Taiwan chip tycoon warns China has ‘Trojan horse’ that must be voted out

18/06/2025

Interview

UMC founder Robert Tsao aims to recall opposition KMT lawmakers, bolster defense

Robert Tsao, who founded Taiwanese chipmaker UMC, has emerged as a key face in a movement to vote out lawmakers from the opposition Kuomintang. (Photo provided by Robert Tsao)

TAIPEI — A yearlong showdown between Taiwan’s president and legislature has spawned a growing campaign to recall lawmakers from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), with one of the fathers of the Taiwanese chip industry leading the charge.

Robert Tsao, the 78-year-old tycoon who founded United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), told Nikkei Asia in an interview that he believes voting out KMT legislators is vital for Taiwan’s survival and security.