News Analysis The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would not have likely secured its self-reliance in chipmaking without support from Taiwanese professionals, amid U.S.–China tech tensions. However, the recent exit of three influential Taiwanese executives from China’s largest chipmaker or its board of directors highlights a reality—that Beijing does not trust them and deems them as “outsiders.” On Nov. 16, China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) announced staff movement of about three Taiwanese senior executives. Dr. Shang-Yi Chiang resigned from his positions as a vice chairman, an executive director, and a member of the Board of Directors Strategy Planning Committee. Dr. Mong-Song Liang no longer serves as an executive director but maintains his role as a co-chief executive officer. And Dr. Konrad Young stepped down from his positions as an independent non-executive director and a member of SMIC’s Compensation Committee. Most notably, they were all top-tier experts who had worked for …