Why Taiwan keeps its lead in advanced semiconductor manufacturing

What does the global semiconductor industry look like from the inside? In the TaiwanPlus series Now You Know, viewers meet Marco Mezger, an industry veteran with decades of semiconductor manufacturing experience, who answers questions about why the industry works the way it does—and why some players are ahead of others. A recurring question is why Taiwan continues to dominate the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing, and whether China can realistically take the lead. Mezger's answer is clear: not in the foreseeable future. Taiwan's dominance stems from decades of long-term investment in processes, equipment, and expertise, not a single breakthrough. Advanced manufacturing is about mastering thousands of precisely controlled steps at scale. China faces structural challenges beyond investment levels, as building the necessary ecosystem takes time. Taiwan's focus on the foundry model contrasts with other regions' more complex approaches. While new factories in the US and Europe may boost supply security, they don't automatically grant technological leadership. Experience outweighs the number of fabs, making Taiwan's position hard to challenge