A Taiwanese investigation into the possible theft of chip technology at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is putting a low-profile, lesser-known tech linchpin in Japan under unusual scrutiny.

Three Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. employees were taken into custody Tuesday after company officials detected "unauthorized activities" and a leak of its trade secrets related to "core technologies.

Upcoming tariffs of 100 per cent on foreign-made semiconductors are creating further uncertainties for the second half of 2025. Several tech industry executives told me they have modest expectations for the remainder of the year — traditionally a peak season for many sectors.