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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》Ex-TSMC worker indicted for alleged trade secret theft
The logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co is pictured in a photograph taken on Jan. 15. Photo: CNA
By Liu Yung-yun / Staff reporter
Prosecutors yesterday indicted a former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co （TSMC） deputy manager for allegedly stealing trade secrets concerning critical national core technologies to help establish a semiconductor materials analysis company in China.
The Intellectual Property Branch of the High Prosecutors’ Office said the suspect, surnamed Chen （陳）, was charged with contravening the National Security Act （國安法） and the Trade Secrets Act （營業秘密法）. Prosecutors recommended a seven-year prison term.
It is Taiwan’s first prosecution involving an alleged attempt to transfer national core critical technology trade secrets to China, the indictment said.
The investigation stemmed from a separate national security probe into Ding Xiaohu （丁小琥）, a Chinese national holding a Hong Kong passport who was suspected of developing an espionage network in Taiwan and collecting confidential information for China. While reviewing evidence in that case, investigators discovered that Ding and Chen had allegedly conspired to obtain TSMC’s national core critical technology trade secrets and general trade secrets.
Ding died during the investigation, and prosecutors subsequently issued a non-prosecution disposition in his case.
Prosecutors said Chen conspired with Ding between May 2023 and February 2024 to establish the China Semiconductor Materials Analysis Co in China under a plan called the Blue Sea Project.
The project aimed to recruit Taiwanese semiconductor professionals to work in China and eventually bolster China’s chip supply chain with their expertise, prosecutors said.
To demonstrate his technical expertise to Chinese investors and technical experts, Chen allegedly made unauthorized copies of 21 confidential TSMC documents classified as national core critical technology trade secrets and general trade secrets related to semiconductor manufacturing processes and materials, the indictment said.
Prosecutors alleged that Chen took the copied documents home to study them and intended to use the information in China.
TSMC detected irregularities and launched an internal investigation, recovering all the copied technical documents before they could be used in China, prosecutors said.
Investigators later searched five locations and analyzed digital records and other evidence before concluding that sufficient evidence existed to charge Chen.
TSMC’s technological leadership is not only crucial to Taiwan’s economy but is also central to the global semiconductor industry, prosecutors said.
Chen knowingly disregarded business ethics and competitive principles by attempting to help advance China’s semiconductor technology through the unauthorized acquisition of sensitive trade secrets, they said.
The case comes amid concerns in Taiwan about industrial espionage targeting its world-leading semiconductor sector.
In the past few years, authorities have strengthened laws protecting critical technologies amid concerns about efforts by Chinese companies to recruit Taiwanese engineers and acquire advanced chipmaking know-how.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
