Elbridge Colby, who has been nominated as the U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, is a proponent of destroying Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the case of a Chinese military invasion. Last year, Colby openly stated that it would be crucial to “destroy TSMC” if the People’s Republic of China (PRC) tried to seize these assets, according to a report by Datacenter Dynamics. He also believes that the responsibility of destroying TSMC should not fall on the Taiwanese government or its military forces.

The approach advocated by Colby is referred to as the ‘Broken Nest’ deterrent, a concept introduced in a 2021 paper by the U.S. Army College titled Broken Nest: Deterring China from Invading Taiwan. Although the paper spans 15 pages, its essence is immediately apparent from its title. It highlights how China’s increasing interest in Taiwan correlates significantly with the island’s semiconductor capabilities, largely driven by TSMC.

One might wonder if the PRC would still aggressively pursue Taiwan, a region frequently hit by earthquakes and typhoons, if it weren’t for its semiconductor industry. The referenced paper suggests otherwise, a viewpoint Colby has consistently supported. Therefore, he stresses the importance of being clear about the destruction of TSMC should a Chinese invasion occur.

Earlier this year, Colby expressed on Twitter/X, “Disabling or destroying TSMC is fundamental if China is to take over Taiwan. Would it be wise to let the world’s foremost semiconductor company fall into the hands of an assertive PRC without a fight?”

Yet, the task of destroying TSMC and other high-tech semiconductor facilities might not be straightforward. China would probably endeavor to protect these sites from any attack. Additionally, in 2023, Taiwan’s Minister for National Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng, made it clear that he would oppose any U.S. efforts to destroy TSMC in the event of a conflict with China, signaling that Taiwan is not on board with such drastic measures.

Chosen by former President Trump for the role of Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Colby also holds other controversial opinions that could impact the dynamics across the Taiwan Strait. A recent report from Taiwan News indicates that he supports urging Taiwan to double its defense expenditure from 2.5% to 5% of its GDP. Intriguingly, he has also suggested that the U.S. should prioritize arming Taiwan over Ukraine, arguing that Europe should step up its support for its own regional challenges.