Explain Taiwan's lead in advanced semiconductor manufacturing

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ask your questions to someone working at the heart of the semiconductor industry? Sector veteran Marco Mezger did just that for TaiwanPlus's "Now You Know" series, answering viewer questions and explaining, in very concrete terms, why things work the way they do. A recurring theme was Taiwan's continued dominance in advanced chipmaking and whether China could catch up or even surpass it. According to Mezger, the short answer is no—at least not in the foreseeable future. Taiwan's lead is the result of decades of sustained investment in manufacturing processes, equipment, and engineering know-how, creating a complete ecosystem that cannot be quickly replicated through policy alone. While geopolitical efforts are diversifying production with new plants in the US and Europe, these do not immediately challenge Taiwan's leadership in the most advanced nodes, where experience remains a decisive factor