How Taiwan Became the King of Semiconductors
Taiwan-Korea Corporate Espionage Scandal
China In Arms BOOKSTORE and GIFT SHOP!
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10 September 2023 (Sunday)
How Taiwan Became the King of Semiconductors
Taiwan-Korea Corporate Espionage Scandal
By Wendell Minnick (Whiskey Mike) 顏文德
TAIPEI - 1998 was a pivotal year for Taiwan’s computer industry.
Thanks to a little espionage, Taiwan became the largest chipmaker in the world.
What is fascinating about the Taiwan-based Nanya Technology case via Korea, is that in the beginning they used the same deceptive tactics they employ on the West, only to realize the usual shenanigans were a waste of time.
So Taiwan went right for the jugular: bribes, bribes, and more bribes.
Money talks, excuse the cliché.
There are two outstanding books you must read to understand corruption in Asia: CHIN Ko-Lin, Heijin: Organized Crime, Business, and Politics in Taiwan (2003); and Boettcher, Robert, Gifts of Deceit: Sun Myung Moon, Tongsun Park, and the Korean Scandal (1980).
The Nanya case is a classic example on how a little subterfuge can catapult one country to the moon and the other to the back of the bus.
The following articles are from the China Post and the China News (both defunct).
BELOW: “20 Koreans Convicted of Leaking Technology to Taiwan”, China Post (30 January 1998). Keywords: semiconductor, chips, Samsung, LG Semiconductor, KIM Hyong-ik, ANH Yong-yool, Suwon Criminal Court, memory chip, liquid crystal display, LCD, Formosa Plastics Corp.
CLICK TO ENLARGE:
BELOW: “Korea Accuses Taiwan Firm of Industrial Espionage,” China Post (4 February 1998). Keywords: Hyundai, Korea Semiconductor Technology Co. (KSTC), 64-megabit DRAM, Yonhap News Agency.
BELOW: “Nan Ya Denies Commercial Espionage Charges”, China Post (5 February 1998). Keywords: IPR, Intellectual Property Rights, CHUANG Yen-shan, OKI, Japan, Economic Affairs Minister WANG Chih-kang, European Union, EU, Promos Technology, Mosel Vitelic, Siemens, Vanguard International Semiconductor Co., Winbond Electronics, Texas Instruments, Acer, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), CHEN Chien-tung, Huang and Partners, EMI Group, CHANG Chih-yuan.
CLICK TO ENLARGE:
BELOW: “Indictments Handed Down in Industrial Espionage Case,” China News (19 February 1998). Keywords: Dream of Engineers’ Technology Co., KWAK Moo-keun.
