Taiwan Imposes Rp 86 Billion Fine in Semiconductor Industrial Espionage Case

A court in New Taipei, Taiwan, has imposed a substantial fine on the local unit of Tokyo Electron in a case involving the theft of semiconductor industry trade secrets. The verdict was delivered on Monday (27/4/2026). The court levied a fine of 150 million New Taiwan Dollars, equivalent to about 5 million US dollars or approximately Rp 86.1 billion. In addition to the fine, five defendants were sentenced to prison terms, with the maximum penalty reaching 10 years. TSMC is renowned as the world’s largest contract chip producer, with its technology serving as the foundation of the global semiconductor industry. The legal proceedings were conducted under Taiwan’s National Security Act, demonstrating the high sensitivity of the technology at stake. Prosecutors charged Chen Li-ming in August 2025; he is a former employee of both TSMC and Tokyo Electron. Chen was accused of illegally obtaining trade secrets and is believed to have collaborated with several other defendants. The actions were reportedly aimed at helping Tokyo Electron secure more equipment orders from TSMC. One former Tokyo Electron employee received a 10-month prison sentence, with the court granting a three-year probation period. Neither Tokyo Electron nor TSMC has issued an official response. This verdict reinforces the strict protection of technology in Taiwan. The semiconductor sector is the backbone of the country’s economy and plays a crucial role in the global supply chain.