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Taiwan Investigates SMIC for Alleged Illegal Recruitment of Tech Workers

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Taiwanese authorities are investigating whether China’s top semiconductor manufacturer, SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation), has been involved in illegally luring Taiwanese tech workers. According to Taiwan’s Justice Ministry’s investigation bureau, SMIC is suspected of using a shell company posing as a Samoan firm to recruit engineers on the island, specifically targeting the semiconductor talent in Hsinchu County, home to Taiwan’s semiconductor industry hub and TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company).

The investigation is part of Taiwan’s broader effort to combat illegal activities aimed at stealing know-how and attracting talent from its advanced technology sector. Taiwan has long been a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, making its high-tech workforce a prime target for Chinese firms, especially amid growing geopolitical tensions and U.S. export restrictions on China’s semiconductor industry.

Taiwan’s investigation has been extensive, with 180 agents conducting raids at 11 companies suspected of engaging in talent poaching. The authorities have already questioned 90 people and seized evidence from 34 premises. Since 2020, more than 100 such cases have been investigated.

SMIC, which has been increasing its efforts to expand its production capacity and counter U.S. sanctions, has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations.

SiCarrier Claims Its Tools Can Help China Develop Advanced Chips

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Chinese chip equipment maker Shenzhen SiCarrier Industry Machines asserted on Thursday that its domestically developed tools could enable China to manufacture advanced semiconductors, despite U.S. export controls on high-end chipmaking technology.

Speaking at the Semicon China industry fair, SiCarrier president Du Lijun noted that while China lacks access to advanced lithography systems due to U.S. trade restrictions, alternative non-optical technologies could be used to produce 5-nanometer (nm) chips. He acknowledged that multi-patterning techniques could increase manufacturing complexity and reduce yields but argued that they provide a viable path for China to progress beyond 7 nm chips.

SiCarrier, founded in 2022 and backed by a state investment fund, supplies major Chinese foundries such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and reportedly collaborates with Huawei. The company was among 140 Chinese firms added to the U.S. trade blacklist in December 2023.

The firm’s multi-patterning approach, patented in late 2023, utilizes deep ultraviolet lithography (DUV) and self-aligned quadruple patterning (SAQP) to mimic certain EUV lithography capabilities while reducing costs. This strategy is seen as a potential workaround to Western restrictions on ASML’s extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines.

China’s Chipmaking Equipment Purchases Expected to Decline in 2025

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China’s spending on chipmaking equipment is projected to decline this year after three consecutive years of growth, driven by overcapacity and U.S. sanctions, according to a report released by Canadian semiconductor research firm TechInsights on Wednesday.

China has led global purchases of wafer fabrication equipment for the past two years, buying $41 billion worth of tools in 2024 and accounting for 40% of global sales. However, spending is expected to fall to $38 billion in 2025, a 6% year-over-year decline, with China’s share of global purchases dropping to 20%, marking the first decrease since 2021, according to Boris Metodiev, a senior semiconductor manufacturing analyst at TechInsights.

“We can see some slowdown in Chinese spending due to export controls and overcapacity,” Metodiev stated during an online seminar.

China had been a key growth driver in the global wafer fabrication equipment sector in 2023 and 2024, even as demand for consumer electronics declined globally. Much of the country’s recent equipment purchases were spurred by stockpiling in response to U.S. sanctions aimed at limiting China’s access to advanced chip technology, particularly those with potential military applications.

Despite these sanctions, Chinese companies such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and Huawei have made advancements. Last year, they produced an advanced chip using more labor-intensive and costly methods. Chinese firms have also expanded significantly in the mature-node chip segment, boosting production capacity and gaining market share from Taiwanese competitors.

However, SMIC warned on Wednesday of potential oversupply risks in the mature-node chip market.

Leading Chinese equipment manufacturers like Naura Technology Group and AMEC have also expanded globally, with Naura now ranking as the world’s seventh-largest equipment maker by sales. Despite these efforts to bolster self-sufficiency, China still faces significant challenges in producing lithography systems and testing and assembly tools.

Dutch company ASML, the largest manufacturer of lithography machines, continues to dominate this sector. In 2023, Chinese companies provided only 17% of the testing tools and 10% of the assembly equipment used within the country, Metodiev added.