First National Security Case Involving TSMC Trade Secrets: Tokyo Electron Taiwan Fined NT$150M; Former Engineer Sentenced to 10 Years
In Taiwan's first ruling under the amended National Security Act, a former TSMC engineer was sentenced to 10 years for leaking core 2nm and 14nm technologies to supplier Tokyo Electron (TEL) Taiwan, which was fined NT$150 million.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 16:44
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(Taipei, 27th, Central News Agency) Former TSMC engineer Chen Li-ming and others were involved in leaking TSMC's trade secrets. The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court today sentenced Chen Li-ming to 10 years in prison under the National Security Act. Tokyo Electron Taiwan was fined NT$150 million with a 3-year probation. The case can be appealed.
According to the court's press release, Tokyo Electron admitted to the crime and actively cooperated with the investigation. Together with its parent company, Tokyo Electron Ltd. (Japan), it reached a settlement with TSMC. The court declared a 3-year probation, with the condition that NT$100 million be paid to TSMC and NT$50 million to the public treasury within one year. Failure to pay will result in the revocation of probation and execution of the fine.
This is the first ruling involving the theft of 'national core critical technology' under the amended National Security Act. The judgment states that Chen Li-ming committed five offenses, including intent to use trade secrets outside the country. Wu Bing-jun, a TSMC engineer at the time, was sentenced to 3 years, and Ge Yi-ping received 2 years. Another engineer, Chen Wei-jie, was sentenced to 6 years for leaking 14-angstrom process secrets, which are crucial for maintaining TSMC's global leadership. TEL employee Lu Yi-yin received 10 months (probation 3 years) for destroying evidence.
The investigation revealed that Chen Li-ming, seeking better career performance, repeatedly requested TSMC engineers to provide technical secrets to help TEL improve its etching machines for 2nm process qualification. The court noted that while TEL is a supplier, not a competitor, the leak endangered Taiwan's industrial competitiveness and national economic security.
According to the court's press release, Tokyo Electron admitted to the crime and actively cooperated with the investigation. Together with its parent company, Tokyo Electron Ltd. (Japan), it reached a settlement with TSMC. The court declared a 3-year probation, with the condition that NT$100 million be paid to TSMC and NT$50 million to the public treasury within one year. Failure to pay will result in the revocation of probation and execution of the fine.
This is the first ruling involving the theft of 'national core critical technology' under the amended National Security Act. The judgment states that Chen Li-ming committed five offenses, including intent to use trade secrets outside the country. Wu Bing-jun, a TSMC engineer at the time, was sentenced to 3 years, and Ge Yi-ping received 2 years. Another engineer, Chen Wei-jie, was sentenced to 6 years for leaking 14-angstrom process secrets, which are crucial for maintaining TSMC's global leadership. TEL employee Lu Yi-yin received 10 months (probation 3 years) for destroying evidence.
The investigation revealed that Chen Li-ming, seeking better career performance, repeatedly requested TSMC engineers to provide technical secrets to help TEL improve its etching machines for 2nm process qualification. The court noted that while TEL is a supplier, not a competitor, the leak endangered Taiwan's industrial competitiveness and national economic security.