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Friday 2 October 2026
Japanese firms cut China presence 22.4% as trade risks mount
Japanese companies sharply reduced their footprint in China over the past two years, with the number operating there falling 22.4% from 13,034 to 10,118 as of the end of June 2026, according to a survey released by Teikoku Databank on September 28, 2026. The total was the lowest since the data series began in 2010, and 29.7% below the 2012 peak of 14,394.
Friday 2 October 2026
Taiwan pledges to help TSMC expand domestic investment amid Singapore rumors
Rumors that TSMC is weighing a new semiconductor investment in Singapore have reignited concerns over its overseas expansion, while the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said on October 2, 2026, that the government will help the chipmaker expand investment in Taiwan.
Friday 2 October 2026
Life after Meta: Manus regains independence, debuting Manus 2.0 and 'Cue' AI agent
Following its return to independent operations, AI startup Manus unveiled two new products in late September 2026: Manus 2.0 and "Cue," a personal agentic AI application. The product rollouts mark the company's first major strategic moves after its planned acquisition by Meta fell through.
Friday 2 October 2026
Tesla cuts AI5, AI6 memory specs to protect Optimus
Facing a prolonged memory supply crunch, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced steep cuts to the memory specifications of the company's AI5 and AI6 chips to secure enough memory for Optimus mass production. Musk said the downgrades will not affect the humanoid robot's performance.
Friday 2 October 2026
Huawei turns to LogicFolding to keep its flagship chip race alive
Huawei Technologies has unveiled its Mate 90 smartphone series, expanding the use of self-developed Kirin processors and HarmonyOS 7 as it looks to sustain flagship performance under US restrictions on access to advanced chipmaking technology.
Friday 2 October 2026
China AI infrastructure spreads to mid-sized firms
China's AI investment is increasingly turning into server purchases and data center construction, and the wave that began with large tech companies is now spreading to mid-sized firms. South Korean media say the expanding China AI demand could open new markets for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
Friday 2 October 2026
UNEEC shifts ODM focus to racks as L11 rises to 18%
Chenming Electronic Tech (UNEEC) president Charles Lo said the fourth quarter is a traditional peak season and that new models such as VR200 will enter mass production in the fourth quarter, helping revenue recover toward the company's former monthly level of more than NT$1 billion (US$31.3 million). For January-August 2026, revenue reached NT$7.9 billion, with L11 system integration accounting for 18%.
Friday 2 October 2026
JCET Group partners with Wuxi to advance 2.5D advanced packaging facilities
JCET Group signed an agreement on September 29 for a high-end advanced packaging and testing project in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. Wuxi municipal leadership pledged operational support to help JCET scale its manufacturing footprint, promoting regional integration and supporting China's semiconductor ecosystem, according to Sina Finance.
Friday 2 October 2026
Micron expands global fabs, calls on Taiwanese suppliers to go overseas
AI-driven memory demand is surging, and Micron has recently accelerated capacity expansion across multiple regions worldwide, including Taiwan, the US, Japan, Singapore, and India. Donghui Lu, vice president of Micron's DRAM Asia frontend operations and head of Micron Taiwan, said the company's capex for construction over the next few years will be enormous, ranking it among the world's biggest construction investors, and stressed the keyword "together" as it works with Taiwanese equipment and materials suppliers to enter overseas markets.
Friday 2 October 2026
China chip talent tensions surface in Cambricon's US$4.15 billion ex-CTO dispute

Cambricon Technologies' equity dispute with former deputy general manager and chief technology officer Liang Jun has escalated sharply, with Liang raising his compensation claim from CNY4.29 billion (US$640 million) to CNY27.83 billion. The Chinese AI chipmaker said on September 30 that the revised claim, more than five times the original amount, has turned the case into one of the most closely watched executive departure disputes in China's semiconductor sector.

Friday 2 October 2026
JSR completes South Korean EUV facility as Japanese suppliers localize next-gen resists
JSR Micro Korea, the local subsidiary of Japan-based JSR, officially completed construction of a new semiconductor materials plant on September 30 in the Ochang Foreign Investment Zone in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. The facility is dedicated to the production of metal oxide resist (MOR), an advanced, metal-based photoresist for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, marking JSR's first global manufacturing hub for EUV MOR, according to The Elec.
Friday 2 October 2026
FAW, GAC formalize partnership as Toyota's China joint ventures face possible overhaul
China's state-owned FAW and GAC's controlling shareholder, Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group, have signed a strategic cooperation framework that could reshape Toyota's long-standing two-joint-venture model in the country. The move reflects Beijing's push for industrial consolidation, while global automakers watch for wider implications for capacity, assets, and competition in China's fast-changing auto market.
Friday 2 October 2026
Hygon, Sugon deepen integration under one chairman after US$17.3B merger collapse

Chinese AI chipmaker Hygon Information Technology has appointed Jun Li as its new chairman following a recent board reshuffle. Li only took over as chairman of Chinese server maker Dawning Information Industry (Sugon) in May 2026, meaning he now chairs both listed companies.

Friday 2 October 2026
Samsung launches Tab S12, Buds On, SmartTag3
Samsung Electronics on October 1 unveiled its next-generation premium Galaxy Tab S12 series, its first clip-on wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds On, and the Galaxy SmartTag3, which expands iOS support. The three product lines target large-screen creation and multitasking, open-ear listening, and cross-platform item finding, underscoring Samsung's push to broaden the Galaxy ecosystem through software services and accessories.
Friday 2 October 2026
SK Hynix says Solidigm IPO remains undecided as AI storage demand drives investment
SK Hynix has reiterated that no decision has been made on a potential US initial public offering (IPO) or other external financing for its Solidigm subsidiary, as the company weighs investment needs driven by growing demand for AI data center storage.