Stories from Hsinchu · Taiwan

A large group of dolphins entered Nanliao Fishing Port in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Speculation is mounting that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) may field a new candidate for the 2026 local elections.

The Intellectual Property and Commercial Court issued its first instance ruling today regarding the TSMC internal leak case. A Taiwan court sentenced Chen Li-min to 10 years in prison for leaking intellectual property to Tokyo Electron Taiwan.

TSMC employees in Taiwan receive annual compensation through a combination of monthly salaries and bonuses. Last year, average employee bonuses reached approximately 2 million TWD per person. When including monthly salaries, total annual compensation for employees is estimated to be around 4 million TWD. This high compensation level is noted within the industrial park areas. This high earning potential is contributing to a sense of relative deprivation among workers in other sectors. The discussion noted that stock performance and vendor code changes significantly impact company value and investor interest. Intel and Tesla are also mentioned as active players in the industry landscape.

Taiwanese medical professionals are discussing crucial health warnings that elderly individuals should not ignore. Medical professionals discussed using fetal erythrocytes from maternal blood to establish accurate diagnoses during pregnancy. This process helps determine whether to prolong a pregnancy in cases where issues, such as brain malformations, are detected during second-trimester screenings. A specialized list exists to guide perinatal consultations regarding the continuation of pregnancy based on these findings.

TSMC intends to launch 1.2 and 1.3 nanometer lithography processes in 2029. This technological advancement aims to significantly increase energy efficiency and device performance. The move represents a major step in the semiconductor roadmap for next-generation computing. TSMC is increasing its production of three nanometer chips, which are the company's most advanced processes. Semiconductor leader TSMC aims to accelerate capacity expansion by constructing nine new plants and implementing capacity conversions in 2026.