TSMC Diversifies with First Chip Factory in Japan Amid U.S.-China Tensions

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC has opened its first factory in Japan, marking its expansion amid the escalating chip competition between the United States and China. The Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM) in the Kumamoto region is set to start operations later this year, with plans for a second factory in the next few years. TSMC's move into Japan, an ally of the U.S., follows its expansions in the U.S. and Europe. The company's expansion comes as the U.S. tightens controls on chip shipments to China, and Japan focuses on investing in its semiconductor industry to compete in the Asia Pacific region.