Ryan Lee

No, no, no. It's actually, it's turning the other way because a lot of the legislation is about insourcing and making sure that we're giving, we're growing American jobs. And so, you know, like look at the big EV battery legislation over the last year as part of the Environmental Act that Biden passed. It all included that

No, no, no. It's actually, it's turning the other way because a lot of the legislation is about insourcing and making sure that we're giving, we're growing American jobs. And so, you know, like look at the big EV battery legislation over the last year as part of the Environmental Act that Biden passed. It all included that

in order to maintain your car as manufacturer, your car's like $7,000 rebate, all of the materials in your batteries had to be sourced from the United States or some, right? I see. And so most of the cars on the EV list no longer had the rebates. It ended up being terrible. All of the materials are being sourced elsewhere. So they're really trying to grow this part.

in order to maintain your car as manufacturer, your car's like $7,000 rebate, all of the materials in your batteries had to be sourced from the United States or some, right? I see. And so most of the cars on the EV list no longer had the rebates. It ended up being terrible. All of the materials are being sourced elsewhere. So they're really trying to grow this part.

I'm not an expert on that stuff in particular, but this gets us to the clip that I thought was really interesting about Taiwan. And I will play it now.

I'm not an expert on that stuff in particular, but this gets us to the clip that I thought was really interesting about Taiwan. And I will play it now.

This is Ryan Lee. And Ryan writes, Taiwan's work ethic is unique even among Asian standards, and it's related to the second half of your TSMC conversation. It's hard to talk about Taiwan without mentioning geopolitics because it affects every aspect of our lives. I'm coming from a pro-status quo perspective, which is the predominant geopolitical perspective in Taiwan.

This is Ryan Lee. And Ryan writes, Taiwan's work ethic is unique even among Asian standards, and it's related to the second half of your TSMC conversation. It's hard to talk about Taiwan without mentioning geopolitics because it affects every aspect of our lives. I'm coming from a pro-status quo perspective, which is the predominant geopolitical perspective in Taiwan.

It means we don't provoke war, but we believe in the right to defend ourselves if attacked. What does geopolitics have to do with work ethic? The answer is TSMC, but here's the context. To be Taiwanese is to live with an existential threat for every aspect of your life. This existential threat comes from the mainland China's current practices and future threats to diminish us.

It means we don't provoke war, but we believe in the right to defend ourselves if attacked. What does geopolitics have to do with work ethic? The answer is TSMC, but here's the context. To be Taiwanese is to live with an existential threat for every aspect of your life. This existential threat comes from the mainland China's current practices and future threats to diminish us.

China's been very successful in diminishing us. They outpower us in population, size, economy, and military. How does that oppression affect the national mood? There were traditionally two popular perspectives. The pro-China view is that China only allowed us to exist due to its graciousness. The pro-U.S. view is that China hasn't attacked us because the U.S. will save us.

China's been very successful in diminishing us. They outpower us in population, size, economy, and military. How does that oppression affect the national mood? There were traditionally two popular perspectives. The pro-China view is that China only allowed us to exist due to its graciousness. The pro-U.S. view is that China hasn't attacked us because the U.S. will save us.

Ironically, both perspectives are self-diminutive. But then TSMC changed everything. Now there's a third perspective, one that is neither pro-China nor pro-U.S., but rather pro-Taiwanese. TSMC becomes so integral to this third perspective that it even has a name, Hugo Shenshan. It's roughly translated as war deterrence by economics.

Ironically, both perspectives are self-diminutive. But then TSMC changed everything. Now there's a third perspective, one that is neither pro-China nor pro-U.S., but rather pro-Taiwanese. TSMC becomes so integral to this third perspective that it even has a name, Hugo Shenshan. It's roughly translated as war deterrence by economics.

The idea behind this is solidified by the 2020 chip supply chain crisis. A war with Taiwan would cause a global economic crisis at such an unparalleled scale that Taiwan has made itself indispensable to American interests. War with Taiwan would be too costly for any party. So how does TSMC's success translate to the Taiwanese work ethic? TSMC's success is viewed as Taiwanese self-actualization.

The idea behind this is solidified by the 2020 chip supply chain crisis. A war with Taiwan would cause a global economic crisis at such an unparalleled scale that Taiwan has made itself indispensable to American interests. War with Taiwan would be too costly for any party. So how does TSMC's success translate to the Taiwanese work ethic? TSMC's success is viewed as Taiwanese self-actualization.

Hugo Shenshan is part of a general narrative. If you work hard, then you save your freedom and democracy. Mind you, this is just a narrative you'll find in the media and family gatherings. In reality, I know people who hate their jobs in media tech and other tech companies. But the narrative persists and is a pervasive part of work culture.

Hugo Shenshan is part of a general narrative. If you work hard, then you save your freedom and democracy. Mind you, this is just a narrative you'll find in the media and family gatherings. In reality, I know people who hate their jobs in media tech and other tech companies. But the narrative persists and is a pervasive part of work culture.

My cousin who works at TSMC is viewed in the family as a national hero. Where else can you replicate a work culture so motivated by an existential threat? There's no equitable stakes in America. So when TSMC announced their factory in Arizona, Taiwanese people knew it wasn't going to work out.

My cousin who works at TSMC is viewed in the family as a national hero. Where else can you replicate a work culture so motivated by an existential threat? There's no equitable stakes in America. So when TSMC announced their factory in Arizona, Taiwanese people knew it wasn't going to work out.