Colby’s comments are part of a security strategy that has raised eyebrows both in Washington and Taipei. As recently as last year, Colby publicly declared “destroying TSMC” as a vital move if an aggressive People's Republic of China (PRC) attempted to capture Taiwan. His position goes beyond Taiwan's military or government control, asserting that the destruction of TSMC should not be left to Taiwan.

This idea aligns with Colby’s endorsement of a policy called the 'Broken Nest' deterrent, a term coined in a 2021 U.S. Army College paper titled Broken Nest: Deterring China from Invading Taiwan.

The paper's central argument is that Taiwan’s immense semiconductor capabilities, driven largely by TSMC, are a major factor in China’s growing interest in the island.

“Disabling or destroying TSMC is table stakes if China is taking over Taiwan,” Colby tweeted earlier this year.

“Would we be so insane as to allow the world’s key semiconductor company fall untouched into the hands of an aggressive PRC?”

While Colby’s plan to eliminate Taiwan's semiconductor production is clear, the logistical challenges are significant. China's likely response would involve shielding such crucial infrastructure from broader hostilities.

Furthermore, Taiwan's Minister for National Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng, expressed strong opposition to any US-led efforts to destroy TSMC in the event of a war with China, suggesting that Taiwan was not prepared to accept such drastic measures.

In addition to his views on TSMC, Colby has expressed support for a significant increase in Taiwan's defence budget, proposing that Taiwan raise its defence spending from 2.5 to five per cent of GDP.

He recently advocated for prioritising US arms shipments to Taiwan over Ukraine, stating that Europe should do more for its security in the wake of the ongoing war.