TSMC boss sees hidden barrier for Chinese semiconductor industry

China is bound to become a more potent force in the global semiconductor market but TSMC chairman Morris Chang says a hidden barrier will gradually affect China's semiconductor ambitions.

Chang, who will retire next year, points out that an increasing number of high-tech countries will try to prevent their advanced technologies from flowing into China. He speculates major players from the US, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea will try to "contain" China in one way or another:

In an exclusive interview conducted recently, Chang told Digitimes that semiconductor players in South Korea, the US, Japan and Taiwan are all well aware that China will become a tough competitor in the semiconductor market in the future, and will therefore seek to "contain" China in one way or another, particularly denying China access to their advanced process technologies.