Tokyo Electron Taiwan Conviction Final in TSMC 2nm Leak Case; Former Engineer Appeals 10-Year Term

Former TSMC engineer Chen Li-ming allegedly began contacting current TSMC engineers in the second half of 2023 after joining Tokyo Electron Taiwan. He obtained key process data covering 2-nanometer and sub-14-nanometer technologies by photographing materials and logging in remotely, among other methods. Advanced manufacturing processes are designated as national core critical technologies, and the case produced the first corporate conviction since Taiwan amended its National Security Act, with implications for semiconductor trade secrets and trust across the supply chain.

Taiwan’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Court sentenced Chen to 10 years in prison at the first-instance trial on April 27, 2026. Tokyo Electron Taiwan was fined NT$150 million, given a three-year suspended sentence and ordered to pay NT$100 million to TSMC and NT$50 million to the state treasury. Neither the company nor prosecutors appealed, making the company’s judgment final on May 19. Chen has appealed, so his 10-year sentence is not yet final.