Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) remained tight-lipped yesterday on whether the government would lift restrictions on China-bound Taiwanese high-tech investment.
Local media speculated on Sunday that his ministry would conditionally allow thin film transistor liquid-crystal-display (TFT-LCD) display panel makers and semiconductor manufacturers to increase investments in China.
However, Shih said yesterday it was inappropriate for him to make any comment before the plan has been finalized and approved by the Cabinet.
The minister, however, told reporters that the ministry has proposed deregulatory measures that would benefit the nation’s long-term economic development.
Ministry officials were quoted on Sunday as saying that restrictions on manufacturing operations of large-sized display panels would be lifted, although the relaxation excludes proprietary technologies owned by specific companies, such as 10th-generation TFT-LCD display manufacturing technology owned by AU Optronics Corp (友達光電), one of Taiwan’s leading flat panel manufacturers.
The restrictions on the establishment of eight-inch silicon wafer foundries in China using Taiwan’s 0.18-micron process technology would also be lifted, but investments in advanced technology at the 0.13-micron level and above would still be banned, the report said.
The domestic unit of the Chinese-owned, Dutch-headquartered chipmaker Nexperia BV will soon be able to produce semiconductors locally within China, according to two company sources. Nexperia is at the center of a global tug-of-war over critical semiconductor technology, with a Dutch court in February ordering a probe into alleged mismanagement at the company. The geopolitical tussle has disrupted supply chains, with some carmakers reportedly forced to cut production due to chip shortages. Local production would allow Nexperia’s domestic arm, Nexperia Semiconductors (China) Ltd (安世半導體中國), to bypass restrictions in place since October on the supply of silicon wafers — etched with tiny components to
Taiwan is open to joining a global liquefied natural gas (LNG) program if one is created, but on the condition that countries provide delivery even in a scenario where there is a conflict with China, an energy department official said yesterday. While Taiwan’s priority is to have enough LNG at home, the nation is open to exploring potential strategic reserves in other countries such as Japan or South Korea, Energy Administration Deputy Director-General Chen Chung-hsien (陳崇憲) said. While the LNG market does not have a global reserve for emergencies like that of oil, the concept has been raised a few times —
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday received government approval to deploy its advanced 3-nanometer (3nm) process at its second fab currently under construction in Japan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a news release. The ministry green-lit the plan for the facility in Kumamoto, which is scheduled to start installing equipment and come online in 2028 with a monthly production capacity of 15,000 12-inch wafers, the ministry said. The Department of Investment Review in June 2024 authorized a US$5.26 billion investment for the facility, slated to manufacture 6- to 12nm chips, significantly less advanced than 3nm process. At a meeting with
Standard Chartered Taiwan on March 26 announced that it has partnered with international fintech firm FinIQ to build an “Automated Structured Products Pricing Platform.” The bank is also introducing products from global issuers including Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Barclays PLC and BNP Paribas SA. The new platform enables an end-to-end process whereby it finds the most competitive pricing across multiple issuers in a matter of minutes, followed by automated documentation and transaction execution, which significantly shortens time-to-market and delivers a superior wealth management experience. Standard Chartered Bank Taiwan CEO Anthony Yu (游天立) said: “Standard Chartered is increasingly leveraging its wealth management
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