Chinese Executive Suspected of Links to Local Rivals Replaced by Tokyo Electron
Tokyo Electron (a semiconductor equipment giant) replaced its Chinese executive, Jie Chen, who subsequently resigned, after discovering his links to Chinese competitor companies, according to the Financial Times. This incident highlights economic security and corporate governance challenges in the strategically important technology industry.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 18:24
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(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 27th, comprehensive foreign report) The British "Financial Times" disclosed that Jie Chen, a Chinese executive at semiconductor equipment giant Tokyo Electron, was replaced after the company discovered his links to Chinese competitors, and subsequently resigned.
According to corporate records reviewed by the Financial Times and sources familiar with the matter, Jie Chen left his position after Tokyo Electron discovered his links to investment firms that were supporting a new generation of Chinese competitors.
The report noted that Jie Chen was linked to several Chinese startups through family investments. One of these companies initially provided maintenance services for Tokyo Electron's equipment but later became a competitor in chip manufacturing equipment.
Akira Igata of the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology pointed out: "This issue highlights the widespread economic security, corporate governance, and insider risk challenges faced by strategically important technology industries. Companies that want to survive and grow long-term must take economic security risks seriously."
Before last year, Jie Chen was responsible for Tokyo Electron's China operations. Tokyo Electron learned of Jie Chen's family's related investments in the fall of 2024 and subsequently replaced him in February 2025. Although Jie Chen remained as a special advisor, he resigned after his contract expired in September of the same year.
Corporate registration data shows that one investment partnership, partly owned by Jie Chen's wife Takako Ohtori, was one of the founding shareholders of Suzhou WST Semiconductor Technology Co. Suzhou WST Semiconductor initially provided engineering services for Tokyo Electron's equipment in China.
Regulatory documents show that Suzhou WST Semiconductor has been developing chip manufacturing equipment since 2022, claiming compatibility with mainstream market equipment and easy integration, and is currently undergoing internal testing. Additionally, the company acquires second-hand equipment, upgrades it, and resells it. Tokyo Electron stated that it has stopped cooperating with Suzhou WST Semiconductor.
Furthermore, investor data shows that Jie Chen is also a co-founder of Britech Semiconductor. Britech Semiconductor's largest shareholder is BMJ Holding Limited, whose registered shareholder is Jie Chen's wife, Takako Ohtori. Jie Chen himself indirectly holds shares in Britech Semiconductor through an investment partnership in Shanghai.
According to a 2023 letter to potential investors obtained by the Financial Times, Britech Semiconductor claimed that Jie Chen's position at Tokyo Electron was beneficial to the company, bringing industry and local government support resources.
Jie Chen, Takako Ohtori, Suzhou WST Semiconductor, and Britech Semiconductor did not respond to the Financial Times report.
After earning a master's degree from Stanford University, Jie Chen worked at Intel. In 1997, he was hired by Tokyo Electron to expand its nascent China operations. At that time, Beijing was launching its first wave of domestic chip industry plans, giving rise to Hua Hong Semiconductor and SMIC.
Industry insiders described Jie Chen as a highly charismatic and personable sales talent who played a key role in expanding Tokyo Electron's presence in China.
Tokyo Electron stated that it has not found any technology leakage requiring government notification and is "unaware of any competitive relationship (with Suzhou WST Semiconductor)," denying that its market share would be affected. (Translator: Liu Shu-qin) 1150427
According to corporate records reviewed by the Financial Times and sources familiar with the matter, Jie Chen left his position after Tokyo Electron discovered his links to investment firms that were supporting a new generation of Chinese competitors.
The report noted that Jie Chen was linked to several Chinese startups through family investments. One of these companies initially provided maintenance services for Tokyo Electron's equipment but later became a competitor in chip manufacturing equipment.
Akira Igata of the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology pointed out: "This issue highlights the widespread economic security, corporate governance, and insider risk challenges faced by strategically important technology industries. Companies that want to survive and grow long-term must take economic security risks seriously."
Before last year, Jie Chen was responsible for Tokyo Electron's China operations. Tokyo Electron learned of Jie Chen's family's related investments in the fall of 2024 and subsequently replaced him in February 2025. Although Jie Chen remained as a special advisor, he resigned after his contract expired in September of the same year.
Corporate registration data shows that one investment partnership, partly owned by Jie Chen's wife Takako Ohtori, was one of the founding shareholders of Suzhou WST Semiconductor Technology Co. Suzhou WST Semiconductor initially provided engineering services for Tokyo Electron's equipment in China.
Regulatory documents show that Suzhou WST Semiconductor has been developing chip manufacturing equipment since 2022, claiming compatibility with mainstream market equipment and easy integration, and is currently undergoing internal testing. Additionally, the company acquires second-hand equipment, upgrades it, and resells it. Tokyo Electron stated that it has stopped cooperating with Suzhou WST Semiconductor.
Furthermore, investor data shows that Jie Chen is also a co-founder of Britech Semiconductor. Britech Semiconductor's largest shareholder is BMJ Holding Limited, whose registered shareholder is Jie Chen's wife, Takako Ohtori. Jie Chen himself indirectly holds shares in Britech Semiconductor through an investment partnership in Shanghai.
According to a 2023 letter to potential investors obtained by the Financial Times, Britech Semiconductor claimed that Jie Chen's position at Tokyo Electron was beneficial to the company, bringing industry and local government support resources.
Jie Chen, Takako Ohtori, Suzhou WST Semiconductor, and Britech Semiconductor did not respond to the Financial Times report.
After earning a master's degree from Stanford University, Jie Chen worked at Intel. In 1997, he was hired by Tokyo Electron to expand its nascent China operations. At that time, Beijing was launching its first wave of domestic chip industry plans, giving rise to Hua Hong Semiconductor and SMIC.
Industry insiders described Jie Chen as a highly charismatic and personable sales talent who played a key role in expanding Tokyo Electron's presence in China.
Tokyo Electron stated that it has not found any technology leakage requiring government notification and is "unaware of any competitive relationship (with Suzhou WST Semiconductor)," denying that its market share would be affected. (Translator: Liu Shu-qin) 1150427