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yesterday

Taiwan Indicts Three Over Alleged Theft of TSMC’s 2nm Process Secrets

Prosecutors are seeking sentences of up to 14 years under Taiwan’s national‑security law, while authorities and companies say it is still unclear whether any usable core data were transferred.

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The logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is pictured at its headquarters, in Hsinchu, Taiwan, January 19, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
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Overview

  • Prosecutors charged former TSMC engineer Chen Li-ming and current or former staffers Wu Ping-chun and Ko Yi-ping with trade‑secret theft and National Security Act violations tied to 2nm technology.
  • The indictment alleges Chen, after joining Tokyo Electron, solicited confidential process details from TSMC insiders to help improve the supplier’s etching equipment.
  • TSMC says it detected unusual access through routine monitoring, reported the case on July 8, and took disciplinary action as searches and arrests followed from July 25 to 28.
  • Tokyo Electron dismissed an employee at its Taipei unit, pledged full cooperation, and said it has not found evidence of leaked confidential information.
  • Officials described the prosecution as the first involving unauthorized access to Taiwan’s designated national core technology under the amended law, as TSMC maintains any obtained data was not critical and would be compartmentalized.