Planet Money Forging Taiwan's Silicon Shield
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Oct 7, 2022 
Ramtin Arablou, a producer from ThruLine, dives into Taiwan's critical semiconductor industry, often dubbed the 'Silicon Shield' amidst rising geopolitical tensions. He discusses Taiwan's transformation from an agricultural economy to a tech powerhouse, driven by visionary leaders and U.S. support during the Cold War. The narrative also explores personal journeys of engineers returning to enhance Taiwan's tech landscape, amid competition from global players like Japan. The episode poignantly illustrates how semiconductors are pivotal not just to tech, but to international relations.
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Min Wu's Family's Lack of Interest
- Min Wu, a semiconductor company leader in Taiwan, struggled to explain his passion to his family.
- Even his 96-year-old mother still doesn't understand his work.
Min Wu's Language Barrier
- Min Wu had difficulty understanding his professor's thick British accent on his first day at McGill University.
- He improved his English by listening to baseball and hockey games on the radio.
English as a Barrier at Intel
- Despite technical proficiency, Min Wu faced challenges at Intel due to his English skills.
- He lost a promotion to a program manager role because another candidate's English was deemed better.