China's semiconductor investment is once again converging in Wuhan. YMTC's Phase III fab has entered an intensive equipment installation phase, with key process tools steadily moving into the cleanroom. Construction, tool setup, and system commissioning are progressing simultaneously, targeting facility completion and production ramp-up in the second half of 2026

TSMC has made a significant change in its process plan for the Kumamoto second fab, confirming an upgrade from the initially planned 6/7nm node to 3nm. This facility will become Japan's first 3nm wafer fab, while Japan-backed Rapidus advances toward 2nm development

Japanese semiconductor startup Rapidus has secured more than JPY160 billion (US$1.02 billion) in private funding for fiscal 2025, surpassing its initial JPY130 billion target, according to a report by Nikkei on February 4. SoftBank Group and Sony Group each invested JPY21 billion to become the company's largest shareholders, while IBM is also reportedly preparing to join the round, adding international backing. The funding surge signals strong investor confidence and aligns with Japan's push to reinforce domestic semiconductor self-sufficiency

In November 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company would prioritize the supply of 260,000 GPUs to South Korea, a move that quickly drew industry attention. In 2026, as South Korea accelerates the development of "data factories" and practical talent programs for physical AI, Nvidia plans to deepen partnerships to support ecosystem expansion and sustain its own growth

China's smartphone market ended 2025 on a weaker note than expected, despite Apple's strong fourth-quarter earnings and the early success of the iPhone 17. December shipments fell sharply, dragging full-year volumes down and dimming hopes of a broader market rebound

Sony has recently chosen to partner with TCL in managing its Bravia TV brand, reflecting the long-standing downturn of the Japanese vendor's television business. In Japan, once-dominant domestic TV brands have largely been replaced by rising Chinese competitors

Huawei announced on February 4 that it will hold a product launch event titled "Now is Your Run" on February 26 in Madrid, Spain. The company plans to introduce a diverse lineup, including wearables, smartphones, earphones, and tablets, showcasing its latest advancements in sports health, imaging experience, and multi-scenario smart ecosystems

As global competition in the semiconductor industry intensifies, the focus is no longer limited to technology and production capacity. Protection of data, intellectual property, and supply chains has become an equally critical battleground

Nvidia has recently signaled to Samsung Electronics that it hopes to secure early deliveries of sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory, known as HBM4. At the same time, as memory makers devote an increasing share of capacity to HBM production, shortages of conventional memory chips have begun to emerge, strengthening suppliers' bargaining power across the industry

In a moment that blurred the lines between corporate diplomacy and fan-like devotion, TSMC CEO C.C. Wei turned a high-stakes semiconductor summit into a personal tribute on February 5, 2026

CATL and Changan Automobile, on February 5, 2026, launched the world's first mass-produced sodium-ion battery EV. According to IT Home and The Beijing News, brands including Avatr, Deepal, Qiyuan, and UNI will gradually adopt CATL's sodium-ion batteries, marking the technology's commercial rollout

SiTime said it will acquire assets related to Renesas Electronics' timing business in a transaction valued at about US$3 billion, as the Japanese chipmaker narrows its focus on embedded computing while retaining an equity stake in the US precision timing company

Driven by expanding AI servers, data centers, and new energy applications, third-generation semiconductor gallium nitride (GaN) is moving from niche technology toward mainstream power device solutions

TSMC has formulated a plan to mass-produce advanced 3nm chips in Kumamoto Prefecture, marking an unprecedented move within Japan. The company has notified the Japanese government of this initiative, with estimated equipment investment reaching US$17 billion