Chen Shichang's Perspective: Does Jensen Huang Still Not Understand the U.S.?

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently stated that Washington must recognize that Taiwan has saved the U.S. semiconductor technology and computer industry, and will be an indispensable partner in the future. Taiwan's investments in the U.S. are based on long-term trust and mutual interests, not coercion. 'I don't think we need to point a gun at Taiwan's head,' Huang said. As an American who has grown up and lived in the U.S. for a long time, and also as an American son-in-law, Huang apparently still doesn't understand the U.S., especially Trump. Therefore, in Trump's strategy against Beijing, Huang has never played an important role. Even when he boarded the last flight to China with Trump, he was still a marginal figure in the Chinese market, because he doesn't understand Trump's tactics. NVIDIA has always been a tragic figure in the U.S.-China tech war, as its industry is too American, naturally becoming one of the top enemies of China's related industries. Huang has visited China many times and eaten a lot of street food, but in China's eyes, he is still an American, even a helper of Trump's suppression of China's rise. In Trump's eyes, however, he is still a Chinese person, not on the same path. Huang is half right. Taiwan has saved the U.S. semiconductor technology and computer industry. Without Taiwan's long-term support, the U.S. would not have the world-leading semiconductor and computer industry today, and might have been surpassed by Japan long ago. However, this statement is the least pleasant to Trump. Trump dreams that Taiwan has stolen U.S. high-tech, and Huang's view is absolutely not the path Trump will take in the future. Trump dreams of 'taking' more than half of TSMC's production capacity during his term, remember, 'taking' is more brutal than Trump's 'stealing'. Huang is one of the clear-headed people in the U.S.-Taiwan high-tech relationship. In fact, the bosses of U.S. leading companies almost all have the same idea as Huang. Otherwise, they would not superficially respond to Trump while actually hoping to actively expand the Chinese market. However, Huang is deeply mired in the U.S.-China rivalry and needs to be more forward-looking and bold than other U.S. companies to break away from U.S. constraints. In fact, besides Taiwan, many countries and regions around the world have been the 'benefactors' of the U.S. However, the U.S.'s feedback model has never been gratitude or assistance, but betrayal and plunder. Trump is even less subtle. Huang, who does not understand Trump's tactics and can bring NVIDIA to the global leader, is still seen as a Chinese person in Trump's eyes. There is an indescribable bitterness. Huang is fully aware of the importance of Taiwan's high-tech industry to the U.S., setting up the global headquarters in Taiwan, which is not a reckless move. He is also aware that Taiwan is the outpost to break into the Chinese market in the future, not the U.S. But if Huang still doesn't understand the U.S., especially Trump who walks all over the world, he can only bark at the fire truck to say a few fair words for Taiwan, but he may not even be able to get close to Trump's ear. Trump obviously won't stop until he 'takes' TSMC's main production capacity. If Huang really cares about Taiwan, he should help defend TSMC and defend the high-tech advantages in Taiwan. Don't forget that he is ultimately a Chinese person with yellow skin. The U.S., especially Trump, will only use and throw away, not cherish. Does Huang still not understand the U.S.? Probably not. But Huang needs to understand the U.S. more, not just watch the U.S. point a gun at Taiwan's head.