The government says its 'N-minus-two' rule will ensure Taiwan keeps its lead
in advanced chip technology ... as TSMC expands overseas.

The assurance comes after opposition lawmakers raised concerns about
protecting core technologies.

Deputy Minister Lin Faa-Jeng (林法正) of the National Science and Technology
Council explained that any tech moved abroad must be at least two generations
behind what's currently produced in Taiwan.

For example, if TSMC is mass-producing one-point-four-nanometer chips at
home, only older, less advanced processes can be transferred overseas.

Lin says all semiconductor processes below 14 nanometers are classified as
'national core technologies', giving the government strict control over
related equipment, materials, and personnel.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs adds that major overseas investment projects
must pass a national security review before being approved.

(IG)