Former Intel Corporation CEO Pat Gelsinger warned that a complete energy cutoff in Taiwan could trigger an economic crisis worse than the Great Depression. In an interview with the “All-In Podcast” cohost Jason Calacanis, Gelsinger highlighted that turning off a fabrication plant prevents operations from resuming for 90 days. He emphasized that the economic impact of a Taiwan brownout would surpass the Great Depression globally.

Gelsinger’s comments follow a period where Intel’s stock faced pressure due to stronger-than-expected capital spending plans from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. However, Intel has staged a strong comeback over the past year. The turnaround was fueled by President Donald Trump’s decision for the U.S. government to acquire a roughly 10% stake in the chipmaker and Nvidia Corp.’s purchase of more than $5 billion in Intel shares, granting it an approximately 4% stake.

Intel’s Strategic Shift

Intel shares have surged over 320% in the past year, driven by these investments and broader U.S. efforts to strengthen domestic chip manufacturing. This growth comes amid concerns over the geopolitical risks associated with Taiwan-based TSMC. The company recently achieved a key milestone with its ASML chipmaking machine. ASML Holding N.V. CEO Christophe Fouquet confirmed that Intel is already producing commercial chips using next-generation High-NA EUV lithography systems.

Leadership and Financial Strategy

Gelsinger attributed Intel’s previous decline to non-technical leadership, stating he was the first technical leader associated with the company in 15 years upon his return in 2021. He criticized predecessors for making significant technical decisions based on spreadsheets rather than technology trends. He also expressed concern over Intel’s financial strategy before his tenure, noting the company returned approximately $79 billion to shareholders through stock buybacks and dividends from 2015 to 2020.

Key Financial Metrics

The Taiwan Freedom Project has published a 32-page special section in The Washington Times titled "Why Taiwan Matters, Now More Than Ever." The publication serves as an educational resource intended to help citizen leaders find their voice in defense of freedom against totalitarianism. The project aims to seize the intellectual and moral high ground in the battle of narratives against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Tom McDevitt, chairman of The Washington Times, stated that the organization believes Taiwan is the most important geopolitical question facing America and the free world. He encouraged readers to engage with the content to preserve the freedom, peace, sovereignty, and prosperity of Taiwan. Ian Everhart, managing editor of the Taiwan special section, noted that this edition is the first in a series and will be translated into Mandarin.

The special section is organized into three parts, featuring contributions from a bipartisan group of lawmakers and experts. The inaugural section includes the "Ten More for Taiwan" report by House Select Committee on China Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Rep. Ro Khanna. This report provides a roadmap for strengthening US relations with Taiwan and deterring aggression by the CCP.

Key voices from Taiwan featured in the publication include President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, and Deputy Minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Shen Yu-chung. Their contributions address topics such as responding to China’s expansionism, gray zone warfare, and countering legal and psychological warfare. Other contributors include Iris Shaw, director of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Mission in the United States, and Rear Admiral (Ret.) U.S. Navy Mark Montgomery.

The publication also includes a section led by Rep. Christopher H. Smith, co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), which calls for support for the Transnational Repression Policy Act. The final section, "What is to be Done?," offers practical solutions for achieving victory, with contributions from experts such as John Dotson of the Global Taiwan Institute and Bill Gertz, national security correspondent for The Washington Times.