Yes they are, but it's not about TSMC's superior quality, but the unsubstantiated BS that Samsung's chip manufacturing is a disaster.

And if you think that the U.S. is not using every tool in the box to win markets, including bad-mouthing foreign competitors and lying to win customers over, then you're just lying to yourself. Have you been living offline for the last 20 years? The Internet is a battlefield and no-one plays more dirty than the U.S.

the sources the article cited are at best unverifiable, even quoting rumor mill directly to support their claims so it does feel quite strange and we can see why from the author's disclaimer:

"Clients and employees of SemiAnalysis may hold positions in companies referenced in this article."

So somebody seeks to benefit financially from selling the perception that Samsung is in trouble but feels an online disclaimer can shield them litigious Samsung lawyers.

This won't end well.