The upcoming SEMICON Taiwan will feature keynote speeches from top executives at South Korean semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, in addition to a forum hosted by South Korean materials, components, and equipment firms. According to South Korean media reports, this event will provide an opportunity for South Korean manufacturers to break into Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain

Taiwan is drafting new measures to curb China's rising dominance in mature-node chip production, with the Legislative Yuan scheduled to review the plan when its new session opens on September 19, 2025. Economic Affairs Minister Kung Ming-hsin, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Chair Wu Cheng-wen, and Digital Affairs Minister Lin Yi-jing will present policy outlines, including a potential semiconductor program aimed at providing "China-alternative" chips by 2026

US home appliance giant Whirlpool has claimed that the US subsidiary of Samsung Electronics and North American subsidiary of LG Electronics have adjusted their so-called "transfer pricing" to reduce their tariff burden. The company has reported the matter to the White House

The competition for advanced process leadership among TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and Intel is intensifying, making the pace of their new equipment acquisitions a key industry focus

As the four major cloud service providers (CSPs) aggressively ramp up their presence in the AI computing market, Taiwan's printed circuit board (PCB) industry is experiencing a clear shift in demand. By 2025, orders for traditional servers are expected to give way to AI server demand, driving full-capacity utilization at leading server board makers such as Gold Circuit Electronics (GCE), Allied Circuit (ACCL), and First Hi-tec Enterprise (FHt)

Rebellions, a rising South Korean AI chipmaker, has become a focal point in the rivalry between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix as the two giants compete for leadership in next-generation semiconductors, putting the startup's strategy under intense scrutiny

Global chipmakers are signaling shifts in pricing strategies, with more vendors considering hikes. Industry sources say China, long a market of cutthroat competition, is becoming the key battleground. The move reflects not only market dynamics but also a strategic recalibration under intensifying geopolitical pressures

China's push for semiconductor self-sufficiency is gaining momentum, but automotive-grade chips present a unique challenge. Local automakers remain cautious about adopting untested domestic components that could jeopardize safety-critical systems

Micron Technology is rumored to be significantly increasing its share of low-power DRAM supply for Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S series smartphones. South Korean industry insiders believe that if Micron becomes the largest DRAM supplier for the Galaxy S series, Samsung's own semiconductor and Device Solutions (DS) division will face reduced DRAM supply volume. This potential shift is raising concerns among market watchers

China is accelerating automation with affordable domestically produced robots, maintaining competitiveness in low-end manufacturing amid rising labor wages by leveraging the "robot dividend." This strategy continues to expand its manufacturing export share

The EU plans to implement the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in 2028. In response, South Korea is accelerating efforts to enact its own Corporate Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Act. The legislation will require companies to identify and address human rights and environmental violations within their supply chains. However, provisions for requiring plans to address climate change have triggered fierce debate between industry players and environmental groups

China's semiconductor equipment industry posted a polarized first half of 2025, caught between a global downturn and intensifying US–China tech rivalry. A few national champions consolidated their lead, while smaller and mid-tier players pressed into specialized segments, advancing Beijing's agenda for domestic chip-tool substitution

China's solid-state battery sector is reaching a critical stage, driven by rapid technical advances and new standardization initiatives. On September 10–11, 2025, the China Society of Automotive Engineers will meet in Beijing to review ten proposed group standards, including assembly methods for evaluation cells, and to launch five projects covering topics such as hydrogen sulfide emissions from sulfide-based solid-state batteries

These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of September 1–September 7