Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) released data showing that as of December 2023, 1,209 Taiwanese companies had invested NT$2,735.6 billion (US$84.2 billion) in China, an increase of NT$32.4 billion from the end of 2022. However, investment repatriation from China last year alone accounted for 17.5% of the accumulated amount over the past, probably due to capital needs for supply chain migration.
SK Hynix Inc. will have to contend with high expectations when it reports next week after solid earnings from the likes of Micron Technology Inc. cemented optimism about demand for artificial intelligence chips.
Samsung Electronics is reportedly expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) chip design research organization in Silicon Valley to challenge Nvidia, the current leader in the AI semiconductor market, by developing AI chips based on the RISC-V architecture.
To penetrate the Chinese mobility market, Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions Division is poised to attend the upcoming Beijing International Automotive Exhibition for the first time.
China's automotive offense has pressured legacy carmakers in Europe and other markets. Gianfranco Pizzuto, an Italian automotive veteran and the former co-founder of Fisker Automotive, predicted that Chinese carmakers will lead the mainstream market for the next 10 years. The luxury segment is where European companies can stay ahead of competitors.
Chinese semiconductor foundry firms are persistently adopting aggressive pricing strategies, putting relentless pressure on the market share of South Korean 8-inch wafer manufacturers. In this evolving landscape, South Korean industry insiders are eyeing potential benefits if the US expands its sanctions on China to encompass more mature semiconductor processes.
Facing challenges like being outsold by BYD in New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sales and significant layoffs, Tesla has now been overtaken by another Chinese competitor in the Chinese market in the first quarter, according to recent data.
Brite Semiconductor, in which SMIC is the second largest shareholder, officially debuted on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board, with its stock soaring, leading to the gradual recovery of SMIC's investments.
The three major players in advanced chip manufacturing have secured CHIPS Act subsidies by promising to increase investments in fabrication facilities within the United States. With more than half of the direct subsidies in their coffers, they are mandated to introduce cutting-edge 2-nm production lines on American soil.
China's National Semiconductor Industry Investment Fund (aka the Big Fund) has provided financial support to NineCube, a Chinese electronic design automation (EDA) company established in 2011, according to local media reports.
US states like Arizona and New Mexico are expected to become more tempting for investments, partly thanks to an EV cluster that will emerge in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. The border states will also play a crucial role in achieving the US goal of raising local production rate.
Apple Inc. is weighing the possibility of making some of its gadgets in Indonesia, as the iPhone maker explores production bases beyond its longtime stronghold of China.
"An opening bombardment destroys most of Taiwan's navy and air force in the first hours of hostilities. Augmented by a powerful rocket force, the Chinese navy encircles Taiwan and interdicts any attempts to get ships and aircraft to the besieged island. Tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers cross the strait in a mix of military amphibious craft and civilian roll-on, roll-off ships, while air assault and airborne troops land behind the beachheads."
China's production of ICs and semiconductor equipment continued to grow in the first quarter of 2024, fueled by the recovery in the economy and efforts to achieve self-reliance despite the US sanctions.
