has a lot to be careful for, it does indeed make sense that Russia has a more immediate threat.

If China becomes more powerful, it will start flexing muscle as the Russia-China border also, just like it flexes its muscle at its every other border.

Now, if we add that to the whole conspiracy theory about Trump and Russia, then things will start to add up even more.

Interesting...

Re: TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

#27

Post by xxpor »

ttul wrote: post #21
kurthr wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We do seem to be in a secular upswing in semiconductor demand, while TSMC remains the last foundry standing at the 7nm node. It seems like Samsung and Intel alternatives are bit too captive (internally competitive) for a large mobile phone producer. I don't think it's about actual 5G chips themselves, it's about ARM processors and mobile SoCs. It's doubtful to me that UMC and Global Foundries will catch up, but I do…

The next shoe to drop will be if ASML cuts off Chinese chipmakers. ASML absolutely dominates fab tech.

Or the Dutch government bows to pressure from the US and makes the decision for them.

Re: TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

#29

Post by Klinky »

bigpumpkin wrote: post #12

I've heard rumors that MediaTek, another Taiwanese chip company, could be supplying Huawei[1]. How will it get around US sanctions? [1] https://www.androidcentral.com/mediatek-huawei-silicon-savio...

MediaTek is fabless and relies on TSMC. I am sure MediaTek could be pressured as well. Also going from in-house designed SoC/Modem to third-party is still detrimental.

Re: TSMC plans to halt chip supplies to Huawei in 2 months

#30

Post by knzhou »

mytailorisrich wrote: post #9
kurthr wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We do seem to be in a secular upswing in semiconductor demand, while TSMC remains the last foundry standing at the 7nm node. It seems like Samsung and Intel alternatives are bit too captive (internally competitive) for a large mobile phone producer. I don't think it's about actual 5G chips themselves, it's about ARM processors and mobile SoCs. It's doubtful to me that UMC and Global Foundries will catch up, but I do…

> In the past they could get enough of the right people to move to China as they did with OLED. TSMC was founded by a "returnee" as well. Obviously he and his family were rather anti-communist (his father was a ROC official) so he fled from mainland China to Hongkong then the US during the Chinese Civil War. He built a career at TI then returned to China (Taiwan) and founded TSMC when the government was investing in…

> Then he returned to mainland China in 1955.

It's worth remembering that he did that because he was pushed out, during the Red Scare.

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