Authorities in Taiwan have launched an investigation into Wei-Jen Lo over allegations that sensitive semiconductor technology may have been leaked after his departure from TSMC.
Lo previously served as senior vice president of corporate strategy development at TSMC and retired in 2025. After leaving the company, he accepted an invitation from Intel to join as executive vice president.
Judicial authorities have begun a formal investigation and completed initial evidence collection related to the case. According to Cheng-Wen Wu, prosecutors sought assistance from the Hsinchu Science Park Bureau to confirm that the sub-2nm semiconductor process technology involved qualifies as a national core key technology.
In November 2025, TSMC filed a lawsuit with the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court. The company argued that Lo possessed important trade secrets that could potentially be disclosed or used by competitors. TSMC has taken legal action to protect its interests and is also seeking damages.
Prosecutors have since carried out searches and seizures connected to the investigation.
During a media briefing on March 2, 2026, Wu explained that Taiwan’s government had previously faced regulatory challenges when TSMC planned to build a manufacturing facility in Nanjing, China. At the time, authorities referred to the panel industry’s N-2 principle applied in China, which required TSMC’s Nanjing facility to follow similar restrictions.
Regarding concerns that Lo may have transferred 2nm semiconductor trade secrets to Intel, Wu said Taiwan’s Investigation Bureau quickly began collecting evidence and worked with the Hsinchu Science Park Bureau to verify the technology involved.
Wu also noted that TSMC and Intel rely on different semiconductor technologies. Because of these differences, even extensive access to data may not allow Intel to overcome its existing technological challenges.
Lo holds dual citizenship in Taiwan and the United States. Although the two countries do not have an extradition treaty, the Taiwan-US Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters allows both governments to share evidence and freeze or confiscate illegal gains.
Under this agreement, Taiwanese authorities may be able to freeze or seize any proceeds linked to the alleged case if they are located in the United States.
In December 2025, the National Science and Technology Council confirmed 42 technologies as national core key technologies under the National Security Act. These include sectors such as defense technology, space, agriculture, semiconductors, cybersecurity, quantum computing, energy, and artificial intelligence.
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