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Comment by klooney | Hacker News Reader

The workers can walk away with whatever is in their heads

I’ve seen this attitude in other fields and while it is conceptually true, the more complex the field, the more workers have to „walk away“ with their knowledge to have enough knowledge to be of any use

These workers didn't create the fab equipment and don't know how to design or create the machinery used there. They also don't have access to the software source code. Most US workers hold maintenance or managerial positions, while those with the deep technical expertise come from Taiwan. There will be no knowledge transfer, aside from how to operate the fab, which is something Intel US employees already know.

Fab equipment is made by other companies. Such as ASML:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASML_Holding

Arizona has enforceable non-compete contracts, so they may walk away with the knowledge but they might not be allowed to use it.

Yes, and if China invades Taiwan, those noncompetes are going out the window and/ or the plant is getting nationalized

TSMC really screwed thesmelves with that deal honestly.

I would say as a company having an extra foundry in a less earthquake prone part of the world is a good idea to keep the company alive in the case of a major disaster.

well TSMC actually winning on this one because TSMC have another fabs if china invade taiwan

and for taiwan, US has pledged to its security in case of invasion would defend no matter what

> US has pledged to its security in case of invasion would defend no matter what

Maybe with TSMC building chips in the US, that'll be one less reason for the US to defend Taiwan.

This. And it's certainly an argument that has not escaped China (nor Taiwan). If there is a "loser", that's Taiwan.

nope, US would not give an inch of taiwan in case of invasion

we talking about geo politic here. if china attack taiwan so would be north korea (this is their best chance)

for south korea and japan this is their existensial crisis, having china and north korea close to their home even for a kilometer is basically death sentence

You cant forget also US literally spends billions of dollar to keep balance of power in Europe,Middle-East and Africa

do you think US would ignore Asia where 30+-% world trade and resources happen??? you dnt need expert to figure it out

> US has pledged to its security in case of invasion would defend no matter what

by borrowing 155mm shells from South Korea? cute.

Invasion of Taiwan and deterrence of it hangs on non-land-war stuff.

They can’t move to another state?

The US workers are almost certainly limited to people who are low to mid level techs who don't know anything useful. Everyone with actual cutting edge knowledge is from Taiwan and almost certainly under the tightest of NDAs and NCAs.

Even high level people in the plant still aren't that useful. What's useful are the insanely expensive, insanely complicated extreme-ultraviolet lithography equipment from ASML. Nobody in the world makes the stuff they do. At least, that we know of. It wouldn't surprise me if the NSA has funded designing and building an EUV lithography system, or just stole the designs from ASML. We know they do a lot of their own ultra-miniature silicon, so they have a strong interest in this sort of tech.

Long walk back to Taiwan.

Walk away to where? And what transferable knowledge?

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